Watch Meredith Vieira Announce She‘s Leaving NBC’s ‘Today’
- Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:35am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Although it‘s been speculated for some time that Meredith Vieira will be leaving NBC’s “Today” show, it’s never been official. Monday, Vieira ended speculation and announced her departure, which will happen in June. Current newsreader Ann Curry will take her place, while “Today” regular Natalie Morales will take Curry’s role.
Vieira said during the announcement that this is a “difficult day for me,” and almost immediately choked up. According to her, the decision was the result of “months of personal reflection.” Still, the announcement did come with plenty of chuckles, like when Viera started recounting what co-host Matt Lauer told her on her first day and he chimed in, “Get out!” Watch below:
Vieira replaced Katie Couric five years ago, and has talked about wanting more free time. Vieira, 57, has three children and her husband, author Richard M. Cohen, wrote a best-selling book about coping with multiple sclerosis and colon cancer.
“Even as I say this and I know that it’s the right thing, I’m really sad,” she said, fighting back emotion as she made the announcement on the air Monday.
Her co-host, Matt Lauer, said that Vieira “has brought class and dignity and talent and a joy of life to this show for the last five years.”
Transitions are unusual for “Today,” as Vieira was still the newbie among the show’s core four that included Lauer, Curry and Al Roker.
Curry has been with the show since 1997 as the news anchor. Passed over for the top job five years ago when Vieira was chosen, she stuck with the show and carved out a new reputation as a globe-trotting reporter. She was in Pakistan last week following the killing of Osama bin Laden.
“I feel like the high school computer nerd who has just been asked to the prom by the quarterback of the football team,” Curry said.
Natalie Morales, an anchor for the third of the show’s four hours, will become the regular newsreader. “Today” also announced that Savannah Guthrie will become a host of the show’s third hour with Morales and Roker.
“Today” is careful to cultivate the image of family, and made the announcement with the five regulars seated on a couch, tossing off jokes to blunt emotion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (122)
proudfather2
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:43amThat’s funny, their ratings are so bad that for more than 100 people to see it, it was posted on the Blaze.LOL too funny. Well to be honest…..I wish they would all leave!
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:43amVieira is soooooo YESTERDAY! But so is the show she was on!
Report Post »shilde58
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:40amno one cares who leaves or who they are being replaced by…we don’t watch these stations!. At least I don’t!!
Report Post »dvwrld
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:40amFinal Answer?
Report Post »Alvin691
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:36amWho has to step down for others to advance? FCC Diversity Czar
Report Post »arturo
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:33amThese are some of the less obvious media outlets that once with gave us a variety of perspectives. Now they are against conservatives, consistently and at every turn. The more we frequent them, quote them, link them… the more they are relevant. Before this next election it is IMPERATIVE that we band together to boycott these smear campaigners.
Report Post »New York Times – Washington Post – Boston Globe – Meet The Press – Saturday Night Live – NBC Nightly News – USA Today – Yahoo News – MSNBC – Vanity Fair Magazine – The History Channel (that one hurts) HBO – Showtime (those hurt a little too) – Time Magazine – Newsweek Magazine (good riddance)
I don’t believe America can withstand 4 more years of Obama. Think before you support any of them.
dizzyinthedark
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:33amWow, just look at those complicit in helping to bring down America. They did a superb job in showing all those around the world what an awful country we are. You’re all a bunch of whores! You have nothing to be proud of except to those you serve and you have served evil well. May you too sleep restlessly for the rest of your lives! May you be ‘hissed and booed’ everywhere you go!
It is the proud men who on May 1st showed us all we still stand with honor and dignity. Trumped you, you bunch of a couch potatoes!
Report Post »poster
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:26amDid you ever notice that with most news reader “personalities”, it’s always about them. Just leave already. The world will go on without you on the Today show, Meredith. Believe me, we’ll survive.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:18amAnd another derelict bateau drifts slowly out to sea….
Report Post »ed0315
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:17amDifficult day for you? Not for us!
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:16amJust exactly who is she? I never heard of her or her show so I feel neither remorse nor regret at her departure.
Report Post »PeteHDO
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 3:28pmTen-four that.
Report Post »carpediem365
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:14amSo long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good bye! ‘nut said.
Report Post »ofallon
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:12amHow arrogant and self-indulging. They are legends in their own minds.
Report Post »tamara
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:12ammy family is forbidden to watch anything on that network. i have written to them and told them why my family will not be tuning in to anything they have to offer and until they change their hate filled rhetoric then we do not need their form of entertainment and we stick to it. we dont miss anything anyways as they do not offer any good programming
Report Post »WBOB
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:11amyawnfest!
Report Post »jeff.cooper
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:08amOn the horizon for Meredith Vieira:
1. Dancing With The Stars
Report Post »2. Celebrity Survivor: Greenland
3. Saved By The Bell: Grad School
4. The Love Boat 2K12
5. Who Wants To Be A Billionaire: Inflation Sucks.
SMSgtBoomer
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:02amSorry, but don’t have enough time in my busy day to watch tripe like the LSM morning shows.
Report Post »LenJ
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:00amI believe that her husband is disabled and needs constant care. Her resignation has more to do with that, than anything else.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:35amI agree with you. I think that is the reason for leaving. She is a workaholic they say. So it has to be that. He has lived longer than I expected. I used to watch her some and on Pyramid. I had to leave the Today Show because I hated being slapped in the face everyday and being called a “*********”.
Report Post »True2The_Word
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:00amThey can rotate through all the left-bias comentators they want. Their ratings will continue to drop until they start doing REAL unbias reporting. Even then, they would have to gain the trust of the “gun-toting, bible-hugging, America-Loving, Red-Necks (like me) and I don’t think that will ever happen. There will be day when the “Today Show” is yesterday’s news.
Report Post »suttonea76
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:52amIs that your final answer?
She will probably end up on The Apprentice and get fired.
Report Post »Rlynn
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:52amWell . . . I never watch this group, but, their farewell and kudos of each other was certainly gracious and touching. It’s too bad that NBC is just another left-wing drive-by piece of crap in a high pile of pieces of media crap. Thank God for Fox News, where we can, at least, hear the truth.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 1:53pmYou said it best of all.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:48amI guess they have done all the damage they can do, so now it’s time to jump the sinking ship. Way to go FNC. Maybe in a year or two, you can have all these idiots off of the air.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:41amWho cares!
Report Post »smak
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:38amHow could any Blazers comment on this? They don’t watch her.
Report Post »Mannax
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:41amExactly.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:07amWhy would commenters be limitied to things they watch?
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:46am@SMAK
Report Post »Great logic, how can any liberal comment on military action? They never serve.
kris843
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:48amWhy would commentors be limited to things they know nothing about?
Report Post »Caniac Steve
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 11:20amwe too are looking for our 15 mins. of fame…or is that not allowed ?/ don’t really care…but I thought in the name of “fairness” I’d toss this in…LOl have a good day folks…
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 12:46pmRLTW
Report Post »Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:46am
@SMAK
Great logic, how can any liberal comment on military action? They never serve.
_________________________________________
OMG LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:37amDon’t care; and don’t let the door whack your backside lady.
Report Post »bread and circuses
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:43amNobody cares……………….this isn’t news
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:47amSo is she moving on to MSNBC or CNN?
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:50amWhy would Blaze readers even care????? Why? Why? Why? This woman sounded like Mrs. Rogers. Boring.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:51amWhile I agree that this isn’t news, but with all the other has been news anchors jumping ship this year. Sure makes you wonder what’s going on over there. I think all of the news medias are trying to figure out what to do about FNC. It’s so simple that they will not ever be able to figure it out. Just show fair and balanced reporting instead of the crap they are spewing. But they won’t ever figure it out.
Report Post »Arminianism
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:54amMatt said they all feel blessed to have had Meredith on the show. I thought that kind of language was highly offense this crowds like this? He will probably be reprimanded after the show….
Report Post »DIOS BENDIGA AMERICA ... JESUCRISTO ES EL SEÑOR!
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 8:54amYawning
Report Post »rappini
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:28amSmart move on her part NBC is a sinking ship.
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:39amshe SUCKED at that job. ever notice how her gestures are as awkward as Pelosi’s??? she a freakin JOKE of a host…and the dope, anne curry, thats replacing her is just as bad
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:40am..and she’s a stupid liberal BITCH anyway…
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:40amNatalie Morales is HOT…they should give the job to her!!!
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:43amBye bye merideth…I won’t miss you
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:50amhastalavista…baby…lol
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:51amthis ain’t news, puke on them not air time.
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:57am@ Tronin,my thoughts as well
Report Post »JohnSo
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 10:03amDing dong a witch is dead…a witch is dead…a witch is dead…
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 10:12amThe Today Show is passe. It’s the worst kind of media there is. From a news and programming standpoint they are overly liberal and try to act like they are objective. Basically a lie. But at the same time it’s filled with politically correct drivel. I can’t imagine anyone watching this crap.
Report Post »bulletsinthegun
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 10:24amThis is news how? I say don’t let the door hit you where the good lord split you
Report Post »MASTER YODA
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 10:57amOne less liberal cow. Yes, hmmm.
Report Post »Caniac Steve
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 11:17amThat’s true…but still a ‘little’ class here or maybe a “good luck possibly?/ as i too don‘t and haven’t watch in 7-8 years now…or am i asking/or expecting too much for a monday ?
Report Post »101
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 12:43pmShe got canned
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 1:48pmAnyone watch the TODAY show???
Report Post »Gates
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 3:00pmNice nice lady influenced by a liberal bias! It’s too bad that people like her are so easily influenced by the “left”.
Report Post »mill
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 9:03pmIs this the new Blaze version of important news?????
Sorry you missed the target…It’s like Couric leaving to do ..heck I don’t know what, and don’t care.
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on May 10, 2011 at 12:14pmGood Riddance, don’t let the door hit you in the a** on the way out !
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