These are two amazing women...wishing good things for both of them.

Mornings are not necessarily my best time for being articulate ....so I say kudos to those AM news folks for answering the ring of that alarm clock!

Doesn't anyone wonder why this is taking place in less than a months time? Seems like either someone was fired or they couldn't stand the weather. I think as nice as some of these people seem on air, I bet in reality, it's a shark tank when the cameras aren't rolling. The egos must rival that of Mnt. Olympus!! Lucky Meredith got out while she could.

Bladepolisher, you've chosen an apt name. Ms. Vieira's husband is extremely ill. She's leaving for that reason. The Today Show cast and crew are renowned for their on-air compatibility and their off-air friendships.

Meredith Vieira has been pleasure to wake up to for the past 5 years. I will enjoy spending at least the next 5 years waking up to Ann. She deserves this opportunity. I felt bad for her when they brought in Vieira after Katy left. I've been a fan of the Today show for the past 20 years and will continue to be a fan.

I agree completely - Ann will be wonderful - I will not miss Meridith at all I have watched the Today show since I was 10 or 12 years old and I am now 60 and in the last 5 years I have watched it less than anytime in my life because of Meridith - thank god I can become a Today addict again with Ann and Matt

For a man, watching the Today show is a downright painful experience. No animosity, however; glad that you ladies enjoy it.

Meredith

Biased and elitist, but does it with a smile.

GOOD BYE.

SeniorSense, you sure drank the Kool-Aid. It's widely well known that she did not like the early hours that the show requires.

Ann Curry deserved the spot when Couric left. Good she's finally getting it.

Well RI Mom…

“Mornings are not necessarily my best time for being articulate ....so I say kudos to those AM news folks for answering the ring of that alarm clock!”

• Please try to remember we are speaking about one of the most prestigious jobs in broadcasting – not unloading trucks with an early wake-up call.
• It is insulting to insinuate that a co-anchor would have an excuse to be inarticulate.
• Please remember that there are hundreds of thousands of people that live with these horribly early hours & we value all of them for keeping our lives running smoothly with their dedication.
• However, to be one of the most highly paid co-anchors of the highest rated morning show – being ARTICULATE is an absolute MUST!
• Many competent broadcasters have that ease - just look at a few of our amazing colleges through out our country all churning out wonderful new talent.
• There are countless journalism professionals which are all willing to get up at any hour to work in their chosen career of broadcasting.

Good riddence, lamce

Just luv these "snap decision makers" who need to benefit and learn from life. Perhaps one should give it a try first and not cut off one's nose to spite their face.

Lamce, I agree with you on Ann's interviewing style. I can't stand to watch her interviews. Fortunately, my work schedule has changed & I don't get to watch the morning shows anymore.....

@Lamce...I totally agree with you. On to GMA for me. I'm going to miss Today.

I agree with you about Ann's interviewing style... it bores me to death. When she lowers her voice and practically whispers the question it drives me crazy.

Ditto. I think Ann is great on Dateline and reading the news and she wonderfully empathetic. Unfortunately she is terrible when speaking off the cuff. MSNBC has a great stable of really competent women and I think they are making a big mistake. Same for Natalie-she is really just the pretty one. Look at Nora O'Donnell, Tamryn Hall, etc. Many to choose from.

I have to agree, too, that Ann's interviewing style isn't my cup of tea. So it's back to GMA (left them 5 years ago when Today hired Meredith!).

I paused the show immediately following Meredith's bomb shell. I knew what was coming next. I didn't want to continue play hoping that if I froze it in time it wouldn't happen. But it did. The Today Show has always been the gold standard in morning news shows. It's Ann's empathetic style interviews that make me cringe. I'm just one viewer who won't be watching anymore but I have a feeling I'm not the only one in that boat. I will miss Matt, Al, and Natalie. She would have been my choice.

