THE RETURN OF NYC LEGEND SCOTT SHANNON

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING

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Scott Shannon

SHANNON’S BACK --- That didn’t take long! Industry tip sheet All Access was the first to uncover a page hidden on the WCBS-FM website that revealed the mystery of where longtime WPLJ/New York morning co-host SCOTT SHANNON would end up. Now it's official.

Access reported last night that he's moving downtown a bit to do wake ups from 6AM -10AM EST at CBS Classic Hits WCBS-FM, effective Monday, March 3rd.

According to the press release found on the site, "Scott Shannon In The Morning will also feature Mr. G (Irv Gikofsky) providing weather reports and Joe Nolan with all the traffic information for morning commuters.

"Not often does a legendary morning drive personality become available with the experience of waking up New Yorkers for more than 25 years," said CBS VP/Market Mgr. Don Bouloukos. "CBS-FM is a heritage station and the perfect place for Hall Of Famer Scott Shannon. We are thrilled to welcome Scott and his award-winning personality to CBS-FM and our family."

The station's local weekday lineup continues with Dan Taylor in midday's (10AM-3PM), Broadway Bill Lee from 3PM-7PM, Brooklyn's own Joe Causi from 7PM-12PM and Dave Stewart from 12AM-6AM. CBS-FM, consistently one of New York's most popular radio stations, is available on-air at 101.1FM, online at cbsfm.com and through the Radio.com app for a variety of mobile devices.

Shannon's Hall Of Fame radio career has spanned in excess of four decades with more than 25 of those spent doing mornings in New York. He is credited with developing the Morning Zoo format which he brought to WHTZ in the early '80s, and helped make the station #1. His next stop in New York was WPLJ where he co-hosted the Scott and Todd in the morning program. Shannon spent 22 years at the station, helping reshape adult morning radio, and enjoying ratings success throughout the years.

JOHNNY & TARA --- NBC’s not done yet with the It Couple of the Sochi Olympics coverage — announcing yesterday that Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski — will join the company’s syndicated show Access Hollywood on the red carpet at Sunday’s Oscars to report on the fashion. The duo got high marks for their ice-skating commentary for the networks of NBC at the Winter Games, but the two — and especially Weir — were Must See TV for their outfits.

“I am honored and so excited to be a part of the team for Access Hollywood’s Oscar coverage,” Weir said. “There is no time that L. A. shines brighter than during the Oscars, and I hope to bring my own special brand of sparkle to the broadcast. I am so privileged to work with my great friend, Tara Lipinski and together we hope to entertain America’s pants off.”

Access Hollywood's exec producer Rob Silverstein predicted “No show will have more fun with Oscar style” than this one.

Weir and Lipinski told NBC’s Today during the Olympics that they came to Sochi with four suitcases apiece, describing the cases as being the same size as Ford Focuses and Audi S4s. They contained, among other things, 22 pair of shoes, 25 blazers, six pair of leather pants, 10 pounds of jewelry and four fur coats.

I smell a new reality show here … don't you?

HERE’S ENGELBERT --- Engelbert Humperdinck’s duets album Engelbert Calling has been scheduled for a March 17 release in the U. K.

The legendary Humperdinck has been working with some of the biggest names on the planet: Elton John, Gene Simmons of Kiss, Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers and Olivia Newton-John are just some of the superstars that will appear with Engelbert on the album.

With Elton he duets on John’s “Something About The Way You Look Tonight ,” Dylan’s “Make You feel My love” with Willie Nelson; and, “The Hungry Years” with Neil Sedaka – one of my favorite songs from Sedaka ever!

Scott Dorsey, Engelbert’s son and manager, drove the Engelbert Calling project. After contacting some of the biggest names on the planet, Scott was so overwhelmed by the reaction from the stars that the album became a double album.

Engelbert’s son and daughter Bradley and Louise Dorsey will also appear on the record singing with their dad.

There are no current plans for a U.S. release.

CLOSING NOTES --- I do think CNN will bring back the King … Larry King. With the Piers Morgan showing ending sometime next month, I'd expect to see the suspender-man return. It'd be a good thing too. King was quoted as saying “Piers’ interviews always involved Piers … mine, involved the guest.” Good point … and, so true …

Funny that Scott Shannon’s new time-slot (and, new station) used to be Micky Dolenz’s old time-slot, when he hosted the Micky In The Morning show on CBS-FM several years back. Wonder if he'll call in and wish Scott well? …

We've been remiss in not mentioning Fox’s Almost Human series, starring Karl Urban (Star Trek and Dredd) and Michael Ealy. The show is from the same outfit that produced Fringe (also on Fox) for its terrific run. The show is in the future where police officers are partnered with robots. It started out slow; but, in the last several episodes, has grown in sophistication with brilliant writing and acting. This week’s show, “Beholder,” was simply sensational, with the writing and acting up to Fringe’s highest standards. In fact, for true-Fringe fans, the episode reminded me more than once of Fringe’s 2010 “White Tulip” episode with Peter Weller. It definitely deserves one more season; it’s just revving up now …

Looking forward to tonight's FLATT event at the National Arts Club in Lower Manhattan; featuring DJ Questlove and goodbye motel.

 Photo Courtesy Of: Scott Shannon/CBS