It’s (sorta) official: Ann Curry‘s Todays are numbered.

NBC is readying a plan to replace Matt Lauer’s embattled co-host just one year after she succeeded Meredith Viera, according to the New York Times.

The news comes as the Today show attempts to reclaim its long-held perch as TV’s most-watched morning program. This Spring, Good Morning America ended Today‘s 16-year-long winning streak. Many have blamed the ratings erosion on Curry’s lack of chemistry with Lauer.

One option being discussed, per the Times, involves Curry segueing into a foreign correspondent role — something many consider to be her strength.

Today’s Savannah Guthrie is considered the odds-on favorite to replace Curry.

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/nbc-prepares-to-replace-ann-curry-on-today/?smid=tw-share

It’s (sorta) official: Ann Curry‘s Todays are numbered.

NBC is readying a plan to replace Matt Lauer’s embattled co-host just one year after she succeeded Meredith Viera, according to the New York Times.

The news comes as the Today show attempts to reclaim its long-held perch as TV’s most-watched morning program. This Spring, Good Morning America ended Today‘s 16-year-long winning streak. Many have blamed the ratings erosion on Curry’s lack of chemistry with Lauer.

One option being discussed, per the Times, involves Curry segueing into a foreign correspondent role — something many consider to be her strength.

Today’s Savannah Guthrie is considered the odds-on favorite to replace Curry.

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/nbc-prepares-to-replace-ann-curry-on-today/?smid=tw-share
This whole thing is kind starting to turn into a Soap opera...

The New York Times usually get theses types of things right and are usually never wrong with this type of stuff... so Good Bye Ann! and see you around! Hello and Good Morning Savannah... Or Welcome Back Meredith!?!?!!! Good to see you again!

I heard that they may bring(Lure) back Meredith to the show in a short-Term Contract to restore ratings and Stability.

Bring back Meredith Short Time(6 Months or so Contract trough the election)! Restore ratings, Build up Savannah News Experience even more, Make her even Stronger news person then before then at the end of Meredith 6 Months Run and ratings riding high bring in savannah to be Permanent Co-Host! Next month Meredith will be n The today show every single Morning for Two weeks(12 Days total) She did the Jubilee last week with Matt and it was as if she never left, She has been showing u on The Today show and quite a bit lately and Ann ahs been gone a lot.

Make Ann a Foreign correspondent, s?he is at her best when she is on lactation and during Hard news reporting/Interviews in Disaster, War Zones zones, Humanitarian crisis area etc.

I would be Perfectly Fine/Happy if they replaced Ann with Savannah form the get Go! I like Savannah and I think she does a good Job. She has better Chemistry with Matt, Al and Natalie. The Energy always goes up when Ann s gone and Savannah is filling in.

Although I have been also noticing some tension between Savannah and Natalie lately over the last couple months. She seem to be getting pushed to the back lately by savannah. After Amy Robach left I would not be surprise if Natalie get fed up and derides to jump to another Network!

Why didn't Curry (http://entertainment.time.com/2012/06/21/why-didnt-morning-tv-love-ann-curry/) succeed as "Today" co-host?

WOW. I like the idea of bringing Meredith back short-term (until November, that is). That would be more than enough time to get the replacement ready. This thing IS like a soap opera!! :eek:

I bet what goes on at TODAY when the cameras are off - THAT'S the stuff the viewers would actually be entertained by!! :eek: :crazy:

I like the Meredith idea too. This whole thing is crazy...First it was speculation about Matt, and now Ann. :crazy:

The last couple mornings on TODAY Show(Thursday and this Morning) has been Tense between the anchors.

I have been noticing Tension between some of the Anchors for Months now especially between Natalie and Savannah!!! But on Thursday morning and this morning it was a pretty tense feeling Atmosphere on the sets/Studio, I got a pretty tense vibe from Ann toward Savannah(most of the time Ann always interview Savannah about whatever case is going on for Legal Analysis or whatever Major case is going on like Sandusky but this Morning it Matt was who was talking with Savannah about the Sandusky Case and NOT ANN a day after all this started... It's make you wonder) This whole thing is starting to turn into another Jane Pauley-Deborah Norville controversity. The Only peoples who seem happy this morning were Katihe Lee and Hoda. But everything this morning on the sets and the energy and the tension between most of the anchors was kind of Tense. It was pretty muchh tension Filled Show! This Morning Matt, Al, Natalie and Ann were on the couch talking and kind of joking a little bit and then Ann jump and make a comments and they all suddenly stop laughing and kind of look at like... huh like they were confused or something?

I thought Al was friends with Ann and that they were close? for some reason lately I have been noticing that he seems a little annoyed by her.

Deep down you have to feel a little sorry for Ann,

It’s (sorta) official: Ann Curry‘s Todays are numbered.

NBC is readying a plan to replace Matt Lauer’s embattled co-host just one year after she succeeded Meredith Viera, according to the New York Times.

The news comes as the Today show attempts to reclaim its long-held perch as TV’s most-watched morning program. This Spring, Good Morning America ended Today‘s 16-year-long winning streak. Many have blamed the ratings erosion on Curry’s lack of chemistry with Lauer.

One option being discussed, per the Times, involves Curry segueing into a foreign correspondent role — something many consider to be her strength.

Today’s Savannah Guthrie is considered the odds-on favorite to replace Curry.

