I’m sure many of you won’t care about this kind of insider-y media story, but it’s fascinating to me, and hey, at least it’s not another Kardashian story, right? There have been rumors of massive shakeups with the Today Show line-up for a while now. No one was happy about the way Ann Curry’s exit was handled, and Matt Lauer got much of the well-deserved blame for it. But Savannah Guthrie has been a relative “hit” with viewers, and Today continued to add more people to their regular line-up, like Tamron Hall and Willie Geist. This has upset regular co-anchor Natalie Morales, who has always enjoyed a “close” relationship with Matt Lauer (Lauer is the Queen Bee of Today). Page Six said a few weeks ago that Morales is looking to leave Today because Tamron Hall keeps getting promoted. And now this:
You might soon be waking up with new faces if you’re a Today show devotee. In a quest to beat rival Good Morning America’s ratings, NBC is shaking things up at the morning show.
Co-hosts Willie Geist and Natalie Morales “were recently told they were fired,” an NBC source reveals exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly. Morales, 42, is now in talks with ABC and Geist, 39, has lined up a gig at CBS, the insider tells Us.
But soon after those radical cuts were made, NBC removed general manager Jamie Horowitz, the most vocal proponent of the changes. In a memo obtained by Us Weekly, NBC News’ Deborah Turness explained Horowitz — on the job since September — was simply “not the right fit.” Now it’s unclear whether Geist and Morales will indeed be exiting or whether the current regime will try to woo them back.
The insider adds that there are other ideas “floating around” as well, including demoting fellow co-host Tamron Hall back to MSNBC and adding Good Morning America alum Josh Elliott as a newsreader. Hoda Kotb, who currently owns the 10 a.m. hour with Kathie Lee Gifford, might also be asked to join the 9 a.m. hour.
A separate source, however, tells Us that these proposals may never come to fruition. “An executive went rogue and got fired for suggesting crazy ideas no one agreed with,” the source explains of the situation overall.
A rep for the Today show also denies the shake-up and tells Us, “We have a strong anchor team we want here for a long time.”
WOW. Willie Geist has a kind of young-dad, old-school vibe but maybe that’s not the best thing for Today. But to fire Natalie while demoting Tamron? Yikes. And if Today hires Josh Elliott, I will not be watching Today any longer. Josh has zero likability – he actually gives me really uncomfortable vibes, like he’s some kind of rage monster.
As for the recently fired NBC executive, his name was Jamie Horowitz and Page Six says Matt Lauer was the one who got him ousted. Lauer went to NBC News president Deborah Turness and told her that Horowitz was trying to fire Savannah and Willie Geist. This sh-t is Shakespearean. Poor Ann Curry – she was never going to be able to work in this kind of back-stabbing, eat-your-young environment.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Matt Lauer is a douchenozzle. As long as he is on, I won’t watch.
Exactly. I haven’t watched in years, but Matt is particularly shady and really needs to go. One problem the Today Show had when I watched the Today Show is that it dawned on me they really don’t cover the news. They cover fluff.
I started side-eyeing the Today show when they began covering fluff that didn’t deserve coverage.
One example was a young boy who had behaved very badly, and somehow it went viral. Today rewarded the child and his clueless parents with a trip to NYC. The kid acted like a brat in the studio as well. I e-mailed the show but never received any response.
The fluff was why I quit watching. After a couple years it felt like they were just recycling features and none of it was particularly interesting. I wanted something with a little more meat to it.
i dislike MT, he is an uneducated douche. Everything about him is boys club. He knows how to play the game.
I love how shows get rid of everyone but the real problem.
they should replace everyone with Al Roker. 6 Al Rokers. That is all
Do yourself the delightful favor of watching Charlie Rose on CBS in the morning. He is lovely.
I totally agree about Charlie Rose and CBS This Morning. CBS covers news and it is refreshing. I was pretty loyal to CBS for about a year but then I decided to rearrange my work schedule so I get in around 7:00 am. Now I start my morning with Celebitchy 😉
Agreed! Had already switched over, and when CBS this AM asked Mr. Birdix on after he wrote a book, my new morning routine was cemented.
Love CBS morning show because gasp….they cover real news versus fluff & gossip.
RIght? When are they going to figure this out!
This. ALL day, Dancinnancy.
I love Willie! The today show rating would go through the roof if they discussed some of the insider bs on the air! lol
Matt is one of the highest paid tv media figure, his salarie is close to 22/25 million per year. Unbelievable, I am speechless….
I love Willie too! He is the best part of the show imo.
I actually don’t watch any of these… but I just want to tint Willie’s eye brows or something. His face is not quite balanced or something, and I think it’s the eyebrows.
Willie and Brooke Shields need their own show.
