CBS 2 Weather on WCBS 880

CBS 2 News meteorologists and weather anchors began providing the forecast on sister station WCBS NewsRadio 880 this morning. After longtime 880 (and former CBS 2) meteorologist Crag Allen's morning reports are over at 10:00, John Elliott jumps in for "Traffic and Weather Together on the 8s." Lonnie Quinn takes over from 2:00 to 4:00, when Allen returns for the evening commute. It seemed that every other hit was live, at least during Quinn's two hours, while the others were prerecorded.

As reported a few weeks ago, CBS 2's sports anchors Sam Ryan and Otis Livingston will soon be anchoring the 11:00 p.m. "20/20 Update" on WFAN SportsRadio 66 but it won't be tonight, as was originally planned.

Finch Fills In

Elise Finch has been covering the weather center for Lonnie Quinn yesterday and today. He will return tomorrow.

Heat Wave Weekend NewsBytes

Here are a bunch of quick headlines for you as you try to keep cool in the tri-state this weekend... Feel free to weigh in in the comments section:

> For the first time since Christmas, Cindy Hsu anchored a newscast. The nearly 15-year veteran of the station filled in alongside Chris Wragge on CBS 2 News at 5:00 and at 11:00, and next to Steve Bartelstein this morning.

> A day after two climbers scaled The New York Times building in Times Square, Don Dahler tried to give viewers a sense of what the two publicity-seeking men were feeling. The anchor climbed a 25-foot wall in Chelsea Piers three times and said that, by the end of the climbs, his arms and fingers were cramping, even though he does rock climbing and has done 200-foot cliffs. "The physical feats these men accomplished are nothing short of astounding," Dahler said, adding that they were "very dangerous, illegal, foolish and they could have easily ended in death." Watch the video on wcbstv.com here.

> Megan Glaros filled in for Lonnie Quinn at 11:00 last night even though Quinn was on hand for the 5:00 and 6:00 newscasts. Quinn had to be in Newport, RI to do the weather live from the "Great Chowder Cook-Off" on this morning's The Early Show.

> And speaking of CBS 2 News at 11:00 last night, there were no commercial breaks until 11:32. Hsu and Wragge did a ten-second tease just after "NUMB3RS" and this is usually followed by a 60-second commercial break. Instead, there were a few seconds of black and then the newscast started up. After the one break at the end, Glaros was called on to give another look at the forecast and Hsu and Wragge chatted about it for a few seconds. In the close, Wragge mentioned that it was a "commercial-free edition of CBS 2 News." Was this intentional?

Glaros Debuts on CBS 2 News

CBS 2's lead weather anchor Lonnie Quinn welcomed the newest member of the weather team today at 5:18 (watch this clip on wcbstv.com). "I've worked with you in different parts of the country before" he said. "I think you're fabulous." Glaros appeared on the right side of the split screen, reporting live from the USS Kearsarge for Fleet Week coverage. Quinn added, "I love that lady." Both Quinn and Glaros did morning weather in Miami at WTVJ and WPLG, respectively.

"This is the best first day I could possibly have imagined," Glaros said after Lonnie tossed to her. She spoke with a major in the U.S. Marines, who was with her on the deck of the USS Kearsarge. Glaros returned at 5:52 with a package that took viewers inside the Metoc office where the ship's crew makes its weather forecasts. She also appeared during the evening's third forecast at 6:18. "Welcome to the team," Quinn said. "I'm proud to have you on."

Of course this isn't Glaros' first sighting on CBS 2. Since last Saturday, she's been appearing in updated weather factoid promos for the summer. The station also began airing a five-second ID saying, "CBS 2 HD welcomes Megan Glaros."

Thunder During the Weather

A strange noise was heard during the 11 p.m. weathercast tonight. After a puzzled look from Lonnie Quinn, Chris Wragge joked that it was thunder. Quinn laughed and agreed, saying, "Possibly thunder. This is why I love that Chris and Kristine." He then continued on with the forecast, making it clear there was no thunder expected tonight. It takes place about 1 minute, 50 seconds into this video.

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 on CBS2-HD

Kate Sullivan and Steve Bartelstein anchored the news at noon today. Bartelstein joined Kristine Johnson for the news at 5. Don Dahler joined Kristine Johnson for the news at 6 and 11.

Ducis Rodgers announced the CBS2 Bracket Challenge, for March Madness, where the winner will receive a 40" flat screen TV. You can play against CBS2 personalities including Chris, Lonnie, Sam, Dana, Jim, Ducis, Kristine, John E, John D and Steve. Sign up here. So far, Sam thinks Georgetown will win it all, Ducis decided on Texas.

