Matt Lauer is set to leave NBC’s Today in December when his contract is up and now sources close to the talk show host say he’s willing to stay…if NBC puts up a heap of cash.

Lauer is currently earning $17 million a year for his work on Today and sources say he is willing to stay on the show if they up that amount to $30 million a year.

If that source is to be believed Lauer decided he would make a big offer after hearing that NBC officials were looking to hire Ryan Seacrest as Matt Lauer’s replacement. Basically Lauer got jealous and didn’t want his relationship to NBC ending on a Seacreast note.

The other school of thought is that Matt Lauer has always wanted to keep his job but chose to use the “I’m leaving” card so he could ask for a massive $30 million payday.

It’s hard to tell if the network will bite however Today is by far the highest earning property for NBC, earning more than $450 million per year.

NBC hasn’t confirmed whether they have received a Matt Lauer offer for $30 million. At this time a poll on TMZ reveals that only 25% of respondents think Matt Lauer is worth keeping at the higher number, then again the TMZ crowd isn’t necessarily the Today Show crowd.

Do you think Matt Lauer is worth $30 million a year to NBC?

Matt Lauer Will Stay At ‘Today’ For Massive Sum of Cash is a post from: The Inquisitr

When Charla Nash appeared on The Today Show this week for an interview with Meredith Vieira she nearly left the morning show host speechless.

Staring at the women who at one point had her face completely ripped off by a friend’s chimpanzee she stared in amazement as she told Nash:

“Wow. You really look fantastic,” and “I’m just—I— I apologize. I’m looking at your face and I am in awe.”

For a long time Nash rarely ventured out into public, fearing that her disfigurement would bring her unwanted stares and talk behind her back, however on Monday she revealed her new face to TODAY.

The donor face is still molding to Nash’s bone structure but the results are stunning, revealing cheek bone structuring, eyes where she is completely blind and other features that were indistinguishable just months earlier.

Speaking to Meredith the face transplant patient recalls one incident recently when a little girl said hello to her, while that might not seem like much of an accomplishment for Nash she says:

“That didn’t happen before … It was nice. The little girl was saying hi to me.  I looked like I’ve got eyes and everything. …I’m not scaring anybody.”

While Nash can’t see her new face or even feel it because her hands were also taken in the attack she says other people have given her the positive encouragement she was hoping for.

“I’ve had people tell me I’m beautiful,” Nash told Vieira. “And they were not telling me I was beautiful before.”

The journey towards a new face was not an easy one for Nash who had to undergo a 20-hour triple transplant surgery in which her face was transplanted and doctors also gave her two new hands, unfortunately there were problems with the hands because she had developed pneumonia shortly after completing the transplant and they had to be removed.

Even after finding out that she had hands that had to be removed she told Vieira:

“And it didn’t really bother me because I was too sick to worry about that, you know? … And then later on, I was disappointed that, you know, I had them and they’re gone again. But I’m hoping, you know, for in the future, that it can be done again.”

Doctors in the meantime plan to attempt another hand transplant for Nash within the next 12 months.

As for Nash’s face, doctors say it will mold to her own bone structure and within the coming months people walking by won’t even realize that she has had a transplant.

What do you think of Charla Nach’s new face?

Chimp Attack Victim Charla Nash’s New Face Revealed During Meredith Vieira Interview is a post from: The Inquisitr

After a run of ten seasons, Matt Lauer revealed to Access Hollywood long-running Today show segment, Where in the World is Matt Lauer?, is coming to an end. For now, at least.

“You know, 10 sounds like a better number to end on than nine did, so I think so,” Matt said about letting the segment go. “I think we’ve had a great time. We’ve been to 51 places… around the world.”

Lest you get too disappointed, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve seen the last of Where in the World is Matt Lauer. Lauer told Billy Rush on Access Hollywood Live that it’s possible it will eventually be revived, but it may not be exactly the same.

