TV Personality Katie Couric speaks onstage at the ‘Katie’ Panel during the Disney ABCTelevision Group portion of the 2012 Summer TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.
(Source: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images North America)

Couric may just be ready for her personal spotlight

By Valerie Milano

Beverly Hills, CA (Hollywood Today) 9/12/12 – “We just want to create an environment where it does feel really natural spontaneous and true,” Katie Couric on her new ABC daytime talk show. While she is certainly no stranger to television as a news anchor for internationally known programs like Good Morning America and Today, Ms. Couric is taking a step in a new direction, hosting her own daytime series, Katie. The show will feature celebrity interviews and the stories of life, love and inspiration that we’ve come to expect from the talk show genre. Katie premiered Monday afternoon (9/10/12) on ABC and was one of the most watched debuts since Dr. Phil in 2002. Though the verdict is still out on whether or not viewers will continue to tune in, it is apparent that Katie is a force to be reckoned with and just may have the staying power to keep our favorite personalities on her couch for years to come.

The first episode featured a fit and trim Jessica Simpson who has been working hard to shed her “baby weight” after the birth of daughter Maxwell Drew. Katie’s direct yet sincere questions had her serving up the dish about being a new mother and the related pressures as a person in the public eye. She also shared moments with singer, songwriter Sheryl Crow, who not so ironically wrote the shows theme song and also suffered a benign brain tumor, which was the topic of much of their conversation. “I think when people feel comfortable they’re much more generous in interviews, they’re much more honest.” Katie Couric on her guests’ revelations.

It’s no question that Katie has earned a great deal of respect and admiration from the public as a reporter, and from those she interviews. In fact, the 23-year television veteran has many more years of anchoring and interviewing under her belt than her billionaire predecessor, Oprah Winfrey. Despite this, we may never see Couric attain the status of the big O, but according to her, that is quite alright. “I’m so lucky and whatever happens I’ve had so many cool life experiences and this is probably right up there with the top one,” Katie Couric told Hollywood Today about her new show. While she has certainly proven her skills as to the point of news reporter, it will certainly be interesting to watch the transition to feel a good hostess. With upcoming couch companions including a recently divorced Heidi Klum, Ms. Couric may just be ready for her personal spotlight.