Agreed! NBC probably felt they had to move Ann to the anchor spot due to her number of years on the show/with the network. Let's not forget, Ann didn't get the job when Katie left, after clearly giving her (and Campbell Brown and Nathalie Morales, among others) on-air audition time for the spot, which is why they brought Meredith in. Ann didn't have the chops then, and unfortunately, she still doesn't.

While she seems like a very nice person, and does a good job of reading the news, Ann does NOT do well when off-script; she tends to stumble, and overdramatizes everything--ugh! She also doesn't have thesame sense of humor/wit other anchors have had, which will totally affect the team chemistry....of course, as someone else pointed out, the show is pretty much over after the first 25 minutes, so now it just makes it easier for me to change channels at 7:30!

I whole heartly agree... Ann Curry's interviewing style is a total turn-off. I will be watching something else too. :(

Oh, lamce will be back, but won't announce it...like we give a damn anyway.

lamce, I agree completely. It will be weird to wake up to another morning show, but there's no way I can tolerate watching Ann Curry be the main anchor. She is painful to listen to and she can barely get a sentence out. I always wonder how she hasn't learned to read from a teleprompter correctly after all these years? Not to mention her inappropriate touching, like placing her hand on Matt's arm - it's so awkward. You can tell she makes everyone uncomfortable.

Ditto!! Like her on dateline, but in my opinion, she lacks that witty dry sense of humor and directness that previous anchors have had! She has terrible timing and seems to treat every interview like some sort of life shattering melodrama !! It's painful watching her sometimes!! Been meaning to cut TODAY from my morning routine for a while now (it's just gotten too silly and frivolous). Meredith's sass was just about the only reason worth watching.. I loved watching her nudge people with tough questions and continue stabbing at it and still end the interview with class. Anyway, onto morning radio for me. I guarantee this transition will not fare well for their ratings! Just because she was "next in line", doesn't mean she's qualified for it.

It is painful to watch/listen to Ann read the news. She stumbles quite frequently. She is overly dramatic when interviewing. I have no doubt she has the gift of compassion but she embelishes it for effect. Whenever she filled in for Meredith, who will be missed, I turn to another news program. Ann does a good job on Dateline and seems to be a different person. My daughter is leaving the program as well. If Matt leaves when his contract is up in Dec., the program will go to pot. I will not know it because I will not be watching it anyway.

NBC please listen to the vast majority - Ann makes people uncomfortable and annoyed - we want to continue with our morning routines with Matt, Al & Natalie.

There are many well-spoken co-anchors out there waiting to work for your fabulous show :}

I'm 66 years old and have never watched any other morning show than TODAY. All good things must come to an end......I cant' stand the thought of waking up to Ann Curry....one of the most annoying people on tv! Bad choice NBC! I now have to move on.

Yeah... Ann annoys me enough that I will curtail my viewing of Today after many years.

Love Meredith and sad to see her go. I'll really miss her. I like Ann but in VERY small doses. Her interviewing technique does leave a lot to be desired. If she isn't fawning over the person (anyone remmember when Leonard Nimoy was on?), then she is attempting to inject too much pathos into the story. Oh well, it could be worse, they could have moved that vapid Kathy lee Gifford into that spot. I feel sorry for Hoda Kotb having to deal with that everyday.

The pathos and intensity are a bit tedious sometimes. She does seem to be quite genuine in her emotional responses. I'm just not sure the sometimes funereal style will be pleasing in larger doses.

I agree 100%. Ann is a TERRIBLE interviewer and not even all that good at reading the news. Her changes in intonation are annoying, she interrupts all the time, never letting people finish what they are saying, stumbles over her words when reading the news and generally comes off as not really prepared. Out in the field doing reporting she is much better. Sadly, I will be searching for another morning show now. I have been watching the Today Show my whole life and have loved all of the anchors that have come and gone, until now. I will miss Matt every morning but watching Ann actually makes me uncomfortable. I am certain she is a nice person but her style just doesnt suit me.

