New day on ’Today’
NBC is expected today to name Ann Curry, Natalie Morales and Hoda Kotb as co-hosts of the fourth hour of “Today,” which will take to the air in early September, the Hollywood Reporter says.
The decision caps a year of planning for the morning show, which will be cleared in about 96 percent of the country.
Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, co-anchors of the much more widely watched first two hours of “Today,” will not have a role in the last hour, the Hollywood Reporter notes. Mr. Lauer appears for a brief time at the top of the hour and then leaves the show to Miss Curry, Miss Morales and Al Roker.
The fourth hour is scheduled to begin September 11.
Miss Curry and Miss Morales are familiar faces on “Today.” Miss Curry is the show’s news anchor, and Miss Morales a correspondent for the show. Miss Curry also hosts “Dateline” and last week was Brian Williams’ substitute on “NBC Nightly News.”
Miss Kotb, a 1982 graduate of the former Fort Hunt High School south of Alexandria, also works for “Dateline” and does other duties at NBC News.
Fox5 gets ’Edge’ at 6
Fox5-WTTG will introduce a new early evening newscast, “FOX 5 News Edge at 6” beginning Sept. 10, station officials announced yesterday.
The program will air Monday through Friday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Brian Bolter will serve as the sole anchor, joined by weathercaster Sue Palka and sportscaster Dave Feldman.
“News Edge” will deliver the news of the day in a unique, fast-paced format, the station said. Highlights will include weather at five minutes past the hour as well as in-depth reports on top-of-mind Beltway region issues such as transportation, housing prices and taxes.
Fox5 will air “The Simpsons” — now seen in back-to-back episodes at 6:30 and 7 p.m. — in one installment at 7 p.m. followed by “Seinfeld” at 7:30 p.m.
On tap tonight…
“I Am Mandy Moore,” part docudrama, part concert, airs at 10:30 p.m. on Oxygen. The one-hour special follows the singer and actress as she tries to redefine her musical persona while pursuing an acting career.
Meanwhile, Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, and MyNetworkTV is commemorating with a showing of “Frankie and Johnny.” The 1966 film, which co-stars Donna Douglas — known best as Elly May Clampett on the long-running sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies” — airs tonight at 8.
Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse and Kelly Jane Torrance from Web and wire reports.
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