“CNN’s Stephanie Elam” Returns to A.M.

Rob Marciano: I heard a familiar voice this morning…@Stephanie Elam nice work!” Friday, whilom CNN biz beauty Stephanie Elam returned anew as a CNN correspondent on early morning news programs Early Start and Starting Point much to the delight of her former CNN colleague and Entertainment Tonight co-host Rob Marciano and, assuredly, a myriad of her erstwhile American Morning fans.

For Early Start viewers, Stephanie came back as a friendly, familiar face invigorating the engaging new duo of  Zoraida Sambolin and John Berman: For the Starting Point audience who had not yet abandoned ship a la their star-crossed captain Soledad O’Brien, poor Stephanie was just another warm body trying to keep that sinking ship afloat until a New Day finally dawns.

Welcome back, Stephanie!

[Author’s aside: “CNN’s Stephanie Elam” refers to the repeated moniker given Stephanie by Zoraida and John when introducing Stephanie before her Camarillo, California, wildfire reports to their CNN early morning audience.]

Daddy Marciano Back: “Sans Stache”

Shorn Rob shot but shines: AM alum Stephanie Elam notices. American Morning meteorologist Rob Marciano returned to his CNN morning show today after two weeks off for paternity leave. In his first appearance this morning, co-hosts Christine Romans and Carol Costello welcomed back the brand-new daddy and producers aired a photo of Rob, his wife Eryn, and their baby daughter, Madeline Grace.* In response, Rob reported that his baby was “great, that his wife was “recovering,” and that “all was well in the Marciano [household].” Subsequently, he added that he and Eryn were getting [only] two-to-three hours of sleep each night.

Off camera, Rob revealed a mite more to his Twitter followers. Yesterday, he joked, “10 days of hibernation might get me a Chico and The Man casting call :-): Included in his missive, he linked to a photo of him sporting a recently grown moustache. Shortly thereafter, he proclaimed, “Back to work tomorrow sans stache!”

Today, when Rob announced that he was “back in the studio saddle” and working with his “CNN family again,” he was embraced with open arms. “Welcome back, Bobby!,” Tweeted frequent AM guest co-host Alina Cho. Chiming in from the West Coast, erstwhile AM biz beauty, Stephanie Elam jested, “@robmarcianoCNN has that daddy glow. Or may it’s just fatigue? :-).” Pegged by his former CNN colleague, Rob replied, “Yes and yes,” Rob replied.

Truly, Rob. But, surely, little Grace Madeline Marciano is more than worth it all. Welcome back, “Bobby”!

Glam Elam: See Ya, CNN!

Looking extra glam in her freshly curled coif and her red decollete dress, CNN biz beauty Stephanie Elam bid adieu to her American Morning colleagues and fans this morning. As her final segment on AM concluded, Stephanie turned to co-hosts Kiran Chetry and Ali Velshi, saying, “Can I just say goodbye to you guys?…[I]t has been awesome being here: But, today is my last day. And, I’m moving to California.”

Leaning in toward Aly and Kiran, Stephanie declared, “I just want to say that I have had so much fun with you guys.” Then, pointing out into the studio, Stephanie added, “And, the people you don’t see behind here, all the guys who are on the stage, are fantastic and they make the morning so joyful. So, I’m going to miss you guys! As the floor crew erupted in applause, Stephanie, exclaimed, “Love you guys!”

Concurring, Kiran replied, “They, do! We’re already gonna miss you.” Chiming in, Ali remarked, “We’ve been sort of dodging the issue because it’s kind of sad.” Stephanie answered, “I know. But, this is my last time on American Morning so I gotta say it.”

Nodding her head in agreement, Kiran remarked, “Well, we love you. And, I think of it as just not goodbye but I think of it as we’re gonna keep in touch.”

Then, as an aside to the AM audience, Kiran elaborated, “She’s been juggling a cross-country marriage and a little new baby, and you know something had to give.”

Laughing, Stephanie concurred, “So, there. So, we’re going back.”

Best of success, Stephanie!

[Author’s aside: To her Twitter followers, Stephanie went into greater detail, Tweeting, “While I’m so excited about moving back to CA after (20!) years away, I’m so sad to leave #CNN and a job I LOVE!” However, she failed to mention that she had lived in Saratoga, CA, and that her family includes hubby/investment banker Jeff Rush and their eleven-month-old daughter.]

Ali & Kiran’s Tale: Busted?

Oops! Stephanie didn’t get the American Morning memo today. Fresh from her vacation in Puerto Rico, CNN biz beauty Stephanie Elam returned to the AM set today to report on the government shutdown. Unfortunately, for her AM colleagues, Ali Velshi and Kiran Chetry, she had not received that AM “e-mail” as to Ali’s ad libs.

In her mid-show segment this morning, Stephanie dutifully reported on “government & private workers who’ll be hurt by  [a federal government] shutdown.” After her story, Ali emphasized that, unlike governmental workers who would recoup their lost wages, businesses that catered to spring tourists simply lost their seasonal earnings.

Enthusiastically, Stephanie agreed, “They don’t get it back! That’s just lost. And, this is the beginning, especially like D.C.” Elaborating, she added, “Cherry blossoms–I went to school in D.C.–love it! That is like the best time and people come to see that every year. It’s a beautiful time.”

Concurring, Kiran (Gaithersburg, MD native and Terp alum), interjected, “I know. Me, too…It’s a huge draw. Huge draw!”

Turning to Kiran to make his point more poignantly, Ali proclaimed, “We were actually planning a little trip down there for cherry blossoms.” Looking back at Stephanie, he groused, “But, now if the government shuts down, we’re not gonna have that trip.”

Eying Ali quizzically, Stephanie glanced down at her notes and then back up at him, querying, “You’re not? Was I invited to this trip?” Seeming to sense that her friend and colleague Ali might need to be aided–and, perhaps, even abetted–Kiran nodded emphatically at Stephanie and exclaimed, “Yes!” Echoing his helpful co-host, a stone-faced Aly shook his head but once and unconvincingly uttered, “Yeah.”

Still puzzled, Stephanie looked at Kiran. In response, Kiran explained, “It was on an e-mail that we sent a week ago.” Then, she appeared to give Stephanie a knowing eye and a telling smile.

Meanwhile, Ali pursed his lips and licked them as Kiran spoke. Seeming to realize that his apparently apocyrphal anecdote had been exposed, he jested, “Yeah, it’s a class trip!” Laughing, Kiran chimed (to Stephanie), “It may have been in your spam box.”

Perhaps, that’s what happened to John Roberts’ AM e-mail, too, when he gainsayed Kiran on the Imus Show a few weeks ago. Oh, wait! John probably no longer has his Turner account.

American Morning – 04/08/11 (@ 7:28 a.m. ET)

Elam Returns to A.M.

CNN biz reporter and new mom Stephanie Elam was welcomed back Friday to American Morning from maternity leave by co-anchors Kiran Chetry and Jim Acosta. After her report on the new credit card rules, Jim remarked, “Welcome back, by the way.” A glowing Stephanie replied, “Thank you. It’s good to be back. Kiran added, “You look great!” To the AM audience, Kiran explained, “Stephanie is a new mommie so she’s back now.” (Stephanie and her husband, investment banker Jeff Rush, are now the proud parents of an almost three-month old baby girl.)

Animatedly, Stephanie answered, “Thank you. Yeah. It is very cool to have the job and the baby. It’s cool to kind of blend them.” Smiling broadly, she continued, “Obviously, I am sleep deprived but I’m happy.”

Yes, welcome back, Stephanie!