Aly: Dave’s “Classy Way to Say Goodbye”

Dave’s odd adieu: “My path is unclear but I will search for common ground in 2020.” [Link including vid.] Even more bizarre than his former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris’ exit from F&FW [link including vid], now former Early Start co-anchor Dave Briggs said farewell to his audience with little-to-no eye contact with his then co-anchor Christine Romans.

As Dave closed Early Start this morning, he said, “Today I say goodbye to CNN, to Excedrin, Visine, & 1:30 alarms [groaning emoji]. Thank you to my incredible family, awesome audience and my talented staff. My path is unclear but I will search for common ground in 2020. ‘That which unites us … is far greater than that which divides us.'” Making things somewhat awkward, Christine patted him on the shoulder and smiled at Dave as he studiously avoided her gaze.

To make things even more awkward, New Day opened with his former FNC F&FW co-host and current CNN New Day co-anchor Alisyn Camerota abruptly remarking, “We will miss Dave Briggs. And, that was a beautiful, classy way to say goodbye.”

Looking down and shaking his head, Aly’s co-host John Berman responded, “He’s a lovely, classy human being. And, I know that we are going to stay friends.”

Before moving on, Aly added, “As are we–since he lives a block away from me.”

Notably, Dave departure from Early Start was icier today than his emotional one in 2012 from F&FW.

Caio, Dave, for now. You had a great run with Aly and Clayton on F&FW. You had a good run with Christine. Hopefully, you’ll have another great run in the near future!

 

 

Aly & Dave Back Together–on CNN!

Clayton Out! Alisyn Camerota: “Don’t adjust your TV’s: It’s not 2012. Look who [sic] I’m reunited with, Dave Briggs, my old co-host!”* That is how New Day co-host introduced guest co-host Dave Briggs with whom she formerly co-anchored Fox & Friends on FNC (as Early Start promoted the upcoming New Day Show).

As New Day concluded, Aly turned to Dave, smiling, saying, “Well, Dave, um, it’s.” On cue, Dave turned to Aly, deadpanning, “Before, we go, you know…I’ve read this terrific book: I need to get you to sign my copy.” Beaming and looking at the camera, Aly jested, “What’s it called? You mean “Amanda Wakes Up?”

Beaming at his former Fox News co-anchor, Dave declared, “I’ve read it: I’ve done my homework. I’ve searched for my story in there.” Not so facetiously, she replied, “Oh, you may recognize a few characters in there!” Chuckling, Dave responded, “I recognize a little bit.”

And, fans of Fox & Friends Weekend and Fox News in general may recognize a lot. And, Amanda Wakes Up may tell a lot–about Aly’s transmogrification from her FNC role to her CNN one.

Ironically, on the very day that Aly and Dave reunited on CNN morning TV, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris who was on the same team with Aly and Dave declared his departure from the curvy couch this Labor Day in the penultimate F&F segment and said that he might not ever be on TV again.

*Early Start – 09/04/17 (@ 5:46).

Early Start: False Start!

Early Start confuses two very prominent black women: Condaleezza Rice and Susan Rice! In ES co-anchor Dave Briggs’ tease of upcoming stories as the show began, ES showed photos of President George W. Bush’s Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice for an “Unmasking vs. Leaking” segment.* Subsequently, co-host Christine Romans and Dave introduced the “‘Unmasking of Trump Associate’s Names” as photos of President Obama’s former National Security Advisor ran, with no mention of their earlier mistake.

After the segment ended, Christine exclaimed, “I have to apologize quickly! We used some video that was Condaleezza Rice at the top of this program, not Susan Rice. Obviously, we know the difference. That was just a file tape.”** Chiming in, Dave declared, “She has nothing to do with this story.” Looking into the camera, Christine earnestly said, “That was just a, a tape snafu. So sorry about that, everybody! Sorry about that, Condaleezza Rice!

Unfortunately, Christine, someone at Early Start did not know the difference.

*Early Start – 04/04/17 (@ 4:00 a.m. ET).

**Ibid @ 4:03 a.m. ET).

Romans on the Market?

