CBS' Early Show Wasn't Early's Kind of Show
Maybe everyone else knows this, but I didn’t until yesterday.
After four virtual visits to New Orleans for “Market Eye”–three as a reporter, and one as an editor–I just learned that the CBS morning program does not air on CBS affiliate WWL.
WWL is the market leader in New Orleans, and one of the strong CBS affiliates around the country. It all started in the mid ‘80s. Then GM Michael Early became enraged after watching then Early Show CBS Morning Show host Phyllis George ask two guests–Cathleen Crowell Webb, and the man she’d wrongfully had sent to jail for rape, Gary Dotson–if they would embrace. Early said WWL wouldn’t air the CBS program anymore after that morning television lowlight.
The CBS morning broadcast eventually moved to WUPL, which was owned by Viacom before being bought by WWL parent Belo. Now called CBS This Morning, you can watch the network newscast on WUPL.
WWL, meanwhile, kicked off 4:30 a.m. news just this week. That gives WWL a 4:30 to 9 a.m. news block–a 4:30 to 9 a.m. local news block, that is.
Eric commented:
Former New World CBS stations dropped the previous incarnation of 'CBS This Morning', opting for local morning news from 7-9AM... those CBS stations would go on to affiliate with FOX. WAGA in Atlanta was one of those stations. I'm aware that some CBS stations that would not air the 7AM hour of 'CBS This Morning' and 'The Early Show'... if not dropping it entirely. WTOC in Savannah aired a 1-hour delay. CBS is lucky to still have WWL in New Orleans as a local affiliate to this day.
Mario500 commented:
Thank you for the correction, as my previous post was based on the years for "Morning" provided by the Internet Movie Database. As for my previous post, I meant to type Wednesday, December 31st, 1986.
Steve Richards commented:
Actually, the name of the show at the time of the Phyllis George incident was "CBS Morning News." The show known as "Morning" was retired in 1982. Bill Kurtis and Diane Sawyer originally co-anchored the then-revamped "CBS Morning News." Sawyer left for "60 Minutes" in 1984 and was permanently replaced by Phyllis George in 1985.
Jed commented:
WWL is smart for not airing that dreadful morning show, considering all the incarnations they've gone through, they still can't get out of the cellar ratings-wise. They would be better off airing cartoons instead of this junk.
Mario500 commented:
The name of the CBS morning news program was "Morning" at the time Phyllis George asked the guests if they would embrace. The name was used for the program from Monday January 29th, 1979 to Wednesday, December 1st, 1986.