Katie Couric take anchor job at CBS: Why is this such a big deal?

buttmunch · April 6th, 2006, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Katie Couric yesterday.

The perky princess of morning TV is heading to the night shift - and she's giving the boys paycheck envy.
Katie Couric ended weeks of speculation yesterday with the announcement that she was leaving the "Today" show to become the first woman to anchor the "CBS Evening News."

And with a reported salary of $15 million a year, Couric far outpaces her CBS predecessor Dan Rather, not to mention her soon-to-be ex-colleague NBC anchorman Brian Williams or the late Peter Jennings of ABC.

Couric's fans said they can't blame her for defecting to CBS and said they would tune in to the Tiffany Network in September when she starts her new gig.

"I will continue to watch the 'Today' show but I'll watch CBS News now because of her," said Kathy Britt, 47, of West Palm Beach, Fla., as she stood with throngs of other fans outside the NBC studios in Rockefeller Center. "I never used to watch CBS. I was always an NBC die-hard."

Turk Edwards, 22, the rare New Yorker in a crowd of tourists, held up a poster that read, "I (heart) Katie Only on NBC." When pressed, he too said he would watch Couric on CBS - but not because of her journalistic skills.

"She's known for her legs," he said. "I'd probably still watch her on CBS because she's hot."

It's that kind of fan loyalty that prompted CBS to offer Couric what amounts to about $60,000 a day to take over the seat that Bob Schieffer has been warming since Rather flamed out more than a year ago.

Couric, 49, made her long-anticipated announcement on the 15th anniversary of her joining "Today."

"I wanted to tell all of you out there who have watched the show for the past 15 years that after listening to my heart and my gut - two things that have served me pretty well in the past - I've decided I'll be leaving 'Today' at the end of May," she said. "I really feel as if we've become friends through the years."

Then the "Today" producers ran a clip of Couric's first day in 1991 with then co-host Bryant Gumbel. That, Couric joked, was "172 hairstyles" ago.

"It's hard to imagine being here and not having you sitting next to us," co-host Matt Lauer told her.

CBS confirmed Couric would also do prime-time specials and contribute to "60 Minutes."

"Katie is simply one of the best in the business," CBS honcho Leslie Moonves said in a statement. Couric's current boss, Jeff Zucker, called his departing star "a consummate professional." There was no mention of her turning down $20 million a year to stay at NBC.

News anchors are paid stratospheric salaries. Rather and Jennings each pulled down $10 million a year. Williams earns $4 million a year.

The announcement of Couric's departure was carefully choreographed so that NBC could save face, network insiders said. In return for allowing CBS to talk with Couric before her contract was up, NBC insisted that she be the first to tell viewers goodbye.

Couric, the longest-serving anchor in the 54-year history of "Today," insisted it be done in an "amicable" and "classy" way, network sources said.

Expected to take over for Couric on "Today" is Meredith Vieira, 54, of the ABC late-morning gab show "The View." A source from the show told the Daily News that the deal is done but that could not be independently confirmed.

nydailynews.com

I have to state right away that I am not a fan of the annoying gummed one we call Couric. But all I'm hearing is that it's such a big deal that a WOMAN is going to be sitting in the anchor seat of one of the big three networks. Twenty or thirty years ago, I can see that this might have been something to talk about but today, in 2006? A woman reading the news is newsworthy? It's absurd and ridiculous and I can't believe we're still living in such a sexist world.

***edit: what the fuck. I just heard Larry fucking King ask someone "There's a war. Will viewers accept a woman reporting on this." ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH. What, can a woman only report on 'soft' stories? Fucking old sexist prick.

PrettyGirl · April 6th, 2006, 05:48 AM

I never knew what the big appeal about her was either. I am not a Katie Couric fan at all. The only thing I know about her is that her husband died of colon cancer. I was a Peter Jennings fan all the way...I watched him faithfully.

Laurent · April 6th, 2006, 05:59 AM

Quote:

"She's known for her legs," he said. "I'd probably still watch her on CBS because she's hot."

She is? I must've missed that breaking news flash.

I hope they don't replace Katie with Meredith Vieira. I can't stomach her at 10am, much less 7. Team Ann Curry!

lawyerlee · April 6th, 2006, 06:43 AM

I do think it is a big deal, but in a good way. It's about time one of the big three networks chose a woman to anchor the nightly news! Leave it to an annoying old fart like Larry King to suggest people are going to have trouble with her reporting on serious topics, like war. Sheesh.

buttmunch · April 6th, 2006, 07:00 AM

The thing about the legs was a joke awhile back. Apparently she was insistent that the camera linger on her legs during certain Today Show setups or something like that. Anyway, how is anyone going to see her legs when she's sitting behind the anchor desk? And won't they be blinded by her new eye job and blinding extra gummage?

sluce · April 6th, 2006, 09:24 AM

I like Katie on the Today Show but am not sure that I will watch her report the evening news. She comes across as too cutesy for that. I have no problem with a woman giving the news but I will be waiting for her to giggle during serious stories. The polls they took after her announcement don't bode well forher either. Most people feel she should have stayed on Today and said they would not watch her on the evening news.

The stories yesterday also said NBC is trying very hard to get Merideth to replace her. Then they took a poll last last on the local news in Philly and asked whop should replace Katie. Ann Curry got 50%, Campbell Brown got 28%, Merideth is at 17% and Natalie Morales got 6%. NBC may want to rethink their begging Merideth and offering her the world.

Bellatheball · April 6th, 2006, 09:39 AM

I agree with you. It shouldn't be that big of a deal. Frankly, I thought nothing of it when I heard she'd been named anchor. That's probably a good thing though because I suppose it means I haven't encountered much sexism in my life.

Team Ann Curry too!

tulip · April 6th, 2006, 09:43 AM

Elizabeth Vargas has been anchoring World News Tonight on ABC for several months now. I think she's doing a great job. The technical distinction is that she shares the chair with Bob Woodruff...but that's a moot point these days since he had that horrible accident in Iraq. It's not like there has never been a woman anchor on network news before!

I always watched ABC news and will continue to do so. Last night Elizabeth made mention of the fact that she's happy to have ANOTHER woman anchor in network news and welcomed Katie. It was a great little dig!

I really hate Katie Couric. Always have, always will. I don't get the big deal about her and I think her eye make up is atrocious! She has spider eyelashes, like a jr Tammy Faye.

Ms. Hot · April 6th, 2006, 10:21 AM

I dont see what the big deal...she has to grow as a news woman.
She shoudlnt be limited to only talking to stars about upcoming projects...
This is a major move for ANY woman to host the Evening News...not a huge fan of Katie's but she has some killer legs and great conversation.
My opinoin of her changed after her husband past away and her charity events she held for research...