LFk

Is it me or was there a uniquely front line/no fill in line up for most of today's broadcasts? Except for Shirleen and Diana, everyone was on deck. That seems different from other Labor Day holidays. I could be wrong about that, of course. I almost wonder if all were on call because of the big hurricane story that wound up dissolving into very little. I mean, we even saw Jim Dolan on camera during the Sunday newscasts. It feels like there was anticipation for something big.

I think I might do the same thing. I can't do Today, except for the Hoda/Kathie Lee hour (and that's more of its own talk/View entity). It feels like it might be time to see what CBS is up to these days.

A studio audience? Blech. Sorry. That's a terrible idea. Now we're going to have the anchors doing headlines to audience applause? No, no, no!

She's clearly a decent pinch hitter... but she's also clearly waiting for a spot to open. Given how infrequently the line up changes, I suspect that she will be waiting for a long time.

I'd love to see Sam do in depth pieces. Working the weather board feels like a step backward. I still remember his reports during the BP oil crisis. It was good stuff. He's got reporting chops.

This may prove to be unpopular, but I don't like the idea of Ginger Zee doing DWTS. No, she's not a hard news reporter a la George Stephanopoulos, but shouldn't a meteorologist not reduce her/himself to twitching around a reality show? It feels like a grab for celebrity at the cost of credibility.

Just watching the Saturday AM broadcast. Gotta say, whomever assembled the team of Michelle Charlesworth, Rob Nelson, and Amy Freeze is damn smart. Their instincts in combining news gravitas with a lighter, less intense, Saturday friendly tone is spot on. As much as I'd love to see them all in weekday anchor slots (especially Michelle), I cannot imagine starting the weekend with others.

Can anyone shed light on the way the beat reporters are rotated on air? Dray Clark has disappeared from the air in recent weeks, and it seems longer than a typical vacation. I'm enjoying Darla Miles in the morning slot... it's curious. Also, seemingly gone a lot lately are Carolina Reid and Anthony Johnson.

And poor Lori seemed downright punchy by about midway through the noon broadcast. It was cute. I can't deny that I enjoy the glimmers of real people energy that they allow us to see on this team.

A nice tradition...

It's just a fun bit of musing on a slow news day. Personally, as much as I like my personal choice for replacement (Michelle Charlesworth), I don't think anyone wants Liz to go. She's pretty terrific.

Personally, I would like to see Michelle Charlesworth in that spot. She has great chemistry with David Navarro and Bill Ritter. Plus, she has the right blend of playful and serious for the timeslots. As for the others. I don't see the powers that be messing with the morning team. I always love seeing Diana Williams, but I don't see her ramping up her presence or work load. It's easier to see them continue grooming Shirleen for a bigger role, given the three mentioned.

This was lovely to see on WNN this morning, but it also magnified what I've been feeling for a LONG time... that ABC is not devoting much to this broadcast these days. Reena Ninan is pleasant, but not a powerful enough presence to really resonate. And they don't seem to be committing one male anchor to the job permanently. Once upon a time, this was the edgy, outlaw take of the day's news. Now it's just sorta there. I particularly miss the period with Ryan Owens, who was under appreciated during this tenure.

It's a cool promo. Quirky and memorable, yet it's not corny. Btw... am I correct in noticing an interesting flux/shift in reporters? Renee Stoll seems to have disappeared as fast as she appeared. Darla Miles seems to have gone MIA again, which is a shame because she is SO talented. And there are two new folks in the form of Mallory Hoff and CeFaan Kim, both of whom seem quite good. Thoughts or insight?

Has it been announced who the anchors are? I guess it's safe to assume that it's the 6 and 11pm team. I must say that this will beat reruns of Bachelor Paradise or whatever is randomly thrown there. It beefs up the timeslot, considerably.