Couric Announces Departure
 

Well, it was the worst-kept secret in the news business, but Katie Couric just announced that she is leaving the Today show for CBS News. She made an announcement on the air, followed by a couple of short comments from Matt, Al and Ann.

Now we can look forward to a drawn-out month-long retrospective on her career.

Finally! Maybe I'll start watching the Today show now!

According to the New York Post, Meredith Viera from "The View" will be taking over for her, with a 4 year, $40 million contract in hand.

I have been hearing rumors that she is going to but I did not know that it was coming so soon -- so shocked!

Here is an article if you missed it today!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190579,00.html

She's probably the biggest rumor at this point...has it been made official yet?

Campbell Brown of NBC News is, or at least was, another contender.

I know Brown and Natalie Morales were being talked about the most, and then all of a sudden Viera's name popped up. I'm not sure of her news experience, but it's a bit surprising to me that they would pass over Brown and Morales for the position.

Since the link above is to FOX, I thought it might be educational to see what NBC has to say:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12137229/

It appears that a final decision on the successor has not been made yet and an NBC spokesperson wouldn't comment on the search.

ETA...watch the streaming video of her actual announcement.

As a side note, having been in broadcasting for years, I think it was pretty classy of NBC to allow her to handle it that way, to allow that much airtime and to allow Matt Lauer (who I think handled it with humor and class), to ask about future plans. It has been my experience in a few badly handled incidents in the past for management to simply escort the person who is leaving out of the building...which would have been a really bad move in this case.

I would think it would be in their best interests to wait as long as possible, although I would also assume at this point that all involved know their status.

I know at times things could get nasty at the newspapers when people were passed over for editor promotions, columnist spots, etc. I can't imagine how it would be when one involves on-air personalities.

Two edged sword, I think. Half of me says, make the announcement and begin promoting and half agrees with you due to the employee/personalities involved.

It may well be that no final decision has yet been made, too.

BTW, I was editing above while you posted.

Al Roker was on one of the Boston radio stations this morning, talking about Katie's departure. There doesn't seem to be any love lost there, at least on his end.

He also claimed that the rest of the on-air talent didn't know that Katie was definitely leaving until the day before she announced. If that's the case, it could make for a very uncomfortable last month on the set.

Meredith Viera was on 60 Minutes for a short time, and then quit or was forced out (depending who you talk to) because she got pregnant. She did a good job whike she was there, IMO. I like Campbell Brown enough, but I think they need someone there with a little more name recognition at this point.

I didn't realize she was on 60 Minutes - thanks for the info. I only knew that she had been on The View and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Apparently her husband is very ill (MS and blind). That may be a factor in whether she takes the job or not.

Meredith Viera just announced that she is leaving The View to go to the Today Show.

Just when I thought I could start watching the Today Show. Both of them annoy the crap out of me. Of course, most news anchors do. Except Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone. If they did the Today Show, I'd watch.

I wonder if the View will continue on without Meredith. Especially now that Star Jones is apparantly nuts (not to mention scary looking)

They'll have to find themselves another reality star to replace her.

What about Ruthie from MTV's every competitive show you can think of...I'd watch a show hosted by her.

So I guess the papers were only about 24 hours off on their guess. Thanks for the update.

I'm wondering how this will play out at NBC, i.e. how Brown and Morales will react to being passed over. From the events of the past year, it seems like that situation is ripe for some made-for-TV movie.

Perhaps a sequel to Anchorman. Anchorwoman or something. Bet there's some bitch fights brewing

Only if Brown or Morales shoots Merideth...and then only on Lifetime.

I think that the View will hire another woman similar to Meredith in terms of age and being a mother to keep that demographic (baby boom soccer moms) watching. I think Brown and Morales might be too young. Of the two, Brown would be the better choice to replace her in my opinion.

I'm glad this is in the entertainment forum, b/c that's all Couric will be, entertainment.

Thankfully I've never watched CBS for national news (although the local affiliate I love is CBS).

I mean poor CBS viewers Couric has type cast herself into the today show role. Do you really want to have to listen to her for 12+ hours the next time there is a national disaster and she's on-air for the whole day.

It would have been one thing to see a female broadcast journalist who actually does reporting, but Couric seems to know more about the latest shoe styles than what's going on around the country.

Poor CBS, first Dan Rather, now hiring a former morning show anchor, what will they do next to attempt saving themselves.

I don't think Katie was a very good choice but maybe she'll surprise us. I like Katie in her Today character, which I'm sure is all it is, but I don't think she'll excel as an anchor. Watch her sometime when she tried to read a serious story. She isn't the best reader, I don't think she has great delivery, but maybe she isn't giving it her all and will do better at CBS.

is the view based on the views of women only? if not, what if they hired a guy? say matt lauer.

I'm afraid your youth may be showing. Whether you like the role she plays on TODAY or not, her background includes solid journalistic credentials.

One of my memories is a cutaway shot down the front row of reporters at the "Five O'Clock Follies," the daily press briefing in Saigon during the Vietnam war -- and there was Katie Couric, seven or eight months pregnant, leaning back in her seat with her feet up on the short stage waiting for the briefing to begin.

She was a network caliber reporter long before she started interviewing celebrities.

Even on the few times I was home when the Today show was on, I wouldn't watch it because I can't stand KC. Something about her grates me.

As for the View, I'll take Elisabeth and sometimes Babawawa. But can't stand the other 3. (And yea, I think Star is Star-struck-on-he-self.)

So, no..won't be watching Meredith on either show.

Plus, I reallly like Charlie and Diane!

I knew Katie had a solid reporting career prior to the Today show, but I didn't realize it was at that young an age. I thought she was only in her late 40's/early 50's, which would have made her about 21 or 22 during Vietnam.

You must be confusing Katie with someone else; her oldest child is only 14 or so... Unless she has a secret love child we don't know about!

Key word is "was."

I don't deny she has credentials, but the fact is she's squandered any reputation she had as a "serious" reporter - that should be clear from the responses of people under 25.

True, and maybe it's just me, but her interview style (at least on camera) has gone way down hill. At this point, at least in my opinion, Matt is the better interviewer.

Ummm, Katie Couric was born in 1957, graduating from HS in 1975. Unless she covered the fall of Saigon when her classmates were looking at colleges, I think you have her mixed up with someone else.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0183698/bio

You guys are right. Sorry.

Maybe it was Desert Shield/Desert Storm...that timing would be closer.

Anyway, I don't think your journalistic instincts necessarily just go away when you become host of TODAY.

I don't know if she will be a good main anchor, but I think she is talented and a lot brighter and tougher than people give her credit for.

Hey, how many people liked Dan Rather?

It would appear that the face and format of CBS Evening News will change when she takes the anchor chair. It will be interesting to see if that's for better or worse. From a CBS perspective, they've gotta do something.

That's not the issue. For all we know, she's been gritting her teeth the last umpteen years and wishing she could do nothing but hard news and hating her job. The issue is the public perception of her abilities and credibility as a serious news anchor. Those are both in the toilet.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...yndication=rss

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060406/...v/tv_couric_54

I'd say that's a matter of personal perception. I don't agree.

To me, the measure of any on-air news reporter/personality is how they react -- and how the viewing public react to them -- in a crisis such as 9/11. Because of her backgound as a reporter, I think she is very good.

I think it's times like that, when they are off the script, that make the difference.

I walk my dog every morning... to Katy Gouric

Incase you guys didn't get it. That means I masterbate to her every morning.

Ok maybe I'm kidding. I don't wake up that early.

Maybe I'm not. Wait. No. Yes. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Kddani!