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Vieira to replace Couric on 'Today'

Verne Gay, Newsday | Zap2It.com

11:04 AM EDT, April 6, 2006

Meredith Vieira (April 6, 2006)

The longtime host of "The View," Meredith Vieira, made it official this morning that she will indeed be the next co-host of "The Today Show," replacing Katie Couric, who becomes anchor of "The CBS Evening News" this fall.

Just before the first commercial break on this morning's edition of "The View," show founder and part-time host, Barbara Walters, told viewers "we have a little news of our own" - this following a chat about Couric's move to CBS. And when the show returned from the commercial, Vieira confided that "I'm having trouble finding the right words to express how I feel." But not too much trouble. She spoke how "proud" she was to be part of the launch of "The View" nine years ago - "the people are wonderful [and] I'm extremely grateful to you guys" - referring to her co-hosts - "and the folks in the audience." Then, the figurative drum roll: "But, as I say to my kids, change is important [and] if you're going to grow you have to be willing to change, and get off the path you're on and find another one..."

More figurative drum-roll: So, "I'm honored that NBC has asked me to co-host 'The Today Show.'" I'm thrilled. I'm really thrilled."

And so it went: Co-hosts stood and applauded, audience stood and applauded, dozens of eyes misted over. And just like that, the second biggest non-secret in the news biz was no longer a non-secret, but official. NBC approached Vieira months a few months ago when it was apparent Couric was history - and thus effectively by-passed a handful of inside candidates. There were the usual public negotiation ploys - her allies saying she wasn't all that interested, and that she just loved "The View" too darned much to leave. But that was, of course, all smoke: When the most prestigious news program on television comes calling, you're not exactly going to roll over and go back to sleep.

Indeed, Vieira may have done exactly that some years ago, when her children were young, but the three are now teens (the youngest is 12), so the idea of breaking away for a job that is effectively a huge one - both in terms of salary (an estimated $10 million per year) and time (twelve hour days are typical) - became a lot more palatable.

Especially noteworthy about this morning's on-air announcement is - of course - the fact that Walters had also once been a "Today" "Girl" (yes, that's the tragically dismissive term that woman were labelled with when they had on-air roles on "Today" in the '60s and '70s.) She later joined ABC in 1976 as a co-anchor, and became a TV pioneer, at least as far as major network anchordom was concerned.

Said she, "This is a very sad day for us, but a very happy day. I know this is a wonderful new chapter," referring to Vieira, "[and] having been on 'The Today Show' for thirteen years, I know how exciting it can be."

Oh yes, she added: "Some advice, it is a little different showing up at 4:30, 5, in the morning."