I can’t stand Matt L. either,mever since the Anne Curry firing.
I also can’t beat the vapidness of Natalie Morales, she’s terrible. She once said something like Kate Middleton was an idol for her, something weird like that, she just turns me off. I stopped watching.
…..and they just gave Pippa a job. Hahaha
Matt Lauer really sucks his interviews are either softball or lack of humanity. NBC needs to get rid of his ass, Willy Geist is better than Matt Lauer!! They best keep AL Roker put!
Keep Al. Fire the rest.
Amen
It sounds like a lot of people on the show were very unhappy with the new producer, not just Matt by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe it just took someone with clout to push the issue.
Why are they not putting Lester Holt front and center?
He’s incredibly professional and more likable than this group of dbags combined.
Yes! Love Lester.
He’s a dedicated news junkie, has gravitas but can handle the soft stuff, and he can laugh at himself, which none of the rest of them can. But I’d be sorry to see Lester eaten up by the system as seems to happen to all of them.
Good point, Birdix!
I agree! Lester Holt is really great and I think people love him, but I would bet he would rather be on the Nightly News than the Today Show – somehow that seems beneath his talent level.
The weekend TODAY crew seems superior to the weekday team in every way and are more enjoyable to watch IMHO.
Lester Holt is the obvious choice, to me. Instead they’ve got him doing murder mysteries and crap like that. He has a great presence and voice. If I could change one thing – I’d get him a better pair of glasses! The ones he wears are too small for him.
Lester is already doing two shows.
LoveLester Holt! That voice–yum. I actually wanted him for Meet the Press after Tim Russert’s death. I love Willie Geist too–and would hate to see him leave Morning Joe. Like Tamron Hall–have for years. Like Hoda Kotb. The rest? Eh. I don’t mind Savannah and Natalie. Matt needs to GO!
I came to write your exact post! I love Willie and Lester! Willie is why I watch Morning Joe.
How about keep everyone BUT Matt!! I’d bet the ratings would go up!
+1
How about lester, hoda and Kathy lee? Bring back Ann!
EXACTLY. Dear NBC, you keep ousting everyone BUT Matt and nothing is changing… maybe you should change your approach.
And Kaiser, you better watch yourself when you talk about Josh Elliott. He and Sam Champion were the ONLY reasons to watch GMA. He is not a rage monster. He’s a super nice guy. I don’t think the work he’s doing now really allows his personality to shine through like it did when he was co–hosting.
Exactly!
It’s time they reconceived their entire product.
That they think the sun rises and sets on Matt Lauer tells me that the some higher ups need to be fired as well.
Isn’t Matt handled by Huvane’s pr?
so true. I stopped watching after the obsessive coverage of the chimpanzee that attacked the neighbor.
Interesting. I didn’t know about the Huvane thing. Gotta say that guy earns his money. I do think that anyone with the idea that Matt Lauer is a “thing,” is out of step with the modernity.
Well they are firing the wrong people. I don’t watch because of him. He is such a jerk and never asks any hard questions of anyone. Yuk. Wrong again NBC.
He must know where the bodies are buried. Because he seems untouchable.
Exactly my thought. What does Matt have on these people to wield such influence?
Ann should be glad she left all that drivel behind. I recently saw her doing a real news story and it was awesome seeing her back at it! Can’t watch any of those morning shows any more with their hokey lead-in songs and sales-pitch nonsense! Ugh.
I felt bad for the way Ann’s ouster was handled, but her tone in interviews was so… simpering? Did you see her touch Brad Pitts’ face during one interview? So inappropriate.
And if you get a chance, see her backstage of the Today Show in the documentary about Scrabble. (I can’t remember the title, but how many Scrabble docs can there be?) She interviews the Scrabble champion on stage and later he tries to chat with her behind the scenes. She’s cold and condescending, which makes her on-screen persona seem so disingenous.
That’s terrible. Can you or someone else provide the link?
Yes-I thought the way they handled her ouster was awful-but she was one of the worst on air interviewers EVER. She was fine way back in the Katie & Matt Golden Years as the news reader.
If you can get a copy of the DVD “Word Wars”, the part I mentioned is in the special features. Scrabble champion “G.I. Joel” Sherman was interviewed by Ann Curry for the Today Show. When he gave her gifts in the green room after the show, her demeanor was vastly different. It was sad.
His name is “G.I. Joel” because of his gastrointestinal problems. He guzzles Maalox by the bottle. Scrabble obsessives are a quirky bunch.
I saw Word Play….But that was about crossword puzzles. I think. So, never mind.
He must have some serious dope on the execs because as far as I can see he’s hated by almost everyone.
Josh Elliott gives me major creep vibes, too.
their choosing matt over willie? how can that be?
