Anderson Cooper approached to replace Matt Lauer at 'Today'

lovin_safe

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
1,157
Reaction score
6,020
Location
Illinois
Anderson Cooper, "Today" host?

That's the gist of an item posted by Deadline on Tuesday night. The site's Nellie Andreeva wrote that Cooper had been approached by NBC executives about replacing Matt Lauer at the end of 2013. As the world knows, Lauer is going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment, with article after article bringing more bad news about the state of affairs at the show he is paid $25 million annually to host.

The New York Times later confirmed that the call took place.

Andreeva wrote that, not surprisingly, Lauer wasn't too hot on the idea that he'd be unceremoniously bumped for Cooper, and that he called the CNN anchor to express his lack of approval. (Other outlets disputed this narrative.)

Cooper would, of course, be an ideal morning show host. He is very popular, has more than proven his capability with both hard news stories and the fluff that dominates shows like "Today," and is witty and fast on his feet. He also has an itch for the lighter side of things that he'll need to scratch once his daytime show ends its run in May. Of course, one outlet for that could be a talk show with Kathy Griffin, which the very same Andreeva wrote is being talked about at CNN. He would also lose the more expansive portfolio that comes with a 24-hour network if he jumped to NBC.

If NBC executives did indeed approach Cooper, it would be a sign that they have given up trying to repair the damage to Lauer's image and are actively seeking to replace him. Publicly, NBC executives have been very loyal to him. In a statement to The Huffington Post, Alexandra Wallace, who oversees "Today," dismissed the rumors about Cooper.
"As we’ve said before, Matt Lauer is the best in the business," she said. "We want him in the 'Today' show anchor chair for many years to come.” She added, "We are not considering replacing Matt Lauer."

An NBC News executive also told HuffPost, "NBC News has many exploratory talks with talent inside and outside of the network, but to read anything specific into that is presumptuous."
 
I read two or three long articles this morning. Lauer evidently has been trying to do damage control, as the backlash of the hurried departure of a tearful Ann Curry, with no farewell clips, party, cake or whatever, had his approval rating plummeting. Someone said "as Today's ratings rose over the years, so did Matt's ego", and while appearing affable on air, he was anything but.
NBC is trying to really shake things up, The Today show is a mess, Matt Lauer is being way overpaid. Then there was the Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien fiasco which cost them a bundle.
Plus terrible decisions for the prime time hours. I am guessing their financial woes is why Sony is a partner now, and then Comcast came in with a 50% ownership for some more bail out $$$$.
 
I also found this:



Posted at 07:17 PM ET, 03/11/2013
Matt Lauer reiterates that it’s definitely not his fault Ann Curry was ousted from ‘Today’

By Emily Yahr

Matt Lauer (Richard Drew - AP) Though it's been more than eight months since co-anchor Ann Curry tearfully told "Today" viewers that she was being pushed off the show’s couch, her co-host Matt Lauer's reputation is still being battered from the incident, thanks to the widely-held belief that he was to blame for her departure.

Combine that with “Today” still falling behind rival infotainment show “Good Morning America,” along with NBC News president Steve Capus announcing his resignation last month — it’s time for Lauer to give an sympathy-seeking, exclusive interview to the Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz, saying it really most sincerely was not his fault that Curry lost the gig.

“I don’t think the show and the network handled the transition well. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that,” Lauer told Kurtz. “It clearly did not help us. We were seen as a family, and we didn’t handle a family matter well.”

Sure enough, viewers have still not warmed up to Curry's replacement, Savannah Guthrie. Plus, “GMA" recently announced it won the February sweep in total viewers for the first time in 19 years, averaging 5.7 million viewers to "Today's" 4.8 million.
Anyway, in Monday’s interview, Lauer claimed that not only was the Curry situation not his fault, but he was against the plan from the beginning. Kurtz, via Lauer, detailed the painstaking process last year in which NBC News realized that there was zero chemistry between Lauer and Curry, and decided that the best way to save the show's falling ratings was to ditch Curry.

Kurtz writes that Lauer told Capus that replacing Curry was “a terrible idea," and it could “destabilize the show.” In fact, Lauer even semi-defended Curry by saying that the show staffers could “produce their way around her strengths and weaknesses.”

