Ann Curry is out. Hoda Kotb is in. Reports have been circulating all week that Ann Curry will soon be getting the ax from The Today Show and now we may know her replacement. Kotb is rumored to be the front-runner to sit beside Matt Lauer and the move could be made as early as next week.

The Daily Mail reports that Kotb, who has been with NBC since 1998 and currently hosts the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford will step in.

A source at NBC said:

“Hoda has a hard news background but is extremely comfortable discussing pop culture issues. She just has a warmth that viewers find comforting. She was very public with her breast cancer battle, and allowed cameras to follow her during her cancer treatments on Today. Hoda is a team player, and is so well liked by everyone at the show, most importantly, Matt Lauer. They have a very easy rapport and mutual respect. Hoda even recently interviewed Matt for a Hamptons Magazine profile on him.”

In that profile, Kotb called Lauer “the most talented journalist I have ever seen.”

Kotb said:

“He is one of the funniest people I know… He is also compassionate, and I think it’s that characteristic that drives him to motivate others to take care of their community.”

NBC executives reportedly blamed Curry for their low ratings, saying that she had no chemistry with Matt Lauer. Kotb, who has scored well in NBC focus groups, has a good rapport with Lauer and could help boost the shows ratings.

Savannah Guthrie is also rumored to be in the running but the Daily Mail reports that NBC executives aren’t comfortable putting Guthrie in the spotlight yet.

‘The problem with Savannah is that in focus groups, she just doesn’t score as high as Hoda does… NBC has been conducting focus groups to assist the network executives in determining who should replace Ann. Savannah is an extremely talented journalist, and she is extremely bright, but she only recently joined Today and viewers just aren’t as comfortable with her.”

Do you think Hoda Kotb should replace Ann Curry?

Hoda Kotb To Replace Ann Curry Next Week [Rumor] is a post from: The Inquisitr