“It gets tougher and tougher to find extraordinary places,” he explained. “So, if we’re not completely done with it, we’re certainly going to rest it for a good long while and maybe revisit it with a twist at some future date.”

The (possibly) final installment of Where in the World is Matt Lauer? saw Matt traveling to Barbados, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Namibia. When asked about his most memorable moment, he said it would have to be the reveal of his trip to Switzerland.

“That reveal on Thursday from the top of Europe – 11,745 feet up – just the trip up there was ridiculous,” he said. “But to stand at that spot and look out over the glaciers and the Swiss Alps – that, I think, was my favorite moment of the week.”

[Image credit: Shutterstock]

Matt Lauer retiring ‘Where in the World’ segment after 10 seasons is a post from: The Inquisitr

Charlie Sheen has a message for Today Show host Matt Lauer, during an interview that will air on Friday he says that there are “portions” of his life “I would have amended a little bit” while adding that he has now sobered up and feels “calmer” these days.

When Lauer asks Sheen when his last drink or drug use occurred Sheen responds:

“I don’t really keep track of the time. It’s been awhile, because I feel like, without getting into my feelings about AA and all that stuff, if you’re walking around hanging on to your time, it’s only a matter of time before it goes, you know?”

Matt then asked:

“But you’re an actor in a business, and you know that producers out there and people who get involved in projects with you want to know, has it been two weeks, has it been two months, are you bankable, are you trustworthy.”

To which Sheen responds:

“Yeah of course, yeah, one hundred percent, yeah,” while adding, “I guess I would just have to lead by example. Words are only worth so much. It’s the actions and the behavior that matter.”

The interview continues on as the men talk about Sheen’s firing from his hit CBS show Two and a Half Men and his current state of mind to which Charlie Sheen says “I’m a lot calmer. It’s a lot mellower…I’m seeing my kids a lot more, mending fences…”

It’s good to know Sheen is attempting to right his wrongs but we’ve heard this all from Charlie in the past, it looks like his own words couldn’t be more true, only his actions and time will tell if he’s really a good bet moving forward.

Tune in to the Today Show on NBC Friday morning to witness the entire interview.

Charlie Sheen Tells Matt Lauer: I’m A Lot Calmer [Interview Sneak Peek] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Today Show co-host Matt Lauer was conducting an interview on Tuesday morning when an unexpected guest arrived and landed on his head. That guest was a bird which was part of an exotic animals segment Lauer was conducting with co-host Ann Curry.

The scarlet ibis bird flew around the studio before landing right on Lauer’s head.

As Lauer exclaimed ‘Oh No”  the audience broke out into laughter and Lauer, being the professional he is, allowed the bird to stay on his head as he continued on with the segment.  When someone reached out to feed the bird Matt said “That thing has sharp claws!”

Matt Lauer would later say, “He mistook me for a turtle” after the animals keeper said “That’s a common perch.”

The Today Show co-host wasn’t joking about the bird digging it’s claws into his head, a close up of his head with the bird shows claws sinking into his flesh.

Here’s the video:

[Image: HuffPost]

Matt Lauer has the worst luck with animals, you may recall that back in March 2009 he was riding his bike when he had a collision with a deer which separated his shoulder. During that collision Today Show producer Jim Bell said, “A deer kind of came out of nowhere and in an effort to avoid hitting the deer, Matt slammed on the brakes and went flying. He separated his shoulder.”

Perhaps they should keep Lauer away from any future segments involving animals, for his safety and the safety of his co-workers.

Exotic Bird Lands On Matt Lauer’s Head During ‘Today Show’ Segment is a post from: The Inquisitr

70s rockers Journey took to the Today Show stage on Friday to rock out as part of Today Show’s Summer Concert Series.

Performing at Rockefeller Plaza, the band rocked out to Don’t Stop Believin’ , a song that has been on playlists for nearly 30 years and was recently named by SoundScan as the most downloaded song of the 20th Century.

