‘Today’ show’s tomorrows are looking less than sunny
Where does “Today” go from here?
A day after NBC announced it had fired anchor Matt Lauer from its crown jewel and cash cow, the tomorrows of the daytime show have never seemed more uncertain.
For the second time in two weeks, morning network viewers were treated to the sight of female co-anchors opening their shows with the news that their male co-workers had been fired for alleged sexual misconduct.
The difference between CBS’ Charlie Rose, axed from “CBS This Morning,” and Lauer speaks to the power and pitfalls of network branding.
Rose was a respected newsman; Lauer, as Tom Cruise might assert, was a glib presence. But CBS has always emphasized the news in their morning coverage. In contrast, NBC pimped the “Today” crew as one big, happy family.
Now daddy has been revealed and rightfully reviled as a pervert.
NBC News President Andrew Lack said in a memo to staffers that Lauer was fired over one complaint but noted, “... we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
Variety yesterday reported that Lauer had allegedly sexually harassed multiple staffers for years.
He reportedly gave a sex toy to one woman with a note as to how he’d like to use it on her. He also allegedly dropped his pants in front of another and became angry when she wouldn’t perform a sex act on him.
As so many other media outlets — CBS, NPR, Fox News — have faced similar scandals in recent weeks, Lack likely felt he had no choice but to get ahead of the story, particularly at a moment when society is saying it will no longer tolerate sexual harassment.
So now “Today” is without its father figure. Who can replace him at the desk?
If you follow NBC’s family analogy, that would make recent hire Megyn Kelly the aunt who shares too much, gives everyone ugly sweaters for Christmas and raves about how generous she is.
Sunday morning anchor Willie Geist is the adult still upset he has to sit at the kids’ table. Ann Curry is the beloved sister who left town under mysterious circumstances. Sorry, folks, but she’s never coming back. Weekend anchor Craig Melvin is the cool cousin who just graduated college and is looking for his big break.
Perhaps, as it hashes it out, NBC can retire the family comparisons. Maybe the network will finally realize it needs to promote the headlines over its talking heads.