The song "Early Morning Rain" would have been appropriate for CBS' (CBS-A) "The Early Show" on Wednesday, as a storm caused the news room to abandon ship and go to another studio about 40 minutes before the show was to air.
In the newsroom water was pouring out through the ceiling as staff members battled to cover up their desks and computers. Water also entered a control room a floor below the newsroom which was full of electrical equipment.
Katie Couric leaving the morning show was one benefit as the empty studio she used to occupy became the temporary home of the show.
"We made an almost instantaneous decision to bolt," said Michael Bass, the show's senior executive producer. Over 40 workers at the studio ran out to get a cab to get to the broadcast studio which was six blocks away.
Some of the guests on the show had to do the same as New York Knicks basketball player Stephan Marbury and six models had to find a quick way to get across town to make the show.
CBS executives got together to make sure contingency plans were in place in case some type of mid-show disaster happens in the future.
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