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/nbc-prepares-to-replace-ann-curry-on-today/?smid=tw-share



They are getting your girl Brian?-lol NBC is just plain wrong

I like the Meredith idea too. This whole thing is crazy...First it was speculation about Matt, and now Ann. :crazy:
Meredith has been doing things for various NBC News ventures. I know she left TODAY to spend more time with her husband (who has MS), so I do wonder if even a short-term return to the show would work. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!!

I found today that NBC still has to pay Ann Curry $10 million dollars for the next 3 years

I found today that NBC still has to pay Ann Curry $10 million dollars for the next 3 years
Not a bad consolation prize!!!! :lol:

Not a bad consolation prize!!!! :lol:



Not at all. Can't believe she is being blamed for the ratings

Ann Curry is set to Announce her Departure from 'TODAY' Tomorrow Morning on The TODAY Show, Tomorrow Could also be her last Day on the show!

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/curry-set-to-announce-departure-from-today/


June 27, 2012, 6:37 PM2 Comments
Curry Set to Announce Departure From ‘Today’
By BRIAN STELTER

Ann Curry is likely to announce her departure from NBC’s “Today” show on television on Thursday morning, people with close ties to the network said on Wednesday evening.

The announcement would cap weeks of private negotiations between Ms. Curry and NBC officials, who have been trying to ease her out of the “Today” show co-host chair that she has held for a year.

This week, NBC officials began negotiations with Savannah Guthrie, Ms. Curry’s expected successor on the show. But Ms. Guthrie will most likely not be mentioned when Ms. Curry informs viewers about her intentions to leave “Today.”

The announcement plans are subject to change up until Thursday morning, according to the people close to the network, who insisted on anonymity to describe internal deliberations. It is unknown whether Thursday will also be Ms. Curry’s last day as co-host.

NBC has not commented on Ms. Curry’s status at the show since last week, when The New York Times reported that the network had offered her a new job within the news division. The offer was made after senior NBC executives concluded that they had miscast Ms. Curry as the co-host of “Today” alongside Matt Lauer, who has held the job for more than 15 years. In April, Mr. Lauer renewed his contract at the network.

Ms. Curry rebuffed the offer at first, according to several people with knowledge of the negotiations, but in recent days she has come to accept it.

Ms. Curry’s lawyer, Robert Barnett, did not respond to a request for comment about the announcement plans. A spokesman for NBC declined to comment.

The transition is exceedingly sensitive because “Today” is a profit center for NBC, responsible for nearly $500 million in advertising revenue a year, according to the research firm Kantar Media. Despite pressure from ABC’s “Good Morning America,” it remains rated No. 1 on most days.

Last Thursday, the morning after the negotiations were reported, “Today” out-rated “Good Morning America” by about half a million viewers, its best margin in two weeks. People at both networks attributed this to curiosity about whether Ms. Curry would come into work — and she did, and she continued to do so through Wednesday. Ms. Curry and Mr. Lauer have made no mention of her expected exit on the show.

For several days now, NBC officials have been eying Thursday for an announcement by Ms. Curry, in part because she is scheduled to have Friday off. The officials are eager to make the change at “Today” before the Summer Olympics, which will be broadcast by NBC beginning in late July.

On Wednesday, when the network held a news conference to promote its Olympics coverage, the NBCUniversal chief executive, Stephen B. Burke, said he viewed the games as a chance “to revitalize the ‘Today’ show.” Jim Bell, the executive producer of both “Today” and the Olympics coverage, declined to comment on the transition plans at the news conference.

The network may wait until early July to publicly identify Ms. Guthrie as Ms. Curry’s successor in the chair next to Mr. Lauer. Ms. Guthrie is now the co-host of the 9 a.m. hour of “Today” and the chief legal correspondent for the news division.

The people with close ties to NBC said that Tamron Hall, an MSNBC anchor and frequent fill-in host on “Today,” was the leading contender to replace Ms. Guthrie at 9 a.m.
-



http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-27/ann-curry-plans-today-show-exit-new-york-times-reports

Ann Curry Plans ‘Today’ Show Exit, New York Times Reports
By Alex Sherman on June 27, 2012 Tweet Facebook LinkedIn Google Plus 0 Comments
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Ann Curry will leave as co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, the New York Times reported. The shakeup follow ratings gains by ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Curry, 55, will announce her departure as Matt Lauer’s co- host on tomorrow’s show, the newspaper said, citing unidentified people with close ties to the network. Savannah Guthrie, a 9 a.m. co-host, is negotiating with the Comcast Corp.-owned network to replace Curry in July, the Times said.

The switch is aimed at protecting NBC’s lead in viewers after “Good Morning America” topped “Today” in weekly Nielsen audience ratings in April for the first time in 16 years. NBC’s weekday morning show has trailed “GMA” on several other occasions over the past two months.

Robert Barnett, Curry’s attorney, declined to discuss his client’s status when reached by Bloomberg News. NBC officials didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Curry spent 14 years as news anchor of “Today” before succeeding Meredith Vieira as co-host last year. Guthrie, 40, is a co-host of the third hour of “Today,” and is NBC’s chief legal correspondent.

The NBC broadcast network generated (CMCSA) $1.85 billion of revenue in the first quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Today” brings in almost $500 million in annual advertising revenue, the Times reported today.

Comcast, based in Philadelphia, is the largest U.S. cable TV service and holds a controlling stake in NBC Universal, which includes the NBC network, Universal Pictures film studio, theme parks and cable channels E!, USA and MSNBC.

Curry anchored “Dateline NBC” from May 2005 until September 2011, according to her “Today” website biography. She joined NBC News in August 1990 as a Chicago-based correspondent.

