The Morning Program

On January 12, 1987 The Morning Program made its debut hosted by actress Mariette Hartley and New York newsman Rolland Smith. Mark McEwen handled the weather, while Bob Saget did comedy bits. The show ran for 90 minutes behind a briefly-expanded 90-minute CBS Early Morning News, which had dropped "Early" from its title. However, The Morning Program, with its awkward mix of news, entertainment, and comedy, became the joke of the industry, receiving its worst reviews and at one point plummeting to its lowest ratings in five years. The format was aborted and the time slot returned to the news division after a ten-and-a-half-month run.