SERIES BEGINS WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12 ON THE "CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC"

            CBS EVENING NEWS Correspondent Steve Hartman, who continues to report the popular "Assignment America" series, will revisit Charles Kuralt's award-winning "On the Road" segments in a four-part series to be broadcast on Nov. 12, 13, 19 and 26 on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC.  Through this series of reports, Hartman brings back one of America's greatest TV storytellers for a curtain call in his original pieces.  The series begins on Wednesday (12), when Hartman visits Darwin, Minn., which Kuralt traveled to in 1977, to meet a man who claimed to own the largest ball of twine in the world. Hartman also heads to Lake Nebagamon, Wis. and Cawker City, Ks. Where others were inspired by the Kuralt story and created their own balls of twine.

"Charles Kuralt truly delighted in traveling the back road of America to find great stories. His unique ability to see the beauty and wit in all walks of life is what endeared him to millions," said Rick Kaplan, Executive Producer of the CBS EVENING NEWS. "Steve Hartman has that same rare gift and affection for his subject matter."  

            "I wanted to do this series in part because we now have a generation of young people who don't remember Charles Kuralt," said Hartman.  "Kuralt was, and still is, a treasure who shouldn't ever fade and these are tremendous stories with wonderful new twists.  Kuralt fans who've always wondered, 'What ever happened to...' will get some truly startling answers and this series will bring back some great memories.  For those who will be hearing the name for the first time, this will be an education in the nearly lost art of TV storytelling."

            On Thursday (13), Hartman revisits Kuralt's 1982 report on a picturesque story of life in the woods. Bill Hafeman from Big Fork, Minn. used to build beautiful birch bark canoes at his workshop in the same manner Native Americans did hundreds of years ago. Hartman sits down with his grandson-in-law, Ray Bosel, who was also seen in the original broadcast and is now continuing the tradition.

            The third report, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, is a follow-up of Kuralt's 1983 profile of Larry Joltin, America's top-selling shoe salesman. Hartman catches up with the Youngstown, Ohio. resident, so driven he kept his lunch in the stacks of shoe boxes so he could always be prepared to help customers.  He tells Hartman about his latest career venture - selling tub treatment.

            The final report in the series will be broadcast on Wednesday, Nov. 26. In 1985, Kuralt spent a day in the life of New York City's fastest bike messenger, 24-year-old David Leopold. Made so famous by the segment he later appeared on "The Late Late Show with David Letterman," Hartman updates viewers, finding Leopold married with children and the manager of a messenger service in Manhattan, but still riding his bike to work occasionally.

            Charles Kuralt's "On the Road" series were broadcast on more than 600 editions of "The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" throughout the 1960s and '70s. The much-acclaimed series won Kuralt personal Peabody Awards in 1968 and 1975.

            Hartman has been a CBS News correspondent since 1998, having served as a part-time correspondent for the previous two years.  His "Assignment America" reports began in 2006 on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC. He is also well known for his multiple award-winning feature series, "Everybody Has a Story." Hartman proved the adage by tossing a dart at a map of America and then randomly picked an interview subject from the local phone book. Debuting in 1998, Hartman produced more than 100 such pieces.  He has won many prestigious broadcast journalism awards for his work: an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, an Emmy Award for writing and four RTNDA/Edward R. Murrow Awards, including three consecutive citations for Best Writing. 

            Rick Kaplan is the Executive Producer of the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC.  Katie Boyle is the Senior Producer in charge of the series.

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Press Contact:  Leigh Farris          212.975.2888 or farrisl@cbsnews.com