Comcast rose 1.5 percent to $31.04 at the close in New York. The shares have climbed 31 percent so far this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Sherman in New York at asherman6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net; Nick Turner at

The TV business is a "dirty business" :lol:


NBC is just wrong

WOW.

I sort of hesitate to put this out there -- but I can't help but get a feeling that Ann's treatment may have some ageism involved. The networks do seem to gravitate toward younger women for shows like these. Of course, women like Kathy Lee Gifford prove that there are exceptions.

I do think that Ann still looks great, but is it just a coincidence that we're not seeing too many women in their mid-50s and up? Joan Lunden was gone from GMA before she reached 50. Jane Pauley had not yet turned 40 when she left Today, though in that case apparently under her own desire.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Ann Last Day on 'TODAY Show' is today(Thursday) USA TODAY Had an exclusive itnerivew with Ann Curry, she confirmed everything in fact she really is leaving.... and Thursday(Today) is her last day!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2012-06-28/ann-curry-today-show-exit-exclusive/55878612/1?csp=fblife

'Today' co-host Ann Curry will bid farewell today
By Susan Page, USA TODAY Updated 19m ago
Ann Curry's voice chokes when she talks about saying goodbye this morning on NBC's Today show, years earlier than she had hoped.

"In journalism school, you never take a class on what to do when you're the focus of the story," Ann Curry says of recent buzz surrounding her 'Today' show departure.
Enlarge
By Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images
"In journalism school, you never take a class on what to do when you're the focus of the story," Ann Curry says of recent buzz surrounding her 'Today' show departure.
Sponsored Links
It's "going to be a bit of a tough day," she told USA TODAY in a 40-minute phone interview Wednesday, sounding as though she were fighting back tears. "I'm going to have to tell our viewers. That's what makes me more emotional than anything. I don't want to leave them. I love them. And I will really miss them."
After a year as co-host, and days of fevered speculation about her future, Curry steps down today from the high-profile post held in the past by the likes of Jane Pauley and Katie Couric.
MORE: NBC has lost its big lead in morning ratings
PHOTOS: A look back at Ann Curry's career at NBC
Instead, Curry's new multiyear contract with NBC has her leading a seven-person unit with a ticket to cover the world's biggest stories, from the civil uprising in Syria to the plight of the poor in America. She'll produce network specials and pieces for NBC Nightly News, Dateline, Rock Center— and Today— and she'll occasionally fill in as anchor on Nightly News and elsewhere.
While she describes her new job as one that any journalist would crave, she makes no secret that the very public process that pushed her out of the co-host chair amid rumor-fed headlines has left wounds.
"I don't know who has been behind the leaks, but no question they've hurt deeply," she says. She admits she would have liked more time to work things out as co-host, and she bristles a bit at the suggestion that she lacked "chemistry" with co-host Matt Lauer.
"You know, Matt and I have had great on-air chemistry for 14 years, been part of the No. 1 winning team for a history-making number of years," she says. "That said, I just finished my freshman year as co-host. In every single co-host's first year, there have been kinks to be worked out, and perhaps I deserve as much blame for that as anyone."
Does she think she was given enough time to work out those kinks? "No, I do not," she says flatly.
Would she have liked more time? "Oh, sure I would have," she says.
Curry rejects the notion she's responsible for the ratings slip that threatens Today's long dominance on morning TV, though last week New York Times writer Mike Hale wrote an article examining the idea it was "Ms. Curry's fault" because of a perceived lack of warmth and ease.
ABC's Good Morning America broke NBC's 16-year winning streak in April and has taken three additional weeks since then.
"I know I am not to blame for the ratings worries," Curry says. "And my bosses have said to me there are many factors involved. There is no doubt that the rating wars have become meaner and less focused on our responsibilities as journalists," though she says some at Today do "brilliant work."
"And the show is still No. 1 in terms of ratings," she quickly adds.
NBC News president Steve Capus makes a similar point in a separate interview.
"We had a many-year run in first place in total viewers, and it got snapped, but since then, every week in the past month we've started a new streak," he says. "This isn't about streaks; it's about consistent performance, and we want to continue to build the Today Show."
Still, there's no question a decline over the past year in ratings for Today— a huge profit center for the network — put in motion the changes that Curry is set to announce on the air this morning.
"There's nobody complacent around here," Capus says. "We're aggressive and we're going to continue to evolve the broadcast, and this is one of the moves, but it's not the only move in response to all of that." He declined to describe what other changes are ahead, including who will take Curry's place and when.
'Steve sat me down …'
Curry, 55, says she was prepared to leave NBC, the network she joined more than two decades ago as a Chicago-based correspondent. "I walked into his office expecting to say goodbye," she says of Capus, describing herself as "deeply sad" about the turn of events. "Steve sat me down and told me I'm not done, and he convinced me there is far more to do." He offered to create a unit for her that would do the sort of reporting she likes best.
She will have a big title —Today show anchor-at-large and NBC News national/international correspondent — and a contract negotiated on her behalf by lawyer Robert Barnett that she says lasts "a significant amount of time," more than just a few years.
She declines to discuss her salary but says reports of $10 million or $20 million a year are wrong. "I can say that I'd love to earn that much," she says.
Asked for examples of the kinds of stories she'll pursue, her enthusiasm sparks.
"I would be trying to give voice to the citizens of Syria," she says. "I would be trying to understand and report what the women in Egypt are thinking and worrying about after the elections there. I would be spending time with the new poor in America, trying to understand how families will be making that shift with the economy we're facing."
Over the past year, she says, she has been frustrated by limits on her ability to travel and report such stories. She has made two major trips in that time: one to Sudan and the other to Somalia.
Capus calls the new job a better fit for Curry. But she is reluctant to endorse that idea: "I have called the co-host job at the Today Show my dream job, and I would be lying if I said it was easy to leave that job."
Even so, "in my secret heart of hearts, I see this as a thrilling opportunity. To have a ticket to every big story in the world — no small matter." She adds that she is "trying not to say it too loudly, because it's almost like the dream you didn't ever allow yourself to have because of the reality of network television today.
"My father used to say, 'Well, Ann, maybe the best thing you'll ever do, you haven't even thought of yet.' And as I think about this, maybe that time is now."
First, she will take some time off, report from the Olympics in London and finish some stories already in the works. Then, she'll find out if it's possible for her to sleep past the 3:30 a.m. alarm she has set since she became Today's news anchor in 1997.
Becoming the story
In recent days, she has had reporters calling her husband and paparazzi camped outside their home. "In journalism school, you never take a class on what to do when you're the focus of the story," she says with a sigh.
In recent days, too, she has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support on the Web and Twitter and at NBC, even as news reports dissected her tenure as co-host. That has stung, she says, calling much of the reporting untrue — "whether it comes to how much I'm making or whether I'm (being) paid to leave or whether I'm hated by my colleagues when I know I'm not. And I have never felt like a stepsister at the Today Show family, as some have described me. I've always felt close to the people here."
Pressed about her relationship with Lauer, she says: "Well, we've had a terrific relationship for all these years, and he's such a star. Obviously he's considered the golden boy of morning television. He's so good when you sit next to him; it's hard not to be helped by that. He's funny and glib, and he knows how the show works. It's been my honor in this last year to sit next to him."
There was such an influx of crewmembers coming into her office to offer supportive words and hugs that she had to shoo them out so she could do her work.
Her first commitment, she says, is to the viewers. "I come to work every day not wanting to drop the ball on them," she says. "I've tried very hard to be what they need — even in the crazy-colored highlighter-toned dresses I wear that you could probably see from outer space. I've worn them because I know every one of us needs a little brightness in the morning."

