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Report: Matt Lauer Making Key Decisions, Berating ‘Today’ Staff

Sep 19, 2012  •  Post A Comment

With NBC’s "Today" sinking in the ratings, Matt Lauer has reportedly stepped up his role on the morning show, inserting himself into the show’s key decisions and berating staff for not trying hard enough, reports the New York Post’s Page Six.

Lauer’s new, more assertive role behind the scenes was described as “anchor animal” by NBC sources cited in the story.

The staff has also been banned from mentioning rival "Good Morning America," according to the report. In the past, staff would discuss the high points of segments from rival shows.

Lauer and executive producer Jim Bell have been meeting to come up with ways to boost the show’s ratings. Meanwhile, the program continues to finish behind ABC’s "Good Morning America."

The show is considering hiring "Morning Joe" co-host Willie Geist, while "The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell" executive producer Izzy Povich could also join the show, the piece notes.

Asked for comment, Lauer said, "Please print this story — it’s the most interesting and dangerous I’ve ever sounded!”

Added Bell: "By the way, I’m the producer of the ‘Today’ show.”

6 Comments

  1. Well one way they could fix things is to not label anything the Royals do as “Breaking News.” Or, maybe just throttle back on the Royals coverage a bit in general.

  2. I hear Ann Curry laughing!

  3. Bring back Ann.. she is genuine and caring.. they should have never fired her!

  4. The tighter you squeeze, the less you have.

  5. Hey, Jim Bell — I have an idea, get rid of Lauer and Roker. They’re paid far too much for what they give back.

  6. Too many changes in co-hosts on this show and the wrong co-hosts. As with Ann Curry the current Savannah Guthrie really tries to hard to be funny, clever, whatever as her interaction is completely forced. There’s no comfort level and it’s hard to watch. And as much as the Royals crap may be what some women want to see, if there’s another story about these people most viewers will just want to scream. Same with Justin Bieber’s mother. Justin Bieber’s mother! Really? Two days of Justin Bieber’s mother!! That type of content is a complete turnoff.
    They gotta lot of work to do on that show. But they don’t want to be the Mitt Romney of morning shows so Matt taking over might be a good thing.

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