However, the NBC execs ignored Lauer's warnings, and told him "the decision was above his pay grade,” Kurtz reports.
And we all saw how that saga played out: Curry, on the verge of weeping on the morning show last June, telling viewers that this was not how she expected to leave the show after 15 years, and that, “I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line, but, man, I did try.”

Cue the outrage from viewers and media, convinced that Lauer simply couldn't stand Curry. But this is the second round of NBC execs stepping in to defend Lauer, saying he’s not to blame for Curry’s departure.

“Matt, I need to say for the record, really should not bear any of the blame for that,” former “Today” exec producer Jim Bell told the Hollywood Reporter last fall. “I’m the executive producer of the show. He’s not. He’s the public face of the show, so he’s taken some of this. But it has been wrong.”
By Emily Yahr | 07:17 PM ET, 03/11/2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...5000dc0-8aa0-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e_blog.html
 
They must be desperate if they want Anderson Cooper he can't carry a show in bucket. CNN is terrible and their ratings are in the toilet. I will take Fox and Friends any day of the week. Network shows are pure garbage. Only one I can tolerate sometimes is GMA...and on a limited basis.
 
The story is being covered again as we write these posts..... if M. Lauer is paid 25 million per year, well there goes our budget for DOOL.... If he is having a rough time.... boy we really blew having any slip covers for any of the over used Sofas...... darn.. there are a few things could sure use some manners first, and slip cover for the second.....:eek::beat:
 
There's also the stuff about Jimmy Fallon replacing Jay Leno, although those two found a creative way to address it:


With rumors swirling about the future of "The Tonight Show," the two men competing for the host job, Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno, made a joint appearance on Monday's episode of "Late Night" to poke fun at the reports.

The two men sang a parody of "Tonight" from the musical "West Side Story," with lyrics updated to reflect the current rumors. In the sketch, which is presented as a seamless transition between the two programs, Leno is depicted as being hounded by reporters at his Burbank studio. He then gives Fallon a call in New York so they can both commiserate about the press attention.

They then launch into deep baritones and sing a dramatic adaptation of "Tonight," mocking the 1961 musical.

NBC has not confirmed anything regarding a "Tonight Show" transition, but many speculate that the network will not extend Leno's contract beyond 2014 and will install Fallon as the next host of the 11:35 institution, with his show remaining in New York City.

Leno has made jokes in his monologue at the expense of NBC leadership over the past few weeks, with the subtext that executives are unwise to remove Leno while he continues to pull in strong ratings. Apparently, it's working for him -- Leno's ratings have been up since he started the jokes.
The fact that Leno agreed to collaborate with Fallon in this sketch appears to be a signal that he, and more importantly NBC, wishes to avoid a messy PR battle when the transition occurs. In 2010, when Conan O'Brien and Leno wrestled over "The Tonight Show," O'Brien and Leno did not speak privately and in fact made digs at each other on their respective shows.

Check out the video above to see Fallon and Leno sing "Tonight," and read the lyrics below.
Jimmy Fallon:Only you, every night you throw to me, Jay Leno
In the news, all they do, is say I’m replacing you
They think I can woo
The demo

Jay Leno:So the network said “Here’s an idea.”
Pack your bags, take a hike, NBC-yaaa!

Fallon:
Tonight, Tonight
Who’s gonna host "Tonight"?
Is it gonna be Jimmy or Jay?

Tonight, Tonight
Where will they tape "Tonight"?
In New York? Will it stay in L.A.?

Leno:
Tonight, Tonight
My ratings were all right
Twenty years and I’m still in first place

Tonight, Tonight
I’ve got Fox on the line
Or maybe I could take over for Dave

Leno & Fallon:
Tonight, Tonight
Why do they say we fight?
I like you, you like me, we’re okay.

Tonight, Tonight
Who cares who hosts "Tonight"?
People just watch online the next day!
 
LOL, Good for them. I don't watch Leno except if I know he is doing a Man on the Street segment (and I am awake), but I did tune in just ONE night last week because of hearing how he is dissing NBC. However he didn't do so, and I was gone, and have not tried again. I am guessing a lot of folks heard about him making fun of the bosses and tuned in just for that, as I did. I remember years ago Letterman doing that. LOL
 
Back
Top