On November 1, 1999 CBS changed the name of their morning show from “This Morning” to “The Early Show”. Like Today is a counterpart to Tonight, the Early Show is a counterpart to the Late Show. However, CBS also hoped that a new name would spark new interest and new viewers. Besides a new name, the program also got a new set of co-hosts, former Today Show co-anchor Bryant Gumbel and CBS News correspondent Jane Clayson as well as a $30 million street level studio, just like Today and GMA. In 2002, another major revamp of the Early Show took place when they switched to four cohosts. Like in 1996, they changed from a more typical and conventional format to one that was different and offered the viewers an alternative. The theme is composed by Jazz composer/musician, Chris Bowman and it has a name! It is called ‘Sunrise’. It was dropped in 2002 in favor of an instrumental version of the song “Brand New Day” by Sting. Below you’ll find two versions of the theme.

Throughout TV-history, CBS has performed miserably in the morning timeslot. Often, while GMA and Today competed for first place, CBS was a distant third. CBS’ problems started with a 90-minute program in 1980 called ‘Morning’ with hosts Diane Sawyer and Charles Kuralt. After a 30-minute expansion and a few seasons, both had left and were replaced with various unsuccessful anchors. It was decided that the program needed a total makeover. On January 12, 1987 CBS launched ‘The Morning Program’, a 90-minute show hosted by Mariette Hartley, Rolland Smith, weather by Mark Mc Ewen, and comedy by Bob Saget. This program attempting to blend comedy with news was cancelled after a mere ten months. A new effort called CBS This Morning premiered on November 30, 1987 with anchors Harry Smith and Kathleen Sullivan plus sports with Greg Gumbel. In 1990 Sullivan was replaced by Paula Zahn. This anchor team remained intact until Mark McEwen (formerly the show’s weatherman) and Jane Robelot (formerly the news anchor) took over in 1996. They also changed the format to include more local news. During this period this theme was used. It’s performed by Carley Simon, who also co-wrote it along with Peter Fish.