IT'S OFFICIAL: Ann Last Day on 'TODAY Show' is today(Thursday) USA TODAY Had an exclusive itnerivew with Ann Curry, she confirmed everything in fact she really is leaving.... and Thursday(Today) is her last day!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2012-06-28/ann-curry-today-show-exit-exclusive/55878612/1?csp=fblife

'Today' co-host Ann Curry will bid farewell today
By Susan Page, USA TODAY Updated 19m ago
Ann Curry's voice chokes when she talks about saying goodbye this morning on NBC's Today show, years earlier than she had hoped.

"In journalism school, you never take a class on what to do when you're the focus of the story," Ann Curry says of recent buzz surrounding her 'Today' show departure.
Enlarge
By Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images
"In journalism school, you never take a class on what to do when you're the focus of the story," Ann Curry says of recent buzz surrounding her 'Today' show departure.
Sponsored Links
It's "going to be a bit of a tough day," she told USA TODAY in a 40-minute phone interview Wednesday, sounding as though she were fighting back tears. "I'm going to have to tell our viewers. That's what makes me more emotional than anything. I don't want to leave them. I love them. And I will really miss them."
After a year as co-host, and days of fevered speculation about her future, Curry steps down today from the high-profile post held in the past by the likes of Jane Pauley and Katie Couric.
MORE: NBC has lost its big lead in morning ratings
PHOTOS: A look back at Ann Curry's career at NBC
Instead, Curry's new multiyear contract with NBC has her leading a seven-person unit with a ticket to cover the world's biggest stories, from the civil uprising in Syria to the plight of the poor in America. She'll produce network specials and pieces for NBC Nightly News, Dateline, Rock Center— and Today— and she'll occasionally fill in as anchor on Nightly News and elsewhere.
While she describes her new job as one that any journalist would crave, she makes no secret that the very public process that pushed her out of the co-host chair amid rumor-fed headlines has left wounds.
"I don't know who has been behind the leaks, but no question they've hurt deeply," she says. She admits she would have liked more time to work things out as co-host, and she bristles a bit at the suggestion that she lacked "chemistry" with co-host Matt Lauer.
"You know, Matt and I have had great on-air chemistry for 14 years, been part of the No. 1 winning team for a history-making number of years," she says. "That said, I just finished my freshman year as co-host. In every single co-host's first year, there have been kinks to be worked out, and perhaps I deserve as much blame for that as anyone."
Does she think she was given enough time to work out those kinks? "No, I do not," she says flatly.
Would she have liked more time? "Oh, sure I would have," she says.
Curry rejects the notion she's responsible for the ratings slip that threatens Today's long dominance on morning TV, though last week New York Times writer Mike Hale wrote an article examining the idea it was "Ms. Curry's fault" because of a perceived lack of warmth and ease.
ABC's Good Morning America broke NBC's 16-year winning streak in April and has taken three additional weeks since then.
"I know I am not to blame for the ratings worries," Curry says. "And my bosses have said to me there are many factors involved. There is no doubt that the rating wars have become meaner and less focused on our responsibilities as journalists," though she says some at Today do "brilliant work."
"And the show is still No. 1 in terms of ratings," she quickly adds.
NBC News president Steve Capus makes a similar point in a separate interview.
"We had a many-year run in first place in total viewers, and it got snapped, but since then, every week in the past month we've started a new streak," he says. "This isn't about streaks; it's about consistent performance, and we want to continue to build the Today Show."
Still, there's no question a decline over the past year in ratings for Today— a huge profit center for the network — put in motion the changes that Curry is set to announce on the air this morning.
"There's nobody complacent around here," Capus says. "We're aggressive and we're going to continue to evolve the broadcast, and this is one of the moves, but it's not the only move in response to all of that." He declined to describe what other changes are ahead, including who will take Curry's place and when.
'Steve sat me down …'
Curry, 55, says she was prepared to leave NBC, the network she joined more than two decades ago as a Chicago-based correspondent. "I walked into his office expecting to say goodbye," she says of Capus, describing herself as "deeply sad" about the turn of events. "Steve sat me down and told me I'm not done, and he convinced me there is far more to do." He offered to create a unit for her that would do the sort of reporting she likes best.
She will have a big title —Today show anchor-at-large and NBC News national/international correspondent — and a contract negotiated on her behalf by lawyer Robert Barnett that she says lasts "a significant amount of time," more than just a few years.
She declines to discuss her salary but says reports of $10 million or $20 million a year are wrong. "I can say that I'd love to earn that much," she says.
