(Image Source: Wikimedia)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

She’s not just Oprah’s BFF anymore. CBS announced its revamping its Early Show, and Gayle King will co-host, along with Charlie Rose and Erica Hill.

“The Early Show” has been behind NBC’s “Today” show and ABC’s “Good Morning America” in the ratings for years. Now, CBS says it will take a more hard news approach than its competitors in an attempt to overhaul morning TV. But, The New York Times wonders if that approach will fly. (Video Source: CBS)

“ ... there is widespread skepticism about whether a hard news bent will help bring in viewers in the morning hours.”

A blogger for The Minneapolis Star Tribune says this doesn’t seem like much of a change anyway, and wonders if King and Rose will vibe.

“ … it doesn’t look like CBS is reinventing the wheel. I am interested in what the chemistry will be like between Rose and King. Rose is used to being a solo act and he may not be up for dishing dirt with the likable, but lightweight King.”

King, a former news anchor, will lead the 8 a.m. hour of the show, which will run 7 to 9 a.m. on weekdays. The new gig, premiering Janurary 9th, means she’ll have to depart from The Gayle King Show, her self-titled program on best friend Oprah’s OWN network.

But while the Star Tribune might have been intrigued by King, The Sun Sentinel says her track record, and Rose’s, will stop people from tuning in.

“Charlie Rose? Isn’t the idea in the morning to help people wake up, not put them back to sleep. As for Gayle King–AKA Oprah’s best friend–try completing this sentence: The last successful program hosted by Gayle King was … Is there anybody, outside CBS, who thinks this concept has any chance of succeeding?”

Maybe not. This is one of many attempts by CBS to revive its morning show -- and USA Today has had enough.

“Having repeatedly failed to beat (or even match) NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS apparently is prepared to try something different to get out of the basement. Again.”


CBS is building new studio space for the show, but has yet to decide if the program will get a new name.