Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 29, 2008 Tamuz 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:11 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Katie Couric (AP) Last update - 12:10 29/07/2008 There's only one Katie Couric - and now she's in Israel By Yaron Frid Tags: U.S. presidential race  A polished, multi-millionaire, American woman in a gray pants suit, subtle makeup that highlights her blue eyes, and a winning smile is not an unusual sight in the executive lounge on the 17th floor of Tel Aviv's Hilton Hotel. But this particular woman is none other than Katie Couric, who is referred to as "the biggest fish in the American television news pond." Just like Winfrey is simply "Oprah," Americans young and old just call her "Katie." And there is only one Katie. She spent 15 glamorous years as the host of "The Today Show," the NBC network's morning news program, where she achieved unprecedented ratings records. Viewers accompanied her during her time there through all her joys and sorrows, including parting from her husband and the father of her two daughters, who died at the age of 42 of colon cancer, and from her sister, the senator, who was struck down by pancreatic cancer. Katie became "part of the furniture in every American home," as she describes herself, before breaking out in her famous guttural laugh. She recalls going to her high school class reunion and everyone wanting to get a picture with her, as if she were Mickey Mouse or something. Advertisement "People on the street feel as if they know me, as if they know who I really am, and I guess they do, in a way. There is not much difference between my television persona and the real 'me.' I am not a 'brand.' I'm a person. In a morning show you get to develop an almost intimate relationship with your audience. They invite you into their living room or kitchen or their bedroom. You become a part of their lives." The pressure was intense "I loved my time on the morning show," says Couric. "I enjoyed the opportunity to show many different aspects of my personality. To interview Yasser Arafat and then talk about shoes and paint pottery. It was a delight." But Couric, 51, caused a tremendous media shakeup when she decided to give up the delight and turn down an offer of $20 million a year, for "just" $15 million a year and the opportunity to make history. In September 2006, she defected to the CBS network and became the first woman in the history of American television to anchor a network news broadcast alone. Her move was a news event in and of itself: Couric was hyped as if she were the messiah who would bring salvation to the entire television industry, and sparked great expectations on one hand, and a chorus of deafeningly loud skeptics on the other. Her opponents claimed she is too nice, too sweet, that her too-short skirts exposed legs that are too pretty, that hard news is not her cup of tea, and that in any case her salary is inflated. The dignified interviews she held with world leaders, with kings and heads of state, and even with John Kennedy, Jr. in the last interview he gave before he died, are ignored. Her detractors insisted on remembering her interview of Elmo, the "Sesame Street" character and the animated puppets (in a letter to children published on the Internet, Couric acknowledged that Elmo was her favorite interviewee, even though he ate her hair). A short time after her debut on the evening news program broke ratings record (close to 14 million viewers), the revitalized news' program's ratings started plunging and finally leveled off at a worrisomely low level - and in last place among the evening news broadcasts of the three leading networks. Couric's attempt to instill warmth, humor and a wink into the broadcast did not go over well, and she went back to the old, distant and traditional presentation format of her predecessors, including concealing her legs behind a desk. Last April, The Washington Post reported that if there was no radical turnaround, Couric and CBS would part ways after the U.S. presidential elections in November, or at the very latest in early 2009, that is, three years before the end of her contract. The woman who lent her voice to the animated film, "Shark Tale," found herself surrounded by sharks. The glee over her misfortune was not long in coming and it is hard not to avoid thinking that many lay in wait for Couric and wished for her failure. They expect to see a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, she said last summer to New York Magazine, but added that she would not give them that pleasure. In Tel Aviv yesterday, she offered the following informative monologue: "I have no doubt in my heart that I made the right move, accepting the CBS offer. I would have regretted it otherwise. It's true that the pressure was immense and the expectations almost impossible. One person cannot perform such miracles and transform a whole network on his own. "It's also true I'm not doing today exactly what I've been brought to do, and that my chance to express myself is fairly limited in the 22-minutes format, but I still enjoy my work, I think it's important and fascinating, and do believe we can make a change with time, bit by bit. "Unfortunately I have found out that many viewers are afraid of change. The glory days of TV news are over, and the media landscape has been dramatically changed. News is available now for everyone, everywhere, all the time, and everybody fights for the last pieces of the shrinking pie. The corporate pressure and the ratings terror are intensifying all the time, and the situation is not simple. I find myself in the last bastion of male dominance, and realizing what Hillary Clinton might have realized not long ago: that sexism in American