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| Ann Curry and Matt Lauer, Hosts NBC Today Show |
"You're fired!" Donald Trump has made millions and has gotten amazing ratings from saying those words on his NBC show Celebrity Apprentice. Last week, Today co-anchor Ann Curry got to hear similar words from NBC brass and is scheduled to walk away from her latest gig with millions for not possibly delivering those much needed ratings.
As soon as the news hit the airwaves that Ann Curry, replacement for much loved Meredith Viera on Today, was losing her seat on the number one morning show, critics and the media have been working overtime analyzing her stint on the show. Firings like this one are never a surprise. Even though NBC management felt she was ready for the job after 14 years at the network, Ann Curry's one year as co-anchor has not been an easy one. From her first few months on the job critics have eye balled the morning show crew's chemistry, Ann's interviewing style and the ratings. When competitor Good Morning America the longtime runner-up in the morning TV race defeated Today for a week in April, ending a 16-year winning streak, it was a sure sign that change was imminent at Today.
If it has never happened to you, just know, there is no real way to prepare for the moment when you get fired from a job. But in television, on-air talent, being fired or not renewed is a professional blow both personally and publicly. Once the news of your impending departure breaks, the media, critics, friends, work associates and now with social media, fans get a chance to weigh in on your story and it can get brutal. Also viewers are also going to tune in and watch how you handle your on-air persona until the last day.
I bet the ratings have been a little higher on Today since Curry's news was revealed. I think we tune in to see how Matt, Al and Ann are getting along, when and how they will send Ann off, will it be a sincere good-bye and will Ann take the high road and bow out gracefully, with only kind words to her NBC family. Curry has already opened up about being criticized for her work in the August issue of Ladies Home Journal magazine- a move some might say is not a good one. Ann Curry had to see this coming. Once you get to the top of the television mountain, in front of the camera or behind the scenes, there is a big target on your back and if new management comes in, a significant mistake is made, ratings drop or don't rise enough, somebody is going to lose their job.
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| Rene Syler, Head GEM, Good Enough Mother.com |
During my decade at CBS The Early Show, we changed senior management and on-air talent several times, including co-anchor Rene Syler who speaks openly today about being fired in December 2006 after four years on the show. In April 2010, our show's new Executive Producer David Friedman, who was on the job for 14 weeks, called me into his office and informed me that the senior staff and talent were not satisfied with my work. It was a surreal moment. my ears clogged up, I started to squint as I tried to process what I was hearing. It was quite a shock since my immediate supervisor, who was not in this meeting, only a few hours earlier told me that as far as she knew everybody was happy with me and my work. In my ten years at CBS, I always checked in to take a pulse of my work situation and never had any complaints or negative reviews. My first question to my new boss was "Can you be more specific and why am I just hearing about this now?" After two decades in the television business it was my turn to get the hook.
A week later, I was terminated and the CBS chapter of my life was suddenly over. Fast forward, one year later I was on a new career path and industry news broke that David Friedman.was being fired after 16 months on his job. CBS has since relaunched The Early Show, as CBS This Morning, and most of my co-workers were let go and a new team is in place. It is never easy or pleasant when you lose a job-it messes with your head, ego and bank account. But the show must go on and it usually does and so do you!
A week later, I was terminated and the CBS chapter of my life was suddenly over. Fast forward, one year later I was on a new career path and industry news broke that David Friedman.was being fired after 16 months on his job. CBS has since relaunched The Early Show, as CBS This Morning, and most of my co-workers were let go and a new team is in place. It is never easy or pleasant when you lose a job-it messes with your head, ego and bank account. But the show must go on and it usually does and so do you!
Here's a quick look at a couple of television personalities who were fired and how they handled it, beginning with Star Jones who visited the The View for the first time earlier this year after being fired in 2006.
In his first interview on The David Letterman Show since getting fired from his most recent job, Keith Olbermann addresses his abrupt exit from Current TV. Olbermann was also fired from his MSNBC's show Countdown a year earlier after 2 1/2 years on the program.
AND FINALLY our all time favorite actor Charlie Sheen who was fired by Warner Brothers Television from the CBS show Two and A Half Men last year went on a "winning" tirade for weeks after. It was an entertaining but sad meltdown to watch. Charlie is back and today cringes at his crazy behavior.
As for Ann Curry, reports have her leaving Today before the July Olympics coverage begins in a few weeks. Ann, just know the shock wears off and their is life after morning television, so enjoy sleeping late for a change.
The question remains, what should Ann Curry do after being fired from her Today show job?
The question remains, what should Ann Curry do after being fired from her Today show job?
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TV/Social Media Producer Debbie Mitchell is an Emmy nominated producer who is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and is currently a member of the James Beard Broadcast and New Media Awards Committee. If you are a brand interested in blogger outreach campaigns, a blogger or personality interested in television placement follow Debbie Mitchell @TVProducerDeb or contact TheBloggerConnection.com.
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