She was the first woman to anchor the evening news, has interviewed everyone who matters and even had a colonoscopy on camera, but is Katie Couric’s most surprising move yet to come? (via Tuned In)
As rumors circulate that Couric will abandon the anchor’s chair at CBS Evening News — which have been neither confirmed nor denied — the Internet is abuzz with speculation on what ventures the groundbreaking journalist will pursue next.
Speaking in an exclusive interview published in the New York Times Magazine on Sunday, Couric claims she has few regrets about the path she’s taken, and hints that the possibility of hosting a syndicated talk show could become a reality.
(More on TIME.com: See inside Katie Couric’s rumors and what they mean for CBS)
But before you start imagining Couric dancing around like Ellen or offering Oprah-style life advice, take note: For more than 30 years, Couric has been lauded as a respected reporter and intelligent newscaster, with true journalistic chops.
Case in point: In 1992, when Couric was an anchor for Today, she ambushed President George H.W. Bush at the White House, by gently coaxing him into a 19-minute, unscheduled interview about Iran and his attacks on challenger Bill Clinton, even after NBC was earlier denied an interview. And don’t forget about her decisive tête à tête with Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign, which is often considered the most impactful interview of the election.
(More on TIME.com: See Katie Couric in the 2010 TIME 100)
Yet despite her “gravitas” — a term she was once told she did not possess — Couric’s also not afraid to let loose. While it’s been reported that Couric feels stifled in her role as a buttoned-up evening anchor, she often reveals her lightheartedness online, whether through investigating the sillies on FunnyOrDie or by posting candid-camera videos on her YouTube channel, all of which remind viewers why she became so popular in the first place.
As for a Katie Couric talk show, she tells the Times that she hopes it would be an outlet for “smart conversation.” We have no doubt about that. But if it happens, NewsFeed would also like to see more of Katie’s spirited side — and maybe some of this awkward dancing.
(More on TIME.com: Place your vote for the 2011 TIME 100)