Katie Couric ? IS she really the Best choice for CBS ?

I'm sure we've all read about the big news of Katie Couric leaving the
Today show after 15 years to move to CBS. Not only is it a big move for
her but it is a big move for woman as news anchors and women in the
news business as a whole. Talk about making TV history in an area that
has been once dominated by men like Tom Brokaw,Dan Rather and Peter
Jennings.

My questions are as follows although Meridith Vieira is said to be the
one to replace Katie on the Today show.

What will she bring to the Today show ?

stonej...

A fairly well known name and broadcast experience.

But will it work? Nobody knows if the audience is going to like her in

jjsargent...

Never mind the role; I don't like Meredith Vieira in any case. (And
I'm
not much younger than she. so it isn't a matter of her being "long in
the tooth" as others have suggested.) I don't like her personality and
I don't care for her looks. (What someone once said to Al Roker,
probably before he lost all that weight, applies to Vieira: "You have
a great face for radio.") They ruined "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
by hiring Vieira, and they'll probably end up ruining "Today" also.

that
role. I'm sure there will be some grumbling "she's not like
Katie"..... etc. and she
really shouldn't expect to be but the viewing audience can be very
fickle about those
things.

It is a risk that NBC has to take with someone, they really have no
choice but watch
ABC and CBS ramp up the promotional things for their morning shows in
order to lure away
any disenchanted Katie fans.

Uniblab...

Her experience with both hard news and softer subjects. Meredith is
considered a seasoned broadcaster, and "Today" is such a big profit center
for NBC, they wanted to go with someone more experienced than some of their
bench players.

How will it change the morning sequence or dynamic left behind by Katie
? I know Matt Lauer seems to welcome Meridith. How are the others going
to take to her ?

Uniblab...

Should be very interesting. Say what you will about the content of "Today",
you have to admit that those four people seem to genuinely be having a good
time on the show. Any change is risky.

Are Katie's shoes going to be big shoes to be filled ? I heard that
Everyobody Loves Raymond star Patricia Heaton will be Meridith's
replacement on The View. What does everyone think of her ? She's
definately different from Kelly Rippa.

Looking at all the women who have made a big impact and a big name for
themselves in broadcasting.... Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, Connnie
Chung, Oprah, Christiane Amanpour..etc..

Why werent Diane Sawyer or Connie Chung considerd for the CBS job ?
What's wrong with them ? These women have been just as well known as
Katie and Oprah are known by the public ?

Uniblab...

Connie Chung already co-anchored the CBS evening news, and was considered a
failure. Sawyer for whatever reason is not considered the name she used to
be. She might also have a longer-term deal at ABC.

I'm just curious, but did the individual who was to replace Dan Rather
have to be a woman ?
I'm glad it is a woman that is replacing him...(I'm a big womens
movement supporter and a journalism student myself who is looking to
make a big name for herself in the news business some day as
well)...but (nothing personal) did the woman who was to replace Dan
Rather have to be White ? What would the world look like today if the
individual chosen to be doing the CBS evening news, would be someone
with a minority background ?