A national sob-along with Bob and Katie

The Washington Times ^ | 2-8-06 | TOM KNOTT

[JZelle]

One of the fundamental problems of the Turin Games, besides the treacherous snow and ice in the absence of D.C.-inspired storm team coverage, promises to be the nauseating presence of Bob Costas and Katie Couric. Costas and Couric are the Ken and Barbie dolls of NBC, a pair of half-pints who exude a smug, condescending air behind their plastic smiles and pseudo-charm. They are television's version of fingernails dragging against a chalkboard. NBC's bosses certainly would beg to differ, and they undoubtedly have the results from a zillion focus groups to support their assertions. The corollary is that there apparently is a market niche for everyone, the unpleasant and the like.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

I have always found Costas to be an excellent sportscaster, and likable. I don't know where this writer is coming from.
Couric on the other hand... :(

[RexBeach]

OK, everyone in the room who's gonna watch these Olympics, raise your hands. One, two, three, four, five, six...uh-huh. That's pretty much what I thought.

I do not know who this Tom Knott is(any relation to Don?), but he's smack dab on target with regard to Ms. Couric and Mr. Costas.

I worked with Mr. Costas one evening taping a large awards show. He was positively unctuous.

Ciao, bambini!

Katie? She is the reason I haven't watched "The Today Show" for years and years. Yeah, as if I was missing something anyway.

[goarmy]

"...a pair of half-pints who exude a smug, condescending air behind their plastic smiles and pseudo-charm."

Gotta love it.

[oyez]

What they just fire those two old birds and get Simon Cowell and Cathy Griffin. Hey, we're talking ratings here.

[oyez]

unc·tu·ous ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ngkch-s)
adj.
1. Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness: “the unctuous, complacent court composer who is consumed with envy and self-loathing” (Rhoda Koenig).
2. Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery.
3. Containing or composed of oil or fat.
4. Abundant in organic materials; soft and rich: unctuous soil.

Boy, you can say that again! Thanks for the new word of the day.

[jjmcgo]

I like Costas and I thought he was terrific in the tribute to Dan Marino.
But whether you like him or not, remember this, he's not Pat O'Brien!!! I shudder thinking about how bad and how hard to take O'Brien was at Lillehammer.

[End Times Sentinel]

I have always found Costas to be an excellent sportscaster, and likable.

 

I happen to agree with you (on both counts, actually).  I don't know what Costas' politics are, but since I haven't heard him popping off about them, I don't care.

 

I met Costas when he was in Philadelphia for the All-Star game several years ago and found him to be one of the nicest, down to earth, outgoing, friendly people I've ever come across.  I mean the guy really went out of his way to be personal and engaging, in a way very few tagged with the title of celebrity do.

 

I look forward to his calling the games nearly as much as I do to sitting down with my kids and booing the 90% of the countries I despise during the opening ceremonies.

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[CarolinaGuitarman]

I think he's a liberal, but I don't think it usually gets into his broadcasts. If he annoys some people, that's their opinion, and they are entitled. I just don't see it.

Couric on the other hand makes me want to hurl.

[RexBeach]

Yeah, it's right outta "Word Wealth!"

Thanks for your note!

[ken5050]

Mark..FYI..an interesting description of the perky one..

[Mr. Blonde]

In some ways the Winter Olympics are better than the Summer Games. But they both suffer from the human interest crap that the networks insist on piling in. Just show me the events. I don't care that someone's great grandma died three weeks before they qualified for the Olympics. I care if they are any good against the rest of the world.

[JZelle]

"I do not know who this Tom Knott is..."

No relation to Don. He's basically the Washington Times version of Tony Kornheiser.

[TC Rider]

OK, everyone in the room who's gonna watch these Olympics, raise your hands.

Guilty. I recently got an HDTV and will watch the most inane programming if it's broadcast in HDTV.

So I will probably watch at least some of the olympics, unless DiscoveryHD has that special on, "The life of pigeons of New York City".

[llevrok]

I watch CBC because curling is more fun to watch than Katie and Bob making every 5 minute ticker update an essay worthy of an Oprah Book of the Month selection.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for the ping to this article, which I hadn't seen. I agree with much of it, starting with the fact that, no doubt in an attempt to reach an audience broader than that of hard-core sports fans, Olympics coverage focuses at least as much on personal interest stories - preferably of the heart-tugging variety - than it does on the coverage of the events themselves.

As for Katie, while I'm not particularly a fan of her style, neither am I a big critic. My beef is with her liberal bias, not with the way she presents it. If she were 'fair & balanced,' or even an outright conservative, I'd probably find her charming!

[JZelle]

"Guilty. I recently got an HDTV and will watch the most inane programming if it's broadcast in HDTV."

Got the HD fever! I had it since the last Olympics. If you get Mark Cuban's HDNet, they should rebroadcast a lot of the events you won't see on TV, all in glorious 1080i!

[TC Rider]

I don't know Mark Cuban, but I do get HDNet.

Thanks

[JZelle]

"I don't know Mark Cuban"


Maverick owner of the Dallas Mavericks. He was one of the first people out of the gate offering HD content. Check out these useful HD websites:

www.hometheaterspot.com
www.avsforum.com

Lots of good information, reviews, and knowledgeable people out there. Enjoy!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Cuban is also a co-producer of "Good Night & Good Luck", FWIW.