Studio 46 Getting A Makeover

Morning anchor Chris Wragge posted this morning on Facebook that CBS 2 News was moving to a temporary studio for the summer as Studio 46 gets a makeover.

Newscasts began originating from a temporary set this afternoon.  It uses pieces from the studio that had been used in an interview and stand-up area, as well as the primary portion sister station WLNY used, to make the temporary location feel familiar. This section has been missing from the studio for the past few weeks, with WLNY using the CBS 2 desk for the 9 p.m. newscasts.

Studio 46 debuted in its current form on October 20, 2011 after broadcasting from a temporary set for exactly one month.

CBS 2 Getting's LA's "2"

It looks like CBS 2 is getting a new logo.

As seen on Janelle Burrell's Facebook page, the live trucks have gotten a makeover:

Burrell points out that the trucks are now white, no longer blue.  But the bigger change is the CBS 2 logo.  The "2" that the station had been using since the "More News in Less Time" days in May 1997 is gone and has been replaced by the same one sister station KCBS-TV in Los Angeles uses.

Multiple sources report that CBS 2 will also be getting a new graphics package. The station's current graphics launched Sunday, September 22, 2013.

John Slattery Laid To Rest

CBS 2's Tony Aiello reports on the funeral for his colleague John Slattery, which was held today at Saints John and Paul Church in Larchmont:

"And let perpetual light shine upon him..." pic.twitter.com/oGQpDZ3Vc0
— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) September 30, 2014

"John didn't dabble in his faith. He lived it daily" - Msgr Thomas Petrillo pic.twitter.com/HTh32cWz4m
— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) September 30, 2014

Tributes for John Slattery

A sample of the tributes on Twitter:

A grey day. Our friend John Slattery has passed. We go on with warm memories and tears.

— Lou Young (@LouYoungNY) September 25, 2014

A man devoted to family, faith, and highest standards of journalism. "Tell me a story, John." He had a million. A giant. @SlatteryTV

— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) September 25, 2014

We are all so fragile. Always admired John Slattery. The man and the reporter. So witty and talented. Made us all laugh and inspired me.

— Don Champion (@DonChampionTV) September 25, 2014

I was always struck by John Slattery's humility, despite his successes. Incredible warmth, despite a tough exterior. @SlatteryTV Thank you.

— Weijia Jiang (@WeijiaJiangTV) September 25, 2014

John Slattery was an incredible journalist... but an even better man. Rest in peace my friend. You will be missed.

— katie mcgee (@katie_mcgee) September 25, 2014

Words cannot express how sad I am today to learn of my friend John Slattery's passing.. What a great man who had a dry wit that I loved..

— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) September 25, 2014

John Slattery was an outstanding reporter who could make any story sing! I will miss him dearly and my family's prayers are with his family.

— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) September 25, 2014

Heartbroken over passing of @SlatteryTV -sat next to each other & shared many laughs. I'll miss his wit- his stories about his grandchildren

— Alice Gainer (@GainerTV) September 25, 2014

Shocked and saddened over the passing of John Slattery. A truly, truly wonderful person.

— Scott Rapoport (@ScottRapoport) September 25, 2014

We have lost our Shop Steward in more ways than one. Rest in Peace John Slattery, we miss you already. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/sPzBrUNUiQ

— Chris Wragge (@ChrisWragge) September 25, 2014

Great Journalist. Beloved colleague. Mentor. Trusted friend. John Slattery, you will be missed dearly.

— Christine Sloan (@CSloanTV) September 25, 2014

Deeply saddened by sudden loss of dear colleague @SlatteryTV. Unique voice, sorely missed. Love to Suzie and Slattery family.

— Marcia Kramer (@MKramerTV) September 25, 2014

Had pleasure of working w/ John Slattery in my brief time at @CBSNewYork. Brief yes, but this man left an impression. http://t.co/fTrfiqhxR9

— Katie Fehlinger (@katiefehlinger) September 25, 2014

It was a privilege to call you a colleague, @SlatteryTV. I'll miss your kindness, your dry sense of humor, and your stories. #RIP, John.

— Andrea Grymes (@AndreaGrymesTV) September 25, 2014

Heartbroken. http://t.co/C1QdABXnW2

— Mary Calvi (@MaryCalviTV) September 25, 2014

Heartbroken over the sudden passing of my dear friend and colleague John Slattery. He was one of a kind! RIP Slats. pic.twitter.com/AqkewXrJlD

— Hazel Sanchez (@HSanchezTV) September 25, 2014

I wish it wasn't true. I am blessed to have known him. Our hearts our breaking in the newsroom. pic.twitter.com/BrQvAJLGUW

— Sarah Walters (@SWaltersTV) September 25, 2014

So honored to have called you my colleague and friend. We will truly miss you, John Slattery. pic.twitter.com/oa6jlb7JZO

— Janelle Burrell (@BurrellTV) September 25, 2014

#JohnSlattery (not the actor) Got a call once from #NYPD about John. Slats had gone off on cops again about arbitrary rules.

