NEW YORK (AP) — NBC’s “Today” show has been one of the most stable and successful programs in the history of television over the past 15 years. Now it faces the possibility of a major makeover.
Co-host Meredith Vieira, the “newbie” on “Today” with five years in the early-morning anchor chair, is leaning toward leaving when her contract expires in September, according to multiple reports this week. That news was barely digested when an unconfirmed “Entertainment Tonight” story suggested that her partner, Matt Lauer, also may leave when his contract is done in nearly 21 months.
The two anchors have not commented on their futures. “There seems to be an awful lot of speculation on news anchors these days, and it’s not our practice to comment on any of it,” NBC News spokeswoman Megan Kopf said.
As this happens, the “Today” show magic number stands at 798. That’s how many consecutive weeks it has been No. 1 in the morning show ratings — more than 15 years without a loss to ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS’ “The Early Show” or anybody.
It’s a gold mine for NBC, particularly important for the company as the network’s prime-time fortunes collapsed. The program, now four hours long, earned more than a half-billion dollars for NBC News in 2010, more than it ever has.
“A lot of their strength has been that they have had a team together with very strong interpersonal relationships for a long time,” said David Westin, former ABC News president.
The team goes beyond the two main anchors, and it is one comfortable with itself and with viewers. Lauer has been with the show since 1994 and co-anchor since replacing Bryant Gumbel in 1997. Newsreader Ann Curry has been there since 1997. Utility player Al Roker, who forecasts weather, does features and anchors the 9 a.m. hour, joined in 1996.
Many Americans have spent more time with them over morning coffee than with their spouses.
“Today” averages 5.5 million viewers a day this season, compared with 4.7 million at “Good Morning America” and 2.7 million at “The Early Show,” according to the Nielsen Co. ABC has gained in viewers this season, but “Today” just recorded its widest margin of victory in seven years during the first quarter in the demographic it bases ad sales upon.
Transitions are a point of pride at NBC News, which passed the “Nightly News” baton smoothly from Tom Brokaw to Brian Williams. The 2006 exit of Katie Couric, a key component of the show’s success, was a real concern. But top NBC executive Jeff Zucker, who rose to prominence by running the “Today” show, lured Vieira from “The View” as a replacement and she fit in seamlessly.
“If they proved they could replace Katie Couric without a hiccup, they can replace Meredith without a hiccup,” said Shelley Ross, who was “Good Morning America” executive producer from 1999 to 2004 and did the same job at “The Early Show” in 2007-2008.
Vieira, 57, in an interview with Ladies’ Home Journal last fall, said, “I‘ll know when it’s time to go, and I’m not afraid to go.” She has spoken of spending more time with her husband, author Richard M. Cohen, who wrote a best-selling book about coping with multiple sclerosis and colon cancer. She has a less time-consuming second job as host of the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
“Meredith really likes the ‘Today’ show, she likes the people she works with, but it’s a very intrusive way to live,” Cohen said in the same magazine interview. “I think she may be nearing the point when she wants to reassess what she’s doing and what she wants to do, and not get up at 2:30 in the morning.”
Curry seems an obvious replacement. After she wasn’t given the job in 2006, she stayed on at “Today” and reinvented herself as a reporter eager to travel the world for stories. Audience testing has shown she’s consistently popular with viewers, Westin said.
If NBC went elsewhere, there’s a good chance they would have two positions to fill: Human nature suggests someone who’s been at the same job for 15 years and is passed over twice for promotion would want to move on.
Lauer is another issue entirely.
It‘s hard to know what to make of the report he’s poised to leave. Networks have been known to leak stories to nudge action on a contract extension. NBC News often seeks long-term contracts for its valued employees, and quietly locked up Lauer at the same time the world had been focused on Couric’s future.
Agents have also adroitly played the press to increase pressure on a company to raise a salary offer.
Or it could be true: 17 years is a long time to wake up for work in the middle of the night.
Even his rivals concede Lauer is the best at what he does — maybe ever.
“Women want to talk to Matt and men want to talk to Matt,” Ross said. “The only people who have been as all-around talented with a broad range of skill sets are Brokaw, Gumbel and Lauer. That’s it.”
The “Today” show ratings often dip slightly when Lauer is off, something that hasn’t been the case with his female co-anchors, she said.
“Matt is unique in morning television right now,” Westin said.
There are no obvious candidates in line to replace him. Lester Holt anchors the weekend “Today” show. Willie Geist of MSNBC has filled in for Lauer. David Gregory once seemed an heir apparent, but he’s ensconced at “Meet the Press.” There’s a shortage of highly-regarded male anchors in television in general, both at the national and local levels, Westin said.
