CBS' Storm to exit "Early"

By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - "The Early Show" co-anchor Hannah Storm will leave the show. The network said late Wednesday that Storm was in discussions with CBS "to determine the scope and depth of her new duties."

Storm, a former NBC Sports anchor, had been on the CBS morning show for the past five years. Her departure date has yet to be determined.

Remaining are co-anchors Harry Smith and Julie Chen, along with news anchor Russ Mitchell. It's likely that Storm will be replaced. It wasn't immediately clear the reason for the change.

Senior executive producer Shelley Ross declined comment through a spokeswoman. Storm couldn't immediately be reached.

CBS News president Sean McManus said in a statement that Storm was a "primary reason" for the show being well positioned for the future.

"She has extraordinarily versatility, not only in the varied assignments she has handled for 'The Early Show' but also in smoothly transitioning from sports to network morning news," McManus said.

It's the latest in a series of recent upheavals at the perennially third-place "Early Show," previously a four-anchor show. The past year has seen the removal of Rene Syler and the departure of the show's two top execs, senior executive producer Michael Bass and morning VP Steve Friedman. Morning-show vet Ross joined the show in September.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter