Is Matt Lauer Leaving The "Today" Show?

            Matt Lauer, co-anchor on NBC’s hit morning program, “Today”, is reportedly resigning from the show when his contract ends on December 31, 2012. News of Lauer’s departure surfaced on Wednesday, April 6, one day after the news broke that his co-anchor, Meredith Vieira, also plans to leave the show after her contract is up this September. Both Lauer and Vieira have become fan favorites on “Today”, adding to its success in remaining the number one morning program on television for over 15 years, and a primary source of profit for NBC.

There has been much speculation surrounding the future of the show without its winning lineup. With Lauer and Vieira both leaving around the same time, there is a great possibility that such a void will disrupt the longstanding success of the show, leaving NBC in a problematic situation.  Rumors have already circulated surrounding replacement hosts, naming “Today’s” Ann Curry as the main contender. The “Today” show released a statement on Wednesday saying, “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.’” The network has declined to comment any further on the rumors. This is a smart decision for NBC, allowing them ample time to try and renegotiate with Lauer and Vieira, or take the necessary measures needed to prepare for the possible “Today” transition.

Bret Michaels Sues CBS & Tony Awards for Head Injury

         Brett Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison, recently filed a lawsuit against CBS and Tony Awards Production, for an on-stage injury he received at the 2009 ceremony. Following his performance, Michaels was struck in the head by a descending piece of scenery and had to be hospitalized for a broken nose and cut lip. In the suit he is seeking unspecified damages, alleging the mishap was a result of negligence from the show’s producers who failed to provide proper direction. According to E!, the lawsuit states, “Michaels specifically asked for instructions regarding how to exit after his performance and was just told to walk off the rear of the stage -- in what was ultimately the danger zone." Six months after the accident, the singer suffered a near fatal brain hemorrhage and claims that it is directly related to the injuries he sustained at the Tony Awards.

         Surprisingly, CBS and the Tony Awards have yet to make any public statements in regards to the lawsuit. With his injury at the Tony Awards caught on camera, along with his brain hemorrhage receiving such widespread publicity, many people are aware of the recent unfortunate events Michaels has endured, and sympathize with the singer. By CBS and the Tony Awards choosing not to comment or accept any responsibility in the matter, I believe it can be interpreted as lacking sympathy for Michaels near death experience. Their silence also makes it easy for the public to assume they are keeping quiet out of guilt.

Mike Huckabee Criticizes Natalie Portman's Pregnancy

            Natalie Portman has had little time to celebrate her Oscar win for Best Actress with the recent media attention aimed at former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s public criticism over the star. Expecting her first child with Black Swan co-star and now fiancé, Benjamin Millepeid, Portman thanked him, “for the most wonderful gift,” during her acceptance speech. Huckabee found this statement problematic, relating her “thanks” and current unwed pregnancy to glamorizing single motherhood. He relayed his feelings in an interview with radio host Michael Medved on Monday, saying “People see a Natalie Portman who boasts, ‘we’re not married but we're having these children and they're doing just fine.’ I think it gives a distorted image. It's unfortunate that we glorify and glamorize the idea of out-of- wedlock children."’

            Calling her pregnancy “troubling”, Huckabee continued arguing that although Portman may have the resources to support such a lifestyle of single parenting, many do not. With Huckabee possibly becoming a 2012 Presidential candidate, speculation has emerged over his attention-getting actions. I believe that such a public outburst which targets a public figure that has no relation to politics is unnecessary, and could cause damage towards his campaign. His actions can be viewed as a desperate attempt to increase his social recognition. Portman has yet to comment on the judgments made against her by Huckabee, which may be best in order to not further fuel the matter.

Kim Kardashian Look-A-Like Causes Trouble

      Kim Kardashian’s recent association to Old Navy’s latest commercial has caused an immense amount of public speculation surrounding the ad. The new television promo features Melissa Molinaro, a young and upcoming singer-actress, whose strong resemblance to Kim Kardashian has left many viewers confusing the two. A large amount of attention was brought to the matter this past Wednesday when ABC’s hit day time talk show, “The View”, dedicated a segment of their show to ask viewers their thoughts on the commercial. The identity mix up has generated questions from the media and public surrounding Old Navy’s objective of starring Molinaro as the lead in the campaign, and whether or not it constitutes issues of false identity.

