As the Couric reviews go to press…

Steve Safran September 5th, 2006

In the old days of the Broadway opening, the cast would go to a nearby bar and wait until the early edition of the newspapers came out so they could read the reviews. Here’s the digital equivalent: Couric Reviews that will be in Wednesday’s papers: At The New York Times Alessandra Stanley writes “The network’s new face handled her first day at the anchor desk — a shinier, lighter one — calmly and competently.” More of a pan comes from Tom Shales at the Washington Post (”The premiere was too jammed with “new features,” as if the producers feared people would give Couric only one night’s chance before they ran away to some other option.”) USA Today’s Robert Blanco didn’t care for Morgan Spurlock or inviting viewer suggestions for a new signoff, otherwise rating the show as a “solid debut.” The San Jose Mercury News gives a favorable writeup, saying Katie Couric showed the “…same self-assured, down-to-earth professionalism that made the former “Today” MVP one of the most successful, people-friendly personalities in morning television.” Meantime, our friends over at Poynter got together to blog their reactions. Check it out. Lots of constructive criticism.