K-K-K-Katie Couric's calling in at 1:30 or 2...

"CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric is scheduled to make her mediaculpa today on the radio with her biggest Twin Cities broadcasting fan, Jason Matheson of FOX 9 and FM107.1

Since calling in to Matheson's radio show in June 2009, Couric has maintained contact with him via Twitter.com. So it was absolutely shocking to hear that while Couric was coming to the metro Saturday to speak at the U's annual alumni gala, she was not going to have any time to even see Matheson. Not even two measly minutes for a photo-op or a hug?

"Just to keep you updated," Matheson wrote in a Friday e-mail, "Lex [AlexisThompson his co-host/ producer] received an e-mail last night... Katie won't do our show, so no meeting her this weekend (smile emoticon). Oh well."

I suspected Matheson was punking me or pulling a Lori B (as in withholding information because he didn't want me near the scene of his limelight). Over the weekend I called Thompson to inquire about his mental health because he seemed so dejected in all the subsequent e-mails and texts. As I sat in Mariucci Arena listening to Couric speak, I futilely scanned the dark room looking for him. Not seeing him I sent a text telling him I was looking at Katie, expecting him to e-mail me where he was sitting. "Have fun :-)" Matheson texted in reply.

For months, I've had a front seat to his tremendous adoration of Couric (anytime there is anything negative in the news about her, he's all "People better leave my Katie alone") so I was empathizing with his sadness and preparing to put a major guilt trip on Katie at the top of Tuesday's column. On Monday, I called to ask if he was prepared to forgive me for ripping into his girl.

"This may have a happy ending," Matheson said in returning the call. "I guess Katie feels really bad. Amelia [Santaniello, WCCO-TV anchor] brought it up to Katie while they were shooting a promo Saturday. So Katie tweeted me on Saturday. I'm so sorry it didn't work out. Can we do something on Monday? A little Minnesota de-brief?"

Matheson would be open to anything from Couric. He would not mind if she said: I'm going to call in to your radio show and breathe softly, unsuggestively, into my telephone and not speak a word. And he would say: OK!!

"Her people just called Alexis on Alexis' cell phone and Katie is doing the show today," said Matheson.

But you wanted to MEET her when she was IN MINNESOTA near her biggest fan in local media, who doesn't even work for CBS? "I know I'll still get to meet her [someday]," he said.

I reminded Matheson that our paths crossed unexpectedly the night he got his first tweet from Couric. "And I will never forget that day or the day she sent me a happy Turkey Day greeting, and Merry Christmas greeting, and then she found out I was sick and sent me a get well greeting," said Matheson.

I asked him why a person would invest all this energy into nurturing a relationship and THEN NOT MAKE TWO MINUTES TO SEE YOU when in town?

"I'm hanging up," said Matheson, "There's a 99.9 percent chance this will come together and I won't let you rain on my Katie Parade."