Home Pop Culture Ann Curry fired and the capitulation of the Today show.

Ann Curry fired and the capitulation of the Today show.

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Ann Curry and Matt Lauer during happier times
Ann Curry and Matt Lauer during happier times

Ann Curry fired. Pundits anxiously await new Nielsen ratings.

Ann Curry live interview with Ladies Home Journal released.

Ann Curry fired: Today show loses with Savannah Guthrie week one.

Ann Curry is not missed as NBC insists that they are thrilled with the new anchor team.

Ann Curry Fired, NBC Dismal ratings and viewer contempt.

Ann Curry Fired: Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ Debut tanks.

Ann Curry’s replacement Savannah Guthrie waxes girlish charm with giggly Matt Lauer.

Ann Curry fired: Savannah Guthrie makes her official Today debut, viewers flock in droves.

Anne Curry fired: Today show fighting for its life against Good Morning America.

Ann Curry fired: Surfaces with new tweets, inspires more controversy.

Ann Curry Fired: Matt Lauer was 100 % behind her ouster from Today show.

Ann Curry fired: NBC executive comes out to say she wasn’t right for the job.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Except at NBC….

The macabre game being played out between NBC insiders and one of its stars, Ann Curry came to a head yesterday with the lauded journalist accepting personal responsibility for the latest surrender in ratings points and her effective dismissal. For a while the game was being played behind closed doors before various leaks (obviously by design to begin the public humiliation of Ms Curry and her eventual capitulation) escalated the tenure of the game and essentially put all of the network’s dirty laundry out for open display.

Effectively the show’s producers wanted someone’s blood as it came to a head that ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ had finally beaten them in the morning slot and that the licking had happened just about when Ann Curry had joined as the show’s co anchor, something that co anchor and long time stalwart was privately chaffing about and now regretting.

Yet now that Ms Curry has been relieved and ungraciously dumped the $64 million dollar question is what will happen to the show now? Of course that is contingent who gets to replace Ms Curry (Savannah Guthrie is widely rumored to be the go to choice) and how the show will fare when it takes itself to London next month in lieu of the Olympic games where it hopes by then the sobbing for Ann Curry would have dried out and everyone gets back to loving the charades on calamari dishes with a twist and what makes Matt Lauer smile when he’s drinking tea.

It could all work out once the switch takes over or it just may not. One thing though is for sure, with all the pandemonium in recent weeks, viewership at the show has swiftly rebounded, but that may be because for once there was some real meat and drama in the program which suggests the programming and yes maybe the guidance viz Comcast (NBC’s new owners) has been somewhat aloof, infantile and simply not getting it. Then again for those who decry the frivolity of the show and it’s increasing tabloid nature (yes welcome to new media where even serious and well regarded news outlets are forced to run smut stories to keep your readership) there are those like Ms Curry who may wish and excel in serious news. Except that would be fine if Americans in general were open to serious news at 7am in the morning. Or it just could be a general fatigue, overkill or the fact that with the internet and off line media rampant the dialectics in the media world are hardly for those with frayed nerves.

That said, I took the liberty of collecting some comments (see below) from other journals pursuant to yesterday’s hubris and perhaps by gleaming at some of the wider readership out there one can glean whether NBC are on the way down the toilet or back to stellar heights?

Matt Lauer’s wife to follow him to London cause she’s afraid he might cheat with Today’s Natalie Morales.

Ann Curry Fired: Matt Lauer and his crocodile tears.

Ann Curry Fired. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line…

Matt Lauer’s wife threatened to divorce him if Natalie Morales became Today co anchor.

 

Jenifer Stevens, My company is a private International sales, marketing and media company consultant to Fortune 500 companies. 

We called for this move months ago as NBC sat on the sidelines doing nothing. Finally they acted and it should just be the start. Next they have to rebuild Meet The Press as David Gregory has squandered what Tim Russert built up. Katie was pure class in her response above and she knows from the other side of the coin. Even though it was way before my time our research shows when NBC replaced Deborah  Norville with Katie ratings climbed. She’s also right about the direction morning shows should take.

One thing the TODAY show needs are new sets….why the uncomfortable stools and confusing backdrops. And why interview 5 Spyderman Cast members by 4 TODAY SHOW cast members all standing in a  single line in the street? Lets work on some production values.. Still we are advising our clients to invest in TODAY spots again. The ratings increase will make it a great value going forward.

