Katie Couric Talks Daytime TV Show Format & The Interview She’d Love To Get

Katie Couric couldn’t be happier to be trading nighttime news for daytime chatter.

But as news of her new daytime talk show has finally been confirmed, how does Katie envision her new show taking shape?

“I am going to have a studio audience, which is so fun because I think you just absorb everybody’s energy,” on Monday, following the announcement of her new syndicated talk show, which will debut in September 2012.

While the genre shift is no small undertaking, Katie is thrilled for the challenge – and for the faces that will be looking back at her each day on the set.

“It’s so nice to be able to talk to real people and not necessarily through a camera, but right there. I’m excited about having a studio audience,” she added.

Luckily, Katie has some time to nail down the concept, which she said will “be live for the most part.”

“[It will be] pretty topical, but sometimes it might a single topic show if it’s warranted – other times, there might be a few segments on different issues,” Katie explained. “We’re just starting to think about it and talk about it. I’m sure it’ll go through 100 different iterations by the time we debut.”

Katie’s departure from the “CBS Evening News” anchor chair came just as one of more entertaining news stories of the summer thus far – Anthony Weiner’s photo scandal – broke, and while the story has generated a plethora of segments for evening news hosts and pundits alike, Katie didn’t have a problem sitting this one out.

“I follow the news whether I’m doing it or not, but to be honest with you, it’s been nice to take a breather and kind of to exhale,” the veteran journalist admitted. “I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with my family, with my daughters and to not be sort of tied to the desk every night. I’m actually enjoying it.

“Do I miss it? Not yet. I’m sure after a period of time, I would. But, you know, everyone who works in the business is doing a great job covering these stories so I know that the news is in good hands,” she smiled.

However, there is one former politician currently embroiled in scandal who Katie said she’d love to get the chance to sit down with for an interview – Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“As a news person, which one would you do?” Jay Leno asked Katie during her appearance on Monday’s “The Tonight Show,” referring to whether she’d rather interview Arnold or his soon-to-be-ex-wife Maria Shriver.

“I love Maria, but I’d rather interview Arnold,” Katie revealed. “Because I think that kind of deception and betrayal that continued over so many years — I would love to understand more the emotions and the conflicted feelings that must’ve accompanied that act and that behavior, so I think Arnold.”