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 Linda Thomas
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Ann Curry, love her or hate her, she's gone

June 25, 2012 @ 2:22 pm (Updated: 6:59 pm - 6/25/12 )

One of the University of Oregon's most successful Ducks is reportedly being offered a $10 million buyout to leave the Today Show.

AnnAnn Curry, a 55-year-old journalist, signed a $20 million deal a year ago after she was named co-host replacing Meredith Vieira.

Now, insider sources from The New York Times to TMZ are reporting she's gone, though no one from NBC will confirm that.

The Curry settlement would be paid solely to her to if she leaves the show. Not bad, most of us would find a way to cope.

Curry's career started in Portland. She was an intern for KTVL in Medford. There she became the station's first female news reporter.

She moved up to KGW in Portland and made the jump to a network job in 1990.

For 15 years Curry had done everything she was asked to do and distinguished herself in several areas.

In the end, the knock against her seemed to be with her live interview style which was either too empathetic, or oddly detached.

The real problem is the Today Show ratings, which have slipped into a tie with ABC's Good Morning America.

NBC is expected to announce a permanent replacement for her later this week. Matt Lauer reportedly didn't like Curry, although he did a good job of welcoming her when she signed on for the first time as his co-host. He called it "an exciting new chapter" in Today Show history.

In an interview with the "Hollywood Reporter" earlier this year he said, "I love Ann. I’ve known her for 20 years. I think we have a kind of sister-brother thing, maybe sister-brother from different parents. We’re not at all alike. But I feel comfortable alongside her...Every team is different. And people need to give us a chance to be different."

Curry has a few parody and blooper sites dedicated to a her on-air flubs. Anyone who does live TV or radio has on air moments they wish would disappear. But does she deserve to be mocked. I don't think so, although one of our talk show hosts on 97.3 KIRO FM, Dori Monson, has made fun of her for years. What do you think of her?

I like her, but the reality in this business is that NBC has a bigger investment in Lauer. So given that the ratings are down, if he's unhappy she's probably gone.

Fan and Iraq veteran Stephen Crowley has started an online petition to keep Curry on the show, stating,"one of the things that gives me a sense of calm and certainty in life is Ann Curry's compassionate style of journalism."

Crowley writes, "Respect Ann Curry, cherish her. She is one of the best things you have going and to throw her away would be nothing short of a crime."

By LINDA THOMAS

AP file photo

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Comments (29)


  • Add A Comment

  • Annie (1) wrote...
    Ann Curry
    June 25, 2012 1:41 pm
    The only time I liked Ann Curry was when she was just a news reader. As a solo reporter-then co-anchor she was like nails on a blackboard for me. I never took her seriously-the way she would lean in to someone she was interviewing & put on this "serious/concerned/earnest" expression was laughable & totally unbelievable. I'm sure she is a very nice person -but as a reporter & co-anchor, I didn't care for her at all.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mako wrote...
    Ann Curry
    June 25, 2012 2:52 pm
    Dori making fun of someone?-his girls must be proud of him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Opening at the Today show Newschick . . . .
    June 25, 2012 2:55 pm
    jump on it. Dori Monson, has made fun of her for years. Now thats funny!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    $10 million...to leave my job?
    June 25, 2012 3:26 pm
    Where do I sign?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • KevinCole509 wrote...
    Hmmm.
    June 25, 2012 3:36 pm
    Lauer and Curry both are among the reasons that I find it easy to not turn the TV on very often. But the idea that Monson is making fun of them is, itself, funny. He couldn't do either of their jobs. Not even close. And certainly not well.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MK wrote...
    You don't have to be able to do the job
    June 25, 2012 3:52 pm
    to know that someone else is terrible at it. There is no way I could carry 6 plates of hot breakfast through a crowded restaraunt. But I, and most everyone else, can tell if you have a good server.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kata wrote...
    who?
    June 25, 2012 3:37 pm
    I wonder if people will subscribe to these news programs when catv gasps its last breath. And on that same thought... I wonder what kind of salaries they'll draw.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    She is not:
    June 25, 2012 4:28 pm
    "too empathetic, or oddly detached."

    She is: Too empathetic AND oddly detached.

    @ CH: We have been making fun of you for years, but it hasn't stopped you. Given that reality, you are not one to talk!

    @ MK: Excellent retort to one of the many Dori haters. I find it comical when the same haters criticise Dori or a politician that they hate. As if they could do their job better! By "comical" I am being too kind. Or maybe too empathetic or oddly detached. ;-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Who on earth watches
    June 25, 2012 4:55 pm
    that trainwreck of a TV station anyway. NBC, PMSNBC...the laughing stock of ALL Networks! MAybe they'll give Anne a hard hitting news show in between that little boy Rachael Maddow or that genius IDIOT Lawrence O'Donnell....They are better than comedy central....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ssbn629g wrote...
    soo pureltiv
    June 25, 2012 6:06 pm
    it's critcize, with a z
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Frogsplash wrote...
    You misspelled....
    June 25, 2012 9:50 pm
    what you were calling out someone else for. It's critIcize, you left out the (i). Actually, using either an s or a z is acceptable spelling. You also misspelled the name of the person you are calling out for a misspelling. See what happens when you make fun of others?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ Frogsplash
    June 26, 2012 6:14 pm
    Nice catch!

    I didn't even notice the missing "i"...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • marcb35 wrote...
    Too bad...what a bad choice
    June 25, 2012 7:00 pm
    Ann Curry is a cool reporter and TV gal. One of the more sincere and transparent people on TV. She's smart, quick on her feet, and especially good interviewing families in a group setting. The 3 hour morning show is sort of going by the wayside anyway. She'll come out stronger than ever in a better show.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }