Posts Tagged ‘Al Roker’

Ann Curry leaves ‘TODAY’

Posted on: June 28th, 2012 by

TODAY show - Eric L. Bach & AssociatesAnn Curry announced, just before the 9 o’clock hour, that she will be stepping down as co-host of the TODAY show. She stated that she will be taking on a new challenge at NBC News.  As TODAY Anchor at Large and National and International Correspondent for NBC News, Curry will lead a new team covering stories spanning the globe.  She’ll anchor prime-time specials and report for TODAY, Nightly News, Rock Center, Dateline and MSNBC, and will have a major presence across all digital properties.

“We’re going to go all over the world and all over this country at a time where this world needs clarity,” she said.   “After all these years I don’t even know if I can sleep in anymore,” she joked.  Matt, Al and Natalie “seemed” to express their love. “You have the biggest heart in the business,” Matt said.  “You put that on display every single day for almost 20 years.  Most importantly, you’ve made us better, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Over 15 years at NBC News, Ann has covered violence and ethnic cleansing in Sudan, interviewed the Dalai Lama, reported from Japan after 2011’s devastating earthquake and tsunami and broke the news that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would release the two American hikers held hostage in that country for two years.  She has earned seven Emmy Awards.  “I know of only one journalist who in just a matter of years has travelled to Sudan six times, broken exclusive world news with top world leaders, and broadcast live from both the South Pole and Mount Kilimanjaro,” said TODAY Executive Producer Jim Bell.  “Ann has quite literally reached amazing heights in her career, and with this new role, she will continue her intrepid climb bringing viewers her signature brand of humanitarian reporting.”

At this point, there is no word on the deal she struck with NBC to leave TODAY, but it has been rumored that she was asking for the remainder of her contract, $20 million.  Nothing has been announced officially, but the front runner for her position is Savannah Guthrie.  It has also been swirling that Natalie was threatening to quit if she was passed over again, as well as Matt’s wife threatening to divorce him if Natalie gets the position.  I’m sure many of these rumors will be addressed throughout the day.  Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Matt Lauer’s wife WILL be accompanying him, along with his 3 children to the Olympic games in London this summer.  She generally not travel with him, as it is a lot of work to tote along 3 children, let alone across an ocean.  They will be staying at a different hotel then the rest of the cast and crew.  Annette clearly still has concerns about Natalie and is not taking any chances.   Radar Online reported, “Annette has made no bones about the fact she will be keeping close tabs on Matt.”

All of this controversy stems from rumors that seem to never cease about Matt Lauer cheating on his wife.  It had once been said he had an extramarital affair with Meredith Vieira, as well as fathering a love child with Natalie Morales.  Are the tabloids right?  Is Matt not the family man he portrays on tv?

UPDATE:  Savannah Guthrie will be taking over Ann’s chair next to Matt tomorrow morning.  TMZ has also reported that, “it’s ‘likely’ they will formally announce the big switch during the show.”

UPDATE: No replacement has been named as of yet.  It appears it is still up in the air.  They are still debating between Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie.

UPDATE: Savannah Guthrie HAS been named, on the TODAY show website, as the new co-anchor of the TODAY show.  She will now officially be sitting alongside Matt Lauer each morning.