It wouldn't be fair to let Katie Couric have all the drama at CBS this week, so why don't we revisit The Early Show, a place that one spy says simply: "The Titanic is out of deck chairs."
Might the Shelley Ross regime have been better than the current Rick Kaplan affair? The argument is being made.
This week, Claire Peterson, described to us as "one of the strongest" producers and bookers, told Early Show interim exec producer Rick Kaplan that she had an offer from another network, and planned on accepting. (We're told the offer came from ABC's Nightline.)
He didn't give her much of a response. The night she told CBS brass of the job switch, she worked a full day and stayed through the night. Then, at 5:30am, she was awoke by a call from Kaplan, who was phoning from the control room to say he would match the offer she received and pay $5,000 more to keep her.
Yesterday, she and Kaplan finally sat down together, and she declined the offer. That didn't sit well with Kaplan, who is known for his temper. Let's just say he got "very nasty and abusive" …
Kaplan is said to have screamed at her, shouting "I developed you and built you into who you are." (From what we understand, Kaplan's brief tenure at The Early Show is the only time they've worked together. She's a veteran there.) This comes on top of the exit of another senior producer, who left on Friday after four months on the job. (We've left messages with CBS News seeking comment.)
Meanwhile, we're told Kaplan is an absentee father; he's rarely there with the morning show's team, and when he is, "he's giving lectures and telling old stories." Don't count on him to help develop segments, unless it has to do with The Eagles, which, says a source, he plans to book a concert with even if it means going over budget.
And Kaplan's senior team is clashing with the show's originals, though even his No. 2, Michael Rosen (a holdover from Ross' era), is irking the team. Like Kaplan, this group is seen as arrogant and "clueless" about morning television; booked guests are regularly canceled or rescheduled, drawing the ire of power publicists.
Laurye Blackford, the former Good Morning America producer and friend of Ross, remains in charge of the 8am hour, but like Kaplan, she's not the best communicator with staff, and has distanced herself from the lower-levels.
All in all, let's be fair about one thing: With all the drama at the CBS Evening News, who has the time to split with the A.M. trainwreck?
Editorial Director
geeze! poor saps. I had my resume in there for a while. Now, I'd have to think twice — not that they've even called me :(
I'm a staffer at The Early Show and I have to say, I have never read such trash in my life. Not one iota a truth in this post and the constant barrage of attacks have been nothing but hurtful and harmful to an entire staff of people who do nothing but work hard seven days a week to put a two hour broadcast on the air.
Rick has been nothing but incredibly supportive from the second he arrived at The Early Show - he has been a leader from day one and I'm offended to read these comments. I hope every member of this staff stands up for Rick, because he has been nothing but stand up for us.
Wow Marci-how far is your head up Kaplan's colon exactly?
Wow, somebody still works at the early show!
Hello. I just read the item you wrote about my good friend Claire Pedersen. I would like to make a few corrections. First, it's Pedersen with a "d" and "e" although everyone makes that mistake. Also, Claire did not work "through the night" but left at 7:30 for an 8p haircut and then went out to dinner, although I'm sure she is flattered someone thinks she worked that hard. Rick called her at 6:30 when she is normally on her way into the studio for the show. I am the 5a booker so I heard him on the phone: he was warm, funny, and just wanted to be sure she knew that CBS wanted her to stay, and that he would do whatever it took to keep her. When she decided to leave, despite an incredibly generous offer from CBS, she said it was a hard decision because CBS is her family and she did not want to leave great friends like me. Also, Rick never said he developed her and built her - Claire only worked with Rick for three weeks and had never met him before he came to the Early Show. "Nasty and abusive" are the last 2 words any of us would use to describe conversations with Rick. In fact jovial and larger than life are more accurate descriptions. Finally, Laurye Blackford has not distanced herself from the "lower-levels" in fact she has personally given me several assignments in the past few weeks. she has even shared cabs with me on the way from our studio to the broadcast center and purchased me a few chocolate chip muffins along the way. I just wanted to shoot you a note so you are aware of how inaccurate some of the tips you receive really are.
I'm sure like all leaked information there are exaggerations, but Marci, you are an administrator and not a producer, and obviously not everyone (especially those among the droves that have left recently) would agree with your opinion of Mr. Kaplan. You've survived a lot of EP's, and your strategy seems to work, so good for you.
