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Mark Zinni, Matt Lauer and the Tweet Heard ‘Round the World

Merrill Knox — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:33:12 +0000

As our sister site TVNewser has been reporting, there has been a media pile-on about the future of NBC’s “Today” — and specifically co-host Matt Lauer — this week. On Tuesday, an executive producer at Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW asked weekend anchor Mark Zinni, who interned at “Today” in 1997, for his take on the situation.

Zinni responded that Lauer was “not so nice” to him while he was there. The producer, Darren Sweeney, tweeted the quote, using Lauer’s twitter handle. And that’s where the snowball effect began. On Wednesday, Lauer responded:

@markzinni huh? Always tried to be nice Mark. Sorry you didn’tthink so. Hope you’re doing well.Matt

— Matt Lauer (@MLauer) March 27, 2013

Thursday, Zinni appeared on WJW to address the situation (video here). Zinni also set the record straight on WJW’s website, saying he’s not disgruntled:

If you know me, you probably know that I don’t take myself too seriously. So, my answer was more of a joke about being young and naive during my time at Today, but I added that he wasn’t nice to me.

I didn’t slam the guy, I just made an honest comment.

[...] Bottom line, I was shocked Matt Lauer even bothered with me and, really, he remembers me? I’m flattered.

I’m not disgruntled (thanks, BuzzFeed!) but I am someone who’s happy to be working at the best station in my hometown with wonderful people. By the way, Katie [Couric] and Ann [Curry] were great, but now I start my day with FOX 8 News in the Morning.

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NBC Affiliates Post Story About Ann Curry’s Struggles with the Mothership

Kevin Eck — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:36:53 +0000

In what may be more of a sign of the times than a break with protocol, at least two NBC affiliates have posted the recent story about former “Today Show” co-anchor Ann Curry allegedly begging to be let out of her NBC contract so she can work for her old boss Jeff Zucker at CNN.

Spokane NBC Affiliate KHQ posted a version of the story attributed to British publication the Daily Mail (click here to view). While the story on the website of West Palm Beach NBC affiliate WPTV (click here to view) has a byline from the station’s online content producer.

Steven Wasserman, vice president and general manager of WPTV told TVSpy, “I suspect this story will be on our air tonight on “ET” or “The Insider”. Why wouldn’t we put it on our website? I don’t think it’s a good idea to not run a legit, talk about story just because it has to do with our network.”

You can view screen grabs of the stories after the jump. continued…

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NBC Affiliates Reflect on ‘Today’ Show’s Struggles

Merrill Knox — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:34:19 +0000

As NBC News prepares a shift in the executive ranks at “Today,” Broadcasting & Cable‘s Michael Malone talks to the NBC affiliates (subscription required) about the program, which has been dethroned by ABC’s “Good Morning America” this year.

“My news director would prefer it to be more heavy news than fluffier—he and I have had that conversation,” says Derek Rogers, general manager at WMGT Macon (Ga.), who adds that he has not seen a difference.

Most feel it’s a personnel issue — that Ann Curry’s Today promotion, and subsequent departure, was mishandled; that Matt Lauer was dinged up in the imbroglio; and that Savannah Guthrie hasn’t yet won her way into America’s bedrooms and family rooms. “I believe they simply went through transition/growing pains after Meredith’s departure that exposed weaknesses in their legacy dominance,” says Evan Pappas, president/ general manager at KOAA Colorado Springs, who expresses “great confidence” in the Today brain trust getting things moving.

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Former KVOA, KMIZ Reporter Savannah Guthrie Named ‘Today’ Co-Host

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:01:09 +0000

NBC made it official today: Savannah Guthrie has been named co-host of the “Today” show, one day after Ann Curry ended her year-long tenure as Matt Lauer‘s sidekick.

Guthrie, a native of Tucson, spent the early part of her career moving up the local market ladder. She worked as a reporter at KMIZ in Columbia, MO and later at KVOA in Tucson, before attending law school.

“As soon as Savannah joined NBC News she was a standout,” “Today” executive producer Jim Bell said. “She has a one-of-a-kind combination of sharp wit and approachability, and our viewers value her journalistic skills and legal background just as much as her humor and charm.” Read more at TVNewser

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KNBC Keeps Ann Curry News a Secret During Morning Show

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:39:58 +0000

Los Angeles NBC O&O KNBC kept the news of Ann Curry‘s departure from the “Today” show a secret during its morning newscast Thursday.

Unlike its NBC sister stations on the West Coast, KNTV and KNSD, who both reported on Curry’s departure, KNBC decided not to mention the news before the start of “Today.”

Curry’s teary announcement came around 8:50 a.m. ET so NBC stations on the West Coast had to decide whether or not they were going to break the news on their shows. continued…

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Ann Curry Says an Emotional Goodbye to ‘Today’

Merrill Knox — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:04:55 +0000

After a week of public speculation about her future on “Today,” co-host Ann Curry tearfully bid farewell to the NBC program at the close of this morning’s broadcast.

Curry has been on “Today” for 15 years, spending 14 years as newsreader and the last year as co-host.

“After all of these years, I don’t even know if I can sleep in anymore. I don’t even know if I can, but I know that whatever time I wake up, I know I’ll be missing you,” Curry said. “For all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line, but I sure did try.”

TVNewser has details of Curry’s new role at NBC, as well as video of her goodbye.

