Today's New York Post reports more tantrums and more tension at CBS' "Early Show," led by executive producer Shelley Ross:
Shelley Ross, the hard-charging executive producer of CBS's "The Early Show," forced one producer to read an apology to his colleagues and ordered another to reschedule his colonoscopy because it was sweeps month, a source on the unhappy staff tells Page Six.
"I can't stand working here anymore. I can't stand people being humiliated this way," said our source, a veteran producer. "I've seen a lot of crazy people, but she takes the cake."
Tensions are running high. Yesterday, co-anchor Harry Smith allegedly complained to senior staff after the show ran a heavily promoted story about the Internet game "Second Life," where a woman PTA president supposedly poses online as a prostitute.
Smith was upset because, "We never showed the woman," said our source. "There's no evidence she actually exists."
In November, Page Six reported an exodus of staffers who could not work for the legendary producer.
Earlier this week, new "Early Show" anchor Maggie Rodriguez was asked what it's like to work for Ross and had the following things to say:
I agree that she's both talented and intense, and I wouldn't have her any other way. She is infectious. She doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk. She works as hard or harder than anyone on that staff. She's exhilarating in her ideas and in her pursuit of furthering the story and making it better than you would see it on the other stations, finding a different angle. I learn from Shelley every day, and [working with her every morning is] one of the things I'm most excited about, because she helps me think outside the box and just reach for the stars when it comes to getting a guest or furthering a story.
I have found Shelley to be an asset. I have seen a change in our show since she got there and I directly attribute it to her energy, enthusiasm, and tireless work. I'm a huge Shelley fan. And I think that she expects a lot, because it takes a lot to be No. 1.
Read the entire Page Six report here.