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Katie’s Popularity Nosedive

I hate when critics turn out to be right. Hordes of them lined up to voice their negativity when Katie Couric decided to leave her cushy job at NBC’s “Today” show to take the quantum leap of becoming the first female solo anchor of a nightly news program. That was nearly 10 months ago… and now it seems their taunts may becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. According to a new Gallup Poll survey, one-third of Americans say they have a negative view of Katie Couric. What’s more, those same people say Couric’s personal popularity lags behind rivals Charles Gibson and Brian … Continue reading →

Election Day Coverage—Who Will You Be Watching?

T-minus 24 hours. Television news organizations have been preparing for Election Day 2008 with about as much anticipation as the politicians themselves. The event is like the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the Academy Awards all wrapped up in one broadcast. Several networks just announced plans to unveil major new tech toys to get poll results to the public as soon as possible. Tomorrow you will be introduced to a “magic wall,” a “launchpad” and watch as NBC and ABC turn two New York City landmarks – Rockefeller Center and Times Square – into virtual TV studios. Here’s what else … Continue reading →

How Not to Tick Off David Letterman

A.) Make sure your name is not John McCain and B.) Never, ever cancel a “Late Show” appearance at the last minute. It’s a lesson Republican presidential hopeful John McCain learned the hard way last night when he dissed David Letterman for Katie Couric. Did you see it? In classic Letterman style the often-irritable late-night talk show host spent much of his time on air unloading on McCain for standing him up. Bail on Letterman? Talk about stupid human tricks. According to Letterman, McCain personally called the comedian just hours before he was supposed to show up to tape an … Continue reading →

Tom Brokaw Meets the Press

Did you hear that? The high pitch screams came from NBC bigwigs after veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw agreed to moderate NBC’s “Meet the Press” through the November election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Tim Russert. Did you hear that? It was the nation breathing a collective sigh of relief. Simply put no one can replace the highly revered and dearly beloved Russert. However, if anyone can help fans deal with Russert’s tragic and untimely death while still holding presidential candidates responsible for their words and actions it’s Tom Brokaw. Brokaw will begin his moderating duties … Continue reading →

Tim Russert Dead at 58

The hardest working man in television news has died. NBC political guru and host of “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert died at work this afternoon. According to reports, the famous TV journalist and political heavyweight collapsed while he was recording a voice-over at NBC’s Washington news bureau. He was 58 years old. The New York Times is reporting that an ambulance rushed to the studio and at one point Russert was reportedly briefly revived, but according to witnesses, the broadcasting giant apparently passed away either on the way or at a local Washington D.C. hospital. About an hour ago former … Continue reading →

Anchors Unite

You may have thought you were in the middle of a bad commercial if you tuned into the network morning shows yesterday. In a rare moment of unity the main anchors from all three network evening newscasts—NBC’s Brian Williams, CBS’ Katie Couric, and ABC’s Charlie Gibson—gathered on air to promote a fundraiser for cancer research. “Stand Up to Cancer” will air simultaneously on all three major networks on September 5th. The telethon will run commercial-free for an hour during primetime and will feature a host of musical performances and celebrity appeals. The rare simultaneous broadcast is reminiscent of the benefits … Continue reading →

Katie Wars

When I last posted about the Katie Couric drama brewing at CBS News things weren’t looking too good for the perky anchor. Ratings for the former “Today” star have been the worst in CBS News history and practically every newspaper and news website around has Couric bolting from the eye network to CNN where she will reportedly take over for the retiring Larry King. Well, now the tide might be changing at CBS (though, I highly doubt it since new reports indicate that CBS wants CNN’s hunky anchor Anderson Cooper to replace Couric) given a recent surprise visit to the … Continue reading →

Is CBS Cutting Couric?

Even if that were their plan they certainly wouldn’t spin it that way. Instead, the brass at the eye network would make it appear to viewers that Katie Couric herself made the decision to leave her cushy anchor job for greener pastures. Enter the Wall Street Journal. The paper recently ran an article in which it quotes CBS News executives and a select group of Couric’s inner circle saying what insiders predicted was bound to happen sooner rather than later: The former “Today” show host is expected to leave her post at CBS Evening News shortly after the January 2009 … Continue reading →

Celebrity Updates: And The Winner Is…

A lucky kid who has a very wealthy father. That’s who won the chance to play an extra in Will Ferrell’s new movie. Confused? In a previous blog I told you about Ferrell’s idea to auction off a role in his new flick in order to raise money for the Cancer for College foundation run by his former fraternity brother at the University of Southern California. The opening bid was $5,000 and Ferrell made the comment that getting $10,000 would be a wonderful achievement. Well, consider Ferrell officially blown away. The winning bid came in at $47,100 from a Dallas … Continue reading →

Katie Headed For Iraq

Just a few weeks shy of celebrating her first anniversary as “CBS Evening News” anchor–Katie Couric is ditching the desk and heading for Iraq. In what network insiders are calling an “ambitious reporting trip,” Couric leaves today for the war torn country. She is scheduled to anchor the “CBS Evening News” from Baghdad next Tuesday and Wednesday, then from Damascus on Thursday and Friday. This will be the first time Couric will be reporting from the region. She is the second major network anchor to travel to Iraq since ABC News’ Bob Woodruff was nearly killed by a roadside bomb … Continue reading →