NBC wants a new feed, for Lauer and Curry

NBC wants a new feed, for Lauer and Curry

NBC wants Matt Lauer and Ann Curry to literally break bread to help shift the public perception of Lauer back to what it once was â€" the gracious and friendly “Today” talk host â€" before the backlash from Curry’s firing.

Network execs are encouraging the duo to do lunch â€" preferably at media hotspot Michael’s in midtown â€" and make a public display of patching things up, a source tells Confidenti@l’s Marianne Garvey.

“When the ratings fell after Ann, there was no more public ‘Matt’s really nice,’ and the bosses now need to do damage control,” the source says. “Matt’s beloved inside and they want to help him.”

The source adds that higher-ups feel the only way to repair Lauer’s image is having Curry â€" still under contract with NBC as a correspondent â€" agree to the public outing with her former co-star.

“It’s terrible; every time they try to do something to fix this, another Ann story pops up,” says the show insider. “Their biggest mistake was letting her burst into tears on air and her saying she wasn’t able to carry the ball, shifting the blame on Matt.”

The staff “absolutely loves” Lauer, insists the source, noting that he has had the same assistant for more than nine years.

“He knows every cameraman, every crew guy. He turns up for staff weddings and he’s very loyal,” says the source. “They all said Ann would bring down ‘Today’ and she really has.”

But despite reports saying Lauer’s future is in jeopardy, he’s unlikely to be fired.

“The numbers are good. Getting Ann backlash is not firable,” says the source. “Even with their problems, it’s still a hit show. They’re trying to make it better and making ideas and new segments. They even issued that statement saying Matt had nothing to do with Ann’s firing, but nobody cared, because Matt’s the face of the show.”

Another show insider adds that staffers can’t believe Lauer’s getting the blame, because he’s “one of the nicest guys around.”

Word is that Curry hasn’t been so open to the lunch with Lauer. The source tells us: “The only way this can finally be put to rest is for Ann to publicly sit with Matt or issue a statement. For now, she is resisting. If it was easy to do, it would have happened by now.”

NBC declined comment for this story.

ROYALS NEARLY BUCKLE BUCKLEBURY

Kate Middleton and Prince William put the small village of Bucklebury, in the U.K.’s Berkshire, in a tizzy by visiting Middleton’s parents, Michael and Carole, on Christmas Day.
When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge descended upon the tiny town of just over 2,000, breaking the royal tradition of spending it with the rest of the royal family, they brought major security.
“The village is the tiniest place. There is a post office and a pub. Now that she’s a princess, the security makes it not such a low-key event,” a source says. “The village prepares for it days in advance and secures a perimeter around the town. Royal security meets with the local police to ensure 24-hour security. The locals call the house ‘Little Buckingham Palace.’ ”
The source adds that despite all the attention, the drama in the village has been dissipated by the down-to-earth attitude of the couple. “Everyone in Bucklebury is very happy for Kate and Wills,” local pub owner and royal wedding attendee John Haley tells Confidenti@l’s Marianne Garvey. “I saw them this week they both looked overjoyed. Of course Kate’s not drinking; only soft drinks.”

KATIE SLIPS, BY MOST ‘ACCOUNTS’

Katie Holmes’ star power isn’t drawing the big crowds to see her in Broadway’s “Dead Accounts.” For the week ending last Sunday, the play grossed $ 243,154. That was a decline from the week prior, when the play brought in $ 337,545. “For a star like Katie the intake should be nearly triple,” says a Broadway insider. “She’s in a tiny theater; it should be full.”

KRAKOWSKI AND CRY-KOWSKI

“30 Rock” star Jane Krakowski could have used a little Jenna Maroney attitude in handling her baby boy Bennett on Saturday. The actress, who brought the 8-month-old Christmas shopping, began apologizing to fellow customers in Jonathan Adler in SoHo when he wouldn’t stop screaming and crying. “He was screaming his head off. She was really sweet; she said she kept him out too long,” an eyewitness tells Confidenti@l’s Marianne Garvey.