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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WABC/Channel 7 heads into March following a successful February sweeps period. The station won early and late, starting with Eyewitness News This Morning and ending with the 11 p.m. newscast.

In every daypart, WABC was tops among households and the all-important adults 25 to 54 demographic.

The Bill Ritter-Sade Baderinwa broadcast scored a 6.3 household rating, the highest for any 11 p.m. newscast in a major sweep in nearly four years, the station says.

WCBS/Channel 2, though, was pleased with its February performance.

Its late news, anchored by Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson, had an average of 511,000,
the station’s largest 11 p.m. audience during a major sweep period since November 2010 and best February sweep performance since 2005, a station spokesperson says.

The station also saw year-to-year gains at 5 and 6 p.m.

If the final day of the sweeps period is any indication, WNBC came in third among noon newscasts in the 25 to 54 demo and households.

At 5 p.m., WNBC only beat WNYW and WPIX. The same applies for Channel 4 at 6 p.m. (minus a WPIX newscast).

However, thanks to the Ellen lead-in, WNBC may have notched a slight victory in the adults 25 to 54 demo at 5 p.m.

WNBC was third at 11 p.m.

Channel 2 morning co-anchor Rob Morrison is headed to Stamford Superior Court tomorrow. Morrison was arrested by Darien, Connecticut police Sunday morning. According to the police report that FishbowlNY obtained, Morrison choked his wife, CBS Money Watch anchor, Ashley Morrison. The couple frequently appears together on WCBS.

Morrison’s mother-in-law called police to the Morrisons’ home. Police say Morrison became “increasingly belligerent” toward his wife Saturday evening. They say it culminated with Morrison’s hands choking his wife.

Ashley Morrison did not request medical treatment, but when police arrived they allege there were red marks were on her neck. While Rob Morrison was being taken into custody, police say he made verbal threats to his wife.

He was charged with strangulation in the second degree, threatening in the second degree, and disorderly contact. A Darien police officer tells FishbowlNY that the strangulation charge is a felony. Morrison posted a $100,000 bond.

The Morrisons, who have a son, issued this joint statement today through their attorney Robert A. Skovgaard.

“Rob and Ashley Morrison are cooperating fully with the authorities to insure that all of the information necessary to properly evaluate this unfortunate incident is made available. The Morrisons are confident that a full review of this matter will show that the allegations have been greatly exaggerated.”

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Chris Wragge trudging through unplowed roads.

Chris Wragge earlier this week was nominated for several more New York Emmy Awards. But the WCBS/WLNY anchor should win a trophy for his snow reporting this morning.

Wragge, who anchored this TV 10/55 newscast last night with Dana Tyler, was on the road for the extensive Channel 2 blizzard coverage starting at 6 a.m. Reporters joined Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson who guided viewers throughout the tri-state, especially hard-hit Long Island. Hazel Sanchez and Carolyn Gusoff were stationed in Suffolk and reported on the lack of street and highway plowing. Gusoff spoke to a stranded hitchhiker, complete with sign and thumbs up.

As for Wragge, he took to Mobile 2. He was seen driving on the desolate Long Island Expressway with nothing but abandoned cars to greet him.. Since his full-time return to WCBS in 2011, Wragge has been a regular in Mobile 2 when weather conditions deteriorate, and the worse it gets, the more Wragge shines.

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Let the hunkering begin!

With a blizzard warning blanketing New York, area stations are treating the impending storm with necessary seriousness.

This afternoon, ahead of the snow, WCBS started its wall-to-wall coverage. Anchors Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson led the team into action at 3 p.m., with reporters stationed throughout the tri-state area. Joining Lonnie Quinn in the “Weather Center” was John Elliott, who was seen shoveling the icy, snowy mix on the roof. A WCBS spokesperson tells FishbowlNY that the same group will be in place starting tomorrow at 6 a.m.

WABC also got a 3 p.m  start with Bill Ritter and Lori Stokes at the desk. Weekend meteorologist Jeff Smith assisted Lee Goldberg.

WNYW did not offer extended coverage until its 5 p.m. newscast. Channel 5 did give viewers hourly updates with Nick Gregory. Sister station WWOR also broke in for top-of-the-hour reports with Audrey Puente. Channel 9, like most stations, ran a live press conference by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 3:45. Harry Martin briefly did a recap.  WNYW skipped the governor’s news conference to stay with The People’s Court.