— Pablo Guzmán (@yoruba69) September 25, 2014

#JohnSlattery (not the actor) "Is it us?" the #NYPD Inspector asked. "Or does he treat everybody like this?"

— Pablo Guzmán (@yoruba69) September 25, 2014

#JohnSlattery (not the actor) "He doesn't like you putting us in these pens while civilians walk everywhere and take pictures."

— Pablo Guzmán (@yoruba69) September 25, 2014

#JohnSlattery (not the actor) But I couldn't resist: "That said. Yeah. He hates everybody." I told the whole story to John; he laughed.

— Pablo Guzmán (@yoruba69) September 25, 2014

A cloud hangs over the newsroom. I keep glancing at John Slattery's desk & smiling about the legend I had the pleasure of working alongside.

— Jessica Schneider (@JSchneiderTV) September 25, 2014

So sad to hear about the death of John Slattery. A true news man and a wonderful person. @cbsnewyork pic.twitter.com/O5dEgncMe4

— Megan Glaros (@MeganGlaros) September 25, 2014

NYC has lost a great journalist. Our thoughts and prayers are with John Slattery's family and his colleagues at CBS. pic.twitter.com/TA31I5PKfW

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) September 25, 2014

Someday, someone will take his desk, but no one can ever take his place. @SlatteryTV pic.twitter.com/80F5f0s9eY

— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) September 25, 2014

We've lost a standard. #johnslattery was smart funny kind & caring. I'lll miss my pale-skinned red-headed ally RIP pic.twitter.com/17mAlytHac

— John Elliott (@JohnElliottTV) September 25, 2014

Genius storyteller. So very smart, funny, a tad prickly & altogether lovable. Missing my cousin John #JohnSlattery pic.twitter.com/uoc9GZ37iY

— Dave Carlin (@DaveCarlinTV) September 25, 2014

Among the things I'll miss about John Slattery will be his humor. He always had something funny to say...

— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) September 25, 2014

One of the things we would do is when we saw each other coming down the hall, we would start strutting and say "yeah, we bad!" #StirCrazy

— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) September 25, 2014

So very sad to hear of @SlatteryTV passing. A great newsman and all around good guy. http://t.co/EYV6JTBlzA

— Jim Rosenfield (@jimrosenfield) September 25, 2014

A brilliant reporter and a kind man who always looked out for his colleagues. Condolences to John Slattery's family. http://t.co/aSVZBbDwfl

— Sam Ryan (@SamRyanMLB) September 25, 2014

You were one of the kindest to me when I first came to NYC to work @SlatteryTV - my heart hurts today. You will be missed...

— Tamsen Fadal (@tamsenfadal) September 25, 2014

Missing my pal. RT @GSorensen: Just came across this photo I took of @HSanchezTV and @SlatteryTV in October 2010. pic.twitter.com/M5khlpRUOz

— Hazel Sanchez (@HSanchezTV) September 26, 2014

Thank you for your kind words & warm thoughts. @HsuTV says treasure each day and the people you share them with... pic.twitter.com/asI9bvzDKk

— John Elliott (@JohnElliottTV) September 26, 2014

I used to think I was John Slattery's favorite.Always sought me out to say something nice.Turns out, everyone thought they were his favorite

— Lonnie Quinn (@LonnieQuinnTV) September 26, 2014

Colleagues Mourn Loss of John Slattery

Lou Young broke the news to many on Twitter this morning:

A grey day. Our friend John Slattery has passed. We go on with warm memories and tears.
— Lou Young (@LouYoungNY) September 25, 2014

At the age of 63, veteran CBS 2 News reporter John Slattery died suddenly in his Westchester home this morning.  The station reported that he had battled heart problems.

Slattery was just short of marking 30 years at the station, having joined WCBS-TV in October 1984.  He had previously spent five years at WABC-TV and earlier at WCAU in Philadelphia.

At noon, Chris Wragge and Mary Calvi reported the sad news:



Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson tossed to Dana Tyler to look back at Slattery's career on CBS 2 News at 5:00:


At 6:00, Dick Brennan reported the story and spoke with former colleagues Jim Ryan and Tony Guida:

.

