Matt Buckler: Report: Chris Cuomo takes a huge cut in pay

Jul. 28—If you spot news anchor Chris Cuomo buying Mega-Millions today, there's an obvious reason — Cuomo will be making a lot less money than he used to make. Getting fired from CNN turned out to be very expensive.

According to the New York Post, Cuomo's new anchor job with NewsNation, a new cable news network, will pay him $1 million per year.

That's $5 million less than the $6 million per year that he was being paid by CNN. Cuomo is still probably in the 1 percent of the nation's richest people, but has fallen to the bottom half.

Cuomo got dismissed from CNN earlier this year when he was accused of using his position as news anchor to help his brother — former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo — fight off sexual harassment claims. Cuomo denies those charges, but his reputation is like a tattoo — hard to get rid of.

So he was able to find a job, but on a new network where the payroll is much lower. And he was probably lucky to get that job.

It could be worse, at least Cuomo isn't getting paid per viewer — he'd be making even less money.

Beaver's brother

It was an erroneous report Tuesday, but it became reality Wednesday — Tony Dow, who played Wally Cleaver, big brother to the Beaver, died at the age of 77.

When the story broke Tuesday, the Internet jumped on it. Hours later, Dow's family refuted the story and it had to be corrected. One day later, however, Dow's son confirmed what generations of TV viewers had feared — that Dow had died.

This story touched a lot of people because of the show's longevity. "Leave it to Beaver" debuted in 1958 and has been on the air — in first run episodes and in syndication — for 65 years.

And because the show is timeless — just as relevant today as it was in 1958 — viewers had a connection with it. And they had a connection with Dow.

You can't mention Tony Dow without mentioning that he starred on "Leave it to Beaver." That's how good he was playing the role.

Fauci focus

It was impossible to watch television during 2020 without seeing Dr. Anthony Fauci at least once a day.

He was the news source for millions of viewers on COVID-19, telling Americans what they needed to do to stay safe.

He was criticized by some, but he was praised by many for his serious approach to a serious problem. He was also very accessible — Dr. Fauci was everywhere.

Next year he'll be on PBS. The network announced that Fauci will be featured on an episode of "American Masters" titled "Tony — A Year in the Life of Dr. Anthony Fauci."

Actually, it will be more than one year. Cameras followed Dr. Fauci for 14 months, starting in Jan. 2021, about 10 months after the pandemic hijacked America.

Fauci has had a 50-year career working in public health. This is just a small chunk of it. But it's an important chunk of it.

Sterling sub

John Sterling has been the radio voice of the New York Yankees since 1989, but he recently cut back on his schedule because, at the age of 84, he no longer likes to travel.

So the question floating around Yankee Stadium has been: Who will be the next John Sterling?

The front-runner is more well-known to hockey fans than baseball fans. Brendan Burke, the TV voice of the New York Islanders, is the favorite to take over from Sterling, according to a story in the New York Post.

Burke has filled in for Sterling this season, but it's tough being a baseball broadcaster — you have to work at a high level for 162 games. And you have to be a great storyteller.

At 38, Burke may lack experience, but he has the enthusiasm. And that's what you need to handle a long baseball season.

Matt Buckler is television and radio editor of the Journal Inquirer.

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