My morning routine typical starts off with two things: a Diet Coke and NBC’s “Today.”
I enjoy waking up — or coming home from the beach — to the pairing of Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira at the anchor desk. I learn something, I laugh, I look forward to it.
So I was shocked — I nearly spit out my Diet Coke — when I watched yesterday’s show, where Vieira announced she was leaving on June 8 to spend more time with her husband, Richard Cohen, who has multiple sclerosis. “Time is one of those weird things,” she said on-air. “You can never get enough of it, and it just keep ticking away.”
That made me tear up. (Well, that made her tear up, and I’m a sympathetic crier.)
It’s interesting how connected we are to TV anchors, especially those on the morning shows. Maybe it’s the living room sets or the friendly way they tell you about a seven-car accident on the highway that will likely make you 12 hours late to work, but “it’s still a beautiful day out there, guys!” But they become part of our daily morning routines, and it’s sad when that changes.
It’s sad when anything changes, actually.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m a big believe in change. In fact, I think change is necessary to keep this world humming. But change isn’t always the easiest thing to endure.
I hate seeing locally own businesses shut down. I hate when Apple introduces a better iPhone weeks after I bought one. I hate when companies rebrand or re-formulate their products. (Case in point: New Coke. Wasn’t that a mistake!)
But so much good happens through change, too.
In the case of “Today,” Ann Curry, a 15-year veteran of the show and, let’s face it, one of the nicest people on TV ever — ever the bridesmaid — is taking over the co-anchor job. That’s good. And Natalie Morales, who’s been an eager correspondent for five years, will replace Curry on the news desk. That’s good, too.
But Vieira, to me, isn’t someone easily replaced. Who’s going to put Lauer in his place or make snide comments at the anchor desk? (Not Curry. She’s too nice.)
Change. I’ll have to learn to embrace it. As long as Katie Couric doesn’t come back to the show.
6 Comments
I can’t tell if Cat isn’t a fan of Katie Couric or just prefers Meredith Viera and the prospect of Ann Curry in a lead role. Anyway, one of my happiest days was when Katie Couric moved to the CBS evening anchor job. We are a rabbit-ears-reception household, and, for the 18 years I have lived in my current house, we have never gotten anything but static on the local CBS station. After the digital switch-over, the tuner won’t even stop there. It’s as if it doesn’t exist, and I have seen Katie Couric’s face less than once a year for the past several years. Now that’s change I could embrace.
I’m no fan of Katie Couric. She sorta annoyed me in the morning. Meredith — whose family is from the same area of Portugal as mine — was a breath of fresh air five years ago.
I adore Ann, mostly because of her commitment to causes and her genuinely unselfish nature, but I wonder about her chemistry with Matt. I think she’s just too nice.
Yes, I think Katie has become very impressed with herself through the years. Matt seems to have followed the same path.
Cat: I was saddened by Joan Lunden left GMA and things haven’t been the same.
Whoa! Joan Lunden! What is she doing now???
Well, I never cared for Meredith. Aside from her style of delivery, she just didn’t fit the mold of a Today Show anchor. And, I hate to say this because it seems so shallow, but frankly, she just wasn’t pretty enough either. I know that “shouldn’t” matter, and I know it sounds so terrible, but she IS a TV personality, and looks are part of the job. Especially when you compare her to every other woman on the show, it becomes glaringly obvious. I thought Ann should’ve replaced Katie five or six years ago. Anyway, glad Ann is finally getting her due.
Cat… it’s not just Apple… EVERYONE comes out with new products. At least Apple has consistently waited 12 months between upgraded products, so it’s not like you don’t know it’s coming. How many Android phone models come out month to month? A lot more than Apple.
OK, I’d better go and take my chill pill, haha!