Asked for examples of the kinds of stories she'll pursue, her enthusiasm sparks.
"I would be trying to give voice to the citizens of Syria," she says. "I would be trying to understand and report what the women in Egypt are thinking and worrying about after the elections there. I would be spending time with the new poor in America, trying to understand how families will be making that shift with the economy we're facing."
Over the past year, she says, she has been frustrated by limits on her ability to travel and report such stories. She has made two major trips in that time: one to Sudan and the other to Somalia.
Capus calls the new job a better fit for Curry. But she is reluctant to endorse that idea: "I have called the co-host job at the Today Show my dream job, and I would be lying if I said it was easy to leave that job."
Even so, "in my secret heart of hearts, I see this as a thrilling opportunity. To have a ticket to every big story in the world — no small matter." She adds that she is "trying not to say it too loudly, because it's almost like the dream you didn't ever allow yourself to have because of the reality of network television today.
"My father used to say, 'Well, Ann, maybe the best thing you'll ever do, you haven't even thought of yet.' And as I think about this, maybe that time is now."
First, she will take some time off, report from the Olympics in London and finish some stories already in the works. Then, she'll find out if it's possible for her to sleep past the 3:30 a.m. alarm she has set since she became Today's news anchor in 1997.
Becoming the story
In recent days, she has had reporters calling her husband and paparazzi camped outside their home. "In journalism school, you never take a class on what to do when you're the focus of the story," she says with a sigh.
In recent days, too, she has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support on the Web and Twitter and at NBC, even as news reports dissected her tenure as co-host. That has stung, she says, calling much of the reporting untrue — "whether it comes to how much I'm making or whether I'm (being) paid to leave or whether I'm hated by my colleagues when I know I'm not. And I have never felt like a stepsister at the Today Show family, as some have described me. I've always felt close to the people here."
Pressed about her relationship with Lauer, she says: "Well, we've had a terrific relationship for all these years, and he's such a star. Obviously he's considered the golden boy of morning television. He's so good when you sit next to him; it's hard not to be helped by that. He's funny and glib, and he knows how the show works. It's been my honor in this last year to sit next to him."
There was such an influx of crewmembers coming into her office to offer supportive words and hugs that she had to shoo them out so she could do her work.
Her first commitment, she says, is to the viewers. "I come to work every day not wanting to drop the ball on them," she says. "I've tried very hard to be what they need — even in the crazy-colored highlighter-toned dresses I wear that you could probably see from outer space. I've worn them because I know every one of us needs a little brightness in the morning."



Thanks I will make sure I record it tomorrow

This whole thing has turned into one big soap opera - this could probably be even bigger with longer-lasting ramifications than the Jane Pauley/Deborah Norville debacle from over 2 decades ago.

Personally, I think Ann's true strength is when she is reporting actual news and not the fluff pieces - like what's the latest on Justin Bieber (:rolleyes:). She looked much more at ease when she was at the news desk, and also on Dateline and as a roving correspondant.

I also believe that Matt Lauer has become too holier than thou for his own good. He just comes across as way too smug - like the cat that has just eaten the canary. I read on another board - and I agree - that Ann seemed a lot more comfortable and has a better rapport with Lester Holt, David Gregory, and Willie Geist than she has with Matt.

In fact, I'd take Lester Holt over Matt Lauer AND Brian Williams any day of the week. He is professional and good at reporting the news. He's serious about his job but doesn't take HIMSELF seriously. I like that...a lot.

In any case, I wish Ann nothing but the best with her future endeavors. God bless her and I hope she will be much happier at whatever job she takes on after this.

Watched the clip of AC leaving today and it was brutal. It seems like she really wanted to succeed as anchor after waiting so long for the position. She looked crushed.

NBC is a horrible company. Ann Curry totally got Leno'd. I hope Today sinks to third place (or lower) and that NBC continues its descent to the bottom.

I've also lost all respect I've ever had for Matt Lauer.

NBC is a horrible company. Ann Curry totally got Leno'd. I hope Today sinks to third place (or lower) and that NBC continues its descent to the bottom.

I've also lost all respect I've ever had for Matt Lauer.



What did Matt Lauer do?

When he re-negotiated his contract, he made it clear it was on the condition that Ann Curry would not longer be his co-host.

When he re-negotiated his contract, he made it clear it was on the condition that Ann Curry would not longer be his co-host.


