So it’s official: Meredith Vieira is making the leap from The View to Today; by late summer, she’ll fill the vacancy left at NBC’s top-rated morning show when Katie Couric exits in May.
I know some Today loyalists will decry the decision by NBC brass not to promote from within — Weekend Today co-host Campbell Brown, Today news reader Ann Curry, and correspondent Natalie Morales were all reportedly considered front-runners for the job — but I think it’s a shrewd move. In Vieira, NBC lands a co-host who’s likable and funny, has serious news credentials (with eight Emmys under her belt), and possesses an inherent star power that both Morales and the insufferably earnest Curry seem to lack.
With ABC’s Good Morning America, a close No. 2 in the ratings, poised to try to close the gap while Today is in transition, Vieira seems like the smartest bet in both the short and long term. I mean, I’m certainly not planning to change my Today-based viewing habits, unless of course Vieira’s chemistry with Matt Lauer, Al Roker, and Curry proves disastrous. But considering her View gig requires her to juggle the feuding Star Jones and Joy Behar, plus eerie host-bot Elisabeth Hasselbeck, her new assignment ought to be easy-breezy.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Will you choose Today when Vieira takes over, or look to one of the show’s competitors?
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Its a good move by NBC…but I feel that is a bit old for the morning show.
Farewell Matt, Al, and Ann! I have watched the Today show faithfully for about 10 years, and I will miss you. There’s no way I can watch Meredith Vieira every morning. What a shame.
Today is totally Fly Latin Hotties Day. First Eva Longoria’s space article, and now ya’ll post about how a Portuguesa is getting the hot spot for the today’s show. You guys been reading my secret wishlist or something?
Can’t say I blame Meredith Viera for wanting to get away from the gruesome twosome (Joy & Star) on The View.
I think Meredith is great, she makes The View watchable and will be a good addition to Today. I don’t think Ann Cury has enough Spunk to pull it off.
Has no one else noticed how much Mere and Katie resemble each other? I mean, it’s almost freaky.
Cool…I can start watching the Today show again. I don’t blame Meridith for ditching the View, anything to get away from Star, Joy and the Fembot.
I think it’s a good move, even though I actually watch CBS early show with Harry Smith. But Vieira is the only ‘View’ host that is easily likeable, and made a better game show host than Regis. I wish her luck
I don’t watch the View but from what I hear MV is the conservative, republican one on the panel. I think from now on, I’ll get my news on CBS…from Katie Couric.
Great move by NBC – I love Meredith. She will be a great addition to the Today show staff.
I think Meredith is the perfect comfortable slipper for the job,just like when Diane Sawyer took over GMA. People like & are familiar with her, yet she never lost her credibility in the mess that is the View. I think Star’s tears today were very much of the don’t-leave-me-alone! school. I bet that Babs is going to have to change the seating arrangement so that Elisabeth is between Star & Joy. Over the years, Joy’s wit has just turned into bitter, attitudinal venom. That that tongue is allowed on live television makes for great viewing. Let’s hope that now that the peacekeeper is going, they don’t try to muzzle Joy. If they do, the show will be dead before its 10th bday.
I find Meredith very entertaining and, contrary to what someone else said earlier, she’s liberal and refreshingly candid. She is a proven journalist and can ‘table talk’ with the best of ‘em. I’ll definitely be watching.
That being said, I am somewhat disappointed that no thought (as far as I know. I’m not really privy to these things) was given to a woman of colour. Jackie Reid, the previous house of BET News comes to mind. Likeable, intelligent, accomplished. I’m tired of the cookie cutter formula. Black people can do more than report on the weather and make corny jokes.
Mike, I’m not sure who you are getting your info from, but Meredith is not the republican one, shes actually quite liberal and vocal about it, I think you are thinking of Elizabeth, shes the conservative one. I think that Meredith will do great job, i just hope that the view can find someone worthy to replace her, after all she does keep the show going.
Good insight @ CYW..i dont watch the today show that often anyway.
I feel NBC made the right decision. I only watch the view because of Meredith and ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ is more tolerable to view (no pun intended)with her as the host than Regis. Smart move NBC!
It will be interesting to see if Ann and Campbell defect from NBC. I’m not a big fan of the Today Show, but I do watch on Saturday mornings with Campbell for a few minutes. Kinda a slap in the face that they were overlooked.
I advise everyone to chuck watching ridiculous outdated morning chitchat shows and start listening to Morning Edition on NPR. It is informitive, topical and often funny without the Matt Lauer hair. Plus you can start your moring entertainment at your home and continue on your commute to work. Give it a chance my people.
She looks like Katie Couric.
I don’t know, everytime i see her she reminds me of my mom at a dinner party. Not something i would want to see every morning (no offense mom).
Depending on how she identifies herself, they did hire a woman of color. A lot of Portuguese consider themselves Latino (all the ones in Congress do anyway), and Latinos are still considered “of color” , aren’t we?
The View is gonna suck (even moreso) without Meredith. Unhinged Joy, egomaniacal Starr and Bush-puppet Elizabeth will have to find someone else to play mediator.
I actually like Meredith much more than Katie so I’m pleased.
I think it’s a slap in the face for Ann and Campbell either one of them deserves to be in that position haven’t they proven themselves? Meredith has never subbed for Katie? If I were Ann and Campbell I would start looking for a new job. So much for promoting from within.
I think Meredith is an excellent choice but…I’m sticking with Good Morning America. I’m already a loyal viewer and, as a 19 year-old male, I think Diane Sawyer is a likable, credible, funny, and hot host. I’ll take her, thanks.
You can’t blame NBC for not promoting from within. “Today” is a very profitable show, and they probably want to keep it that way. When there was no one at NBC, they went and got the very best from elsewhere. I look for “Today” to only improve with Meredith. Her sense of humor is right on…This AM on “The View,” Meredith said, about going to “Today,” “I’ll guess I’ll have to start showing up sober.”
I wish Meredith Vieira would go back to hosting Intimate Portrait on Lifetime….
actually, I wish Lifetime would go back to making Intimate Portrait.
yuk yuk yuk
Meredith is one of those few people that can simultaneously portray a fun and serious side…something Katie tried to do, but greatly lacked in the latter. While I would have liked to see a smooth transition with an in-house promotion, I can concede that Meredith is a viable, top-notched choice for NBC if it wants to hold on to its number one status.
That, and it’s about time Meredith pulled herself away from the group of bimbos she’s forced to work with at The View. I swear, one is a puppet, the other is bitter, and one is just plain HUUUUUUUNGRY! Kudos to Meredith for moving on from such a toxic environment…here’s wishing her the best!
It’s weird, I’ve always liked Meredith V. (MUCH more than Katie Couric). She seems smart and relatable. I don’t watch morning TV, but good choice NBC! (And Doppelganger, I posted about Katie’s and Meredith’s resemblance yesterday). p.s. EW is way behind the news here, Meredith as Katie’s replacement was unofficial news even before Katie officially retired, courtesy of Yahoo!
NOPE, Not gonna do it. I cannot stomach Meredith Viera. On the View I found her self-righteous and smug. Thank Heavens for Diane Sawyer!!!!!! Ciao Katie, Matt, Al, and Ann.