Matt Lauer Page 2

Matt Lauer's contract with NBC's Today show has been extended, laying rumours to rest surrounding his dismissal. The network received a number of complaints after Lauer's co-anchor on the morning show, Ann Curry, left. However, NBC has offered its official endorsement of the 56-year-old anchor and released a public statement making clear their intentions to keep Lauer on the show.

Matt Lauer's contract on the Today show has been extended.

The statement, issued on Thursday (12th June), announces Lauer has been signed as host for a number of years to come, at least two according to the NY Times. The NBC executives have released the news that Lauer's contract has been extended but the specific terms are uncertain. It is rumoured his salary could be anything between $20 and $25 million.

Continue reading: Matt Lauer's 'Today' Show Contract Extended By NBC

The latest hilarious celebrity Halloween costume to emerge as viral is that of Today's Matt Lauer who decided he'd bare more flesh than most women this holiday by dressing in Pamela Anderson's famous Baywatch red swimsuit, complete with flotation device!

Pamela Anderson On Her Day Off?

Today pulled out all the stops to make this Halloween better than all before with their theme 'Classic TV Shows.' We saw Al as Mr. T, Kathie Lee and Hoda as The Flintstones' Wilma and Betty, Savannah and Natalie were 70s sitcom stars Laverne and Shirley, Carson Daly was Jon from CHiPs and Willie Geist was David Hasselhoff.

Continue reading: Today's Matt Lauer Dons Pamela Anderson Baywatch Swimsuit For Halloween

After starring as the toast of television on Saturday thanks to her hosting and performing job on Saturday Night Live, Miley Cyrus will look to stake her claim as an early morning natural too when she appears on NBC's Today. The singer will head back to the Rockefeller Plaza on Monday morning (7 Oct.) for a special appearance, providing the musical entertainment for the morning.

Miley will make her last pre-Bangerz appearance on Today

Cyrus won't just be performing on the show either, as the 'We Can't Stop' singer is also having a sit down with show host Matt Lauer in what is her first live television interview since her infamous VMAs appearance. With a new album to promote and a wealth of gossip to file through, we're hoping that her interview will be a revealing and informative one. Following a considerably reserved appearance on SNL, in which she barely gave a passing mention to any of her recent controversies, this may be an opportunity to get Miley to open up and tell us all why she's been acting up lately.

Continue reading: Miley Cyrus To Give First Post-VMAs TV Interview & Live Performance On Monday's 'Today'

Mike Tyson has told The Today Show's Matt Lauer that if he doesn't get help for alcoholism and drug addiction, he will be dead before long.

The former heavyweight champion of the world told a packed press room last week that he was "on the verge of dying" though had been sober for six days. 

He visited the same theme on Thursday's interview, telling Lauer, "When I start drinking and I relapse, I think of dying.When I'm in a real dark mood, I think of dying. And I don't want to be around no more. I won't survive unless I get help."

Continue reading: Mike Tyson Tells Matt Lauer, "If I Don't Get Help, I Will Die."

When Andrew Mason was relieved of his duties as CEO of deal-finding site Groupon, he faced some life decisions: his worth was damaged due to him mainly being paid in shares, which were down 80% - hence his dismissal. You could be forgiven for thinking he was at a loose end.

Loose end? No: he went right back onto Groupon, found a deal for an acoustic guitar and penned a soft rock album, ironically named Hardly Workin’. Alright so he didn’t get a deal on a guitar, but the more ridiculous bit – the soft rock album – that’s all true. “Executives, mid-level management and front-line employees are all sure to find valuable takeaways,” Mr Mason wrote of the album. “I’ve probably listened to the album over a dozen times now, and with each spin I feel like I learn something.”

Continue reading: Ex-Groupon CEO Is Hardly Workin' And He's Got The Soft Rock Album To Prove It

Paula Deen has been in heaps of trouble over her alleged racist comments recently – from getting dropped by The Food Network, to complications in the discrimination case against her and her brother. However, Deen also has her supporters and she isn’t letting minor incidents like that get her down. On Wednesday, she once again tried to explain her side of the story in a heartfelt (sort of) interview on the Today show – the same Today show she skipped out on last week, due to exhaustion.

Deen is sticking to her story.

