A visibly emotional Meredith Vieira announced this morning that she is officially leaving her position as co-anchor of NBC's top-ranked Today show, a job she has held for the past five years. "I'm going to try to hold myself together here—but after months of personal reflection and private conversations with my friends and family, I've decided to leave Today in June," she said while fighting back tears. But what will become of her co-anchor, Matt Lauer, recently rumored to be reuniting with free agent Katie Couric? more ›

Earlier this month, amidst the hubbub about Katie Couric's departure from CBS, word started to spread that Couric's Today show replacement, Meredith Vieira, was planning on leaving the morning juggernaut in the fall. But now The Hollywood Reporter is saying that the former View host could leave Today as soon as June (three months before the end of her contract). She must really hate all that royal wedding coverage! more ›

Two days after a rumor that Meredith Vieira will leave the Today Show this year, another one popped up about Matt Lauer leaving the show when his contract is up at the end of the year! But TMZ claims that Lauer is just taking advantage of NBC's desperation to keep the top morning talk show team in place and wants $25 million/year, up from his current $17 million/year. more ›

While there are rumors about Katie Couric's post-CBS News moves, now there may be a shift at her old program, the Today show. According to TV Guide, Meredith Vieira "has been in discussions with NBC News executives for several months about extending her deal, which is up in September. But the co-anchor is said to be weary of the demanding early morning hours and is ready to move on. Vieira has often said that the health of her husband, who has battled multiple sclerosis and cancer, will be a factor in considering her future on the program." more ›

The hosts of a Today show had a brief scare when a man apparently lunged at them during a live segment on Rockefeller Plaza. According to the Post, "A deranged Brooklyn man lunged over a set of barricades and tried to approach them." No one was hurt, but "The program immediately went inside the studio where anchor Ann Curry began delivering the news as if nothing had happened." more ›

Transportation Alternatives asked the Today Show's Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira and Al Roker to participate in the Commuter Challenge—and they agreed! In a segment that aired this morning (it was taped last week), you can see Al ride his bike, Meredith take a car, and Matt hop on a subway to Rockefeller Plaza from West 72nd Street and Broadway. more ›

If you're still reading the paper version of The New York Times, get ready to spend a little more. Cover prices will go up to $1.25 from $1 starting July 16th. Sunday prices will increase on July 15th, going from $3.50 to $4.00. The last increase for The Times in the New York area was in 1999. The increased prices are projected to add $7-8 million in revenue this year and $14-16 million in 2008. Home delivery prices will increase 3-4%. Time will tell whether the price increase will cause subscribers to cancel their subscriptions and read the paper online. more ›

We're halfway through Spider-Man Week (check out this listing for the remaining events) and since it's fun to think that there really is a super hero in the city, let's see Peter Parker's places, via this map on the Spider-Man Week site. Now we know Oscorp is in the outer-boroughs and that Doc Ock's lab was in Clinton, but what about Peter's gig as a pizza delivery boy at Joe's? more ›

Battlestar Galactica Marathon (Sunday, 6:00 p.m., WPXN 31) Five episodes of not the recent revival, but the camp Lorne Greene and Dirk Benedict show from 1978. more ›

This year, the Today Show's tradition of testing its hosts' fortitude by giving them nutty Halloween costumes did not disappoint. Matt Lauer and Al Roker were Jack Sparrow and Captain Davy Jones from the Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes, that is Al as Captain Davy Jones - he is squidalicious! In years past, Matt and Al have dressed as famous pairs, like Siegfried and Roy, Batman and Robin, and J.Lo and Puffy. We're surprised that NBC was cool with Matt and Al dressing as a famous Disney movie, but the Good Morning America folks didn't dress up at all. All they had were their faces carved into pumpkins and a scary interview with Courtney Love. more ›

Of course, this recalls the Seinfeld episode, The Little Kicks, where Jerry becomes a pirated-movie auteur:

I don't care about Brody. I was up on 96th Street today, there was a kid couldn't have been more than ten years old. He was asking a street vendor if he had any other bootlegs as good as Death Blow. That's who I care about. The little kid who needs bootlegs, because his parent or guardian won't let him see the excessive violence and strong sexual content you and I take for granted.

- While being extorted, a contractor actually wrote "Extortion" on the check stub on one of his payments more ›

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