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Maybe you can say Michael himself isn't good in the role, but it's laughable to say he's unqualified. He's co-anchoring alongside a former sports reporter/college athlete and a former political strategist. Lest we forget, Joe Garagiola had a similar career path as Michael...player turned analyst who later found fame as a talk show host and morning show contributor. At one point, even he was credited in the open of the the Today show. Again, maybe Michael isn't their best option, but nowhere in the rule book does it say that the anchor rolr is reserved for serious, classically-trained news reporters.

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Not yet announced. You'd think it would coming up pretty quick, unless they wait until after Sunday, since (unlike a weekday anchor's exit) they'll have plenty of opportunities to put out a release during the week.

Heck, that's why they brought in that Tony guy for what seemed like a week before switching to Jesse. Wasn't that sort of the plan for Mike and Mike, too?

In what I think is a first, ABC 7's now using the Stimulus cut for a morning rejoin, in place of the talent rejoin. The top and bottom of the hour opens are sticking with Eyewitness News.

"Do your damn special, but this is primetime, NO SCREWING AROUND!"

Live.

And to think, he was just 2 weeks to retiring from the force. His family won't be able to collect any of his pension.

The morning show special is in progress. So far, it's been...exactly what you'd expect. The highlight so far has been Bob and Jackie doing their secret handshake live in a split screen during the commercial break. "I literally haven't seen Jackie Bange in 6 years."

It was back to normal at 8.

I can't make heads or tails of this one. No skyline backdrop this morning, replaced with a still graphic. The lack of bug/graphics on either image is purely coincidental, but perhaps the (not live) skyline malfunctioned. It's a little dark and the shadows cast by the anchors is a little distracting, but it's not necessarily a bad look. Still hope it's only temporary.

I DVR'd it. I'll try to check in later...like probably Monday.

You got it. That is indeed a sunset. As for the flexibility you suggest, I don't know.

So, I've been capturing the new opens over the last few months, and am finally getting around to the morning show. While processing the video, something caught my eye. Can someone tell me what's wrong with this skyline shot for the 4:00 AM news?

It's been 3 days. Three. Days. Just saying.

Kevin and Lisa would beg to differ.

Yeah, it wasn't ready yesterday. Funny thing is, the "relaunch" (without the new set), was really not much different than normal, except for Michael sitting at the desk. No significant format changes on what was supposed to be a new day.

Limited? Probably not, but maybe the first time in decades. I could totally see Charlie and Joan's GMA doing that during at least a few of their road shows way back when. Entirely commercial-free, though, would almost assuredly be a first.

Knowing that she had connections to the top didn't help the impression that she might not have been best-qualified. And, if nothing else, it's hard to believe she is the best that the network could come up with to be their #1 co-anchor in market #1, though that could be said for a few of the competitors, too.

Gotta technically fall to 2nd to get passed for 2nd.

I guess I'm not surprised. That said, he'll likely show up in the rare case when they go with one meteorologist for the whole night. That said, it's always nice to see Linda at 10. I'm stunned, though, that Elgas is already getting the same treatment at ABC that he got at NBC. On Monday and Tuesday nights when Alan is off, Rob will do all 4 broadcasts on the mothership. When Wednesday rolls around, Ravi will do the 5 and the flagship 10, with Rob continuing in his field reporting/Burton-backup contributor role (really, they might as well formally add him to the 10 o'clock line-up). That's exactly what happened to him at WMAQ when Dick Johnson would still get top priority behind Stafford. Perhaps it's a sweet incentive they gave Ravi for getting passed over, but I'm still surprised.

They needed to do something. Among the others in town, NBC 5 and WGN's apps are so much better and polished.

I don't think it'll be successful, but I like that it's only the final half hour, to start.

I'll admit, I missed that.

Not necessarily. Whatever they have in mind could be done from the second floor.