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NBC’s Natalie Morales Handles ‘Today’ Affiliate Teases

Merrill Knox — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:35:27 +0000

With Ann Curry‘s exiting “Today,” viewers nationwide have seen some changes on local NBC stations.

“Today” show news reader Natalie Morales has handled the teases for the NBC affiliates for the past two weeks, according to a search of TVEyes. It was first reported last Thursday that NBC executives were preparing a plan to replace Curry before the Olympics, which begin next month.

Several NBC-affiliates reported on their early newscasts that Curry would be saying goodbye to “Today” this morning. continued…

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B&C: NBC Affiliates Back Plan to Replace Ann Curry on ‘Today’

Merrill Knox — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:30:01 +0000

The rumor mill about talent changes on NBC’s “Today” continues to churn. The latest news, from The Hollywood Reporter, is that Ann Curry will remain at NBC in a “substantial” role after her exit from the program, a move which is supported by the NBC affiliates, Broadcasting & Cable‘s Michael Malone reports:

The NBC affiliates have heard nothing from the network about changes to frontline talent at the venerable franchise, and several station chiefs were reluctant to speak on the record, including affiliates board chairman Jordan Wertlieb, until things are official. But several say the problems at Today, which has famously seen its lead over ABC’s Good Morning America shrink in recent months, will continue until a change is made. They echo the oft-uttered charge that Curry and Matt Lauer lack chemistry, believe she does not successfully connect with female viewers, and say Curry is too rigid on the show’s frilly bits.

“The thing we look for in television is chemistry, chemistry, chemistry,” says one East Coast GM at an NBC station who asked to not be named. continued…

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Natalie Morales Is Preferred Choice to Replace Ann Curry on ‘Today’

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:46:42 +0000

Natalie Morales is the preferred pick to replace Ann Curry on NBC’s “Today” show, at least among TVSpy readers.

According to a recent TVSpy poll, posted last week amid reports that Curry was leaving “Today,” Morales is the top choice, followed very closely by Savannah Guthrie, who many believe will ultimately replace Curry.

The poll listed five choices as Curry’s replacement. In addition to Morales and Guthrie, there was Hoda Kotb, Robin Roberts, and Sue Simmons. Simmons, who recently left WNBC after more than three decades at the anchor desk there, was the sentimental favorite, coming in third place with 20.29% of the votes. continued…

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Who Should Replace Ann Curry?

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:20:52 +0000

According to a report from The New York Times, followed up on by TVNewser, Ann Curry is leaving NBC’s “Today” show.

Savannah Guthrie is considered the favorite to replace her, but other names are in the mix (apparently Robin Roberts was on NBC’s short list last year to replace Meredith Vieira). So who do you think should replace Curry? Vote in our poll below…

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KUSA’s Kyle Dyer Appears on ‘Today’

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:59:41 +0000

After sharing her story in an interview on KUSA last week, Kyle Dyer appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning.

Dyer spoke in detail with Ann Curry about her physical recovery, saying that she hasn’t considered how the change in her appearance will affect her on-air career.

“I’ve never been freaked out or worried or scared,” Dyer told Curry. “I just knew it was all going to work out” (video above).

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Reporting on the Red Sox Collapse, Boston Stations Feel City’s Pain

Merrill Knox — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:36:58 +0000

Boston stations spent significant time this morning reporting on the Boston Red Sox, who were shut out of the postseason last night in a late-inning loss that completed a painful September slide, leaving sports-obsessed Boston in mourning.

“Red Sox fans waking up with broken hearts and massive headaches as hopes of the postseason are long gone,” WFXT anchor Gene Lavanchy said soberly at the top of the 6:30 a.m. broadcast.

WBZ‘s David Robichaud and WCVB‘s Kelly Tuthill (who described her live shot as “like the weather — it’s dreary, it’s damp, it’s miserable”) were at Fenway Park to cover the team’s arrival in Boston. “I have a feeling not many of them will want to speak,” Robichaud said shortly before the Red Sox pulled in. continued…

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With Snow Storms Rocking New York, Flagship Stations Forgo Network Morning Shows

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:51:42 +0000

As snow storms rocked the New York area on Monday morning, stations expanded their local coverage in lieu of the regularly scheduled network morning shows.

WABC powered through the morning with local coverage, forgoing “Good Morning America.” WABC’s expanded morning newscast featured weather reporting from senior meteorologist Bill Evans and traffic updates from Joe Nolan. Anchors Ken Rosato and Michelle Charlesworth checked in with reporters NJ Burkett and Lisa Colagrossi, who both covered delays on local commuter trains, as well as Jamie Roth, who covered the status of flights at LaGuardia Airport. At one point, Charlesworth underscored the newscast’s warnings about the dangerous commuting conditions by saying that the WABC morning news team did not commute to work that morning, rather they slept the previous night in a hotel just four blocks away from the studio.

WNBC went with the regularly scheduled “Today” at 7:00 a.m. with Ann Curry and Lester Holt starting off the broadcast with coverage of the blizzard. By the 8:00 o’clock hour, though, WNBC had switched to full local coverage of the weather. The special coverage was anchored by Pat Battle and Erika Tarantal. NBC correspondent Peter Alexander provided a traffic report while driving through New Jersey and reporter Deborah Tamborski spoke to those that braved the commute on Long Island. Katy Tur stayed close to WNBC’s 30 Rock studio, reporting on Manhattan traffic conditions near Central Park. continued…

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