Browsing articles tagged with " Matt Lauer"
Matt Lauer Admits Ann Curry’s Firing Was Not Handled Well, Talks Today’s Show’s Low Ratings
In an interview with the Daily Beast, Matt Lauer finally opened up about The Today Show’s drastic decline in ratings and the scandalous ousting of former co-host Ann Curry.
“It was a hard time for everybody,” Matt said about the negativity the show received. “We were getting kicked around a lot. Some of it was self-inflicted and perhaps deserved.”
“I don’t think the show and the network handled the transition well. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that,” he continued. “It clearly did not help us. We were seen as a family, and we didn’t handle a family matter well.”
Indeed, the show has suffered immensely in the ratings department since Ann Curry was let go and replaced by Savannah Guthrie. Since then, Matt himself has been the target of criticism over his alleged role in Ann’s departure, and the show’s dwindling popularity.
Though Matt has faced much of the backlash, NBC News’ former president Steve Capus is standing up for Matt, saying that the 55-year-old host is paying the price for a decision he was never behind; ‘When Matt was informed that we had made this decision [to fire Ann], his good counsel was to go slow, to take care of Ann, and to do the right things,” Capus explains. “He was quietly and publicly a supporter of Ann’s throughout the entire process. It is unfair that Matt has shouldered an undue amount of blame for a decision he disagreed with.”
For his part, Matt, is taking this experience as an opportunity to grow; “In some ways being No. 2 in the ratings is a real shot in the arm, a kick in the pants. It makes you hungrier … I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have a fire lit under your ass.”
And, while Matt and The Today Show have seen better days, Matt says he and his huge paycheck are going to stay positive; “I’m not going to whine or get depressed. Who’s going to feel sorry for me? Nobody.”
Matt Lauer’s “Freaked Out” By Name Calling Over Ann Curry’s TODAY Firing!
Matt Lauer is getting more than just a huge, $25 million dollar contract for doing the Today show, he’s also getting called names!
According to TMZ, Matt can’t walk down the streets of Manhattan without someone belittling and berating him for getting Ann Curry kicked off the show. A source at the network says he’s “miserable” over what he believes are hateful and unfair tirades. Matt says the harassment is constant, with people screaming things like “You’re a bad guy,”and “You got Ann fired. Does that make you happy?”
I would think the answer would be ‘Yes’ as part of Matt reportedly demanded TODAY fire Ann before renewing his contract.
Another source stated; “It’s driving him crazy. He’s so unhappy.”
Oh well. Poor overpaid Matt may be ”unhappy” but he is under contract with the show, so he can rest assured his bank account will remain intact, even if his reputation is going down the toilet.
TELL US – DOES MATT DESERVE THE NAME CALLING?
Is Ann Curry Moving to CNN to Replace Anderson Cooper?
According to Wednesday’s issue of the New York Post’s Page Six, Ann Curry, may be making a switch over to CNN in the 8 p.m. time slot, (which is currently occupied by Anderson Cooper).
New York Post also reports that if/when Ann takes over this slot Anderson could then transition to a “Christiane Amanpour role” as a globetrotting correspondent – something Cooper has repeatedly excelled at in the past.
Radar Online reports; ‘incoming president of CNN Worldwide Jeff Zucker wants her to join the fledging news network in a high-profile anchor role.’
“Jeff wants a headliner like Rachel Maddow or Bill O’Reilly in prime time,” the source told the NY Post. “He cannot allow the low ratings at CNN to continue…so he can’t hire a nobody. Curry fits that CNN-smarty-pants-foreign-affairs type.”
New York Post also speculates that Ann’s unfair ousting (fueled by Matt Lauer) will boost her appeal; “Package her experience as a news anchor for 14 years at NBC with the sympathy that’s remained out there for her after the way the ‘Today’ show treated her,” the source said.
