Katie Couric Announces Departure on Today

Today marks Couric’s 15th anniversary on Today amid swirling rumors that she’d mark the occasion by announcing her departure from the show. The opening was business as usual at Studio 1A. Was she more perky than usual? Maybe. Maybe not.

Then … at 7:30 a.m. EST …

“I wanted to tell all of you out there who have watched the show for the past 15 years that after listening to my heart and my gut — two things that have served me pretty well in the past — I have decided that I will be leaving Today at the end of May. It was really a very difficult decision for a lot of different reasons. First of all, because of the connection I feel with you. I know I don’t know the vast majority of you personally. It may sound kind of corny but I really feel as if we’ve become friends.”

Couric then thanked the crew, NBC, the staff and cast — even evoking a line from the Wizard of Oz to describe Matt Lauer. After Couric’s monologue was finished, Lauer — who we rarely find even mildly amusing — turned to the camera to deadpan “Also coming up in this half-hour …” Funny.

Lauer later indirectly asked where she might be going, to which Couric, calling it America’s worst-kept secret, said the CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes.

Couric Stay or Go? Odds Calculator:
1:1,000,000,000 | Couric leaves Today

Couric Watch: Set Your Alarms For 7:30AM [TVNewser]
Katie Couric Contract Countdown: 58 Days Left
Katie Couric Contract Countdown: 59 Days Left
Katie Couric Contract Countdown: 62 Days Left
Katie Couric Contract Countdown: 63 Days Left
Katie Couric Contract Countdown: 64 Days Left
Katie Couric Contract Countdown: 65 Days Left

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