It's not too early to declare Katie Couric a failure as an evening news anchor and to suggest she return to her successful slot as a morning news show host. That's the considered opinion of Jon Friedman, "Media Web" author at Dow Jones's Market Watch. Read "How CBS can salvage the Couric debacle" here.
Friedman's frank assessment::
"America loved the early-morning Katie. Whether she likes it or not, it's evident that viewers embraced her for the 'P' word: perkiness. Fair or not, however, the nation isn't willing to accept her in the traditionally solemn evening-news time period."
Friedman notes that Renee Syler recently exited The Early Show, creating an opening that Katie could smoothly fill. But by the same token, he doubts it will happen:
"The resistance may boil down to pride. Couric has too much pride to accept a return to her television roots. And CBS won't easily admit that it a) made a mistake by installing Couric in that time slot b) bungled the ham-fisted marketing strategy for its new star or c) presented an inferior, puffy show at 6:30 p.m. to a news-oriented audience."
I'd say Couric's difficulties are symptomatic of a more fundamental problem confronting all the evening news shows -- that of being a moribund breed. In any case, when it comes to Katie, something's gotta give.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
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Comments Policy
So, Katie was a dumb idea?
January 3, 2007 - 21:30 ET by acaiguanaSo, Katie was a dumb idea?
Who woulda thunk?
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
I guess picky people DON'T
January 3, 2007 - 22:09 ET by JerryI guess picky people DON'T pick Perky political pundits.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
You could create a monster here quickly, Jerry.
January 3, 2007 - 22:12 ET by acaiguanaYou could create a monster here quickly, Jerry.
:-)
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
Jerry, can you say that five
January 3, 2007 - 23:23 ET by MikeBJerry, can you say that five times, really fast?
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
That, that, that, that, tha
January 3, 2007 - 23:39 ET by JerryThat, that, that, that, that... :-)
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
I told you so.(She says with
January 3, 2007 - 21:40 ET by Scout FinchI told you so.
(She says with a huge smirk)
Never fear, Katie: there's al
January 3, 2007 - 21:45 ET by Roger the ShrubberNever fear, Katie: there's always Animal Planet!
Puhleeze! I like Animal Pla
January 3, 2007 - 21:51 ET by Scout FinchPuhleeze! I like Animal Planet, and I watch it when there's nothing else on. I'd rather not have to watch Katie on Animal Planet, thank you.
I think a better fit for Katie would be some tiresome "news you can use" show on Lifetime Network.
Ha! Or World's Dirtiest Job o
January 3, 2007 - 21:52 ET by balboaHa! Or World's Dirtiest Job or whatever that is.
I don't think there were many that considered this a good idea. Evening News is just not her thing. She shouldn't have ever done it. It's like Brian Williams quitting NBC News to become Kelly Ripa's co-host.
I don't care where she goes,
January 3, 2007 - 21:47 ET by Clear thinkerI don't care where she goes, I will NOT be watching her.
Katie Couric is on evenings n
January 3, 2007 - 21:57 ET by Eric TurnerKatie Couric is on evenings now? Wow!
(Does that tell ya how much I care?)
I never watched her in the mornings, why would I have watched her in the evenings? She'll join Linda Ellerbee on Nick news for Kids and indoctrinate children the world over. That'd be her best gig.
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"Perpetual itching without benefit of scratching to the enemies of America." - July 4th toast during the Revolution
Believe it or not, I'm actual
January 3, 2007 - 22:02 ET by BlondeBelieve it or not, I'm actually beginning to feel sorry for Katie.
She is in so far over her head she hasn't a clue how to get out. Except to apply more of the same inanity which brought her to the point at which she now finds herself.
Compare and contrast with Hillary Clinton, if you will.
Scary, huh? And the stakes are a hell of a lot higher.
Not quite the same thing, com
January 3, 2007 - 22:06 ET by balboaNot quite the same thing, comparison-wise, with Hillary, is it? At least she's served as a politician, as a senator. It's more like if the head of some high school's PTSA running for president, or the head of the school board for some small county in North Dakota, running for president.
Bal
January 3, 2007 - 22:12 ET by BlondeIt's exactly the same thing, bal.
Someone who overreaches, but is too obtuse to understand the overreach.
For poor Katie, it's pathetic. For someone like Hillary, it's downright dangerous.
Have you ever read Hillary's book...It Takes A Village? I know you're a reader. Once you've read it, I'd be happy to discuss further with you why I find HRC to be so dangerous.
Perhaps you're right. I don't
January 3, 2007 - 22:25 ET by balboaPerhaps you're right. I don't think we'll ever find out, though, as I think Hillary is way too polarizing to ever get elected. She might get the nomination, but she won't win.
Wow, Bal...you floored me wit
January 3, 2007 - 22:30 ET by BlondeWow, Bal...you floored me with that response.
Yes, Hillary is polarizing. (IMO, a despicable human being...however that's not really my point).
I really do wish you'd read her book. So then when you'd see all the posing and posturing, you'd truly understand what her type of politician is all about....a "liberal" doing anything and everything to further the only thing that matters....herself.
