‘Nightline’ is an ABC ‘survivor’

Ted Koppel has taken in stride ABC’s failed attempt this year to woo David Letterman to the network, which would have meant the likely end of Koppel’s late-night news program “Nightline.”

According to trade magazine Broadcasting & Cable, his holiday gift to the staff this year was a bottle of wine with a custom label that read: “Nightline Survivor 2002 Private Reserve” and a gift card that read, “With thanks to another ‘Nightline’ survivor.”

No word on whether the wine was as dry as his sense of humor.

-- Elizabeth Jensen