Okay, so I admit it, I have a total crush on Today‘s KatieCouric. It’s not a popular opinion around PopWatch HQ, and you can besure that I have been mocked, ridiculed, and pitied for expressing myadmiration so fervently. So it was with some sadness that I read today that her decamping from the Today show to anchor the CBS Evening News is all but a done deal.She’ll reportedly become the first female solo network anchor,replacing Dan Rather by way of Bob Schieffer, who has filled the postfor the last 13 months.
Her detractors call her "perky," "flirtatious," and "blonde." In thename of Kelly Ripa, what’s wrong with that? (Oh, don’t get me startedon Kelly Ripa. I’ll gush.) I think Couric would probably be the firstto tell you that hosting a morning show is not as serious ajournalistic pursuit as, say, covering the war in Iraq or themachinations of Congress. But it is journalism, a strangejuggling act that requires dexterity, warmth, and a skill forimprovisation. It’s the way a journalist handles the live format’squeasy adjacencies — "The suspect allegedly murdered his family whilethey slept, and then turned the gun on himself… Coming up next: pantyhose!" — that make morning TV so inherently spontaneous andentertaining. It’s what I think Couric does best. Not only can she connect with the mostpress-shy celebrity, she dispatches cooking segments, interviews with presidential candidates, and her espousal of health charities with similar ease.
Sure, she likes to play the girly-girl at times. (Gawker, inparticular, took her to task just today for a sexually charged pas de deux she shared with guest Antonio Banderas on Monday’s show. Their headline on the topic of her impending departure: "OK, B—-, Just Go Already!") Tina Fey, speculating on Couric way back in January of2005, said that a move to CBS would be great — "for people who like the news, but wish it contained more awkwardflirting." It couldn’t hurt, could it?
Can’t see her at the anchor desk. She is great at what she does now. Can you say Joan Lunden.
No, Katie, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I love Katie. I watch her every morning. This sucks. It’s like telling me I suddenly can’t have coffee in the morning. I’m going to crash.
And I have heard they might replace her anorexic Natalie Morales. The last thing I need while getting ready for work is to feel even fatter by looking at that 90 pounder.
I like her, but it’s hard to see her as a news anchor. Bob Schieffer is doing a great job, I wish they would just let him continue for a while longer.
I’ve never understood the Katie hatred. I agree though that she may be an odd fit for nightly news. But I’ve been wrong before…I think.
Never been a fan. Sorry.
Don’t watch her now, won’t watch her on CBS.
I have no hatred towards her, I just could never accept her as a serious journalist ever.
She’s peppy, cheesy, horny (straddling, jumping on Lauer more than once), undeniably stupid, and has never broken one true story.
I’d pay good money to see Couric in porn, just not on the nightly news, esp. a biased network newsbroadcast. Why not just pay a puppet? That’s right, hire back tired Rather.
Personally- i will be glad to see someone else in the morning- Iwatch GMA most of the time anyway because their audience does not scream as loud or as long.
No matter where she goes, she will always have those weird, small, gum-showing teeth. Yuck.
Anybody who bashes Katie is definitely not watching the Today show regularly.
I will truly miss her on NBC mornings but I’m so happy for her to take this risky but bold move up in her career. I think she’ll prove her critics wrong (like she did when she first arrived at Today) and have much success at CBS. I have no doubt of her abilities as I’ve seen her tackle tough reporting when she appeared on Dateline and Nightly News. Just wait and see!
I have a funny Katie Couric story to share. On 9/11 2001, the last thing I saw on TV before heading out to work was an interview with Katie Couric and Tracy Ulman. Tracy’s new show, called “Visible Panty Lines” was something they joked about for a while. At one point Katie said to Tracy “You know Tracy, some women avoid visible panty lines by wearing a THONG” (except she said thong in a barely audible whisper).
Tracy, with a purely British look of innuendo turned to Katie and said “are you thonging it right now Katie?”
Couric’s face turned beet red and she said “that’s a personal question tracy”.
I will miss moments like that one fo’ sho’
I hope they don’t pick Meredith Viera to replace her – it seems like they might choose her b/c she is more serious a la Diane Sawyer and who needs that in the morning? I’ll miss Katie’s rapport with Matt.
I too am always mocked, ridiculed, and pitied for expressing my admiration so fervently! I love Katie Couric, and it will be a different Today show when she leaves. I think it’s a bold move and I will certainly watch the news if she is the anchor. I can understand wanting a new challenge after 15 years at the Today Show. She gets my support whatever she decides. She is one class act.
I love Ms. Couric too. I’ve got a total crush on her, and at one point in my life I wanted to be the male version of her.
I’ll be watching the CBS News just to see how Katie does.