CBS 'Early Show' Paging Dr. Katie Couric

March 10th, 2010 11:18 AM

Katie Couric, CBS On Wednesday's CBS Early Show co-host Harry Smith underwent a live colonoscopy in order to raise awareness of colon cancer. Hosting the momentous occasion was CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, who dressed the part, wearing green scrubs, a white lab coat, and a stethoscope around her neck as if she was a medical doctor. (Click on photo for larger size)

Couric famously taped herself undergoing the same procedure in 2000, while still co-host of NBC's Today, in the wake of her husband, Jay Monahan, dying of colon cancer in 1998.  

In the Early Show segment, Couric stood by Smith's bedside as they discussed the procedure and later dressed in full surgical garb as the colonoscopy was being performed.

Co-host Maggie Rodriguez led the coverage by touting the "Couric effect" of Americans getting colonoscopies in wake of Couric's televised exam and hoped for a similar "Smith effect."

See more photos of Couric playing doctor after the jump.

Couric later referred to her outfit, remarking that she and Smith were "totally playing the part":

Harry Smith and Katie Couric, CBS

She even seemed to be assisting the actual doctor in examining Smith's colon:

Harry Smith and Katie Couric, CBS

—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.