'Early Show' Not 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 host Phyllis George ask two guests–Catherine 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 Early Show anymore after that morning television lowlight.
The Early Show 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.
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.