Oh ok so all that was a act on the Today show this morning when he said

"Ann you have the biggest heart in the business"


LOL, dirty business

Just finished watching and Ann was crying her eyes out during her farewell

so sad

For the first time ever I am in tears about Ann leaving! her speech and then that of Matt, Al and Natalie was just so nice and sad(Mixture of both), lot of emotions as well as very very Sad and heart-wrenching to watch! You could tell that she does not want to leave! She waited patiently for 14 Years(On her first day as Newsreader in 1997 she said it was a Dream of a lifetime!) to get the big Seat(Co-Anchor) when she was passed over for Meredith in 2006 she did not hold a grudge or make any fuss and waited happily another 5 years and became good Friends with Meredith. she finally got her dream Job(Remember how happy she was on he first day?) but only to be forced out of the job after a Year when she did not want to leave at all! You might be glad that she gone(I like Ann but I just didn't think she was the right choice for that position!) You do have to feel bad for her deep down inside! really breaks your heart to see her break down like that. She has admitted that she was forced ut and does not want to leave!

Watching Ann this morning Breaking Down like that was just Brutal, Total Heart breaking and Heart-Wrenching! I Could not stop crying She has admitted that they forced her out and that She did not want to leave, You could see the pain this morning, It was Obvious that she did not want to leave. It was one of te saddest tihngs ever and one of the saddest TV Farewell speech as well.

For the first time ever I am in tears about Ann leaving! her speech and then that of Matt, Al and Natalie was just so nice and sad(Mixture of both), lot of emotions as well as very very Sad and heart-wrenching to watch! You could tell that she does not want to leave! She waited patiently for 14 Years(On her first day as Newsreader in 1997 she said it was a Dream of a lifetime!) to get the big Seat(Co-Anchor) when she was passed over for Meredith in 2006 she did not hold a grudge or make any fuss and waited happily another 5 years and became good Friends with Meredith. she finally got her dream Job(Remember how happy she was on he first day?) but only to be forced out of the job after a Year when she did not want to leave at all! You might be glad that she gone(I like Ann but I just didn't think she was the right choice for that position!) You do have to feel bad for her deep down inside! really breaks your heart to see her break down like that. She has admitted that she was forced ut and does not want to leave!

Watching Ann this morning Breaking Down like that was just Brutal, Total Heart breaking and Heart-Wrenching! I Could not stop crying She has admitted that they forced her out and that She did not want to leave, You could see the pain this morning, It was Obvious that she did not want to leave. It was one of te saddest tihngs ever and one of the saddest TV Farewell speech as well.


I know, how often do you see a farewell on TV from someone when it was not their decision to leave. sad

When he re-negotiated his contract, he made it clear it was on the condition that Ann Curry would not longer be his co-host.
Besides, he is just so smug and self-righteous that one feels like throwing things at him. ohno:

NBC is a horrible company. Ann Curry totally got Leno'd. I hope Today sinks to third place (or lower) and that NBC continues its descent to the bottom.

I've also lost all respect I've ever had for Matt Lauer.
For once, an NBC screw-up that cannot be pinned on Jeff Zucker.

I just hope that it's not Hoda or Kathie Lee that replaces Ann, or else I'm never watching the first two hours of Today ever again. However, I do like Natalie Morales and Savannah Guthrie, though. Both of them are great at co-hosting the third hour, and Al Roker's weather segments are actually more entertaining than Matt Lauer's segments. This is what keeps me watching Today (the first three hours, that is) whenever I can.

Ann may have got knocked down, but she'll jump back up swinging.

Savannah Guthrie Officially Named Co-Host of "Today"
Jun 29, 2012
by Sadie Gennis


Savannah Guthrie has been named co-host of "Today", The Hollywood Reporter reports.

Guthrie has long been speculated to replace Ann Curry since news of the co-host's departure broke last week.





Guthrie's promotion came Friday, one day after Curry's tearful farewell. Guthrie, who's filled in for Curry before, co-hosted Friday's episode, but there was no on-air mention of her new position.

Before her promotion, Guthrie was co-host of the 9 a.m. hour with Natalie Morales and Al Roker, a job she will continue to do for the foreseeable future.

In addition to her hosting duties, Guthrie also serves as "Today's" chief legal analyst.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Savannah-Guthrie-Named-Today-Cohost-1049330.aspx

I will laugh if the Today Show shows no improvement after Ann's departure

This whole thing is kind starting to turn into a Soap opera...
http://i50.tinypic.com/10535hu.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2r4pems.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/1gsm7r.jpg

I found today that NBC still has to pay Ann Curry $10 million dollars for the next 3 years
http://i49.tinypic.com/2pskhao.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/vctksz.jpg

I will laugh if the Today Show shows no improvement after Ann's departure
Lots of people will. NBC just made Ann out to be the scapegoat, and it's not fair. The format and the length of the program are the problem - not necessarily Ann.

Who else notice the Tension and Body language between Matt and Ann? Ann wouldn't even/hardly look at Matt! And her body language spoke volume. Then the awkward moment when Matt when into kiss her and she turned her head way. She gave the other two hugs and made eye contact but not Matt. I read that it was very Icy and cold between them and on the sets all week behind the scenes when the camera went off! Ann wouldnt even talk to Matt or look at him at all.

Who else notice the Tension and Body language between Matt and Ann? Ann wouldn't even/hardly look at Matt! And her body language spoke volume. Then the awkward moment when Matt when into kiss her and she turned her head way. She gave the other two hugs and made eye contact but not Matt. I read that it was very Icy and cold between them and on the sets all week behind the scenes when the camera went off! Ann wouldnt even talk to Matt or look at him at all.


