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I hear Disney-ABC has launched a search for top-level producer(s) to take the reins of Katie Couric‘s syndicated daytime talk show. The contingency plan is being put in place as speculation intensifies that Katie executive producer Jeff Zucker would be leaving the freshman talker. I hear talks with potential candidates are under way, and a hire is expected within the next couple of weeks. Zucker has a major financial interest in Katie (some sources indicate he is poised to pocket $8 million from the $20 million guarantee to Couric and him), and is not likely to leave without a succession plan in place. But, having run one of the biggest media companies in the world, NBC Universal, he has been expected to jump back to the executive ranks. He currently has two lieutenants on the show: co-executive producers Michael Bass and Kathy Samuels.
There has been chatter about Zucker being courted for several top jobs, including CEO of Tribune, but attention has focused recently on the vacancy at CNN. With his strong news background, Zucker is considered a leading candidate to succeed CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton when he departs at the end of the year. Such timing would work for providing a smooth transition on Katie, which has a two-year deal with the ABC stations. (There are several other names bandied about for the CNN job including MSNBC head Phil Griffin and usual suspects David Westin, Andrew Heyward and Neal Shapiro).
As for Katie, it has not been a breakout success of the likes of Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray or Ellen, but its ratings have stabilized after an initial slip. Last week, the show continued to lead all freshman talkers in households (1.9/5, up a tenth from the previous week). It also was up a tenth in women 25-54 (1.0/6), a category where Katie has been running neck-and-neck with fellow newbie Steve Harvey. Among all syndicated talk shows, Katie finished No. 5 in household and No. 4 in women 25-54. Katie is very old-skewing. According to a report released last week, it has the highest median age of all syndicated talk shows on TV, 60.2. The show also has been dropping from its lead-in, with its lead-out, local news, also down in a number of markets.
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How does this man keep finding work?
CCN hiring Zucker is a terrific idea. Finally they will be driven into bankruptcy.
Oh yes by all means hire Zucker he ran NBC all right he ran it into the ground and he buried the network in crap. He took NBC from #1 to #4 he was never qualified to run a network. He is personally responsible for NBC losing between two and three billion dollars in profits and yet he walked away with an obscenely rich golden parachute. He personifies failing upward. Compare the shows NBC had before he took over to what he left them with. The worst schedule ever and he stupidly held onto Leno which ruined Conan. Yes sir Jeff Zucker sure is a valuable executive.
OMG, I have never heard the phrase “failing upward’. Love it. I am definitely going to have to steal that because it runs rampant in my “neck of the woods”.
Ha! Everybody was worried for GH with the new timeslot, but it’s ratings have actually gone up with the new timeslot. Even with a great lead-in Katie is still getting lower ratings with much more publicity. I don’t see why ABC isn’t more worried considering Katie costs twice as much per year as it does to produce a soap opera. They’re throwing all this money and getting such mediocre results.
I think the various networks should’ve kept passing on Katie until she accepted a much lower price. The bidding war for her made no sense considering her lack of success at CBS Evening News. I think it was smart of ABC to get her on board, but not for as much money as they shelled out.
Katie is a disaster. Those ratings horrific despite the spin…another Zucker failure,
good, I hope Hatie doesn’t find a new executive producer, her talk show is not what we want, and we will continue the boycott until she is gone….we want our soaps and boycott everything that are replacements….down with Hatie and ABC….
I worked to JZ. Talk about political patronage, he is the model for a private company.
And nbc 2.0 was just a ruse for the sale of the company
I’m clearly not in Katie’s demographic, but she doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, does she? She was great on the Today show because she was part of a TEAM. She bombed at CBS because she clearly wasn’t comfortable. ON this new job, she’s struggling because she’s not able to carry the show as a solo act. She’s part of the razzle-dazzle crowd and has absolutely no connection with common people. Oprah, despite her gazillions and strong social connections, never lost touch with the common person. She became an advocate. Katie has yet to find that voice. She’ll stay with this until she can figure out a Plan D–but she can’t do a solo act. That’s pretty clear.
