Anchor Changes on the Way to Early Show

CBS’s morning program, THE EARLY SHOW, is undergoing major anchor changes, CBS News has confirmed.

Harry Smith/CBS

As reported by the Associated Press and TV Newser, anchors Harry Smith, Maggie Rodriguez and Dave Price are leaving the show.

Chris Wragge and Erica Hill, current anchors of the Saturday edition of the program, and Marysol Castro, a former weather correspondent of ABC’s Good Morning, America, will replace them.  Jeff Glor will be the news anchor in the new lineup.

The new lineup will debut on January 3rd, CBS News President Sean McManus said.

“We constantly focus on how to improve the broadcast, and we think we have a terrific combination in Erica, Chris, Jeff and Marysol. This new team brings vibrancy, intelligence and warmth that I think America will grow to love,” McManus said.

Maggie Rodriguez/CBS

Wragge and Hill have co-anchored the Saturday Edition of THE EARLY SHOW since 2008.  Hill also has been News Anchor for THE EARLY SHOW since January of this year. Wragge has also been co-anchor of CBS 2 News at 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM in New York, the nation’s largest market, a position he has held since 2006.

Glor has anchored the Saturday edition of the CBS EVENING NEWS and been a National Correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts since 2009.  He has also been a substitute anchor for the CBS EVENING NEWS since March 2007. Castro served as the weather and feature correspondent of ABC News’ weekend edition of Good Morning America from 2004 to 2010.

Dave Price/CBS

CBS has confirmed that Smith, Rodriquez and Price will continue at CBS News in new roles.

Smith will shift his focus to hard news with an expanded role as primary substitute anchor on the CBS EVENING NEWS, FACE THE NATION and SUNDAY MORNING, while continuing to report major stories for all CBS News broadcasts. Smith has been anchor of THE EARLY SHOW since October, 2002, and previously anchored a past morning news program for the network, CBS THIS MORNING, from 1987 to 1996. He joined CBS News in 1986.

Discussions are currently underway concerning the roles Rodriquez and Price will have. Rodriguez joined THE EARLY SHOW in December 2007 and is also a substitute anchor on the CBS EVENING NEWS. Price joined CBS News in July, 2003.

CBS’s EARLY SHOW has been the third-rated morning news program and has struggled for years in ratings against GMA and NBC’s Today.

THE EARLY SHOW airs weekdays 7:00-9:00am, following the Lowcountry’s top-rated local early news program, LIVE 5 NEWS THIS MORNING.

CBS Announces Soap Renewal

CBS renewed its top soap, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, for three more years, a move that will keep it on the air through the 2013-14 season.

The 38-year-old soap has been the number one daytime show for 22 years, so its renewal isn’t really a surprise, but a three year deal signed this early in the season should at least come as welcome relief for soap fans who’ve seen some mixed signals about the future of their favorite genre.

In 2009, CBS ended the longest-running program in broadcasting history, GUIDING LIGHT, which left the air after a combined 72 years on television and radio.  Earlier this year, AS THE WORLD TURNS left the air after 54 years on CBS.  But fans got a little relief after NBC decided to renew its 45-year-old Days of Our Lives.  Of the current soaps still on the air, the youngest one, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, premiered back in 1987.

Variety reports that CBS is also close to signing a deal to renew B&B, Y&R’s sister soap.

Rudolph’s Back!

Now that you’ve survived Thanksgiving dinner, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s time to curl up with the family and enjoy one of television’s all-time favorite holiday traditions: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER.

The 1964 special, which has been a staple of the CBS holiday calendar since 1972, airs Tuesday at 8:00pm on LIVE 5 WCSC.

Narrated by legendary balladeer Burl Ives (as Sam the Snowman), it tells the story of a misfit reindeer who was picked on because of his bright red glowing nose.  When the reindeer searches for acceptance, he finds Santa Claus, and the rest is the well-known story kids of all ages enjoy year after year.

The movie was digitally remastered in 2005, so today’s viewers can get the most of the classic.

Here’s a bit of trivia for those quick-eyed nitpickers:

Price Tries to Find His Way Home

CBS’s EARLY SHOW is sending Dave Price packing…again.

And this time around, viewers will decide where he’ll be dropped off with only a mobile phone and $50 in cash as part of his “No Way Home” series, which begins next week.

Viewers can vote through noon on November 10th for the location where he’ll be left behind on Monday: Anchorage, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle or Newport, Oregon.

