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| Perky Katie Couric going to CBS to replace Rather.... | |
| 2006-04-05 | |
| NEW YORK - On her 15th anniversary on "Today," Katie Couric told viewers Wednesday she's leaving NBC to join CBS, where she will become the first woman to anchor a network weekday evening newscast alone. To replace Dan Rather - another 'fake-but-accurate' anchor. "I wanted to tell all of you out there who have watched the show for the past 15 years that after listening to my heart and my gut — two things that have served me pretty well in the past — I've decided I'll be leaving 'Today' at the end of May," she said. "I really feel as if we've become friends through the years." Obviously not intended for Rantburgers.... Hours later, CBS confirmed that she will be anchor and managing editor of the evening news. Couric, 49, will also do prime-time specials and contribute to "60 Minutes" as part of the five-year deal.
"I'm personally so excited that Katie Couric is coming to the CBS News family," said Leslie Moonves, CBS Corp. president. "With this move, our news division takes yet another giant leap forward. Katie is simply one of the best in the business and represents a tremendous addition to CBS News." Damn... what the hell is that I just stepped in? Following a months-long guessing game that has consumed the TV industry, Couric chose the 15th anniversary of her first day as "Today" co-host in 1991 to say it's time for a change. "Today" ran a clip of her first day with then co-host Bryant Gumbel, which Couric joked was "172 hairstyles" ago. "Sometimes I think change is a good thing," Couric said. "Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's also very exciting to start a new chapter in your life." So Couric... when will you leave your comfort zone and become a real journalist? "It's hard to imagine being here and not having you sitting next to us," co-host Matt Lauer told her. The bold move simultaneously forces NBC to find a new team for "Today," television's most profitable news program, and gives CBS News President Sean McManus a major success in his effort to lure more stars to his beleaguered news organization. And of course replacing one lying, egotistical, asshole with another lying egotistical asshole always works...... Couric, Lauer, newsreader Ann Curry and weathercaster Al Roker have formed TV news' most successful morning team in history since 1997, with "Today" riding an unprecedented 10-year streak at the top of the ratings. During that time, morning news programs have simultaneously grown in influence sunk in ratings.... and have become important entertainment vehicles. The job required Couric to both interview presidents and don goofy costumes on Halloween, not to mention having to wake up well before dawn. "Today" is currently seen by about 6 million viewers a day, while the "CBS Evening News" has been averaging upwards of 7.5 million. But it's a significant change in status from top dog to underdog: Thats ok, I hear Couric likes it doggie (ah... nevermind....) CBS' evening newscast has been at the rear in the ratings for many years. The lure of trying something new and making history in the evening proved enticing to Couric. Journalist are supposed to RECORD and REPORT history - not make it (or make-it-up as Rather did....) She spurned a more lucrative offer — about $20 million a year — to remain at NBC and accept the CBS Corp. offer, the person close to Couric said. | |
| Posted by:CrazyFool |
| #20 Lemmie see, should I calibrate the meter in give-a-sh*ts, or in rat's a$$es (fat or normal)in reaction to this bit of news? The MSM is on its steady decline. I cannot stomach seeing the Today show any more. If I want weather I go to the Weather Channel, or get on the net. If I want news, I go to Rantburg News Service. I don't care about a bunch of sign waving flakes getting themselves on national TV. It's fluff, finger-in-throat puking fluff. /rant |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-04-05 22:01 |
| #19 Good one Frank. We get the show here in Oz and I have watched it a couple of times. My reaction watching her was she is a control freak and probably a borderline psycho/sociopath. I watch morning news shows, even though I don't like their blurring of news into entertainment. What works is the formula. The actual people are pretty much immaterial. Take her out of that formula and I'll predict she will stumble, perhaps badly. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-04-05 20:45 |
| #18 I still remember the colonoscopy she underwent on live TV, where they actually found her Cortex |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-05 19:42 |
| #17 what everyone else said exceptin eLarson. »:-) /went and bought bleech |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-05 19:13 |
| #16 Damn eLarson... that is one nasty image! Katie looks like an animated corpse at times... Excuse me while I go bleach out my eyes... I never watch network news anymore - not even the 'Natalee Halloway' channel (formally FOX). Unfortunately people like my mom watch it religiously - she doesn't do computers and probably never will... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-04-05 18:48 |
| #15 The only way that the ratings will go up for CBS if she doesn the news naked. They would have the 13yo male (and 42yo men still living in mom's basement) wrapped up! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-04-05 18:08 |
| #14 Put her in a chair with no desk, a la Fox & Friends, and maybe I'll watch occasionally. Maybe. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2006-04-05 18:03 |
| #13 I can sum up my thoughts about Katie/Today/CBS News in three words: "I DON'T CARE!" |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-04-05 17:57 |
| #12 This ain't news. The real news is that David Letterman didn't get the job once Howard Stern jumped ship. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-04-05 17:38 |
| #11 Don't fret so much, Katie. The folks at CBS are almost dhimmies now so it'll get much better when you start wearing a burqa....no more hairstyles to be concerned over. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2006-04-05 16:54 |
| #10 Real classy of her to announce the move on her own 15th anniversary show...they pulled the tribute stuff real quick. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-05 16:41 |
| #9 besides, hasn't 60 minutes always been where they put their old anchors out to pasture? |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-04-05 16:39 |
| #8 This is obviously a big deal to the MSM itself, but no one I know cares or would even much notice if the Today show disappeared altogether. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-04-05 16:37 |
| #7 Wow. "60 Minutes" too? What's that lower the median age to, about 87? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-04-05 16:33 |
| #6 "Does anyone actually watch network news anymore?" Unfortunately yes. Fewer than before, but still too many. http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2005/narrative_networktv_audience.asp?cat=3&media=4 |
| Posted by: buwaya 2006-04-05 16:11 |
| #5 I'm with you, Brer Rabbit. The local morning show was talking about this, and my instinctive response was the same as yours (except I used the "S" word instead of the "F" word ;-p). |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-04-05 15:58 |
| #4 Does anyone have a link to Couric stating "I hope Saddam got out in time" when she was speaking to someone on camera about the early stages of the invasion? |
| Posted by: Crusader 2006-04-05 15:39 |
| #3 This infofrmation rightfully falls into the "Who Gives A F*&K" catagory. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2006-04-05 15:22 |
| #2 Does anyone actually watch network news anymore? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-04-05 15:19 |
| #1 Mrs. Empty Head replaces Mr. Empty Suit |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2006-04-05 15:06 |