08:40 AM EDT 10/31/2009
Matt Lauer
The Force Is with the Today Show
Originally posted 10/30/2009 09:00AM
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A galaxy far, far away came to New York's Rockefeller Plaza Friday morning, and it was 1977 all over again, as the Today show team dolled up for Halloween in their best Star Wars finery.
Bunned up behind the ears in her unflattering wig, Meredith Vieira was Princess Leia, Matt Lauer was a grounded Luke Skywalker, Al Roker came on as Han Solo while Ann Curry breathed heavily as Darth Vader. Natalie Morales dropped in as Padmé Amidala, and Hoda was Yoda (Hoda Kotb, that is). Kathie Lee Gifford went heavy metal, as C-3PO.
Dressing up in elaborate costumes has become a tradition on the NBC morning show. As for this year's retro theme, in a season when The Twilight Saga is all the rage, chalk it up to the current Stars Wars: In Concert show that is touring the country.
– Stephen M. Silverman
Permalink | Filed Under: Halloween, Star Wars, Today, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira
Brüno Falls into Matt Lauer's Embrace
Originally posted 07/09/2009 09:05AM
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Somehow, it just seemed pre-destined that Austrian fashionista Brüno would end up in Matt Lauer's arms.
The fateful contact took place Thursday during a free-wheeling Today show interview in which Sacha Baron Cohen's flamboyant alter ego, in his silver lamé jumpsuit, demanded a hug from the handsome morning host. Problem was, the segment (see video) had already faded to blackout before the moment could be shared with viewers.
Permalink | Filed Under: Bruno, Today, Matt Lauer, Sacha Baron Cohen
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Matt Lauer Expected to Return to Today This Week
Originally posted 03/24/2009 12:55PM
Matt Lauer remained "a little groggy" Tuesday morning, following surgery the day before to repair his separated shoulder, but was "shaking it off like a trouper," said a Today show executive.
Jim Bell told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show that he spoke with Lauer Tuesday, just days after the show host crashed his bike after slamming on his brakes to avoid a deer. Bell expected Lauer would return to the show before the end of the week – and even made several jokes about the incident.
"I'm hopeful if not [Wednesday] by Thursday or Friday at the latest – so our national nightmare will soon be over," he said.
Permalink | Filed Under: TV NewsMatt Lauer
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Matt Lauer Has Accident with a Deer
Originally posted 03/23/2009 07:30AM
Where in the world was Matt Lauer on Monday? Not on the Today show, due to a weekend incident as he was riding his bicycle, according to his NBC cohort Meredith Vieira.
Lauer encountered a deer while he was on the road, said Vieria, who wasn't quite clear about whether or not Lauer and the animal smacked into one another. She seemed to doubt it.
Lauer, she informed viewers, "thinks the deer was hired by the competition." Not true, Vieira insisted. "I hired the deer, but I said, 'Just graze him.' "
– Stephen M. Silverman
Permalink | Filed Under: TV NewsMatt Lauer
Matt Lauer Meets His Lookalike: Abe Vigoda
Originally posted 01/23/2009 09:45AM
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What started out as a serious study of how the presidents physically age in office turned into a good laugh on the Today show this week, when Meredith Vieira showed "before" and "after" shots of her co-anchor Matt Lauer – and how he might age if he were to take office.
The "before" photo showed the handsome Lauer, 51, as he is today. The "after" shot was the, er, distinctive-looking The Godfather character actor and TV's Barney Miller and Fish star, Abe Vigoda, 87.
Apparently, someone was not amused: Vigoda himself.
Permalink | Filed Under: TV NewsMatt Lauer
Tom Cruise and Matt Lauer Clear the Air
Originally posted 12/15/2008 09:00AM
"Three and a half years after the interview heard 'round the world, Tom Cruise is back in the studio, today," Matt Lauer said at the very top of Monday's Today show.
Lauer wasn't kidding. Hovering over Lauer and co-anchor Meredith Vieira as they were trying to open the morning program at 7 a.m. was Cruise, standing over their desk, even though the interview segment to promote his Christmas release Valkyrie wasn't slated until the 7:30 half-hour.
"Let's set the record straight," Lauer said before Monday's sit-down with his one-time on-air sparring partner. "This is not Rocky II."
Permalink | Filed Under: TV News, Katie Holmes, Matt Lauer, Tom Cruise
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Tom Cruise Gets Comedic Revenge on Matt Lauer at Roast
Originally posted 10/24/2008 03:15PM
Showing there were no hard feelings – well, maybe a few – Tom Cruise skewered his one-time Today show adversary Matt Lauer with one-liners in a surprise appearance Friday at a Friars Club roast.
"Believe it or not, Matt and I are friends. Some of you may find that hard to believe," said the actor, who famously scolded Lauer on-air and called him "glib" during a discussion of psychiatry and post-partum depression during a now-notorious 2005 interview.
The roasts specialize in dirty humor that poke fun at their honorees. Cruise had a field day at Lauer's expense.
Permalink | Filed Under: Matt Lauer, Tom Cruise
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Matt Lauer Set to Be Skewered at Celebrity Roast
Originally posted 09/12/2008 03:30PM
The burning question is, will Matt Lauer still be speaking to them in the morning?
Lauer, 50, is slated to be the victim – that is, "honoree" – when the Friars Club gathers at the New York Hilton Oct. 24 and rakes the Today host over the coals, humorously, at its annual celebrity roast – an event noteworthy for wildly uncensored remarks at the expense of the guest of honor.
Among those scheduled to appear at the by-invitation-only, not-for-broadcast event include Lauer's predecessor Bryant Gumbel, his former sidekick Katie Couric and the current one, Meredith Vieira – as well as his across-the-channel rival, Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer.
Permalink | Filed Under: Donald Trump, Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira
Al Roker & Matt Lauer (Try To) Go for the Gold in Beijing
Originally posted 08/19/2008 12:00PM
Give them an A (as in "award") for effort – but Al Roker and Matt Lauer should probably give up their dreams of Olympic gold.
In a segment from Tuesday's Today show, the manly hosts hit the mats in Beijing with Olympian Alexandra Orlando and give rhythmic gymnastics a whirl. Literally.
The result? The hula-hoops and ribbons go flying as the anchors struggle with coordination.
But while the sport proves initially difficult, the duo eventually grow into it, revealing a routine – and a sense of humor – that should impress even the toughest of judges. See for yourself.
– Brian Orloff
Permalink | Filed Under: Olympics Summer 2008, Today, Al Roker, Matt Lauer
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Matt Lauer to Tom Cruise: No Hard Feelings
Originally posted 05/09/2008 07:00AM
Tom Cruise's recent Oprah Winfrey interview included several new revelations – like admitting that he regrets his infamous argument with Matt Lauer.
Unfortunately, the Today show host tells PEOPLE, he didn't get to watch Winfrey's two-hour Cruise-a-palooza.
"I was traveling," he said on his way into a N.Y.C. dinner celebrating Time magazine's Most Influential People in the World issue on Thursday night. "I didn't see the interview. Somebody told me a little bit."
Permalink | Filed Under: Matt Lauer, Tom Cruise
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