Eye Roll
Getting 'Fired' Like Ann Curry Becomes the New American Dream
Poor Ann Curry. The Today Show has been tanking in the ratings and she's taking the fall. Rumors are swirling that Ann will be given the heave-ho as co-anchor of the morning show any minute now. Ann took the seat next to Matt Lauer only last year, when Meredith Vieira left. Since then, the show's ratings have been on a downward slide. Rival Good Morning America, for the first time in 16 years, has more viewers.
But is this Ann's fault? Most insiders say probably not. It could have just been GMA's time. But some execs have said (anonymously, of course!) that Ann doesn't seem comfortable with Matt Lauer. No one likes to get fired, but it's hard to feel too sorry for Ann since word has it she is going to receive a sweet little going away prize: $10 million. Boo hoo, amiright?
Ann has signed a three-year contract that would have paid her $20 million. Presumably, she's been paid for the first year. And the last year would have paid her $10 million. If she gets that to leave, it's almost like she's getting a one year paid vacation.
More from The Stir: Ann Curry Should Take a Lesson From Her Magazine Cover
Granted, money can't make up for the loss of a job -- especially a dream job like this one. Ann has been on the show for a long time and there's no guarantee she will ever get another job close to this one. However, she's a great journalist with a charasmatic onscreen presence, and she has many fans. I imagine that, like Conan O'Brien, she will end up somewhere good. I don't think we'll see Ann on the unemployment line.
Many Americans have gone through what Ann is now going through -- and they have nothing but maybe two weeks salary and limited unemployment payments between them and destitution. And far too many Americans have to go without health insurance as soon as they lose their jobs. I think Ann will be able to buy some health insurance -- and a mansion.
It's humiliating to be canned -- especially when you had just gotten promoted. Especially when you're doing your job, and doing it well, and nothing but the randomness of TV ratings is responsible for your getting the boot.
But with this kind of a consolation prize, Ann fortunately won't have to suffer like most jobless Americans do.
What do you think of Ann's reported payout?
Image via Kjunstorm/Flickr
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douxmusique
UKFan136
I love Ann Curry, she's a great balance to the rest of the Today Show staff. I think the Today Show is suffering ratings because they've not evolved over the last few years-their recipe for each hour has stayed the same & it's getting stale.
poshkat
woodit2u
I love Ann Curry. The Today Show has gone down the toilet. I hate all their cooking segments, too much fashion stuff, too much financial stuff, not enough news and interesting things. And the Kathy Lee and Hoda portion. Ugh, just shoot me!! That was the last straw and I quit watching.
mamavaness
hhhh
Water_geM
DoubleANBsMom
jessicasmom1
I like Ann Curry as a reporter it is a shame she is being let go
SinatrasKitten
I can't stand Ann Curry!! I stopped watching the Today Show because of her blatant lack of empathy. She conducts her interviews as she could care less about who she is interviewing. The interview that made me change the channel for good was when she interviewed 2 darling little sisters. The older sister saved the younger one by pushing her out of the way of a moving truck. The older sister got hurt pretty badly and ended up losing a leg. Ann would ask her questions and then say "mmm uh huh" with no compassion whatsoever! It was quite obvious she didn't want to interview them.
She also manages to mispronounce words and stumble with complete sentences - and this is when she's reading the freaking teleprompter for God's sake!
I say good riddance and don't let the door hit her on the way out!