Morrison Cleared of Criminal Charges

Rob Morrison, the former co-anchor of CBS 2 News This Morning and CBS 2 News at Noon, has been cleared of criminal charges after finishing a domestic violence program, according to the Darien Times, Daily News and New York Post. Today in a Stamford court, Morrison was allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas of charges of threatening and disorderly conduct.

Morrison was arrested in February of last year, accusing of choking his wife, then-CBS Money Watch reporter Ashley Morrison. He allegedly told the police, "I can’t go home tonight man, I’m f–king killing her!"

Days later, he "resigned" from the station, leaving his $300,000-a-year job, according to the Daily News, then publicly blamed his wife.

The two are now back together and say their eight-year-old son is "mostly unscathed."

Alex Denis Returns

Alex Denis returned from maternity leave this morning. But she didn't go back to being the traffic reporter.

When Denis went on leave in the winter, Jill Nicolini, who had been doing WLNY's "The Couch," took over her CBS 2 News This Morning traffic duties.

Now Denis appears twice a morning with a new segment called "Now Trending."

She joins Lisa Kerney in returning from maternity leave to a much reduced role. Kerney had been one of the three anchors of "The Couch" in addition to morning sports on CBS 2 but, after giving birth, was back to just sports. (Kerney left CBS 2 for ESPN a few months later.)

Denis herself replaced Katie McGee as morning traffic reporter in January 2012 while McGee was on vacation for over one week.

Diane Macedo Joins CBS 2

As we reported last month, Fox Business anchor Diane Macedo joined CBS 2 this week as a reporter and weekend morning anchor.  Macedo joins anchor/reporter Andrea Grymes at the desk.  Cindy Hsu, who had been doing weekend mornings and evenings, remains at weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter.

Meteorologist Vanessa Murdock also returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a girl in January.  She filled in for John Elliott during the week before taking back her weekend morning weather duties, which freelancer John Marshall had returned to fill.

Officially started at WCBS! If you have any ideas for news stories in the tri-state area please send them my way (and wish me luck)!
— Diane Macedo (@dianermacedo) March 11, 2014

Making my anchoring debut on CBS 2 in New York today. Tune in at at 6 am if you're unlucky enough to be awake that early on a Sat.
— Diane Macedo (@dianermacedo) March 15, 2014

Welcoming @VMurdockTV back from mat. leave & @dianermacedo to our wknd AM team! @HsuTV still on at night! @CBSNewYork Live 6-7am!
— Andrea Grymes (@AndreaGrymesTV) March 15, 2014

NY Post Whines About Mobile 2

The New York Post's Phil Mushnick must've seen Mobile 2 for the first time the other day.

After making some sort of joke about Benny Hill, Looney Tunes and Three Stooges music, he writes:

We’ll pick it up with studio co-anchor Mary Calvi, about to throw it to field reporter Weijia Jiang, who was driving a car — trying to drive a car — on Staten Island while she alternately looked at the road and shot glances at the camera operator in the passenger seat.

Ch. 2 proudly and generously refers to this setup as “Mobile 2.”

Calvi, having noted that conditions are dangerous, introduced Jiang as “trying to maneuver around all these problems.”
Stop right there. That’s one way to look at it. The other way was to believe your eyes, to deal with the more self-evident — she and Ch. 2 apparently were trying to create even more problems!

What Jiang reported while she needlessly drove on — and apparently sought out — dangerously iced roads on SI could have just as easily and far more sensibly been reported from the studio: “Be very, very careful if you’re driving or even walking!”

Yes, Mobile 2 is largely a gimmick, but it also shows a live view that had never really been seen, at least when it debuted a few years ago.

And Mushnick's claim that the road conditions could have easily been reported from inside the studio is laughable. What's the point of television news if it can't show you the news?

That would be no better than a newspaper columnist who's staying inside.

(Thanks to Mike for sending in this link.)

Diane Macedo Joining As Weekend Morning Anchor

Looks like CBS 2 will be welcoming yet another fresh face:

Tomorrow will be my last day at FBN. Off to WCBS to anchor weekend mornings & report on weekdays. So grateful to both Fox and CBS.
— Diane Macedo (@dianermacedo) February 13, 2014

@BrettSchwan Yep! Channel 2. I start mid-March.
— Diane Macedo (@dianermacedo) February 13, 2014

Macedo is a reporter at Fox Business Network.



Weekend mornings have been anchored by both Cindy Hsu and Andrea Grymes.

(Thanks to IceManNYR on TV News Talk for pointing this out.)

"New and Improved Mobile 2"

CBS 2's anchors have been promoting enhancements to the Mobile 2 vehicles, which can broadcast live while driving. It's been called the "new and improved Mobile 2, equipped with even more high-tech features." They neglect to explain those new features.

