There are so many new faces at The Early Show that everyone should be wearing name tags, suggests one insider who's been witness to the super-negativity at the CBS morning program. So many new faces, and not one to recognize.
But at least the A.M. troops have a new leader: Zev Shalev was named interim executive producer, as Jossip was the first to tell you. Now word arrives that CBS brass want to install him as the permanent head, if only to save face amidst a crumbling operation. And while Shalev has been described to us as a decent guy and a robust resume, he's also said to be clueless about how to run things.
As we also told you, in naming Shalev to the EP slot, The Early Show also lost Shelley Ross hire and "mean girl" Laurye Blackford, who quit in protest. Her last day was Thursday. Her slot could be filled by Today's Betsy Alexander, who was brought in to help out with sweeps week, but is still around and is expected to take reigns of Early's second hour.
Meanwhile, those who are still on staff have another reason to groan:
Salary increases are being capped at 1 percent (3 percent if you're super lucky). And CBS talent chief Barbara Fedida is said to have been telling staffers that, thanks to the economy, they should feel lucky to get any raise: It's not like the competition is hiring. (Never the less, there's still a budget to send some staffers to Paris for a Lenny Kravitz concert or Kansas for a week-long show.)
Add in the negative energy of Les Moonves' wife and Early anchor Julie Chen, No. 2 Michael Rosen "who is hated by all the anchors," and other dysfunction like "a broadcast producer who can't time a show," and one could imagine how The Early Show isn't high up on anyone's Favorite Places to Work list.
Editorial Director
LOL….Laurye Blackheart got the shaft finally.
Bravo CBS. There's a place for her yet waiting at
Abu Prison where the nad-buster Shelley Ross has been rumored to want to re create as a reality show which she hopes to run hands-on.
Heard the EM staff has a pandemic case of post traumatic stress disorder from the Ross Dynasty before Ross was guillotined summarily. They may not be getting notable raises, but at least they don't have to swig tequila and cancel all doctor's appointments just for a job. That's worth something.
laurye blackheart only would quit in protest if she knew her days were numbered. Anyone described as a decent guy with a robust resume, as the new EP, would send her running for the hills. She had a job to do there which was to undermine the house of cards while Ross remotely called the shots so that Ross could claim her firing was not justified and the show's collapse not her own doing. Ross is obsessed with having the final chapter make her look good. I hope the show thrives if only to prove that when managed by someone with good character and a
non-psychotic frame of mind, it is possible.
Ross will have Blackheart to swig with at home now. Cheers.