Steve Bartelstein shared a quick laugh with a tie-less Lonnie Quinn on CBS2 at your Desk at 3PM. Steve quipped that the best part of Tiger Woods buying a $65 million dollar Southampton home was that he was making Lonnie move out. Lonnie responded by saying "$65 Million? That's like your salary and my salary put together." The video is here.

Finally, Kristine signed off at 11 saying "Have a good night and a great tomorrow" a line that is similar to the sign-off of Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update: "Have a good night and a pleasant tomorrow."

Special "Eye on the Storm" Coverage

CBS 2 News is on the air right now with a special "Eye on the Storm," with live coverage of the biggest snow storm to hit the tri-state all season. Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan are anchoring the broadcast, which opened at 8:55 and will continue until 10:00. John Elliott and Lonnie Quinn are providing team weather, forecasting six-to-nine inches for the city, while Katie McGee is updating viewers on the traffic and transit. A team of reporters are out in the snow, including Magee Hickey in Woodside, Queens; Jay Dow in Paramus; Deborah Garcia in Yonkers; Pablo Guzman at LaGuardia Airport; Tamsen Fadal at Penn Station; and Steve Bartelstein in Jericho, Long Island.

Quinn Permanent on "The Saturday Early Show"

NewsByte2 contributor David points out this mention in today's ShopTalk On The Move:

Ken Lindner & Associates is pleased to announce the following:

LONNIE QUINN joins "The Saturday Early Show" on CBS as the weathercaster. Lonnie will continue his duties as the main evening weathercaster for WCBS.

New Weather Factoid Promos

Due to popular demand, here's a look at some of the new weather factoid promos that began rolling out last month. They feature the CBS 2 weather team of Lonnie Quinn, John Elliott and Elise Finch. You'll find out why sunglasses are important in the winter, how to forecast winter weather by looking at spider webs, and the difference between sleet and freezing rain. These are winter updates to the ten spots that began airing back in June.

"Eye on the Storm" Saturday

CBS 2 will air a half-hour special Saturday on winter weather. "Eye on the Storm: Extreme Winter Weather" will feature the CBS 2 weather team of Lonnie Quinn, John Elliott and Elise Finch. It begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information, check out this press release or watch this promo:



The special will re-air Sunday morning at 11:30.

CBS 2's last weather special was "Eye On The Storm: The Hurricane Threat," which first aired back in June.

Wragge, Quinn Remain on Saturday Early Show

It looked like it might be temporary but now it looks like it'll last a bit longer. Chris Wragge has been co-anchoring The Saturday Early Show since at least the spring. He began at a time when TSES was auditioning male anchors but has been anchoring steady since the summer. Lonnie Quinn has been doing weather since at least the summer.

This morning, Wragge and Quinn said goodbye to Maggie Rodriguez, who will be joining the weekday version of The Early Show January 7th. Rodriguez mentioned that she will continue to watch them on TV on Saturday mornings. It appears those six-day work weeks aren't going away for these two anytime soon.

Berardelli Back on CBS 2

Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli returned to CBS 2 during the 5 and 6 PM newscasts today for the first time since his departure for WFOR, CBS 4 in Miami on Sunday, March 18, 2007. Berardelli was seen one other time since his move to Miami, during the Tunnel to Towers coverage in September. Berardelli was in for Lonnie Quinn who went on vacation late last week. It is unclear whether Beradelli is here to stay, or just helping out while CBS 2 is short-handed after the recent departure of John Bolaris back to Philadelphia. Stay tuned to NewsByte2 for more updates.

Bolaris Leaves CBS 2 News

Meteorologist John Bolaris has apparently left CBS 2 News as his online biography was removed from wcbstv.com sometime yesterday.

Bolaris was CBS 2's chief meteorologist from December 9, 2002 until weathercaster Lonnie Quinn replaced him on June 28, 2007. After being replaced by Quinn, Bolaris remained with CBS 2 News as the weekend evening meteorologist.

Speculation about the future of Bolaris at CBS 2 News grew over the summer when he was spotted in Philadelphia, where he was previously a chief meteorologist at WCAU-TV. In October, Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News reported that Bolaris would be signing on with WTXF Fox 29 in Philadelphia as their chief meteorologist, beginning in January 2008.

CBS 2 Sponsors Two Charity Events This Weekend

It's going to be a busy morning for CBS 2 as the station is sponsoring a couple of walks/runs tomorrow.

Cindy Hsu and Jim Rosenfield will be at Battery Park for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes while Lonnie Quinn will take part in the walk at the Bronx Zoo.

