The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz profiles the top network morning show for more than 13 years, NBC's Today show.

"Other morning shows take an ensemble approach as well, but top-rated 'Today' fields a core team &madsh; [Matt] Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker, who were joined by [Meredith] Vieira more than two years ago — that has been showing up for breakfast for a long time," he writes.

Kurtz also has the pre-announcement news that Lauer will interview President Barack Obama to air before Sunday's Super Bowl.

He also looks at the fierce competition with ABC's Good Morning America — the silver medalist in the morning news category. "Whenever 'GMA' has narrowed the ratings gap, Lauer says, 'it's an awful feeling,'" writes Kurtz.

(photo by Michael Temchine for The Washington Post)

> Update: NBC's release is after the jump. The interview will be live...

NBC News' Matt Lauer will sit down with President Barack Obama for a live interview during NBC's Super Bowl Pre-Game. The interview will be the President's first television interview from the White House since his inauguration. The live interview will air Sunday, February 1 during NBC's Super Bowl Pre-Game. More of the interview will air Monday, February 2 on NBC News' "Today."

NBC Sports' coverage of the Super Bowl begins at Noon ET, Sunday, February 1. Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today" (Mon.-Fri., 7-11 a.m.).