That might really open your eyes.
Maybe Katie should try bein
January 3, 2007 - 22:11 ET by Red JeepMaybe Katie should try being on The View, with Rosie and Barbara WaWa. Probably fit right in.
Geez, Red Jeep, Katie may be out of her league, but that?
January 3, 2007 - 22:15 ET by acaiguanaGeez, Red Jeep, Katie may be out of her league, but that?
I mean, she's Perky. I wouldn't wish that on her. She's just bad at her current job. Let her peddle her Perkiness elsewhere without having her rub up against wolves.
:-)
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
You are right! That would b
January 3, 2007 - 22:20 ET by Red JeepYou are right! That would be harsh. Animal Planet would be much better.
I don't know aca, Rosie c
January 3, 2007 - 22:26 ET by JerryI don't know aca, Rosie could make a real man out of Katie. Might help her secure another news anchor position in a male dominated field.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
My thougts exactly. The onl
January 4, 2007 - 09:20 ET by CrimsonfistedMy thougts exactly. The only appropriate venue on tv for her. That, or she could just go home. That would be my choice but she would say "Bite me" to the thought.
My son used to watch the mo
January 3, 2007 - 22:26 ET by Right2thePointMy son used to watch the morning show occassionally when she was on.
He could watch for 20 minutes and never tell you anything she said.
To quote his reason for watching. Hey I'm a red blooded guy and she's got a fine rack and I liked to catch her taking an unladylike sitting pose once in a while.
Hopefully he grows out of this soon, but I appreciate his honesty and not dancing around the issue.
He needs to watch Fox....
January 3, 2007 - 22:28 ET by JerryHe needs to watch Fox.... better news.... better babes.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Ciao baby!
January 3, 2007 - 22:36 ET by RackieCiao baby!
See, here is where I really m
January 4, 2007 - 09:24 ET by Ruths husband BenSee, here is where I really miss out by not watching TV. I didn't know she was perky in the morning! Does this mean she only wears a bra at night? Does anyone have any pictures to support this claim of perkiness?
The next logical step is of c
January 4, 2007 - 09:31 ET by truth_missileThe next logical step is of course the failed daytime talkshow and then oblivion.
Maybe Katie can host a primet
January 4, 2007 - 09:37 ET by donsalesMaybe Katie can host a primetime series called "Bigger Deal, No Big Deal" where network and cable news anchors can renegotiate their contracts with corporate management over the airwaves so the public can experience the shock and awe of the bloated contracts that these charlatans receive........
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
I have a solution. Let Katie
January 4, 2007 - 09:43 ET by Chris NormanI have a solution. Let Katie think she's taping the evening news and then show it in the morning - without telling her. In post production, they can add puppets from Sesame Street to make it more "fun"...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
LMAO.....Good One!This would
January 4, 2007 - 09:48 ET by donsalesLMAO.....Good One!
This would at least show the MSM for what it is.....an effete group of pseudo intellectuals who believe they KNOW BETTER than the public at large.....the Sesame Street characters would bolster and further support their world view.....
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
I just happen to think that K
January 4, 2007 - 09:52 ET by Chris NormanI just happen to think that Katie does better when she interviews Elmo and Big Bird than when she interviews President Bush. With technology, this could be accomplished without her knowing the switch was made...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
perception and reality
January 4, 2007 - 10:20 ET by CatherwoodLiberal Katie's rise to anchorwoman is an interesting study in how the elements of perception often conflict with elements of reality. The perception among media analysts and advisors was that it was time in America for a female anchor whose feminine touch would make the nightly news more palatable and digestable. The perception was that liberal Katie was just the woman to make the gaint leap from the Conkite-Rather news to the new touchy-feely, politically correct, multicultural news of the new millenium. I can just hear all those liberal, lefty advisors sitting around a table and espousing the merits of Katie and the new world of news.
The reality, however, was very different than the perception. As a news anchor Katie was never viable. She was not a news anchor. She was/is a talk show host on a cooking show at most. Most Viewers don't take her seriously. What she says is not credible. She's a liberal who hates conservatives, Repupublicans and most men. There goes half the audience right there.
It really boggles the mind when one considers how far off CBS was on this choice. CBS made the politically correct decision based on perception not the right decision based on reality.
Rosie should replace Katie as CBS anchor
January 4, 2007 - 14:27 ET by pearlRosie should replace Katie as CBS anchor. The ratings would go through the roof.
"Hussein’s scientists were on the verge of building an atom bomb, as little as a year away" New York Times Nov 2006
It looks like CBS is in a qua
January 4, 2007 - 15:24 ET by lostmylegginsIt looks like CBS is in a quagmire.
"Here's the lesson of the past three years: The UN kills." - Mark Steyn
LOL - lost
January 4, 2007 - 20:00 ET by acumenLOL - "It looks like CBS is in a quagmire."
Or a botched joke?
ther go's breakfest
January 4, 2007 - 18:07 ET by foolnomoreso she's going to have her brain in gear at that time of day,?? they'll have to get her up real early , with extra black coffee to make that brain dead perkie to get on the game.