Posted on 04/05/2006 5:28:14 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
April 5, 2006
Playing the straight man to perfection, Matt Lauer kicked off the second half-hour of this morning's Today show by asking Katie Couric: "Anything new?"
In responding, Couric made official what she acknowledged was "the worst kept secret in America": that after 15 years she was leaving Today to go to the CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes. Here, for posterity, was the opening line of Couric's announcement:
"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."
Displaying some good deadpan-humor instincts, Matt Lauer didn't react to Katie's statement and made as if to move on, intoning "also coming up in this half-hour" before collapsing in laughter as per the screen shot shown here.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Katie's announcement was the admission, speaking of Matt, that "once in a while we get on each other's nerves, well, he gets on my nerves." She went on to make clear that "I could not have asked for a more talented partner or better friend, and just as Dorothy said to the Scarecrow, I think I would miss him most of all."
While Katie was clearly reading a prepared statement, emotion regularly crept in, as can be seen in the second shot here, of Katie getting a bit misty.
As Couric mentioned, she won't be leaving the show until the end of May, so this morning was hardly her swan song. There was one closing bit of humor. At one point the entire regular cast assembled on the couches, and as the segment ended Matt gave Katie's knee a squeeze as he declared "well done." Katie jokingly exclaimed "get your hand off my knee!" and after a pause Al Roker added "can't wait to see Bob Schieffer do that!"
Yawn.....
That pretty much sums it up for me, too.
Katy as Dorothy? HOLY! Look at that picture, wow! scary indeed.
Is there a pic of Matt as the Scarecrow (before, or after, brains)?
"Viera?"
Would that be a surname of Spanish origin?
Sounds like a winner in today's America.
Some of us have not liked her longer than that ; )
First, alot of the CBS "pro" news folks weren't happy that her name came up...and they sure aren't happy now. Most of the CBS news crew weren't in favor of her...if the rumors are true. Second...it appears that Viacom forced CBS to accept her...the name was pushed repeatedly. I'm guessing some there and some "outside" influence folks kept putting pressure on CBS. Third...her contact stipulates her job as CBS news and 60 Minutes.
Lets face facts. The numbers at the Today show will slowly but surely go up ten percent over the next two months...and not by some mircle. The numbers at CBS news over the next two months will decrease by a minimum of 10 percent...the soccer mom's won't be switching over. By Thanksgiving, CBS will be talking of Plan B...pushing over to 60 Minutes and finding a new person for the nightly news. The Viacom folks won't be allowed back into this planning strategy again. CBS will be allowed broaden its search pattern.
And 60 Minutes? Watch as their audience shrinks by 10 percent as a minimum. By the time of the next presidential election comes up...Perky Katie will branching out into Dan's old territory of making up facts. And the bloggers will have a field day with her. Whoever in Viacom or beyond...thought she was the "prize"...really guessed wrong. CBS...could have found several top notch players...even Lou Dobbs...but they can sit and wait now until Katie sings the last tune.
"I think we're all slavering in anticipation of Perky Katie failing ... She wouldn't leave the Today Show without a guarantee ..."
And there you have it. We can say what we want. We can be as snippy as we want, but Katie wins. Katie has navigated a corporate jungle, and has acheived a capitalist's dream.
I don't like her, and won't watch her, but credit where credit is due.
So is Katie saying that, just like the scarecrow, that Matt doesn't have a brain?
Is there really any person out there so numbed and incurious to have been watching Today for the last 15 years?
Who gives a damn? Only the MSM.
Show biz kids making movies
Of themselves you know they
Don’t give a (ahem) about anybody else...
FYI..NY Post had a blurb yesterday that if Katie goes to CBS, NBC will try to hire Meredith Vierra from "the View" to replace her..common knowledge, but, ED HILL of Fox and Friends is said to be the top choice to replace Vierra on The View..
How about how they showed her first show ever this AM and how different she looked. Its AMAZING what a lot of money, a makeover and some plastic surgery can do. Katie sure looks better than when she started out with Gumbel!
The years have indeed been kind to Katie.
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