Matt Lauer is accused of turning into an “anchor animal” as TODAY ratings continue to sink, according to show insider comments shared by Radar Online . The television personality is allegedly belittling staffers, is micromanaging the news program, and has forbidden anyone to use the phrase “ Good Morning America .” A New York Post source claims Lauer is running the show and creating huge problems by not listening to anyone else involved with the broadcast.
As sad as Ann Curry appeared during her final moments on TODAY , she may have left a toxic work environment on a sinking ship at just the right time. When asked for a comment about the allegations, Matt Lauer simply laughed off the comments. He reportedly asked the New York Post journalist to please print the piece because it is the most interesting and dangerous he had ever sounded.
The TODAY show has been embroiled in a losing ratings battle with Good Morning America after spending 16 years at the top of the television time slot. The source also maintains that the show’s frontman is telling everyone to work harder; an order the insider claims is ironic since the host allegedly makes millions and works just four days per week.
After Ann Curry was ushered off the program, the ratings continued in a downward spiral. During her last 10 weeks on the broadcast, Today had 4.94 million viewers. During the first 10 weeks with replacement Savannah Guthrie, the viewership slipped to 4.6 million viewers. The all-important 25- to 54-year-olds demographic went from 2.1 million watchers with Curry to 1.9 after she lost her spot on the couch.
