CBS

CBS News sent us their plans for Tuesday's Michael Jackson memorial Service at the Staples Center.

Monday, July 6

• THE EARLY SHOW (7:00-9:00 AM, ET) broadcast live from Los Angeles

• CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) anchored by Couric from the Staples Center

Tuesday, July 7

• THE EARLY SHOW (7:00-9:00 AM, ET) anchored by Maggie Rodriguez and Harry Smith from the Staples Center

• CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) anchored by Couric from the Staples Center

• 48 HOURS (10:00-11:00 PM, ET) anchored by Couric from the Staples Center

TVNewser hears former Today show and MSNBC meteorologist Sean (it's pronounced Seen, don't call him Shawn) McLaughlin will be back in New York this weekend filling in for Dave Price on the "Early Show." McLaughlin will be on the show tomorrow, Saturday and Monday.

McLaughlin left NBC in Sept. 2006 and returned to Phoenix as chief meteorologist and news anchor at CBS affiliate KPHO.

Last week, after Michael Jackson died, the big three network news anchors were noticeably absent during prime time programs devoted to the news. Martin Bashir and Barbara Walters anchored specials on ABC, Ann Curry on NBC and Harry Smith on CBS. Charlie Gibson co-anchored GMA on Friday but only because Diane Sawyer was sick.

Well now CBS' "48 Hours" is producing a special anchored by Katie Couric called "Michael Jackson: Picking up the Pieces." It airs tonight at 10pmET/PT.

In a release, CBS says the broadcast will take a look at both Jackson's legacy and the investigation into his death.

After her now-famous interview of Gov. Sarah Palin, MarketWatch's Jon Friedman writes today, "I began to wonder fancifully whether she might finally put pressure on ABC's Charles Gibson for the No.2 position, behind perennial ratings leader Brian Williams of NBC. But it hasn't panned out that way."

CBS News Executives, Friedman continues, "resent the implication that she hit a plateau with the Palin interview."

"Katie delivers spectacular television and I think everyone is waiting for the next great Katie moment," says CBS News SVP of Communications Jeff Ballabon. "I don't think they're waiting for the next Brian or Charlie moment...

"We're in it for the long haul. That's the bottom line."

Following last week's reports about the health of legendary CBS Newsman Walter Cronkite, the Cronkite family sent us the following statement. Chip Cronkite, Walter Cronkite's son, tells us he and his sisters wanted to set the record straight about their father's health.

"In order to dispel false rumors, Walter Cronkite's family wants it known that he has apparently suffered for some years with cerebrovascular disease and he is not expected to recuperate. He is resting comfortably at home with family, friends, and a wonderful medical team. We thank you for your prayers and good wishes."

The family also sent the statement to the New York Post's Linda Stasi, who has a story in today's paper, as well as to Newsday's Verne Gay who has been covering the story closely.

Tomorrow night, the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" will debut a three-part series called "Life After Debt." It's a follow-up to last year's "Life and Debt in America."

Tomorrow, correspondent Anthony Mason looks in to the new realities facing millions preparing for retirement. Wednesday, Mason explores the transfer of economic power from Wall Street to Washington, DC. And on Thursday, Mason reports on the strategies America's largest retailers are using to prepare for a new subdued consumer. Mason gets access to the meetings of the planning, testing, marketing and designing divisions of Sears and KMart.

This morning on "The Early Show", several CBS Newsers will pay special tribute to their dads in honor Father's Day tomorrow. CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus talks about his dad, legendary sports journalist Jim McKay; Evening News EP Rick Kaplan reflects on his dad, one of the first men to storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day 1944; and chief White House correspondent Chip Reid will speak publicly for the first time about his father's death this past April and what it meant for Pres. Barack Obama to pass on his condolences during his news conference in London.

Gail Shister
TVNewser Columnist

Ailing legendary newsman Walter Cronkite "is not in good shape," says CBS's Andy Rooney, who visited his longtime friend at home yesterday.

"60 Minutes" commentator Rooney, 90, and Cronkite, 92, "CBS Evening News" anchor from 1962 to 1981, were fellow World War II correspondents. They see each other often, Rooney says.

