‘Today’ could face loss of Vieira and Lauer

By David Bauder

AP Television Writer

NEW YORK

NBC’s “Today” show has been one of the most stable and successful programs in the history of television over the past 15 years. Now it faces the possibility of a major makeover.

Co-host Meredith Vieira, the “newbie” on “Today” with five years in the early-morning anchor chair, is leaning toward leaving when her contract expires in September, according to multiple reports this week. That news was barely digested when an unconfirmed “Entertainment Tonight” story suggested that her partner, Matt Lauer, also may leave when his contract is done in nearly 21 months.

The two anchors have not commented on their futures. “There seems to be an awful lot of speculation on news anchors these days, and it’s not our practice to comment on any of it,” NBC News spokeswoman Megan Kopf said.

As this happens, the “Today” show magic number stands at 798. That’s how many consecutive weeks it has been No. 1 in the morning show ratings — more than 15 years without a loss to ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS’ “The Early Show” or anybody.

It’s a gold mine for NBC, particularly important for the company as the network’s prime-time fortunes collapsed. The program, now four hours long, earned more than a half-billion dollars for NBC News in 2010, more than it ever has.

“A lot of their strength has been that they have had a team together with very strong interpersonal relationships for a long time,” said David Westin, former ABC News president.

The team goes beyond the two main anchors, and it is one comfortable with itself and with viewers. Lauer has been with the show since 1994 and co-anchor since replacing Bryant Gumbel in 1997. Newsreader Ann Curry has been there since 1997. Utility player Al Roker, who forecasts weather, does features and anchors the 9 a.m. hour, joined in 1996.

Vieira, 57, in an interview with Ladies’ Home Journal, said, “I’ll know when it’s time to go, and I’m not afraid to go.” Curry seems an obvious replacement. After she wasn’t given the job in 2006, she stayed on and reinvented herself as a reporter.

Lauer is another issue entirely. It’s hard to know what to make of the report he’s poised to leave. Networks have been known to leak stories to nudge action on a contract extension. Agents have also played the press to increase pressure on a company to raise a salary offer.

Then again, 17 years is a long time to wake up for work in the middle of the night.

There are no obvious candidates in line to replace him.