I haven't really cares since Meredith Viera left, and I think she was holding the show up on her own for a long time before she left.

Here's an interesting quote that Lauer recently made:

"The show is not where I want it to be right now," Lauer said. "The ratings are not where I want them to be. I want to make it better and I want to reinvigorate the show in some ways that perhaps we have let up on in the past couple of years."

In other words, Matt concedes that the show lacks freshness, but--at the same time--feels that it is essential he stay!

Personally, I think one of the biggest problems with Today is that the brand has been diluted with unnecessary third and fourth hours. (Though I acknowledge that I a lot of people seem to like Kathie Lee and Hoda.) When it comes to morning shows, two hours is clearly the optimal length.

By the way, I think it can be safely said that a possible fifth hour of Today (that many feared) won't be happening in the forseeable future.

Edited June 21, 201213 yr by Max

Good grief I cant stand that arrogant jerk. Of course he couldn't possibly be part of the lack of freshness could he?

Wasn't he not long ago bragging about that Professionals segment they have with Star Jones?

Despite the slips, the Today show is a known brand and is still the most profitable show on TV. Frankly the 4 the hour of Hoda and Kathie Lee is the most entertaining

Edited June 21, 201213 yr by JaneAusten

As I previously indicated, I have never previously been a fan of Ann Curry. However, it was such a classy act on her part to show up for work today:

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/nbc-made-contingency-plans-but-ann-curry-reports-to-work-at-today/

At least she's not letting them paint her as the bad one, which they were probably hoping to do.

This type of thing is why NBC has lost millions of viewers - they are arrogant, elitist, and clumsy.

The Today Show has not had any real warmth in a long time. Matt Lauer is pompous and fake. Ann Curry doesn't put on the smarm enough, the way Couric or Lauer did, so she's a scapegoat. Weren't there rumors Lauer pushed Meredith Viera out too? I think he just wants someone under his thumb.

The today show did have warmth, and it died when Jane Pauley left.

Perky Katie was always praised for warmth, but it never felt real to me. I think that's why the show became so hard and cold as she and Matt aged, whereas Bryant and Jane always seemed to have genuine affection for each other.

Good Morning America had great luck when they brought Diane Sawyer back after many years, NBC should beg Tom Brokaw to come back for six months, or even Jane Pauley. (whatever happened to Jane Pauley?)

Perky Katie was always praised for warmth, but it never felt real to me. I think that's why the show became so hard and cold as she and Matt aged, whereas Bryant and Jane always seemed to have genuine affection for each other.

I think Katie was perky and spunky and she had chemistry with Lauer. That worked for a while. Meredith Viera was an improvement to me.I've always found her likable and more authentic than most of the clowns she's had to work with all these years including many idiots at The View. I think Ann Curry just didn't work but I do think shed be more successful as a. Ightly anchor than Katie was because she comes across much more serious. Maybe CBS will take her on for 60 minutes.

She works with the Today Show sometimes, for AARP. Or she did. Here she and Tom Brokaw are in 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsnYJBzbJUQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIpLWJlpk98

Rumor has it Hoda Kotb is going to get the job. That's a terrible idea! They need to keep her with Kathie Lee, those two are dynamic together!

Hoda's wonderful, she is also dynamite with Kathie Lee...really, the most enjoyable hour of The Today Show is the Kathie Lee and Hoda one.

Poor Ann, she's just being thrown under the biggest bus.

Oh yeah, Hoda is wonderful and she'd do a great job with George, but I don't want to see her leave Kathie Lee. They're the best part.

I agree. Poor Ann.

If it wasnt for Hoda and Kathy Lee, then how would we get gems like this?

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name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="

type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" height="288" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object>

and this

<object width="512" height="288"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/AtlY3BrJwxlp-ELEjH7ZDg"></param><param'>http://www.hulu.com/embed/AtlY3BrJwxlp-ELEjH7ZDg"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/AtlY3BrJwxlp-ELEjH7ZDg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" height="288" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object>

Edited June 24, 201213 yr by Cheap21

Kathie Lee without Hoda would suck.

Unless they can force Regis out of retirement.

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by weareclouds