David Friedman out as CBS ‘Early Show’ EP

Breaking: CBS Early Show EP David Friedman called a Noon meeting for his staff today announcing that he’ll be leaving the show. TVNewser has learned Friedman will be leaving the broadcast in the next few weeks.

Friedman, who is the son of former CBS News EVP Paul Friedman, himself cut from CBS News during a management shake-up in February, joined “Early” in January 2010. Whoever replaces Friedman will be the fifth EP of the show in the last 3 years and 9 months.

Developing…

> More: In a note to staff, obtained by TVNewser, CBS News president David Rhodes writes, “David is a strong producer who has worked very hard and we intend to help him find the right place at CBS or elsewhere. We will be announcing the new leadership at ‘The Early Show’ within a
few days.”

Memo after the jump…

Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 12:05 PM
To: @CND The Early Show
Subject: A Message from Jeff Fager and David Rhodes

As all of you know, since we took over CBS News, we have been asking
for a change in direction at The Early Show, and not the kind of show
that David Friedman was hired to run. With that in mind we have
agreed with David that he should be able to move on and he will be
leaving the broadcast in the coming weeks.
David is a strong producer who has worked very hard and we intend to help him find the right place at CBS or elsewhere.
He will get us through some important Early Show events before leaving
including this week’s town hall with President Obama, and the one that will follow with Republican leaders.
We will be announcing the new leadership at The Early Show within a
few days and David has agreed to help with that transition.

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