I didn't notice that, let me watch now

ok watching now and I noticed

when he touches her and says...."you have the biggest heart in TV" you can clearly see that she did not want him touching her shoulder-lol

She did everything she could not to look directly at him

When Al started talking she was so happy to face him and turn away from Matt:lol:

When Matt goes to kiss her on cheek she lowers her head and he kisses her hair instead:lol:


And yup she never hugs or looks at Matt and only hugs AL and Natalie LOL

Who else notice the Tension and Body language between Matt and Ann? Ann wouldn't even/hardly look at Matt! And her body language spoke volume. Then the awkward moment when Matt when into kiss her and she turned her head way. She gave the other two hugs and made eye contact but not Matt. I read that it was very Icy and cold between them and on the sets all week behind the scenes when the camera went off! Ann wouldnt even talk to Matt or look at him at all.

She didn't turn her head she lowered it which made him kiss her hair instead of her cheek-lol She never faced him directly so she never had to turn her head just lowered it.

She didn't turn her head she lowered it which made him kiss her hair instead of her cheek-lol She never faced him directly so she never had to turn her head just lowered it.
Do you blame her? That guy is just so slimy!!!!!

Do you blame her? That guy is just so slimy!!!!!


Yeah, I am beginning to agree. He is turning out to be the Jay Leno of mornings. lol

Do you blame her? That guy is just so slimy!!!!!

Nope, I was laughing at his expression after he kissed her hair. He didn't like it at ALL:lol:

I never watch The Today Show. Reading this thread makes me wish I had DVR'd it. lol

I never watch The Today Show. Reading this thread makes me wish I had DVR'd it. lol
It's probably up on YouTube or something by now!!

I will be recording the first appearance of the New Co-host on Monday LOL

It's probably up on YouTube or something by now!!
I'll have to go and check it out. lol

I'll have to go and check it out. lol


Sonny it was so damm funny. She quickly lowers her head so his lips can land in her hair instead of her face:lol: I got it for you Sonny below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmPLjYJr3AQ

I can hardly wait for Ann Curry to write a memoir about her time on the Today Show. LOL

SCANDALOUS!!!

Ann is the only 55 year old woman I would take out on a date and didn't care who saw me LOL

She is so damm HOT

Ann is the only 55 year old woman I would take out on a date and didn't care who saw me LOL

She is so damm HOT
We'd never hear the end of you bragging about it!! :lol:

Sonny it was so damm funny. She quickly lowers her head so his lips can land in her hair instead of her face:lol: I got it for you Sonny below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmPLjYJr3AQ
Thanks Sol. lol That was great. lol I also love those youtube comments. Not too many people like Matt Lauer right now. lol

Thanks Sol. lol That was great. lol I also love those youtube comments. Not too many people like Matt Lauer right now. lol


Matt is a hated man right now LOL

I saw it would have been funny if Ann elbowed Matt lol.

I saw it would have been funny if Ann elbowed Matt lol.
Now THAT would be MUST-SEE TV!!! :rofl:

Do you blame her? That guy is just so slimy!!!!!

Now that Savannah Guthrie just got named as the new co-host of the Today Show, the third hour will basically be the same as the first two hours, but without having to put up with Matt Lauer.

Also, I think Natalie Morales and Savannah Guthrie always do a very good job co-hosting the third hour, because even though they joke around from time to time, they at least keep the dignity of the show intact, unlike those fourth hour hosts. Same for Al Roker when he does his weather segments. I think he's totally hilarious, but at least he also keeps the dignity of the show intact as well.

I don't watch the Today Show as often as I used to, but I have always liked and respected Ann Curry: Sincere, hard-working and talented. I wish her the Best. She's too good for that show.

For the second day in a row, I forgot to record the Today show with the new co-host

For the second day in a row, I forgot to record the Today show with the new co-host

Actually, Savannah wasn't on the last two days. Tamron Hall was filling in for her at the news desk, and the lovely Natalie Morales filled in as the female co-host. Also, Willie Geist was filling in for Matt, and Stephanie Abrams was filling in for Al. Apparently, there's not much to miss this week.

Actually, Savannah wasn't on the last two days. Tamron Hall was filling in for her at the news desk, and the lovely Natalie Morales filled in as the female co-host. Also, Willie Geist was filling in for Matt, and Stephanie Abrams was filling in for Al. Apparently, there's not much to miss this week.


I forgot this is a holiday week, so she will start on 7/9

Is she still going to be on Dateline?

That's a shame. I liked her.

And now this comes out:
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2017/3/9/panicked-nbcs-rushed-savannah-guthrie-back-to-the-set

NBC begged Savannah Guthrie to come back to the Today earlier then planned, because they were panicking.

At least that is what Page Six (http://pagesix.com/2017/03/08/panicked-nbc-asked-savannah-guthrie-to-come-back-early/) is reporting.

The gossip page says that Guthrie cut her maternity leave short by four days, and sources say it’s because brass at “Today” were stressing over ratings.

“The show was in a free fall. She initially announced that she’d be returning on March 3, but they were in a panic . . . and called her back early,” an industry insider told Page Six.

Guthrie surprised Matt Lauer on-air last week, days after Lester Holt and Bryant Gumbel filled in as co-hosts.

“Their bro-show didn’t work. They needed Savannah to bail them out, so they rushed her from maternity leave. NBC claimed it was because of the influx of news, but the reality is that the show was down double-digits and they needed her,” the source said.

