nynewsguy

Agreed. Bill Ratner should do V/Os for the ABC O&Os - sounds great in Chicago.

Trust me - if you knew what everyone was going through in the days of Bartelstein - you would be thankful he was gone. Yes he had charisma and talent and great chemistry with Lori - but he also had demons that were much stronger. The man was offered help countless times and turned it down. The final straw broke when he was caught stalking an intern. It was sad to watch - but everyone saw it coming. Drugs can do horrible things to great people - and Steve’s story is just one example.

If Chad were smart, he would make Michelle permanent weekday AMs - leave Shirleen at Noon. She should have had the position from the get-go, as there is real chemistry between Michelle and Ken, and the morning show numbers have been up since she went on leave. Shirleen is a great newsreader - but her interactions with others just seem forced.

All moved into studio 77 from TV 13.

Brian - is that you? There are PLENTY of other people at CBS more qualified than Conybeare. He was on this past weekend with Grymes and it was pretty unbeareable (misspelling and pun intended)

Ok, on a different note - look for a graphics update for May sweeps - along with an update to the ABC "eyewitness news" package from Warner/Gari custom for WABC. This is long in the making and finally coming. The "clunkiness" of the current on-air image is going away.

Trust me - they didn't bring Shirleen in just to anchor the noon news. Camille has much bigger plans for her - she was her "baby" at WPVI - and Camille brought her along to WABC. Shirleen will have 2 hours at the desk by the end of the year.

The first two anchors of EWN at Noon were Tim Fleisher and Eyde Tarbox. Victoria Corderi took over after Fleisher was replaced on the morning show by Harry Martin.

In May, there will be further changes besides just a new newsroom. Look for new graphics and updated EWN package designed specific for WABC. New cuts will start to appear in idents and whatnot before the debut.

Funny... If you go back through the posts - to many years ago - I told everyone that WABC was going to build a street-level studio where The Disney Store once was. Everyone doubted me... and where are they now? Ya know, things change - ideas float around.. Just saying.

Just a general FYI - For those of you who were wondering - the new graphics (chyrons/OTS/bug) have already been seen. They are the ones that have been used in all of the debates that have been on WABC these past few weeks. New opens/music will debut for November sweeps.

There is change in the wind. Don't worry - just like Net said, it's coming - I can't get into much detail - but it'll be the same Eyewitness News you love, only different!

Get ready for a new look to Eyewitness News. this coming weekend.