Don‘t think Lauer and his representatives aren’t aware of all this, and the show’s value to the company. Lauer is only 53, with a young family, and there are limited opportunities elsewhere to get the eight-figure salary he’ll surely command. He could easily be the highest-paid television news figure, if he isn’t already.
There’s a reason morning shows treat personnel changes like family members coming and going; they can be game-changers. Viewers treated NBC’s replacement of Jane Pauley with Deborah Norville on “Today” like a neighbor who kicked out his wife for a younger woman. Fortunately for the show, fans fell in love with Couric. Viewers rejected Lisa McRee and Kevin Newman so swiftly on “Good Morning America” that Charles Gibson had to be called back to the rescue.
Do it poorly, and you could be facing a disaster.
Do it well, and the “Today” gold mine remains open.
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Comments (86)
joedog73
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:44pmWho cares who they put on the air. The whole NBC network is the laughing stock of news outlets. They might as well rename themselves DNBC. The democratic news broadcasting channel. Conservatives and repubs never get a fair shake on that whole network. Maybe they can team up with Couric and have a has-been show called “Yesterday”
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:42pmMaybe they are tired of reading the scripted lies of the left
Report Post »Buddyc
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:10amdream on!
Report Post »CalvinandHobbes
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:38pmGlenn could do it…CNN to FOX and now NBC? Their ratings would certainly improve!
Report Post »wildwood
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:35pmGlenn beck could buy them out and never blink.Who know where he is headed but I am sure it is something good!!!! or he wouldn’t do it!!!!!!
Report Post »Realist4U
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:34pmI hear HuffPo’s looking for a couple of contributors. Don’t pay much, but, allows spewing of any left-tilting view. Sounds like a perfect fit, eh?
Report Post »ConservativeFeminist
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:29pm____________________________________________________________________________________
Whomever they hire will be an improvement of this current group of “Champagne Socialists” who get their talking points directly from Obama’s press office.
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miles from nowhere
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:23pmOh Good! Now we can have Rush Limbaugh do the show.
Report Post »chdorb
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:19pmI do not watch NBC or CBS under any circumstances. I only watch ABC for my local news. If these network‘s journalists cannot behave as journalists I won’t give them my viewing time. There was a time when I believed I could turn to journalists for the truth. That time has passed. If there are any real journalists left at any of those networks, they need to get out now and going to CNN won‘t help because it’s no better.
Report Post »I expect a journalist to give me the facts not some version of their facts.
Untameable-kate
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:13pmI wasn’t able to watch it all since I wanted to retain my lunch. What in the heck are these idiots doing? I am almost ashamed to be a woman when I hear these proabortion loonies speak. They are lying to the morons that are there listening to their hateful speeches. The republicans never said anything about shutting down PP just taking federal funding away. Bunch of riot inciting liars.
Report Post »19hammer61
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 9:07pmI like the way you talk…….it looks like Matt cuts his own hair.
Report Post »dantom
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:07pmThey will be missed like a root canal.
Report Post »Rillobymorning
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:56pmSorry, NBC. I’m a Fox and Friends die-hard. Wouldn’t matter who your anchors are…still can’t trust NBC to report news without bias.
Report Post »Windsong
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:52pmPerhaps these anchors are waking up to the fact that their station doesn‘t report the ’facts’. Perhaps they are beginning to ‘listen’ to the threats of vioence from the ‘unions’. Perhaps they actually began to pay attention to the voter fraud of a State Supreme Court Judge. Perhaps they are beginning to realize that the ‘unions’ are standing with Communists, and are openly threatening to overthrow the government of the United States of America. Perhaps they realize that the world is on fire and no one in this administration is willing to acknowledge it. Perhaps they are beginning to realize that uncle George and Cass, along with a good portion of this administration are having meetings to about how they want to ‘control’ the media. Perhaps they aren’t willing to sell their souls. Perhaps.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:47pmI wouldn’t watch NBC if they hired Glenn Beck which we know WILL NEVER HAPPER….because Glenn had rather eat glass.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:47pmI hear Rosie O‘Donnell isn’t doing much these days…….
Report Post »cruzinbill
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:45pmHurray.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:42pmI have never watched the show……Who are these people and why should I care?
Report Post »CorePatriot
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:35pmba Bye
Report Post »jackeric61
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:29pmTo many fluff pieces about clothes and shoes and food and plastic surgery and michele obamas clothes and models and music and on and on and on…
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:22pmOlbermann and Mika would be a nice morning team. LOL
Report Post »Michael
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:19pmReal early!! At least before I wake up.
