Jackson has to stay, at least for one more season, simply to anchor the judging table and bring his veteran sensibility to the panel.

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Two large limestone fireplaces anchor the space around the circular dining table.

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Al Sharpton sat at a table taking questions from CBS anchor Dan Rather, New York Times reporter Elizabeth Bumiller and WCBS-TV reporter Andrew Kirtzman.

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In the midst of that hectic scene on a recent evening, without a table to be had, I spotted Chris Jansing, the anchor of the 10 a.m.

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