A Frightful Halloween on "Today"

Posted Oct 31st 2006 1:00PM by TMZ Staff

The annual Halloween extravaganza on the "Today" show took a rather ghoulish turn on Tuesday morning, when Meredith Vieira's first big entrance as a "Today" co-host was conspicuously unseen.

After Ann Curry and Natalie Morales sauntered somewhat awkwardly onto the stage as Cher and Madonna, respectively (the theme: divas), the big reveal -- Vieira coming out Bette Midler-style as a mermaid in a clamshell -- fell flat, and viewers were treated to the truly horrifying sight of a stagehand's denim-ed bottom, and several seconds of confused fans in Rockefeller Plaza. (The footage, oddly reminiscent of the scene from that Disney mermaid movie where Ariel doesn't appear, got cut out in the later feed to the West Coast. )

Matt Lauer started things off somewhat more convincingly as Capt. Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean," and Al Roker was nearly unrecognizable as a "Pirates" sidekick.

Filed under: TV, Wacky & Weird

Comments [21]

Digg it Del.icio.us My Yahoo Sphere RSS MySpace Permalink Email

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 2) | 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. That is too funny. LOL

Posted at 1:16PM on Oct 31st 2006 by nellie

2. It was really funny

Posted at 1:17PM on Oct 31st 2006 by GentleTip.com

3. why do they keeping hiring these old bags???

Posted at 1:22PM on Oct 31st 2006 by early voting democrat

4. "old bags"? why do people feel the need to insult people ALL the time? wasn't that all done in elementry school? why can't people have sense of humors anymore? if you don't like the show...don't watch it, or complain about the hosts, if you think you could do a better job, then get off your lazy butt and go get a tv hosting job o.O

Posted at 1:34PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Shady

5. Meridith's habit of sneaking in her political views are far more damaging than her stage fall today. Because she has lost her professionalism as a journalist by blatantly slanting reporting of political subjects, I no longer can stand to watch the Today show. Too bad, I would have liked to watch it this morning!

Posted at 1:37PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Leslie

6. o.O well she was a game show host ya know, we didn't like Katie because of her voice but we still watched it because it's just really childish to stop watching something because someone you don't like is on there o.O I for one have never heard Merideth talk about her political views unless it was part of the show or something, think you're thinking about someone else.

Posted at 1:46PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Shady

7. Leslie... so which side is Meredith leaning? Just curious. I don't watch the Today show.

Posted at 1:51PM on Oct 31st 2006 by nellie

8. I've always liked Meredith Vieira she represents us middle of the road moms. Not conservatives and not democrats, we just want a better future for our child. She's very genuine in my book. Now that outfit, that's another story, perhaps she should have just said no.

Posted at 1:51PM on Oct 31st 2006 by dorisG

9. I couldn't believe how unprofessional it was! There were so many awkward moments. I made it a point to stay home and watch it and was so disappointed. It looked like a bad high school production.

Posted at 1:54PM on Oct 31st 2006 by DONNA

10. Meredith is a really nice person, and who cares if it didn't go well? everyone makes mistakes right? Katie made tons of mistakes while she was on there, Al and Matt I'm sure have made mistakes on the show too o.O are you saying you've never made a mistake?

Posted at 2:00PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Shady

11. I thought it was a bit boreing, i use to look forward to the Today show, but, i must admit that i have been flipping over to Good Morning America alot. Meredith is great, but, something is gone on the Today show. Just blah.

Posted at 3:03PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Sammy

12. Meredith was doing Bette Midler, not the Little Mermaid -- that's how the Divine Miss M came out in concert for the song that was in the background.

Posted at 3:11PM on Oct 31st 2006 by white lorelei

13. They should go back to where they were before. Meredith was better on The View and Katie on The Today show but personally, I'm getting sick of most of these so-called "journalists". I think Al and Ann are the best ones on The Today show. Have you noticed how Meredith seems to be flirting with Matt and every other man every chance she gets? She better remind herself she is married and so is he. If she is so anxious to be in the limelight, she might be better on Desperate Housewives!

Posted at 6:11PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Walter Barbera

14. I was looking forward to the Today costumes, and was sorely disappointed. They may as well have cut to the local weather for the 1001th time!

Posted at 11:17PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Wasting my time with television

15. Walter Barbera? did you not watch it when Katie was on there? Matt and her flirted like...every 5 minutes o.O besides the shell was spinning too fast so there for it's not all her fault. Al on the other hand, is NOT a reporter, all he does is the weather.

Posted at 11:40PM on Oct 31st 2006 by Shady

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments