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Posted on 04/03/2006 4:41:10 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
April 3, 2006
Perhaps I was reading into things in light of the rampant speculation about Katie Couric's possibly imminent departure for the CBS Evening News anchor spot. But this veteran Today watcher sensed a distinct mood of nostalgia on the set this morning.
Katie Couric was back after a couple weeks vacation, and all the crew members went out of their way to remark on the reunion of the regular cast.
Lauer: "Haven't seen you for a couple of weeks. Good to have you back." The pair jokingly shook hands as if they were meeting for the first time."
At the end of her news recap, Ann Curry threw it back to "Katie, Matt and Al" adding "it's nice to see you."
Matt observed "we haven't been together in a month-and-a-half, well, maybe two weeks."
Al Roker chimed in: "You missed the excitement of George Mason," an allusion to the surprising NCAA basketball tournament run of the university from Katie's home state of Virginia.
Lauer: "Unfortunately it ended, but they had a great run."
Did Matt have only George Mason in mind, or were his words an epitaph for the current Today show team?
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
What were you doing over there? Now, go spray yourself down with a good dose of Lysol to get the coodies off.
I hope its true. As far as alphabet networks go, she'll help keep CBS permanently in 3rd place.
My prediction she's going to CBS.
She hates waking up 4 in the mourning.
An aside: perhaps to demonstrate that she hasn't lost her fastball, Katie went out of her way to speculate on how the Jill Carroll matter might hurt the United States. She asked NBC reporter Richard Engel how damaging would be Carroll's videotaped criticisms of President Bush and the war.
Engel, perhaps now most famous as the object of Laura Ingraham's ire, responded on the assumption that Katie was asking how the statements would affect Carroll's own reputation, with the answer being not much at all. Katie clarified that what she had in mind was the way in which Carroll's criticisms might hurt the United State's image in the Arab world.
Katie was no doubt disappointed by Engel's answer: "I don't think it will do much to affect the US's image in the Arab world. This is one of many hostages. People in Iraq were sympathetic to her case, but won't be hanging on every word she said and her denouncements of the war."
Not to worry, Katie. You're sure to have other opportunities for a parting shot at the president before moving on to CBS.
My tagline says it all.
So CBS may actually have a death wish. I wish them well with that.
You're probably right, I'm sure it's too tempting to turn down. And when she fails to get CBS out of the cellar, I'm sure her contract is lucrative enough for her to retire on. Can't wait!
If K.C. and her band of sunshine moves to SeeBS, won't that raise the IQ of BOTH networks?
I know that the curiosity factor will give CBS a good bump if Katie takes over, but after that I hope and pray she fall flat on her face.
Lauer and Couric have been rumored to have tensions between them for years. But then, many of these, pairings have behind-the-scenes problems.
Several years ago Lauer was said to be dancing in the street as rumors surfaced that Couric may be leaving. It didn't happen. (IIRC, that was about the time Couric was rumored to be under serious consideration for Russert's position on MTP, as Russert was rumored to be considering one of the major network's evening news positions.)
I suspicion that the only real tears Lauer would shed at Couric's departure would be tears of joy.
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Thanks, jdm. It does really look as if it's going to happen, doesn't it?
Hard to imagine a more prominent idiot on tv. Her move will improve the average IQs of both networks.
This is wonderful.
This incompetent pile of goo will flop so badly at CBS that no one will remember her in a year.
Another one bites the dust.
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