Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. Rob Morrison Denies Report of “Comeback” Via Tell-All Book, March 11

2. Jodi Applegate “Lost Sleep for Seven Months” Deciding to Leave WPIX to Have a Baby, March 8

3. Reporter Sean Hennessey Leaves WCBS-TV for Teaching Job in Boston, March 11

4. WSJ. Money Debuts Saturday, March 7

5. Meteorologist Domenica Davis (left) “Surprised How Long [She] Stayed” at WNBC, March 7

6. No Women Among the “Most Powerful” in Sports Media, March 7

7. Exclusive: Don Dahler Leaving Channel 2 for CBS News, March 7

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Astute WCBS-TV news viewers have noticed Pablo Guzman is missing. The popular reporter, who joined Channel 2 in 1995, remains on the station’s Web site.

After reaching out to WCBS for a comment, FishbowlNY was pleasantly surprised when Guzman called to explain his M.I.A status.

He’s been suffering from blood clots in the leg, keeping him off the air since June.

“I can’t chase after people in the street,” Guzman tells FishbowlNY exclusively. “I can’t run up and down six flights of stairs. A lot of what we do in the street, I can’t do.”

Guzman’s left foot is double the size of his right foot.  So Guzman is convalescing at home, which is no easy feat for him.

“I have not been out of work since I was 13,” Guzman says.

A two-time New York Emmy Award winner, Guzman misses his colleagues and the ability to communicate a story to viewers. However, that would not have applied to covering one particular tragedy.

“I could not have done that Newtown [story],” Guzman says. “I would have broken up.”

Guzman, 62, says WCBS management is hoping to keep the street-savvy reporter in their future plans.

Read more

Don Dahler, the WCBS weekend anchor, is leaving the station. FishbowlNY has learned that the veteran newsman will be a correspondent for CBS News.

Although Dahler’s time at WCBS was productive, it can also be described as dizzying. He joined WCBS in September 2007, initially as weekend evening anchor. By May 2008, Dahler was named weekday noon and 6 p.m. co-anchor.

That lasted until September 2011 when Dahler was shifted back to weekends to make way for Chris Wragge following his stint on The Early Show.

• Related: FishbowlNY, WCBS Shuffles Don Dahler to Weekends 

Upon Dahler’s return to weekends, he was given the tiring split shift, early morning anchor with Cindy Hsu and solo at 11 p.m. (usually delayed on Sundays due to sports coverage). During the week, Dahler files reports for WCBS and sister site WLNY. Since Wragge has been filling in mornings on Channel 2, Dahler has been the co-anchor at 6 and 9 p.m  (on WLNY) with Dana Tyler.

Sources say Dahler will be based in New York as a reporter for the CBS Evening News and CBS This Morning. CBS News declined a comment to FishbowlNY.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Dahler, who got his start in network news as a 48 Hours producer.

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There is a void in local news, but that is quickly and effortlessly being filled by Chris Wragge. In the wake of Rob Morrison‘s abrupt departure following the wife-beating allegations, Wragge shifted from evenings to mornings. The ugliness didn’t just rock the Morrisons, his former ”family” was hit hard too.

Related: FishbowlNY, Rob Morrison Faces ‘Very Serious Blow to His Career’: Legal Expert

We recall the 1994 Robert Redford film, Quiz Show, about the 1950s quiz show scandal. Congress was set to hold subcommittee hearings with former 21 contestant Herb Stempel as the star witness. But the more famous (on and off the show) Charles Van Doren, played by Ralph Fiennes, was not going to participate. Therefore, the young government lawyer (Rob Morrow) cautions Van Doren not to say anything.

A short time later as the committee convenes in DC, NBC president Robert Kintner (Allan Rich) speaks to Van Doren, who since took a self-imposed dive and was hired by the network’s Today show.

Kintner encourages Van Doren to hold a press conference. But the former game show contestant was reluctant because he hadn’t received a subpoena.

Kintner’s line echoed since Morrison’s alleged incident like someone reading a letter to themselves on a soap opera.

“Television is a public trust.”

It’s a main reason for Morrison’s resignation, although indications are high that WCBS management had an influence on his decision. It’s also the reason that following the scandal in the 1950s or today, viewers always want someone they can feel comfortable with. Wragge is that familiar, calming presence.

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We asked you to take part in our poll to decide who should be named WCBS/Channel 2 new morning co-anchor.

This was becoming a landslide win for Chris Wragge. Readers were in agreement with this reporter’s assessment that the evening anchor should set his alarm clock for pre-dawn. At the time of this writing, Wragge secured 28 percent of the vote. However, that’s down from more than 40 percent.

• Related: FishbowlNY, Lining Up the Possible WCBS Morning Candidates

Former WPIX anchor Jim Watkins has caught fire as a write-in, putting him second on viewers’ wish list. Watkins, now at RNN’s FiOS1, previously worked for PIX GM Betty Ellen Barlamino, who runs WCBS sister site WLNY.

Also getting some write-in support, the legendary WNBC anchor Sue Simmons, and current Channel 4 anchor David Ushery.