Guthrie’s return did not produce the numbers to keep competition at bay.

On Tuesday, ABC sent out a press release crowing, “ ‘Good Morning America’ delivers largest total viewer lead over ‘Today’ in 14 months.”

An NBC source was quick to point out that ABC’s win was thanks to the Oscars. “GMA has been down double-digits in the key demo [ages 25 to 54] for months while ‘Today’ has been posting gains. Last week, ABC had the Oscars broadcast, which historically gives ‘GMA’ a huge boost.”

A “Today” rep added it’s “been No. 1 in the key demo for 20 straight months, its best winning streak in more than four years, and its advantages over ‘GMA’ have reached five-year highs.”

The real reason you don't hear from Ann Curry anymore
(http://www.nickiswift.com/98654/real-reason-dont-hear-ann-curry-anymore/)

Ann is a very good newswoman, and without the arrogance of others in her field. I did find her a bit bland for Today. Obviously now we know that Lauer should have been canned instead of Ann.

I never saw the appeal of Matt Lauer; was he considered good-looking? Ann is fairly attractive. I don't want to purport that looks are everything for TV news shows, but let's face it, they're a very big factor. I do miss seeing Ann.

Ann is a very good newswoman, and without the arrogance of others in her field. I did find her a bit bland for Today. Obviously now we know that Lauer should have been canned instead of Ann.

I never saw the appeal of Matt Lauer; was he considered good-looking? Ann is fairly attractive. I don't want to purport that looks are everything for TV news shows, but let's face it, they're a very big factor. I do miss seeing Ann.


You're kidding, right?

Ann Curry: I reported a female NBC News staffer's sexual harassment complaint against Matt Lauer in 2012 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/nbc-news-faces-skepticism-in-remedying-in-house-sexual-harassment/2018/04/26/7fa8a666-4979-11e8-8b5a-3b1697adcc2a_story.html)
When NBC News chairman Andy Lack fired Matt Lauer last November, he said in a statement that it was "the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he's been at NBC News." (http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/29/news/lack-statement-lauer/index.html) Yet Curry -- who has a non-disclosure agreement with NBC -- disclosed to The Washington Post that "a woman approached me and asked me tearfully if I could help her. She was afraid of losing her job. . . . I believed her.” Curry said she reported the accusation to two members of NBC News' management team. “I told management they had a problem and they needed to keep an eye on him and how he deals with women,” she says. The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, confirmed Curry's story. Curry declined to name the two NBC bosses. Additionally, The Post spoke to 12 women who've accused Lauer of sexual harassment, but chose not to report it. "Three of the 12 told The Post about sexual advances from Lauer," The Post's Sarah Ellison reports. "One woman said that the anchor exposed himself in his office and asked her to touch him, and a second said he had sex with her in the middle of the day in his office — alleged incidents that have not been previously reported. A third woman told The Post that Lauer gave her a sex toy, as first reported by Variety at the time he was fired." The Post got Lauer to release a new statement denying that he was "coercive, aggressive or abusive" to female staffers whom he had relationships with. “I have made no public comments on the many false stories from anonymous or biased sources that have been reported about me over these past several months . . . I remained silent in an attempt to protect my family from further embarrassment and to restore a small degree of the privacy they have lost. But defending my family now requires me to speak up," Lauer said. “I fully acknowledge that I acted inappropriately as a husband, father and principal at NBC. However I want to make it perfectly clear that any allegations or reports of coercive, aggressive or abusive actions on my part, at any time, are absolutely false.”

Ann Curry: “I have not participated in any formal investigation by NBC on sexual harassment" (https://twitter.com/koblin/status/994379217449168897)
In reference to Curry's comments to The Washington Post that she reported a colleague's sexual harassment allegation against Lauer (http://forums.previously.tv/topic/3557-matt-lauer-hair-today-gone-tomorrow/?page=2) to NBC management, NBC News said in its internal investigation that “members of NBC News and Today show (http://forums.previously.tv/topic/4855-all-episodes-talk-orange-is-the-new-yuck/?page=34) leadership at the time with whom we spoke denied having any such conversation with Curry.” Asked today about the report, Curry took issue with the characterization, saying in a statement: “I have not participated in any formal investigation by NBC on sexual harassment." Curry did say she received a brief phone call from an NBC lawyer the day before The Post story was published inquiring about her comments. In response, NBC News said it “declined to name the alleged complainant, nor would she identify the person in management to whom she says she raised a concern at the time about Lauer. This is accurately noted in our report.” ALSO: NBC says the retirement of its head of human resources has nothing to do with the Matt Lauer scandal: "Any insinuation of that is completely inaccurate." (https://jezebel.com/nbc-head-of-human-resources-to-resign-amidst-matt-lauer-1825893072)

Matt Lauer, in his first interview since his sexual misconduct scandal, says he feels taken advantage of over his "difficult times" in dispute over his New Zealand ranch (https://www.etonline.com/matt-lauer-calls-himself-an-easy-mark-in-first-interview-since-sexual-misconduct-scandal-106612)
The disgraced former Today host spoke with Radio New Zealand (https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018655011/matt-lauer-i-think-they-see-me-as-an-easy-mark) about a dispute over whether to have his New Zealand ranch opened to allow access to a state park. "I believe the groups that are behind this are in some ways unfortunately taking advantage of some difficult times I've been through over the past six months and I think they see me as an easy mark," Lauer said. "And what they're going to try to do is put this through, which would set a precedent because this has not been done ever before with a pastoral lease holder or property owner without that person's consent."