It appears that instead of a single camera held by a photographer in the passenger's seat, there are now two cameras mounted: One facing the reporter in the driver's seat and another, operated by the photographer, facing forward to show the road.

It's unclear whether two mounted cameras are the extent of the "more high-tech features."

Lisa Kerney Leaves CBS 2

Today was Lisa Kerney's last day at CBS 2.  She tweeted the news this morning:

Humbly grateful for an amazing run w/ my @CBS2ThisMorning fam & our loyal viewers! Leaving @CBS w many memories & grt friends! THANK YOU! Xo
— Lisa Kerney (@LisaKerney) January 29, 2014

She also tweeted at around the same time that she was headed to ESPN, according to NewsByte2 reader Brian, but quickly deleted that message.

Kerney joined CBS 2 in January 2012 as morning sports anchor in time to cover the Giants' appearance in the Super Bowl.  She, along with John Elliott and newcomer Carolina Bermudez, were the three original hosts for WLNY's "The Couch" when the show premiered that July.  She lost that position while on maternity leave this past summer to Jodi Applegate, who herself left shortly after this blog reported on her arrival.  The third host is now Jill Nicolini, who just recently joined the program as its traffic anchor.

Tamara Leitner Leaves

NewsByte2 reader Jeffrey noticed today that Tamara Leitner's bio has been removed from cbsnewyork.com.

Leitner joined CBS 2 in April as an investigative reporter but had increasingly been given general assignment stories.  She had not been seen on the air since early last month.

She had previously served as the investigative reporter at KPHO in Phoenix, a station she had been at since 2002. There she went by the name Tammy Leitner.

Changes to WLNY's "The Couch"

When WLNY debuted its 7-9 a.m. broadcast "The Couch" in July 2012, it was hosted by weathercaster John Elliott, sportscaster Lisa Kerney and former Z100 radio personality Carolina Bermudez. While Kerney and Bermudez both took maternity leaves toward the end of the summer, the station brought on former PIX 11/News 12 Long Island/Fox 5 anchor Jodi Applegate to fill in. Now, as both women have returned from their respective leaves, it appears Applegate has replaced Kerney on the morning show.

@Mister_Bill @TheRealCarolina @WLNYTV Hi Bill! I'm focusing more on sports now all morning long on @CBS2ThisMorning Catch me there!!!
— Lisa Kerney (@LisaKerney) November 15, 2013

@RITGIN unfortunately @lisakerney is focusing more on sports for @cbsnewyork & @alexdenistv is great- still working for @wlnytv #thecouch
— Carolina Bermudez (@TheRealCarolina) November 17, 2013

The show also bid farewell to Katie McGee two weeks ago.  She said her husband was taking a job in Los Angeles with the NFL Network so she's going to look for work there.  McGee first joined CBS 2 in October 2002 and reported on entertainment primarily for the morning newscast until "The 2 Crew" was removed in early 2006.  She rejoined when the station went HD in April 2007 as the morning traffic reporter, a position which she held until January 2012 when Alex Denis took over, sending McGee at first to 5:00 p.m. entertainment reporter until joining WLNY's "The Couch" in the summer of 2012.




WLNY's other newscast at 9:00 p.m. also saw changes this year with Dick Brennan and Alice Gainer taking over the anchor desk after its previous anchors became exclusive to CBS 2: Chris Wragge left for the mornings and Dana Tyler remained at 6:00.

Sandy Anniversary Promos

CBS 2 has been airing "Reporting Sandy" promos since last week to mark tomorrow's first anniversary since the destructive storm. They feature the anchors, weathercasters and select reporters looking back at the challenges Sandy brought.

Kristine Johnson, Chris Wragge, Maurice DuBois, Dana Tyler and Mary Calvi:

John Elliott:


Christine Sloan, Carolyn Gusoff, John Slattery and Cindy Hsu:


Kristine Johnson and Maurice DuBois:


John Slattery, Lonnie Quinn, Carolyn Gusoff, Emily Smith and Cindy Hsu:


Chris Wragge and Mary Calvi:


Weijia Jiang, Cindy Hsu and Jennifer McLogan:


Kristine Johnson:


Elise Finch, John Elliott, Lonnie Quinn and Vanessa Murdock:


Update: A few more:

Carolyn Gusoff, Tony Aiello and Christine Sloan:


Kristine Johnson and Maurice DuBois:

Chris Wragge to Guest on "The Talk"

CBS 2 News anchor Chris Wragge will guest co-host CBS's "The Talk" this afternoon at 2:00. He'll be at the table with former CBS 2 reporter Julie Chen.