It’s the second year that Price will be given the assignment of finding his way all the way back to the CBS studios in New York City. Last year, he worked on a Colorado ranch, sang for change in the Milwaukee airport and cleaned toilets in a Nebraska fraternity house, all to raise money to make it back.

Price will receive a one-way air ticket to the destination viewers decide on during Thursday morning’s EARLY SHOW. After leaving for that destination, he’ll have just eight days to get back to THE EARLY SHOW plaza on 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. Price will update viewers on his location each day of the journey, and viewers will be able to follow his progress for themselves on Price’s Twitter account, @earlyshowdave.

Vote now at CBSNews.com and be sure to watch his efforts to get home starting Thursday on THE EARLY SHOW, weekdays at 7:00am on LIVE 5 WCSC.

Holiday Special Gets Second Airing on CBS

An innocent question from an eight-year-old girl serves as the story behind a CBS holiday special returning to Live 5 WCSC next month.

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS, an animated movie, will air on December 17th at 8:00pm. Last year’s airing was the most-watched show that night among children ages 2 to 11 and 6 to 11.

The title refers to the name of an editorial in a New York newspaper. An eight-year-old girl, Virginia O’Hanlon, had written to the New York Sun to ask if Santa Claus was real. Her father suggested that she ask her question to the newspaper after she expressed doubt that Santa was real. The newspaper’s response, which originally ran on Sept. 21, 1897, has been reprinted year after year in newspapers around the country.

Live 5 WCSC Holding Antenna Giveaway

Still having trouble adjusting to digital television? Live 5 WCSC is holding a free over-the-air digital TV antenna giveaway on Wednesday.

It’ll happen right outside our main studios on Charlie Hall Boulevard in West Ashley at lunchtime.

A DTV Education bus making stops across the country will pull into the Lowcountry with $15,000 worth of antennas to give away. From 10:30am until 12:30pm (and while supplies last) visitors will receive an antenna and get information on how to use them. You’ll also be able to ask questions you have about digital television.

For some families hit hard by the economy, they haven’t been able to afford a digital antenna, but are also facing the decision to end their cable or satellite service to cut monthly costs.

Families without newer digital television sets would not receive any local stations without an antenna if they discontinued their cable or satellite service.

The Price is Right Plans Special Episodes

Television’s longest-running game show has three special episodes coming in the next month.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT is celebrating Veterans Day on Thursday by welcoming an audience filled with servicemen and women from all five branches of the armed services.  Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard will get the chance to play for great prizes.  The show’s newest pricing game, “Pay the Rent,” will give one of them a chance at a $100,000 grand prize.

Multiple cars are also offered during the show, as well as a chance to win a ride on a private jet to Las Vegas. A color guard and the United States Marine Corps Band will also be there to pay tribute to this special day.

Then on Monday, November 15th, the show welcomes NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Clint Bowyer and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie Austin Dillon for a special NASCAR-themed episode.

Bowyer and Dillon will present two NASCAR-themed showcases, featuring a trip North Carolina to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a trip to Miami to see the season-ending races in all three National Series at the end of November and a Chevy Impala LS.

Bowyer is one of three Sprint Cup Series drivers for Richard Childress Racing and currently pilots the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet Impala in NASCAR’s premier division and the No. 21 Zaxby’s Chevrolet Impala in the NASCAR Nationwide Series part time. Bowyer won the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. Austin Dillon, grandson of RCR team owner Richard Childress, is in his first full-time season, driving the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

And on Wednesday, November 24th, the game show will feature chef Guy Fieri, who’ll help prepare a special Thanksgiving dinner.

Fieri will offer two showcases that include prizes such as top- of-the-line kitchen equipment, an 82 inch television for watching the Thanksgiving Day games, a pair of motorcycles and a Jeep Wrangler Sport.

Be sure to tune to THE PRICE IS RIGHT, weekdays at 11:00am on LIVE 5 WCSC.

CBS to Reschedule Missed CSI:Miami

Sunday night’s episode of CSI:MIAMI did not air because the NFL game went into overtime.

We’ve already received questions from fans of the show about what they can do to see the episode they missed. The good news is that they haven’t missed anything, after all.

CBS announced it will broadcast the episode intended for this past Sunday next Sunday, November 14th.

In this episode, titled, “Reality Kills,” when the star of a reality show is murdered, the team investigates the cast, the obsessed fans and the stars’ hidden pasts.

The episode airs Sunday at 10:00pm on LIVE 5 WCSC.