Matt Lauer a drag on ratings

[Kamie]

He and Howard and Hampton's buddies, right?

TV industry insiders say no amount of NBC executive reshuffling can save the embattled “Today” show — until its longtime co-host throws in the towel.


Lauer has been blamed for the show’s ratings woes, which intensified in June when co-host Ann Curry was suddenly ditched and replaced by Savannah Guthrie.


“This problem is not going to go away until Matt Lauer does,” a prominent former NBC News exec told the Daily News on Tuesday. “He’s great, but fairly or unfairly, his brand is damaged.”


The sentiment comes just as a new production team is poised to take over “Today,” which has fallen into second place this year behind archrival “Good Morning America” in the cutthroat ratings race.


Alexandra Wallace, 46, a TV news veteran with morning show experience and a senior vice president at NBC News, will take charge of the show in the near future. She will appoint a new executive producer to replace Jim Bell, who has been running “Today” since 2005.


Bell was behind the unceremonious ouster of Curry.


Competitors like ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning” are celebrating the move, claiming that Wallace is no turnaround expert.


“Nothing’s changed here,” an industry competitor said of Wallace, a mother of two young children.


“She was put in charge of (Brian Williams’ prime-time magazine) ‘Rock Center’ just earlier this year, and they’re still rock bottom in prime time.” As a top executive at NBC News, she has also had a hand in the slow-motion “Today” ratings collapse.


“They just keep throwing layers of management on this problem,” another competitor said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain...icle-1.1201673

[isabella]

truth is all those morning shows have devolved into a cross of the E channel, food network and TLC channels. they used to be fairly serious programs about the news then sometime in the 1980's you began to see segments about vaccinations, raising children and making meat loaf....of course it all reflects on the dumbing down of america.

[reno]

If Savannah would take her top off I bet the ratings would improve. At least among male viewers and lesbos.

[j shmuck]

Howard showed up as a guest. Bragged how Matt was one of his best friends, they hung out all the time in the Hamptons, sipped wine and badmouthed others.
Then he humped him and licked his ear in an attempt to be edgy

Gee I wonder why America may have soured on Lauer

[Nemo]

America was not ready for an openly gay wigged queer.

[Nemo]

[Kamie]

truth is all those morning shows have devolved into a cross of the E channel, food network and TLC channels. they used to be fairly serious programs about the news then sometime in the 1980's you began to see segments about vaccinations, raising children and making meat loaf....of course it all reflects on the dumbing down of america.

I watched the Today Show from, I don't know, 1980 through 2008. After that I could not take it any more.

[ohmicah]

Matt Lauer and Ann Curry weren't the problem. The content was the problem.


Around Hallowen, during the 3rd hour they did a segment about what celebrities were giving out for Halloween candy. On the list of 3 were Chris Rock, Heidi Klumm(?) and Beth and Howard Stern. They made a big production out of it with the celebrity bags monogramed with the celebrities names. The Stern bag with Jolly Ranchers was monogramed "B & H Stern". No mention of the other celebrity spouses was made.

You can't blame the talent for content like that.

[VAsiCkBoy]

Matt Lauer in drag:

[SouthernListen]

Daytime TV. And you wonder why they tried to keep women from voting for so long.

[stripes]

i agree with all, hokey morning banter in between stoopud fucking arts & crafts or lameass cooking peices is tough to watch. the locals do it also, fuck that i just want straight news in my morning routine. no hokey extended weather no goofy banter thats not funny, i found cnbc & bloomberg are awesome in the morning. adults only.

[fccstandards]

i agree with all, hokey morning banter in between stoopud fucking arts & crafts or lameass cooking peices is tough to watch. the locals do it also, fuck that i just want straight news in my morning routine. no hokey extended weather no goofy banter thats not funny, i found cnbc & bloomberg are awesome in the morning. adults only.

I remember how they always had to race through the cooking segments because they were short on time. It was totally stupid. I assume they still do it.

[stripes]

I remember how they always had to race through the cooking segments because they were short on time. It was totally stupid. I assume they still do it.

ya, it never made any sense on any level

[Hateman]

Yet retards still show up at 5 in the morning to stand out that window.

[Kamie]

Yet retards still show up at 5 in the morning to stand out that window.

That's great! Yes they do.

[Wesmantooth]

he should hit Howie up for some suggestions on wigs

[AmishGirl]

truth is all those morning shows have devolved into a cross of the E channel, food network and TLC channels. they used to be fairly serious programs about the news then sometime in the 1980's you began to see segments about vaccinations, raising children and making meat loaf....of course it all reflects on the dumbing down of america.

Amen to that .....

[Missypooh RN]

I remember how they always had to race through the cooking segments because they were short on time. It was totally stupid. I assume they still do it.

YEP! I HATE that!

How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner...in 30 seconds... GO!!!!!!!!!!

So annoying..

[PumpkinBeer700]

People hate him for getting ann curry fired! the truth will set you free

[Kamie]

People hate him for getting ann curry fired! the truth will set you free

I don't watch Today any longer, but I actually felt really bad for her. She seems very....earnest. I think it hit her really, really hard.