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Look what Katie Couric didGosh darn it, little Katie Couric is all “growed” up. And she must be plum tired of hearing all the poopy malarkey those meanies have been writing and saying about her since she slid into Dan Rather’s well-worn pair of shoes at the CBS Evening News back in September 2006.
Frankly, I'm tired of it, too. It’s the evening news, for goodness sake; it’s not life or death. Oh, wait. OK, fine, maybe life and death are being reported, but still, does a person have to look exactly like, sound exactly like, smirk exactly like her predecessor to be considered credible?
She not only has big shoes to fill: She has to fill those big shoes with her petite feet and not seem “too nice” doing it. But she can’t be “too mean” either, because then the B word could be slapped like an unsuspecting note on her back, and the B word tag on a woman can be the kiss of death in a male-dominated field and in the court of public opinion. What’s a Katie to do?
No, Katie! Stop waving. Do not leave. Katie took a risk that I applaud, as a woman. (I know, I know, I am a woman, so I can’t applaud as anything else, but you get the gist.) Anyway, back on point, just over a year ago she announced her decision to leave the comfort of her domain, the entertaining Today show, for this new professional challenge. But change is tough on the human psyche, and that collective psyche includes those who were accustomed to Dan Rather. Nothing signals change more than “out with the old and in with the new,” and in June 2006, CBS tore down the old news set and ushered in a new era with Katie at the wheel. Unfortunately, some still see Katie as this person:
— and Lord knows a perky little cheerleader should not be anchoring the “real news.” Even her predecessor has taken a pot shot at her. The most recent turn of events adding to this tumultuous 10 months of Katie-in-charge is her admission that maybe this wasn't the best career choice, and — worse yet — that she girl-slapped (OK, yes, I am grossly embellishing) some man for tripping her up via the print copy she was to read on air. Seems he made her look unprofessional because she mispronounced the word sputum. I think we should all mispronounce it in protest! Having challenges to her credibility tossed like water balloons from tall apartment buildings makes it really poor timing for Katie to use Valley Girl–speak — “I have days when I'm like, Oh my God, What did I do?” — in a New York magazine interview. Ugh. It should not take God to remind Katie that she made her on-air bread and butter on a daytime entertainment show and not in the Mekong Delta, and that there was a potential perception issue at play when she took the job as evening news anchor. Sigh. Was Katie not aware of the male-female double standard when it comes to certain jobs? Yes, those certain jobs. The ones that pay very well and do not involve washing and drying or cooking unless you own your own five-star restaurant. Those jobs? It’s not that women have to do it the same when they replace men: They must do it better and all the while have a real balance in their personalities.
With this latest admission of second thoughts have come requests for her to resign. Her tenure at CBS is now being commonly referred to as the Katie Experiment. No doubt some experiments can go awry, but sometimes it’s just one chemical compound that throws off the experiment, and I’m not convinced that Katie is the one throwing off the chemistry of the CBS Evening News. New sets, new music, new format all play a part in the change. If I were Katie, I’d start on my new road for respect by changing my first name to Ms. and forcing people to stop calling me Katie as though I were the girl next door rather than a journalist. Hang is Ms. Couric! And anyway, Dan Rather wasn’t all that popular in the beginning either. Submitted by on July 11, 2007 - 4:14pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Katie
I'm one of the anti-Couric's
then you're just not paying
then you're just not paying attention. Ms. Couric is a hardball interviewer, one of the toughest out there now. Reading the news was in my opinion, too easy for her. CBS also tried to make changes to the evening news when she came aboard, changes that were not greeted with open arms by those that still watch the national news. That audience happens to be older people, people who still want to see a MAN in that chair. If younger people watched, (they all get their news from the internet), chances are CBS would be at the head of the pack now.
The changes that CBS made, which were blamed on Katie, added with the aged demographics of national news viewers, were a wave that none of the Curl Girls could surf, let alone Ms. Couric.
Here's hoping Ms.Couric takes a job on 60 minutes, where her strong interview skills will not only be appreciated, but showcased.
Lisa
Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security -- B. FranklinI don't think YOU are
You insinuated she had no
You insinuated she had no talent when you said it wasn't about her being a woman, it was a talent/personality thing. I was pointing out that she is a respected interviewer.
And the people who still watch the evening news DO want a man. Polls have shown that. CBS knew that going in, but thought Ms. Couric's popularity would carry over. It may have, if they hadn't also insisted on making numerous other changes that took the hard edge off what the audience wants. News.
