(EW.com) -- "Katie" may be daytime's most colorful show. The greenroom is literally painted a soft mint green. Deep blues adorn the high-tech, mechanized set. Audience members are decked out in numerous brightly hued cardigans. And Monday, the show's stage was bathed by sultry red lights in honor of Couric's guest — Erika Leonard, a.k.a. "Fifty Shades of Grey" author E L James. ("Fifty Shades" hero Christian Grey does his dirtiest deeds in a chamber known as the Red Room of Pain.) The kinky theme didn't stop with that crimson glow. For one day only, the usually demure "Katie" logo was adorned with a pair of handcuffs naughtily looped around the "k."
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'Katie' went kinky for E L James' appearance
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James is not her erotic characters: she is shy and normal
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James has not changed her life for her fame
"It's ridiculous," she said in wonder when asked about the @placeholder phenomenon.