The New Newscasts

Today as CBS 2 aired "The Weakest Link" at 4:00, the debut of "CBS 2 First News @ 4:30" followed. Angela Rae and Todd McDermott anchored this shortened version of the old "First News @ 4:00". Top stories in the beginning, as always, followed by more news, and Robyn Carter's entertainment report at 4:53. Then Angela and Todd ended the newscast, and went to Dana Tyler and Ernie Anastos with a preview of CBS 2 News at 5:00. Brett Haber had the sports report at 5:14, and David Rogers had the forecast at 5:17. Dana Tyler previewed CBS 2 News at 6:00 at 5:19. Tony Tantillo came on at 5:22 with his "Top 5 @ 5:00" (originally "Top 4 at 4:00" since April, and "Top 5 at 5:00" previous to that). This newscast ended at 5:24, with Todd and Angela previewing the next half hour of the news. After a two-and-a-half-minute break, CBS 2 News at 5:30 opened. "No Nonsense Weather" with David Rogers came on shortly after the half-way point, as it has for over a year now. And CBS 2 News at 6:00 stayed relatively unchanged.

Robyn Carter To Appear On Hollywood Squares Tonight

CBS 2's entertainment reporter Robyn Carter will appear on Hollywood Squares tonight. She will face-off against David Sheehan, entertainment reporter for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles (his "Blockbuster Entertainment Reports" air Thursdays on WCBS).

Robyn joined Dana Tyler and Ernie Anastos on CBS 2 First News @ 4:00 today to talk about her appearance with a behind-the-scenes report. She said, "I was a wreck," adding that it's much easier to go in front of the studio cameras for CBS 2 than to answer questions in front of a live studio audience. As for how well she did, she commented, "Let's just say that it was memorable."

In April, CBS 2 sports director Brett Haber played against KYW's sports anchor Beasley Reece (this episode was actually repeated this weekend). Robyn Carter's show, which was originally supposed to air last Monday but was postponed due to the crash of Flight 587, airs tonight at 7:00pm on CBS 2.s

Brett Haber in CBS 2 News at 5:30's Open

Today, CBS 2 News at 5:30's opening was redone to include Brett Haber. The wording is now, "You're watching the CBS 2 Information Network... Live from Fifth Avenue, this is CBS 2 News at 5:30, with Angela Rae, Todd McDermott, David Roger's forecast, and Brett Haber's sports." Brett Haber has been doing occasional sports reports for the 5:30 newscast shortly after he joined last October. He has been doing "Haber's Sports Shorts" since April 27th, a regular feature to CBS 2 News at 5:30. In my opinion, the old voice-over change on May 18th didn't sound as good as the original one (which premiered on March 22nd). The new voice-over sounds like an improvement.

CBS 2 Update

-"CBS 2 News at 5:00" lasts only one day. Today, the 5:00 newscast was back to being called "The News at 5:00". The 5:30 and 6:00 newscasts have not yet been renamed "CBS 2 News".

-Today at 5:44, Brett Haber did a new two and a half minute sports segment called "Haber's Sports Shorts". This is the first time in many years that CBS 2 has had a regular sports report on the 5:00 newscast. The last one was "Warner's Plays Of The Day", which was a quick video clip of sports highlights and a preview of the 6:00 sports report. That ended in 1998.

-Speaking of Brett Haber... Last night on Hollywood Squares, he unfortunately didn't walk away the big winner. But his charity was awarded $5,000.

-Today marks the one year anniversary of "NEWS 2" switching their graphics and themes. And TV News Themes has added the current CBS 2 News theme! To listen to it, click here.

Brett Haber Competes on Hollywood Squares

Today on "CBS 2 News at 5:00", CBS 2 Sports Director Brett Haber took viewers behind-the-scenes of his experience taping "Hollywood Squares". He did not tell us if he wins, but he did say that he was not the dumbest contestant that Tom Bergeron has ever had. The CBS 2 website has a press release about it here. You can see for yourself if Brett Haber wins $10,000 for his favorite charity tonight at 7:30 on CBS 2.

Tiki Talks Sports Monday

This afternoon at 5:45, Brett Haber spoke with Tiki Barber for a few minutes. They talked about the New York Giants' great 2000-2001 season and their disappointing loss in the Super Bowl at the end of January. They also talked about Tiki Barber coming back to CBS 2's "The News This Morning", starting this Monday at 5:00am. He will rejoin the newscast as sports anchor (currently Brett Haber and Gary Apple do the sports via videotape from the night before).

Giant January on CBS 2

Sports anchors Brett Haber and Gary Apple, along with Amy Stone, have been in Tampa all week long covering the Pre-Super Bowl events. Todd McDermott was live in Tampa yesterday afternoon and evening, anchoring "New York Live!" and "The News at 5:00" as a split-screen edition. Tiki Barber has been providing "Tiki's Journal" since late last week, home video of the Giants and the Super Bowl (Tiki's coming back to "CBS 2 This Morning" in March). Now that we are only 2 days away from the big game, CBS 2 will have special shows. Tonight and Saturday night, CBS 2 will have a special 7pm broadcast. Sunday morning at 11am, CBS 2 will have a special "Super Bowl Warm-Up" show. CBS 2 is also running a lot of "Giant January" promos advertising their coverage (including "Tiki's Journal") and primetime shows (including "Survivor II").

David Rogers and Brett Haber Both Begin Tonight!

Last night at 11:00, Stephen Clark and Dana Tyler said goodbye to Craig Allen, but said he will do the weather for the weekends, and will continue his busy schedule with WCBS NewsRadio 880. Craig Allen said that David Rogers would start tonight at 5, 6, and 11.

Dana Tyler and Stephen Clark also said that it was Warner Wolf's last 11:00pm sports report. Warner Wolf will still do the 6:00pm sports report, and said that Brett Haber would start tonight at 11:00.

It now seems like, after many months, News 2 has a permanent weather anchor lineup. Tony Pann, weekday mornings. Ira Joe Fisher, noon and 4:00. David Rogers, 5, 6, and 11:00. Craig Allen, weekends.

CBSNewYork.Com Adds More Bios

Friday, CBSNewYork.Com added more bios to their News 2 Bios. Added are Brett Haber, Todd McDermott, Tony Pann, Michael Pomeranz, Hazel Sanchez, and Amy Stone. Tony Pann's biography says he is the morning weatherman for News 2. He has been filling in a lot for Ira Joe Fisher in the last few weeks, along with Scott Sumner and Chris Silveri. It is not yet known it Tony Pann will remain as weekend meteorologist.

New York Daily News and the New York Post with information about Brett Haber

New York Daily News and the New York Post each have a story about Brett Haber moving to NEWS 2 at 11:00, and Warner Wolf staying at 6:00. Warner Wolf's contract has been extended through February, 2002. Both papers say it starts in October.

New Sports Anchor From Washington, D.C.

This morning's The Washington Post reports that Brett Haber, sports director at WTTG-TV Channel 5, Washington, will be coming to NEWS 2 in September. Brett Haber, who is a New York native, will be doing the 11:00 weeknight sports report. Warner Wolf, a Washington native, will still do the 6:00 sports report on NEWS 2. For more about Brett Haber, including his picture, click here.