That hot pic of Matt Lauer on the beach.

There is a better quality version of this one. I remember seeing it here. Anyone?

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Updated On: 3/25/13 at 06:17 PM

Ann Curry backlash.

Yes, it is Ann Curry backlash. To be fair though, she wasn't all that easy to deal with behind the scenes. The clash of egos.

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Reading up about it right now.

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That is a fantastic piece.

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No she certainly wasn't great at doing interviews or hard news. The point is, Matt Lauer could not control his massive ego enough to stop his disdain for Ann Curry from leaking through his very pore and his douchebaggery was revealed by people trapped working with him.

He definitely needs to spend more time playing golf.

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They smile in your face, all the time trying to steal your place...

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I've always had a Matt Lauer and Alec Baldwin fantasy.

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Great article. I stopped watching the Today Show ages ago. Even before I read the article, the promos for the show are so transparent (i.e., damage control). I remember Matt Lauer from PM magazine in the 80s. It's amazing how likeable he was back then, and even when he was a newscaster at NBC in NYC. Then as the years went by he became increasingly unlikeable. His disdain for Ann Curry always jumped out at me and that was even before she was promoted to co-host.

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Both Curry and Lauer are laughably bad at the hard-hitting news stories and interviews (Curry seems to always have awkward face-to-face interviews regardless of guest while Lauer seems to think being aggressive at all times is some feather in the cap) and it is humorous that both think that is what they are mainly good for as newcasters. But the article reveals that both could not be what they considered their strong suit and how one would have to be light and dumbed down really does show the problems of what the show has become. Lauer seemed to think a perky female robot could have been a better co-host and better for the format (and Savannah Guthrie is not that either and it is awkward to watch). I usually just listen to NPR Morning Edition on my way to work for news but lately even my family has kicked the habit of Today being their go-to, background noise and have gone to CBS This Morning because although Gayle and Charlie have almost no chemistry they also seem to be exactly themselves delivering the news without any air of disdain in doing it.

There have been more rumors about Lauer's power at Today that are largely unsubstantiated but this article makes me think they are also probably true.

I find the "confrontational" vibe of all the morning news shows a tough way to start the day.

I've been a much happier person since I switched to Curious George each morning.

No! Curious George! Today he and Betsy built their own miniature golf course! And he got to ride a rocket to the space station.

Both Georges are cute, inquisitive and hairy but George S has a better tail.