Here’s Journey rocking out on the show:

It must have been “travel back in time” day for morning talk shows as mall favorite Tiffany and teen star Debbie Gibson also showed up to perform for the Good Morning America crowd during a live performance on Friday.

Journey Rocks Out On ‘Today Show’ Stage During Summer Concert Series is a post from: The Inquisitr

The cowboy-hat-wearing Chesney gave his fans an additional treat by bringing Grace Potter up on stage for a special performance of their duet, “You and Tequila.”

The three-song mini concert by Chesney and Potter was part of the Today Show Toyota Summer Concert series, a ongoing part of summer fun in New York City which allows local fans a free seat to personally see some of the best entertainment in the world.

Kenny, who managed to bring his unique country flavor to the packed Rockefeller plaza, located in the heart of Manhattan, is smack-dab in the middle of his ‘Goin Coastal’ tour.

His next stop will be at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, June 18. Tickets for that event are currently sold out.

Check out all three of Kenny Chesney’s Today Show performances below:

Beer in Mexico

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

You and Tequila

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Somewhere With You

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Kenny Chesney, Grace Potter Perform on Today Show is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rihanna kicked off the Today’s summer concert series with her hit “S&M” and one fan got a little too frisky during the performance. As she strutted through the crowded Rockefeller Center a crazed fan reached over a barricade and pulled her in to apparently give her a smooch.

Here is a clip of the incident: (skip to 1:18 for the grab)

Luckily she was able to escape unharmed (with the help of her dancers) and continue on with her performance seemingly unfazed. She went on to perform four songs off her new album Loud! and even handed over the singing responsibilities to the wild crowd for certain lines of her hits.

 
Rihanna also took some time midway through her mini-concert to discuss her recent “too hot for TV” performance with Britney Spears. When asked her feelings on the sexy pair’s act, Ri Ri stated:

“I went to Twitter to see what my fans thought about it and they really enjoyed seeing us two up there together. There will be some people who think that’s too sexy, but you’re always going to find that,” she said matter-of-factly. “Nothing popped out, we didn’t make out … People will always talk, whether bad or good,” she said.

To check out some of Rihanna’s song performances on the Today Show watch the videos below:

What’s My Name

Rihanna – California King Bed

Crazed Fan Grabs Rihanna During ‘Today’ Show: [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

We have known for quite some time now that Today Show host Meredith Vieira would be leaving the show this year and on this mornings show she made it official.

Vieira announced that Ann Curry would be taking her place on the show.

Vieira accepted her co-hosting role beside Matt Lauer on the show five years ago, replacing the then departing Katie Couric who headed over to CBS to host CBS Evening News, a role she is also now departing for greener pastures.

Speaking on her exit from the show Matt Lauer said Vieira:

“Has brought class and dignity and talent and a joy of life to this show for the last five years.”

Meredith said she made the decisions, ”After months of personal reflection and private conversations with my family and friends.”

She hopes to stay with her “NBC Family” and still hosts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Meredith Vieira Makes It Official, Leaving ‘Today Show’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lane Garrison was a rising star after appearing on the TV show Prison Break, however the actor was sentenced to prison after a 2006 DUI accident left a 17-year-old boy dead. After serving 22 months in prison Garrison is now speaking out about his time behind bars as well as the passing of his friend who was also killed in the accident.

Garrison tells The Today Show’s Matt Lauer:

“You have to trust that one of these guys, when you close your eyes, isn’t just going to wake up in the middle of the night, pull you off your rack and beat you with a lock or stab you.”

“If you speak to anyone who’s ever done time, the fact that you make it out of there alive is a miracle. It’s like a bomb went off inside; it’s your worst nightmare,. Your hardcore gang members are there, and the guards are pretty hard there as well. I probably saw about 300 fights; I had a bunkie who was killed; I saw people stabbed,” he added. “I’d be sitting there on the yard and someone sitting right next to me would literally just get clocked and I was never touched. It’s by the grace of God that I’m sitting here with you today.”