And, no, not the financial market! CNN Early Start co-host Christine Romans has a handsome new TV husband, co-anchor Dave Briggs–and she may now be looking for a new off-camera hubby for a new start.

The mother of three has been been married to Reuters reporter Ed Tobin but divorce rumors have been afoot for a year, at least, according to Hubmesh.com: But, the website author(s) issued a caveat, saying, “[T]he media reports were considered to be ‘true’ until recently Romans clearly denied rumors of their divorce.

But, maybe, the rumors were well founded. For the last week on Early Start, Christine has eschewed wearing her wedding ring. Christine’s take on the market on CNN is one thing: But, her take on the market off camera may now have a whole new meaning!

Romans on the market? Stay tuned.

 

 

 

Early Start: Much too Early!

Last September, Early Start co-host John Berman cursed the extra pre-dawn hour when CNN added an extra early hour (4:00 a.m. ET) to his program with Zoraida Sambolin: Subsequently, CNN shortened the show to begin at the more godly hour of 5:00 a.m. ET. Now that CNN has had an upsurge in ratings due to its all-consuming coverage of the star-crossed plight of the passengers of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, CNN has added the 4 a.m. back to ES this week. Perhaps, not too surprisingly, the salty JB is CNN’s happy warrior as he sits with his new co-host Christine Romans.

Will CNN continue to be the early bird? If so, could it ever “steal” FNC’s worm?

Comely Camerota: CNN’s Catch?

Bathing beauty Aly: “For anyone wondering what I’ve been up to….” Today, Alisyn Camerota, the quondam queen of Fox & Friends Weekend‘s curvy couch got her fans attention with that Twitter tease that featured her in a sexy bathing beauty pose. She may have been more demure than her daring ’80’s bikini shot but the Bristol Bay Babe was just as alluring with her sexy come-hither pose. The catch? The former F&FW fox has jumped ship to CNN according to FTVLive.

For Fox & Friends viewers, Aly’s move should come as no surprise. FNC’s Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine has seemingly given his erstwhile best anchor the shaft: When he ditched Gretchen Carlson on F&F weekday, it appeared that the long-suffering three-time co-anchor of F&FW and frequent guest-host of F&F would finally get her due. Instead, the same genius that chose Gretch to be E. D. Hill‘s replacement on F&F over the eminently superior Kiran Chetry decided to go outside of the FNC family and choose Barbara Walter’s View outcast, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, rather than F&F fan favorite Aly.

Hopefully, CNN Prez Jeff Zucker will put Aly on against Lis in the mornings to jump start his moribund morning show New Day. Of course, Aly will be at a distinct disadvantage having to contend against Shine’s FNC juggernaut trio that also includes F&F Everyman Steve Doocy and Puckish wit Brian Kilmeade. Hopefully, Aly will join a cast including current Early Start co-host, wag John Berman, and another engaging gal or guy during the New Day time period: I.e., if the proverbial CNN stars are aligned propitiously, ND co-anchor Kate Bouldan, Michaela Pereira, and Chris Cuomo will find new places on Ted Turner’s network and Aly can usher in a new dawn to CNN.

Congratulations, Aly! And, good luck!

H/t, J$P!

Bradley Cooper Mutes Breathless Christine Romans?

John Berman: “Worth checking the Internet for that.” Early Start co-anchor John Berman brought back old embarrassing memories for his new co-host Christine Romans Wednesday.

Reading a headline news story on the President’s State Dinner for the French head of state, John noted that Oscar-nominated hunk Bradley Cooper was in attendance: Puckishly, he queried, “Have you [Christine] met Bradley Cooper?”*

Coolly, Christine answered, “He was right here on this program one day. Yes, indeed!”

Mischievously, he riposted, “Interesting. Worth checking the Internet for that moment.”

Blushing, a chagrined Christine pleaded, “Don’t!”

But, do. (Link here.)

[Author’s aside: Former American Morning co-anchor Kiran Chetry likens their shared interview of Cooper to “two schoolgirls in a bar.”]

*Early Start – 02/12/14 (@ 5:45 a.m. ET).