Report Post »The Catbird
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:22pmI suspect that if Fox News released “Fox and Friends” to the network affiliates with a similar local cutaway, The Today Show’s long run as number one would be a thing of the past.
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:21pmI can’t watch the Today Show any more. There is less and less substance, and what substance there is gets such a left-leaning treatment that it is nauseating. Replace Meredith with Ann Curry if you like, but that will the biggest mistake yet. Ann is a total train wreck in my opinion. Total waste of time.
Report Post »KEA
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:19pmSo a show that has been around for years is going away and little coverage can be found but Glenns show of only two years moves on and its headline news? Thats the left for you!
Report Post »Michael
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:17pmMakes one wonder if they’ve lost 400 sponsors or maybe they thought Donald was speaking to them when he said, “You’re fired!” (Way too much on the joviality. Grinning and giggling at Mr. Trump like 13 year olds.)
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:07pmthey all make me vomit.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:16pmI don’t care enough to vomit.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:45pmBOOM! Topped, Band19!
Report Post »WireWizard
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:04pmThere’s that word again: Transition
Report Post »bobodu
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 5:02pmI noticed that….what ever happened to kicked down the road like a stray dog?
Report Post »Maybe this is just another example of “voo-doo ratings” like we have seen from Beck.
Showtime
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:03pmThey’re getting OLD!
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:06pmGame over . I hope PMSNBC hosts and hostesses are incorporated into the NBC morning line up .
Report Post »Obama Bin Lying
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:16pmYes now all they need to do is get rid of Lardball Mathews at LSDNBC
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:20pmTheir whole network of liberals and progressives is getting old.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:21pmI only resently stopped watching, I was a long time loyal watcher and went thru al the changes. I stopped watching because of the way they were talking about TEA PARTIERS, I got tired of being “Slapped” in the face that early in the morning.lol. Ann will leave if she doesn’t get the spot. I felt sorry for her last time. Now she has POed so much I would like to see her passed over. I don’t care what happens to any of them. I got so angry I stopped watching NBC at all, and that was my favorite channel
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:25pmSeems I thought NBC was sold to Murdock? Is this where Beck maybe heading? Lets start the rumor mill…. I have not found anything short of my local station weather to watch on NBC…I cannot even say I watch any of their programming as well. Once big, now a failure and their ratings show it…
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:34pmWonder if they’ll think about hiring Glenn Beck, to improve their ratings?!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:37pmAnn Curry is the least replusive of the group … Al is okay most of the time and then comes out with something stupid ..
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:44pmAnd, I care about this, why???
Anybody that reduces themselves to watching the Today show has issues that need to be addressed. You talk about a tired broadcast, performed by very, very tired anchors with a format only the latest air traffic controllers could relate to.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 2:57pmWho cares
Report Post »These are just more of the liberal MSM shrills.
I once saw an interview with a Army military General and Couic – The sarcasm and venom dripping out of her mouth was palpable. Mr. Lauer is not far behind!
Never watched it again
Dan
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:10pmI think this is a fair question to ask, Who watches that crap?!?!
Dan
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:13pmI wish they were gone yesterday, a bunch of witless morons, communists to the bone – good riddance!
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:35pmMmmmmm – are they, along with Regis, headed over to Oprah’s?
Report Post »ConstitutionalPatriot
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:48pmYes they are and thank the Lord that these tired old socialist’s are coming to an end! I‘m not say’in, I‘m just say’in is all…
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 4:46pm““Today” averages 5.5 million viewers a day this season, compared with 4.7 million at “Good Morning America” and 2.7 million at “The Early Show,”
——————————————————————————————————————————————-
And those on the left have the nerve to balk at Glenn’s 1.9 Million viewers. Compare that 1.9 million for a show that can only be accessed by cable/dish to one that is sent out over “free” air-waves. Glenn’s numbers look pretty good when you take that into consideration.
And it is truly a joke when people like Lawrence (I am a communist) O‘Donnell point the finger at Glenn’s numbers. Especially when O’Donnell gets half the viewers that Glenn does. Not even 1 million people watch O’Donnell. No wonder he is so pissed at Glenn!
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 4:58pmZZZZZZZZZZ, never watched them. Don’t watch a lot of tv.
Report Post »dgboy
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 5:46pmAnd their true colors are showing. The Minions of the Obama administartion.
Report Post »cpacis
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:16amHeard through reliable source that i am not able to disclose, Lauer will is swayed to join Fox News. Hes young and the stablity is better than NBC. With Beck moving on, there is a new payroll awaiting for Lauer, who will all of a sudden become conservative. LOL
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