By David Hiltbrand, The Philadelphia Inquirer –
“Today” wasn’t half oared for long. The day after Ann Curry was removed, Savannah Guthrie was installed.
Let’s face it: The deposing of Curry did not go well at all. Public sympathy for her was far greater than NBC had projected. Worse, many were casting Lauer, the network’s morning monarch, as the heavy in all this, the egotistical diva who sabotaged his innocent co-worker.
That made NBC’s next move crucial. After all, you don’t want to drive even more viewers into the waiting arms of “Good Morning America.”
No disrespect to Guthrie but she’s the wrong person for this job. (I actually think it’s kind of cute the way she dons a pair of glasses whenever she’s acting as the show’s legal correspondent, so we know she means business.) Like Curry, Guthrie lacks the goofy side that is essential to teaming with Lauer.
Anyone — and I mean anyone — can handle the political interviews. You read from your list of questions and the politician answers from his list of talking points. It’s like two people playing tennis on adjoining courts. You’re limited to one follow-up per interview or else you seem like a bully, and one of the producers will provide you with that probing question in your earphone. The politician will respond to something completely different anyway.
The only thing that matters on “Today” is your chemistry with Matt, a bond that was encapsulated by the sainted Meredith Vieira. (Katie Couric dominated Lauer in their years together.) Vieira struck just the tone Lauer thrives with: playful but a little submissive and a little naughty. It was like a proud older sister visiting her BMOC brother at Dartmouth.
Guthrie simply can’t provide that. The closest you get in-house, “Today,” is Hoda Kotb, but you can’t move her, because there’s no one else who can or will work an hour a day with Kathie Lee Gifford.
So NBC, don’t come crying to me in six months, when “Today’s” ratings are south of Savannah.
AFTER THE GAME
This has been quite an off-season for “The Good Wife” as it adds to an already outstanding cast. Nathan Lane, Maura Tierney and Kristin Chenoweth will all be coming aboard. Too bad I won’t get to see it.
CBS and Fox announced that the kickoff times on Sunday’s late NFL games is being moved back. Which means that my DVR, which used to record about 18 minutes of “The Good Wife,” now won’t even catch the opening scene.
LOOK WHO’S SLUMMING
Who runs the world? I’ll give you a hint. Oprah has agreed to appear on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” according to US Magazine. No big deal, right? Well, try if you can to think back a time as recently as three years ago. Had I told you then that the Queen of Enlightenment would dignify E!’s trashy gypsy carnival with her presence, you would have scoffed. It would have been like the pope guest starring on “Californication.”
JUST A SUGGESTION
You know what would make Charlie Sheen’s new sitcom “Anger Management” really funny? If any one of the characters had a problem with anger.
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