Katie Couric's Replacements in Waiting

NewsMax ^ | 6/27/05 | Carl Limbacher

[wagglebee]

The once perky Katie Couric may not be so perky these days.

Two rising NBC news stars are being groomed for a top network anchor spot and the New York Post reports that one of them could be in line for Katie Couric's Today Show.

With "Today's" ratings plummeting as ABC's "Good Morning America" on the rise, nervous NBC execs may place the blame on Couric, who has become increasingly acerbic through the years.

According to the Post the two new stars are Alexis Glick, a "Today" regular, and Natalie Morales, an MSNBC news host and also a "Today" regular who sometimes fills in for Couric.

"What you're seeing is the development of a bench," a "Today" insider said. Glick began as a top executive of Wall Street's Morgan Stanley, where she was the first woman ever to manage the floor operation at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for a top Wall Street firm.

She then switched careers , going to work at CNBC as their senior trading correspondent, appearing live from the NYSE on a daily basis for CNBC's free-wheeling morning program "Squawk Box" and on other financial programming throughout the day. After coming back from maternity leave - she has two children - Kaplan reports that NBC chief Jeff Zucker is said to have personally asked her to appear regularly on "Today." Now she works almost daily during the morning show's 9 a.m. hour.

"She has all the makings of a morning-show standout," a TV-industry insider told Kaplan. "She's smart, engaging, authoritative, a mother — and the audience easily identifies with her. But she's no Katie Couric — yet."

Natalie Morales who the Post described as "a savvy, smooth news presenter" joined MSNBC in 2002. She has appeared frequently on "Today" during the show's first two hours, sometimes subbing for Couric, who is said to be among Morales' biggest boosters.

When Couric's stint at Today ends, there are a pair of comers waiting in the wings.

[wagglebee]

I guess that NBC has figured out that Couric is only "perky" when there's a 'Rat in the White House.

[pterional]

Forget the colonoscopy she's getting an enema.

[snarks_when_bored]

Alexis Glick was almost unwatchable on CNBC. Her delivery was nasal and also plodding, as if each word had to be weighed before it escaped from her mouth. If somebody on another channel had been slowly drawing their fingernails down a chalkboard, I might've been tempted to turn to that performance rather than continue listening to Ms. Glick.

She's cute, though. For NBC, perhaps that's enough.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"With "Today's" ratings plummeting as ABC's "Good Morning America" on the rise, nervous NBC execs may place the blame on Couric, who has become increasingly acerbic through the years."

She is also older and not holding up like Diane Sawyer. Maybe that's the real reason she is increasingly acerbic.

High Definition TV won't help either.

[Enterprise]

[zarf]

Any pictures of the new babes in waiting?

[SevenofNine]

HA HA ohh man on my HDTV Katie look awful LOL!

[doug from upland]

A perky Katie thread always brings back one of my top five favorites from the archives ---

MIDI - TELL LAURA I LOVE HER

Our Katie Couric, that perky one
You won’t believe what she’s done
Just look and you’ll see
She shows her butt right on TV

We are sure it will win the sweeps
Though, of course, it gives you the creeps
Children all watch…they’re filled with glee
It’s Katie’s colonoscopy

The nurses are screaming…a nightmare they’re dreaming
Their fear they cannot restrain
The doctor just found Katie’s brain

So Katie’s now the butt of their jokes
Inside her each doctor pokes
They cannot believe their eyes
The viewer’s getting a big surprise

They say she has made history
Something like this you’ll never see
One screams out, “I can’t concur
Most Democrats are just like her”

The nurses are screaming…a nightmare they’re dreaming
Their fear they cannot restrain
The doctor just found Katie’s brain

They stitch her up…it’s finally done
She’ll take time off out in the sun
People say each time they pass
Hey, we know your head’s in your @ss

The nurses are screaming…a nightmare they’re dreaming
Their fear they cannot restrain
The doctor just found Katie’s brain

The nurses are screaming…a nightmare they’re dreaming
Their fear they cannot restrain
The doctor just found Katie’s brain

[Enterprise]

[freedumb2003]

Have you ever thought of trying to bottle your creativity?

I would pay lotsa bucks for your talent.

:)

[Stellar Dendrite]

She is HOT

[freedumb2003]

Wow! Cuuuute!

[wagglebee]

Thanks, it's perfect as always!

[Enterprise]

She looks awful? Really? Gosh, I'm surprised! (Hee hee hee)

[weegee]

I saw her cry in 2000 when election night was called for George W. Bush over Gore.

[toomanylaws]

acerbic \uh-SUR-bik\, adjective:
Sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone.

[Enterprise]

In post #9, the top is Natalie, the bottom is Alexis.

[weegee]

Is she going to be playing Chaka in the new Land of the Lost movie with Will Farrell?

[wagglebee]

Any idea how she did this morning when Reagan was named the greatest American?

[oceanview]

where is Lee Ann Tweeden!