      If not addressed adequately, this matter carries the potential to cause damage to Old Navy’s image, as well as Molinaro’s. While Old Navy has yet to release a statement addressing the topic, Molinaro has responded in a recent interview with E! News. She claimed that she is “flattered” by all the comparisons, but insisted that the campaign did not seek “Kim Kardashian look-alikes." She verified her statements by reading her copy of Old Navy’s casting letter to reporters. Furthermore, the singer addressed rumors circulating Kim Kardashian’s dismay over the ad stating, “"Kim, I think you're a beautiful woman, an amazing business woman, and it would be nice to meet you someday! I hope you don't think all this is weird." By responding to the growing media hype quickly, I believe Molinaro is the only voice needed to effectively handle and subdue the issue for all parties involved.

Billy Ray Cyrus is scared for Miley

        In the last year, pop star Miley Cyrus’s behavior has created an onslaught of negative press and public scrutiny. At 18 years old, Cyrus’s concert performances, music videos, magazine spreads, and outfit decisions have been viewed by many as “racy” and “indecent” for a girl her age. In addition to Cyrus’s already questionable conduct, a recent incident in which she was caught on video smoking salvia out of a bong has created concern surrounding the singers well being.

        Last week in an interview with GQ magazine, Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, has voiced his own worries about his daughter stating, "I'm scared for her.  She's got a lot of people around her that's putting her in a great deal of danger. I know she's 18, but I still feel like as her daddy I'd like to try to help. Take care of her just a little bit, to at least get her out of danger." By Billy Ray making his personal feelings public knowledge, I believe he is only making the situation worse. With Miley’s career future already in jeopardy, Billy Ray’s comments support the public perception that she is out of control and on a road towards self destruction. This can lead to further speculation from the public and the media in examining Miley’s every act. Any additional mishaps could severely damage her image, leaving her in an extremely vulnerable position. Despite the career harm Billy Rays public remarks may have upon his daughter’s career, they have the potential to cause problems in his personal relationship with her as well.

Christina Aguilera SUPER bowl MISTAKE

           Although not deemed a crisis, Christina Aguilera’s singing mishap during last Sunday’s Super Bowl created a large amount of negative publicity surrounding the pop star. While performing the national anthem she butchered a few lines of the song, replacing the lyrics "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming" with "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last reaming.” With this year’s Super Bowl telecast breaking U.S. television records, obtaining an average audience of 111 million viewers, Aguilera’s performance was said to be one of the biggest of her career.

            After the lyrical slip-up, widespread media coverage of Aguilera’s performance emerged, creating discussion on possible reasons behind such a giant mistake and citing it as a disgrace against American culture. Rumors circulated involving drugs, alcohol, and depression as being contributing factors, all of which coincided with previous reports that Aguilera had “lost it” after her recent divorce. Such allegations, if not addressed, could potentially cause great harm to her public image. In a smart decision, Aguilera released a statement quickly after the event, saying “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.” I believe that besides issuing a public apology, there’s not much more Aguilera can do in this situation, but to perform flawlessly in her next act.

Charlie Sheen and CBS Crisis?!

            In the past few months, actor Charlie Sheen has been involved in numerous incidents involving prostitutes, drug and alcohol abuse, and assault. After a recent hospitalization, Sheen, who is the star of the number one sitcom on television, CBS’s “Two and a Half Men”, has submitted himself into rehab, putting a halt to the shows production. This has left CBS Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television in a crisis, with the possibility of losing hundreds of millions of dollars if “Two and a Half Men” fails to return to T.V. In addition, if the situation involving Sheen and the show isn’t handled appropriately, negative publicity could damage the corporation’s image.

            Numerous critics argue that by CBS keeping Sheen employed, the network is allowing for the continuation of his poor behavior without consequence. These actions by CBS and Warner Bros. can be seen as the general ideals surrounding large corporations, where primary concerns lies within financial investments. However, CBS released their first statement Monday saying, "The most important thing right now is that Charlie is seeking help. Any immediate programming or financial implications pale in comparison to his long term health, safety and well-being." I believe this is the best approach for CBS to take in this situation; showing their concern for Sheen, who despite his recent antics, has ultimately brought much success to the company. With CBS’s limited publicity, it gives them time to consider all available options, and focus on making the best decision for the future of “Two and a Half Men”.