In terms of Jeff Zucker, oh, writing about him would be 30 seconds of my life that I’d never get back but he and CNN deserve each other.
Hope Zucker lands at CNN. The bar at CNN is so low that even Zucker might raise it.
With luck, Zucker will have his own plexiglass box (cage) on the CNN set so he can watch everything on stage as it happens while being a part of the show…you know, like a stripper in a birdcage swinging gently over the bar.
Rachael Ray? A breakout hit? Really? Has always been a struggling show, kept on by the power of CBS Distribution.
“Research Guy”, Are you blind? Do you not know how to read? It says in this article Katie has a $20 million guarantee. Not only does Rachael NOT have a $20 million guarantee, she doesn’t garner the license fees Katie does.
Smart move. Katie is good at what she does but the show lacked pacing and spark. Anybody that knows ratings understands that a GH lead-in does not provide flow. They watch GH and leave. To say it is a disaster is crazy. Less than expected, sure, but that’s it. Look at ratings relative to other “hit” shows. Close to Ellen and on par with Phil and oz. better than doctors as rachael. Rachael is the show that is a disaster these days.
Zucker is once again jumping ship after he crashes it
Most of you JZ haters are judging him on the Leno stuff. Would he like a mulligan on some of those moves? Maybe. But having worked for him I can tell you Jeff is a terrific leader who made TONS of money for GE while growing NBC Universal to new heights. (certainly enticing Comcast to buy the company). He’ll KILL at CNN.
When Katie guest-hosted for Jay on The Tonight Show (it was a ratings gimmick – Leno hosted The Today Show that same morning) several years back she was a nightmare to work with. Arrogant, smarmy, rude. I feel for her staff. On the other hand, her monologue was funnier than Jay’s, and she didn’t stare creepily at the chests of teenage actresses…
Katie does seem like a sinking ship. I’m sure Jeff Zucker wants out.
But, hate to see what he would do to CNN!
Zucher – Blame him for NBC’s downfall and the Leno/Conan debacle. If he gets another offer, it’s the Peter Principle all over again.
To say a show is rebounding from a 1.8 to 1.9 in the talk show realm is specious indeed. As was quoted in the article, Katie has been losing from the bulk leadin (GH) every week thus far. Bottom line-ABC Domestic isn’t getting the bang they want out of Katie, so they’re looking to save face any way possible. BL #2-this was money that could have been spent on reviving AMC and OLTL-where there would have been a better return on investment.
Katie or any other show will not make it in a soap opera slot.There are too many talk shows and the “reality” trend is getting old fast.The soap opera’s lasted 45 + years and never lost their base.We want to be entertained….not talked at !!!!
I couldn’t agree with you more. ALL shows will fail until they bring back the soaps!!!
PLOP! PLOP! FIZZ! FIZZ!…WON’T WATCH TALK SHOWS…whoEVER IT IS!!!!
Stop the madness ABC/D! We want SOAPS!!!!
I do not know where these ratings for Katie are coming from but fot the last week reported ratings, Katie was 1.7 DOWN from a 1.8. It even says so on ABC’s press release from 10-17-2012. Although Katie may be doing well compared to first year talk shows. She is not in the same league as Dr. Phil who had a 3.0 that week. Many non ABC owned stations, which paid through the nose for Katie are VERY unhappy.
I was so excited to hear Katie was hosting her own talk show and had a lineup of superstars to interview. However, even the best of these stars’ interviews were lackluster and sophomoric. I now see that Katie is good as a news reporter or commentator, but as an interviewer………not so much. What could be fast paced and electrically charged is boring and dry. I am really disappointed and wish Oprah would come back and do interviews like before. I watched and enjoyed her even when I didn’t particulalry like the guest!
Poor Katie………..