Katie Couric's Notebook: State of the Union Prom

It started two weeks ago, when Senator Mark Udall, a Democrat from Colorado, moved by the Tucson shooting, urged his colleagues to forgo the tradition of Republicans sitting on one side of the aisle, Democrats on the other at tonight's State of the Union.

What seemed like a symbolic gesture quickly became a scramble - even pairing up frenemies like New York Reps Anthony Weiner and Peter King. Today, Nancy Pelosi rebuffed Eric Cantor because her dance card was already full.

CBSNews.com Special Coverage: State of the Union 2011

At a breakfast this morning, House Speaker John Boehner didn't sound overly smitten with the idea. He has to walk a fine line between party members who consider it a gimmick and those who think it's the cats' pajamas.

There's no doubt these odd couples will make for interesting viewing tonight. But let's hope the gossip of who's with whom won't overshadow the need for all of us to do our homework.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.