SOT: Anyone have a Katie Couric filter?

musicvid10 wrote on 7/9/2009, 8:10 PM
I mean I am so annoyed!

Making a music video for myself of the memorial service (because I like music videos, ok?) and I am trying to edit out those monotone, nasal, "I'm so disinterested" remarks that she throws in at the most intrusive times.

Since everything she says is on one pitch, I figured I could notch it out along with the overtones, but the enharmonics from bad vowel production are so pervasive as to make it impossible (I'm sure someone will catch the humor in this statement).

She talks while the singers are singing, she talks before the applause dies down, she talks when the brothers are talking, she talks, talks, talks, and the whole time it sounds like she doesn't even want to be there. I thought her original interview with the deceased was bad enough, but I have now lost any interest in seeing or hearing her again, and I truly wish I had recorded the service off anywhere but CBS, not to mention that annoying lower third banner over the whole service.

The service (once it got started) spoke for itself. She sounded like this was the first time she had ever been around African Americans.

There. Got it off my chest.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 7/9/2009, 8:34 PM
I have a tape that my English in-laws made of the Princess Di funeral, but with Dan Rather doing the overtones. His voice was well-modulated but never have I heard such mis-informed idiotic blather.

Like you, I was interested in the tape because it provides a great lead-in to Elton John's memorable performance. I did a lot of restoration (they taped it off the air and there was static), and then dubbed the CD version over the audio on the tape. What I didn't realize until I did this is that the CD version (at least the one that I have) is exactly what he performed. I think they released another version with some additional instrumentation, but I listened closely and the live version is what got released. Remarkable performance, under the circumstance.

As for Katy, well, I think you've said it well.
Laurence wrote on 7/9/2009, 9:01 PM
Have you seen this?:



Kind of improves her IMHO ;-)
ritsmer wrote on 7/10/2009, 5:34 AM
Hi musicvid -

Can your memorial music video bee seen somewhere?
baysidebas wrote on 7/10/2009, 5:48 AM
I've found that the most effective Katie Couric filter on my TV is invoked by the channel changer.
warriorking wrote on 7/10/2009, 6:12 AM
As do most of the viewing public as her ratings show......
musicvid10 wrote on 7/10/2009, 8:07 AM
ritsmer,
Can your memorial music video bee seen somewhere?
I know that a lot of people do this on Youtube and torrent and never have a problem (I see there are already bootleg memorial DVDs for sale on craigslist and eBay), but I'm professionally connected (BMI, ASCAP, former AFM); although those professional organizations do not directly control recordings, the consequences for me would be non-trivial if there was ever a distribution or mechanicals question. So, although it will remain a compilation for personal use, I wish I could share; I still can't watch it without welling up . . .
musicvid10 wrote on 7/10/2009, 8:13 AM
baysidebas,

I was sorely tempted to change channels during the gap at the beginning of the service, but since I was already recording, I wrongly chose not to. CBS used to be my fave, but now all I watch is Dave . . .
musicvid10 wrote on 7/10/2009, 8:50 AM
laurence,

That's a treat! Kind of reinforces my "one-note Katie" theory, although I did hear something resembling a Fourth in there. Kind of like the drones on a set of Scottish bagpipes . . .

Whoever did that video put a lot of work into it and is very talented!
baysidebas wrote on 7/10/2009, 9:00 AM
"but now all I watch is Dave . . ."

No need to despair, that too will pass...
JJKizak wrote on 7/10/2009, 1:06 PM
I changed channels to Mash and Kojak.
JJK
Opampman wrote on 7/10/2009, 4:03 PM
This is weird - my cable system has hundreds of channels but my TV will not tune any network TV. I guess I am really deprived!
Chienworks wrote on 7/10/2009, 6:53 PM
Preface: i didn't watch the memorial service. I wouldn't have if they had paid me. I'm waaaaay disinterested. I've also never seen Katie Couric, not once, not ever. Apparently she's not on any PBS news shows. That being said ...

Are you saying that she actually said "I'm so disinterested" on the air, during the memorial?

And she still has a job?
baysidebas wrote on 7/10/2009, 7:25 PM
How did you ever get so lucky?

And she gets paid in the millions, in the neighborhood of Letterman millions for being an ***hole on the air.
musicvid10 wrote on 7/10/2009, 7:44 PM
Not literally; it was however amply telegraphed through her indifference, flattened vocal affect, insensitive timing, and inane comments.

Example 1: While Diana Ross' and Nelson Mandela's letters were being read aloud, she chose to VO a "reminder" to everyone that he had been charged with inappropriate behavior.

Example 2: After Smokey Robinson's stirring eulogy going back over forty years of their personal and professional relationship, K's only comment was, "They were close, weren't they?"

That part about her still having a job is truly a mystery, though I read that another network's commentator did almost as bad a job.
musicvid10 wrote on 7/10/2009, 7:49 PM
At least Letterman didn't make his living telling MJ jokes nightly, as one other recently-retired late night host did . . .
But then, the Palin daughters' thing was equally distasteful, IMO.
jazzmaster wrote on 7/10/2009, 9:04 PM
I LOVE Katie Couric. I think she's GREAT!