NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

NBC to Gifford: Don’t plug your wine on show

NEW YORK

Booze may be an oft-mentioned topic when Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb are hosting the fourth hour of the “Today” show, but one alcoholic beverage they won’t be talking about is Gifford’s new wine line.

In an interview Tuesday, Gifford said NBC has asked her not to plug her new Gifft chardonnay and red blend on the show.

“They let me announce it, and then they’ve asked us to please not discuss it right now,” Gifford said. “We’re in the middle of the big takeover of a major corporation. I think they just want to be — and rightfully so — very careful.”

NBC’s owner, Comcast Corp., says it wants to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. If the deal is approved, it would combine the nation’s two top cable companies and create a dominant force in both creating and delivering entertainment.

Scott weds girlfriend

NEW YORK

NBC says 80-year-old Willard Scott has married his longtime girlfriend.

The veteran “Today” show personality and Paris Keena were wed Tuesday in Fort Myers, Fla. They have been together for about 11 years, “Today” host Matt Lauer said in sharing the news on Wednesday morning’s telecast.

Scott has been a part of “Today” since 1980.

Associated Press