However, despite all the talk, CNN’s rep said, “There is no shortage of rumors about what Jeff will do. He doesn’t start until late January, and any speculation at this point is just silly.” An NBC rep said, “Ann Curry is under contract with NBC News”
TELL US – WOULD THIS BE A GOOD MOVE FOR ANN’S CAREER?
Jenna Bush Hager is Pregnant! ‘It’s a Springtime Baby!’
Former President, George W. Bush’s daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, is going to be a mom with her hubby Henry Hager (the couple first met when campaigning for Jenna’s dad back in 2004).
Jenna told the Today show; “I’m pregnant!” she tearfully told Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie. “We’re so excited and obviously nervous about it. I’m a first-time mom. But it’s something that I’ve always wanted. I’m a teacher and I love kids.” She continues; “It’s a springtime baby.”
To add some sickly sweetness to the whole affair Henry joined his wife on set presenting her with a bouquet of flowers. President Bush and Laura Bush also phoned in saying; ”I’m thrilled and fired up!”
This is great news for Jenna’s folks as George admitted to AARP The Magazine that he and his wife want grandchildren and Jenna’s twin sister, Barbara, isn’t even married yet.
George spouts; “I’m a little disappointed it hasn’t happened yet,” President Bush, 66, shared. “But the more disappointment I show, the less likely it is things are going to happen on the time table I want.”
Kind of like running the country and your agenda?
TELL US – ARE YOU HAPPY FOR JENNA AND HER HUSBAND?
Matt Lauer’s TODAY Show Team Comes to His Defense
Matt Lauer may be single-handedly killing the Today show, but it isn’t stopping his past and present team from rallying around him.
Former co-anchor of Today, Katie Couric, fondly recalls a prank Matt pulled on her in a Florida hotel room, when he had the staff hide his picture all over Katie’s room. She tells Page Six Magazine (out this Thursday); “He had someone put one under my pillow with things like, ‘Hi, look who you’re sleeping with tonight’ written on it,” she tells the mag. “He had someone put one on the minibar that said, ‘Get out of here.’ The piece de resistance was when I lifted up the toilet seat and there he was. They had taped a photo of him under the toilet, and it said, ‘Yep, here I am, too.’
Al Roker is also weighing in regards to Matt’s “Diva” behaviour saying it’s “just a crock.” Al also shares a story; “One day we were traveling, and I was sitting across from [Matt], and I look over and he’s looking at his laptop, and he’s crying. I’m like, ‘What the heck?’ He’s watching ‘The Notebook,’ and the tears are just flowing.”
So who are we to believe? Katie and Al or the bitter, disgruntled folks on staff now? Time will certainly reveal the truth.
TELL US – IS MATT AS ‘EVIL’ AS THEY WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE?
Today Show’s Ratings Plummet to an All New Low! Does Matt Lauer Need to Be Fired?
Matt Lauer’s days may be numbered on Today as the show hits an all-time low in the ratings falling below Good Morning America by the biggest margin in more than 10 years.
According to Brian Stelter of the New York Times, the November ratings for both shows are out and not surprisingly, GMA won the sweeps month!
GMA averaged 5.31 million viewers in November, 466,000 more than NBC’s “Today” show. The race was however closer among the 25- to 54-year-olds demographic (the demo the advertisers covet) as GMA only had 28,000 more viewers than “Today” in that category.
TODAY even experienced a new low on Wednesday, Nov. 28, when GMA won by 1.3 million viewers! Wowzers. It is however believed that large margin was due to tie-ins with the “Dancing With the Stars” series which finished its season the night before.
The somewhat good news for the TODAY show is that they had a slight margin of victory over GMA two weeks ago in the 25- to 54-year-old group. TODAY won that week by 29,000 viewers. However it was an unusual week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Let’s look at the facts. Today started going down after the controversial move of letting Ann Curry go; Executive producer, Jim Bell, left the show earlier this month; and Matt is rumored to be falling out of favour with some of the viewing audience – between his trying to run the show and on air blunders (mispronouncing a Gershwin song).
TELL US – IS MATT THE REASON TODAY IS GOING DOWN HILL?
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