NEW MORNING SHOWS

The current version of the perennially low-rated “CBS Morning News” aired its last broadcast Friday, setting the stage for today’s debut of a two-part effort by CBS to be competitive in the morning ratings wars.

Co-anchors Charlie Rose and Sandy Hill, weatherman Steve Baskerville, and veteran newsman Douglas Edwards bid viewers goodby at the end of a program that had been produced by CBS News for 23 years.

Today, two new 90-minute morning programs will have back-to-back premieres on CBS--the first a no-frills version of the “CBS Morning News,” the second an entertainment-oriented effort called “The Morning Show.”

The latter program is being produced by a non-news unit headed by Bob Shanks, credited with helping create ABC’s “Good Morning America” and make it a strong competitor to NBC’s currently first-rated “Today” show.

The Shanks broadcast will feature such things as a live studio audience, comedy segments and videotaped personal ads.

Co-hosted by actress Mariette Hartley and former New York anchorman Rolland Smith, it also will have interview segments.

Last week, Shanks taped a discussion of the Vietnam War--for shows slated for broadcast in February--in which Oliver Stone, writer-director of the Vietnam film hit, “Platoon,” moderated and participated in a panel discussion with four Vietnam War veterans. He served with three of them.

“The Morning Show” will air weekdays in the 7:30-9 a.m. time period, preceded by the new “hard-news” version of the “CBS Morning News,” co-anchored by Forrest Sawyer and Faith Daniels, who have co-anchored the program’s predecessor.

Rose, who will return to CBS’ late-hour “Nightwatch” that he left in September to temporarily co-anchor the “Morning News,” obliquely urged viewers to watch the new programs by quoting a famed British writer.

“G. D. Chesterton once said there are good things yet to be heard and fine things to be seen,” Rose said. He doubtless meant the writer G. K. Chesterton.

“We leave you now,” he added. “Thank you for joining us. Have a great day.”