Wow. CBS pulled a fast one.They introduce Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News, all made up and airbrushed and botoxed to the edge, yet they squeeze her into a little short white turkey jacket that only accentuates her middle aged plumpness, and then they lead off the show, not with news, but a long 60 Minutesish piece starring the network’s resident sexpot.
The star of last night's much-watched broadcast wasn't Katie at all, but the former swimsuit (or was it underwear?) model and Steve Irwinesque daredevil, Lara Logan (known affectionately in the British tabloids, thanks to her past, as Lara “34D” Logan).
It’s a clever reversal. Many of us expected that Katie would banish all those sexy young chiquitas who surrounded Bob Schieffer in his Charlie’s Angels guise. Or that she'd try to play the older, experienced, news veteran vamp.
But, damn the Slimfast and photoshopping, they plopped her up high on the chair like they had to do on the Today show and hit us straight on with the sexiest of them all. It sure countered the impression that show biz Katie was hired for sex appeal.
Unfortunately, the juxtaposition doesn't add to Katie's gravitas.
And the Baby Boomer references are cloying as only CBS can be-- sort of like the first season of Big Brother. It’s comfort food and kitsch to have Walter Cronkite do the opening, but the Ron Burgundy & Mary Tyler Moore bits are morning show stuff.
(Our staff is searching for those modelling shots. Contact us here if you have a lead!)
Total agreement. Watched the show with a roomful of people. Logan a definite hit. The only time everyone in the room stopped talking was when she showed on camera.
ReplyDeleteEverything else was like watching the best of Current TV. Which is bad. Very bad.
All of this just shows how unaware of themselves the Network people are. All of what BK wrote is so obvious to most of us, how could the arrogant and self-absorbed...Wait, I've just answered my question.
ReplyDelete