• Chicago Tribune (free registration required), Thursday, February 9, 2006 10:45 AM

Why is Brian Williams, and not Katie Couric, co-hosting the marathon opening ceremonies of the winter Olympic Games in Turino, Italy?  Good question, as Couric has served as co-host with Bob Costas for the last three Games.  The subject is taken up this week by Phil Rosenthal, the TV critic of the Chicago Tribune. He ascribes the change not to chance or scheduling conflicts, but rather a deliberate effort by NBC to de-emphasize Couric's star power in anticipation of her possible move to CBS later this year. Rosenthal:  "The networks says [Couric] is getting the [opening] night off this time around because 'live anchoring of the ‘Today’ show from Rome, Florence, and Milan' this week kept her from attending rehearsals."  Okay, but Rosenthal isn't buying it. "One could take that at face value," he says. "Another possibility is that NBC would rather give Williams this prime-time exposure because Couric might well leave the network." Anyway, Rosenthal concludes, "Couric should be delighted Williams is filling in for her. Let Mr. Nightly News read the scripted, awards-show-quality banter or strain for an ad lib or whatever it was that led Couric to utter at the opening of the Athens Games in 2004, 'Iraqi athletes have a tortured past--literally.'  Ugh."

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