Source: enstarz.com

With their ratings sliding for the first time in 17 years, it’s time the “Today” Show joined its competition in adding a black female co-host.

Now is the perfect time to do it.

As Fox pointed out:

“Today” had been the undisputed morning champ in the ratings since 1995 until this spring, when a resurgent “GMA” snapped NBC’s winning streak by seizing the top spot several times.

Just last week, during Savannah’s first turn as the “Today” Show co-host, “Good Morning America” had the largest ratings lead over “Today” in more than 17 years, while extending its top-ranked status to three consecutive weeks.

There are plenty of reasons why “Today” has lost its edge. However, while their top brass is undoubtedly scrambling to make adjustments in an effort to place the show back on top, I hope they will seriously consider adding a black woman to the morning show.

When Savannah was promoted to co-anchor alongside Matt Lauer, she left her 9am spot open and many are speculating that Tamron Hall or Hoda Kobt may fill it.

It’s unlikely they would move Hoda to an earlier time slot considering that would leave a gaping hole next to Kathie Lee. That leaves Tamron to be the center of speculation. I don’t necessarily want that move for her because she has such a good gig right now. Plus, NBC shouldn’t just move one black person around to look like it has diverse talent on staff instead of hiring more black people and actually having diverse talent on staff. Like, electing Barack Obama to POTUS meant not having a single Black Senator in United States Congress, moving Tamron to mornings would mean the only other Black female on the network all day would be Hoda at 10am. Tamron certainly wouldn’t be a poor choice, but surely the network has more than two black women to choose from. If not, I’m fairly certain the National Association of Black Journalists could pass along some names and reels.

If moving Tamron or Hoda are the only options then I hope they go for it. The paucity of African-American co-anchors in The Today Show’s history is astounding. As far as black women are concerned? They’re utterly non-existent.

Back in 1974, Barbara Walters became the show’s first female co-host and the first female co-equal on a network TV news program. After her, there has been Jane Pauley, Deborah Norville, Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and now Savannah Guthrie. To their credit, The Today Show has hired black men. They have Al Roker on weather and Bryant Gumbel was an anchor for years. But where are the black women?

The show certainly has black women in their audience, so why they can’t have a black woman on the air?

Seriously, is anyone else shocked that in the nearly 40 years since Barbara Walters broke into the all-boys club, The Today Show has never once hired a black woman? Not. Once. What persistent belief could be permeating that place that would allow this to be the case after all of these years? For those that want to mention ratings, I take offense to the thought that black women can’t bring eyes to a show. Oprah is still the most famous talk show host in the nation and she is black as can be. Look at Robin Roberts on ABC’s “Good Morning America” or Gayle King on “CBS This Morning.” People will watch a news show when a black woman is the anchor. The Today Show just hasn’t tried it.  Their ratings are down anyway, so now is as good a time as ever. Maybe the executives don’t believe that a black woman would be a boost to the show, I say there is no reason to believe a black woman wouldn’t be a boost. They won’t know if they never hire one.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who think the absence of black women from “Today’s” history of anchors is not a big deal. It is, after all, just a morning show. But, to me, consistently neglecting to hire black women when there are scores of qualified black women for the job is always a big deal.

What do you think? Do you think The “Today” Show should hire a black woman?

Alissa Henry is a writer living in Columbus, OH with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink. 

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Source: livingneworleans.com

From Eurweb.com

Now that NBC got Ann Curry out the way after 15 years of dedicated reporting with “The Today Show,” the network is on the hunt for a new third string host.

If you saw Curry’s emotional speech last week, announcing her departure, it seemed quite obvious that she was not planning on this. She was quite tearful. But sources say ratings have been slumping for some time and the network needed to make some changes.

Currently taking Curry’s place is Savannah Guthrie, whose been called “blander than oatmeal,” but who can get the job done? Guthrie was the 9am hour co-host of “Today” with Al Roker. But who will replace Guthrie?

Check out why all bets are on Tamron Hall on Eurweb.com.

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The statistics can be overwhelming: Every 13 minutes, a woman dies from breast cancer. It is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 15 and 54. But millions of women will battle the scary diagnosis and win, including famous faces from around the globe.

From comedians to actresses and TV personalities, learn which of your favorite celebs, and fearless women, defeated breast cancer…

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By Alexis Garrett Stodghill

Lottery winner Tyrone Curry still lives in the same modest Seattle home he shared with his wife and extended family when he won $3.4 million in the lottery. He drives the same car, and even has the same job, five years later. After “cleaning up” in the Washington State Lottery, Tyrone kept right on cleaning — the halls of Evergreen High School that is — where he has worked for 40 years.

He continues sweeping, emptying the garbage and raising the American flag every morning in daily rituals that benefit the community he is central to. The only difference is the additional  resources at Curry’s disposal to further enhance students’ lives.  And with true dedication to his school, Tyrone will use his lottery winnings to make the Evergreen High property even better. MSNBC.com reports:

Five generations have grown up around him since he came home from war and started taking care of kids. Budget cuts eliminated Tyrone’s teaching assistant’s job 35 years ago, so he stayed on as a janitor. He never went looking for another classroom because he found a better one — and a second job — out back.

You see, Tyrone isn’t just the Evergreen High School custodian; he also coaches the track team. And that’s where he decided to splurge with his lottery winnings.

“I’m getting excited!” he says, watching runners circling toward him on the school’s old cinder track. This summer he’s building them a new one. State-of-the-art. Cost him 40,000 bucks.

“I’m not done,” he chuckles. Tyrone buys more lottery tickets every week. “Our tennis coach, she has, like, a hundred kids tryin’ to play on four courts.” Tyrone dreams of building more.  Doesn’t care about the odds. “Life is lucky!” he says. And when it’s not, Tyrone feels it falls to the janitor to fix it.

Not content to improve the facilities alone, Curry has taken it upon himself to help the school’s track team captain through recent misfortunes. When DeVante Botello’s mother died of a heart attack, Tyrone filled the emotional gulf with encouraging words. Curry is now taking care of the college tuition the honor student’s mother was planning to pay.

Botello doesn’t have his father in the picture, so Tyrone is taking on that role, in addition to being his coach, mentor — and hero. DeVante told “The Today Show,” “Coach is probably the most amazing man I’m ever gonna meet. He’s my hero — a real hero [...] Whatever I do with my life is gonna be in honor of Tyrone.”

Tyrone and his wife Michelle had been in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings when he hit it big. After their windfall, it would have been easy for a man who had spent much of his life serving others to choose to focus on himself. But instead he decided to give more. Does being a Vietnam veteran inspire Curry to remain committed to those under his care? He certainly doesn’t do it out of pride.

“I’m just Joe Citizen,” he told NBC’s “Today.”  He might be a regular guy, but he is doing the extraordinary. Maybe Tyrone uses his millions to help others, because of the greater emotional wealth that giving brings.

Woe is me for Tiki.

First he leaves the New York Giants and they win the Super Bowl the year after. Then he has a little fight with Eli Manning and his leadership skills on the field were questioned. And after all that, he gets an amazing job as an anchor on the Today Show, but is asked to leave after a bit of scandal.

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