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Could Anderson Cooper still be part of a 'Today' future?
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Ratings for the morning shows - "Today," "Good Morning America America" and "CBS This Morning" come out a little later, and they are expected to indicate the same new story: That "GMA" and "CBSTM" have added viewers from a year ago, while "Today" has not.
Law in morning TV: If you don't add viewers, your anchor team in in trouble, and that has been the case with "Today" for months now. But how much trouble? Brian Stelter, the New York Times media reporter whose book on morning TV ("Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV;" Grand Central Pub.) is out shortly and will be excerpted in this Sunday's Times, indicates - strongly - that Matt Lauer will complete his contract at the show, or, in his words, "Lauer has said he signed again to stop “Today” from sliding. Even though that hasn’t happened, his job still seems safe. High-ranking sources within the company suggest that the only way Lauer would leave before his deal ends is if he wanted to. Few at NBC have the stomach for a repeat of last year" - referring to the Ann Curry transition debacle..
Then there's this: The excerpt indicates that the Anderson Cooper talks are not entirely dead, and that in a brief meet with Pat Fili-Krushel (the executive with in overall charge of the news division, which remains without a president) he had "discussed a role for him on “Today” — not this year, but perhaps in 2014. According to one person with direct knowledge, one option called for Cooper to overlap with Lauer for 12 months, allowing for an orderly transition."
NBC approached Anderson Cooper about 'Today' role
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In the quickly unravelling world at "Today," now this: A prominent report says that NBC management made a call to CNN's Anderson Cooper about joining "Today" before year's end, which ostensibly would put him at the head of the line to replace Matt Lauer, whose deal at the show is up in just under two years.
True or not true?
I am told: True, although NBC has...
Read more »Could 'Good Morning America's' Josh Elliott be the next Matt Lauer?
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"Good Morning America's" Josh Elliott as the next co-anchor of "Today."
Let that thought, which is all it is, roll around your head for a minute. Get your arms around it. Think about why it might work or might not work. Think about what a Josh Elliott move to "Today" might mean, and what a Josh Elliott move from "GMA" might mean for that show. Think...
Read more »Why is 'Good Morning America' beating 'Today?'
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After the New York Post's latest salvo in its entertaining campaign to oust Matt Lauer as co-host of "Today" -- I think they've got him anchoring "Sesame Street" when his current contract ends -- I figured it's time to finally come to Matt's defense.
After all, he and NBC are sure doing a winning job of that. Someone had better step up before he does join Big Bird on the...
Read more »Valerie Harper on 'Today:' Upbeat
If you missed, check out Valerie Harper's interview with Savannah Guthrie on 'The Today Show" this morning. She is in good spirits, in spite of...
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