(Image source: CBS)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

CBS’ new early show -- ‘This Morning’ premiered Monday. The reviews are in -- and they’re favorable across the board -- though critics point out a few kinks.

‘This Morning’ features Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill. CBS has been in last place in the morning for years. The revamped show was first announced in November, and at the time -- critics noted they’d heard the promise of ‘something new’ from CBS before. But now, writes The New York Daily News:

“With the new version of “CBS This Morning” they actually stayed true to their word.”

Entertainment Weekly calls the debut ‘lively,’ and says the trio has chemistry. 

“The best thing about the show … is that most of the time, all three hosts seemed perfectly at ease and confident negotiating the various roles required on a morning show. I’d encourage more interaction among them, and the show clearly needs to add a supporting character in the tradition of Al Roker to deliver both the weather and a few zingers for the three hosts to chuckle over.”

In the first hour, Rose handled hard news, in the second, King did pop culture. TIME says the format isn’t perfect, but applauds CBS for branching out of typical morning fare.

“ … the two hours … are almost literally night and day. … Rose … is ineffably associated with the wee hours from his years in PBS late-night … Essentially, CBS is betting that there’s a market niche for viewers looking for an evening newscast in the morning. … at least the network is trying something besides a pure copy of Today and GMA. Anyone up for a stiff cocktail at 7 a.m.?”

The Guardian speculates this new format is being utilized to attract older audiences for the show, calling it: 

“...breakfast TV for the greyer-haired, more sedate demographic. … In short, this is morning TV for the Cocoon, not the caffeine, set. And, so far, it works.”

Rose, King and Hall were largely applauded by media for their work -- but one point of contention among critics was the show’s new set. It features a glass walls green room -- through which waiting guests can be seen chatting and snacking, and a glass round table for the hosts. 

The New York Daily News calls it ‘homey’ and …

… The Atlantic Wire, ‘classy,’ but The Boston Herald writes:

“If ‘CBS This Morning’ wants to be taken seriously, it needs to fix that set, which looks like the collateral damage from a war between HGTV designers and ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ nerds.”

The show is already lining up some big guests -- First Lady Michelle Obama is slated for Wednesday.