NBC/"Today" show/YouTube
Katie Couric is "in talks" to return to "Today" as co-anchor with Matt Lauer when Savannah Guthrie goes on maternity leave.
The New York Post reported this week that Couric "is in preliminary talks" to fill in as co-host alongside Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today Show" when Savannah Guthrie, who is five months pregnant, goes on maternity leave.
A source confirms to Business Insider that Couric is, indeed, having such conversations with the network to return to the morning show she co-anchored with Lauer from 1991-2006.
"The reports are true that they would take her back," our source reveals. "At NBC, they need something stunty/big for that time, which bringing Katie back would be."
"From Katie's side," the source continued, "She is desperate to maintain a TV presence. With ABC canceling her daytime talk show, that means no ABC, no CBS [where she anchored "Evening News" from 2006-2011], no CNN [which Jeff Zucker left producing her talk show to run] - NBC is the only place left for her."
"Katie would love for an NBC reunion to happen," adds the source. "It's the last place where she was a star, and as strong as the Yahoo deal is, she wants to stay on television."
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"NBC is the last place where Katie was a star, and as strong as the Yahoo deal is, she wants to stay on television."
Yahoo has a partnership with ABC News, but "Couric's interviews aren't covered by the deal, raising the question of whether a deal with Couric could also involve her Yahoo work," notes The Post.
Couric's ABC talk show, "Katie," syndicated through Disney's Buena Vista, ends in June, which means her Yahoo interviews would be more free to appear on other networks, such as NBC.
If Couric filled in while Guthrie was on maternity leave, it could also act as a test to see if there could be a more permanent position for her to remain with the show when Guthrie returns.
Ironically, Couric initially got her start on "Today" in 1991 when she sat in for Deborah Norville while Norville left for maternity leave and never returned.
And while Guthrie is reportedly cozying up to the idea of Couric temporarily replacing her, even having lunch with Couric recently, "Today" correspondents Natalie Morales and Tamron Hall are feeling slighted by the idea of a newcomer.
"You already have two seasoned pros that are a part of the show, ready, willing, and able to step up for Savannah. Yet, executive producers are considering offering Katie or Meredith Viera the opportunity to fill in for Savannah when she goes out on maternity leave," an insider told RadarOnline.
"It's really a step backwards for the show," the source insisted. "'Today' weekend co-hosts Ericka Hill and Jenna Wolfe could also be utilized. Why waste the money when there is already so much talent available that are already getting paid?"
An NBC spokeswoman said in a statement: "With the 'Today' show in a good place, we are blessed with great talent and many options to temporarily fill Savannah's chair while she's on leave, but there's no plan yet. Stay tuned."