Co-anchor Harry Smith's colonoscopy to air live on Wednesday's 'The Early Show'

NEW YORK - "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith is scheduled to have a colonoscopy Wednesday, with live reports planned as he undergoes the procedure at a New York hospital.

CBS says it will be the first time an anchor has had a colonoscopy live on network television.

"CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric plans to be with Smith as he prepares for the procedure.

Smith and Couric are recognizing National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Couric has been an advocate for early cancer screenings since her husband, TV legal analyst Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer 12 years ago. He was 42.

Taped reports of Couric's colonoscopy aired in 2000.

"The Early Show" airs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern.

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On the Net: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/earlyshow/