society seems more tolerated than racism. Of course there shouldn't be a competition between sexism and racism, and both should be equally unacceptable. In any case, I think my post and Hillary's campaign are important steps in the right direction." Couric says there is no truth to the rumors that she will replace Larry King on his CNN interview program. People like to make up all kinds of things, she says, adding that she reads about it in the paper just like everyone else. She'll be back Couric also reads in the paper about her romance with Brooks Perlin, an entrepreneur and champion tri-athlete who is 17 years her junior. They wrote a lot less about Larry King's marriage to a woman who could be his granddaughter. That's how it is when you're a celebrity woman who won't give up attending the premiere of "Sex and the City," guest appearances in "Will and Grace" and "Austin Powers," and other perks that come with fame. More than anything, Couric is proud of her public campaign to increase cancer awareness and the importance of early detection of serious illnesses. She underwent medical exams on the air, and is very excited about a major event she is organizing, in which the three large American networks will join in September for a day of special broadcasts devoted to the fight against cancer. "If I could save even one life, I have done my job," she says. This is Couric's first visit to Israel, to cover Barack Obama. "He's a fascinating man. I'm here also in order to get a look into his foreign policy." And she promises to return another time. "My mother is Jewish, but I've been raised as a Presbyterian. I'm interested in finding out more about these roots." She is also curious about the various scandals involving Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and admires Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of whom she says: "She's an impressive woman. Is she popular in Israel?" Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   yawn 12:44  |  michelle 22/07/08   2.   dress 13:08  |  moshe 22/07/08   3.   Morality and politics. 13:09  |  Jean Van Daem 22/07/08   4.   Oh, come on, Katie, the US viewers read this 13:11  |  Carol 22/07/08   5.   This piece is even fluffier than the report she`ll do on Obama 13:13  |  Aphemia 22/07/08   6.   Katie`s mother 14:05  |  AJS 22/07/08   7.   Yaron Frid is kissing Katies ass the same way that 14:11  |  Nechama 22/07/08   8.   Her mother is Jewish? 14:14  |  Nechama 22/07/08   9.   Mindless emptiness 15:23  |  Ron Dolgin 22/07/08   10.   Huh? 16:32  |  Ben 22/07/08   11.   Haven`t watched CBS Evening News since she became anchor 17:43  |  Raymond in DC 22/07/08   12.   Katie Who? 18:04  |  An American 22/07/08   13.   i didn`t think there were so many unhappy, bitter, sad people 18:46  |  ralph 22/07/08   14.   katie and sexism 19:22  |  ann 22/07/08   15.   dem hack 19:28  |  eynav benjamin 22/07/08   16.   Non-stop Whining 21:14  |  Jack Olson 22/07/08   17.   Couric 21:19  |  xargaw 22/07/08   18.   Couric and Sexism Excuse 21:25  |  Kathyrn 22/07/08   19.   Women and Sexism 21:27  |  Lynda Larsen 22/07/08   20.   Who cares.... 21:28  |  s. ashby 22/07/08   21.   whatever 21:55  |  Tamara 22/07/08   22.   corporate gatekeeper 22:05  |  natteringnaybob 22/07/08   23.   Welcome Jewish Katie! 22:26  |  Let us be nice! 22/07/08   24.   Katie C 22:35  |  Marie 22/07/08   25.   Fish, you know what they say about where the stink at CBS starts? 22:51  |  Colonel 22/07/08   26.   @13 ralph 22:57  |  Mark B. 22/07/08   27.   Bernard Goldberg VALIDATED 22:57  |  Tod Zuckerman 22/07/08   28.   Brashness and ego 23:52  |  Sandra 22/07/08   29.   remark about sexism vs racism 04:27  |  Allen Kimble 23/07/08   30.   Katie Couric 06:36  |  KYJurisDoctor 23/07/08   31.   "Glory Days" ?? 08:02  |  Jana Oto 23/07/08   32.   Zero credibility 16:32  |  Dave Williams 23/07/08   33.   Same Old Double Standard 16:59  |  Ted R. 23/07/08   34.   Yes Sexism Against Men 19:57  |  Chuck 23/07/08   35.   Katie Couric and sexism 20:09  |  Don Colony14Author 23/07/08   36.   Sexism/Racism 00:39  |  jeleanoro 24/07/08   37.   Katie 01:27  |  Masha 24/07/08   38.   Surge 03:37  |  Emily Godwin 24/07/08   39.   Katie 03:57  |  Estelle 24/07/08   40.   Katie Couric Sexism Lives! 04:13  |  Janet 24/07/08   41.   katie 07:46  |  johnny dollar 25/07/08

Read & React Pentagon chief: War with Iran would be 'disastrous' Responses: 287 Israel agrees to move part of West Bank separation fence Responses: 189 Olmert: Living with 270,000 Arabs in Jerusalem means more terror Responses: 222 Syria envoy to U.S.: Israel has chance for peace with all Arabs Responses: 69 Rosner's Domain Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR) What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) More Headlines 10:05 Source: Olmert ready to relax criteria for release of Palestinian prisoners 08:06 Jerusalem officials: Syria taking talks with Israel seriously 11:39 Inner circle of Ariel Sharon's former advisers join Livni camp 10:15 Hebron settlers set up outpost on grounds of IDF base 11:04 Innocent bystander killed in drive-by shooting in Bat Yam 11:52 2nd polygraph finds commander lied about shooting of bound Palestinian 11:18 Jewish blogger tackles perceived shortcomings of Orthodox Judaism 06:42 In one West Bank village, new barrier route won't help 06:40 Decision on East Jerusalem terrorist home demolitions imminent 11:34 ANALYSIS / Will Turkey's religious row end in political turmoil? 10:31 Mother pulls seven children, ages 2 to 10, from burning house in Safed 06:45 New al-Qaida Web video urges Muslims to kill Saudi king 06:38 State inquiry commission to investigate Israel's water crisis Previous Editions Select Day 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved