The Incredible Shrinking Katie Couric

NEW YORK (August 30, 2006) — Have you heard about Katie Couric’s new CBS diet?

All you have to do is pose for a picture and photo shop will do the rest. Access takes a closer look at the incredible shrinking Katie.

20 pounds ? gone!

Thanks to digital airbrushing, the incoming “CBS Evening News” anchor appears significantly thinner in a network promotional magazine photo.

The original photo was doctored to appear in Watch magazine, a publication prepared by CBS’ own people.

“The editorial staff of Watch magazine retouched the photo without the knowledge of Katie Couric or CBS News management,” CBS said in a statement.

In true Katie form, she laughed off the incident.

“I preferred the original photo because there is more of me to love,” Katie said.

As Katie gets ready to make her CBS debut in just one week, she sat down with Access Hollywood’s Tim Vincent to talk about her new TV home at CBS on 57th Street in New York.

“I’ve never been here before. This is the first!” Katie told Tim as they approached her new office. “This is where they do ‘The Early Show.’ This used to be enemy territory.”

But not anymore. Katie is now on CBS’ payroll ? to the tune of $15 million a year.

And of course, with a new job comes a new wardrobe.

“Can I talk about your legs for a second?” Tim grinned.

“Yes, if you must,” Couric smiled.

Katie’s tanned and toned legs were always a topic of conversation on the “Today” show, always peeking out from her designer short skirts.

But now at CBS, she is taking a more conservative business-like approach.

“I think we have all come to a point where we can enjoy fashion to a point and try to look nice and have individual style and not have the focal point or distract too much from the matter at hand,” she explained.

And the matter at hand for NBC and CBS seems to be getting even.

When Katie goes to work, NBC has a surprise in store. They strategically placed a billboard featuring her replacment (Meredith Vieira) and her competition (Brian Williams) directly across from CBS’ 57th Street studio.

Perhaps in retaliation, CBS went underground to plaster posters of Couric on the subway walls right under 30 Rockefeller Center ? NBC’s headquarters.

Katie landed an interview with the president for her first broadcast that she will host from a new set, and for the first time, will be broadcast simultaneously live on the Internet.

And while millions will tune in, there are three people Katie is hoping are watching on Tuesday night ? her longtime friends and colleagues Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker.

“I miss everyone their and it’s hard not having them as part of this exciting chapter in my life because we were a part of each others lives for so long,” Katie said.Catch Katie’s debut on CBS on September 5.

For our extended interview with Katie, click here to watch this Access Hollywood video clip!

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