Browsing articles tagged with " Savannah Guthrie"
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.”
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?
Is Matt Lauer’s ‘Damaged Brand’ Dragging Down The Today Show?
The Today’s Show iconic, Matt Lauer, may be single-handedly killing the show’s ratings! If you’re a fan then you know that Ann Curry has been recently replaced with Savannah Guthrie as co-anchor. Why? Because apparently, Matt didn’t like Ann and used her as an easy target to blame on their failure to get ratings.
However since Ann’s June firing, the ratings have yet to improve and now Matt is being blamed for the show’s woes. A former NBC News exec tells the NY Daily News: “This problem is not going to go away until Matt Lauer does. He’s great, but fairly or unfairly, his brand is damaged.”
Sources however believe soon to be new leader of the new production team, Alexandra Wallace, 46, is basically walking into a no win scenario, no matter who she hires and fires, unless it’s Lauer himself. Matt has become focused on his own hide and more often than not is combative with guests who may or may not return as a matter of principle (Tom Cruise).
All this as the ABC and CBS morning shows sit back and collect viewer after viewer from the stunted Today Show. Good call, NBC!
[ Photo Credit: Paul Froggatt / PR Photos]
TELL US – SHOULD MATT BE FIRED OR HAS TODAY JUST RUN ITS COURSE?
Matt Lauer May Have to Take a Pay Cut as Today Show Ratings Decline
Matt Lauer’s 25 million dollar salary may take a turn if ratings don’t pick up over at the Today show. How will he manage?
“Comcast, which now owns NBC Universal, is going through the budgets of each show and right now, they are focusing on the news division. Matt’s salary is the biggest part of the TODAY show’s budget and with Good Morning America now routinely beating them, it’s just hard to justify that salary,” a source tells Radar Online.
Apparently, Lauer’s “likability” plummeted 25 percent in just 12 months. This could be due to the change in co-hosts – Meredith Vieira left Lauer’s side on the morning show’s anchor desk, to be replaced by Ann Curry and then by Savannah Guthrie.
I guess folks aren’t just that into you anymore, Matt. Perhaps you need to get some sexy-back?
“It raises a flag,” Henry Schafer, Executive Vice President of Q Scores, told The News. “These morning shows are driven by personalities — so there’s a real challenge out there for NBC News.” Not to mention, all the turmoil and turbulence of the world today.
But don’t fret, “Matt is under contract so it will have to be a voluntary decision, but the argument will be made that if he doesn’t agree to lose some of his salary than people’s jobs will have to be cut. Bottom line is money will have to be saved somewhere and he will be asked to do the ‘right thing’ by his staff.”
[Photo Credit: Jakes Van Der Watt / PR Photos]
TELL US – SHOULD MATT TAKE A PAY CUT?
Today Show Staff Hates Matt Lauer & Want Lester Holt to Replace Him, Says Report
A few months ago, Matt Lauer came up with a “genius” plan to have his TODAY show anchor Ann Curry fired in hopes that it would boost the ratings for the morning series.
Well, fast forward to today, and Ann was indeed fired and replaced by Savannah Guthrie back in July. The bad news for Matt? The ratings have continued to slip, and the TODAY staff are now blaming him, while also wanting him fired and replaced with Lester Holt! Yikes. Guess he now knows how Ann must have felt!
“Staffers and producers at the TODAY show hold Matt Lauer responsible for the continued decline in the ratings because they hold him responsible for Ann Curry being fired,” a source close to the show tells Radar Online. “The staff wants Ann to be brought back and want Matt replaced with Lester Holt, but they know the odds of this happening are slim to none, because executives at the network have no interaction whatsoever with the TODAY show staff. ”
“Lester, like Ann, is very respected by the staff and is always a true class act. If Lester had been in Matt’s shoes he never would have told the executive producer and honchos at NBC to fire Ann. Lester and Ann report the news, period, and don’t engage in backstabbing antics,” adds the anti-Matt source.
Matt can however somewhat breathe a sigh of relief as he reportedly has the support of his female co-anchors Savannah and rumored affair buddy Natalie Morales.
“Matt, Savannah and fellow cast member Natalie Morales are all extremely close and have been referred to as the Three Musketeers. They often go to press movie screenings and can often be found in Matt’s office discussing stories and just goofing off. Matt has a very adoring female fan club in Natalie and Savannah,” reveals the source.
Unfortunately for the TODAY staffers, Matt is locked into his contract with NBC and won’t be going anywhere soon!
TELL US – DO YOU WANT THE TODAY SHOW TO REPLACE MATT?
Al Roker Calls Out Matt Lauer? Plus TODAY’s Staff Feel Ann Curry’s Firing Was a “Mistake”
Did Al Roker take a swipe at his fellow TODAY show co-host Matt Lauer?
That appears to be the case! During the Thursday (August 16) broadcast, Al seemed to take a dig at Matt, who is widely reported to have gotten Ann Curry fired this year because he wanted a different co-host.
On the broadcast, Al, Matt, Savannah Guthrie and Tamron Hall were interviewing members of the U.S. women’s rowing team when the tradition of winning teams throwing their coxswain into the water was brought up.
Matt then stated that the tradition in New York is to throw her into the Hudson River. Seemed harmless enough, except Al responded with: “Which is different than our tradition, which is you throw one of us under the bus, but that’s another story.”
Ouch! Al’s joke was followed by awkward laughter. As for NBC, they are of course denying that Al’s joke was a dig at Matt.
Meanwhile, despite Ann’s exit from the morning show, the ratings continue to take a dive and a new report is now stating staff members feel NBC made a “mistake” in firing Ann.
“The staffers of the TODAY show miss Ann tremendously and feel it was a mistake to replace her with Savannah,” a source close to the situation tells Radar Online.
“Ann had been part of the TODAY show for over 15 years, and her send off was just horribly executed. It’s not lost on anyone that GMA beat the TODAY show on Wednesday in the ratings yet again,” adds the source. “Viewers have had enough and the show just isn’t staying relevant. Morale is extremely low and something is going to need to change very quickly before they can get the TODAY show back in first place for good.”
“The crew would LOVE Ann back on set, some have even suggested privately that Matt Lauer take a long vacation and see how the ratings would shake out in that scenario,” the source adds.
Seems like NBC is going to have to make more changes with the hosts show!
[Photo Credit: PR Photos]
TELL US – WAS AL’S JOKE A DIG AT MATT? DID NBC MAKE A MISTAKE IN FIRING ANN?
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