Katie Couric's Notebook: Glee Girls

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

I'm a Gleek.

We watch Glee at my house every week. It's something my 14-year-old daughter will actually do with me these days - and we both marvel at how beautifully the show has tackled difficult subjects like being gay, death, single parenthood, teenage pregnancy, disabilities and faith to name a few.

So I was really surprised to see the two female leads, Lea Michele and Dianna Agron, in GQ, posing provocatively in their underwear, sucking lollipops and sitting spread eagle in a series of, well, raunchy photos.

As Seth Myers might say on Weekend Update, "Really?"

These very adult photos of young women who perform in a family show just seem so un-Glee-like.

The program is already edgy in the right ways. These images don't really, in my humble opinion, fit the Glee gestalt.

I know there are a lot of bigger problems in the world right now, but, still, as Mr. Schuester might say to the club, "I'm really disappointed."

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by phalnop October 24, 2010 8:38 AM EDT: I wonder how many of us would have even seen the GQ pictures if they hadn't been splashed all over the network news. It seems to me that many controversies only become crises because they are deemed "newsworthy". Terry Jones certainly would be a nobody to the muslim world until the media made him a quran burning symbol of american Islamophobia.
So, yes the Glee girls crossed the line for, just as most of Hollywood's actresses eventually do. But it was gleefully repackaged for general public consumption by KC and every other "news" mavin out there.; Reply to this comment


by bonniejane70 October 22, 2010 12:26 PM EDT: I went to alot of trouble to sign in so I could comment.

Good for you Katie, but it should be carried on elsewhere as the sexualizing is everywhere and it is sickening. Now we have gay themes everywhere shoved down our throats. How about Viagara ads during football games. Women are allowing themselves to be portrayed cheaply. The women of the world set the standards.; Reply to this comment


by docbetts October 21, 2010 5:53 PM EDT: Thank you Katie for saying what I was thinking! I think people are missing the point, our young girls love to watch the singing & dancing on the show, these Glee stars have a connection with teens that are watching. I know they are adults but come on, think about all the young girls that are looking up to them. I also watch Glee with my daughter and we discuss some of the racier scenes. We love Glee but I think as the show seems to have more and more of these scenes, we'll have to say goodbye to Glee. I was bummed to see the photos of the Glee girls as I try to raise my daughter to understand she shouldn't show everything like these young girls do today...have some class and self-respect. It's really sad that girls today will do ANYTHING for fame. I think one day these young ladies from Glee will understand when they are trying to raise girls too! The show should have told them no, or better yet, let them go and actually hire some 16 year old actors. Thanks again Katie!; Reply to this comment


by ohiodad October 21, 2010 4:25 PM EDT: Katie, Really? You watch Glee with your 14 year old daughter? How did you explain the episode where the married cheerleading coach hops in the sack with Doogie Howser (can't remember his real name). They both exclaimed they were married, but it didn't matter. Glee is not for high school kids. It is unfortunate that the producers of this show have chosen to such a raunchy path. For the record, I think it is one of the most creative shows on t.v., but I for one have decided to stop watching because it adds no value to my life or my three sons. Additionally, the photos in GQ imply they are underage high school girls (posing in front of school lockers). Completely inappropriate.; Reply to this comment


by ohiodad October 21, 2010 3:46 PM EDT: Katie, Really? You watch Glee with your 14 year old daughter? How did you explain the episode where the married cheerleading coach hops in the sack with Doogie Howser (can't remember his real name). They both exclaimed they were married, but it didn't matter. Glee is not for high school kids. It is unfortunate that the producers of this show have chosen to such a raunchy path. For the record, I think it is one of the most creative shows on t.v., but I for one have decided to stop watching because it adds no value to my life or my three sons. Additionally, the photos in GQ imply they are underage high school girls (posing in front of school lockers). Completely inappropriate.; Reply to this comment


by DrDaveNYC October 21, 2010 12:47 PM EDT: And just to prove my point Katie here's the latest quote from Agron's blog.. "In the land of Madonna, Britney, Miley, Gossip Girl, other public figures and shows that have pushed the envelope and challenged the levels of comfort in their viewers and fans, we are not the first ..."; Reply to this comment


by gomikego42752 October 21, 2010 5:13 AM EDT: Katie is certainly entitled to her right to free speech. I think it's hypocrisy for to get so sanctimonius about adults taking pictures in their underwear; when she was so eager to show America her colon.; Reply to this comment


by DrDaveNYC October 20, 2010 11:37 PM EDT: Please Katie...Give us a break!

Miley is the new Paris as could easily be predicted years ago. Becoming a hooker became mainstream after Dupre cried on 20/20 leaving us with only ONE serious question...What took her so long to finally do Playboy? So mainstream are empowered young "ladies" that NYC art teachers are blogging & bragging (blagging?) about their Craigslist prostitution exploits. Since Madonna & Britney you're on the outs if you're a college girl who doesn't French kiss her girlfriends. What on earth do you expect from this vulgar culture on steroids?

Just think..During Clinton's impeachment hearings 12 year old girls demanded of their mothers to buy them thongs & today going "commando" is mainstream. Back then TV watching kindergarten girls, who's counterparts today are reaching puberty, went into the kitchen asking .. "what is oral sex mommy?'. Today these same girls are grown and have mastered it's art on ivy league campuses. Why just last week Karen Owen's thesis on her adventures with the Duke baseball team went viral.

So please Katie...You work in an industry that sexualizes EVERYTHING. Now that you have a young daughter to worry about you pause and act a little, well, naive. But your industry as a whole is the engine that has been driving this madness...a madness which grows exponentially by the second.; Reply to this comment


by gwatson47 October 20, 2010 11:27 PM EDT: What wrong with actors and actresses that are almost 30 doing photo shoots in a magazine that children and younger teens shouldn't even be reading. Get over yourself, prude.; Reply to this comment