Katie Couric ratings horrible in Iraq

Worst ratings for CBS in 20 years

New York - The "CBS Evening News" has tried everything in the book to boost the ratings of its anchor (for now) Katie Couric - but nothing has failed as miserably as last week's trip to Iraq.

The CBS Evening News has tried everything in the book to boost the ratings of its broadcast with Katie Couric - but nothing has failed as miserably as last week's trip to Iraq.

The "CBS Evening News" tied a record low with less than 5.5 million viewers last week. Ratings have not been this low for the evening news since 1987 according to Nielsen.

CBS News President Sean McManus tried to do some damage control.

"We never expected it to do well in the ratings and it didn't," McManus said. "We knew that this was a long-term commitment to Katie and the show and we really felt it was important to establish our reporting there."

The show averaged less than 5.9 million viewers last week.

Couric has wondered aloud why she ever decided to take the job at CBS.