Comeback Kid - Today Show's Kathie Lee Gifford Makes Fiftysomething Fabulous
I'm not a morning TV talk show viewer. Usually the canned banter leaves me cold. (I formerly co-hosted a live noontime TV talk show in a mid-market city, so I know all about the scramble to book topical guests, the last-minute cancellations, the inane chitchat during segments that do nothing more than waste everyone's time.)But when I stumbled upon Kathie Lee Gifford back on TV co-hosting the Today show at 10 am with Hoda Kotb, I was stunned. Here's a comeback by a fiftysometing woman who was - by the end of her run on Regis and Kathie Lee - something of a joke. Her stories about her son Cody. Her constant mentions of hubby Frank. Snore.
Maybe I wasn't watching her closely eight years ago when she was on with Regis. Or maybe turning 50 has kicked something loose. But Kathie Lee is irreverent, eminently watchable, a shoot-from-the-hip kind of co-host. And she says stuff I haven't heard other 'let's keep it all sweet and nice" TV personalities say. When she interviewed Heather Armstrong, the sharp-witted, snarky mom blogger behind Dooce.com, Kathie Lee was pleasant, but essentially told her, "I don't think what you're doing is good for your family or your daughter," or something to that effect. In other words, she's a real woman giving her real opinion.
Mediabistro.com has a nifty feature called "So What Do You Do?" in which they interview media types. This week it's Kathie Lee. Worth a read, if you have the time. And if you ever get a chance to turn on the Today show during the 10-11 am hour, and see what Kathie Lee is up to, you'll agree - she's a piece of work.
Photo © Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Comments
What Kathy Lee did was sympathize with Armstrong off camera about being heavily criticized for her own children’s exposure to the public.
Then, when the cameras were rolling she expressed her “doubts” about Armstrong’s chosen profession- and the fact that she posts pictures of her daughter on her blog.
As Armstrong was trying to respond to Kathy Lee’s statement she stopped her and cut to a commercial.
What Kathy Lee did was open Armstrong up to even more criticism than she already gets, which is incomprehensible, irresponsible and hypocritical.
hoda is fabulous but now that you have paired her with the most annoying woman in america (kathy lee) i cannot stomach the show
heres hoping she doesn’t last
Kathie Lee is a breath of fresh air to morning television again, and I’m delighted that she’s back!
Now I’ve had enough. Not only do we have to hear about Kathy Lee’s children…”Cody, Cody, Cody and more Cody”, but today we had to see him and hear from him! Please let her go!!! No one on this planet is more annoying.
When Cody appeared on Today, I had to turn it off. We had years of listening about Kathy Lee’s children, and now we have to look at them as well! What is Jim Bell thinking?
Kathy Mee’s still trying to play an ingenue, what a wreck! She’s Norma Desmond without the once upon a time appeal. She’s a horrendous facade. Today@nbc.com is accepting any email.
Forgot to ditto what a piece of work Kathy Mee is. She’s the biggest pile next to elephant cr%&.