Lane also spoke about the night of the accident:

“[That night] was a night of bad decisions. I had two drinks, downed two shots…bottom line, I should’ve never been at that party; I should’ve never had drinks in my system; I should’ve never drove. I think for me I’d been through so much; I’d just lost both my parents, and I felt like, nothing else bad can happen. The message is simple here – with drinking and driving, most people don’t have an intent to hurt somebody, but it happens and it can happen to anybody.”

While Garrison was released in 2009, he decided to start speaking now because:

“I grew up learning from a father who said when you make a mistake or you make a bad decision, you man up and take responsibility. The minute I decided to plead guilty was the minute that everything changed in my life. Going through 8 prisons, I never thought I’d make it out to see another set. I’m fortunate enough to get a second chance when a young man doesn’t have one, so I’m going to make the most of it.”

Garrison is acting once again, most recently on an episode of NBC’s The Event.

Lane Garrison Begins Speaking Out About Manslaughter Imprisonment is a post from: The Inquisitr

It was revealed earlier today that Matt Lauer was NOT interested in leaving his hit morning talk show The Today Show like his fellow cast members Meredith Vieira and Katie Couric, but was instead interested in a massive $25 million per year salary. We have now learned that the rumor is false.

NBC “sources” originally said that the rumors of Matt leaving the show were nothing more than a “well-time negotiating ploy” which Lauer started himself to receive more cash for his efforts on the show. Apparently Matt was simply taking advantage of Meredith’s announcement that she would leave the show after her contract expires in September.

Lauer on the other hand has a contract that extends through December 31, 2012 and according to an NBC spokesperson the network is:

“NOT in any negotiations with Matt … as he is under contract for a long time.”

Keeping Lauer however could be paramount for the shows success. Today has been the number one rated morning news show for 15 years and Lauer is currently earning $17 million per season to co-host the show.

I for one would stop watching if Lauer ever left.

NBC Is Not Negotiating With Matt Lauer For $25 Million Payday is a post from: The Inquisitr

Just one day after rumors began circulating that Meredith Vieira will likely leave NBC’s Today Show in September when her contract expires a new rumor is circulating that Matt Lauer also plans to leave the show upon completion of his contractual obligations.

For fans of the show that could mean Lauer will leave the NBC set on January 1, 2013 (his contract expires on New Years Eve).

NBC executives for their part don’t seem worried or they are at least playing coy with the situation telling E!:

“There seems to be an awful lot of speculation around news anchors these days, and it’s not our practice to comment on any of it,” while adding, “Matt Lauer has a long-term contract with NBC News and Today.”

If Matt leaves the show it will end a 17 year run (he started with the show in 1994).

Katie Couric is also getting ready to leave her anchor positions at Evening News so perhaps they could team up for a new show, after all they were the best reason to watch The Today Show when they were paired together. Perhaps they could be the new “Regis and Kelly” of the daytime talk show circuit.

Matt Lauer Rumored For Today Show Exit is a post from: The Inquisitr

Add Charlie Sheen’s now-ex publicist to the list of people who can’t deal with his “Adonis DNA.”

Stan Rosenfield- translation to Hebrew not available at this time- called it quits this morning after Sheen “appeared” on TMZ. Among the many, many things Sheen to the gossip blog was an admission that Rosenfield lied on Sheen behalf after the actor presumably got Charlie Sheen high and trashed a room at New York’s super-swanky Plaza hotel while there were hookers in his employ and ex-wife Denise Richards and his children slept a few rooms away.

In a statement that could be damaging to Rosenfield’s credibility, Sheen admitted:

“I respect Stan … he was doing the best he could in that moment … had I confirmed with him, I probably would have come up with something better. “

Rosenfield fired back:

“I worked with Charlie Sheen for a long time and I care about him very much, however, at this time, I’m unable to work effectively as his publicist and have respectfully resigned.”

And because Charlie Sheen closely watches what people say about him on the internet, of course he has a retort for Rosenfield’s departure as his publicist:

“Pussy. He’s not allowed to quit, so you’re fired.”