Beginning at 10:00 tomorrow morning, Chris Wragge and Kristine Johnson will anchor live from the Tunnel to Towers Run. The press release says that Brendan Keefe and Lou Young will contribute reports while Dana Tyler has an interview with the widow of Stephen Siller, the heroic firefighter who inspired the walk. The hour-long broadcast will also be streamed live at wcbstv.com.

Both events will be covered during CBS 2 News Sunday Morning from 6:00 to 9:00. Elise Finch will provide weather reports from the site of the Tunnel to Towers Run, which begins at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

Cindy Hsu Anchors From "Race For The Cure"

From 6:oo to 9:00 this morning, Cindy Hsu provided live reports from the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. Brendan Keefe anchored the rest of CBS 2 News Sunday Morning from the studio. Hsu was joined by breast cancer survivors and their families, some of whom were featured on last night's special.




At the end of the newscast, Hsu was joined by the rest of CBS 2's team participating in the event: Maurice DuBois, Kate Sullivan, Dana Tyler, Chris Wragge, Kristine Johnson, Lonnie Quinn, Tamsen Fadal and Dr. Holly Phillips.

CBS 2 Presents "Eye On The Storm"

CBS 2 News will air a 30-minute special tomorrow night at 7:00 on the hurricane threat to the tri-state area. The weather team of John Bolaris, John Elliott, Lonnie Quinn and Elise Finch will host.

Bolaris to Weekend Evenings

In a piece headlined "Ch. 2's Quinn not so mighty at weather," the Daily News' Richard Huff reports that John Bolaris is assigned to weekend nights. This is until his contract expires at the end of the year. John Elliott again adds the noon broadcast to his morning duties. Huff goes on to criticize the making of Quinn the lead weatherman.

The article also points out that "[Jim] Rosenfield is considering his options." The anchor has been on vacation since last week and has not been on the air since the shakeup was announced last Friday. "Whether he returns, or in what capacity, is the big question," Huff writes. During Rosenfield's previous tenure ending in April 2000, then-News Director Joel Cheatwood tried to demote him, but the anchor chose to leave the station instead.

Quinn to 5:00, 6:00, and 11:00

WCBSTV.com updated Lonnie Quinn's bio this evening. It states that he "serves as the weathercaster for CBS 2’s 5PM, 6PM, and 11PM weekday newscasts." Since April, his bio listed no specific time slots. We reported earlier that TVSPY.com's ShopTalk reported today that Quinn was promoted to the 11PM newscast while remaining on the 5PM newscast, but it did not mention anything about Quinn joining the 6PM newscast. The biography of former 6PM and 11PM meteorologist John Bolaris was also updated today, and it now does not state a specific time slot.

Additionally, the bios of sports anchors Ducis Rodgers and Sam Ryan have been updated today. Rodgers is now referred to as "Sports Director / Anchor" and his bio states that he is CBS 2's sports anchor Sundays-Thursdays. Ryan's bio now says that she is the sports anchor for Fridays and Saturdays, as well as a sports reporter during the week.

Previously, Rodgers was referred to as "alternating sports anchor for the 6 and 11PM weekday newscasts" while Ryan's bio said that she was "alternating sports anchor for CBS 2’s weekday newscasts, as well as the weekend sports anchor/reporter."

Quinn to CBS 2 News at 11PM

According to the TVSPY.com ShopTalk website, CBS 2 weathercaster Lonnie Quinn will be adding CBS 2 News at 11PM to his duties, while remaining on CBS 2 News at 5PM. Quinn will no longer be seen on CBS 2 News at Noon because of this change. Presumably, CBS 2 Meteorologist John Bolaris will now be seen on CBS 2 News at Noon and CBS 2 News at 6PM.

Quinn joined CBS 2 News on April 11, 2007 as the weathercaster for the 6PM and 11PM newscasts, replacing John Bolaris, who retained the 5PM newscast and added the Noon newscast. This lasted less than 2 weeks as Bolaris was moved back to the 6PM and 11PM newscasts with anchors Dana Tyler and Jim Rosenfield, and Quinn joined the Noon and 5PM newscasts with anchors Chris Wragge and Kristine Johnson.

Bolaris and Quinn Trade Positions

Not even two weeks after Lonnie Quinn joined CBS 2 News as the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weatherman, it looks as if his assignment has changed to noon and 5 p.m.

Quinn did the weather for yesterday's CBS 2 News at Noon from the studio and was out in the field at 5 p.m. Then John Bolaris, whose assignment had been reduced to just the 5 p.m. newscast (and possibly also the noon newscast), was in the studio for the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts yesterday.

WCBSTV.com updated Quinn's bio recently to remove the word "evening" from his duties, according to the sharp eye of Brian, a frequent contributor to NewsByte2.

It is unclear why the change was made in such a short amount of time.