THE BIG SWITCH NBC'S COURIC, LENO TRADE PLACES, TV SHOWS FOR A DAY.Byline: DAVID David, in the Bible David, d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. KRONKE TV Critic Just a suggestion to the producers of NBC's ``Today'': Next time you have a late-night comic co-anchor the program, try not to open it with the words ``Good morning - 'I've just killed my children.''' Poor Jay Leno Jay Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer who is best known as the current host of NBC television's long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. Biography Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York. . This was opening of the first ``Trading Places'' edition of ``Today,'' in which the host of ``The Tonight Show'' switched roles with ``Today'' co-anchor Katie Couric Katherine Anne "Katie" Couric (born January 7, 1957) is an American journalist who became well-known as co-host of NBC's Today. In 2006, she made a highly publicized move from NBC to CBS, and on September 5, 2006 she became the first woman to solo-anchor of the weekday , who hosted ``The Tonight Show'' later Monday. ``Today'' co-anchor Matt Lauer Matthew Todd Lauer (December 30, 1957)[1] is an American television personality, best known as a co-host of NBC's The Today Show (since 1994)[1] after being a news anchor in New York [2] led the show with the 911 confession in the luridly tragic story of the Texas woman who had killed two of her children over the weekend. A story, mind you, that wasn't even leading the Web sites of major Texas newspapers. Leno looked fairly grim. That would be a tough point to rally from, if being entertaining was the idea, and for Jay, that's always the idea. His first few exchanges were subdued affairs, and while he picked up steam - and the ``Today'' folks tried to encourage him by laughing at some pretty weak material (he referred to himself, Lauer and weatherman Al Roker as ``a bad Pep Boys'') - he didn't hit his stride until late in the broadcast. By contrast, there was a party atmosphere in Burbank on the set of ``The Tonight Show,'' where Katie Couric - whose idea this whole ``Trading Places'' thing was in the first place - emerged onstage in a very un-anchor-like low-cut, sleeveless black dress and stiletto heels. Guests Mike Myers and Robbie Williams both greeted her salaciously sa·la·cious adj. 1. Appealing to or stimulating sexual desire; lascivious. 2. Lustful; bawdy. [From Latin sal - how could they help themselves? And Couric loved it - pointing to her breasts, she announced, ``For all you people from L.A. who've never seen them before - these are actually real.'' ``Great career move,'' ``NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. Nightly News'' anchor Tom Brokaw, rolling his eyes, advised Couric in a pre-taped segment. ``Let me know when you do 'Hollywood Squares.''' It was Katie's coming-out party, complete with Chippendale dancers egging her on, and anyone who might complain that this further blurs the lines between TV news and entertainment certainly hasn't watched ``Today'' in a while. Her timing wasn't as assured as a professional comics, but it was good enough, and Leno's writers gave her some decent material with which to work. In contrast, the bit that ``Today'' came up with for Leno - prepping him on current events while he wore ``Today'' show pajamas pajamas Noun, pl US pyjamas pajamas npl (US) → pijama msg; piyama msg (LAM - was downright embarrassing. Let's face it: When you're America's Sweetheart, like Couric, it's not going to be too hard to look like a good sport, and Katie has ``Lovable With a Capital L'' down cold. She made jokes about both Leno's and Lauer's hairstyles (or, in the case of Lauer, lack of hairstyle), riffed with Myers about her cameo appearance in the most recent ``Austin Powers'' movie and, in a comedy bit with ``American Idol'' judge Simon Cowell, did a credible job playing a ditzy dit·zy adj. Variant of ditsy. ditzy or ditsy Adjective [ditzier, ditziest] or ditsier, ditsiest Slang Paula Abdul, encouraging criminally off-key singers. On the other hand, Leno fared poorly putting on something of a serious facade. While Lauer chatted up ``The Matrix Reloaded's'' Carrie-Anne Moss, Leno tackled Secretary of State Colin Powell in a pre-taped interview and former New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Mayor Rudy Giuliani live. After somewhat awkwardly reminding Powell that he had interviewed him before on his own show - the subtext sub·text n. 1. The implicit meaning or theme of a literary text. 2. The underlying personality of a dramatic character as implied or indicated by a script or text and interpreted by an actor in performance. being: I do too belong here - Leno asked him, ``How is it to be diplomatic in the Middle East right now?'' That was a softball lob easier even than those he serves his bumptious bump·tious adj. Crudely or loudly assertive; pushy. [Perhaps blend of bump and presumptuous.] bump celebrity guests on his regular show. Leno's best moment was actually a noncomedic one. After watching some stunt drivers behind the wheels of two Mini-Coopers rather dully screech back and forth on a controlled lot, Leno assumed control of one and, with dieting weatherman Al Roker panic-stricken in the passenger's seat, burned some serious rubber in a series of spinouts and tight U-turns. Afterward he joked, ``Al just lost 10 more pounds!'' Earlier, famed night-owl Leno said he hadn't slept at all that night - brilliant idea, having a sleep-deprived celebrity do automotive stunts! Actually, Leno was at his best later, when he delivered a blistering monologue mocking NBC's top executives - revenge for making him participate in the gimmick, perhaps? - at the network's program unveiling of its 2003-04 schedule. It may have been the funniest he's been in years. But that performance was only seen by a few thousand industry insiders, not 6 million viewers. Other ``Today'' stars will trade places with non-TV celebrities later this week. On Wednesday, newsreader A client program that is used to read messages from Internet-based discussion groups (the venerable Usenet) or syndication feeds such as RSS and Atom. Some programs provide a search and organization tool for both newsgroups and feeds as well as local e-mail messages, contacts and other Ann Curry will scrimmage with soccer star Mia Hamm's team the Washington Freedom while Hamm reports on the day's happenings. Lauer will switch seats with a New York cab driver cab·driv·er also cab driver n. One who drives a taxicab for hire. cab driver n → taxista m/f cab driver n → Thursday (presumably pre·sum·a·ble adj. That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster. , he'll get a good night's sleep beforehand), and Roker will jump from TV's fire into a frying pan Friday, switching positions with a prestigious Big Apple chef. CAPTION(S): 4 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) As part of ``Trading Places'' on NBC's ``Today,'' co-anchor Katie Couric guest-hosts ``The Tonight Show'' during a taping in Burbank on Monday, here chatting with actor Mike Myers. Paul Drinkwater/NBC-TV (2 -- color) Jay Leno, left, host of ``The Tonight Show,'' joins co-anchor Matt Lauer live on NBC's ``Today'' in New York on Monday. Leno swapped roles for a day with Couric. David Atlas/NBC News (3 -- color) KATIE (4 -- color) JAY Box: KATIE vs. JAY |
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