You know a negative perception is starting to gain traction when an executive producer comes out to refute a story. That’s exactly what happened when The Today Show’s Jim Bell rebutted the narrative to TV Guide that Matt Lauer had a hand in Ann Curry’s ejection from the one-time No. 1 morning show.

"I think Matt has been unfairly targeted here as somebody who bears some responsibility for the change," Bell told TV Guide Magazine. "I made the change."

Bell recognizes that Curry’s departure has damaged the show, but maintains it was the right decision.

"We certainly are aware that it could have gone better," he said. "There are a lot of different ifs and could-haves and would-haves. That's the call I made because it was the best thing for the show. We're moving forward with the full faith and confidence that the show is better, that the people we have on are in the right place."
 

Bell’s comments come in the wake of the New York Post’s headline “Matt Lauer Turns ‘Anchor Animal” and a report by New York Daily News that Lauer’s Q Score has plummeted 25 percent in a recent survey.  READ MORE

NBC may not be apologizing to viewers for pre-empting the moment of silence honoring September 11 World Trade Center victims—choosing instead to air an interview with Kris Jenner about her breast implants—but the broadcast network has apologized to affiliates for the storm of criticism it created at a local level. From The New York Times:

“Yesterday, we made an editorial call resulting in the Sept, 11 moment of silence not being seen. While we dedicated a substantial amount of airtime to anniversary events, we still touched a nerve with many of your viewers … and for that we apologize.”

In what may be the most shameful example of corporate synergy in recent memory, NBC’s Today Show decided to pre-empt the moment of silence honoring September 11 World Trade Center victims by featuring an interview with E! star Kris Jenner. The segment featured a titillating discussion about the importance of removing old breast implants between Jenner and Savannah Guthrie.

New York Magazine has compiled a devastating side-by-side clip of Today talking about Jenner’s oh-so-important boobs. Just as every other news network paused for the moment of silence.
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TV Guide has released its annual report on TV’s Highest Paid Stars and a number of daytime stars made the list.  All My Children alum Kelly Ripa reportedly earns $20 million a year as host of Live! With Kelly.

Matt Lauer, who recently extended his stay at The Today Show, takes home a hefty $21.5 for getting up so early. Mario Batali cooks up $6,000 an episode on The Chew.
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"She’s anchored for Brian [Williams] on NBC Nightly News, moderated for David [Gregory] on Meet the Press, co-hosted the 9 a.m. hour of Today, reported for Rock Center and Dateline, and provided legal insights in our Supreme Court Special Reports – and that was all within the last week," Capus continued. "She's earned the trust of the news community, her colleagues and our viewers alike." READ MORE