Icy Christine: Zoraida’s “Replacement”?

John Berman: “Welcome to Early Start…the official new co-anchor.” Former ES co-host Zoraida Sambolin‘s successor was announced by ES co-anchor John Berman Tuesday. Less than a month ago, John bid his then tearful co-host Zoraida adieu, aptly saying, “She doesn’t just want your morning to be good, she makes it happen….It’s that smile, that laugh, that sparkly….More than anything, it’s the sincerity.” Tuesday, as ES started, he greeted Zoraida’s more frigid replacement, tersely saying, “Welcome to Early Start, by the way.” Pointing to her and looking into the camera, John added, “Christine Romans, the official new co-anchor of the Early Start broadcast.”

Smiling, Christine replied, “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” The frequent ES guest co-host jested, “It’s, it’s my first day so please be nice to me. Be gentle, be gentle!” Laughing, John riposted, “Yes, you’re right. Exactly! Right, you’re going to get hazed the whole broadcast!”

Subsequently, and, perhaps, ironically, as Christine began to introduce a story about the “extreme cold” affecting its American viewers, ES producers ran a full-screen banner, blaring, “DEEP FREEZE 2014!” Hopefully, it was not an ominous sign of things to come for fans of their early-morning show.

N.B. Erstwhile ES co-host Ashleigh Banfield‘s too oft icy “Mayor of the Morning” better heat things up–if she ever hopes to succeed as a worthy successor of caliente senorita Sambolin!*

*To see Zoraida bringing the heat, check out her sexy tango and cha cha vid here.

Zoraida’s Tearful Adios: “A Very Difficult Decision”

“You put the good in ‘good morning’: It just doesn’t work as well in ‘goodbye.'” The CNN dawn darkened decidedly Friday when Early Start star Zoraida Sambolin bid adieu to her early morning show Friday.

In the final third of ES, Zoraida’s co-anchor John Berman declared, “I am wearing black today because it is Zoraida Sambolin’s last day on Early Start.* [Vid via J$P.] Placing a bracelet made by his sons on her wrist, John jested, “When I heard that you chose your fiance, your family, your hometown, and sleep over me, I, I was a little offended: And, I’ve been trying to understand it but it’s hard. I put together a little piece.”

Subsequently, as producers ran a montage of Zoraida’s clips, John intoned, “The thing about Zoraida Sambolin, when she says ‘Good morning,’ she means it….She doesn’t just want your morning to be good, she makes it happen.” Felicitously, he continued, “It’s that smile, that laugh, that sparkle….More than anything, it’s the sincerity.” Aptly, he added, “Know this, we will miss you tons. Yes, you put the good in good morning: It just doesn’t work as well in goodbye.”

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Zoraida responded, “That is so sweet….This was a very difficult decision for me: I did it primarily for my kids.” To John, she sweetly declared, “You are the best human being I have ever sat next to in my entire life….Seriously, I just cannot think of a more thoughtful, caring, cynical, loving–just a genuinely good human being: And, I thank you for just being you.”

And, Zoraida, thank you for being you!

Early Start – 12/13/13 (@ 5:43 a.m. ET)

[Author’s aside: Zoraida was the best person to grace CNN’s early morning since Kiran Chetry (erstwhile American Morning co-host). Both dared to expose their real selves to their viewers–to defy the sterile corporate culture with a genuine sine qua non that was their own. They are both missed!]

Zoraida: Adios Already?

Friday the 13th! Sadly, Early Start co-host Zoraida Sambolin is leaving her post next Friday, December 13, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The caliente senorita bids her acolytes adios less than two years after making her debut as an original co-host on the then new Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield. And, now, the lovely Latina leaves a “vacancy” in her now current co-anchor John Berman‘s “Red Room.”

All levity aside, Zoraida will leave a real void in the early dawn on CNN. Initially, the sweet, soft-spoken, and genuine ES co-host stood in stark contrast with her more acerbic, boisterous, and pretentious Cannuck counterpart, co-anchor Ashleigh. When Ashleigh left the early morning show for a later hour on CNN, Zoraida teamed with John to present their ES viewers with a fun, friendly, and, oft risque take on the news–almost a la Fox & Friends.

