Changes at Ch. 4
Barbara Johnson has resigned as news director at Ch. 4 – and will be replaced in that capacity by Dan Forman, who’s already overseeing Ch. 4’s news division as senior VP/news and station manager. Forman, who will retain his title, broke the news of Johnson’s resignation to the newsroom late yesterday.
Johnson, who joined Ch. 4 from Ch. 7 in September 2002 and was highly respected by her peers, resigned for personal reasons.
CNN, meanwhile, has moved Heidi Collins from Atlanta to New York, where she’ll be the newsreader for “American Morning” (Soledad O’Brien, Bill Hemmer). Yesterday was her first day here.
Collins will also sub for O’Brien – who’s due to give birth to twins this summer.
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George Lopez (“George Lopez”), whose ABC sitcom returns for another season in September, will be at Barnes & Noble today (66th and Broadway) to sign copies of his autobiography, “Why You Crying?: My Long, Hard Look at Life and Laughter.”
George’s first live stand-up performance, also called “Why You Crying?” premieres Saturday (9 p.m.) on Showtime.
Last but not least:
* Fox News Channel contributor/anchor Juan Williams feted at B. Smith’s tomorrow for his new book, “My Soul Looks Back in Wonder: Voices of the Civil Rights Experience.”
* NBA legends tubing today: Bill Russell on “Imus” (WFAN/MSNBC), Walt Frazier on “Live with Regis & Kelly.”
* WNYC (820 AM) moves “The Tavis Smiley Show” to an a.m. slot (9-10) June 7. It currently airs 8-9 p.m.
* June 2: Q-104’s Jim Kerr emcees day one of the two- week-long Holland Herring Festival at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. No jokes, please.
* Jamie-Lynn DiScala at Bruce’s Bakery & Restaurant (Great Neck) with relatives.
* “Weekends with Perry [Como],” hosted by Johnny Knox (George Kalman), will air its last show June 27. Kalman also owns WFLN Radio in Florida.
* Happy Birthday to “Late Show” publicist Kim Izzo-Emmet. Elvis has left the building – and Kim has “left the demo.”