Matt Lauer is the cockroach of television.
How about everybody stays except Matt Lauer?
I love Willie Geist and cannot believe they are letting him go. What a freaking joke.
And to think that it’s just a morning show, where all they do is read the news and discuss current events! Sheesh!
They read very little news anymore.
I love Willie, but I can see how he won’t make it in the long run – he is too “safe.” Why has that blonde with Hoda been on TV forever? She says stuff. She’s entertaining… Willie is a perfect guy to be married to, have children with but not to have a hot romance with if you know what I mean.
Agree, he is soooo bland.
Agree about Josh Elliott — he seems hostile and crazy.
Do many people even watch these morning news shows? I can’t think of anyone that does. And I work from home and know lots of people who do.
I agree. I work from home as well and it would never occur to me to turn on the freakin Today show. It’s barely news and mostly like a People Magazine come to life, only more vapid.
my 75 year old mom LOVES the Kathy and Regis show (or whoever the current numbnuts are) and Dr Oz and Today Show. I can’t imagine anyone outside that demographic watching those type of shows. I don’t even get the concept of a morning entertainment show, it’s so drivel-tastic, it’s certainly not news. Although I get that the studios like it because it’s another way to promote someone’s new album/movie/tv show ad nauseum.
I only know two people who actually watch the Today show regularly, and both of them hate Matt Lauer.
Like cbs morning showing because they cover real news.
Lauer is the reason I wont watch.
So they’re changing the name of the show to “How to be a douche Today”.
Matt is such a dickwad, fire him already. Willie is the best part of this show for sure. I loved the Halloween episode, he was so good and into it as the Spartan cheerleader
Does Matt Lauer have something on the execs at NBC? Because surely they have figured out by now that people cannot stand him. I love Lester and Tamron Hall is okay, if they keep the cheesy, fake people from getting to her…like Kate Gosselin interviews. That’s when ‘The Today Show’ really started jumping the shark.
NBC is INSANE to put all their eggs in the Matt Lauer basket. The minimal “good looks” he had are gone (along with his hair) and he comes across very smug and arrogant. Not sure why the blame is never on him for the bad ratings……….maybe they’ve invested too much $$$$ in him to let it go?
As for Josh Elliott – what do you call the opposite of charisma? Because that’s what he has. Sounds like it’s going to be a total sausage hang on Today.
I watch GMA because of George S. and Robin Roberts. I am not a big fan of Laura Spencer as I feel she is just entertainment instead of news. When Josh Elliott was on, I did not like him either as he just kept playing YouTube videos. I like Amy Robach now as I feel she is more journalistic than Josh was. I will never watch the Today Show as someone said it is all fluff.
Agreed, additionally, everyone seems to get on so much better when he isn’t around!! and and and BTW the rotating line up except for Sour Milk Old man Voiced Carson Daly (How he worked as a VJ all those years with that voice escapes me??!! and really he has to skip out months at a time anyways??!) and Jenna Bush Hager Monthly cryfest inane interviews with her own family that she is getting paid for IS ACTUALLY WORKING, they all seem easy with each other and having fun so why not keep it as is
Matt looks like a shiny little weenie.
I will never understand the Lauer hate!! If you read the thorough accounts of the Ann Curry fiasco he should never have taken the hit. He first tried to protect her (even though it was a complete disaste) after it became apparent that the higher ups were committed to getting rid of her he urged caution…the exec’s didn’t listen and then his predictions happened. I felt the un dignified way Ann delt with the demotion revealed her professionalism!
Matt Lauer, is that you?
It’s his PR agent.
Ca!’t stand Matt Lauer. How many times has he ” allegedly”been close to divorce from his wife for rumoured cheating?
He’s creepy.
I like Matt too, I’m not sure why? I thought Ann sucked so bad, I quit watching when she took over for Meredith.
I like Natalie and Willie,I was thinking they had better chemistry lately. I can do without Carson Daly.
They need to get rid of the Orange room and redo the set. It seems weird.
Ann did suck. I’m neutral about Matt. He can be really abrasive but as far as the Ann situation goes, the dude was a total scapegoat. The onus needs to go squarely on NBC’s shoulders for how poorly they handled things. As much as I couldn’t stand her on the Today show, I do feel truly bad for Ann and the way they treated her.
Also, NBC’s bottom line is ratings. People who think that the network heads haven’t done their research are pretty naïve. For every person who cannot stand Matt Lauer, there’s a person who very much likes him. I don’t understand it because I find him rather bland, but he remains a very polarizing news personality. Anyway, they’re keeping Lauer because he draws in viewers, best believe that.
