Katie's Ratings

[erpowers]

Recently the morning news show Good Morning America has been catching up to the number 1 rated morning news show which is the Today Show. Katie Couric has taken much of the blame for this. First, does anyone think some people are having fun blaming Katie Couric for the drop in rating of the today show? I do not think Couric is the reason for the drop in ratings. Second, it seems that some of the drop may be due to the fact that it seems like the Today Show is not letting Katie handle as much of the serious stories as they used to let her handle? Third, I think some people may be turning to GMA because at times the Today Show spends substantial amounts of time talking about the whether in California while GMA is actually talking about the news. In addition, I contend that the fact that NBC did not refute what was said in Ann Coulter book "Slander" some people have a misinformed view of Couric. So what do DUers think?

[ChickMagic]

1. "Navy Seals Rock"

Ever since I heard that, I can't watch that presstitute.

[hatrack]

2. Here's what I think

Couric = :puke:

There, that was easy!

[underpants]

3. I watch the Today Show BECAUSE of Katie

:loveya:

Actually the Today Show has become almost like People MAgazine TV-way too much celebrity crap and almost no real news. Lauer served his purpose and has backed off (a bit) of the worship of the manly W but still it is there.

[48pan]

4. Here's a typical Katie celebrity interview...

Katie: You're the most wonderful person in the universe. Everyone loves you. Your movie/book/show is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You are smarter than Einstein and better looking than Venus. We worship you. How does it feel?

Celebrity: Great, Katie.

I'm sick to death of Katie. I can't watch her.

[driver8]

14. I second that -- the Today show is more like Entertainment Tonight

Very little news or current events on this show...how many freakin' "puff pieces" can one watch?

[blm]

5. Tim Russert and GENBC have successfully turned Today into another Bushtool

and the market is already saturated with Bushtools.

They neutered the once alert Katie Couric long ago.

[Extend a Hand]

6. as a second shifter

Idon't often see the morning shows. I did catch the Today show once and I thought it was one of the most inane shows I've ever seen.

[Wickerman]

7. Today show recap

{Insert date}

Highlights of the News, read somberly by Katie

2 minute in-depth stumbling over same topic by Ann

Inane ad-lib by Ann about same topic

Matt makes little attempt to hide his disdain for Ann, by offering some sweet, yet critical remark toward Ann's commentary.

Katie jumps in, bright and chipper to save the day with a witty remark or a bright and cheery news story.

Some awkward banter about weather with the guy that used to be fat, now is just the guy that Katie fake flirts with and Matt has a pseudo pissing contest with.

"And here is what the weather looks like in your neck of the woods." The only part worth watching.

commercial

cut back to Al with a crowd outside, acting like fools just to be on TV.

Katie has an interview/worship session with this week's pseudo celeb. No hard probing questions, no good followup, just idol worship and the chance to better plug the movie, the book, the Administration talking point. More awkward flirting.

Canned "news" segment about some new miracle device/procedure/drug that will save millions of lives, change the way we look at lawn maintenance, or better care for our pets. Usually, the firm behind the product is about to go public or is selling some stock. Hmmm.

rinse, repeat.

[underpants]

9. Wow a great synopsis

The Katie interview part always features he legs as well.

LOL

[Wickerman]

11. lol

the only real mystery each day is what will Katie be dressed as?

French hooker? Teenage nymphet? Snappily dressed college coed? Chic housewife? Doudy reporter with reading glasses? Who in the world IS Katie Couric?

[Jacobin]

16. Its why the ratings are going down for this infotainment show

Her mini-skirt peep show is not as alluring as it was ten years ago.

That is all.

[Obamarama]

8. "Not letting Katie handle as much of the serious stories..." ???

You're kidding, right? SERIOUS STORIES? I just watched the Today Show on the treadmill at the gym this morning and the big story seemed to be Paris Hilton's mom's reaction to her worthless-slut-of-a-daughter's engagement and the elder Ms. Hilton's new, upcoming reality show. I thought I was going to need an emesis basin in the midst of my 4th mile.

Please understand, gentle poster, that I am not dissing you for your serious stories comment. Rather, I'm appalled that there seems to be a complete absence of any serious reporting of meaningful issues on the Today Show. It's four minutes of fleeting sound-bytes from Ann Curry on the issues of the world, then it's on to Dan Abrams with his daily play-by-play of MJ's trial, etc.... I don't mean to pick on the Today Show alone. All the breakfast shows are equally complicit in whoring their newstainment to the masses.

