General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWillie Geist - rec if you think he should be the new Today Show host
By now everybody probably knows that Matt Lauer is out after 20+ years as the host of NBC's iconic Today Show.
So who's going to replace Matt Lauer? Maybe Willie Geist, who has been a frequent fill-in host while Matt or somebody else was out on vacation. Also he's been a regular on MSNBC for several years. Maybe Willie deserves the nod to be the permanent replacement on Today?
Rec if you think YES - or post your suggestion below.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)librechik
(30,663 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)It's gonna be her unless we start something right now.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Her ratings are already in the tank.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)For all we know, that could be Andrew Lack's plan. (Maybe this has been in the works for 6 months.)
I'd like to get people interested in somebody other than Megyn Kelly.
brooklynite
(93,871 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)I'll bet he's been planning this for a while. She's getting the host spot unless we say something really fast.
Actually I don't know it for sure, but it looks that way.
librechik
(30,663 posts)It didn't work with ratings.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)the guys are accused of.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)LisaM
(27,760 posts)on what grounds do you consider Willie Geist a "douchebag"? (I don't actually care for, or use that term, just FYI). I find him to have a very dry sense of humor, and often very funny. Is there some specific incident you're referring to?
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)at some expensive college under his parent's trust fund. Plus, he looks like a one of those douchebags you'd see walking around Macy's with a sweater tied around his neck during the holidays.
Sorry, I love using the term "douchebag" - especially against entitled overpaid TV personalities.
You actually find him funny? lol Ummm OK. I'd hate to ask you who your fav comedians are.
LisaM
(27,760 posts)Willie Geist had me in fits of laughter one morning telling about Jon Gosselin's ex had broken into his apartment. "Good morning from New York where a terrible crime has just taken place". Everyone else on the panel was trying not to crack up.
Plus his great-grandfather played for the Detroit Red Wings.
Sandra Bernhard is a comedian I like. And I enjoyed Letterman's stand up.
Kingofalldems
(38,361 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Is he willing?
PJMcK
(21,921 posts)Far too often, he strikes a conservative pose with his questions or statements.
A woman with serious credentials would elevate and save The Today Show.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Is that who you want? I don't!
PJMcK
(21,921 posts)Megyn Kelly has failed to transition away from Fox News. I doubt she would be a serious candidate for Lauer's replacement.
But ultimately, it's a shitty show. I never watch it. And whatever happens to it has no relevance to my life. I'd just rather see them hire a woman than another generic, boring man. Women need more opportunities.
By the way, I'm a man.
RockaFowler
(7,429 posts)She can barely handle the show she's got now. Imagine her with 2 hours
It should be Hoda and then maybe a male from one of the NBC O&O's to read the news.
GMA had Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts for many years and it worked out well for them.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)It wont be her.
Calm down.
Justice
(7,182 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Megyn and Savannah, unless we start something right now.
Like a groundswell of hatred for Megyn Kelly, that would be nice.
madaboutharry
(40,152 posts)They don't need anyone else. These two women are capable of carrying the show by themselves.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Plus she's all over filling in on talk shows when somebody else is out.
I like Hoda but they're over-using her.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)Time to bring her in as a full-time co-host. They can give Megyn the filll-in jobs ...
Hoda would definitely boost their ratings - the viewership a,on government black women alone would skyrocket - theyd certainly get me back.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Maybe you don't watch during the daytime, but her show has been on for at least 10 years, maybe longer.
If Gifford is retiring, then maybe Hoda would be looking to do something else.
I agree with you that Hoda is exceptional as a talk show host, but I would consider her a lightweight on hard news. Maybe that's not fair, I've never seen her do hard news. (?)
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)I like Willie ,but he wouldn't carry the show.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)He never appeared by himself - he always had at least 2 or 3 co-hosts on every show.
That's their regular format, and I'm sure it won't change no matter who replaces him.
ButSeeYa
(273 posts)I'd like to see a woman host the Today Show.
Moostache
(9,895 posts)librechik
(30,663 posts)Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Which means that it will, naturally, never happen.
spooky3
(34,303 posts)maveric
(16,445 posts)Don't know much about him though.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)It's the weekend version of the Today show, he's been the host for a couple of years I think.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He's a savvy political host and guest, and does human interest, get-along-with-people segments, too.
Savannah Guthrie started out as a special political commentator on MSNBC.
I saw them both start out on MSNBC, and get promoted. Willie got promoted (I think he also has his own show?), but cont'd to appear on Morning Joe. He's a stand-in host, or a second banana host. He was in the 2nd banana slot this morning.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,044 posts)Switching to mornings would be a bear though.
madaboutharry
(40,152 posts)to the Today show would be a massive demotion.
Lester Holt has the prize job now.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)things a host of the Today Show has to do. Holt is pretty much a serious broadcaster, like Dan Rather.
But that would make him a very wealthy man. Even more so than he is now.
and that's a VERY flattering pic of him
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He's well liked and can do personal, human interest stories, as well as political heavyweight fare. He gets along with almost everyone.
Whether NBC will want to lose this guy to other shows, I don't know. But he's a shoe-in for this slot, if they decide they can do w/o him on MSNBC.
underpants
(182,279 posts)IMHO
Tanuki
(14,893 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)But I'm pretty sure Andy Lack has already decided on Megyn Kelly.
