George: The Long and the Short of it

"Why would Stephanopoulos take a job with terrible hours and with less prestige than the one he had? There is precedent for a "GMA" co-host to move on up to be anchor of "World News" -- first Charlie Gibson, now Sawyer -- and Stephanpoulos may be looking to land that job in the long run. Although the three newscasts are less prominent and popular by far than they were back in the pre-cable and pre-Internet era, the job of anchor still carries a certain singular status." Wash Post TV czar Tom Shales on George's not-so-memorable GMA debut.

"Ms. Roberts, who was of a height with Ms. Sawyer, towers over the diminutive Mr. Stephanopoulos; their senses of humor seem equally unaligned. Ms. Roberts is more literal than funny and is given to outsize expressions of feeling. Mr. Stephanopoulos is reserved and permits himself small, sarcastic asides."  Alessandra Stanley, NYT TV czarina

NYDN's David Hinckley on the obvious coziness between Stephanopoulos and first interviewee David Axelrod:  "There was an undercurrent of comfort that isn't always present when government officials talk with the media, and it would be naive to think ABC isn't hoping that will make "GMA" an appealing destination for people making news. If it raises some questions about potential coziness between the people who run the country and the people who are supposed to keep an eye on them -- well, that's a legitimate discussion."

They shoot horses, don't they?  Viewer comments on GMA's own website on George's debut.  Put him out of his misery...