CBS News is preparing to say goodbye to Charles Osgood.
The beloved bow-tied anchor of "CBS Sunday Morning" has met with
network brass to discuss his future and is expected to end his two
decade run as host of the popular weekend show this year, The Daily News
has learned.
Earlier this week, Osgood, 83, met with his longtime pal, Rand Morrison
who serves as "CBS Sunday Morning" executive producer. "We talked
vaguely about his future," Morrison said, "and that's as far as it
goes."
A source close to CBS said Osgood’s future at the network is still up in the air as “There are no firm plans.”
Meanwhile, Osgood is scheduled to undergo knee-replacement surgery in
the next few weeks and is expected to be off the air for some time
recovering, Morrison said. .
He declined to comment further.
Osgood’s current deal with CBS News expires at the end of next December
and some at the network had been planning to announce his departure
from “CBS Sunday Morning” in May.
Insiders have pegged Jane Pauley, 65, as an early favorite to take over
as host of the popular program — although there have been no formal
discussions with the former NBC News star yet.
“She is one of several contenders,” the source said.
Osgood, who is known as CBS’ “poet in residence” has been the face of
the highly-rated morning show for more than 20 years. He took over the
telecast from legendary broadcaster, Charles Kuralt.
Since 1971 Osgood has hosted a short, daily program on CBS Radio
stations, called “The Osgood File” and is expected to continue that show
for the foreseeable future.
Pauley, a former “Today” co-host and anchor of “Dateline” on NBC,
joined “CBS Sunday Morning” in April 2014 as a correspondent and
occasionally substitutes as host for Osgood.
“CBS Sunday Morning” is a bright spot for the news division.
It is the top rated Sunday morning news program and last week delivered
a whopping 6.6 million viewers — a far larger audience those that tune
in for rivals “Good Morning America” and “Today.”
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