I have been working on pre-judgement for a long time now. I know myself so well, that I just KNOW I will not like this or that. When I saw the commercials for the impending new talk show Katie, I just KNEW I wasn’t going to like it. I just KNEW I’d never have a reason to want to watch it, never having been a big Katie Couric fan. So, without ever seeing the show, I had already made up my mind that I didn’t like it.
Last week the commercial came on that E.L. James was going to be a guest. Then, J-Lo, and…others that I’d be interested in what they have to say. I found myself tuning in on the premier show. I had a good time. I still wasn’t making any judgements. I watched Friday’s show with J-Lo. Again, I had a good time, but the jury was still out. (The best thing about the show was J-Lo’s diamond studded, red bottomed shoes).
Today I tuned in near the end of the show. The jury’s in. Katie really isn’t funny. She really isn’t exuberant. She’s definitely not getting any points in the style column. (She wears the same version of a sleeveless dress everyday, just in different colors.) She’s not that attractive. She does ask poignant questions, but it’s not a softer version of the news reporter Katie that it was supposed to be. On the plus side, Katie doesn’t shine very much which bodes well for her guests because they are in the spotlight and steal the show without even trying.
I know. Harsh judgement. But it’s my duty as a writer to write from my heart, as it appears to me, and, unfortunately, that’s how it appears to me. I predict the show won’t be renewed next season. Sandwiched between Ellen and The Talk, and opposite Dr. Phil, Katie drew the toughest time slot of daytime tv and I don’t think she has what it takes to go up against the big dogs. I feel kind of bad for her. Not much has worked out for her over the last few years and I think it shows. She appears tired and complacent. That’s it. That’s what’s making my judgement so harsh. The lack of enthusiasm, stolen by hard times past doesn’t leave a lot of passion for her guests.
Passion and enthusiasm are what make our days. When we lose that, we lose a little bit of what makes us, us, but most of all we lose that which makes life fun. I do hope Katie finds hers as the show progresses and I admire her for not giving up – for coming out with yet another try.
And so, as another day goes by, another talk show vies for status, I’m going to give it a few more chances just to be sure I don’t like it, there is such fun in red bottomed shoes, and…I have written.
(Yes, I know the red bottomed shoes are some designer’s signature, but it’s too late to go find his name, and I don’t really care about it anyway – I just like the fun of the red bottoms.)
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