This time she made an appearance, though, and what an appearance it was. “I’ve had to hold friends in my arms while they’ve sobbed because they know what’s been said about me is not true and I’m having to comfort them,” she told host Matt Lauer. And if you think those were all of Deen’s tearful revelations, you’d be sorely mistaken, because she went on: “I is what I is and I’m not changing,” she said. “There’s someone evil out there that saw what I worked for and wanted it.”

Continue reading: Belated Today Show Appearance Has Paula Deen Reciting Bible Verses In Her Defense

Well this doesn’t look good; Paula Deen – who is shrouded in a sea of controversy following the revelation that she had used a racial epithet - didn’t show up for her scheduled Today Show interview… today.

“We had arranged to do an interview with Paula Deen, it had been going on, the discussions about that interview, throughout the day yesterday with her people," Matt Lauer said in the show's opening. "I spoke to her late afternoon on the phone yesterday and we talked about the fact that it would be an open and candid discussion, no holds barred." The holds were in fact barred, though, by her not being there to open them up. "And this morning, although we have not spoken to her -- she has not called us -- her publicity people have told us she's exhausted and will not be showing up," Lauer said. She’s probably just tired from having to make so many excuses for calling someone a n****r. "Well what I would really like is a bunch of little (N-words) to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties. Now that would be a true Southern wedding, wouldn't it?" she apparently said, which she denies. She did admit, however, to using the awful word when robbed by a black assailant.

"But that's just not a word that we use as time has gone on," Deen said. "Things have changed since the '60s in the South. And my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior. As well as I do."

Continue reading: Paula Deen Is No Show For Today Show Amidst Racism Controversy

Matt Lauer opened up about his frankly horrendous year on television during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday (May 2, 2012). Many viewers perceive Lauer to be the sole reason why former Today show host Ann Curry was replaced on the show, which fell behind ABC rival Good Morning America in the ratings for the first time in years.

"It's been an interesting year - no question about it," Lauer told Leno when asked how he was doing. "I'm not a guy who complains. I love this job, I really do." Lauer - who is reportedly paid $25 million a year - was said to have been "100 per cent" behind the decision to axe Ann, according to sources who spoke with Us Weekly. In an excerpt from Brian Stelter's new book on morning television, it is suggested that the plot to get rid of Curry was titled "Operation Bambi," with one production assistant apparently overhearing Lauer say, "I can't believe I am sitting next to this woman," while on set.

Leno avoided going into detail about the Ann Curry saga, though was asked about a full page ad taken out by Kathie Lee Gifford this week, defending Lauer. "Kathie Lee did something very sweet a couple of weeks ago," he said. "She went around and she just passed around a note and had members of the staff sign it just saying, 'Things are going to be okay."

Continue reading: Matt Lauer Tells Leno, "I'm Not A Guy Who Complains" - REALLY?

With all the hubbub around NBC’s Today show in the past couple of months, you’d think that more people would be tuning in to actually watch the thing.

Unfortunately for the show and its hosts though, apparently not all publicity is good publicity after all. Today’s Matt Lauer in particular, has been getting heaps of press since the beginning of the year – the bad kind. After getting blamed in the media for the firing of his former co-host, Ann Curry, Lauer dropped significantly in both public opinion and ratings. Naturally, that hurt the Today show and NBC, which has been struggling on most fronts lately.

It looks like nothing is working to fix the situation – not even Lauer and co-host Savanah Guthrie making light of the situation a couple of weeks ago at a luncheon at the New York Public Library. “I would like to tackle a teeny white elephant in the room,” Mr. Lauer said as many of the 400 people in the audience leaned in. “We hate being the news.” To that he added a valiant (if joking) attempt to defend Guthrie, saying that: “From the bottom of my heart, I promise to spend all my time and energy the next several weeks and months trying to keep Savannah out of the headlines,” Mr. Lauer said. His jocular remark drew appreciative laughter.

Continue reading: Today Show Recap: Cooper, Lauer And The Story So Far

The changes at NBC just keep on coming – this time it’s Anderson Cooper coming in as the rumoured replacement for Today show host Matt Lauer. There have been conflicting reports of how Lauer himself is taking the change – according to Deadline, the host isn’t too happy about his chosen replacement, while TMZ claims that Lauer is behind Cooper’s appointment all the way. The site reports that Lauer has even planned a meeting with his replacement to discuss the change.

