Norah O’Donnell to host ‘CBS Mornings’ next week – Business News
Norah O’Donnell is set to host “CBS Mornings” next week — sparking chatter that she may be poised to return to the morning show after a seven-year hiatus, sources instructed The Post.
O’Donnell, who had co-hosted the community’s highly-rated morning show — then known as “CBS This Morning” — with Gayle King and Charlie Rose, will return to internet hosting duties next week when she’s within the Northeast for her guide tour.
It is unclear if the transfer is a check to see if there’s any chemistry between King, O’Donnell, and co-host Nate Burleson, as prime brass is wanting to overhaul the struggling, last-place program.
Norah O’Donnell is returning to “CBS Mornings” as a host for 3 days next week, sparking rumors of a return to the anchor chair. Anne Wermiel
A source close to CBS threw cold water on that concept, saying that O’Donnell will not be being thought of for the function and is as an alternative half of a rotating solid of people to help fill within the gaps till a third co-host is called.
But some sources aren’t shopping for it.
According to two insiders, community higher-ups together with CBS editor in chief Bari Weiss, requested O’Donnell to return to “CBS Mornings” next Monday via Wednesday — regardless of her hectic promotional tour.
A source close to the state of affairs stated Weiss has remarked that O’Donnell and King had been in a position to ship robust scores after they co-hosted the show collectively — begging the query if they might do it again.
“If you are going to promote a book, you could do segments on it, you don’t have to have them co-host,” a CBS source stated, including that the community could possibly be wanting to check out the correspondent because it strikes to overhaul the morning program.
“CBS Mornings” co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson could possibly be on the chopping block because the community seems to be to overhaul the morning program. CBS by way of Getty Images
CBS News declined to remark.
Weiss and CBS News president Tom Cibrowski are on the lookout for methods to revitalize the scores and the show whereas holding prices down — a difficult activity — that will embody shifting King off the show, sources stated.
One CBS insider speculated that bringing O’Donnell back could possibly be a “negotiation tactic” to put stress on King to ink a lesser deal. “Is this a shot across the bow?” the individual requested.
O’Donnell, who’s now a particular correspondent and “60 Minutes” contributor, has seen a profession resurrection beneath CBS editor in chief Bari Weiss. Allison Shelley/CBS News
“They’re undoubtedly going to make some massive modifications on ‘CBS Mornings,’” the source said. “There are a lot of moving parts and they’re attempting to determine it out.”
The Post has beforehand reported that King’s wage of between $13 million and $15 million is simply too high, and she or he might transfer to a decrease paid function, reminiscent of particular correspondent, or take a pay cut a keep on one other yr. Sources have additionally speculated that Burleson, who is claimed to make a number of million, could possibly be half of the shake-up.
On Monday, 52-year-old O’Donnell is kicking off a 12-city guide tour for her new guide “We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America” with an interview by King at Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side at 6 pm.
O’Donnell, Rose and King had pulled in robust scores after they co-anchored the community’s morning show. ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
After internet hosting “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday, she’s going to head to Boston after which Baltimore for her tour.
One of CBS’ more outstanding faces, O’Donnell has been more on the fringes of the community since she was ousted as “CBS Evening News” anchor final yr.
The former anchor nonetheless serves as a contributor to “60 Minutes” and as a particular correspondent, bringing in sitdowns President Trump, protecting the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, in addition to internet hosting a current city corridor with Gov. Wes Moore.
“CBS Mornings” is predicted to be revamped, after Tony Dokoupil (heart), decamped for “Evening News.” CBS by way of Getty Images
“Norah’s career is being resurrected under Bari Weiss,” stated an insider, who famous that O’Donnell is “dying” to be back within the highlight and would possible welcome the transfer back to any anchor chair on the community.
Before O’Donnell was pushed out “Evening News,” the journalist minted some scores wins when she was co-host of “CBS This Morning” with King and Rose from 2012 to 2017. The trio skilled robust scores will increase with complete viewers climbing practically 50% for the reason that show’s relaunch in 2012.
The newsy morning program closed the hole with rivals “Today” and “Good Morning America,” and in February 2016, it reeled in this system’s strongest scores in 22 years averaging practically 4 million viewers.
But the scores started to slide after Rose was fired due to sexual harassment allegations in 2017. Two years later, O’Donnell left the morning program for the night information.
Since then, the show has skilled regular declines and in current months has seen its scores hit simply 1.8 million complete viewers. Sources have pointed to the show’s “woke” programming — which has been more geared to coastal audiences than center America — amongst different issues.
In January, King and Burleson’s co-host Tony Dokoupil was promoted to anchor of “CBS Evening News,” including more uncertainty to the show.
