The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
‘Today’ anchor debuts daily talk show
Tamron Hall hopes to break bad-luck streak.
In recent years, the syndicated talk show landscape has been littered with failed efforts by wellknown celebrities and journalists ranging from Katie Couric and Anderson Cooper to Harry Connick Jr. and Queen Latifah.
But syndicators aren’t willing to give up finding the next Ellen DeGeneres — or even just somebody who could last a few years.
Tamron Hall, the first black female anchor on “Today,” hopes to break this bad-luck streak with her new chat show nationally debuting today. In Atlanta, it will air on Channel 2 WSB-TV at 3 p.m., replacing “The Dr. Oz Show,” which moves to CBS 46. She is also a newlywed with music executive Steve Greener and a new mom to a son, Moses.
She recently sat down with the AJC to discuss why she chose to do this and addressed her abrupt departure in 2017 on “Today” just as the ill-fated, short-lived Megyn Kelly show entered the picture.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
You’ve had the wildest three years. Sometimes your career goes haywire. You were focused
on your career. Then Megyn Kelly came along, and things didn’t go so great.
It was interesting … She was made an offer she should not refuse. I was given one I could refuse.
You could have stayed.
I could have stayed, but I chose to leave because the offer I felt did not match what I put into the investment.
You put a worth on yourself. So you decided at this point in your life there were other opportunities that might present themselves?
There were other opportunities, but I didn’t know what they were. I just knew at 48, I could not retire because my bank account did not match Bill Gates.
I’m sure it was a scary few months.
It was a scary two years. But if we succumb to fear, we would never try anything new. We wouldn’t go on a new date. We won’t meet new people. For me, while it was a job, it was a bigger reflection I think of all of us, that ability to believe in yourself or the ability to take that leap of faith.
Will this be a newsy type show like “The View” or will it be more pre-taped?
We’re going live three days a week. We have two taped shows. We want to be current and day of. People know I’m a journalist.
There will be some episodes that will be evergreen?
There are some conversations that are so in-depth, you want to build on them. If we’re doing a crime story, we need to dig deep for the emotional impact … There are some celebrities nervous to go on live television. If they come on, the criteria are you have to come to play. I don’t want you to come on our show and say, “Here’s my movie, b-bye”’ If we can get someone and say, “We can tape my show and I’ll talk to you about your divorce and who you are.” When we talk celebrity interviews, we’re so sick of it. I think it’s because it’s very fast food.
Your life has changed quite a bit. You are married and had a kid. How does that change your priorities? Work used to be all-encompassing.
It’s on-the-job training. I wish I had an eloquent answer. I’m doing the best I can like most people. I felt like I was in a confessional when I said I have a nanny. A lot of celebrities don’t like to admit it. When I was a kid, it was my aunt’s sister and my aunt who would pick me up when my mom was at work. I happen to live in New York. I have no family near me so I had to bring in someone to help me who I adore, and my son adores her. And I respect this woman tremendously, for what she’s brought to me, this opportunity to be here in Atlanta promoting my show knowing my son is safe.
Your husband is not in front of the camera, but he’s in the entertainment business. So, he understands that his name may come up once in awhile on a talk show.
He’s OK. He’s not an element in the show. He manages some very high-profile entertainers. His energy and his spirit are about lifting up other people. He’s not in my background, but he’s shadowing and making sure things are OK.
Were you drawn to him immediately?
I was not drawn to him immediately. He might tell you that I was, but that is not the truth. I was on a break from my show. I’d known him for awhile and because work was not all-encompassing as it had been…
Your brain was freed up?
My brain was freed up. That’s exactly how I’d describe it. I met this man who reached for me. He’s always giving me great advice even if I don’t take it or don’t agree. But in the end, whether it’s a companion, whether it’s a friend, you want someone who is rooting for you… If you have a significant other, you want the same thing.
What do you hope people get out of the show?
I hope they see themselves. I hope they see something they’ve talked about, part of their journey. The exterior of me may not look like you, but I am you inside. I was the person that was the underdog. I am the underdog. I left a job because they were willing to bet on someone else and not me. I’m not mad about it. I’m not bitter about it.