{alltv} A new year, a new on-air team on CBS' 'Early Show'

Monday, January 3, 2011

{alltv} A new year, a new on-air team on CBS' 'Early Show'

Chris Wraggem, Erica Hill, Jeff Glor, Marysole ...

NEW YORK – Brisk and radiating eagerness Monday morning, a new team of hosts took its place on CBS' "The Early Show."

The new lineup consists of former Saturday "Early Show" anchors Chris Wragge and Erica Hill, and weathercaster Marysol Castro, formerly of ABC's "Good Morning America" weekend edition. CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor is the news reader.

Hill greeted viewers by expressing hope that their New Year's resolutions will include watching "The Early Show" every morning, "because we're enjoying this new job we've got here."

Despite those new faces, many "Early Show" viewers may have found the program second-nature with its look and its content. Segments included an "exclusive" interview with Michael Lohan, father of troubled actress Lindsay Lohan; a chat about national job prospects in 2011; tips for fighting the flu and post-holiday blues; and, of course, recipes for losing weight.

In a taped feature, Castro joined the Polar Bear Club on New Year's Day for its annual swim off Brooklyn's Coney Island. Her dip lasted 5 seconds in the 33-degree water.

"My little bunions are still frostbit," she told her panel-mates in a follow up assessment.

There was also a gee-whiz report on the team's recent cross-country promotional trip. (Highlights: an appearance on "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" and a bite at an L.A. In-N-Out Burger.)

"This trip provided memories that will last a lifetime," Glor said.

In November, CBS abruptly announced a complete makeover as its latest attempt to freshen the show. Veteran anchor Harry Smith made his final appearance last Friday.

"The Early Show" consistently trails its breakfast-hour rivals, ratings champ "Today" on NBC and "Good Morning America."