Posted on 05/12/2003 11:59:28 AM PDT by weegee
By RICK PORTER Copyright 2003 Zap2it
LOS ANGELES -- The jokes Katie Couric usually tells are a little removed from those in a talk-show monologue.
The Today show co-anchor offers up this gem as one of her favorites: What did the snail say when he got on the turtle's back? Wheee!
Granted, Couric's audience -- her children -- is a little different than that of The Tonight Show's. It's therefore a good thing that she'll have writers to supply her with jokes when she and Tonight Show host Jay Leno switch jobs today.
The stunt is part of a "Trading Places" week in which Today anchors switch jobs with someone. News anchor Ann Curry is giving up her seat to soccer star Mia Hamm on Wednesday and working out with Hamm's team, while co-anchor Matt Lauer will drive a New York City cab on Thursday while Couric banters with the cabbie.
Couric is a little apprehensive about standing on the Tonight Show set and delivering one-liners.
"We'll soon find out how difficult it is to be really funny," Couric says. "I tell knock-knock jokes with my kids and I think they're hilarious, but I'm not sure America is going to concur."
Leno didn't appear to think much of the snail joke; about all he could muster was "Yeah. That's ... yeah." But, he says, Couric already has one thing going for her: Viewers know and like her.
"I think the really fun thing is if a joke works, it's funny, and if it doesn't work, it will be even funnier," Leno says. "The obvious advantage Katie has is people like her and want her to win and do good."
Couric's toughest bit will no doubt be the opening monologue, but once she settles in with her guests -- Mike Myers, Simon Cowell and musical guest Robbie Williams -- it won't be much different from her regular job.
Leno was less sure last week just how he would fit into the Today operation. It's unclear what would happen if a big breaking-news story were to happen. He also figures he'll do fine in interview segments -- he's set to talk with Secretary of State Colin Powell and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- but he might have to modify his jocular tone somewhat.
"I'm getting notes like, `Jay, it's morning, so don't shout like you do at night. They're sleepy,' " he says. "Also, I'm getting up at 5 a.m., and I'm used to going to bed at 3, so that will be interesting."
Couric's one-night stint on The Tonight Show will mark the first time someone other than Leno has hosted the show since he took over from Johnny Carson. Not that Couric is feeling any pressure.
"I've been thinking about it a little bit -- like 24/7," she says. "Because I'm wondering, who came up with this idea, anyway?"
For the record, it was Couric's. And she'll probably do fine. "I hope people don't watch expecting some huge stand-up comedy sensation," she says. "I'll just muddle along and do my best."
"I've been thinking about it a little bit -- like 24/7," she says. "Because I'm wondering, who came up with this idea, anyway?"For the record, it was Couric's. And she'll probably do fine. "I hope people don't watch expecting some huge stand-up comedy sensation," she says. "I'll just muddle along and do my best."
Follow-up to this thread:
Couric Said To Be at Odds With Leno's Staff
Meanwhile, life with Leno on the "Today" set is just peachy. Secretary of State Colin Powell reportedly called "Today" himself and asked to be interviewed by Leno. When Katie hosts the "Tonight Show," it will be the first time Leno has allowed anyone to guest host since he took over the plum post from Johnny Carson. So whose idea was it to switch jobs? Leno says it was all Couric's. "Do you think I would dream something like this up?" he joked. "This isn't a guy's idea. You don't ever hear, 'Bob, let's trade places.'" This girl just wanted to have fun, Couric said. "I think people will appreciate this in the spirit in which we're doing it," she said.
And I'm not so sure that Leno's audience "likes Katie." They seemed to LOVE Dennis Miller, and he would push her to apoplexy.
Michael
Best one is the snail that got mugged by two turtles.
Cops asked the snail if he could identify his attackers?
Snail said, "I don't know. It all happened so fast."
Now, if the perky Katie Couric would trade places with that 'jackass' who jumped off the apt. building and hit the edge of the swimming pool, that I might watch...
Boy, if THAT doesn't say a lot about the Today Show's target audience.
You never see O'Reiley's audience described as sleepy!
Morning radio does this same thing (with noisy announcers and pointless "feel good" banter). I'd like to hear one music radio station (including "old folks radio") that doesn't have the braying jackass talking about the morning commute. Not everyone listening to the radio wants to hear about the rat race or is going to work that morning. Sometimes I'm sick and would rather hear some calmer music than an annoying announcer telling me "Get out of bed! Quit hitting that snooze button!".
As Weegee said (in his book Naked Hollywood, Colonic is 'nature' spelled backwards).
Don't you just love the current state of journalism? And, these people want to be taken seriously.
There are plenty of people who can lie convincingly. Just look at Bubba Clinton, Joe Lockhart, Terry McAuliffe, Tom Dasshole, James Carville, Michael Moore, and Baghdad Bob.
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