MSNBC Anchor Shuffle: Johnson Replacing Brewer, Brewer Replacing Robach…

First on TVNewser: Contessa Brewer is trading her early-morning NBC anchor job for a newsreader gig on MSNBC’s Imus In The Morning, TVNewser has learned. Contessa, who was named anchor of ‘Early Today’ in November, will replace Amy Robach, who wasn’t happy on the Imus program, an insider says. Brewer may also anchor some dayside hours. “Contessa liked filling in on Imus this week, but I don’t know if she really wanted to give up her network face time,” an insider says. Kristine Johnson will replace Contessa on ‘Early Today’ and ‘First Look.’ (She seems to be on the fast track!) It all starts this morning. Related:

> “I think Contessa would be a better choice to do Imus rather than Amy,” an MSNer said last week. “She looks like she could take the punishment more than Amy.”

> “The Contessa Update:” “I met Contessa Brewer yesterday. She’s about half a whack job it looks like to me,” Imus said last week. “I don’t think all the bolts are tightened down…”