"After a year as co-host, and days of fevered speculation about her future, [Ann] Curry steps down [Thursday morning] from the high-profile post" on the ‘Today’ show, USA Today reports.
In her first public interview since news of NBC wanting to remove her from the "Today" show was first reported, Curry told USA Today " ‘I know I am not to blame for the [‘Today’ show’s] ratings worries. And my bosses have said to me there are many factors involved. There is no doubt that the rating wars have become meaner and less focused on our responsibilities as journalists,’ though she says some at Today do ‘brilliant work. And the show is still No. 1 in terms of ratings,’ she quickly adds."
As the article explains, "ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ broke NBC’s 16-year winning streak in April and has taken three additional weeks since then."
The USA Today story notes that Curry "makes no secret that the very public process that pushed her out of the co-host chair amid rumor-fed headlines has left wounds. ‘I don’t know who has been behind the leaks, but no question they’ve hurt deeply,’ she says. She admits she would have liked more time to work things out as co-host, and she bristles a bit at the suggestion that she lacked ‘chemistry’ with co-host Matt Lauer."
The story adds, "Does she think she was given enough time to work out those kinks? ‘No, I do not,’ she says flatly. Would she have liked more time? ‘Oh, sure I would have,’ she says."
The article says that "Curry, 55, says she was prepared to leave NBC, the network she joined more than two decades ago as a Chicago-based correspondent," but that NBC News president Steve Capus talked her into staying at NBC.
"She will have a big title," USA Today says, " ‘Today’ show anchor-at-large and NBC News national/international correspondent — and a contract negotiated on her behalf by lawyer Robert Barnett that she says lasts ‘a significant amount of time,’ more than just a few years."
The article adds that Curry "declines to discuss her salary but says reports of $10 million or $20 million a year are wrong. ‘I can say that I’d love to earn that much,’ she says."
Sorry Ann, but YOU ARE the reason the ratings are down! You Suck, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Sorry, Joe, but YOU ARE 100% wrong that Ann is the reason ratings are down! Across the board viewership is changing, and NBC is no longer a power house in all other dayparts. Don’t be cruel, and please don’t let the door hit you on your way to apologizing to Ann.
Ann, YOU are GREAT!!! They need to take a look at Matt Pompous Lauer! He is the reason I switched to GMA….
I really hate to hear this; I love Ann Curry. I think the ratings are down because every time I turn around something is changing on the Today Show. Most people don’t like change.
Ok, here it is…
A crap show on a crap network.
I like Ann and they way she interviews. She is kind and calm. I will miss her on the show. That industry is usually temporary for women.. hopefully she will continue to be on TV and will have a great fan base following her.
Really Joe??!!! Show some class. She was a classy woman
Really Joe??!!! Show some class. She was a classy woman.
Does this sound like a repeat of what happened back in 1989 when Deborah Norville came on to the “Today” show? No one is saying that.
NBC is a disaster in prime time, which has been boiling over to late night, which has been spilling over to the early morning and ultimately, “Nightly News.” What’s not to see. This is not ALL about Ann Curry.