Whatever you might want to say about her, Katie Couric can't ever be accused of taking herself and the assumption of Walter Cronkite's mantle too seriously. At the end of her first night on the job, which included fluff pieces like the first pictures of the Cruiselina Baby, Katie confessed that, in spite of all the time she's had to think about it (her getting the anchor spot was confirmed by CBS on April 5th), she still doesn't have any ideas for her signature sign-off.
She then played clips of the sign-offs of the great anchors of the past, Edward R. Murrow, Huntley and Brinkley, Walter Cronkite... to be followed by Ted Baxter and Ron Burgandy.
Gravitas, I think they call it.
Katie immediately topped herself by then demonstrating that she cannot think her way out of a paper bag by soliciting suggestions from the viewers.
Yeah, you heard me right. In case you didn't see the show, please know that it would be a waste of my time to try to make this stuff up. It started out promisingly. The smart, sexy and gorgeous Lara Logan once again earned her paycheck and Katie's by driving through mined back roads in Afghanistan and interviewed the Taliban (which is making a comeback, surprise, surprise) while Katie was smoothing out her nylons and struggling with her signature line in the safe confines of CBS studios.
Then it immediately became journalism's answer to Ted Mack's Amateur Hour.
After soliciting the viewers for suggestions on how to sign off (funny, I don't seem to recall Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite depending on public opinion to make even the simplest and most personal of decisions), Katie was then caught awkwardly crossing her famous legs in front of her desk then laughed her ass off when she realized that she was caught on camera.
Like I said, Gravitas.
The joke that followed Walter Cronkite throughout his legendary career was that America never had proof that he wore pants on the job. I realize that styles and formats in news broadcasting change over the years but I honestly cannot see how Katie Couric's long legs in any way will contribute to her ever becoming the Most Trusted Woman in America. I do not think that, on the strength of her criticism of the war and her admittedly beautiful gams, George Bush will ever say, "If I've lost Katie, I've lost Iraq."
Still, you have to feel bad for Katie and her fluffy yet rocky first night on the job so let's get the ball rolling with suggestions on what to send Katie in the way of signature sign-off suggestions. The winning entry that gets sent to my blog will get to host a future Assclowns of the Week in the next two-three weeks.
Because opportunities like this don't come along every day, people.
What Katie settled on in the meantime may prove more prophetic than she'd like: "I hope I see you tomorrow night."
JP
http://welcome-to-pottersville.blogspot.com