Diane Sawyer's 'World News' debut dissected

Diane Sawyer took to ABC's "World News" anchor desk Monday night to very little hoopla.

Overall, TV critics were either fans of the former "Good Morning America" co-anchor or at least cautiously optimistic about the direction she would take the nightly news program.

In Sawyer's debut, she kicked off the program smiling and greeting the viewers, "Good evening. It is so good to be with you here tonight," before launching into a report on health care.

Her centerpiece for the night, however, was a one-on-one interview with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss nuclear weapons intentions, three U.S. hikers being detained in Iran and the possibility of a change in U.S.-Iranian relations in the future.

A quick look at Sawyer's "World News" debut:



Here's what some critics had to say:

"Ms. Sawyer's first nightly news program really signaled is the return of the alpha anchors. Behind a twinkly warmth, honed in countless 'Good Morning America' appearances with pets, babies and diet experts, Ms. Sawyer appears to have the same high-octane drive and ambition as Brian Williams and Katie Couric." -- The New York Times

"Opening-night jitters and the obsession with keeping Sawyer front, center and everywhere else (they might think of retitling the program "Face Time With Diane Sawyer") tended to hobble and mute the first edition ... Nothing in the program threatened in any way Sawyer's reputation as a network wonder woman. She called upon her years of experience and her ineffable charm not only to report the news, but to put it over with panache. Eventually, maybe the camera will pull back a bit and give her, and viewers, some breathing room, trusting Sawyer to hold us captive without seeming to sit in our veritable laps." -- The Washington Post

"Even though [a technical glitch] was a somewhat jarring and unfortunate on premiere night, it doesn't matter one-half of a little bit long term except in this regard: Sawyer kept her poise and came back after the break totally in control and on her game. Let's move on to what looks like it is going to be a strong, engaging and highly viewer-centric newscast with Sawyer calling the shots." -- Baltimore Sun

"It was a good night for Diane Sawyer, though if you don't like Diane Sawyer, that won't much matter. In the network evening news race ... the dividing line is the anchor, and the choice is really more a matter of personal preference than anchor ability ... Sawyer made a strong, if over-animated, debut. (There was more head-bobbing and grimacing than was necessary.)" -- USA Today

"With the Ahmadinejad interview, her second with the Iranian leader, Sawyer made clear that she plans to continue to pursue the kind of high-impact 'gets' that have been her calling card. Whether her competitive zeal will change the program's fortunes remains an open question." -- Los Angeles Times

What did you think of Diane Sawyer's debut?

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Related:

Diane Sawyer says goodbye to 'Good Morning'
Charles Gibson leaving ABC's 'World News'

Photo credit: ABC