Television’s evening news is usually filled with bad news, such as murders, fires, wars and natural disasters. “The evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’—and then tell you why it isn’t” is a joke that has been credited to the American humorist Robert Orben since 1983. The joke appears in many collections of one-line sayings.
 
   
Wikipedia: Robert Orben
Robert Orben (born March 4, 1927) is best known as an American professional comedy writer, though he also worked as a speechwriter for Gerald R. Ford and as a magician. He has written multiple books on comedy, mostly collections of gags and “one-liners” originally written for his newsletter, Orben’s Current Comedy, and he has also written books for magicians.
 
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 123, Issues 735-740
1983
Pg. 122:
THE EVENING NEWS is where they begin with “Good evening”—and then tell you why it isn’t.—Robert Orben
 
21 March 1983, Trenton (NJ) Times, “Nuggets to start the week” by Frank Tyger, pg. C1, col. 1:
“The evening news,” says Bob Orben, “is where they begin with ‘Good Evening’—and then tell you why it isn’t.”
 
13 March 1984, The Leader (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba), ‘Weekly chuckle,” pg. 4, col. 3:
The evening news is where they begin with “Good evening” and then tell you why it isn’t.
 
18 June 2005, Oroville (CA) Mercury-Register, “Off the Record” by Kyra Gottesman:
And this was the first quote in the file: “Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.”
 
Google Books
Life’s Daily Dose of Wit & Wisdom:
Wit & Wisdom to Enlighten Your Day
By J. N. Hospitable
Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse
Pg. 317:
Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t. (Unknown)
 
Google Books
The Joke’s on Me:
Improve Your Vocabulary and Elevate Your Linguistics through Humor
By Jim Purdy
Bloomington, IN: iUniverse
2011
Pg. 250:
Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.