Penny Crone To Join CBS 2 News

According to Broadcasting & Cable, Penny Crone is expected to join CBS 2 News by March. She is currently a reporter at WNYW/FOX5 here in New York, and will depart later this week. More news on this developing story as it becomes available.
(Thanks to Brian for sending this story to me!)

New "CBS 2 Investigates" Promo

CBS 2 began airing an updated version of the "CBS 2 Investigates" promo. Among the changes are new colors, new stories, and a different logo, which is now on a slant. Also added in the 30-second version is another reporter: John Slattery. He now joins investigative reporters Marcia Kramer, Vince DeMentri, and Lou Young. However, Slattery is not included in the 15-second version. "If it's happening out there, we'll uncover it here."

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.

"Storm Watch" Coverage

As the first major snow storm of the season hit the tri-state area, CBS 2 News had special team coverage throughout the day. Cindy Hsu (filling-in for Michael Pomeranz) and Lisa Hill anchored this morning, with Meteorologist Janine D'Adamo tracking the storm. Chris Silveri, normally an off-camera meteorologist, was in the CBS 2 Weather Center updating the snowfall accumulation totals. Don Piccin (in for Rachel Lutzker) had the latest on the traffic. Marcella Palmer was live in Denville, and Rose Walia reported from Westchester. Manager J.R. Whalen explains what the Information Center did:

This morning, the CBS 2 Information Center reported on school closings and delayed openings in the viewing area throughout "CBS 2 News This Morning." Viewers and callers quickly realized that the Information Center, an exclusive service of CBS 2, was the best source of up to date information about the status of their local school district. Additionally, we fielded several calls from New York City residents who had trouble with heat and hot water service. They were advised of city regulations and were advised of hotline phone numbers to call to report problems with service.

Later this afternoon and evening, Chief Meteorologist David Rogers had the forecast for the entire area, and Scott Sumner (who is also usually an off-camera meteorologist) was in the Weather Center with storm totals. He also debuted "Zone Weather", temperatures and conditions for specific areas in the tri-state (including the Interior and Northwest regions). Morry Alter was in Denville, and Whitney Casey was in Mt. Kisco.

Weather Changes

It now appears that despite new promos, Janine D'Adamo will not start on "CBS 2 First News @ 4:30" until next Monday. And according to The New York Daily News (Thanks Michael!) and The New York Post, Janine will not do the weather with David Rogers from 5:00-6:30pm, but rather she will do "weather stories" (possibly either reporting from outside or from the Weather Center, similar to today).

First News at 4:30 Promo, More Questions Than Answers

According to Michael, a regular contributor to this website, a commercial for "CBS 2 First News @ 4:30" premiered last night during Nightcast.

It's similar to the old CBS 2 News This Morning promo with Lisa, Mike, and Janine. It begins describing the 4:30 newscast, a shot of Angela delivering breaking news, later a shot of Janine (new 4:30 meterologist) at the weather maps, and later a shot of Todd delivering a story about the war.

This seems to create more questions once again, as the new weather changes aren't supposed to take effect until January 14th. And last night in the 4:00 hour, a CBS 2 News This Morning promo ran, which includes Janine D'Adamo. While it would seem to be easier to make both changes at once, it is currently unknown as to if this will happen based on the press release and this new promo.

Weather Changes Pushed Back Another Week

An updated Press Release now says the new weather anchor lineups will start Monday, January 14th. That's a week later than it had previously stated this afternoon. It appears that CBS 2 News likes to do these types of changes in phases, as it has done for the past few years. No other information was added to this Press Release, leaving the sub-headline "David Rogers and Janine D’Adamo Co-Anchor Afternoon Weather Reports" ambiguous in meaning. Also, "Increased Weather Coverage" has not yet been explained, leaving us to wonder what CBS 2 is ready to do. As always, stay tuned!

CBS 2 Announces More Lineup Changes

According to a CBS 2 Press Release, there will be some changes to the lineups starting Monday. The changes that we've been reporting for a few weeks have been confirmed by the station: Angela Rae and Todd McDermott at 4:30 and 5:30, and Dana Tyler and Ernie Anastos at 5:00 and 6:00. But additional changes are also coming in the weather department. Janine D'Adamo and Ira Joe Fisher will "swap" positions, once again placing Ira in the mornings. The information does not make it clear as to who exactly will do the 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 weather reports. The release also promised "increased weather coverage", with News Director Joel Cheatwood quoted as saying, "Accurate and timely weather information plays a vital role in our everyday lives. These changes will afford WCBS’s talented weather team the opportunity to deliver the most extensive and complete coverage."

As for the change to "First News @ 4:30", the website has changed most mentions of "First News @ 4:00" to the new title, including an updated image here.
(Thanks to Brian for informing me of the press release!)

Scott Rapoport Joins The CBS 2 News Team

A new face reported on CBS 2 News this evening. His name is Scott Rapoport. Information is currently very limited, but we'll have more on the latest addition to the CBS 2 News team of reporters as soon as possible.

CBS 2 New Year's Eve and Inauguration of Mayor Bloomberg Coverage

Last night's Nightcast, the final CBS 2 newscast of 2001, provided CBS 2 viewers of full coverage of the incoming year, 2002, and the inauguration of New York City's 108th mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Vince DeMentri and Hazel Sanchez were live in Times Square with reports and an interview with former NYC mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Lou Young was live at the mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion. Also, Todd McDermott was in-studio with more coverage of the new year and new mayor. Nightcast ended at its regular time, after showing highlights of New Year's festivities all around the world. At 11:55, Ernie Anastos and Angela Rae re-welcomed viewers to CBS 2 News coverage. They provided live coverage from Times Square as 2001 ended and 2002 began. One minute after midnight, CBS 2 News showed the inauguartion of NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also in Times Square. The live Times Square coverage was followed by brief commentaries from Ernie and Angela reflecting on the past year and the new mayor. CBS 2 News coverage ended after a final report from Lou Young at approximately 12:10.

-Michael