Meredith Vieira

Credit: Richard Drew/AP

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.

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•  | Filed Under: Donald Trump, Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira

David Cook Makes His 'Cougar' Fans Purr

Originally posted 05/29/2008 12:25PM

David Cook won American Idol by 12 million votes – and it appears many of them came from a fan base he might not have expected.

During a visit to the Today show on Thursday, the Idol champ chatted with Meredith Vieira, who told the 25-year-old singer: "A lot of [your fans] are older women, right ladies? It's the 'Cougars for Cook.'"

"In fact, my friend, who's my age, is here," Vieira, 54, continued. "I'm not going to rat her out and say her name. [But she said] 'Should I be embarrassed?' I said, 'No, look at him!'"

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•  | Filed Under: David Cook, Meredith Vieira

TV News

Carol Burnett Teaches Tarzan Yell to Meredith & Martha

Originally posted 03/12/2008 03:50PM

It's not exactly up there with getting to be a Rockette on the great stage of Radio City Music Hall, but Today show host Meredith Vieira saw another dream come true Wednesday morning when she got "living legend" – Vieira's very words – Carol Burnett to teach her the comedian's trademark Tarzan yell.

"It's a yodel," the star, 74, promoting her new movie Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who, explained, "so you go from ... the 'chest voice' to the 'head voice.' "

Vieira, 54, scored perhaps a 7 for her efforts. Then the crowd outside the studio in Rockefeller Plaza tried their pipes. They sounded like a jungle full of Tarzans.

Last to attempt to make like the famous (vine)-swinger? Martha Stewart, 66, who ended up sounding like a frog croaking. Advised Burnett: Stick to the cooking.
– Stephen M. Silverman

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•  | Filed Under: TV News, Carol Burnett, Martha Stewart, Meredith Vieira

Credit: John Spellman / Retna

Meredith Vieira

Meredith Vieira's Thorny Issue with a Straying Husband on Today Show

Originally posted 08/13/2007 01:40PM

(Video courtesy of NBC)

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Credit: BARRY TALESNICK/IPOL/GLOBE

Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O'Donnell's Dirty Jokes Shock Some at Awards Event

Originally posted 04/24/2007 11:00AM

Rosie O'Donnell was just as outspoken as ever as host of a private function for powerful women in media, who included Hillary Clinton, Meredith Vieira, Martha Stewart, author Joan Didion and blogger Arianna Huffington.

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•  | Filed Under: , Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Rosie O'Donnell