# Are you really that desperate, NBC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580 "2012-04-02T14:29:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/21 "2012-04-03T14:52:21Z")
1. I thought ‘Today’ was the ratings king of morning talk. Why would they scramble and scrape for ratings? This is NBC’s biggest cash cow, so I can’t see caring too much if people poke over at Katie for a week. They’ll come back once the novelty is gone. 2. I’ve always preferred ‘Today’ to the others when I need morning background filler. But this stunt forced me over to ‘GMA.’ So apparently it backfired on them, cuz I’ll bet I’m not the only one to refuse to watch this joke. 3. Is there a cite to the Ann Curry ouster rumor? Lauer’s supposedly retiring in December, so I can’t see why the NBC suits would give a hoot who he wanted sitting on the couch next to him for the next nine months. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/22 "2012-04-03T14:59:52Z")
I can’t bring myself to watch the video, but Media Matters seems to have a clip: [Today Show Guest Host Sarah Palin: Obama Is A Socialist, Obama Is A Socialist](http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201204030001) So much for a “a different side of Palin.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/23 "2012-04-03T15:06:18Z")
I suppose it would’ve been asking too much to hope Matt Lauer would press her on which of Obama’s socialist policies she likes the least. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/24 "2012-04-03T15:18:57Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I didn’t realize the Today show was ever actually worth watching. It seems to me to be 15 mins of real news, tops, and then 3.75 hours of fluff and commercials. The Today Show was only ever worth watching when Katie Couric was doing a fluff interview in a short skirt to show off her legs. I seem to remember James Woods doing an interview with her about fifteen years ago and repeatedly losing his train of thought, and when she asked what the problem was he said that he hadn’t realized how cute she was until he was actually sitting right in front of her. Jane Pauley was better looking at her height though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/25 "2012-04-03T15:39:25Z")
“Never put your faith in a politician, because a politician will disappoint you.” :D:D:D:D She’s obviously had some “work” done to her face. Her upper lip no longer moves. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/26 "2012-04-04T10:49:59Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As a [sportscaster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_palin#Early_career_and_marriage), but I do suppose that it counts. I suppose so. Remember Bryant Gumbel? He was a sportscaster before becoming Today’s anchor, and had no hard news experience. Not that I’m comparing them, just that it has of course happened. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/27 "2012-04-04T14:32:43Z")
And nobody is chastising ABC for the gimmick of Katie Couric for a week? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/28 "2012-04-04T16:52:10Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > And nobody is chastising ABC for the gimmick of Katie Couric for a week? Couric has major daytime TV chops, is well-spoken and has a brain. There really isn’t a comparison here. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/29 "2012-04-04T16:55:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Couric has major daytime TV chops, is well-spoken and has a brain. There really isn’t a comparison here. Her presence on the ABC morning show for a week is still a ratings gimmick. NBC may be choosing stupid options to try to counter it, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/30 "2012-04-04T17:01:06Z")
Say what you want about Sarah Palin…she is HOT! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/31 "2012-04-04T17:38:19Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Say what you want about Sarah Palin…she is HOT! You need to raise both your standards and expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/32 "2012-04-04T17:47:47Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Say what you want about Sarah Palin…she is HOT! She looked better when she used to have lips. What the hell happened?? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/33 "2012-04-04T17:51:17Z")
Um… that’s not what he raised. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/34 "2012-04-04T18:08:57Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Say what you want about Sarah Palin…she is HOT! I want to say she really isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/35 "2012-04-04T20:55:26Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > She looked better when she used to have lips. What the hell happened?? See my prior post: I’m fairly certain that she’s had some cosmetic tucks done. I base this on having lived in Alaska through her term as governor and seeing her on the news quite often. Also that whole VP campaign thingy. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/36 "2012-04-04T22:31:51Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Say what you want about Sarah Palin…she is HOT! Not seein’ it. I sincerely do not find her attractive. The first time I saw her was after hearing on the radio that McCain had picked a former beauty pagent contestant. When I saw her later that day I was underwhelmed. Her screechy nag voice would be enough to kill any attraction even if she was better looking. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/37 "2012-04-05T18:19:03Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Her screechy nag voice would be enough to kill any attraction even if she was better looking. Well, the voice would take some adjustin’ to. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/38 "2012-04-05T18:24:20Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Yeah for me, the Today Show will always be that show that was on before David Letterman’s awesome day time TV show that one glorious summer. I thought I was the only one that watched that when it was on. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/39 "2012-04-05T18:26:18Z")
They need to get Ron Burgundy to guest host. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580/40 "2012-04-05T18:30:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I thought I was the only one that watched that when it was on. For a kid in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, it was my first hint that there was a weird and wonderful world out there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-that-desperate-nbc/617580.md?page=3)