CBS' ''Early Show'' makes a bid for morning glory

Image credit: Tom Bergeron: RJ Capak/WireImage.com

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Bass is certainly experienced when it comes to recognizing talent—case in point: Matt Lauer. In 1997, Bass and Zucker promoted Lauer from newsreader to cohost, replacing — whatta coincidence! — Gumbel. Says Bass, ''Matt's the ideal situation...credible, great with interviews, a terrific personality.'' And not too bad on the eyes. ''Well, hosts have to be appealing,'' Bass adds. Which is why CBS is taking its sweet time finding someone to fill Gumbel's shoes. After offering the gig to (and getting turned down by) CBS sports anchor Jim Nantz and ''The View'''s Meredith Vieira, the show is being hosted alternately by ''Hollywood Squares'' emcee Tom Bergeron (who's gunning for the job), ''Saturday Early Show'' coanchor Russ Mitchell, and chief White House correspondent John Roberts. As for Clayson, she's safe—at least until her contract expires at year's end.

While the hunt goes on (CBS is giving itself until fall to find a replacement), Bass will use the summer to create new franchises for ''The Early Show,'' like the ''Where in the World is Matt Lauer?'' segments he created for ''Today.'' ''We want to create more buzz. We want people to go to the office and say, 'Did you see Jane do this or did you see that on The Early Show?''' To that end, Bass hopes to make better use of the family jewels within CBS' parent, Viacom, particularly the water-cooler shows at MTV. In fact, Bass has one idea for who could warm Gumbel's very cold seat. ''Ozzy Osbourne!'' he says. ''The only problem is we'd have to do the show on a seven-second delay.''