Growing weary of the early morning grind …
After a five-year run at NBC as co-anchor of the Today Show, Meredith Vieira is planning to step down when her contract expires in September–despite heavy lobbying by network executives.
The popular TV host replaced Katie Couric in 2006 and has successfully juggled the early morning duties with her hosting gig on the syndicated game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
The 57-year-old television personality is reportedly weary of the early morning grind and is concerned about the health of her husband Richard Cohen, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and has had two bouts of colon cancer. The coupe have three children.
A top candidate to replace Vieira in the chair next to Matt Lauer is likely to be Ann Curry, who currently reads the news on Today and travels extensively while covering world hotspots for NBC. She is also a substitute anchor for Brian Williams on his evening news program.
Vieira made it clear early-on that she wasn’t up for a great deal of field reporting. She made a few exceptions — most notably Summer and Winter Olympic coverage. Currey and her co-workers Natalie Morales and Al Roker picked up most of the plum assignments that would ordinarily have gone to Vieira.
Photo: WENN, NBC