Gayle King, a prominent figure on “CBS Morning,” is reportedly “not happy” about Norah O’Donnell’s impending return as co-anchor of the morning show, which has been struggling. This comes as editor-in-chief Bari Weiss considers a potential overhaul of the broadcast, perhaps inspired by “Morning Joe,” according to sources.
Insiders have said that King is disappointed over the show’s promotion, particularly regarding O’Donnell, who often fills in for her. This concern arises as News president Tom Cybrowski looks for a replacement for Tony Dokoupil, who exited CBS Evening News earlier this year.
“Gail was not happy,” one source relayed. “She doesn’t want Nora back on the show.”
Another source characterized the relationship between King and O’Donnell as complicated, describing them as kind-hearted colleagues but more like “frenemies.” O’Donnell co-anchored the network’s morning show from 2012 until 2019.
“Gail is a genuine person. She loves the news,” the insider noted, while also highlighting that “Nora loves being on the news,” too.
Network representatives have stressed that King plays a vital role in finding a new co-host and that any decisions will require her approval.
While O’Donnell hasn’t been officially named for the open position, speculation about her as a strong possibility has persisted since February. Other candidates mentioned include Eva Pilgrim, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Kelly O’Grady, according to sources.
In a separate development, two people familiar with the situation told The Post that Weiss aims to revitalize “CBS Morning” and is considering a format similar to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” which blends opinion and commentary on current events.
Although a complete revamp isn’t expected this fall, sources indicate that Cybrowski and interim executive producer John Tower aim to appoint a permanent co-host and begin reformatting the show as early as September.
“Tom has expressed a desire for a live show with fewer people, and John wants to create a more casual atmosphere, like ‘Morning Joe,'” one source stated.
This person further explained that the show might shift toward a more “chat-driven” approach, drawing from Tower’s experience on shows led by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.
Instead of a single news segment with multiple short stories, the hosts will likely dive deeper into topics, one official pointed out.
“This show is struggling. They need to try something different!” the insider remarked, highlighting that the ratings have recently hit an all-time low, with just 1.59 million viewers the week of July 13.
CBS News declined to comment on the situation.
One network official acknowledged internal discussions about a “Morning Joe-style” format but denied that any drastic changes were on the horizon.
Norah O’Donnell’s career, which had stagnated under the previous CBS News president, seems to be on the upswing since Weiss took over last October. After being removed as anchor of CBS Evening News, she transitioned from being just a senior correspondent to taking on a key role as correspondent for the new podcast “60 Minutes,” with the potential return to the morning show she once co-anchored with King.
While some doubt O’Donnell’s ability to significantly impact the ratings, her keen insights in political reporting could potentially help elevate “CBS Morning,” which has been struggling.
However, the potential changes Weiss is considering have sparked some anxiety within CBS News.
“She seems like she’s going to turn her morning show into a podcast,” one puzzled source remarked, citing the uncertainty surrounding the program’s direction.
The source also noted that the current dynamics of power between King and co-host Nate Burleson are unclear. Despite O’Donnell having an extensive news background, he isn’t particularly known for sharing his opinions on current events.
Another insider suggested Weiss might be gathering opinions from others in the network to enhance the analysis aspect of the show.
