The Al Pearce Show broadcast live in Hollywood (7:45-8:30 a.m. Pacific Time). It was carried on CBS-owned KNXT, which played music from the end of the Pearce program until regular programming began at 11:30 a.m. The evening version of the show alternated with the highly successful "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" on Thursday nights at 8:00 pm from July 10, 1952 until September 18, 1952, at which point the ‘’Burns and Allen Show’’ became weekly. However, the "Total Television" reference book by Alex McNeil says "his prime-time half-hour show ... replaced "The Burns and Allen Show" for the summer," giving a starting date
The Early Show Next came Good Morning! with Will Rogers, Jr., which lasted for 14 months before being replaced in April 1957 by a different version of The Morning Show, a variety program hosted by Jimmy Dean, which ended that December after nine months. The 45-minute program aired at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time; it was followed by a 15-minute news program, the "CBS Morning News", anchored by Richard C. Hottelet, and later Stuart Novins, which led into "Captain Kangaroo" at 8:00 a.m. CBS would not make any serious attempt to program against "Today" for eight years. The CBS Morning News debuted on September