Ann Curry mess: Did NBC learn nothing from Conan O'Brien?

[muslimahpj]

Ann Curry mess: Did NBC learn nothing from Conan O'Brien?

By Sharon Waxman | Reuters â€“ 9 hrs ago

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LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Ann Curry's messy exit suggests that despite NBC's new regime the new crew has learned nothing from the old crew and the ghost of Conan O'Brien.

Once again, a prominent piece of talent - this time Curry - was left hanging out to dry, embarrassing the network, angering dedicated viewers and rewarding a loyal employee with an undignified escort to the curb.

In the case of Conan O'Brien in 2010, the bungled management of his failed turn as "Tonight Show" host turned the 16-year, true-blue veteran of the network into an embittered enemy with an army of Twitter followers. It spelled the end of network chief Jeff Zucker. It tarnished NBC's brand and cost them a pile of money.

The departure from the "Today" show of Curry, a 15-year veteran of NBC, may not be as bad a debacle, but it's hardly been elegant.

Her official exit as "Today" co-host on Thursday followed more than a week of frenzied speculation in the media and on the web about her fate, leading the morning co-host to finally break her silence to USA Today on Wednesday and say that she has been "hurt deeply" by the leaks and gossip.

What happened this time? Insiders tell TheWrap that people within NBC News - Matt Lauer, NBC News chief Steve Capus and "Today" show executive producer Jim Bell - were divided over Curry.

Some felt she was the source of the once-dominant show's declining ratings. Others said the show itself had lost its dynamism and its wide ratings lead over "Good Morning America" for other reasons.

Ultimately, two insiders told TheWrap, NBC CEO Steve Burke had to step in and adjudicate the situation.

Particularly damaging were the multiple leaks to The New York Times in which unnamed NBC insiders said Curry had too much "empathy," and lacked chemistry with Lauer. That led Curry's lawyer Robert Barnett to wring every advantage out of the standoff; he was in no hurry to give NBC a quick conclusion.

So negotiations took more than a week.

On Thursday Curry broke down in tears as she told viewers that she'd be leaving her dream job to be a roving correspondent for NBC News.

For Lauer's sake, he had better hope ratings start to climb again, because from here on in he won't have Curry as an excuse.

Savannah Guthrie, Curry's presumed successor, also may face challenges if she gets the job. NBC's high-profile coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games in London - with former "Today" co-host Meredith Vieira already touted as a special correspondent - could leave Guthrie in the shadows.

Television observers - including plenty of passionate commenters on TheWrap and elsewhere - insist that Curry was only a small part of "Today" show's problems.

Either way, the network has once again managed to wring a lose-lose out of a delicate management situation.

[romalove]

 The seeds for the Conan debacle were set years before he took over the Tonight Show job.  In essence, he was promised the job and Leno was told when the switch would happen, but it had nothing to do with what Leno or viewers wanted.  NBC wanted to keep both men, but there was only one slot they both coveted.   Ann Curry had been passed over for the co-anchor job before, and was given it this time because she was "presumed" to be deserving of the chair, but there were always doubts at NBC as to her demeanor and personality and whether it was a good mesh for that position.

We'll see what happens now.  I think GMA has a more "poppy" and less newsy morning show now, and that can be attractive to a lot of people.  It also differentiates itself from Today much more than trying to be the same as Today.

All life is change.  I just keep remembering all the people we're talking about have tons of money and in the end they will all be fine lol.

[andiemomo3]

I watch CBS. I have no idea who Curry is.

[TCgirlatheart]

I can't stand most of the morning shows. They're too "fluffy" for me. I have a small amount of time to see/hear news, I'd like it to actually BE news. Even the cable channels are fluff.
That said, when I did watch, I always liked Ann, and I'm saddened to hear this has happened.

[mikiemom]

I personally think Matt Lauer is the problem. The viewers loved  Anne Curry, sounds like the today show is in a downward spiral.

[lga1965]

 I was really shocked that they "fired" Ann Curry---that was harsh and unfair, as it seems they blame her for the Today Show ratings . It was hard to watch her last day---she was hurt and emotional and I had sympathy for her. No matter how much money they awarded her, it was still demoralizing and heartless to use her as a scapegoat and FIRE her. I felt just as outraged when they fired Jane Pauley and replaced her with Deborah Norville back in the 80's. Jane was so superior to Norville...but they seemed to be going for a "younger image", as if that matters at all. Norville was a flop.

The Conan Obrien debacle was another big mistake ---NBC is brainless. I'm watching ABC's GMA now.

[wenchmommy381]

The people who really bring down the show are Savannah Guthrie, Tamron Hall, and Jenna Wolfe. Ann Curry was fantastic. 

That was a messy departure, and it was filled with derision for NBC-- albeit delivered with Curry's usual gentle demeanor. They're giving her something I think she would have wanted BEFORE she became co-anchor, but not what she wants now. 

I cried. My son was surprised to see that the other reporters seem "over it" this morning, but I told him that their job is to deal with stuff like that. 

People like Katie Couric-- Lord knows why. She shows up on Good Morning America, and people will watch her. Nevermind that she royally screwed up her job at CBS. 

[Wife2AGeek]

I love Ann Curry.  Loved her voice, her demeanor.  If the Leno/Conan crap wasn't bad enough, this pretty much sent me looking for another channel to watch the morning news.  I know she still has a position there on Today, but I hope a bigger and better job is looming in her future.  Matt can shrivel...

[cjsbmom]

I think they are idiots for dismissing her. But I can attest that as a journalist, you are not supposed to have any empathy. It was the part of the job I found the hardest, because I thought it was cruel to call people up who had just lost a loved one in an accident and try to get comment from them. But that's the life of a reporter. And if you're not willing to do it, you find yourself at the curb, just like Ann Curry.

[sunshinebebe26]

Quoting wenchmommy381:

The people who really bring down the show are Savannah Guthrie, Tamron Hall, and Jenna Wolfe. Ann Curry was fantastic. 

That was a messy departure, and it was filled with derision for NBC-- albeit delivered with Curry's usual gentle demeanor. They're giving her something I think she would have wanted BEFORE she became co-anchor, but not what she wants now. 

I cried. My son was surprised to see that the other reporters seem "over it" this morning, but I told him that their job is to deal with stuff like that. 

People like Katie Couric-- Lord knows why. She shows up on Good Morning America, and people will watch her. Nevermind that she royally screwed up her job at CBS. 

What exactly did Katie Couric do?

[la_bella_vita]

 I think they most definitely made mistakes with both. I do not watch anything on NBC. I no longer watch the today show and I do not watch Leno.