Quick Takes: CBS ‘Early Show’ adds 2 hosts

Charlie Rose and Gayle King will be joining CBS’ “The Early Show” as hosts in what is being described as a complete makeover of the struggling early-morning news series.

Rose, who has an interview show on PBS, and King, who has a morning show on OWN, the network founded by her best friend, Oprah Winfrey, will join current co-hosts Jeff Glor and Erica Hill in the revamp of the show, according to sources knowledgeable about the situation. CBS declined comment.

Rose, who is part of the “60 Minutes” news team, could make a relatively easy transition, but the status of King’s show at OWN was uncertain.

Earlier reports from the New York Times said that Rose and King would be part of a two-hour show that would emphasize hard news and have a more conversational format, like that of “The View” on ABC and “Morning Joe” on MSNBC. The more popular “Today” show on NBC and “Good Morning America” on ABC have a multilayered format that mixes news with entertainment and lifestyle features.

—Greg Braxton

3 authors join the Kindle club

David Baldacci, Amanda Hocking and Stephenie Meyer have joined the Amazon.com Kindle e-book million-seller club.

Stieg Larsson, author of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and its sequels, was the first author to sell a million e-books. Others who have followed include James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Lee Child, Suzanne Collins and Michael Connelly.

But only one author thus far has joined the group on the basis of a single book: Kathryn Stockett, for “The Help.”

—Carolyn Kellogg

Katy Perry to pop for concert

Katy Perry plans to thank her fans with a free concert in Los Angeles.

The pop singer will perform the free show on Nov. 23 at Staples Center downtown. She’ll also perform there on Nov. 22 as part of her “California Dreams” world tour.

She made the announcement Friday on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Perry’s platinum-selling album, “Teenage Dream,” features five No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 songs.

Los Angeles is the final U.S. stop on Perry’s tour. She’s scheduled to perform in the Philippines in January.

—Associated Press

Producer heads to NBC Sports

Acclaimed sports producer Ross Greenburg has been named by the NBC Sports Group to produce sports documentaries for the new NBC Sports Network, Gold Channel and NBC. He will also reunite with Bob Costas to produce the previously announced “Costas Tonight,” a new monthly interview show and live town hall series.

Greenburg, who has won 51 Emmys, founded Ross Greenburg Productions after a 33-year career at HBO. He had previously collaborated at HBO to produce “On the Record” and “CostasNOW.”

His first documentary for the NBC Sports Group, “Cold War on Ice: Summit Series ‘72,” will have a prominent role in launching the NBC Sports Network, which debuts Jan. 2, after being re-branded from Versus. The documentary centers on the 1972 hockey series between a team of Canadian NHL all-stars and the Soviet Union national team during the height of the Cold War.

—Greg Braxton

Strong cast for Playhouse’s ‘Art’

It wasn’t long ago that the Pasadena Playhouse was struggling to survive, yet on Friday it announced a solid team for its revival of Yasmina Reza’s 1998 Tony-winning play, “Art.” Michael O’Keefe and Roger Bart are joining the previously announced Bradley Whitford.

O’Keefe is best known from his TV and movie performances, including in “Caddyshack,” “Michael Clayton” and “The Great Santini.” His television credits include a long stint on “Roseanne.”

Perhaps Bart’s most indelible role was as Carmen Ghia in the original Broadway cast of “The Producers.” He also starred in “Young Frankenstein,” both on Broadway and in L.A. On screen he has appeared on TV’s “The Event” and “Desperate Housewives,” among many film and TV roles.

Whitford is best known for his role as Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on TV’s “The West Wing.”

“Art,” the Tony Award-winning story of three friends and what happens when one of them buys an all-white painting, will run at the Pasadena Playhouse from Jan. 24 to Feb. 19. David Lee will direct.

—Sherry Stern