 

This is ghastly treatment of a woman with a huge heart and a great spirit and unending generosity toward everyone, even would-be enemies. My family owns GE stock and I have already written to the President of NBC to express my extreme distaste for his shifty and delusional belief that Ann is as dispensible as a used Kleenex. Shame on NBC. Shame on Matt Lauer for not going to bat for Ann. If only audience members were consulted before these terrible decisions are made; then the ridiculous Bob Greenblatt’s of the business would be ignored instead of revered. You are world-class, top-drawer quality, dear Ann, and you should feel so proud of the gifts you have shared with your millions of fans. God bless……and march right over to GMA with your middle finger directed at NBC.

 

Why does NBC suck when it comes to handling high-profile personnel matters?

 

Remember Arthur “Scud Stud” Kent? When he declined to go back into dangerous war zones after a few close calls, NBC gave its most recognizable foreign correspondent in decades the steel-tip boot on his kazoo.

Remember Jane Pauley on Today? They brought in the hot-blonde-of-the-moment in Deborah Norville. Pauley remains a broadcast icon. Norville, meanwhile, now hosts…. Inside Edition. Nuff said!

Remember Stone “Square Jaw” Phillips of Dateline NBC fame? The Peacock canned him so silently, so assiduously, it seemed as if he was forced into Witness Protection or something.

Of course, there’s Conan, and the whole Tonight Show/ Leno fiasco of legend.

And yes, you could add to the network’s inglorious run the recent messy mess involving the 86-ing of showrunner Dan Harmon of “Community”….

And now Ann Curry.

What a %^@!&%-up network.

 

NBC just lost all their integrity in most people’s eyes doing this to Ann Curry. You just lost credibility folks. Never will watch again, moving on to a different station totally. Very sad

 

TODAY’s ratings have slipped, not because of Ann Curry, but because they have become nothing more than a “tabloid” talk show. The Agenda is the biggest problem. Ann Curry was the epitomy of grace, elegance, guts and compassion. The TODAY producers just don’t have a clue what people want to see and hear anymore. I have been watching since Dave Garroway began the show years ago and will now find another network to watch in the morning.

 

Can you imagine a man crying like that…terrible….she should have just left and said nothing…..don’t eat the cake Ann…this is what happens when NBC merges with Comcast…horrible programming…so much kissing up, how can anyone watch this….just horrible decision on NBC’s behalf. NBC should get Britney Spears to host….I’m sure Britney could relate to all the eggheads at NBC.

 

So it continues — the bad management at NBC is legendary, and if you sign on as on-camera talent over there be prepared for that day when you’re tossed out with the garbage with no respect or thanks for whatever you may have accomplished during your tenure there.

They did it to Carson twenty years ago, and it continues through the most recent Conan-Leno fiasco and today’s sad departure of Ann Curry…who will probably emerge looking better for it in the end.

Perhaps this is all continued bad karma that began when they cancelled the original STAR TREK in the 60s…and you can be sure they’ll find a scapegoat for their

upcoming loses from Olympics coverage.

 

Thank God for DVDs and HBO.

 

I agree. Ann Curry *WON* and she will be doing what she wants to do: international and domestic field reporting. She excels at that. She never fit in the lineup of shallow ass hosts, and NBC really can’t fault her for the Today show’s sagging ratings when the show has been in a freefall since Katie Couric left. And, why isn’t anyone addressing the real issue: Matt Lauer? I mean, damn, he’s the common link behind why all three of them left the show. And yes, the above article is right..if the ratings continue to slip, Lauer can’t blame anyone else…as for Savannah Guthrie, meh. I do feel for her though, Meredith is back? Oh, Savannah is *TOTALLY* in the shadows.

 

Ann Curry is a genuine person who had a personal connection with her viewers. Matt Lauer is a fake and thinks he is so much better than his viewers. I for one say goodbye to Ann and the Today show. We miss miss Ann and wish her the best.

 

I think it is Matt Lauer who causing a drop in the ratings.

 

I think Matt Lauer is a real SNAKE 

this video gags me.  same old melodrama from her.  thank God she’s gone

 

and my personal favorite this one below:

Why does anybody care about some reporter leaving a meaningless morning show?  First world problems.

 

Ann Curry fired: Officially leaving Today, to make farewell speech imminently.

Ann Curry fired. Lap dances, grumpy fits and behind the scenes back stabbing…

Ann Curry Fired: More upheaval as passed over Natalie Morales set to leave Today show.

