Katie Couric‘s long-awaited daytime show debuted on Monday, and the reviews are mixed. We hated the set with the cliche white chairs, wood stage and the lighting. Didn’t Oprah’s set look the exactly the same – ten years ago?!!
The former “Today” co-host and “CBS Evening News” anchor has been preparing for “Katie” for over a year. She debuted with Jessica Simpson, who talked about her weight loss struggle, and Sheryl Crow as guests.
Critics seemed to agree that Couric won on likeability — a critical factor for success in daytime. The Daily News described her as “friendly, gentle and warm,” while SF Gate said that she is still “America’s TV princess and Newsday said she “looked and sounded sharp”, and The New York Times acknowledged that “Couric tried to prove to her audience that she is one of them.”.
“Lackluster,” “cheesy” and “cheery” were some of the words other critics used to describe Couric’s first day. “…if she wanted a soft opening, she got it,” the New York Daily News wrote. “You could have thrown this show into a pool and created no ripples.”
The show also drew fire for not showcasing Couric’s journalistic chops. Couric’s interview with Jessica Simpson — which featured Simpson’s commercial for Weight Watchers and a conversation with a Weight Watchers group leader who talked about the program — raised eyebows. SF Gate compared the segment to “an infomerical” —a sentiment echoed by the New York Daily News, which said that “Simpson primarily seemed to be promoting Weight Watchers.”
We think Jessica’s done an amazing job of shedding the weight she gained during her pregnancy. The star says: “I’m 10 pounds away from my prebaby size!”
How’s she doing it? Four days a week, Simpson reports to trainer Harley Pasternak for a 45-minute session. After a cardio warm-up, it’s circuit time: seven sets (up to 30 reps each) of dumbbell triceps extensions, hamstring curls and crunches with a medicine ball throw. “Her waist is going in, and her thighs are growing smaller,” says Pasternak.
And just like losing weight, we think “Katie” will reach it’s goal in the next few weeks with guests Heidi Klum, flesh-eating bacteria victim Aimee Copeland and “Fifty Shades of Grey” author E.L. James — who promise to be more engaging.
LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable inspired by Taylor Swift http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/09/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-mystery-diva
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic stops by the 10th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party at Madison Square Park in New York City to find out how everyday people stay on track with their health goals while indulging in summertime fun.
Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach event in Philadelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conferences & Health Fairs in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX. For sponsorship opportunities and event details visit: www.divabetic.org and Divabetic’s facebook pages.
Tags: Celebrity Diets, Celebrity News, celebrity shows, celebrity weight loss, fall TV, Jessica Simpson, new talk shows, talk show news
