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Saunders: Couric buoyant in debut as CBS anchor

Published September 6, 2006 at midnight

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She didn't stammer or bump into the anchor desk.

Her transition from story to story was smooth.

And while I've never attempted to carve out a career as a fashion writer, her black dress and white top seemed stylish and appropriate.

Most viewers probably will agree on those points regarding Katie Couric's debut as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.

Content?

Open to debate.

The story of the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, while not exactly a secret, was a worthy lead for any network newscast.

And it was somewhat ironic, maybe even appropriate, that a woman - Lara Logan, CBS News' chief foreign correspondent - would report the lead story on Couric's debut.

There were nits to pick.

Couric's interview with respected journalist Tom Friedman about the safety of the nation five years after Sept. 11 was on film rather than part of the live newscast. This reduced to some degree the impact of his interview.

Couric, during her Today show years, always worked better live.

FreeSpeech, a regular feature, has potential, although author Morgan Spurlock's essay on civil discourse seemed very familiar.

Scheduled Thursday: Rush Limbaugh.

Coming up today is what Couric called an "exclusive'' interview with President Bush.

Why did she fall into that "exclusive'' trap? Maybe she has an exclusive today for one day.

Couric and her news team should dump the embarrassing Snapshots segment.

A "first look'' at the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, pictured in Vanity Fair, wouldn't even be a viable feature on a slow news day.

At the end of the program, Couric asked viewers to submit their ideas for her signature ending after the screen showed how TV's journalistic icons have ended their news programs.

How about a simple: "Good night."

In a way Couric and her production staff are trying to reinvent the wheel.

They want a 30-minute newscast (22 when commercials and promotional pitches are included) that will blend Couric's basically upbeat style with the serious issues of the world.

Despite the fluff that often surrounded her on Today, Couric has a strong journalistic background.

But there's a future danger that the tag of "perky," which has followed her through the years, will surface again. Couric's new career shouldn't be defined by one program, regardless of the pro and con reviews that will pour in.

Viewers and critics will show intense interest.

So will Las Vegas gamblers.

The odds-makers set the betting line that at least 8.5 million viewers watched her debut Tuesday night. Normal viewership of the CBS Evening News is around 7.3 million.

Couric already has proven one thing.

We live in a different electronic news age, far removed from when Edward R. Murrow ended his programs with: "Good night . . . and good luck.''