Ayem wake-up call: Sunday news shows see shakeup.(FIRST LOOK)

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Sunday morning talkshows draw a fraction of the viewers of evening news, but there are fewer gigs more prestigious in Washington, D.C., media circles than that of the host of one of the perennial programs. That's a reason why there's so much speculation as to who will succeed George Stephanopoulos as the host of ABC's "This Week." as it marks a rare opening and a possible shakeup in a landscape that seldom sees such changes. And it comes just a year after David Gregory was tapped as host of NBC's "Meet the Press." a move that has left the show with a still dominant, albeit smaller, lead.

"Meet the Press" has won in total viewers for 12 straight years. In fourth-quarter 2009, the program averaged 3 million viewers and remains on top in the 25-54 demo--news broadcasts skew older than the ad-attractive primetime 18-49 …