New Day Disappears?

Santa’s gift: Three beauties and no beast. It was a strange morning after Christmas on CNN: New Day disappeared and Alisyn Camerota, Chris Cuomo, and Michaela Pereira were nowhere to be seen live. Instead, (CNN) Newsroom replaced New Day with Energizer bunny Christine Romans, pretty Poppy Harlow, and hottie Pamela Brown on the ND set.

Actually, it was a nice holiday gift from Old Saint Nick. Aly, Chris, and Michaela got a much deserved break: And, the viewers got three femme fatales for the day. Christine played the Iowa tomboy that dutifully doles out financial and other practical advice; Poppy played the attractive Everylady that reads the news for her airport audience savant and dullard alike; and Pamela (1971 Miss America Phyllis George’s daughter) played the sexy “younger blonde” that CNN honcho Jeff Zucker may need to “compete with Fox News.”

But, the bizarre thing to the author was that even though Christine, Poppy, and Pamela were on the New Day set in the ND time slot, CNN decided to ditch the ND name for the day and replace it with Newsroom. Perchance, Zucker wanted to be certain that his CNN viewers knew that his choice for now, at least, for his ND team was crystal clear: I.e., Aly, Chris, and Michael were his A-Team. After all, the three appeared on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to seemingly cement in viewers minds the new lineup on News Day.

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.

Poppy: “If Kiran Wants to Sell Her Wedding Ring”

Kiran: No, I don’t! I’m teasing, Honey! American Morning Kiran Chetry gave her hubby a sportive scare Wednesday. After appearing to have forgotten her wedding ring again Tuesday,* Kiran had her connubial bond conspicuously back on her ring finger yesterday. However, it was not on permanent display.

During an AM report entitled “What’s Your Gold Worth?” by CNNMoney.com host Poppy Harlow,” Kiran playfully reminded her hubby not to take her for granted. After Poppy had aired a clip of people getting their gold assayed (for Kiran and her co-hosts Christine Romans and Ali Velshi), she remarked, “If you are thinking about selling your gold now, we are an all-time high.” In response, an puckish Kiran took off her wedding ring and presented it to Poppy, saying, “Here you go!”

Clapping her hands in laughter, Poppy proclaimed, “That’s your wedding ring!” As Christine guffawed, “Kiran!,” a grinning Kiran exclaimed, “I’m kidding!”

Facetiously, Poppy proffered, “If Kiran wants to sell her wedding ring.” Before she could continue, Kiran interjected, “No, I don’t! I’m teasing, Honey.” Somewhat reassuringly, Poppy concurred, “But, she doesn’t Chris.”

Kiran: Keeping hubby honest!

*Kiran sans wedding ring [American Morning – 07/27/10 (@ 6:01)] and less than five minutes later with one (single band with larger rock) that appeared different than her own (two banded one – joined wedding and engagement rings) less than five minutes later. Comparative closeup (brief) – 6:47 a.m. ET.