Good Riddance
Posted on 05/01/2003 12:50:34 AM PDT by kattracks
May 1, 2003 -- ASHLEIGH Banfield's harsh critique of TV news might not have been as self-destructive as it sounded. Banfield - reamed out by NBC head Neal Shapiro for criticizing coverage of Iraq's liberation in a speech at Kansas State University - is trying to set herself up for another job. "Ashleigh's contract is up this year," said a spy. "There is no way MSNBC or NBC is going to renew her, so she is trying to get a job with CNN by pulling the 'real news' card." But sources at CNN said there was "no way" Banfield would be hired "after what she just pulled." A rep for the network declined comment.KATIE VEXES 'TONIGHT' CREW
May 1, 2003 -- KATIE Couric may be America's morning sweetheart, but she is turning into a late-night diva and driving Jay Leno's staff nuts with "outrageous" demands.
Couric and Leno are switching jobs May 12. She'll host "The Tonight Show" and he'll co-anchor "Today" with Matt Lauer.
But while the "Today" staff is having a ball with Leno, Leno's staff is being driven crazy by Couric.
"She has this huge ego," said one Leno insider. "The staff is really bitter. Jay is pretty easy to work for and is great. There is never a problem with booking, but Katie is very difficult. She has turned down all of our suggestions for guests and insists on getting people like Ben [Affleck] and Jennifer [Lopez] together. They flat-out refused to do the show, and Katie is really angry."
In addition to Affleck and Lopez, Couric demanded the entire cast of "Friends" be booked, but they, too, turned it down. And Couric nixed Leno's pal Sheryl Crow.
"Nobody could understand why she wouldn't interview Sheryl," our source says. "There is nothing wrong with Sheryl. She is a great guest, but Katie wouldn't have her."
Leno's rep said he hadn't heard of any "negativity" involving Couric.
Leno seems to be having much better luck with his bookings. "Colin Powell called in person, asking to be interviewed by Jay when he goes on 'Today,' " our insider said.
Meanwhile, Lauer had an unexplained trip to the hospital three weeks ago. Our Upper East Side snoop says he checked into Lenox Hill after he "collapsed and passed out." Lauer was treated at the hospital's ICU before being released.
A "Today" rep declined comment on Lauer.
But his ex-wife, Nancy Alspaugh, denies reports that he snubbed her during a recent appearance on "Today" to promote her new book on fearless aging, "Not Your Mother's Midlife."
"Matt met me at the elevator," Alspaugh told PAGE SIX. "We embraced in the green room and shared pictures of our 2-year-old sons."
When Couric quipped on-air, "I have no idea why they gave me this segment," she was joking about her age, Alspaugh said. "It's a love fest with Matt and me. We're role models for exes."
Good Riddance
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