CBS Fires Entire 'Early Show' Anchor Crew

[Hillbeans]

I have never watched the Early Show, i'm a GMA watcher. I am not a big fan of Erica Hill - she used to fill in for Anderson Cooper on his show (plus she hated Kathy Griffin and I like her, LOL).

A bit OT but is anyone following the Heidi Jones story (From Channel 7)?
She supposedly said she was attacked and almost raped but fabricated the story? What a way to ruin a budding career.

 

[Robinrs]

I've been involved in local morning news for over 30 years....the shows that run before the network morning shows.
The Early Show has always made 10's of millions of dollars a year for the network, far less than Today and GMA, but is has always been profitable.
It has never done well in the ratings.
Here's a piece of trivia, the last morning show CBS had that was number one was Captain Kangaroo.

I used to watch the Captain!

I was hoping you'd chime in, the voice of experience!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

wow! shocked to hear this! merrry christmas, were replacing you die to ratings...nice!

i dont normally get to watch the am shows as i have a 3 yr old home and its kid shows mommy!!! but when i do i flick between the 3 and my own local stations to catch local news and us news. i liked the team and will be sad to see them go.

 

[jlmarr]

I hope they don't mess with the Sunday Morning program. Always a treasure trove of interesting stories. (And thankfully we have a DVR.)

 

[moon]

Erica Hill has come a long way. I remember when she did the newsbreaks at ZDTV (later TechTV). She's the only one from that network who seems to still be out there.

 

[snowy76]

I'm in the minority here - glad for the change. Admittedly I'm biased... the 4th person on the new team, Jeff Glor, is someone I've known for over 15 years now. We got our journalism degrees together.

CBS seems to be going for a younger demographic with the changes.

 

[krcit]

I have never watched the Early Show, i'm a GMA watcher. I am not a big fan of Erica Hill - she used to fill in for Anderson Cooper on his show (plus she hated Kathy Griffin and I like her, LOL).

A bit OT but is anyone following the Heidi Jones story (From Channel 7)?
She supposedly said she was attacked and almost raped but fabricated the story? What a way to ruin a budding career.

I saw that story. Sad. She destroyed her whole career.

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm a Today Show viewer. I was never a fan of the CBS Morning Show.

 

[bicker]

As far as I know, the crew is unaffected by this action. It only affects the on-air talent.

 

[torinsmom]

So where is Dave Price going? I saw yesterday's show when they were saying their goodbyes to him. I assumed he was going to another network, but they never said. I didn't know they were ALL leaving.

 

[goofyernmost]

Agreed! Seems like it was also "out with the OLD and in the with young"

What I don't always understand is why the on air crew is blamed for the show completely. Isn't it more the content? Isn't that determined by the producers and upper management? It will be the same old stuff being spoken by new faces. Harry Smith is brilliant and always has that little grin that looks like he genuinely enjoys his work. The rest, well, they are good, but I have become tired of the sensationalism aspect of the morning show. Let's find the most destitute person or persons possible and ask stupid questions to satisfy the disaster hunger of the public.

 

[bicker]

What I don't always understand is why the on air crew is blamed for the show completely.

They're not. It simply doesn't garner much attention with producers and execs are sent packing.

Also, what you're saying seems to imply that firing on-air talent equates to "blame". The fickle nature of the American television viewer means that someone could decline in popularity through no "fault" of their own. It's like painting your home a different set of colors, because the old colors were "dated" - no blame is place on the old colors for failing to remain trendy.

 

[Bilberry]

I'm not all that surprised. I've been reading about CBS's ratings problems for a little while. As this summer article suggested, it makes one wonder if Katie Couric is next?

http://www.bernardgoldberg.com/cbs-eve-news-ratings-hit-new-low/

 

[sparklynails23]

Katie Couric should head up a morning show. She's not meant for the evening news. I hate the weather guy on Good Morning America. I cringe and turn the channel whenever he comes on. Otherwise, all the morning people seem pretty much the same/interchangeable. Oh, the Today Show during the Olympics was horrible. I do remember that.

 

[bicker]

Actually, I think Couric should essentially "take over" 60 minutes. That's the kind of thing I feel she'd be best suited for.

 

[goofyernmost]

They're not. It simply doesn't garner much attention with producers and execs are sent packing.

Also, what you're saying seems to imply that firing on-air talent equates to "blame". The fickle nature of the American television viewer means that someone could decline in popularity through no "fault" of their own. It's like painting your home a different set of colors, because the old colors were "dated" - no blame is place on the old colors for failing to remain trendy.

OK, but paint doesn't have a brain or a need to maintain income and exposure to remain viable. It just doesn't seem fair but, alas, it is today's world. (no pun intended)

 

[bicker]

Yeah, folks who want that kind of fairness would never pursue a job as an on-air personality (or actor, model, motivational speaker, etc.)

 

[tvguy]

CBS seems to be going for a younger demographic with the changes.

Yup, same stupid TV management mentality. 65 to deceased viewers kept local TV stations and networks afloat during this recession, yet they want to go after those young folks with no money.

At my station, our most loyal advertiser during the recession sells walk in bath tubs for senior citizens....at $14,000 each. The bathtubs are flying out the door.....yet the local Toyota dealer, can't get anyone to buy his $14,000 Yaris (sales down 42% in the past year ) targeted at those 18 to 29.

 

[Angelhalo]

I'm in the minority here - glad for the change. Admittedly I'm biased... the 4th person on the new team, Jeff Glor, is someone I've known for over 15 years now. We got our journalism degrees together.

CBS seems to be going for a younger demographic with the changes.

They're losing this young demographic viewer. I pretty much chose them because I love Harry and Dave

 

[Dan Murfman]

Just found out Erica Hill The Morgan School '93 or 94. Dan Murfman The Morgan School '85