Wragge appeared live during CBS 2 News at Noon:

Word is out! Thanks to #CBS pr dept. Looking forward to heading west tomorrow for Thursday show… http://t.co/PPUbLPN2wm
— Chris Wragge (@ChrisWragge) October 22, 2013

Anchor Kristine Johnson and weathercaster John Elliott have guested on "The Talk" in the past.

Former CBS 2 meteorologist Megan Glaros, now at WBBM in Chicago, will get her chance tomorrow.

Don't forget to watch moi on The Talk on Friday ✌️ pic.twitter.com/W2UdmL5b7C
— Megan Glaros (@MeganGlaros) October 21, 2013

CBS 2 to Host Mayoral Debate

CBS 2 is hosting the New York City mayoral debate this evening.  Anchor Maurice DuBois will moderate the event between Bill de Blasio and Joe Lhota from the CUNY Graduate Center.

As was the case for past debates, WLNY will simulcast the debate in Spanish.

BEHIND THE SCENES: 4 hours till the gloves come off at CBS2's Mayoral debate. Be there. #NYC2013 pic.twitter.com/JbxCB1K3Nh
— Dan Forman (@danfor) October 22, 2013

BEHIND THE SCENES: finishing touches on questions for CBS2 Mayoral debate with Maurice. Starts 7pm. #NYC2013 pic.twitter.com/RML75irSIf
— Dan Forman (@danfor) October 22, 2013

Sneak peak at 5pm. The real deal at 7pm. #NYC2013 Mayoral candidates are held accountable. Tune in to CBS2. pic.twitter.com/1mxg88MVR0
— Dan Forman (@danfor) October 22, 2013

CBS 2 Airs Tunnel To Towers Run

CBS 2 will again air the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run this morning. The hour-long broadcast, which is aired on a tape delay, begins at 10:30.  More information on the event can be found at cbsnewyork.com/tunneltotowers.

"Face The Nation," which usually airs at that time, will instead run at 1:00.

New Graphics Notes

Now that it's been a full work week since CBS 2 launched the new graphics package, it's time to look back on some notes:

1. This is the first time the newest addition to Manhattan's skyline, One World Trade Center, has appeared in CBS 2 News opens (in the morning, at 6:00 and at 11:00). Its predecessors, the Twin Towers, had been featured in some opens prior to 9/11 (though not the opens used immediately prior).

2. This past Tuesday was National Punctuation Day but don't tell that to CBS 2.  Their new lower-third banners appear unable to display apostrophes. In these snapshots taken today, the apostrophe in "McDonald's" was omitted at noon while places where an apostrophe should have existed showed up as a blank space this evening: [9/28 Update: It appears that this issue has been resolved as of this morning.]

3. The lower-thirds place the @CBSNewYork Twitter handle (or @CBSThisMorning in the morning) beneath the anchors' and reporters' names.  It would seem to make more sense to put that person's own Twitter name in that spot, especially as the station's Twitter account is already being promoted on the bug.

4. As there is no shadow behind the website, Facebook and Twitter section of the logo bug, the white text becomes unreadable whenever it appears over white.

5. The split screens appear to be designed for widescreen use but the camera shots are only sometimes framed correctly for 4:3 screens. In the below GIF, the Mary Calvi/Weijia Jiang screen is framed correctly, though it appears weird for viewers watching in high definition as neither talent is centered in the box. The second snapshot shows two anchors in both boxes and they will get cut off on some standard definition television sets.  (The black overlays show the "safe area.")  Many channels on both cable and broadcast now take advantage of the entire 16:9 widescreen space and letterbox their broadcasts for SD viewers.

6. The previous logo still appears on the Mobile Weather Lab, which is seen in promos as well as in an ad on the bottom of the screen during some weather forecasts.

7. The logo has also yet to be replaced on cbsnewyork.com, which would seem to be simpler than replacing it on a vehicle and redoing promos. In addition, the Facebook page continues to use some weird do-it-yourself version of the previous logo.

8. Sister station WLNY has yet to see the new graphics for the most part. The lower-thirds did receive a slight update, changing the color from a semitransparent black to blue on the two-line banners. They are also now using the new "live" bug CBS 2 is using. (And the 2012 copyright is used, at least Tuesday night when the below snapshot was taken.)

Regarding the music: The old theme is still used in teases for the noon and 5:00 newscasts during the day. CBS 2 News This Morning reverted to the previous morning theme Tuesday morning (though the open still uses the new theme).

Slideshow of New Graphics

We've compiled this gallery of snapshots showing CBS 2's new graphics: