In case you don't follow morning talk shows, here's what went down over the last couple weeks on <em>The Today Show</em>, culminating with the ever-friendly Al Roker taking a pretty incredible dig at producers and (presumably) host Matt Lauer yesterday.
As you may recall, <em>The Today Show</em>'s ratings have been dropping over the past few months, never seeing the same heights as when Katie Couric and Matt Lauer were hosts. When it was revealed that host Ann Curry was leaving the show, rumors started swirling that Lauer was behind it, blaming her for the ratings slump. Indeed, gossip site <a title="Gossip site reports about Today Show" href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-07-03-matt-lauer-wanted-ann-curry-gone#.UC5pZN2PVod" target="_blank">PerezHilton.com posted</a> that an insider on <em>The Today Show</em> set said that Lauer "is 100% behind Ann leaving."
<blockquote>Ann must have been fully aware of that fact too because we heard the two were so "icy" toward each other that "when the cameras stopped rolling, Ann wouldn't even look at Matt.”
Now the source confirming Lauer's desire to get rid of Curry is saying that "she refused to speak to him all week."</blockquote>
Curry was replaced by Savannah Guthrie, just in time for the show's Olympics coverage. While no one from <em>Today </em>is officially backing up this story, plenty of awkward on-air moments seem to confirm that something definitely went on behind the scenes. Then on yesterday's broadcast, Al Roker made a bitchy joke that implies he's not a fan of what happened to Curry, either.
Roker, Lauer, Guthrie and Tamron Hall were wrapping up an interview with members of the U.S. women's rowing team. The team explained that their tradition when winning was to throw their coxswain into the water. From that, Lauer said how the tradition in New York is to throw her into the Hudson River.
From that Roker said, "Which is different than our tradition, which is you throw one of us under the bus, but that's another story."
Lauer and Guthrie then playfully scolded Roker, but we're betting there was some kind of scolding after the cameras went off.
In other news, Lauer wasn't on this morning's broadcast.
Check out the clip, below.
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Matt Lauer is probably as big a wuss as what he looks and acts like.
The Today show changed from interesting news to ‘too much fluff”. Ann Curry’s leaving was the last straw and I moved to Charlie Rose. Matt Lauer is so “last decade”. Willie Geist is sooo much better. Replace Matt with Willie, bring back Ann, and kill the fluff and I, and others, may come back to Today. But for now, you are toast.
ms curry seemed never able to keep her hands off roker, which some might have found disturbing. lauer is obviosly under the 25 million hammer because he is trying so hard witness today’s performance.tokeep the viewer.
NBC and Today need Ann Curry
Matt Lauer’s self-righteous attitude used to be annoying. Now it is positively GRATING. That idiot actually thinks he’s a “journalist” and doesn’t realize he’s a boob. What annoys me more is the NBC pays that clown $25million. What does THAT say about their business sense?
I’ll watch anything other than the Today show.
I feel the same as you, Kim.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON I STOPPED WATCHING ,WAS MATT LAUER.
I really loved too watch Ann Curry i think it was wrong for them to blame their low ratings on her sometimes people just get tired of watching the same show with the same people over and over. the new Lady Gutrie whatever her name is does not fit the bill like Ann big mistake to replace Ann…
I have a newfound respect for Al Roker. It will be great news if arrogant Matt is ousted!
I have watched the Today show for as long as I can remember. I had even resorted to recording all 4 hours of it everyday on my DVR about 10 years ago when I became disabled, just in case I couldn’t watch it live. However, when Ann Curry was “let go” , NBC lost me as a avid viewer. Someone said than Ann couldn’t look at Matt, well, I couldn’t look at him either. I cannot believe that he would be that vindictive toward her after working with her for all of those years together. Matt can only dream of being the kind of journalist that Ann Curry is. She is passionate about her work and it is reflective in her stories. I think that all of us should unite and make the permanent switch to either GMA or CBS This Morning. That will show Mr. Matt Lauer that he is not the best!
I too was an avid viewer until the Ann Curry departure. For one, I enjoyed her so much, she gave a human touch to a much needed broadcast. And secondly, because Guthrie is HORRIBLE. Her voice grates my nerves, she appears childish and inexperienced, and portrays a cheerleader type of mentality. If NBC cares about their ratings, they’ll pay attention to what their former loyal viewers are saying. Improve the news coverage and quit filling it with Hollywood trash reports and materialistic crap. And eliminate Matt Lauer. While he was great back in the day, he’s lost his edge and after the Anne Curry fiasco, there is no saving him.
I stopped watching the Today Show when Ann Curry left, but I was in an office the other day, and it was on. Matt was “GRILLING” Martha Stewart. Really? Does he keep his journalism chops by making women cry? Monica, poor Christie Brinkley, Martha Stewart? So sad, Matt. Were you ever a gentleman? Was I blinded by your cheap, sarcastic humor? So sad…
NBC hasnt covered the NEWS in quite some time now. It is the “OPINION” now. Be that political or personal,
This was just an example of good old fashioned tribalism or more specifically Jewish tribalism. Not that i care but that is what occurred.
I am shocked by the responses here. Ann Curry was painful to watch. She oozed unprofessionalism and always acted like she was the one being interviewed. Matt Lauer is matter of fact and gets to the story. Ann Curry seemed to think that by lowering her voice and speaking in quite tones, that she appeared compassionate, but it was extremely unprofessional.
I agree with Pam. I loved Ann Curry when she was on the news desk and looked forward to the day when she would move over to the couch. Once she did, it was painful to watch her. She flubbed most interviews and came across as very disconnected while trying to appear compassionate. Some of her comments were embarssing to herself and to the interviewee. I switched morning shows because the entire show became stale but that happened before she left, not after.
I agree wholeheartedly! Ann’s stammering with her questions and using her own life experiences to try and overshadow the interviewee’s experiences made me wince! It was Meredith and Matt with side order’s of Al and Savanah that made the Today show! Bring back Meredith!!!!