Once again, nothing is set in stone about this transition, as an NBC exec told TMZ that network officials were in "exploratory talks with talent inside and outside of the network. But to read anything specific into that is presumptuous." Whatever the change may be and whenever it may happen, it makes sense in the context of NBC’s plummeting ratings. The network has been replacing and switching around hosts all throughout their programs.

Out with the old, in with the new. But is the 'new' Anderson Cooper?

Continue reading: Is Anderson Cooper Replacing Matt Lauer On The Today Show?

Lauer, Lauer: Were we all fed a pack of lies this week in a report suggesting Matt Lauer almost jumped ship to ABC after the Anne Curry scandal? Either way, it looks as though his time on 'Today' could be up, with NBC bosses eyeing Anderson Cooper as a replacement. Good idea?

Stolen Script Alert! Watch out Breaking Bad fans, there may be season five spoilers out there after actor Bryan Cranston has his new script stolen from his car in Los Angeles this week!

Continue reading: A Week In News: Cooper For Lauer? Jim Carrey Shoots Down NRA, Breaking Bad Script On The Loose!

Matt Lauer’s future at NBC has been in some doubt for a while now, with controversy after controversy coming his way. His network aren’t totally dumb though, and they’re lining up Anderson Cooper to fill his boots, should they be made for walking.

Based primarily on hearsay, the story was first reported by Deadline. Despite Lauer attacking the decision to oust Ann Curry, he’s been blamed for her exit - his new two-year, $25m contract the security the network needed before making the push. But security is a short-lived thing in television, and with ratings on the slide, Lauer’s position is far from safe. So step in Anderson Cooper, the recent recipient of the Vito Russo Award, named after a Glaad (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) founder. Anderson is a popular presence on the box, and even more popular are his New Years Eve shows with Kathy Griffin, which could become a regular thing. If hearsay is to be believed, then a pilot has been filmed at Time Warner Center in New York. Of course, this would mean the end of Lauer on Today. NBC reportedly approached the host, seeking his blessing for the switch around, but, quite predictably, he wasn’t happy and even phoned Cooper to express his dismay.

One in one out? Cooper & Lauer

Continue reading: Anderson Cooper Being Primed For Matt Lauer’s Spot?

The Matt Lauer ABC stories keep on coming. Now we learn that Lauer nearly walked out on NBC to join their close rivals ABC after he heard rumours that Ryan Seacrest was due to take his position.

He heard the rumours "outside the security gate at the White House Christmas party because Ann Curry had forgotten her driver’s license," and allegedly considered heading over to rival network ABC to rejoin his former co-host Katie Couric and launch a brand new talk show to rule them all. This, of course, would have been music to the ears of Bob Iger - CEO of ABC parent Disney - who would have loved Lauer to help ABC. This apparent flirtation ended up costing NBC money, as they, desperate to keep Lauer, chucked a $25mm 2-year contract his way. Lauer has been a very vocal presence in the realm of talk shows recently, and has expressed his dismay at the sacking of Ann Curry – whom he maintains he didn’t want to see axed.

Calculated? Matt Lauer

Continue reading: Matt Lauer ABC Swap – Host Nearly Jumped Ship For Rivals

A bit of canny business acumen by Matt Lauer here. Spooked by the rumors that he could be next on the chopping block after NBC fired the much-loved Anne Curry from the Today show, he used the situation to engineer himself a hefty new pay cheque from the network. That or maybe he was genuinely spooked and so the search for employment that led to the new deal was entirely merited.

At any rate, it’s believed that the long-time anchor was incredibly close to leaving the network as well, after apparently hearing that Ryan Seacrest might well have been joining Today instead of him. According to a source reported by Perez Hilton, "Lauer learned of the leak [about Seacrest] while being forced to stand outside the security gate at the White House Christmas party because Ann Curry had forgotten her driver’s license."

So with that in mind Lauer thought about jumping before he was pushed, and that could have led him straight into the arms of rival network ABC, who were licking their lips at the prospect of teaming him up with his good friend Katie Couric in a daytime talk show. However, when NBC got wind of this they apparently moved swiftly to keep Lauer tied down, the furore resulting in a tasty new $25 million deal for Lauer. Curry must be thrilled for him.

Continue reading: Matt Lauer Almost Quit NBC Over Replacement Rumors

There could be trouble ahead for NBC’s Today show. The breakfast programme is already suffering with flagging viewer figures and has been a talking point, ever since Ann Curry’s departure earlier this year. Now, host Matt Lauer is said to be furious at the appointment of Alexandra Wallace as the show’s new executive producer.

According to RadarOnline, there have already been some rather terse discussions between the two, regarding the future of the show and what’s more, Wallace is known to have a pretty close relationship with Ann Curry. Curry and Lauer, for the record, do not get along, it would seem. A source has told RadarOnline “Matt Lauer is NOT happy that Jim Bell who had been the executive producer of the Today show since 2005 has been forced out… Alexandra Wallace, who will be Bell's replacement, and Matt have never had a good working relationship. Matt doesn't like the fact that Alexandra is a big advocate of Ann Curry's.” Sounds as though there could be some frosty times ahead. Just cast your minds back to the moment that Matt had to introduce Ann’s segment as she reported from the London Olympics. It was pretty obvious back then that there was no love lost between them.

The source also confirmed that Wallace intended to “shake things up on the show” so that they could get it back on top of the ratings. The outgoing executive producer, Jim Bell, has been blamed for much of the show’s recent ill-fortunes.

A Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together Telethon was held last night in the hopes of bringing relief to the millions affected when Hurricane Sandy ripped through the East Coast of America.

NBC aired a commercial-free telethon last night (Nov 2) live from storm-ravaged Staten Island, with Matt Lauer helming the celeb fest that urged viewers across America to pledge what they could and help the millions suffering from the storm.

Christina Aguilera got things started, entering a dark stage and delivering a powerful, stripped down version of ‘Beautiful.’ After the Staten Island native’s performance, a rolling montage of just some of the destruction was played, ending with a still of the once bustling Jersey Shore, after which Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi gave acoustic performances of ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’ and ‘Living on a Prayer’ with guitarist Bob Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce on the violin.

Continue reading: Stars Show Support For Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together Telethon

Today show host Matt Lauer personally urged NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke to orchestrate a musical event for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, according to USA Today. Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together will air live from the Rockefeller Center on Friday (November 2, 2012), featuring performances from Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting, Mary J Blige and Christina Aguilera.

New York and New Jersey were devastated by the storm and stars associated with both areas, including Kevin Bacon, Tiny Fey, James Gandolfini, Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon will also appear at the event, which aims to raise money for victims of the hurricane. Lauer said it was a tour of a neighbourhood in Rockaway Beach, Queens, that made him put his plans into action.  "I came back and said, 'We've got to do something quickly here," said Lauer says. "I feared facing a period next week where the focus would be blurred. We've got an election coming up, and I feared people affected by this would be pushed to the side." He then said that unlike many television rivals, NBC was "a very New York-centered media company" adding, "you can't live in New York without being struck by what a big thing this is." A post 9/11 telethon arranged by George Cloone, which aired on all of the major networks, raised at estimated $200 million. Friday's special will air on NBC as well as cable networks it owns including Bravo, E!, HBO, Syfy and Discovery Fit & Health.

As for the set-lists, Lauer said "the songs are going to be instantly recognizable." 

Continue reading: Matt Lauer: We Need Springsteen And Bon Jovi, Pronto!

Bruce Springsteen has been confirmed as one of the major US acts to play a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, which has blighted the East coast of the United States this week. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be joined by Christina Aguilera, Billy Joel, Sting and Bon Jovi for the televised special, which will air on Friday (November 2, 2012). It will be hosted by Matt Lauer (of the Today show) and the late night chat show host Jimmy Fallon will be making an appearance, as will NBC News’ Brian Williams.

The money collected from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross, who are organising relief efforts for those affected by the devastating storm, as well as other disasters. The Red Cross will provide food, shelter, emotional support and other services to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. After Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, a similar benefit concert raised around $50 million for the Red Cross.

The concert, named ‘Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together’ will air at 8pm EST on Friday, on ET on NBC, NBC.com, USA Network, SyFy, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, E!, Style Network, G4 and more.” However, a spokesperson for NBC Universal has told the New York Times that any channels not owned by NBC will not be able to air the concert.