Now, Early Start fans will be bereft of their beloved beauty in less than a week. Apparently, Zucker has struck again. You’ll be missed, Zoraida!

Bawdy Berman’s “Red Room”?

Saucy Sambolin “fit to be tied”! Early Start co-anchor John Berman got rather bawdy with his beautiful co-host Zoraida Sambolin this morning. Introducing their penultimate segment this morning, “The Bleacher Report,” John randily remarked, “Welcome back to Early Start, everyone–or, as we like to call it–the Red Room of Pain.* Gasping at John’s risque reference to the sexually sadistic romp room in Fifty Shades of Grey, Zoraida blushed and shook her head in utter disbelief. As John finished his intro to the sports report, he grinned goatishly as he looked over at his now flushed co-host. In response, Zoraida simply smiled and continued to shake her head at her bad boy.

Early Start: “The Red Room” with John and Zoraida. Now, that might be a sure CNN ratings success!

Early Start – 10/15/13 (@ 5:51 a.m. ET).

New(s) Starts Monday

Sambolin and Berman; Camerota & Hemmer; and solo Carlson. Early Start gets even earlier as Zoraida Sambolin and John Berman‘s show starts 4:00 a.m. ET as it expands to two hours Monday (September 30).* Also, America’s News HQ gains a new hour slot at 1:00 p.m. ET with the end of Megyn Kelly‘s America Live: The abdicating queen of Fox & Friends Weekend Alisyn Camerota and her single “sidekick” Bill Hemmer host. Furthermore, the former diva of the weekday curvy couch debuts on her eponymous new show The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson at 2 p.m. ET.

[Author’s aside: FIVE hours of CNN morning news dawn; Aly AND Gretch rule Megyn’s former throne; and Bill FINALLY gets the girl.]

*Early Start – 09/27/13 (5:09 a.m. ET)

Pereira: Berman, “Are You Coming Back?”

John: “At this point, I’m not so sure.” Today, Early Start anchors John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin were absent yet again with no explanation to their viewers. In fact, co-anchors, Michaela Pereira and Poppy Harlow welcomed their audience to the show and introduced themselves as if they were the regular co-hosts. Perhaps, the only reassuring note to Zoraida and John’s fans was the very brief introductory chyron, “earlystart with JOHN BERMAN & ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN.”

Furthermore, if Early Start viewers had tuned in to New Day Wednesday, they may have wondered all the more if John and Zoraida were gone for good. In the penultimate segment of New Day, John gave his quirky diurnal “Award of the Day” from D.C.: As he concluded, ND news anchor Michael Pereira asked, “Are you coming back to us some nice time soon?” Grinning, he answered, “At this point, I’m not so sure.”

Have no fear, John and Zoraida votaries: If their Tweets are true, they are absent with leave. On Monday, John wrote, “Hey! Hello Morning People! I’m in DC this week filling-in on @TheLeadCNN (and watching @Early StartCNN & New Day on TV).” On the preceding Friday, Zoraida announced, “Headed into surgery with Dr. Kim Plastic and RJ the sleep doctor #breast cancer #anesthesia #dynamicduo.” (Saturday, she added, “This final surgery was a [sic] uneventful and I am feeling great.”)

Perhaps, it is no big deal to CNN suits who anchors Early Start. But, they may want to consider that John and Zoraida are the very first ones who welcome their audience to the CNN day. And, faithful viewers tend to prefer to be awakened at dawn by a friend, not a stranger.

Zoraida Returns: ES Star Sparkles

Sambolin: “Yay! I’m so happy to be back!” Early Start co-host Zoraida Sambolin returned Monday “healthy and very happy” to her relieved fans after a double mastectomy due to her recently-diagnosed breast cancer after a six-week medical leave. Trying to suppressing a huge smile as the show started, Zoraida declared, “Good morning and welcome to Early Start!” Looking over at her co-anchor John Berman, she began to heartily clap, exclaiming, “Yay! I’m so happy to be back! Folks, thank you so much!”