Remember when they made the announcement that Kelly got a big contract with NBC? Tamron Hall was quietly gone almost immediately. It broke my heart because I thought she was great.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)There is no way in hell. Her own ratings are abysmal, she has dragged the entire shows ratings down as well. I would be willing to bet that they will look for a man anyway. But, Megan Kelly? Uh uh, that will not happen.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Unless maybe you have a better suggestion?
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)While Hall was great on the show, they really need at least one man, for the male perspective & diversity. I think Geist would be good at it. Altho I'd hate to lose his political comments on MSNBC.
But I don't watch the Today Show, so .....
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)...they should get back Ann Curry. Get back Natalie Morales, or Tamron Hall. Believe it or not, some of the old NBC show hosts have fans who remember them from years ago. I even saw Katie Couric's name mentioned.
The person making the decision is Andrew Lack, and he has to justify the huge salary he's paying Megyn Kelly. Guess what? He's been planning this for a while I think, and most of us would be very unhappy if the job goes to Kelly. I know I'll stop watching Today Show if she gets it.
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)I don't think it will.
I would like to see Curry or Morales back but not as main anchor. I do think they need a man.
I could go for a Couric comeback ,but they won't do that.
How about Joy Reid?
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Otherwise, it'll look too much like a woman's show, a la The View. They need a man for perspective, different angles, different kind of humor, and diversity.
Curry has her own PBS show starting in 2018, I read. I don't see Tamron Hall as a #1 lead on a morning show. Not experienced enough.
But I watch Morning Joe in the mornings, now, so I rarely see The Today Show, altho I catch parts of it occasionally. The part with Hoda and Kathie Lee.
TeamPooka
(24,156 posts)lame54
(35,139 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,061 posts)They host the weekend show, and both are very good. I have a hunch they'll give Carson Daley the job, however.
OldHippieChick
(2,434 posts)do hope they'll think about going outside the network - would love Chris Cuomo.
happy feet
(856 posts)Mike Nelson
(9,903 posts)...there are many, many others I like better. I don't watch the show, but it must be a huge paycheck.
D_Master81
(1,822 posts)Geist or Carson Daily. I cant think of anyone else that has appeared on the Today Show more than those 2. And stop w/ all the names that arent men. The format of the Today Show has always been 1 man and 1 woman hosts.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Phi Delta Theta at Vanderbilt, as a matter of fact. Here's a story, from NBC, of all places:
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hazing-in-america/phi-delta-theta-has-racked-suspensions-alcohol-hazing-n801721
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)I think Willie Geist seems like a nice guy - probably nicer than Matt Lauer ever was. He does well in the talk show format, and he also handles the hard news well, when he's asked to step in.
Don't forget that when Matt Lauer came to the Today show, he was Katie Couric's co-host, because she was making way more money. He started out as a news reader and talk show co-host on early morning shows. I think he did some radio news too. My point is that Lauer's and Geist's background experiences are very similar. Willie seems to have a good rapport with his female co-hosts, something that Lauer was never very good at.
ecstatic
(32,567 posts)obnoxiousdrunk
(2,906 posts)get him fired.
Sneederbunk
(14,208 posts)spooky3
(34,303 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and I imagine Rush would love to get back on the boob tube.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I know hes not popular here, but Ive always liked him.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)He's already got a better job on the NBC Nightly News. I'm not sure if he'd want to give that up for a job where he has to get to the office at 4 in the morning.
The Today Show is less "hard news" now and more of a morning talk show.
Maybe it's not the right fit for him, but I wouldn't know.
mentalsolstice
(4,454 posts)I think the both have the gravitas to do serious news and interviews (as does Savannah), and they both have a sense of humor to do the lighter segments. All I can say is no to Hoda and definitely no to Megyn Kelly. Hoda is too OTT, and Megyn has the personality of plain brown cardboard.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)Thanks for the support.
RandiFan1290
(6,206 posts)How soon we forget
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)But he's moved into bigger and better things.
OnDoutside
(19,908 posts)yortsed snacilbuper
(7,939 posts)Ghost of Tom Joad
(1,352 posts)but hell no
Jules Hey
(39 posts)Ugh
spooky3
(34,303 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)KO would be great for those of us who like him and the liberal viewpoint. But I'm afraid he'd turn off a lot of people too. The thing about KO is that he's never "middle of the road." But I do find him interesting and enjoyable.
Fla Dem
(23,351 posts)FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)They can't take a chance on the wrong person for the Today show. If NBC were to goof on this they could lose their market dominance which translates into big bucks. After the Anne Curry fiasco a few years ago, the Today show lost its 1st place standing that it had for probably 50 years. It was hard work getting back on top, and I'm sure they want to be careful to stay there.
Somebody up the thread mentioned Jon Stewart, who would be great IMO but maybe only for us liberals. I think people could be turned off by him once they find out how liberal (anti right-wing) he really is. That's fine for all of us because we are too. But middle America isn't and they'd change channels immediately, I'm afraid. Whoever takes over for Matt Lauer has to be seen as a talk-show host with no political agenda, so the conservative fans don't feel threatened.