| Topic Name: |
Alexis Glick: The Next Katie Couric? |
| Message Name: |
Today's future |
| Date Posted: |
06/11/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
and it's a big problem for NBC. She's not going to have that job forever, and there would appear to be no one in line to take her place, except perhaps Ann Curry, whom i don't think is a good choice.
Also, much as I like Natalie Morales, I don't see her in that job either. Campbell Brown in my opinion isn't very watchable, but I know others feel to the contrary.
The bigger problem with replacing Katie Couric is that she drives the show, much as Bryant Gumbel did in the 80's and 90's. She's acts, Matt Lauer reacts. I think Lauer is dull and not the best at hard news, but he's a good partner for Couric. If Couric does leave before Lauer, he will either have to step up or they'll have to find a woman who is strong without coming off as pushy.
I'd say of all the anchor women out there, Elizabeth Vargas of ABC would be a good choice for "TODAY" but I don't know if she'd want it. |
| Message: |
It's clear the Today show is now at a crossroads. Both Couric and Lauer have hinted they might not remain with the program following their existing contracts, which should be a major warning to execs. Couric's contract is up next spring, which leaves NBC very little time to maneuver if she decides to move on from the show. If she stays, Lauer recently implied he might well leave.
Ann Curry's future has already been settled with her appointment at "Dateline," so I wouldn't consider her a major candidate as she would have been five years ago.
Natalie Morales is terrific as fill-in newsreader, and of course it's been rumored she'll replace Curry altogether, which would be a good choice. But like JeffDavis88, I think her range is rather limited and don't see her as co-anchor.
Alexis Glick is neither a good broadcaster nor a good reporter or interviewer. Her looks and sparkly personality are of course fine, but there is no way she could ever carry the show even with a dominant co-anchor. "Today" will be courting Norville-esque disaster if Glick is forced on viewers.
Campbell Brown is my choice. Although she is not everyone's cup of tea, she has done quite well on the weekends and learned how to handle the lighter side of "Today" without sacrificing her credibility.
If "Today" wants any future influence during big, breaking stories, Campbell Brown and Lester Holt should be the show's next anchors. They are solid, experienced professionals -- which "GMA" has in spades with Sawyer and Gibson -- and "Weekend Today" has always been refreshingly free of the drama plaguing the weekday edition.
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