Ann Curry Fired: Ann haggling for $20 million exit money and NBC confirms Savannah Guthrie.

Ann Curry Fired. Backstabbed by NBC.

Ann Curry Fired. Refuses to take the hint now fed up NBC will go public.

Ann Curry doesn’t care that she’s fired. “I’m here to stay!’

Ann Curry Fired: ‘Am I not good enough?’

Ann Curry turns up to Today show, acting as if she hasn’t been fired.

Ann Curry fired cause NBC hates her.

Matt Lauer re-signs with the Today show whilst Ann Curry is a goner.

Ann Curry rumored to be fired because her co host Matt Lauer hates her guts.

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13 COMMENTS

  1. Anne, hold your head up high. You are the epitome of intelligence, integrity, grace and true compassion. Much less can be said for your co-host, an egotistical bore who appears to run the show. Demanding 25 mill. a year compared to Anne’s 10 mill. He wanted her gone and he wanted Meredith back. At least she was smart enough to say no. I don’t know enough about Savannah but I suppose she’s malleable. I will no longer watch NBC and I hope I hear Matt goes down with the sinking ship. Shame, shame, shame on NBC. Anne, i learned through a similar situation no one can take away your experience, your values, morals and ethics. When one door closes another opens. You’ll be better than ever. God Bless! Make sure you get that 20 mill. they owe you

  2. NBC is on the way down because of so many poor decisions. They have come to exemplify corporate greed and stupidity. They deserve all the bad press and revenue drops to come. Ann will have the last laugh!! God Bless you and all the others who NBC has chewed up and spit out over the years. I will not be watching NBC again and I am not alone!

  3. This is one of the most poorly written articles I have read in quite some time. Even factoring in the idea that the standards of journalism have slipped in the Internet age, this article sinks to a new low for poor grammar, ill advised choices for vocabulary and the ratio of factual content to the authors ample personal conjecture.

    I’ll make a mental note of scallywagandvagabond.com and endeavor never to dark on your “door” again.

    By the by – I love Ann Curry and think NBC has behaved very badly in her reassignment.

    Jerome Shaw
    http://Twitter.com/JeromeShaw

  4. If you think this is going to help the ratings. You will lose as many as you gain. You need to improve the show and its material maybe producers but this was not the right move. Good luck I will not be viewing any longer

  5. I don’t know why others quit watching the Today show. For me, I just finally got sick of such an obvious “agenda” to the news. I’m done with NBC trying to slant things to the left and trying to “make the news” rather than report it. From what I heard about their coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, I think I made the right decision.

  6. Watching the TODAY show is a good way to waste what could otherwise be a productive morning. Their latest assemblage of bottom fished “experts” is just a symptom of a greater
    problem. It’s matt and the inept producers of this non news show that should have been shown the door, not Ann. GE was lucky to get rid of NBC without taking a big loss. Jeff Immelt may be smarter than he looks.

  7. All they do is promote movies and the stars anymore. I’ll wait to see where Ann Curry lands and follow her.

  8. Are they on another planet? That’s the problem with NBC as a whole. They don’t listen to their viewers. Did they know how many people stopped watching Today when Matt ripped Christie Brinkley to shreds. But still Ann was there and Al Roker. So some of us tuned back in. Now they put the blame for falling ratings on Ann Curry. Why don’t they look at the way they have two lushes drinking in the middle of the day when Hoda and Kathie Lee come on. The Today show is not about news…It’s about “entertainment”.

  9. I have watched the Today show forever. I think Matt is the problem, and enjoys blaming everyone for his downfalls. So sorry a genuine and kind person was to blame for him again. Ann was graceful and caring, a rare combo in this world. I am done with the Today show. Can’t wait to watch the rating slip with Savannah up there….good job NBC. I will never watch again.

  10. Ann Curry was with NBC as thier treasured co anchor for years and all of a sudden she gets the blame for a minor drop in the ratings? Nbc is dispicable in thier handling of the situation. Making Curry the scapegoat will not cover up the fact that the show SUCKS and clearly shows how desprate NBC is in trying to make it a #1 show. Long live GOOD MORNING AMERICA.

  11. Ann Curry was the one sensible spot on the Today Show….you can trust her and rely on her journalistic integrity….now i guess i will go to ABC, since CBS ruined their show also.

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