Charlie Sheen’s publicist finally quits is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Today Show went with a Star Wars themed Halloween show Friday morning, and decided some Ewoks would add to the overall theme.

The only thing they failed to check though was whether the little people playing the Ewoks had been drinking…because it would appear from the footage that they had been.

The drunk Ewoks did things such as fight each other, attempted to hump Al Roker, threw food…and at one stage, one even performed a moondance.

The WTF from about the 2 minute mark in the video:

Drunk Ewoks on the Today Show: what could possibly go wrong? is a post from: The Inquisitr

The World’s Oldest Dog

The world’s oldest dog title-holder appeared on “The Today Show” Wednesday morning. Chanel has to wear special glasses because of her cataracts and sweaters to keep from getting cold. Still, doctors say she’s in good health and doing great.

Chanel was born on May 6, 1988. She’ll appear for the first time in the upcoming 2010 Guinness edition.

While she may be the world’s oldest dog right now, though, Chanel doesn’t hold the title of oldest canine ever (at least, not yet): An Australian cattle dog named Bluey lived to the ripe old age of 29 years and five months, dying in the late 30s.

World’s Oldest Dog Video

The following video shows Chanel’s adventures on The Today Show this week:

VIDEO: The World’s Oldest Dog Turns 21 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Matt Lauer: Deer Accident

Matt Lauer was apparently riding his bike on Long Island when the deer ran in front of him. He braked and ended up flying over the handlebars as a result.

Lauer’s cohost, Meredith Vierra, said he sent an e-mail explaining the incident and jokingly suggesting that maybe the deer was “hired by the competition.”

NBC’s Lester Holt substituted for Lauer on “Today” Monday morning.

Video follows.

Matt Lauer Sidelined By Deer Incident is a post from: The Inquisitr

Stephen Colbert was asked by Meredith Viera on the Today Show this morning if he Twittered. His response: “I have Twatted.”

If you don’t know the basis of the word, Wikipedia explains it here.

Here’s one of those TV moments that will long be remembered:

Stephen Colbert has Twatted is a post from: The Inquisitr

Maytag Recall: The Details

The Maytag Recall affects particular models of refrigerators released under the names Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag, and Crosley. Because of an electrical failure in the refrigerators’ relay — the part that switches the compressor on — the units can overheat and catch fire.

So far, Maytag knows of 41 incidents where the refrigerators have ignited. Sixteen of those cases resulted in damage to the owners’ homes.

Is Your Refrigerator Affected?

The models affected by the Maytag recall include only side-by-side and top-freezer refrigerators, not models with freezers on the bottom. They are black, bisque, white, or stainless steel and have model and serial numbers printed on a label on the top middle or left upper-side of the fridge liner. The models have the following combinations of model and serial numbers:

All of the recalled refrigerators were sold between January of 2001 and January of 2004, with prices typically ranging from $350 to $1600.

If you think you might have one of them, call Maytag directly to confirm and set up a free in-home repair: 1-866-533-9817. You can also find more information on the Maytag repair site here.

Refrigerator Recall: More Photos

In addition to the model shown in the photo above, the following two images depict refrigerator types affected by today’s recall:

Maytag Recall: Is Your Refrigerator Affected? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tom even admitted that he thought he sounded “arrogant” during his last Matt Lauer encounter, saying: 

“I’m here to entertain people. I thought about it a lot. It’s a subject matter that was important. After looking at it, I really thought, it’s not what I had intended. In looking at myself, I came across arrogant. I absolutely could have handled that better.”

Regarding Scientology, Tom told Matt that  ”I think there’s a time and place for it. [But] when people are tuning in to hear about my movie, that’s what I’m here to talk about.” 

Is this a whole new Tom, or at least the one I actually had a crush on (unthinkable!) pre-Vanilla Sky?

Tom Cruise Reels It In, Calls His Rant “Arrogant” is a post from: The Inquisitr