Can Katie Couric Replace Oprah as Queen of Daytime?

By Rob Shuter Posted Jan 31st 2011 05:01PM

As the brilliant Katie Couric nears the end of a five-year contract that paid her $15 million this year alone, sources tell me the former queen of morning TV is already mapping out her next job: filling the talk-show void when Oprah ends her show.

"No doubt, Oprah leaving her show is going to cause a huge gap in daytime talk, and the only person who could hope to fill her shoes is Katie Couric," a TV insider tells me. "Katie is going to bolt CBS News when her contract expires and start a new chapter of her TV life. Everyone knows she has the talent; now it's just finding the right show for her to do and surrounding herself with the best people to pull it all together."

Which is why Katie is in talks with her former 'TODAY' show executive producer, Jeff Zucker, who just stepped down as Universal CEO to start his own production company.

"Nothing would make Jeff happier than to be reunited with Katie and creating a new talk show format that could replace Oprah when she leaves," an insider tells me.

With the exception of Oprah, are there many people who do a better interview than Katie? "You only have to look at her historic interview with Sarah Palin to see how she gets behind the press answers to reveal the real person," my source says.

Well, Jeff, if I were a betting man, there is no one I would put my money on more than Katie, whose spokesman said she has not yet made any decisions about her future.

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Tags: katie couric, oprah winfrey

Comments

(52)

Monday 31 January

By Mart

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No way. I can't stand Katie Couric. I will not watch any show with her on it.

By stu

please next to the over pd ryan sycreast-i do not see any talent!

By dvdfrnzwbr

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She put 15 million in her pocket this year. Whats in yours?

By ANDI WOLFORD

NO Way......:-(
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT CAN STAND HER !!!

By baobfng

You have got to be kidding - I simply change the channel whenever Katie Couric appears. She can't carry a news broadcast, how would she ever think of filling the 'Oprah void'???I love reading this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via age'lessmate.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..

By Garl

The "brilliant" Katie Couric? Are you kidding? She would be as big a flop in a talk show format as she is reading the evening news.

By jonah

Look at it this way...6 months later they'll be replacing Couric with repeats of The Golden Girls and Leave It to Beaver.

By phoenix

couric is a dirty old lady a baby snatcher

By sandee

Hahahaha...so true, she's just a "snatcher".

Tuesday 01 February

By art

LOL, Ditto.

By JEREMY

Not to take anything away from Ms. Couric, but here are MY choices for O's successor:

DEBORAH NORVILLE:She can do her own news reports,so there'll be no need for an anchor.Also, she can switch the show from silly to serious without insulting your intelligence.To top it all off,she has some solid spiritual values,and she's A SMMMOKIN'HOT BABE(I think so,anyway).Deb needs something with way more substance than INSIDE EDITION,which is just a waste of her time and talents.

RACHAEL RAY:She's Martha Stewart without the ego and attitude.
Rach can make you feel at ease with a home-cooked meal(WHATSERNAME was better at EATING than cooking),and she has greater sense of humor about herself and life in general.Rach has no delusions about trying to be Mother Teresa(unlike a certain soon-to-be-departing airhead diva whose name will not be spoken here).

I now yield the floor to any and all opposing views.

By lizard

Everything that Couric touches turns to sh!t. The "brilliant" Couric? LMAO! Only thing "brilliant" and why she still has a job is the jewish factor.

By Michelle

I stopped watching Oprha years ago because I think she is a "drama queen" and could not stand watching her. Just let the time slot go... Couric also makes me sick..

By Paulette

I can't find the channel changer fast enough already when I mistakenly get her face on my screen. I can't imagine her being on television to replace Oprah. Please tell me this is a joke.

By Observer

Good grief! Katie Couric needed to retire 15 years ago. She is no longer perky;)

By Victor

She's half the woman Oprah is.

By Joke

Literally.

By NAUGHTY BUT NICE ROB

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I love Katie...think this is a great idea...

By mw

NOPE!

By Lee

Never, never. Couric is the most disliked female on the tubes and has been for a long time. I think CBS has had a lot of regrets in taking her on. Now if they could only get rid of Lara Spencer of Inside things could be better. That gal needs a full course of learning how to pronounce her vowels. She is the worst.
Just a total scandal monger.

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