Beaming, John replied, “Yes, you are! So nice to have you back.” Self-deprecatingly, he added, “I’m the other guy!”

Chuckling appreciatively, Zoraida replied, “Yeah!”

Yeah. The earnest, sweet, and, sexy Zoraida is still assuredly the best way to awaken the CNN dawn. Nevertheless, John, an easy-listening wisecracker has definitely made ES a much more welcome wake-up call since he replaced Zoraida’s first co-host Ashleigh Banfield, a chatty, cacophonous alarm without a ready snooze button.

Welcome back, Zoraida! You were missed!

“New Day”: New Dawn or New Dud?

Chris, Kate, and Michaela: CNN’s New Day morning team brings a brighter dawn to their viewers–at least, for now. Gone are the too oft surly Soledad O’Brien and her Starting Point panel of milquetoast toadies (and the subsequent SP fill-ins): And, in their place are three sunnier replacements, alpha male Chris Cuomo, tomboy beauty Kate Bolduan, and the engaging BBBW Michaela Pereira. And, thankfully, for three full hours for those sick and tired of the schizophrenic Early Start/Starting Point (two hour/two hour) start to their CNN day.

For early morn viewers wondering who in the world the new CNN honcho Jeff Zucker’s tyro trio were, they introduced themselves to each other and to viewers in their respective profile segments (vids): Chris’s “Poseidon Adventure”; Kate’s “Skeet’r Shoot”; and Michaela’s “Soccer Mom.” It was almost an homage to FNC’s Fox & Friends: i.e., an acknowledgment that morning news TV should be informative, informal, and personal if it is truly to resonate with its audience.

However, the personal chemistry among Kate, Chris, and Michaela does seem somewhat forced at times, e.g., Chris requesting and receiving a kiss from Michaela and their subsequent group hug at the end of Michaela’s “Soccer Mom” segment. Nevertheless, the three seem to genuinely like other.

Still, Chris seems to be the wild card: He’s the baritone Cuomo scion that sometimes seems somewhat solipsist but is trying hard to mingle with the masses. Hopefully, he can. But, for future reference, as Kate seemed to sense, he probably should not tell aurally challenged, camera-curious three-year-olds–even if in jest–that he won’t abide their stealing “[his] camera” or his “single.”* [Video.]

As Ad Age noted, the results for a New Day were mixed in its debut week (June 17-21). It did edge out its HLN sibling in the ratings and was leaps and bounds above Soledad’s cellar status in the same time period in 2012: However, New Day was trounced by FNC’s Fox & Friends and lost to MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

A New Day: a new dud? It could yet be: But, CNN fans are hoping New Day is truly a new dawn. Leading that chorus, former American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry wished her a.m. “successors” well, saying, “Good luck guys!! The hours are a bear… But the experience is priceless. Godspeed!!!”

*New Day – 06/21/13 (@ 5:28/5:49)

Zesty Zoraida: Zooma, Zooma, Zoom!

Beauty no boob: “Come on give it a try: We’re gonna reach for the sky.” Early Start co-anchor Zoraida Sambolin may have given CNN a New Day a month early. In an incredible display of courage Zoraida has embraced her breast cancer challenge with a zest that gives new life to CNN’s generally bland morning fare. Furthermore, she has given her fans a front seat view as she fought her malignant invader and vanquished it.

About two weeks ago (05/14/13 – ES vid), Zoraida intimately disclosed that she had breast cancer and that she had decided to have a double mastectomy. As a recently engaged woman (to her fiance Kenny Williams), she further revealed that she struggled with her decision because of her sexuality and her breasts and how attached she was to that. But, as a mother, she explained, “At the end of the day, it’s really difficult to say that I’m thinking about this…when I have two kids that…I want to live for: And that at the end of the day, I’m going…to cut off my arms if it means that I am going to live to see them and to see them grow up.”

