Matt Lauer has softened his position about leaving "Today" in December at the end of his contract -- that is, if NBC antes up a record amount of money.
Sources connected to NBC tell TMZ ... Lauer was done with "Today" and wanted out -- but the word at the network is he will now re-sign if NBC ponies up way more than the $17 mil he's currently making.
We're told negotiations are now ongoing -- but if NBC agrees ... Lauer could score as much as $30 MILLION a year.
As for why the change of heart -- there are two schools of thought according to network sources. Some say Lauer changed his mind when network execs made it clear they were extremely interested in tapping Ryan Seacrest as Matt's replacement -- in other words, he got a little jealous.
But there's another school of thought -- that Lauer has wanted to re-sign all along and just played the "I'm leaving" card to score a bigger pay day.
As for whether Lauer is worth $30 mil ... to put it in context, "Today" makes roughly $450 million a year for the network ... more than any other show on NBC.
Dr. Conrad Murray NEVER should have agreed to be interview by "Today" ... because the "complete lack of remorse" he demonstrated on the show made him look even more guilty ... this according to the rock star attorney who prosecuted the doc.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren appeared on "Today" this morning -- and said Murray showed a "complete lack of personal responsibility" in an interview with co-host Savannah Guthrie that aired days after the conviction ... insisting there's no way it could've helped Murray's case.
Murray was all over the place during the interview -- contradicting the story he originally told police and then proclaiming, "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Justin Bieber has finally decided to address the baby daddy rumors himself -- telling Matt Lauer point blank ... Mariah Yeater is LYING THROUGH HER TEETH.
Bieber appeared on "Today" and said, "I'd just like to say that none of those allegations are true" ... adding, "I know I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim."
The Kardashian family is screaming it from the mountain tops -- trying to convince the world they DID NOT PROFIT from Kim's ill-fated wedding ... but there seems to be a problem with their logic.
Kris Jenner appeared on "Today" this morning ... and said, "It saddens me to think that one of the rumors is that we’ve sold the television rights for millions of dollars, not true. We profited or she profited – absolutely false."
Jenner's statement follows a stern blog post from Kim -- in which she also stated, "There are also reports that I made millions of dollars off of the wedding. These reports are simply not true and it makes me so sad to have to even clarify this."
This morning, Kim appeared on the "Kyle and Jackie O" show in Australia, and once again insisted she didn't marry for cash ... saying, "I would never marry for a TV show, for money, for anything like that, and I think that's really ridiculous that I have to even, you know, kind of defend that but, you know."
Still, Kris admits K&K, "made some money for the pictures that were sold and things like that" ... but says the fam didn't profit, because all of that money went back towards paying for the wedding.
But here's the problem -- most people can't afford a $10 million wedding, and if Kim chose to pump her MASSIVE paychecks back into her wedding, that's her call ... and it STILL COUNTS AS PROFIT. Kim could have had a $6 mil wedding ... and banked $4.
After the WORST TV breakup of all time, Charlie Sheen says he LOVES the idea of returning to "Two and a Half Men" ... even though his character is supposedly DEAD.
Sheen appeared on the "Today" show this morning ... where he told Matt Lauer that Ashton Kutcher is "going to do great" as the NEW star when the show comes back next week.
But when Lauer suggested Sheen could return to his old stomping grounds for a cameo -- Sheen LIT UP ... saying, "If they thought it was a good idea ... I'm completely on board for that."
Even though Charlie Harper "died" after Sheen went off the deep end a while back ... Sheen insists, "There was no body at the funeral ... there was no urn."
Kathy Lee Gifford ain't exactly sober on the "Today" show ... (see here, here, here and here) but she ain't exactly SMASHED OFF HER FACE either ... so says her co-imbibing co-host Hoda Kotb.
Three "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" are VERY UPSET with people who blame the show for "playing a major part" in Russell Armstrong's suicide -- saying the finger-pointing is simply "not fair."
Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof, and Kyle Richardsall appeared on "Today" this morning -- where they spoke out against the criticism ... and claim they're taking the "high road" in the tragedy.
Maloof says they are working with Bravo in an effort to do something "positive" together -- by getting the message out about suicide prevention.
TheKris Jenner media train is plowing right through NBC and CBS -- Kim Kardashian's mom has just been tapped to guest co-host "The Today Show" AND "The Talk."
Jenner will reportedly fill-in for Sharon Osbourne on "The Talk" in September ... and with all the cuts producers have made on that show recently, it wouldn't be shocking if she got a permanent offer.
Kris says she's also been asked to co-host "Today" later this year -- but it's unclear exactly when that will happen.
Casey Anthony now has a 10AM deadline to check in with her probation officer in Orlando tomorrow -- and law enforcement officials tell TMZ there will NOT be an extra show of force for her arrival.
This morning on "Today" ... Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, said there is "an issue of safety" -- but the Department of Corrections Orlando Intake Office says it "does not have the resources to provide extra security" for Anthony.
Orlando PD also says they won't provide security ... and the local sheriff is still assessing the situation.
If Anthony fails to show up by the deadline ... she would be in
violation of her current probation order -- at which point, we're told, a
judge would likely issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
UPDATE: Casey will no longer have to check in with her probation officer tomorrow, according to members of her defense team -- but it's unclear why there's been a sudden change in plans.
A probation hearing in Orlando has been set for Friday -- and we're told, Casey will NOT be present.
Casey Anthony's lawyer says Anthony could be in danger if she's required to return to Florida this week to meet with a probation officer -- telling Matt Lauer, "The last thing we wanna do is put Casey in harm's way."
Nadya Suleman and her octuplets made their "TODAY" show debut this morning -- and one of the little rugrats got so excited, he fell headfirst into the backdrop ... and it was Ann Curry who came to the rescue!
Octomom was talking about her controversial doctor when one of her sons (good luck ID'ing which one it is) tripped over the back of the set and took a header into the ground. Ann was quick to jump up and grab the kid, who seemed completely unfazed by the ordeal.
