Susan Molinari's Bumpy Ride at CBS   

The former congresswoman encounters problems in her transition to journalism.

The former congresswoman encounters problems in her transition to journalism.

R arely has anyone's first two hours on the job been scrutinized as closely as Susan Molinari's journalistic debut last fall.

The Washington Times dismissed the former GOP congresswoman's September premiere on "CBS News Saturday Morning" as "mostly fluff."

Molinari, like many of her political brethren, had passed through the revolving door and became part of the press (see "The Revolving Door," July/August 1997). The Associated Press' review criticized her interviewing style, saying she "tried to direct instead of letting the subject tell the story." Even her hometown paper, the New York Times, called the Staten Island native a "slightly stiff wannabe with a Katie Couric haircut."

Now, after a mere six months in her new career, some members of Molinari's inner circle are said to be beckoning her back across the enemy line. With her show's ratings embarrassingly low, Republican bosses were rumored in January to be working to get Molinari out of the news business and back into a more suitable job — like New York state lieutenant governor — before CBS drops her first.

Then came the surprise announcement in February from her husband, New York Rep. Bill Paxon, that he will not seek another term in the House, increasing speculation that Molinari too was going to make another career move.

Molinari's decision to leave Congress last year, after nearly seven years representing Staten Island, raised eyebrows on both sides of the fence. Fellow pols questioned why a rising Republican star would give it all up a year after addressing the 1996 Republican National Convention. And the press bristled at a partisan politician with no journalism background reporting the news.

Molinari said she took the job to devote more time to Paxon and their daughter, Susan Ruby, now nearly 2.

With the memory of one college journalism class and 10 days of studio rehearsal, Molinari started her once-a-week gig with cohost Russ Mitchell September 13.

Surrounded by low-rated children's programming, "CBS News Saturday Morning" is languishing in the Nielsen ratings. The two-hour broadcast averages a 1.4 rating and is consistently outpaced by NBC's "Weekend Today" and local Saturday morning news shows in most markets (ABC doesn't have a comparable Saturday morning program).

Still, CBS executives publicly say they are sticking with Molinari and the fledgling show. Through a spokeswoman, Molinari denied rumors she's leaving and declined to discuss her first six months on the job.

CBS Vice President Linda Mason says Molinari has not asked to be released from her three-year contract, and the show is turning a small profit for the network.

Despite the harsh early reviews, CBS insiders say Molinari has settled into her role and begun to relax in front of the camera. "Susan's gotten a lot better," says Mason. The show has added a weatherman — sparing Molinari the task of reading the weather. And the show's "cartoony" logo and pumpkin-hued chairs were ditched in favor of a more serious image, Mason adds.

"We're making efforts to refine the show," says Mason. "We're very lucky in being left alone to develop."

For all the brouhaha surrounding Molinari's potentially politically tainted news judgment, her tenure at CBS has been largely opinion free. With cohost Mitchell handling all the news reading duties, Molinari spends most of her time on lifestyle and entertainment pieces. But the number of news segments she's doing has increased as she's grown more comfortable.

"In the first couple of weeks we were trying to make things as easy as possible," Mason says.

When Molinari does get to handle hard news, like a one-on-one interview with George Bush during the Persian Gulf flare-up in February, she generally sticks to her list of questions with few follow-up questions or comment. Her previous experience as a Republican insider and Newt Gingrich protegé goes largely untapped, critics say.

Her opinions will get a forum in May, though, when she is due to release her new book, "Representative Mom." Early manuscripts were reportedly critical of Gingrich's mammoth ego and contained inside dirt on GOP infighting.

The confusion over Molinari's role on the show is part of the reason "Saturday Morning" is still struggling to find its purpose months after its debut, says Matt Roush, a former USA Today television critic now with TV Guide. "It still to me seems like a train wreck in slow motion," says Roush.

Molinari, critics said, came off as someone whose personality didn't quite mesh with the light, relaxed banter needed for morning television. Roush calls the launch of "CBS News Saturday Morning" the most awkward debut since that of Chevy Chase's disastrous late night talk show.

"Her personality seems to be more electric... I just don't think she's the right person for the job," he says.

Some affiliates don't seem to be helping, either. Local CBS news departments in several major markets, including New York City, don't air news on Saturday morning. That leaves Molinari and Mitchell to announce a local news break every half hour, then fill time in markets where no local news is available.

|BS News announced the show will be on next season's Saturday morning schedule, but what changes are in store are unknown.