I'm not against a little fluffy entertainment to start off my day, but I am scared silly to know that millions of Americans rely on these sugary, news content deficient morning shows as their only newsfeeds. The demographers who work for the producers KNOW this, too. And we pretend to be amazed that the "British Memo" is as non-existent in this nation's news as is Osama Bin Laden in American custody.

Essentially, too many of our fellow Americans are bending over and the media conglomerates are saying "there's our bullseye, boys." And the populace has become so accustomed to being anally raped when it comes to hard, serious news, it doesn't even walk funny anymore after the dirty deed has been done.


Serious stories on the Today Show, my ass. (no pun intended)

[Jacobin]

18. Ya mean her "Navy Seals ROCK"

'serious' interview.

I was particularly nauseated by her 'serious' interview with SCOTUS Justice O'Connor a couple of years back where they jointly bemoaned SCOTUS being FORCED to decide the 2000 election....It was all hero worship horse crap of the finest, stinkiest, ooziest kind...very fresh and quite liquid. A recent dump.

[Blue Belle]

22. I agree...

The thought of Katie Couric tackling a serious news story is... well it's about as probable as Ann Coulter reciting an actual account of US History (Miss "the Canadians fought along side us in Vietnam"). I mean, sandwiching an expose on the abuses of Abu Graib and Gitmo between a Mother's Day makeover and a cooking demonstration of "never fail Cornbread" kind of diffuses the impact of the story. Katie plays nicely to her niche, but it's infotainment - not hard hitting journalism.

[erpowers]

23. Meant

What I meant was that when there is a serious story like what is happening in Iraq they do not let her deal with the story. I do believe it is sad that there are not that many serious stories on the Today anymore. I usually do not watch the puff pieces.

[dave123williams]

10. The 'cute' act really doesn't work for a 50-year old.

[ariellyn]

12. I think Katie's been given a lot of "soft" assignments lately--

many more than usual. Also seems like Matt's being given the harder assignments. It's definitely a way to try to get rid of Katie, who I've heard is considering moving to CBS. Pretty soon CBS will be the the only refuge for any liberal on TV. :shrug:

[ArkDem]

13. I'm not sure that 'Today Show' and 'serious stories' belong in

the same paragraph.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RiDuvessa]

17. I never really liked or trusted Couric.

The first time I really remember seeing her was when she was doing a story on a Mitsubishi plant in Bloomington, IL for Dateline. The plant had been accused of sexual harassment. Katie's reporting was so one-sided and biased that I ended up feeling sorry for the plant! Leading questions, no time for the Mitsubishi officials. An extremely poor piece of reporting. She's never done anything since that would make me change my opinion of her.

[satireV]

19. ABC's prime time ratings are way up....

So morning ratings follow because they can interview the back biting Desperate Housewives and night time soap opera actors.

NBC prime time ratings are going into the toilet. They can only interview the Joey guy so may times.

[realFedUp]

20. I agree with you erpowers...

and I can't watch Diane Sawyer after that
interview she did with Dean and Judy.

[Lannes]

21. I miss Jane Pauley on Today

[BiggJawn]

24. Guess the skirts will be getting shorter, then...

And then Katie will "forget" to put panties on?
Like when Kathi Lee started going braless on "Regis"?

[Tsiyu]

25. When Benjamin Bratt told her ( cuz she was wearing pants)

that he "was hoping to get a look at those gorgeous gams!" I about heaved.

I haven't watched the morning shows in a lo-o-o-ong time. Nothing but mindless drivel. But I've seen a few of the previews they run in the evening and I'd say they're all desperate to be relevant without a clue as to how to actually BE relevant.

[OzarkDem]

26. I like Katie

she's known to ask hard questions, even of R's. Probably why she's being targeted.

[lateo]

27. Katie needs to release a home porn tape...

That will get her rating back up...

[Lone_Wolf]

28. The best news piece she ever did was her televised colonoscopy...

The real irony is, everything that comes out of her mouth is shit!

[Ilsa]

29. I stopped watching completely late last year.

I couldn't take Matt's pro-Bush interviews any more. I saw a few minutes recently and it has gotten worse lately. They don't cover the news. It's all sound bites and junk.