Big Changes in TV

If you haven't noticed, there's a lot of familar faces on TV this year that won't be back for another year in 2011-12.

Oprah Winfrey's last show aired today after a 25 year run.  Since I can remember, her showed aired weekdays at 4pm on the Cleveland ABC affliate, WEWS.  Her replacement is undecided, but now that he has her OWN (pardon the pun) network, she can give all kinds of people new shows (her best friend Gayle King has a new show). 

One rumor replacement for Oprah is Katie Couric, who just stepped down as the CBS Evening News anchor.  Her replacement will be Scott Pelley.  It's uncertain whether Couric plans to stay employed by CBS.  Couric's previous job was at host of NBC's Today Show.  Upon leaving her job there, she was replaced by Merideth Vierra, who previously was the monitor on ABC's The View.  Vierra announced that she was stepping down as the Today Show's co-host, due to her husband's poor health.  He has suffered from mulitple sceloris for several years and was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer, so she needs to spend more time at home.  She'll still be working for NBC, probably on a show like Dateline that would only require her being on air one day a week.

Two of TV's oldest personalities (excluding those on CBS's 60 Minutes) have either retired or announced their retirement.  Larry King (77 years old) retired in December after 25 years on the air hosting CNN's Larry King Live.  British journalist and commenator Piers Morgan now has a show, Piers Morgan Tonight, airing in King's old time slot.  Regis Philbin (almost 80 years old), co-host of Regis and Kelly Live, announced his retirement, effective in November.  Regis has been on air more than any TV personality in history.  Martin Short is among the favorites to replace him.  Last, but not least (actually he is least when it comes to sanity) is right-wing shock jock Glenn Beck, who will be leaving his talk show on FOX News.  Unfortunately, he will still host a radio show, so he won't be going away.  At least we don't have to look at him anymore.