Wow, it just took one comment to open the floodgates to the sentiment I share. I will be watching the ratings with interest. Ann can not ad lib and is so saccharin sweet. It doesn't seem sincere to me. When she kissed Matt's hand during Meredith's announcement I thought it was completely inappropriate and just plain weird. she does not have the personality for the couch and does not do well in the "bits" either.

BIG mistake NBC HUGE mistake.

I agree. Ann is fearless, athletic, a strong force. She'll do great. Give her a chance folks, you'll be surprised. We'll miss Meredith, but she has big responsibilities at home. Time for a change.

Totally agree. Ann is awful. I'm gone.

Coudn't agree more. It is unbearable for me to watch Ann Curry interview anyone. Well, I guess I'll try CBS!

I'm sorry, but have you watched MV? Do you really think that she's not righteous and PC? Please, give me a break.

Meredith is a veteran news reporter. She was an investigative reporter for WCBS in New York, then went to CBS in Chicago. She's been on 60 Minutes and co-anchored the CBS Morning News. Ann, has a long way to go, hopefully she won't cry with every interview. As for Elizabeth Hasselbeck.....agree she is an idiot. In fact, whenever she opens her mouth to speak, I want to cry.

But you still watch her Sandie...DUH!

I record The View when there is someone on I want to see (recently it was Aretha Franklin), so you would be wise to not presume to know one's viewing habits or lack thereof.....DUH! Hasselbeck is, IMO, unwatchable.

Meredith has been a welcome change to Today, love her when Martha Stewart comes on-a quirky slap to Miss Perfect(Martha). I will miss her professionalism and honesty and I may not be able to handle the droning Ann, yikes like being at a funeral. It may be time to check out the other morning shows.

Thank goodness Merideth's contract is expired. I love the today show and everyone on it. It was difficult to watch since Merideth has been on it. And it was easy to see the other people on the show had a very difficult time with her also.

I agree 100%. Meredith has made rude and awkward comments to and about fellow team members. I love Ann and her empathy and understanding of people. She should have taken over for Katy 5 years ago. Congrats Ann!

Exactly, and now they have Ann as co-anchor too..

hehehehe

In complete agreement about Curry. She is unwatchable. But then the entire show is unwatchable after the first half hour.

too bad I never sought out that career. Sometimes the interviews are so tepid and not hard hitting. I would be a GREAT interviewer ... I say humbly. I would NEVER let power get away unchallenged no matter who occupies the seat!

I have watched Meredith and Matt grow up on a station in RI where I grew up. I did think that their careers were going to take off as they both had that special something on air. I wish Meredith all the best and do hope to see her doing a spot every now and then. But, I do know that Ann along with Natalie are going to GREAT because I am sure Matt will be ruling the roost. Al, I am finding you everywhere doing very special shows away from the Today Show, and on the Today Show. Thanks for the memories........

Won't continue to watch - Ann is a terrible interviewer. She'd be great for a touchy-feely talk show on the Hallmark channel. Not good for Today.

Yep, I am gone. Ann is like someones mother that wants to put "feeling" words in everyones mouths.

I liked Meridith Vierra but I LOVE the gentleness of Ann Curry and would NEVER NEVER switch to Morning Joe with who Mika Brzezinski? I have yet to figure out what the heck Mika Brzeznski does and what rational expertise she brings to the debate. Maybe her gift is her blond hair AND the fact that her father was NSA adviser in the Carter administration. Frankly, I'd like to see her father cohost even though he would not be the preetiest co anchor he surely does have a lot more cerebral credibility.

I think Ann Curry will do just FINE. AND p.s. Morning Joe is NOT news. It is news commentary. SHOULD be a big difference but is usually not!!

Sadly, I'll be switching too.

I disagree, Ann's humanity is what the show needs. They tried with the "divas" Katie and Meredith and it hasn't worked too well. I have trouble believing they are #1. Ann really deserves the new position "on the couch". However, ABC's GMA is a better show because of the joint effort by the anchors.