If there's anyone who knows about taking massive media hits, while being the anchor of an NBC institution, it's Jay Leno. Perhaps this is why Today's embattled co-host Matt Lauer went on The Tonight Show Thursday  to discuss, among other things, the rocky year he's been having. Watch a clip after the jump! READ MORE

Just how unbearable was Today for Ann Curry in the months leading up to her exit? According to an excerpt published by the New York Times from Brian Stelter’s new book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, Curry told friends “her final months were a form of professional torture.”

One staff person recalled that “a lot of time in the control room was spent making fun of Ann’s outfit choices or just generally messing with her.” On one memorable spring morning, Curry wore a bright yellow dress that spawned snarky comparisons to Big Bird. The staff person said that others in the control room, which included 14 men and 3 women, according to my head count one morning, Photoshopped a picture of Big Bird next to Curry and asked co-workers to vote on “Who wore it best?”

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Sometimes the best thing to do after months of bad press is find the humor in your situation. That appears to be what Today’s Matt Lauer is trying to do. According to the New York Post, Lauer joked about his plummeting Q Score and The New York Times scathing coverage, at New York’s Broadcast Cable & Film Division event.

“a bit surprised to be asked to host this dinner. If you’ve been following the papers lately, you know it’s been a bit rough for me. These days, I only get asked to host dinners if polio is busy. Yup, I have a lower Q rating than polio right now.”

 

“Katie has a way of making headlines. Who can forget when she was co-host of the ‘Today’ show? She got a colonoscopy on TV. Not to be outdone, two weeks ago, I got one in The New York Times.” READ MORE

Did NBC approach Anderson Cooper about assuming the lead anchor job on Today, or not? Deadline says they did. However, NBC is denying the blog's report to The Hollywood Reporter. So is a reported source close to Cooper. 

According to the article, NBC cops to approaching Cooper, but not for Matt Lauer's job. Here's a quote from Peacock suit Alexandra Wallace:

"As we’ve said before, Matt Lauer is the best in the business. We want him in the Today show anchor chair for many years to come." READ MORE

Just how many new shows can Anderson Cooper do?  According to Deadline, the journalist and Kathy Griffin filmed a pilot for CNN. The website is also reporting NBC approached Cooper to replace Today's embattled Matt Lauer.

I hear NBC toppers recently reached out to CNN’s Anderson Cooper to replace Lauer on the show before the end of the year. After their initial approach to Cooper, I hear NBC reached out to Lauer to get his blessing about the changeover. But I heard they got pushback from the Today veteran, who contacted Cooper to express his disapproval. I also hear that call caught Cooper by surprise, as he had assumed Lauer had been brought on board before NBC began making overtures.

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Anderson Cooper

Matt Lauer

Someone else