WNBC ended the Christie remarks from Trenton by sequeing into the start of its “Severe Weather Coverage” at 4 with Tom Llamas and Shiba Russell.

NY1 and NY1 Noticias were in non-stop mode for the blizzard. On Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., NY1 will present a special half hour with the latest storm information.

Offering a serious tone on this morning’s funeral of Mayor Koch, New York stations covered the entire solemn proceedings.

But, WCBS/Channel 2 went one step further. Channel 2 brought in its main anchor team of Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson to lead the 11 a.m. coverage.

At WABC/Channel 7, Bill Ritter joined morning anchor Lori Stokes for its special reporting.

Related: FishbowlNY, Memories of Longtime Media Favorite, Mayor Ed Koch

Otherwise, it was the morning talent that handled the coverage. Good Day New York anchors Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly hosting the programming that took WNYW viewers to Temple Emanu-El. Sister station WWOR stayed with it regular lineup.

WPIX/Channel 11 opted fot its usual “must see” daytime TV, starting with Jerry Springer.

Michael Gargiulo and Darlene Rodriguez anchored for WNBC.

In addition, WLNY was used as the way station for WCBS shows pre-empted by the special coverage.

It was only seconds of his voice, but the “rock” of 30 Rock, Chuck Scarborough, was heard on CBS This Morning in their “Eye Opener” segment. It may not have meant much to those in Dubuque, but here the six-second audio clip was odd.

Scarborough’s “moonlighting” moment involved a snippet about the General Petraeus sex scandal from last night’s WNBC newscast.

Just before Scarborough’s voice was heard, WCBS’ Maurice DuBois described the Texas college shooting.

CBS also accesses clips from other stations and networks, including Fox News.

Forced to evacuated, I had plenty of time to monitor television coverage of Hurricane Sandy.

You probably woke up this morning to stations locked in ”wall-to-wall” mode, but that was not the case last night. Unlike last year’s Hurricane Irene (when I was holed up in a hotel), Sandy did not lead to an all-nighter by the area stations.

Here is how they took to the air this time.

Kaity Tong was a calming presence, anchoring a two-hour edition of the News at Ten on WPIX.  As was the case with Irene, WPIX’s coverage did not include Jodi Applegate.

Tong, as a solo anchor, was given an assist by reporter Dan Mannarino, who handled some phone interviews and other information for viewers. WPIX double-teamed the audience with veteran experience from Mr. G and Craig Allen.  WPIX was the only game in town until 11 p.m., as WNYW/Channel 5 was televising the final game of the World Series.

While the storm moved closer to New York, the other channels opted for prime-time network scheduling. At 11 p.m., WCBS/Channel 2 anchors Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson, first appearing at halftime of the New York Jets game, led the station’s one-hour special Sandy newscast. Thereafter, WCBS kept a crawl on the screen until the morning team resumed coverage at 4 a.m.

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Hurricane Sandy is churning in the Atlantic, and approaching New York. Preparations for the serious storm have caused the area TV stations to cover the impending destruction.

Most of the city stations took Mayor Bloomberg’s briefings live and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie‘s comments. WCBS/Channel 2 left wall-to-wall mode at 1 p.m. to join the New York Jets game. However, sister station WLNY TV 10/55, anchored by Cindy Hsu, broke into the Munsters Marathon for the latest Christie press conference.

Channel 2, though, was first to bring in the main team. At halftime of the Jets game, viewers got another sense of the severity as Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson assumed the coverage with Lonnie Quinn tracking the potentially deadly storm.

“I’ll be with you all night, guys,” Quinn said.

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Kristine Johnson is making another appearance on The Talk. The Channel 2 anchor joins the panel of ladies next Monday from their Los Angeles studio. The Talk airs at 2 each afternoon on WCBS. The daily one-hour program is co-hosted by Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, and Aisha Tyler.

Johnson first guest hosted on The Talk in June 2011.

Johnson, a multiple Emmy Winner, joined WCBS in 2006. She co-anchors with Maurice DuBois at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.