BLIND GOSSIP

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Younger And Fresher

SOLVED!

[Blind Gossip] When a television personality leaves their long-time job, it must be because they want to retire. Or because they have grown bored with their job. Or because they’ve been made a better offer elsewhere. Or because their ratings are poor. Right?

None of the above.

If it was up to her, she would do this job forever! She is being forced out. No one will say it in public, but it is because of her age. Her audience keeps aging with her. They want a younger, fresher demographic and that means a younger, fresher host.

How much younger? We hear at least twenty years.

Similar: Firing Target

TV Personality:

[Optional] Is it fair?

SOLVED!

TV Personality: Kathie Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford, 65, is leaving her job as the cohost of the fourth hour of Today. She claims that the move is voluntary, citing an interest in pursuing “other projects.”

Gifford has cohosted the show with Hoda Kotb, 54, for the past ten years.

Gifford previously cohosted Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988 to 2000.

As Blind Gossip told you in December 2018, the plan was to replace Gifford with someone who is at least twenty years younger so that the show could attract a younger demographic.

It was just announced today that Jenna Bush Hager, 37, will be replacing Gifford. From FOX News:

Jenna Bush Hager named permanent replacement for Kathie Lee Gifford on NBC’s ‘Today’

Jenna Bush Hager will replace Kathie Lee Gifford alongside Hoda Kotb during the 10 a.m. ET hour of NBC’s “Today.”

Gifford and Kotb made the big announcement on Tuesday’s show, when Bush Hager was formally introduced and quickly given a glass of wine — which has become a signature of the show’s fourth hour.

Bush Hager, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, joined “Today” in 2009 and has worked her way up the ranks.

“It feels humbling and I can’t believe it,” Bush Hager said. “My dad just wrote me three words, which made me weep. He said, ‘Very proud dad.’”

Bush Hager has filled in during the fourth hour of “Today” on a regular basis and now her seat will become permanent after Gifford’s last day, which is scheduled for April 5.

Last year, Gifford announced that she would exit the show after 11 years. She joined the NBC cash cow in 2008, hosting a newly minted fourth hour with Kotb. Gifford – the former longtime co-host of “Live with Regis & Kathie Lee” – quickly became a “Today” fan favorite when she returned to television.

NBC News chief Noah Oppenheim told staffers in an email that Bush Hager’s “compassion and curiosity come through in all of her stories, along with her Texas-sized sense of humor.”

None of the formal announcements have mentioned the age of the hosts. That is a purposeful move by NBC.

Congratulations to NewHampshirite for being first with the correct answer!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Kathy Lee. Not fair. If she was well liked, professional, and brought in viewers, who cares about her age?

  12. Gotta be Kathie Lee, but really, what’s the point of leaving Hoda and bringing in Jenna Hager? She’s not going to completely change the demographic – another bad move NBC…

  14. Kathie Lee Gifford

    Showbusiness isn’t exactly known for fairness, and NBC News isn’t exactly known for making smart staffing decisions.

  15. Kathy Lee Gifford

    No, it’s not fair, especially as the ratings have not declined. This is going to blow up in the network’s faces.

    • Show biz – the only business where age discrimination is allowed. Remember when flight attendants won their law suit for the exact same thing?

  20. Kathie Lee Gifford
    I don’t care for her, but if her ratings are good, you’re only going to alienate your audience.

  24. Kathie Lee. They do realize younger people don’t have cable to watch their show no matter who they have host right?

  32. Has to be Kathie Lee Gifford from the Today show. I think that sucks, honestly. The show does really well in the ratings, why mess with a good thing?

  33. Obviously this is Kathy Lee Gifford on the Today Show. To be honest, I’m glad. She’s the one I dislike most on the show…. I’m a 38yo stay at home mom who is a devoted Today show watcher. I turn off when KLG is on… she’s just too old school for me, a little judgey and it’s like having my mom on the 4th hour. I loved it when Hoda and Willie would cohost together.

  38. Kathie Lee Gifford. Ridiculous! She’s one year older than Al Roker.

    Who’s sitting at home at 9am during the weekday anyway? Maybe your grandmother. Maybe a bored housewife who hates her life–but she’s streaming Netflix–not watching The Today Show.

    P.S. Al used to be my neighbor on the UES and he is an angry man. My interactions weren’t pleasant. Like the day I was super hungover and ran to AT&T on 86th & Lex…lost my phone in cab. He yelled at me and ran his scooter over my foot.

  41. Kathy Lee Gifford.
    If ratings are steady, I’d leave her. Most young people don’t watch the Today Show for news/entertainment nor will they, is my guess.

    • Just read that Kathie Lee Gifford is leaving the Today show, so this is obviously about her.

  49. Kathie Lee. It’s hard to imagine this type of age discrimination against women is still going on in Hollywood.