STRETCHING the "Today" show to four hours appears to be a done deal. The extra hour. which would air from 10 to 11 a.m., would address a chronic problem for NBC, which in recent years has not been able to create a new show that keeps viewers from drifting off to other channels. Martha Stewart’s daily show airs there now. NBC officials were unavailable for comment over the holiday weeekend, but the network released a statement indicating the fourth hour is a strong possibility "Given the strength of the first three hours of the ‘Today’ show, we can see how a fourth hour would be attractive," it said. "However, as we said to our affiliates earlier this month, no definite decision has been made." It’s not known who would host a fourth hour of "Today" – though it is clear neither Meredith Vieira or Matt Lauer would be the anchor. They both sign off now at 9 a.m. – after two hours – and leave the third hour of "Today" to a rotating group of hosts. But insiders are saying that only a last-minute bump in the road can derail plans now. The network is expected to make a decision early next year.The Post’s Page Six reported recently that "Access Hollywood" co-host Billy Bush has interviewed for the job. "Nobody has talked to me" about an offer yet, Bush said in a recent e-mail exchange. "At this stage, I know nothing" about whether the show is a "go." Bush was "AH’s" New York correspondent before being named to co-host the show in L.A. The move to expand past 10 a.m. is, in fact, more promising than extablishing a third hour at 9 a.m. Despite its name and familiarity, the third hour of "Today" has not been able to make a dent in "Live with Regis and Kelly," which remains one of daytime TV’s most popular shows. But in big cities like New York, the competition at 10 a.m. is less formidable. Only the new "Rachel Ray" is established in that hour here.
NY Post
I can’t even do a minute, so I could not see forsee doing 240 minutes a day. I doubt AH will let Billy Bush go now that Nancy is pregnant…
