When Katie Couric took maternity leave during her time on the Today show, her cohost Bryant Gumbel wasn’t exactly thrilled with the arrangement. In a recent appearance on Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast, the 67-year-old journalist shared how Bryant gave her a hard time about stepping away from the show for her family. “He got mad at me because I was doing something on maternity leave and he was giving me endless s— for taking a month or two off,” Katie recalled.
Recalling the Tension During Her Leave
Katie explained the situation further, painting a vivid picture of Bryant’s attitude during her leave. “I was having my first baby, and he was like, ‘Why don’t you just drop it in the field and come back?’ or something like that,” she said with a laugh. While Bryant was teasing her, Katie noted that there was an underlying tone of sexism in his comments. “He was kidding, but he was goofing on me and giving me a lot of s—. It was emblematic of a sort of incredibly sexist attitude,” she added. Clearly, the dynamic between the two was complex, blending humor with deeper workplace tensions.
A Look Back at Katie’s Family Life
Katie gave birth to her first child, daughter Ellie, with her late husband Jay Monahan in 1991. That same year, she became the full-time cohost of Today alongside Bryant, who was 75 at the time. The couple welcomed their second daughter, Carrie, in 1996. Tragically, Jay passed away from colon cancer in 1998. Despite the challenges, Katie continued to balance her career and family life, proving herself to be a resilient and dedicated professional.
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Bill Maher Weighs In on Bryant’s Personality
Bill Maher, who described Bryant as a “guy’s guy,” echoed the sentiment that Bryant was very much a traditional figure in the media world. Katie agreed, acknowledging Bryant’s prickly nature but also celebrating his undeniable talent. “He is a guy’s guy, you got that right. He is,” she said. “But let’s not forget what a talent he is. He’s such a seamless broadcaster, so eloquent. When that countdown would happen, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, he would just hit it perfect.” Clearly, despite their differences, Katie had immense respect for Bryant’s professional abilities.
A Journey Through Katie’s Career
Bryant began his tenure as cohost of Today alongside Jane Pauley in 1982. When Jane left in 1989, she was replaced by Deborah Norville. Katie joined the show as the news anchor and quickly became a fan favorite, eventually earning the cohost seat in 1991. She and Bryant worked together until 1997, when he moved on to CBS and was succeeded by Matt Lauer, who was then the show’s news anchor. Katie herself left Today in 2006 to become the first female anchor for CBS Evening News, a role she held until 2011. She later ventured into daytime television with her show Katie, though it only ran for two seasons between 2012 and 2014.
Katie Becomes a First-Time Grandmother
In March, Katie became a first-time grandmother when her daughter Ellie, married to Mark Dobrosky, welcomed their first child. She took to Instagram to share the joyous news, posting a series of photos that included one of her holding the newborn. “John Albert Dobrosky was born on his due date, Saturday, March 23rd at 8:23 am, just shy of seven pounds. He will be called Jay in honor of his maternal grandfather. Albert is after Mark’s paternal grandfather. Mom and Dad (Ellie and Mark) are over the moon (it was a full moon). I am thrilled to have my first grandchild,” she wrote in the caption. The milestone marked yet another chapter in Katie’s life, filled with love and family.
