Gayle King thinks Ukee Washington's name is 'Ukulele'

Despite having a best friend with one of the more offbeat names in the celebrity pantheon, it would appear that "CBS This Morning" cohost and Oprah's gal-pal, Gayle King, has a little trouble pronouncing Eyewitness News anchor Ukee Washington's name correctly.

YouTube user Bill Sickler today uploaded a pair of recent videos showing King and Washington cross-promoting their shows and making small-talk on air, and, indeed, King greets Washington with a hearty "Hello, Ukulele!" After that, there is no mention of the flub aside from a mildly confused look on the Philly anchors' side of things. Gayle does not seem bothered.

As good a name as "Ukulele" could turn out to be, though, it can't beat Ukee's actual full name: Ulysses Samuel Washington III. It is a proud name — noble, and befitting the friendly "Ukee" moniker that the anchor uses to draw in Philly news viewers day after day. It is a name that demands to be respected.

'Ukulele,' however, not so much. Please, Gayle, stop this madness.

UPDATE: According to Joanne Calabria, VP of public affairs for CBS, "Ukulele" is simply King's pet name for Ukee. So, in some ways, "Ukulele" really is his name.

[Philebrity]