We are very lucky to have Rick Kaplan at the Early Show. No comment on the lies and vitriol above. We hope he stays, and that this jossip stops.
Rick is a good guy, so are the hard working people at TES (and Marci who is as valuable as they come).
why respond to what is just gossip fueled by agendas. That's all this site is. Responding only adds fuel to the fire.
There is clearly some hyperbole here through the game of telephone. The same thing happened to Shelley. This isn't the NY Times!
And yes, I see the hyperbole in my posting here as well.
oops I meant IRONY not hyperbole.
It is remarkable that such a sensitive conversation would take place in public. Who discusses compensation in front of the 5am booker?
no offense
This is absurd. No one at
The Early Show has anything bad to say about Rick. I find him refreshing…and everyone blows off smoke every now and then. It's news…who doesn't scream every now and then. But in Rick's defense he has been nothing but nice to the gang at The Early Show. And everyone who knows Claire ( i have known her for years) knows that the only thing she is strong at is running her mouth…9 out of the 10 times you can't believe a word she says. And obviously she has just proven that. ABC BEWARE! Sorry jossip but this time you got the story wrong. And by the way some of us at The Early Show are trying to move forward.
This is absurd. No one at
The Early Show has anything bad to say about Rick. I find him refreshing…and everyone blows off smoke every now and then. It's news…who doesn't scream every now and then. But in Rick's defense he has been nothing but nice to the gang at The Early Show. And everyone who knows Claire ( i have known her for years) knows that the only thing she is strong at is running her mouth…9 out of the 10 times you can't believe a word she says. And obviously she has just proven that. ABC BEWARE! Sorry jossip but this time you got the story wrong. Nice try Claire!
Oh, that's just so professional. Bad mouth one of your own.
How can you say there's no truth to jossip's piece and then come on here and bash a colleague.
If CBS wanted her to stay so badly, I'm sure that she has other talents beyond running her mouth. In fact, I know that to be very much true. ABC has a good egg on the way.
Shame!
Stay classy San Diego!
I don't get it, you say you love him and that these tips are all lies. Then you state "everyone blows off smoke now and then — who doesn't scream"
So which one is it? Is he a nice guy or a loon?
You know who discusses compensation in front of the 5am booker?… Claire. Because that is how much she runs her mouth.
She stated it was Mr. Kaplan that had the public conversation about compensation. Not Ms. Pedersen or peterson, whatever.
Don't slander and blame a poor staffer for the tattles of others.
Either way, there are more appropriate places to have this conversation.
I am not bashing Claire. I am speaking the truth…and if you don't agree she likes to talk…you obviously don't know her. Anyone who knows her…knows this is a FACT. And to those whom i offended by my comment.. Is it okay for someone to write in and bash Rick but not okay for those who know him to speak up. In all honesty anything that goes on behind close doors at The Early Show…is private info. And unless you actually work there you will never know the truth. And, if you work in news you would know tension run's high at times no matter what network you work for. But again to answer your questions…and since you must know..Rick has been nothing but professional.I think the point is some of us staffers are tired of the garbage being printed. To all those who need to know…the show has been through a lot but most of us just want to try and move forward. As for Ex-employee's good-luck…and rather than be bitter…move forward.
The only thing that makes Claire Pedersen one of the most experienced producers on the Early Show is that all the producers with real experience and years under their belt quit or were fired. The show won't move in the ratings with or without her, with or without Rick Kaplan or anyone else.
This "jossip" about The Early Show is absolutely insane. I can't believe I'm stooping to this level, but… I had to say, Rick is one nice guy and an excellent boss.
Rick "Tailwind" Kaplan is a joke. With his track record of failures he keeps getting jobs (amazing!). The joke is on CBS now. CNN NEVER recovered from his crap and lack of leadership. Kaplan is a great self-promoter and when the chips are down he will be hiding. A great finger- pointer and bully as well. Good luck CBS!
Jack Smith hired and mentored Kaplan at CBS News.
Then Kaplan fired Smith at CNN. CNN $ettled Smith's wrongful termination suit.
Rick is a hypocrite with serious psychological problems.