What To Know
- Gayle King is reportedly unhappy about the potential return of Norah O’Donnell as a co-anchor on CBS Mornings.
- The relationship between King and O’Donnell is described as strained, with sources calling them “cordial colleagues bordering on frenemies.”
- Network leadership is also considering revamping the show with a Morning Joe style format.
CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King is reportedly “not happy” about the possibility of Norah O’Donnell returning to co-anchor the show as CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss looks to revamp the broadcast.
According to the New York Post, a source said King was upset about new promos for the show that included O’Donnell, who has frequently filled in as co-anchor while Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski look to replace Tony Dokoupil, who was promoted to CBS Evening News back in January.
“Gayle was not happy,” the source told the outlet. “She does not want Norah to return to the show.”
King and O’Donnell co-anchored CBS Mornings from 2012 to 2019, but another source said the duo’s relationship is “strained,” describing them as “cordial colleagues bordering on frenemies.”
“Gayle is an authentic person. She loves the news,” the source said. “Norah loves the idea of being on the news.”
Earlier this week, the Status newsletter reported that O’Donnell is a frontrunner for the morning gig. The veteran journalist is said to have ingratiated herself with Weiss in recent months. Other names discussed for the position include Eva Pilgrim, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and CBS News anchor Kelly O’Grady.
However, a network source told The Post that King is a major part of “the process of finding a new co-host” and that “nothing will happen without her blessing.”
In addition to finding a new permanent co-host, sources claim that Jon Tower, the interim executive producer of CBS Mornings, and Cibrowski are looking to revamp the program, possibly modeling it after MS NOW’s Morning Joe.
“Tom is telling people that it’s going to be more of a live show with fewer people, and Jon is saying he wants it to be more loose like Morning Joe,” an insider told the outlet. Tower, who previously worked with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski at Morning Joe, apparently wants CBS Mornings to be more “chat-driven.”
CBS News has yet to comment on the reports.
CBS Mornings, Weekdays, 7/6c, CBS