Was Hoda Kotb a Serious Contender for Ann Curry's 'Today' Show Gig?
July 5 2012, Published 7:15 a.m. ET
Oh, that Kathie Lee Gifford!
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Less than a week after it was announced that Savannah Guthrie would replace Ann Curry as anchor of the Today show, Kathie Lee alluded to the fact that Hoda Kotb was on the network's short list of possible replacements.
The two ladies were discussing competition within friendships and what happens when two friends are up for the same job, and there's only one position to fill.
"Well, that has recently happened around here and I was extremely happy for you!" Kathie Lee said. "When you were considered for something wonderful. I'm happy for you! If the person’s a friend — you're thrilled for them!"
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Hoda looked understandably embarrassed considering the dicey nature of Ann's very public firing that first sprouted as an Internet rumor on June 21. It was briefly murmured that Hoda may fill in, but those assumptions were quickly squashed when Savannah was hired on June 30.
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Speaking of Ann — who still has a job with NBC as national and international correspondent and Today anchor-at-large — she made her first Tweet since June 22 on the Fourth of July.
"236 years old and just getting started. Happy 4th America. You are beautiful," she wrote, and then told a student who called her an "inspiration" to continue on his studies as "this world needs great journalists."
Check out the video of Kathie Lee and Hoda below.