Alice Gainer, who made her WCBS anchoring debut yesterday, got someone’s write-in vote. Gainer did weekend anchoring at News 12 New Jersey. She joined Channel 2 as a reporter in January.

Don Dahler picked up 17 percent of the vote. Cindy Hsu settled for less than 9 percent of the vote.

Read more

It’s only a week since the turmoil and scandal that led to the abrupt resignation of Rob Morrison at WCBS.

But now that Morrison is no longer part of Channel 2, management must start the process of deciding who will sit next to Mary Calvi.

Related: FishbowlNY, Rob Morrison Resigns From WCBS-TV Amid Wife Choking Allegations

FishbowlNY explores a handful of possibles, and a few less likely, morning anchor candidates. Then you can weigh-in with our poll to select your choice after the jump.

Starting with internal choices: Chris Wragge, the 6 p.m. and WLNY 9 p.m. anchor has already shown his muscle in the morning as a main fill-in. Wragge told FishbowlNY upon his full-time return to WCBS in late 2011 that “I’m just going to do whatever the hell they want me to do.”  If the stint on CBS’ Early Show weekdays and weekdays didn’t solidify your position, just watch him on WLNY at 9 p.m. He strikes that perfect balance between hard news and personality-driven features. His “You Have to See This” is a great example of an anchor blowing off some steam in a good way. Mornings play well into another of Wragge’s strengths–quick banter with on-air talent.

Don Dahler has also been used in mornings since Morrison’s departure. Dahler, who regularly anchors weekends, seems at his best when he solos an evening newscast. He is even more in his element when on the reporter beat. Still, his weekend morning experience and overall talent could be enough to give him the nod, especially if they want Wragge to remain at night.

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Morrison’s mug shot/Darien PD

It didn’t take long for the other shoe to drop. FishbowlNY has learned that Rob Morrison may have anchored his final broadcast at WCBS TV.

We reported yesterday that Morrison was arrested Sunday morning for allegedly choking his wife, Ashley Morrison, CBS Money Watch anchor, at their Darien, Connecticut home.

Related: FishbowlNY, Morrison Arrested

An insider with knowledge of the information tells FishbowlNY that WCBS management will likely fire the morning co-anchor.

“That’s the consensus but I don’t know it for a fact,” the insider says. ”Evidently, he lied to the station about how his face was injured when he called in sick. That alone is a serious offense.”

Separately, Morrison, 44, posted this Facebook message today.

“I’m humbled by the support we’ve received from family, friends, colleagues and viewers. Thank you. I love my wife and my son dearly and am confident this will pass. A great man once told me, ‘Tell the truth and fear nothing.’ I truly believe that.”

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The world of local news is a copy cat industry. That’s not breaking news. Watch most nights, in turning from one newscast to the other, and there is a good chance you’ll see the same story selection throughout.

Now, those creative folks are at it again!

WABC/Channel 7 was first to expand its late weekend newscasts at the beginning of 2012. Now as the calendar changed to 2013, it’s WNBC’s turn to add 30 minutes. Channel 4 has only increased the Sunday night broadcast, thanks to the Saturday Night Live commitment.

•       Related: TVSpy/WNBC Expands Sunday Evening Newscast

David Ushery and Erika Tarantal remain the anchors.

Despite two parts of the city’s 11 p.m. newscasts making some inroads into expansion, WCBS is not ready to join its competition and give a longer day to Don Dahler.

A Channel 2 spokesperson tells FishbowlNY that the station has “no plans at this time.”

Dahler, who co-anchors the morning news block with Cindy Hsu, returns to hold down the fort alone at 11 p.m. One other note about WCBS avoiding expansion: With the busy CBS Sports schedule (NFL, NCAA Tournament, golf), it’s hard to find a weekend that WCBS actually starts on time.

Yet another mass murder…this time in Newtown, Connecticut. The deranged man opened fire in an elementary school killing 20 youngsters, all shy of their eighth birthday. Seven adults were also gunned down, including the shooter’s mother.

The rampage is the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, behind the Virigina Tech massacre in 2007 where 32 students died.

The weekend was the time for families and friends to cope with the insurmountable loss. President Obama attended last night’s prayer vigil.

Although Newtown is on the outskirts of the New York tri-state area, it’s close enough for stations to easily send reporters to cover the services.

By Saturday, this was anything but a typical story. WNYW/Channel 5 brought in Dari Alexander to co-anchor with Christina Park. Likely unrelated, top meteorologist Nick Gregory was on-duty Saturday night as well.

For the Sunday night vigil, it was WABC/Channel 7 that shined. Bill Ritter anchored for Newtown, while Sade Baderinwa was behind the desk. Ritter struck the perfect balance of reporting the information, while masterfully dealing with the incredibly sad story.

Read more

Ok Judge Judy fans take note!

The popular courtroom show will be preempted Saturday night. Instead, WLNY (TV 10/55) is carrying sister station WCBS/Channel 2′s prime time lineup of Person of Interest, Criminal Minds, and 48 Hours Mystery.

WCBS airs the Jets/Giants preseason matchup at 7 p.m. A one-hour Entertainment Tonight is scheduled to follow the game, ahead of the 11 p.m. newscast anchored by Don Dahler.