Norville Gets ‘Early’ Wakeup Call for Tryout
Former “Today Show” anchor Deborah Norville will be a morning person once again — for a week, that is.
In what is widely perceived as a test-drive as “The Early Show” co-host, Norville, currently the host of syndicated newsmagazine “Inside Edition,” will appear with co-anchor Jane Clayson beginning Monday.
Ever since Bryant Gumbel vacated his seat last May, there has been some heated speculation surrounding his replacement on the third-place breakfastcast.
Former guest hosts — or candidates perhaps — who have appeared include “This Week in History’s” Josh Bingswanger, CBS White House correspondent John Roberts, “Hollywood Squares” host Tom Bergeron and CBS weekend anchor Russ Mitchell.
Bergeron has gathered some heat, but some dismiss his chances because he’s not a newsie.
Of course, former morning mainstays David Hartman of “Good Morning America” and Hugh Downs of “Today” didn’t come from news, either: Hartman was an actor, Downs a “Tonight Show” laffalonger to Jack Paar.
But Norville is perhaps the most high-profile to appear in Gumbel’s chair so far. She replaced Jane Pauley as a “Today Show” anchor in 1989 for two years. (When the baton was handed off, the two exchanged gifts: Pauley forked over a broken alarm clock, Norville a set of knives.)
In 1995, Norville succeeded Bill O’Reilly as host of “Inside Edition.”
Her weeklong stint will also reunite her with executive producer and “Today Show” alum Michael Bass.
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