ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993                   TAG: 9311060131
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: C11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


THE PEOPLE COLUMN

Katie Couric, co-anchor of NBC's "Today" show, will be the Grand Marshal of the 67th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, festival organizers said Friday.

Couric joined "Today" in July 1990 and was named co-anchor in 1991. Before becoming co-anchor, she served as "Today's" national correspondent, based in Washington, D.C.

In addition to her "Today" duties, Couric co-anchors "Now With Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric," which debuted in August.

Couric, a native of Washington, D.C., graduated with honors from the University of Virginia. She and her husband, John P. Monahan III, live in New York and Washington with their daughter.

\ It seems Madonna is too hot even for Rio De Janeiro, the steamy South American city of carnival.

Two courts ordered restrictions on her risque "Girlie Show," which comes to Rio on Saturday: no Brazilian flag, and no fans under 14.

Rio's Juvenile Court late Thursday raised the age limit for the show from 10 to 14. Refunds were promised to underage fans.

Another court prohibited the pop star from using the Brazilian flag in her show. On Wednesday, Madonna draped herself in the flag for several songs during a performance in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city.

She offended some fans at a recent show in Puerto Rico when she rubbed the island's flag against her crotch.

\ After four years at the top of the charts, Mariah Carey finally gave her first concert. The critics said she's still not ready.

The 23-year-old pop diva performed Wednesday night for 9,400 fans in the 16,000-seat Miami Arena.

"Carey simply isn't ready for big-league venues. She also lacks the stamina, stage presence and most importantly, the song catalog," the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale said.

Carey fared about the same in The Miami Herald: "Her rapport with her band was nonexistent. And as for her rapport with the audience, let's just say she was able to slide by on goodwill.

"Still," the newspaper said, "she had her moments when potential and ability stabbed through brilliantly, like lightning through the clouds."

\ Martin Lee Gore, keyboardist for the alternative rock 'n' roll band Depeche Mode, was jailed for refusing to lower the volume.

Gore, 32, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid a $50 fine after his arrest early Thursday at the Westin Hotel in Denver. Guests had complained that loud music was keeping them awake.



 by CNB