A Look at Matt Lauer and Katie Couric on 'Today'
Matt Lauer and Katie Couric had a professional relationship that spanned almost a full decade on NBC's Today. The award-winning journalists, who were responsible for making the morning show a ratings success from 1997 to 2006, often praised each other on the air and were each other's support system through difficult times.
But when Lauer was fired from NBC on November 29 over allegations of sexual misconduct, Couric took her time responding to the backlash. In an Instagram comment Friday, she finally broke her silence, saying that the news was "incredibly upsetting" and that she would provide a more detailed statement when she's ready.
Here is a look back at Lauer and Couric's relationship over the years.
Before 'Today'
Couric began co-anchoring the Today show alongside Bryant Gumbel in 1989. In the meantime, Lauer worked as co-anchor for New York's local news station WNBC. In a 2013 interview with Howard Stern, Couric shared that she and Lauer often crossed paths back then and hit it off right away.
"I actually had a little crush on Matt when he was the local news anchor on WNBC, because I thought he was so funny and so quick," she said on The Howard Stern Show. "If he put the moves on you, you might have considered it," Stern responded.
Lauer later joined Today as a fill-in news reader from 1992 to 1993, and news anchor in 1994. When it came time to find a replacement for Gumbel in the co-anchor seat, Lauer told The New York Times in 2006 that Couric was "in my corner." He also said that Couric became his "comfort zone" when he first joined the show.
Couric and Lauer's First Broadcast
On January 6, 1997, Lauer joined Couric as Bryant Gumbel's official replacement on Today.
From the introduction, the pair had a friendly and playful demeanor with one another. "A couple of times on the show just remind me to breathe," Lauer told Couric. "I'll do that," she responded.
"I'm looking forward to working with you," he later added.
Ratings Go Through the Roof
Soon after Lauer joined the broadcast, the Today show ratings hit an all-time high, according to a 1998 New York Times article. The publication stated that by May 1998, Today had an average of 5.26 million viewers a day with Good Morning America falling behind with 3.12 million.
Lauer and Couric on Their Chemistry
In 2002, Couric and Lauer sat down with Charlie Rose in honor of Today's 50th anniversary. Rose credited the co-anchors for much of the show's success, and commented on their undeniable chemistry.
"From the get-go, when I used to do teases for WNBC when Matt was the morning anchor there, I thought, You know, I like this guy," she said. "I just thought he was fun."
Couric and Lauer then shared how reporting on difficult news stories like the September 11 terrorist attacks bonded them because of the fact that they had to "lean on each other" like never before.
Couric Leaves 'Today'
In April 2006, almost ten years after Lauer joined the show, Couric announced she was leaving Today to anchor CBS Evening News and work as a correspondent for 60 Minutes.
In the segment above, she reflected on her time with Lauer. "Once in a while, we get on each other's nerves - well, he gets on my nerves - but I could not have asked for a more talented partner or better friend," she said. "And as Dorothy said to the Scarecrow, I think I'm going to miss him most of all."
Lauer then jokingly interjected, "Also coming up in this half hour," before the pair broke out in laughter.
Couric Returns After a Decade
On January 2, 2017, Couric returned as guest co-host to fill in for Savannah Guthrie, who was on maternity leave. It was the first time Couric had co-anchored the show since she left in 2006.
"Welcome to Today on a Monday morning, second day of January 1997, apparently," Lauer joked. "This is Flashback Monday," Couric added.
Couric Celebrates Lauer's 20-Year Anniversary on 'Today'
Couric was still filling in as co-anchor on January 7 when the show celebrated Lauer's 20th anniversary. His former co-anchor led a "Most Memorable Moments" package and said in a featured interview, "It was extremely natural when Matt stepped into the chair and he just crushed it right away. What can I say? He had me at 'Good morning.'"
When Lauer then shared how fortunate he felt to have such a great job, Couric said, "I kept thinking how lucky you are and how lucky we are to have watched you all of these years."
10 Months Later, Lauer Gets Fired
On November 29, Lauer was let go overnight after allegations of sexual misconduct came to light. He issued an apology a day later saying in part, "There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this, I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC."
Couric's 'He Pinches Me on the Ass a Lot' Video Resurfaces
As Lauer's demise began to unfold, videos of his creepy-in-retrospect behavior began to surface, including a clip of Couric on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live in which she shared Lauer's most annoying habit. "He pinches me on the ass a lot," Couric told Andy Cohen.
Couric Breaks Her Silence
Hours after Lauer's firing, many turned to his former colleague of almost a decade for a comment, but got not response. Last Friday, an Instagram user called out Couric for her silence saying, "Nothing to say on Matt?? Huh - y'all would have been all over the story years ago. I watched y'all for YEARS. My childhood. Just goes to show you really can't trust people. He interviewed people on their moral character and had none himself."
Couric replied to the comment, writing, "It's incredibly upsetting and I will say something when I'm ready to. Thanks for your interest."
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