Meredith Vieira to leave 'Today?'

And the anchor wheel keeps on turning: Rumors, reports, whispers -- whatever you choose to call them -- have been circulating for months that Meredith Vieira will leave "Today" at the end of her current contract. She only signed a one-year deal the last go-round, and the expectation was she wanted to move on, for personal reasons. Now this: TV Guide's Steve Battaglio is reporting fairly definitively that she will in fact leave by year's end, according to a well-placed source.

It's on the site now, and worth a read; Steve's a respected veteran and I'm sure has this from a solid source. Now we get to the usual stuff -- who will replace her? If I miss my bet, and I don't think I do here, the answer: Ann Curry. In fact, I would be shocked if Ann doesn't get it. It comes under the heading, "She's Earned It." 

There is of course always the possibility "Today" could prevail on Meredith -- who, after all, will presumably continue with "Millionaire." Another year, perhaps. But that would almost certainly be the end.