'GMA' RATTLED 'TODAY' CAGE
By DON KAPLAN
KATIE Couric's fiery off-air de meanor and slipping ratings were the catalysts for the ouster of "Today" executive producer Tom Touchet, sources say.
Touchet's predecessor, Jeff Wald, who helmed the popular morning show from 2000 to 2002, ran afoul of Couric nearly three years ago and was eventually fired for it.
But sources close to the show say that Touchet's exit had more to do with losing ground to "Good Morning America" in the competitive morning ratings race than anything else.
"Frankly, the numbers weren't where many people think they should be," an NBC insider said, adding that the decision came directly from NBC News president Neal Shapiro and NBC chief Jeff Zucker.
Earlier this week, Couric wasn't even aware that Touchet had been fired and called him to discuss details of the next day's show, a source said.
NBC officials confirmed that Jim Bell, an NBC Sports veteran and coordinating producer for the network's Olympic coverage, is now executive producer of "Today."
Still, reports of Touchet and Couric clashing have been circulating for more than a year.
As far back as February 2004, trade magazines and gossip columns reported that Couric — at $13 million a year, the highest paid TV journalist — was "leading the charge" to have Touchet canned.
A "Today" spokeswoman denied that Couric was involved.
"That couldn't be more false," she said. "It was a decision that came down from management. Katie and Matt (Lauer) were involved as anchors of the show, much (as they would be in) any other decision."
Meanwhile, a spat last winter reportedly among Touchet, Couric and Zucker (the former "Today" boss, who staffers say was the only executive producer Couric truly got along with) resulted in Touchet slamming a glass door so hard afterward that it shattered.
Zucker spent the better part of a decade at "Today" before leaving, Wald lasted only 17 months on the job and Touchet managed to stick around for 29 months.
(source: NYPOST )
KATIE Couric's fiery off-air de meanor and slipping ratings were the catalysts for the ouster of "Today" executive producer Tom Touchet, sources say.
Touchet's predecessor, Jeff Wald, who helmed the popular morning show from 2000 to 2002, ran afoul of Couric nearly three years ago and was eventually fired for it.
But sources close to the show say that Touchet's exit had more to do with losing ground to "Good Morning America" in the competitive morning ratings race than anything else.
"Frankly, the numbers weren't where many people think they should be," an NBC insider said, adding that the decision came directly from NBC News president Neal Shapiro and NBC chief Jeff Zucker.
Earlier this week, Couric wasn't even aware that Touchet had been fired and called him to discuss details of the next day's show, a source said.
NBC officials confirmed that Jim Bell, an NBC Sports veteran and coordinating producer for the network's Olympic coverage, is now executive producer of "Today."
Still, reports of Touchet and Couric clashing have been circulating for more than a year.
As far back as February 2004, trade magazines and gossip columns reported that Couric — at $13 million a year, the highest paid TV journalist — was "leading the charge" to have Touchet canned.
A "Today" spokeswoman denied that Couric was involved.
"That couldn't be more false," she said. "It was a decision that came down from management. Katie and Matt (Lauer) were involved as anchors of the show, much (as they would be in) any other decision."
Meanwhile, a spat last winter reportedly among Touchet, Couric and Zucker (the former "Today" boss, who staffers say was the only executive producer Couric truly got along with) resulted in Touchet slamming a glass door so hard afterward that it shattered.
Zucker spent the better part of a decade at "Today" before leaving, Wald lasted only 17 months on the job and Touchet managed to stick around for 29 months.
(source: NYPOST )
posted by Scott Fish at 12:47 AM
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