Broadcasting Christmas

Good morning, Connecticut.

It's a quarter after 4:00 for all of you early birds...

Early enough for you, Mr. Fisher?

The news never sleeps, Jeffrey.

Neither do I.

-Have a good one, sir. -Always.

-Morning, Charlie. -Morning, Bo.

Wanna hit the gym after work for some B-ball?

Can't do it. Got dinner with the parents.

I'm afraid there's a no-mercy rule for that one.

Considering how our last game went,

I think you're getting off easy.

-Morning, Emily. -Good morning, Daisy.

We gotta go. There's traffic.

Here. I brought what you asked for.

Thank you. Perfect.

"Last Christmas, the Stamford Country Day School

helped feed over 200 needy families."

So? How was last night?

-What happened last night? -Thought you had a date.

That was last night, wasn't it?

That good?

Let me see. His family drives him nuts,

his coworkers are awful,

and all of his exes were crazy.

I couldn't help but wonder how long until I'm on that list.

Also, he hates Christmas.

I don't even know where to begin with that.

-Seriously? -Yeah.

The decorations are a waste of time,

and he doesn't like the music.

I can't date a guy who doesn't like "Frosty the Snowman."

Maybe you could try Internet dating.

Yeah, please. I don't even buy my shoes online.

Besides, I'm a reporter for a small town news program.

I'm up at four, in bed at seven.

Who could understand that?

We're almost there.

So you'll be talking to the school principal first,

and then a couple kids.

Good idea you had, bringing the Christmas box from the station.

It's a holiday food drive. We can't show upempty-handedemptyhanded.

Good morning, Connecticut. I'm Robert Kohl.

First up, our own Emily Morgan

is reporting from Stamford Country Day School.

Okay, so in a second it's gonna look really silly

because I'm gonna be talking to the studio,

but you won't hear them, okay?

Standing by.

Who's ready to be on TV?

This is proving to be the most successful

Christmas canned food drive ever.

Emily, how are things looking over there?

Robert, things are busy.

I'm here at the Stamford Country Day School,

making our donation to the annual Christmas food drive.

And these little Santas are doing their part

to ensure that local families in need have a Merry Christmas.

Reggie has your holiday forecast

when the WHNY Morning News continues.

Then stick around for a preview

of this year's hottest Christmas gifts

from Veronika and Gina

on America's favorite morning program, Rise & Shine.

And we're out! Back from commercial in two!

Can I have the producer for Rise & Shine on live feed?

We're here, rising and shining!

Yeah, that joke never gets old. What's going on downstairs?

Looks like it's gonna be a big day.

Why don't come down when you're done?

What's going on?

Let a girl have her secrets.

Just get down here after your show.

You got it.

This is fun.

This is so great because you can use anything

to make your ornament:

old sheet music, old family photos.

And look at how easy this is.

Hey, Patrice. Hey.

Charlie, hey.

-Need some coffee or anything? -No, I'm great.

So today is December 1st,

and Christmas is right around the corner, right, Gina?

It sure is, Veronika.

And in my home, Christmas is a time for celebration,

joy, eggnog, of course, and family,

which leads me to a little announcement

I would like to make.

My husband and I are so excited to announce to you,

our beloved audience,

that we are expecting our first child in June.

My goodness! I am so happy for you!

Thank you so much, Veronika.

And as I've been splitting my time

between New York and Los Angeles,

the time has come for me to focus more on our new family.

-Seriously? -Wait for it.

And so it is with great sadness

that I announce that this will be my final episode

as cohost of Rise & Shine.

Hey, bring in the tissues. Go, go, go.

And I can't think of anyone in the world

I would have rather had beside me every morning

for the last six years.

Thank you, Gina.

You are the best in the business.

You're almost irreplaceable.

The key word there is "almost."

But I'm going to have to have someone in that seat

beside me every day,

and I'm pleased to report the decision

has been left up to me personally,

so for the next few weeks,

we will be having some familiar faces join us

just so you can get a better chance to know them,

and I will be announcing my cohost live, right here,

on our Christmas Eve telethon.

Patrice, who are they considering?

You're on the list.

Seriously?

Yeah. Now, Veronika has the final say,

but her choices are coming from us.

You've been doing the local news for, what, six years?

The network is familiar with you. They really like you.

How many people on the list?

Just three.

Now, I'll be honest, the other two are bigger names.

But, Charlie, you really have a shot at this.

-When do we start? -Next week.

- My God! - They already know upstairs.

You're totally cleared for the time off.

You realize this is what we talked about back in Stamford.

National broadcast, you producing, me hosting,

and now it's really happening.

Although that dream did have three people.

Okay, yeah, but for the record,

Emily is the one who decided to stay in Connecticut.

Okay, I retract the comment.

That's why you never mix business with personal.

-Someone always gets hurt. -Of course.

-You still talk to her? -Emily?

Yeah, sure, she's doing great.

She's still in Stamford.

You know, you really should stop avoiding her.

I'm not avoiding her. It's just with our schedules,

it's just...

But it's great to hear she's doing well. Here.

- Emily! - Sorry I'm late.

The story meeting went over. What'd you find?

We found we have different tastes in Christmas trees.

Your sister likes the pitiful ones.

She feels sorry for them.

I just worry that no one's gonna take them home.

Ruth, what about this one?

Stanley, not that one.

We'll never get it through the doorway.

Careful. George, make sure Dad doesn't hurt his back.

Let's look at some small ones. Boys, give us a hand.

-Oprah! -Where?

No, for the show, Abby. It should be Oprah!

Mom, Oprah's not coming back to daytime.

-You gotta let that dream go. -What'd I miss?

Gina Serrato announced that she's leaving Rise & Shine.

She's gonna have a baby.

Which means that Veronika Daniels

is getting a new cohost.

Really? Did they say who?

We were hoping you knew.

Don't you have a friend who works there?

Yeah, Patrice. She's a producer.

I wonder who they're considering.

Well, if Mom has her way, it'll be Oprah.

Or Kate McQueen. She's done the show before.

They just love her.

- Who's Kate McQueen? - You know.

She's the famous wedding planner.

She's got her own TV show.

Right. Save the Date with Kate.

-You got it. -Excuse me for a minute.

I just have to make a quick call.

-It's too long. -We can lose this part here.

Emily Morgan!

Patrice, let me put myself on tape for the cohost spot.

Well, hello to you, too.

I'm serious. You gotta get me an audition.

I can't, Em.

-You know I'd be great. -You would.

They're only looking at names for this.

But how about this?

In the New Year, let's talk about

you submitting some field reports.

Some kind of human interest piece.

Nobody does those better than you.

Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks.

Emily, you should know.

Charlie's on the list.

Really? How about that?

Well, they know him here in New York from the news.

Hey, that's the station calling. I gotta take it.