Katie Couric has extended an invitation to Sarah Palin for the former Vice Presidential candidate to appear on her new TV talk show syndicated by ABC Studios, “Katie.”
The veteran journalist, who is heading to daytime with the live chat show this fall, confirmed to reporters at the Television Critics Association summer tour in Beverly Hills that she had “not yet” received a response.
Couric’s interview during the 2008 election season, where she asked Palin about which newspapers she read, made headlines and was later parodied on “Saturday Night Live” and replicated on HBO’s “Game Change” earlier this year.
Couric also confirmed on Thursday that she has asked this year’s presidential candidates to appear on her new show.
Beyond the interest in political figures, Couric plans to add a YOLO portion to her talker (“you only live once”).
Among the bucket list-style things she’d be interested in featuring is an attempt at performing on a Broadway stage, and – if possible – a date with one particular Oscar-winner.
“I’d like to go out with George Clooney, if you can arrange that,” she said with a laugh.
Couric said she hopes to relate to the audience of her show because of the things she’s gone through, referencing losing her husband, Jay Monahan, to cancer in 1998.
She also cited her experience of “having to navigate dating in your 40s and 50s,” and caring for a parent. Couric noted she recently took in her 89-year-old mother following the death of her father.
During the panel session, Couric was also asked for her opinion on the recent Ann Curry “Today” shakeup and she said she expects the veteran journalist to thrive in her new role.
“I wasn’t on the inside of that… so it’s hard for me to pass judgment, but for whatever reason, the sense was it wasn’t clicking, and I think Ann has done an incredible job reporting and travelling around the world and bringing some of these stories, these far-off stories, that aren’t covered quite enough, to the American public. So, I think she’ll go on to do great things,” Couric said. “My heart was breaking for her that morning when she was close to tears… You don’t like to see somebody disappointed. And I think when you have that happen on a public stage it’s very hard to be that person and it’s very hard to watch, but I really am confident that she’ll go on and do great things.”
“Katie,” which has a theme song by Sheryl Crow, premieres September 10.
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