"Walter's going to live," says Rooney, quickly adding: "for a while. He's dressed. He looks good. He's thinking pretty well. I know he's not active. He can't get around much. He's old, for goodness sake.

"He's gone downhill, but not in the last few days... I don't know whether he's going to die tomorrow, or not. I'm not a doctor."

Cronkite's chief of staff Marlene Adler, who did not return calls yesterday, says her boss is "suffering from the challenges of age. He's ill, but the angel of death is not standing over his bed."

Adler won't disclose any details of Cronkite's illness. "The family has asked that we keep everything private," she says. "I'm not going to go into his medical condition."

Cronkite goes out three or four times a week, always in a wheelchair, according to a close family friend. His memory is failing and his systems are slowly shutting down, but death is not imminent, the friend adds.

CBS's Mike Wallace, 91, says he hasn't seen Cronkite recently, "but I know he's had a tough time because of age. From this old man about another old man, I think that's what it amounts to. I love the man."

The fact that CBS updated Cronkite's obituary more than a week ago doesn't mean anything, Adler adds.

"It's normal at CBS to prepare things in advance." From time to time, Cronkite has given CBS updated information, "just to get prepared for the ultimate," Adler says.

Still, producers at CBS News weekend shows were advised today to be prepared for a possible Cronkite obituary at the last minute, says a network insider.

Gail Shister
TVNewser Columnist

TVNewser has learned legendary CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, 92, who once held the title of "Most Trusted Man in America," is gravely ill, according to multiple CBS News sources. The network began updating his obituary more than a week ago, a source adds.

CBS News executive Linda Mason, designated to speak on Cronkite's behalf, had no comment.

The avuncular Cronkite anchored "CBS Evening News" for 19 years, until 1981, when he was forced to retire. Dan Rather was named his successor. Cronkite maintained an office at CBS, where he was a special correspondent.

A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Cronkite made his mark as a World War II correspondent for United Press. He joined CBS in 1950 as a Washington correspondent. In 1962, he was named anchor of "CBS Evening News," then 15 minutes in length. The following year, it became network TV's first 30'minute weeknight newscast.

Cronkite's nightly sign-off -- "And that's the way it is..." - became part of the popular lexicon, and his gravelly voice was instantly recognizable. During his tenure, he led "Evening News" to first place in the Nielsen ratings.

Cronkite returned to "Evening News," in a manner of speaking, in September 2006, when he recorded the opening to the newscast with new anchor Katie Couric.

In an interview with this reporter in 2006, Cronkite was asked if he ever thought about death.

"When you get to be 89, you have to think about it a little bit. It doesn't prey on me, and it doesn't keep me awake nights. Occasionally, when I'm upset about something else, I think, 'My gosh, I don't know if I should do this or that because I'm not sure I'll be here that long to enjoy it.'"

Minneapolis KMSP-TV/Fox entertainment reporter Jason Matheson may be Katie Couric's #1 fan. He's got a self-described "shrine" to her at his home, and, via iPhone, he wakes up each morning to the Walter Cronkite-voiced CBS Evening News opening credits.

Now, Matheson's adoration has been acknowledged. As Star Tribune columnist C.J. reports, Couric called in last week to the WFMP-FM radio show that Matheson also hosts.

"I found out you're a very nice, normal guy," Couric told him, joking that "I had actually the FBI and the CIA checking that. You came back clean."

"I'm just a simple little gay boy with a crush on Katie Couric," Matheson said.

"Get in line," Couric bantered. "For whatever reason, I have some gay fans. I am very flattered my gay friends enjoy my work. Gay, straight, I'll take anybody at this point, hermaphrodites."

Matheson then told Couric that hearing the Evening News credits on his iPhone brightens his mood. "That is sad," Couric teased. "I wouldn't tell anyone that."

Couric also sent Matheson an autographed photo, and taped some radio promos, saying in one, "Hi, this is Katie Couric, Jason's radio wife. Honey, can you pick up some bread on the way home?"