MSNBC.com’s Michael Ventre says Katie Couric has facing a tougher premiere than Brian Williams or Charles Gibson did:

“Her debut broadcast alone is being met by a legion of pundits with swords drawn, ready to attack at the slightest hint of weakness. CBS chairman Les Moonves didn’t just want to fill the position, he wanted the Couric hire accompanied by a public-relations tsunami.

But that comes with a price. If a tuft of her hair is out of place on that first night, she’ll be skewered. If she guesses wrong and makes a light moment at an inappropriate time, she’ll be reminded that the Today vibe is best left to morning audiences. If she’s too grim and humorless, she’ll be criticized for that.

It may seem as if she can’t win.”