There are all kinds of cheesy lines I could throw at you to illustrate my point here.
“To be the best, you have to beat the best.”
“It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Feeling as I do about my own reputation, I can only assume women more powerful than I feel the same about theirs. So imagine my surprise when I, like every other American who was watching TV last week, heard the news that the Today Show’s famous former anchor was coming back to morning television with the show’s arch nemesis of ratings, Good Morning America. There sat Katie Couric, next to the always scrumptious George Stephanopoulos, and it just felt wrong.
And as if this act of treason wasn’t bad enough, the Today Show struck back. News of Katie’s week-long GMA stint prompted the Today Show to invite a blast from Katie’s past to join them in fighting in this ratings war. Sarah Palin, studying her newspapers this time, joined the Today Show. Never has there been a bigger slap in the face to a network, and then to an anchor.
The results? One day goes to GMA, the next to Today. The week, overall, boasted overall ratings were higher for Good Morning America for only the second time in 7 years! And while one side of me says, congratulations to GMA, another asks, “Can they really say ‘I got it honest’?” And for Katie Couric, did abandoning those who built your career really benefit you at all? More from the cliche pile, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds (or fed, I suppose) you.”
What do you think, readers? Did Katie commit daytime television sins that can’t be forgiven? Did GMA win because it played dirty? And is Today just as bad for putting Palin up against Katie? Maybe they’re all at fault. But no matter the verdict, they all leave a bad taste in my mouth this week. I don’t think any of them “got it honest” this time around. What do you think?
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
Funny, I missed the whole thing. I thought that working from home I would watch more of the morning shows because I did not have the commute, but honestly I have watched less of it, I get right to work.
But I do also think it is funny that they were playing off each other for the ratings. Hmm, I wonder what the CBS This Morning show did?
Apparently CBS did have Oprah on last week, which it sounds like they hoped would help with ratings. But geez, next to Palin and Couric…Oprah bombed