Are Meredith Vieira AND Matt Lauer Both Leaving NBC’s Today Show? Say it Aint So!

In what can only be described as major bad news for the NBC network, reports are surfacing that BOTH Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer say they will be leaving the Today show later this year.

Some are wondering if the network can survive yet another high profile departure after the blow from Alec Baldwin yesterday that “30 Rock” is over.

Related: Alec Baldwin Says ’30 Rock’ Ending – Tina Fey Leaving the Show

When asked about the speculation, NBC press handlers said,

“There seems to be an awful lot of speculation around news anchors these days, and it’s not our practice to comment on any of it. Matt Lauer has a long term contract with NBC News and ‘Today. ”

True. But both host contracts are due to expire at the end of this year, and “ET” reported that Lauer had been telling everybody he planned to move on once his contract expired in December. And TV Guide was reporting earlier this week about Meredith’s desire to exit the show.

TV Guide says Vieira has been in discussions with NBC executives for several months about extending her contract, but she is said to be exhausted with the demanding early hours and is ready to move on.

Vieira also said that the health of her husband, who has battled multiple sclerosis and cancer, will be a factor in considering her future on the program.

It doesn’t appear that there is any personal friction between the two hosts, in fact they seem like they get along pretty well, even in live embarrassing moments like when Matt Lauer’s divorce turned into laughs on the show.

On critic stated,

“Of course NBC is going to deny it. They just lost ’30 Rock’ and now their morning news lineup is falling apart.”

There has been some speculation that Vieira, Lauer, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are gracefully trying to exit the network before the Comcast NBC Universal deal begins to impact daily operations.

One insider commented,

“Comcast is going to chop up every bit of content they can mine from NBC and either charge for it or try to keep others from embedding it on the internet. The days of being able to freely use NBC content are over.”

THAT seems to make more sense than anything else – the big stars want to get behind NBC before the Comcast takeover is complete because they see what the future will look like and they don’t want any part of it.

But it could also be the oldest ploy in the Hollywood playbook – act like you’re going to leave just before your contract expires so they will offer you more money for the next season.

Somehow, in a sad way, that seems to make the most sense of all.

Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon – your move?

'30 Rock' Creator Tina Fey Pregnant With Second Child – Releases New Book 'Bossypants'

“30 Rock” creator and funny women Tina Fey announced yesterday that she is pregnant with her second child.

Fey was doing a taping for the “Oprah Winfrey Show” when she let it slip that she was already five months pregnant. Fey already has a five-year-old daughter named Alice with husband Jeff Richmond.

This may put some chops behind Alec Baldwin’s comments earlier this week that 2012 would be the last season for “30 Rock”. Baldwin hinted that Tina wanted to start a family and that he was ready to leave the show.

Related: Alec Baldwin Says ’30 Rock’ Ending Next Season – Tina Fey Leaving the Show

Fey commented,

"I never really believed it before, but when you have a child, there really aren't enough hours in the day to do anything... Basically, any free time that isn't spent looking after our daughter or working goes on sleeping."

But Fey is not slowing down.

Her new book “Bossypants” has just been released to good reviews.

From her humble roots growing up in Pennsylvania to her days doing amateur Improv in Chicago with Second City to her early sketches on Saturday Night Live, “Bossypants” gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of a modern day comedian and celebrity.

Some of the funniest chapters feature the differences between male and female comedy writers ("men urinate in cups"), her cruise ship honeymoon ("it’s very Poseidon Adventure"), and advice about breastfeeding ("I had an obligation to my child to pretend to try").

She details the chaos of being a celebrity when she talks about dividing her time between rehearsing her Sarah Palin impression, trying to get Oprah to appear on “30 Rock”, and planning her daughter’s Peter Pan-themed birthday party.

The book really gets to the heart of why Tina Fey remains one of the most loved and funniest comedians.

Alec Baldwin Says ’30 Rock’ Ending Next Season – Tina Fey Leaving the Show – Developing

“30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin attended a fundraiser Monday night in New York City when he dropped a bombshell.

Baldwin told reporters that next season will be the LAST season for “30 Rock”. When asked about the award winning sitcom Baldwin answered,

"I will tell you one thing - and that is next year is our last year of the show. Our contracts expire in 2012, and Tina is going to have a big career directing films and writing. She's going to be the next Elaine May. She'll be great."

Okay, we don’t know who Elaine May is but…

Baldwin has hinted around in the past that 2012 would be HIS last year, but this is the first we have heard about Tina Fey leaving. But it only makes sense; I have to admit that I think the show has really gone down in quality this last season.

I think people have grown really tired of Jack and his women problems, and Tracey Morgan is such an idiot that he should be on a children’s show – not a prime time network series. Morgan’s character is so absolutely horrible that it makes you wonder why the show would even want him as host of the fictitious “TGS”.

I’m sure it’s hard to keep the writing and plot mojo of the first couple of seasons going, but if this last season is any indication of what we can expect for the next - then it’s time to pull the plug.

I much rather see Tina Fey in a new, funnier show where she once again has the creative run of the ship and can start with a clean slate.

However, in-as-much as it is Tina’s show (she created it and executive produces it), and with no disrespect to Alec Baldwin, I think we need to wait until we actually hear the same words coming from Tina Fey.

After all, this would not be the first time Baldwin spoke out of turn. This could all just be pre-positioning before next year’s contract negotiations.

And you know that things in Hollywood are never what they seem on the surface…