I did think Lauer unfairly got a lot of blame for the Curry situation. Anyone who watched the Today show when Curry read the news could see she would never be a good fit as co-host. I do think she was great as one of the ‘sidekicks’ when Meredith was there; I also think Lauer was most comfortable with Vierra as his co-host as her ambition at that time in her career had a definitive ceiling.
Lester Holt is great and I wish NBC allowed him more growth and exposure. Regardless, he’s remained professional and affable throughout his time at NBC.
I do not understand how Tamron Hall got the job she has. She reminds me of an annoying sales clerk who talks my ear off for so long that I’m forced to run out of the store.
I can’t stand Matt Lauer and find the rest of them (except for Al Roker – I love him!) so boring. Lester Holt would be so much better – he is awesome. After the Today Show fired Ann Curry I switched to GMA and think the Today Show has just become a lame snoozeball.
Sorry. I refuse to feel bad for people who make close to or upwards of $20 MILLION DOLLARS a year (with Lauer I think it’s something more like $45,000,000) for potentially being laid off. Even if they never worked another day in their lives-which is highly unlikely to be the case-they still would be more financially sound than over 99% of the world and not even come close to personally knowing the definition of the word “struggle” as related to job loss.
Moving on…
I don’t watch today because of Matt Lauer. Team GMA all the way!
i agree that Matt must know the higher-ups secrets or behind the scenes info or something because how can a person SO HATED by the public not be the one fired after several shake-ups. There were rumors of his douche-cheating years ago on his wife many times (while pregnant too I think). I think it’s a matter of time before we get dirt on him. Can’t stand him – I get a Cosby-like vibe from him and always think one day MANY gals are going to come from everywhere vouching for his doucheness and crazy behind-doors behaviour. He is narcistic to the extreme, so very likely. I believe that behind closed doors, outside of his marriage, he gives me the feeling he has MUCH MORE more going on than the amount of hair he has on head.
I have never understood Matt Lauer’s success in general. He’s not likable – not to me. He is arrogant, sexist, I highly suspect he is a cheater, he snaps at guests and co-workers, but when he’s not being a douce, he’s just bland. I don’t get his appeal.
There was a time when he was thought to be hottie but I never saw it.
I took a PR seminar with one of the big Two Hollywood agents for film and tv about 7 years ago, who said Matt Lauer was considered a TALENT and the anchor of the Today Show. It was implied at that time that Huvane was handling pr for him. I don’t know if it was true, but that was implied.
I think he’s got major powerbrokers who keep in that seat.
“A NY Post report Wednesday indicated that TODAY ace Matt Lauer was the driving force behind Horowitz’s firing after Geist, Morales and Savannah Guthrie complained to him about the executive’s plans; Lauer then went to NBC News’ Deborah Turness and told her he wanted to keep the current team intact. Willie Geist and Natalie Morales were so unhappy under the Horowitz and were thinking of leaving and/or being fired.”
It sounds to me like Matt went to bat for the team in place.
Rumours are Matt wants Natalie out.
And rumors are she went to Matt about this and he went to bat for her because he wants her to stay, and rumors are she doesn’t get along with two other people on the show, both of which are not Matt.
Tamron Hall is the BEST. I don’t blame them for promoting her.
LOL. Lauer is the obvious problem. It’s always funny watching corporate logic in action. Listen, if I want ferret face, I’ll watch reruns of MASH. At least Larry Linville was funny (and acting).
IF true, perhaps Natalie will write a TELL all BOOK and in my opinion a good title would be…
How MATT LAUER . . .
Once at the Olympics and
again at the TODAY show
. . . screwed me TWICE
…then again, I could say how I really feel.
Martin
I hate Matt Lauer, too. Smug, arrogant, entitled, underwhelming Matt. Fire his ass pronto and I might start watching. What an insufferable fool. If I were his wife, I would not waste one minute getting anorexia over his cheating, but hire the best divorce lawyer in New York City.
Hate Matt Lauer! Stopped watching a long time ago as they as so disconnected from their target/ base of viewers. I love Willie. Long standing rumors of Matt and Natalie affair- you can google it. He will always protect her – she is safe – that is why he got that Horowitz fired!!
I stopped watching for good after the Ann Curry thing. I truly dislike the show and Matt is a big part of that.
I know, I’m the sole person who still watches the Today show. I promise I’m not being sarcastic.
I LOVE TAMRON. SO MUCH.
That is all I have to say.
Dear Matt Lauer,
You are a punky bitch tit suffering from a severe case of USI (unwarranted self importance). Please learn to suck less.
Yours reluctantly,
Earth
+1
I have never understood Lauer’s supposed popularity, and reading the comments on CB my feelings are always echoed. I tend to agree he has some sort of Voldemart stranglehold on the exec’s, it’s the only explanation.