Lisa
Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security -- B. FranklinWell, I'm not much for
roc-on!
I'm not much for perky, unless its perculated coffee in the morning and even then I prefer French Press, but I do think that Katie is getting a whole lot of scrutiny and in time I hope it all works out. I'd like to see a woman settled in a Network News anchor chair in a format that works. Right now it's kind of like those grinds you sometimes get at the bottom of a cup that leaves an unpleasant finish to what could have been the perfect cup.
hockin' loogies
Katie should have to use the word “sputum” in every. single. broadcast. For at least a week.
On the last nite, she could actually spit in a little cup afterwards. I’ll bet that boosts her ratings.
Personally, I like Katie
I think she is doing a good
lesbian without borders
Not to take away from Couric...
It’s all theatrics anyway
It’s all theatrics anyway and K-k-k-katie was just another bad Hollywood business decision. She was perfect for the morning show stay-at-home audience. Light and airy. Although I thought it was very cool that she interviewed Mr. Pres on 60 minutes with bare legs (huh, no stockings?!) slung out there for our and his enjoyment. Sweeet. But take it seriously, uh, no. The part-time girls at my office loved her on GMA. I scratched my head and said “Katie who?” Fluffernutter trying very hard to be caviar. I think the bigwigs in the front office f__ked up when they moved her from day to night, in my opinion. Not her fault. She’s sweet and very likable. Kind a like a cherry Popsicle. There are a number of intelligent, serious, evening-news-friendly women out there who would have slipped in to Dan’s shoes quiet easily. Those stuffed shirts in the front office should have looked at the brain not the legs. Just check out PBS, CNN, etc. Damn I wish I could remember their names but I get all my news from the Internet and newspapers…and watch Spanish channel news for, uh, Spanish lessons. Have you seen the newscasters on those channels? What…is…up…with….that? Hellooo? I love Telemundo! Anyway …where was I?
Ok, nowhere. I’ll just slip out quietly now.You know, she's just never
You know, she's just never done much for me. I never cared for her on the Today Show, and I've never had any desire to watch her evening news spiel. I don't know why, but her sweet crooked grin has always been a major turn off for me. But, she does seem to be a good interviewer from what I hear. . .
But, in my case, that is just mostly because Diane Sawyer in all her gorgeous blonde beauty is on another channel.
The woman that sits next to Diane Sawyer
Robin Roberts IS terrific,
This is disheartening
A poem (with slightly tortured meter) about Katie
I was a big Katie Couric fan when she was on the Today Show, and was sad to see her go last year. (Diane Sawyer, on the other hand, has never done anything for me.) Similarly, I'm disappointed that her CBS news gig has not proven successful thus far. Alas.
I was a big enough fan that, last summer, I blogged about her on a double-dactyl current events blog I was playing with when I had a lot of time on my hands. Because nothing could be more interesting than reading a random, year-old blog post, here it is:
Pickily-Perkily
Co-host Katie Couric
Spent 15 years helping
Today win big.
Scores of accomplishments
Unimaginable
(One colorectal), she's
Earned her new gig
Yesterday was Katie Couric's last day hosting the Today Show. In the fall, she'll take over as the anchor of the CBS Evening News, which has not had a permanent anchor since Dan Rather retired last year. She'll be the first solo female anchor of an evening network news program. There's been a lot of public speculation as to whether the job is the right fit for her. Given the difference between her new job and the one she's been doing for the past 15 years, it's reasonable to speculate about the transition. However, the questions have an inherently sexist quality; had Matt Lauer been offered the job, it's unlikely that his personality would come under such heavy scrutiny.
I am an unabashed Katie Couric fan. She's the reason I watch the Today show, although I enjoy the chemistry of the entire team. I have been consistently impressed with her ability to balance hard-hitting news stories with light segments. She comes across as genuinely compassionate and empathetic when interviewing trauma survivors and, similarly, appears to genuinely enjoy herself on the show. And her decision to have a colonoscopy on the show after losing her husband to colon cancer was extraordinary. Research indicated that her action inspired many viewers to follow suit. Her influence was dubbed, "the Couric Effect." I'll miss waking up each morning to her.
http://doubledactyl.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html
?
Was it Katie Couric who was not particularly nice to Elizabeth and John Edwards recently, you know when it was diagnosed that Elizabeth's cancer was back...(I'm sorry if the details are a bit confused) Didn't she have a go at Elizabeth for being so optimistic and positive? And at John for still running for president?
She's not so nice in my books...