RIP - "Today" Show?

[WheelzVatcher]

As somebody who works in the media you cannot pin the ratings of a show on 1 anchor unless they are the sole host. I truly feel bad for Ann Curry to be treated that way by NBC. I'm surprised she didn't ask to be let go by the network with even more money. Instead she's been given $10 Million to vacate the anchor chair. You can blame chemistry and so many other factors but to be honest I think the real 'blame' is to go to ABC for creating a better morning show (GMA). Since the competition knocked NBC out of first place its somehow Ann's fault. Not cool!

[thepriceis_J]

NBC, the network that doesn't know how to treat its employees. I mean seriously, where the ratings that bad? They couldn't wait until after the Olympics or something? Ann Curry had been with the show for fifteen years and she's unceremoniously shown the door? Who does that? It's appalling and the fact that this isn't the first time they've treated a long-time employee that way should really be a cautionary warning for those long timers who are left.

In the end the Today Show will be fine. Honestly, I don't see why they couldn't wait until after the Olympics. They know they're going to get a huge boost and they should've just seen how long it lasted and then at that point made a decision that was A. Kept inside the network and B. Had a proper exit strategy that involved more than just an "announcement."

I do wish they'd just axe the 4th hour. I love Hota and Kathie Lee. They have a good chemistry and mean well, but just adding another hour because they're too lazy and cheap to put something together to avoid having to give an hour to affiliates is just stupid. Especially in a time when daytime television needs a revolution and some diversity. At least CBS and ABC are trying.

[JerseyBob]

I only listed NBC game shows. But it would be nice for CBS to cut The Talk in half and have a Password revival at 2:00pm.

I completely forgot about the Regis Philbin version on CBS until I read your comment.  I was thinking more along the lines of Password Plus/Super Password.   

[JohnHolder]

They couldn't wait until after the Olympics or something?

They specifically want the new anchor in place for the Olympics.

just adding another hour because they're too lazy and cheap to put something together to avoid having to give an hour to affiliates

Why do people assume this?

[whowouldeverhurtawhammy]

Obviously, NBC has reached a new despicable low to fire Ann.

[Axl]

Obviously, NBC has reached a new despicable low to fire Ann.

She is being treated better than literally 99.9% of people who work in the industry.

The Today show's current formula:
First two hours: Hard news

That's a very generous definition of "hard news," especially after the first half-hour.

[JohnHolder]

That's a very generous definition of "hard news," especially after the first half-hour.

Oh, I know. I was exaggerating to make a point about how it descends into silliness as the four hours go on. I think the only three times I've watched the fourth hour were the last three times I got my car serviced and it was on in the customer service lounge while I was waiting.

[thepriceis_J]

Why do people assume this?

Okay if wasn't that wasn't the reason for it fine, cut that part out. It still seems like a lazy and cheap plan of action regardless of the reason.

[JohnHolder]

Okay if wasn't that wasn't the reason for it fine, cut that part out. It still seems like a lazy and cheap plan of action regardless of the reason.

What if they did it because they thought more people would watch that than game shows/soaps/whatever else they could have put in that time slot? The show had a pretty solid lead over GMA when they expanded it.

[JerseyBob]

Okay if wasn't that wasn't the reason for it fine, cut that part out. It still seems like a lazy and cheap plan of action regardless of the reason.

I wouldn't say it's "lazy," because, even though I have no interest in it, the fourth hour is actually a different show.  Different hosts and different format.  Technically, it even has a different title: Later Today, right?

[JohnHolder]

I wouldn't say it's "lazy," because, even though I have no interest in it, the fourth hour is actually a different show.  Different hosts and different format.  Technically, it even has a different title: Later Today, right?

Not any more. It's "the fourth hour of the Today Show." It's considered separate for the ratings, though.

ETA: The first two hours, the third hour, and the fourth hour are counted separately for ratings.

[GuyWithFace]

^I am actually quite afraid that, should Days ever end, NBC will just add a fifth hour of Today.

[thepriceis_J]

What if they did it because they thought more people would watch that than game shows/soaps/whatever else they could have put in that time slot? The show had a pretty solid lead over GMA when they expanded it.

I understand going with what works, but dang. At that point, they aren't even competing with GMA. They're competing against LMAD and Live with Kelly in some places or other popular syndicated programming. It just seems like an odd choice and I don't see what the problem would've been with an actual interesting program. Although, I guess their choice in hosts made it interesting.

[JohnHolder]

^I am actually quite afraid that, should Days ever end, NBC will just add a fifth hour of Today.

Lauer once joked that his ambition was to stay on the air until he handed off to Brian Williams at 6:30.

ETA: Just looked this up. From the show's Website:

"The fourth hour of TODAY is a ratings success. The show has currently posted the most year-to-year growth of any morning or daytime program, up 8 percent in total viewers and 14 percent in the key demographic of adults 25 to 54."

I'm looking around for how its ratings compare to the direct competition.

[William]

Days is renewed through 2015. By then things may be different (but I'm not holding my breath).