Report: Katie Couric Is Pursuing Syndicated Talk Show; Matt Lauer As Cohost?

In the last week news broke that, after months of speculation, it appeared that Katie Couric would be leaving the anchor desk at CBS’ Evening News. Later in the week, rumors also spread that Matt Lauer would be leaving the anchor desk at TODAY, capping a week that saw lots of movement among television hosts. Bill Carter is now reporting that Couric is “pursuing the idea of her own syndicated talk show, possibly with her former “Today” show co-host, Matt Lauer.”

Writing for the NY Times, Carter reports:

Any such move would be intensely complicated. Mr. Lauer’s contract extends to the end of 2012, while the new show would be expected to start in September. And NBC can be counted on to make perhaps the biggest offer in television news history to keep him at “Today.”

But some people close to the participants conceded the notion had been “thrown around” between the former hosts — and is under serious consideration.

The linchpin in any new show pairing Ms. Couric and Mr. Lauer is Jeff Zucker, who before he was NBC’s chief executive put the two hosts together as executive producer of “Today.” Mr. Zucker had already been expected to be the main creative force behind a talk show with Ms. Couric.

“I think the three of them think it would be awesome to get together again,” one person close to the negotiations said. “It still seems more likely NBC will keep Matt. But it’s not out of the question.”

Even if a reunion with Mr. Lauer does not happen, Ms. Couric is all but certain to commit to the syndicated talk show and leave CBS.

Carter’s lengthy piece primarily focuses on Couric’s “rocky” stint at CBS, and confirms what has already been reported elsewhere many times over — Couric is leaving the anchor chair soon. Read the entire article here.