Hsu to Throw First Pitch at Mets Game

CBS 2's noon and 4:00 update anchor Cindy Hsu will be throwing the first pitch at tonight's New York Mets game at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens. Hsu was selected by the Mets to throw the pitch for Asian Day at Shea. Today during CBS 2 First News @ 4:00, Cindy told Ernie Anastos and Dana Tyler that her co-anchor at noon, Michael Pomeranz (a former Minor League baseball player), and many of the behind the scenes people at CBS 2 have been giving her pointers. She will throw the pitch at around 6:45 tonight. Good Luck Cindy!

-Brian

New CBS 2 This Morning Site and a New Concept!

CBSNEWYORK.com has added a brand new page for CBS 2 News This Morning. The new page has a link to the Pet Pic of the Day page, and also a brand new interactive idea, Let CBS 2 Be Your Wake Up Call! More on this exciting new concept from the CBS 2 News This Morning page:

You already depend on CBS 2 News This Morning to keep you informed as you begin your day. Why not let CBS 2 wake you up each morning? Just send us an e-mail, including your name and phone number, and why you need a wake up call. We'll give you a call the day before to confirm your information and time. It's that easy! Don't spend one more morning hitting the snooze button on your own! E-mail us at: cbsnewyork@cbs.com with "Wake Up Call" in the subject line.

-Brian

Phil Simms' Bio on CBSNEWYORK.com

The CBS 2 Bios Section has been updated to include the biography of the latest CBS 2 contributor, Phil Simms. Simms is going to be the fitness and well-being reporter for CBS 2 News, joining the CBS 2 HealthWatch team of Paul Moniz and Dr. Mike Rosen, who is scheduled to start soon.

-Brian

Ira Joe Fisher Returns to CBS 2

Ira Joe Fisher returned to the CBS 2 News at Noon today. As we reported exclusively last week, Ira has had ankle problems over the past few weeks. Ira Joe explained today that he actually had a torn tendon in his ankle that was a result of his fall during the winter. Because his ankle is still not healed completely, Ira did his weather forecast sitting at the anchor desk. A split-screen graphic was used so that the viewers would be able to see Ira and the maps at the same time.

-Brian

Fill-In Sports Anchor: Sam Marchiano

Last night on the CBS 2 Weekend News at 11:00, Sam Marchiano filled in for Gary Apple. My brother tells me that Sam has worked for Fox Sports Net as a national reporter. Unfortunately, there are no bios on the Fox Sports Net page, so it is unknown if Sam Marchiano still works for them. If the last name sounds familiar to New Yorkers, it should. Sam is the daughter of longtime WPIX/WB11 News at Ten sports anchor Sal Marchiano.

-Brian

CBS 2 This Morning: Pet Pic of the Day!

CBS 2's website, CBSNEWYORK.com, is advertising for a new segment on CBS 2 This Morning called the Pet Pic of the Day. Here's more from the Pet Pic of the Day page at CBSNEWYORK.com:

In this digital age, who doesn't love to take photos and share them online? CBS 2 This Morning would love to see your digital pictures of your pet. Each day we'll pick out the best and share it with our online and on-air audience.

Visit the Pet Pic of the Day page at CBSNEWYORK.com for more information on where to send the photos, and also some important notices.

This new feature is just one of many changes that indicate that CBS 2 This Morning is going to be changing from hard news to a lighter format. Other changes over the last few weeks include more of a discussion to begin the newscast (instead of a rundown of the Top Stories), and there have been special guests during the 6:30am half-hour. CBS 2 also appears to be advertising for their website more often during their newscasts, and CBS 2 This Morning will share the pet photos with their "online and on-air audience." All of these signs point to a more interactive format for CBS 2 News. Stay with CBS 2 New York as CBS 2 continues to undergo these exciting changes!

-Brian

History Channel Joins The CBS 2 Information Network

Last night on CBS 2 Nightcast, Ernie Anastos mentioned that the History Channel is the newest partner in the CBS 2 Information Partner. Anastos went on to mention that Nightcast will air the segment "This Week in History" every week. The segment was reported by a History Channel reporter, and it used History Channel graphics. It opened with the CBS 2 Reports animation with the History Channel logo below it.

-Brian

Ira Joe Fisher Recovering from Ankle Injury

We have learned exclusively through an extremely reliable source that CBS 2's noon and 4:00pm weatherman Ira Joe Fisher has been out over the past few weeks recovering from an ankle injury. All of us here at CBS 2 New York wish Ira Joe a speedy recovery! There had been some speculation on various TV News-related message boards that Janine D'Adamo would also anchor weather at noon, but this source has confirmed that when Ira Joe returns in a few weeks, he will continue to do weather at noon and 4:00pm.

-Brian

More Info on Rose Walia

David informs me that a reliable source has told him that Rose Walia will be working for CBS 2 on a per diem basis.
Thanks David!

-Brian

A New Partner: The History Channel?

Last night during CBS 2 Nightcast, there was a commercial advertising for a special History Channel report entitled "This Week in History," which will be broadcast this Friday, August 17, on Nightcast. It appears as if the History Channel might become a partner in the CBS 2 Information Network. The History Channel is not yet featured as one of the Information Network partners on CBSNEWYORK.com, and it is not in the opening graphics, but it could be added soon if it becomes a partner. Stay Tuned!

-Brian