NBC Fires Matt Lauer

I was not bothered by the expression of natural human emotion.

 

He did not say "these women are lying."

"Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized." I would think the board's resident stickler for accurate journalism wouldn't make the leap to "these women are lying."

 

I thought Nightly News did a good job of handling the story, but to your point, they had all day to prepare for it. I'm not sure Guthrie had enough information at the time Today went on the air to react appropriately.

 

I'm curious how he plans to repair any damage or renew any trust. How do you do that? Other than pay people, I mean?

Besides, he doesn't need to repair anything -- not in any way that will make anything hurt him. Once the headlines go away and he gets over his embarrassment -- it's not shame, it's embarrassment -- he has enough money to just walk away from it all, and go merrily (financially, at least) on his way and never look back.

The soul-searching ought to be done by the TV stations. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is worth the kind of money Matt Lauer made. Particularly not for the work he did.

 

I took that as also referring to the Variety story. Like the locked door thing.

Even though I never disagree with YF and don’t personally practice journalism, one thing I have consistently gone after him about is his expansive use of the word “lying.”

 

Sorry, I thought he was referring solely to the statement. Have not had time to read the entire thread today.

 

I meant Lauer.

 

Matt Lauer was absolutely worth the money.

"Today" makes more than $400 million a year and the show was built entirely around Lauer. In the most recent numbers I've seen, it was taking in about $150 million a year more then GMA.

You could make a better case that Lauer was underpaid.

 

I need more coffee.

 

I mean, I didn't "like" that he did it ... I just, well, "liked" that you found it ...

 

As far as being worth the money, at some point you've got to ask how much is enough. That's from the viewpoint of part of the 99.98% who will never have to worry about such things.