After Ann Curry’s emotional — and awkward — farewell on the Today show yesterday, Savannah Guthrie slid easily into her still-warm seat next to Matt Lauer this morning. The 40-year-old, Australian-born Court TV veteran hasn’t officially signed a contract for the job, the Times reports, but she’s a year in as the 9 a.m. co-host and appears poised to take over the first two hours as well. The show has been back on top in the ratings after losing to Good Morning America for the first time in sixteen years, but filling the hallowed Katie Couric position with a charmer is still being seen as a crucial decision for NBC. For now, though, “the priority [is] protecting Mr. Lauer and Ms. Guthrie from the wrath of Ms. Curry’s fans, thousands of whom posted angry comments online after her announcement.” Take it away, Twitter: “Ughhhhhhh no me gusta.”
Update: “It’s official,” says The Hollywood Reporter.
