According to new reports from Deadline, NBC executives recently approached Anderson Cooper about replacing Matt Lauer at the end of 2013. The site claims that NBC reached out to Lauer to get his blessing about the changeover, but received resistance from the “Today” veteran. Supposedly, Lauer even contacted Cooper directly to express his disapproval.
Even though Lauer signed a long-term contract last year, this isn’t the first time the network has discussed a replacement. Ryan Seacrest, current “Today” co-host Willie Geist and “Meet The Press” host David Gregory have all been reportedly considered by NBC.
Despite the ongoing rumors, Alexandra Wallace, who oversees “Today,” told the Huffington Post that Lauer will remain a fixture of the show. “As we’ve said before, Matt Lauer is the best in the business,” she explained. “We want him in the ‘Today’ show anchor chair for many years to come.”
