NBC cancelling Hall and Roker’s hour; Kelly taking over?
“NBC is canceling the third hour of ‘Today’ to make way for new star Megyn Kelly,” Page Six scooped on Friday afternoon. “We’re told Kelly will take over either the 9 a.m. hour from Tamron Hall and Al Roker or will replace Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford.” In the latter scenario, Hoda and Kathie Lee would move up an hour to 9, and Kelly would take over at 10.
NBC News is not commenting — apparently the 9 versus 10 a.m. decision hasn’t been made — but the current 9 a.m. show is definitely going away, and 9 a.m. hour staffers found out on Friday.
The official line is that Hall and Roker are still valued members of the “Today” show and NBC. But it’s ugly behind the scenes. Some staffers are coming to Hall’s defense and questioning the 9 a.m decision. Observers (at places like Jezebel and The Daily Caller) are alluding to the racial overtones of the change.
Meanwhile, Hall’s agents are still in talks with the network about her future… Will she stay?
Disappointed and irritated viewers
Maybe Roker was sending a message to the execs when he tweeted on Thursday, “Congrats to our #TODAYsTake @TODAYshow 9am producers for producing the #1 morning show 7 weeks in a row!! @tamronhall and I are very blessed.”
