Former anchor for NBC’s Today from ’82 to ’97, Bryant Gumbel, conveyed his displeasure with the incorporation of Sarah Palin into the show as a countermeasure against another former Today anchor, Katie Couric, who guest-hosted Good Morning America on the same day.
The two rival shows, NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America, have been engaged in a long-running ratings competition, which NBC has been winning since December of 1995.
According to Examiner.com, morning television network news shows are cash cows and a drop in ratings could place millions of dollars in advertising revenue at stake.
Fortunately for NBC, their decision to utilize Palin was successful as they maintained their ratings lead with 210,000 more viewers than Good Morning America.
While Today has managed to maintain ratings superiority over their rivals, Bryant Gumbel was less than pleased with NBC’s winning strategy, which he told the Daily Beast was “embarrassing.” Gumbel was quoted having said:
“[Hosts] used to be judged not just on their popularity level but the extent to which they were capable of interviewing someone or reporting on a situation, or able to have a degree of gravitas. Now that is secondary to being popular.”
Sarah Palin wasn’t exactly what one might consider a natural when it came to co-hosting NBC’s Today show, however, there were points at which she exhibited characteristics such as charm and charisma. Regardless of her performance on the show, she did an excellent job boosting ratings as viewers rose from 5.06 million to 5.5 million.
What did you think of Sarah Palin’s Today performance and the aforementioned remarks made by Bryant Gumbel?
Sarah Palin Guest Hosts Today Show Video:
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We all know that Gumball has bee an arrogant racist for years.
Not as embarrassing as you being on the show…
I totally agree with Mr Gumbel. Palin is a joke!
I totally agree with Mr Gumbel. Palin is a joke!
I totally agree with Mr Gumbel. Palin is a joke!
I totally agree with Mr Gumbel. Palin is a joke!
I totally agree with Mr Gumbel. Palin is a joke!
I proudly say that I WATCHED KATIE COURIC! She was amazing on GMA! Palin who?
Even if you don't like Bryant -One thing is true, he's very smart!
Bryant Gumbel was the reason I NEVER used to watch the Today show…when he left is when I started to watch. He's a arrogant ass, and I could care about what he thinks.
Doesn't Al Sharpton have a show on nbc? Gumbel hasn't said one thing about him? Al and his show is plain stupid. Palin shouldn't be on the Today Show but if your going to be truthful you have to be truthful across the board Gumbel.
Gumbel is a gumball. Who cares what this guy thinks. He's history on the show.
Gumbal is the joke. So is Katie Crock.
If you want the ratings to go off the chart you need to get rid of Matt Lauer and but Bryan Gumball back on the.
today show with Katie Courtic, was the best news worthy, funny, and exciting show , really miss them.
"We all"???? Really??? Who are you to make such a statement for "all"? There's nothing worse than people who think they speak for everyone and know everything!!! I much prefer Bryant Gumbel to Sarah Palin, and I think my opinion carries as much weight as yours! Also, please spell his name correctly — you only look ignorant when you do such silly things
Al Sharpton has a show on MSNBC, the cable network. Bryant Gumbel isn't required to say anything about him or his show unless he chooses to. Your opinion is just that, one person's opinion and not "truth".
I like Bryant Gumbel, respect him as one of the best and smartest, and miss him! I would love to see him back on television!
Who cares what Bryant Gumbel thinks about this? Do you think NBC or ABC cares? Why is this even a story? Common. Quit putting out this junk news.
But….how do you feel about Sarah? Or maybe I shouldn't ask!?!
Bryant quit, just like Palin…so who is he to talk…I don't like Palin or Gumbel…both are pretty much irrelevant.
you are right…who does he think he is? a glorified sports caster??? Come on, Bryant, remember your roots! KEEP THAT BUFOON OFF THE AIR!
I like her a lot. She's very down to earth and I think she did a fine job on the Today show.
gumball–same old same old–dull morning–for unemployed avoiding looking for a job.
I think he should be embarrassed by his comments.
I am surprised to find out that The Today Show has higher ratings, but I have never liked it, so I only watch Good Morning… I watch what I like and honesty. Like the anchors, too. George took a little to get used to, but I like him more, now.
u r as racist as gumbel
u r wrong u have to get rid of those two networks The unemployed networks
sounds to me like a personal problem, Bryant.
palin is sooooooo STUPID! WE STOPPED WATCHING THE TODAY SHOW AND WATCHED IMPRACTICAL JOKERS, BECAUSE IT WAS A FREAKING JOKE! LOVED MEREDITH V., TOO BAD SHE LEFT AND WE LIKED GUMBEL.
I have been a die-hard Today show fan for years and years but did NOT watch the day they brought Sarah Palin on. I was really disappointed that she was on there as a host. I watched GMA and was pleasantly surprised to see Katie Couric on there!
Amazing how one can let politics color every aspect of their life. What a snob.
Palin is the posterchild for the extreme right-wing and is a zealot pandering to the mean spirited. The Today Show has lost any journalistic integrity it may have had. Now it's another inane show spreading tablod pooh for the defective!
Is this really news, people? Who cares what this nut thinks. it is anotherr liberal crappy, non-news story so that someone working for yahoo feels important. Put real news in the news and not this non-sense!
Absolutely true
kcwonso Palin elevated the Today show to it's best ratings of the season. NBC has been a joke long before Palin got there.
Don't like Palin but she beats the crap out of Grumble!!!!
What is purely remarkable, with as virulently the left-wingers hate Sarah Palin, is no audience was lost. Maybe the vitriol spewed isn't as widespread as the media would want us to think.
NBC has been winning ratings-wise that long? Wow, that surprises me. When I have the time to watch tv in the morning I tune into GMA as I like the interaction between the hosts & misc reporters/staff much more than the current hosts of the Today Show.
Oh, I don't know, I think Palin missed her callings as a possible TV evangelist, bartender, insurance salesperson or brothel manager.
Bryant Gumbel is right! Sarah Palin is a BRAIN-DEAD IDIOT and just needs to go away!
Oh,you mean a "joke" like taking a guy who biggest accomplishment was doing football pregame shows,and trying to pass him off as a "serious" so-called "journalist"?
Tell now,when has NBC had any "integrity"…you know,the network infamous for putting rockets on truck gas tanks to make them explode,hiring that race baiter Al Sharpton,and most recently,getting caught deliberately editing George Zimmerman's 911 call?
Everybody with intelligence.
Gumble is a sleaze bag. Never have liked him. If he would stab Willard in the back,, he would stab you in the back.
Joke?….. Please tell us how many times you have been a state Gov.
factor8010 I don't think you can call Palin a governor. She bailed out for her own selfish reasons.
factor8010, you should have stated how many times have you been a state Governor that quit because the job got too hard. kcwonso, you need to look up the definition of racism, as his comments were not even remotely racist.
Diane Brand Gumball is a Rude racist idiot that's why he's off the air. He's pretty much irrelevant. Sarah Palin is classy women whether you agree with her or not. As much as she and her Family have endured Gumball should just shut up and stay in the Trashbin/gutter where he belongs and leave her alone.
Gumball is a Racist Moron, that's why he's not on TV anymore. He needs to Shut and just go away and stay away.
Kathie Peterson Zarthar: You are sooooooo stupid if you liked that raging racist Gumball (woops uh Dumbell, woops uh gumbel.) You must be a racist yourself!
I love palin and she will get better as time goes on were any of you great the first time you did anything I think not greatness comes with experience and stop be racist against the tea party they are not no matter how you try to portray them //.