Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Against Odds, Katie Couric Perseveres at CBS

After trying to change 'too much too soon,' Couric finally seems comfortable

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 21, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – Last year, it seemed Katie Couric’s days in the CBS anchor chair were numbered. Now, she not only plans to stay there until her contract expires in 2011, she's starting a weekly Charlie Rose-esque webcast—and her destinations post-Evening News could include 60 Minutes or CNN. “Her really superb work swept those questions away,” her executive producer tells the New York Times, which notes the Evening News' ratings still lag behind those of ABC and NBC.

Those ratings draw less attention now, the Times adds, directing focus back to things like her work on the presidential campaign, including her much-praised Sarah Palin interview. Couric will utilize those skills when her @katiecouric webcast begins tomorrow, featuring sit-downs with the likes of Glenn Beck, Al Gore, and Hugh Jackman. When her contract is up, predicts her producer, CBS will “be clamoring to re-sign her.” But a communications professor adds that Couric “has value for CBS going forward, but likely not in the anchor chair long term and not at that salary."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

CBS television news anchor Katie Couric attends the 2009 White House Correspondent's Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, May 9, 2009 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Journalist Katie Couric speaks during the Glamour Women of the Year awards Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

In this image released by CBS, CBS News anchor Katie Couric rehearses for Election Night of Presidential Campaign 2008 on Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, in New York. (AP Photo/CBS, John P. Filo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The program seems settled and Couric seems confident. As a result, the questions have subsided, and reviews of her performance are far more positive. - Paul Janensch, Quinnipiac University professor

I still love to talk with people and interact and try to peel the layers of the onion back. I think the interview show will really satisfy that side of me. - Katie Couric on her new interview series

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Couric to Co-Host The View

Couric to join 'The View' ladies on Aug. 3

(AP) - Katie Couric will soon get some practice at hosting her own daytime talk show, thanks to The View. Couric will be a guest co-host on the ABC talk show airing live on Aug. 3, the executive producer said yesterday. Last month, it was announced that ABC and Disney had signed Couric as host and producer of a one-hour nationally syndicated talk show premiering in September 2012. She also is joining the ABC News team. More»

Katie Couric's Big Announcement

NBC made one last run at its old sweetheart

(NEWSER) - ABC has at long last officially announced that it's signed Katie Couric to host an afternoon talk show , beating out a last-minute push from NBC. In a statement , the network said it had a "multi-year, multi-platform" agreement with the former CBS anchor, that will also include appearances on all of ABC's other news shows. Details of what the New York Times calls "one of television's worst-kept secrets" have not yet been released, but Couric will be co-owner of the program and will share in the profits. More»

Katie Couric Signs Off on CBS

Couric anchors CBS Evening News for last time

(NEWSER) - Katie Couric, the first woman to be solo anchor of an evening network news show, has officially signed off on her 5-year stint at CBS. Couric's final CBS Evening News broadcast included an interview with Hillary Clinton and a "5 years in 5 minutes" retrospective of her time as anchor, Reuters reports. More»

Couric's CBS Talk Show Dead

Anchor now expected to move to ABC

(NEWSER) - Katie Couric's talks with CBS over a possible talk show are dead in the water, sources tell TMZ. CBS has pulled the offer because Couric—who is stepping down as anchor of CBS Evening News —was seeking too much involvement with the network's news operation. ABC is now expected to be Couric's future home, although CBS still has the right to match any offer until her contract expires early next month. More»

CBS Replaces Katie Couric With Scott Pelley

Move represents a 180-degree turn

(NEWSER) - CBS made it official today , announcing that 60 Minutes veteran Scott Pelley would replace Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News effective June 6, a widely expected move that represents a major shift for the network. “Scott has it all,” gushed CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager. “We like to think of CBS News as the ‘reporter’s network’ and I can’t think of anybody in this business better suited for the anchor chair than Scott.” Here’s how people are reacting to the news: More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Against Odds, Katie Couric Perseveres at CBS