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Thursday, April 13, 2006
MAY 31ST
It will all be decided when as of May 3lst when certain contract agreements in the television business end, or expire, or run out or and we can start shifting various personalities about in the TV work slots to be news anchors, entertainment emcees, interviewers, and audience attention “getters and holders” of television audiences of this nation.
The unusual factor about this switcharoo series is that all of the people concerned are admired and respected. So often they include some one we can dislike, even hate. This time we have a likable list all the way!
Let’s see, where do we start? Katie Curic, I think. We all know her pleasantly perky presence friendliness on the "Today" where she started fifteen years ago, or what she calls "174- hair dos ago". Katie grew up there; we - certainly many of us - matured along the way with her, too. If she wants to be able to sleep normal hours again, that's her right and she is "wanted" at CBS-TV to do news, " 60-Minutes" segments and other established shows in need of fresh talent.
Meredith Fiera, from emceeing the daily "Millionaire" version and a prime doer on "The View"- ABC-TV stalwarts -will move to "Today"o NBC-TV. Meredith will sit pretty in "Today." She will adapt quickly to the format, I feel, but it may well be that ABC-TV has already provided the "first female anchor" for a national news program. It may possibly have been a poor idea to put emphasis on the idea of inserting a first female anchor into the changes. The entire idea of national news people being editors, pundits, writers, seers, writers, editors, producers, thinkers, expounders, and guru guys and actors has been entombed long ago; head-men anchor have been dead for some time, I have felt. It must be said that Elizabeth Vargas has been doing fine in the still vacant Jennings news time. Doesn't that seem to qualify her to be named the nation's first female news anchor?
Talent tops tenure.
Placing Katie Curic and Meredith in that danger zone calls upon them to dig and search for facts. I also have some slight worry and care about the possibility that Katie's associate Matt Lohrer might overshadow her at times, especially if he tries not to so. They share kindred attributes.
The switcharoo is complex this time around. We shall just have to sit by and see how it works out. To me, it appears to be a good thing for us and for ever-in-need-of-change TV.
A.L.M. April 13, 2006 [444wds].
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