Kathie Lee leaving 'Today'

crainbebo · Dec 11, 2018

In a tearful statement, Kathie announced this morning with Hoda Kotb that she's leaving Today after 11 years at NBC. I assume Jenna Bush Hager will become the new co-host, either her or Sheinelle Jones who have been on the 4th hour numerous times recently.

https://www.etonline.com/kathie-lee-gifford-is-leaving-today-show-115559

umfan · Dec 12, 2018

If they even keep the 4th hour.

KLG did a great job for NBC.

AbrahamJSimpson · Dec 12, 2018

umfan said:
If they even keep the 4th hour.

KLG did a great job for NBC.

There's really no reason to expect otherwise.

seatownmedia · Dec 12, 2018

AbrahamJSimpson said:
There's really no reason to expect otherwise.

Too many hours, not enough content. I fully expect the show to be scaled back to 3 hours. Oh wait...NBC will "invent" new content. Sorry, I forgot!

AbrahamJSimpson · Dec 13, 2018

Too much/not enough is subjective. If the revenue supports it based on the ratings, and there's not a viable other option based on the data they have, then you keep things as they are, albeit with a replacement host.

umfan · Dec 13, 2018

AbrahamJSimpson said:
There's really no reason to expect otherwise.

They may conclude they can do better with a game show or by giving the hour back to affiliates. CBS does pretty well with 'Let's Make a Deal' in that slot.

AbrahamJSimpson · Dec 13, 2018

umfan said:
They may conclude they can do better with a game show or by giving the hour back to affiliates. CBS does pretty well with 'Let's Make a Deal' in that slot.

Back when CBS was looking at replacements for the soaps, they could have said NBC was doing well with extra hours of the morning show and gone that route. They didn’t. Different situations. Same is true here. NBC and ABC got out of the daytime game show biz. Could they get back in? Maybe someday. But for now, their morning news (and I use that term lightly) franchises are better bets, at least in NBC’s case. ABC with their afternoon deal remains to be seen long term.

A host’s departure does not automatically portend a wholesale change in how the hour is programmed.

seatownmedia · Dec 13, 2018

As for "content"...perhaps my definition is different from some. Cooking demonstrations are not "content" in my mind, but then again, if the audience demands it, so be it.

anotherguyTN · Dec 14, 2018

seatownmedia said:
As for "content"...perhaps my definition is different from some. Cooking demonstrations are not "content" in my mind, but then again, if the audience demands it, so be it.

I'd rather see that than trash talk and courtroom shows.

I'd love to see NBC cancel the 3rd and 4th hours of Today and bring back game shows, but I doubt that will happen. They'll keep bringing back more talk shows and very likely keep putting the Today name on them.

seatownmedia · Dec 14, 2018

anotherguy said:
I'd rather see that than trash talk and courtroom shows.

I'd love to see NBC cancel the 3rd and 4th hours of Today and bring back game shows, but I doubt that will happen. They'll keep bringing back more talk shows and very likely keep putting the Today name on them.

Yeah, I would agree on the court shows. Judge Judy can be somewhat entertaining, but only due to her personality. But what is this "Caught in Providence" Justice show? My gawd, this is awful, IMO. But it is front and center on my Fox affiliate at 9AM. I understand it is a Fox show, but really...Why?