Elaborating the very next day (in a “Starting the Cancer Dialogue” segment), Zoraida said, “I was embarrassed by how difficult that decision was: And, so, it makes you start thinking about your sexuality which I’ve thought more about than I ever have before in my life! And, how this will affect that!”* Explicating her initial misgivings about her double mastectomy (during a subsequent “Outpouring of Support for Jolie” story), Zoraida added, “You know, the first three days all I thought about going to bed was this and getting up [was] this and what is going to be my decision: That is all I thought about.”**

In Zoraida’s final show before her surgery (05/24/13), she shared her story further in a segment entitled, “A Very Personal Decision: Choosing double mastectomy over fear of dying.”*** When she concluded her report on why she chose to remove both of her breasts even though only her left one was cancerous, her ES co-host John Berman declared, “I have been in awe of you over the last several weeks as you’ve gone through this, simply in awe of your strength.” Pulling his tie and unbuttoning his shirt to reveal a Superman-styled tee with a “Z,” John added, “I did want you to know…that I will be certainly be with you in spirit as a, as the founding member of Team Z–not just Z, but Super Z.” Standing up to embrace John, Zoraida exclaimed, “Aww, that is so sweet!” As the ES crew began to emerge with their own “Super Z” shirts made for them by John,  an emotional Zoraida hugged them, too, gushing, “Oh, my g[od]! Oh, thank you! That is so sweet! And, if that were not enough, Zoraida got a fun ES “send off…a boob cake” that afternoon: Tweeting her hearty approval, she declared, “[G]otta love my peeps!”

On the appointed day, Zoraida gamely proclaimed, “Good Morning Friends! Getting ready to head to the hospital but wanted to “check in” with you first.” Subsequently, tagging in for her sis, Ivonne Tweeted, “[Zoraida] is heading to the OR as I  tweet. I will be keeping you all posted. pic.twitter.com/ASfhKyTvWF.” Subsequently, she happily announced, “Lymph nodes cam back negative for cancer. This means cancer has not spread beyond the breast. YES!!” A few hours later, Ivonne heralded further good news, saying, “Zoraida is out of surgery. Thanks to God and Dr. Kim, everything went beautifully!!!” The next day, she prematurely predicted, “Zoraida is doing great. She goes home today. Dr’s are happy with her progress.”

Taking back the reins, Zoraida Tweeted, “Day 2 not so bad. Feeling great! pic.twitter.com/XKi2LHhUry.” On Thursday, she elatedly exclaimed, “Going home today, yay!”

Yay, indeed. Get well soon, Zoraida! And, hurry back!

*Early Start – 05/15/13 (@ 5:38 a.m. ET).

**Ibid at 6:16 a.m. ET.

***Early Start – 05/24/13 (6:38 a.m. ET).

CNN’s Indra vs. FNC’s Maria: Weathergal Catfight?

Rowrrr! Yesterday, Early Start co-anchor John Berman introduced blonde beauty Indra Petersons as “our brand new CNN meteorologist and the newest addition to our team here in the morning.”* The Latvian lovely stands in stark contrast to Cosmo’s caliente Nicaraguan nymph Maria Molina, the brunette beauty who just snared her own early morn Monday-through-Friday gig on FNC.

According to IndraPetersons.com, Indra is of Latvian heritage, speaks the language fluently, and has learned her country’s “native folk songs and dances” (including the polka). Furthermore, she is said to be a Los Angeles native who started her career in El Paso at KVIA as a weathergal; moved on to Santa Barbara at KEYT as a meteorologist; and then went to Los Angeles’ ABC7 in 2004 as not only the weatherwoman but also as a “general assignment reporter” before replacing Rob Marciano as CNN’s premier meteorologist.  As far as her hobbies are concerned, the hottie is a travel enthusiast who chronicles here travels on her Facebook page.

Whether one agrees with global warming or not, the weather just got a lot hotter with the new girl in town! And, the mornings may dawn just a little sweeter with the potential pillow fights in the offing between CNN’s new  long-tressed towhead and her FNC brown-maned rival. CNN’s Indra vs. FNC’s Maria: a cable dream pay-per-view!

*Early Start – 05/20/13 (@ 6:05 a.m. ET)

Zoraida’s Decision: Feminine Sexuality But Family First

Double mastectomy: “Very emotional for me…as a woman, your sexuality and your breasts and how attached you are to that.” Early Start co-host Zoraida Sambolin shared her very personal new struggle with breast cancer with her CNN a.m. fans, her Twitter followers, and her Facebook friends Tuesday. Breaking the news to her EP viewers (after a report on Angelina Jolie’s NYT announcement that she had undergone a double mastectomy), Zoraida remarked, “You know, I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and…the fact that she [Jolie] is sharing this very personal journey, talking about the femininity as well and how that affects your decision moving forward, is absolutely remarkable.”* To her Tweeps and to her FB friends, she elaborated, “I struggled for weeks trying to figure out how [to] tell you that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was leaving to have surgery then..Angelina Jolie shares her story of a double mastectomy and gives me strength and an opening.”

Later in the morning, on Starting Point, Zoraida disclosed even more of the intimate details of her painful decision.** During a story on Jolie’s double mastectomy, Zoraida was brought in to tell her own story by SP interim co-hosts John Berman and Christine Romans. Pointing to John, Zoraida said, “You know for a while I’ve been struggling ’cause I was diagnosed with breast cancer about three weeks ago. And, I was trying to figure out how do I…tell the viewers that I’m going to be gone for awhile because I have chosen to have a double mastectomy. And, so, Angelina Jolie’s story really hit home.”

Offering Zoraida an opportunity to open up, John remarked, “She [Jolie] says [that] it’s an empowering decision, in a way.” Seizing her moment, Zoraida replied, “It is because you can, you can make that decision as a woman. Um, one of the things that she talks about that is very emotional for me because, you know, as a woman, your sexuality and your breasts and how attached you are to that. Right? As, as a woman!” In true maternal self-abnegation, she continued, “And, so, at the end of the day, it’s really difficult to say that I’m thinking about this…when I have two kids that…I want to live for. And that at the end of the day, I’m going…to cut off my arms if it means that I am going to live to see them and to see them grow up.”

Zoraida, kudos for courageously sharing your story with your fans–and, more importantly, putting your family first!

[Author’s aside: During her SP interview, supra, Zoraida disclosed that she made her first call after her diagnosis to her fiance (Kenny Williams) , “who has been nothing but an amazing supporter through all of this.” Furthermore, she revealed that she was going to have her surgery on the 28th. EP – 05/14/13 (@6:03 a.m. ET)]

*Early Start – 05/14/13 (@ 5:33 a.m. ET)

**Starting Point – 05/14/13 (@ 7:33 a.m. ET)

“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.]

“Miss” Early Start: Zoraida Sambolin Engaged

“On Christmas Eve.” Single gal Early Start co-host Zoraida Sambolin started off her new year with a Facebook relationship status update for her fans on January 2. Including a pic, she proudly proclaimed, “Yes, it is a ring on my finger. Kenny [Williams] and I were engaged on Christmas Eve.”

Later that day, CBS Chicago reported Sambolin’s announcement and elaborated that her fiance was Kenny Williams, the new EVP of the Chicago White Sox. Nine days later (January 11), Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported Kenny’s account of the engagement–albeit buried under his main story (emblazoned “Exclusive: Sheriff to search Chicago apartment complex where John Wayne Gacy’s mother lived”). Subsequently, when one observant reader and Zoraida Tweep noticed the news and apprised Zoraida thereof, Zoraida Tweeted, “Thank you, the article was a surprise to me as well. Kenny sent a link this morning, he is a gem.”

Apparently, “that loving feeling” is mutual. Sneed reported that Williams gushed that he was “about as happy as I’ve ever been as an adult.” According to Sneed, Williams intoned, “Yes, we just got engaged and I am in a really good place.” Reportedly, Williams was so enamored with Zoraida that he asked her for her hand in marriage–twice: apparently, once prematurely in his office because he just “couldn’t wait” and later at the “much more romantic forum” of the Holy Name Cathedral [Chicago] at midnight Mass where Zoraida’s parent were wed.

Congratulations, Zoraida and Kenny!

[Author’s aside: Mea culpa, Zoraida fans, for the delay: Holidays and hunting guests had distracted these eyes.]