Matt Lauer definitely got the finger from co-host Savannah Guthrie this morning ... live on 'Today' ... only question is -- which finger?

During a segment on vacuum cleaners ... Matt cracked, "By the way this is the first time Savannah has ever used a vacuum."

Savannah apparently thought she was off camera when she fired off a one-finger salute in Matt's direction!

But wait ...

Savannah immediately hit her Twitter page to claim it was NOT the bird, and just her index finger.

Folks!! That was my INDEX finger! Photo evidence proving my innocence coming! #fingergate #TGIF

— Savannah Guthrie (@SavannahGuthrie) March 29, 2013

She might have a point, but still -- considering all the crap Matt's been catching lately -- Savannah's intent is there, no?

Al Roker is doing everything he can to undermine the "Today" show ... trashing the anchors, sabotaging live moments ... and it seems to be a part of a plan to avenge the firing of his bestest friend in the world, Ann Curry.

Roker went on the offensive again this morning ... trying to fire off another zinger at Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie during a live segment ... but this time the quip was more of a misfire.

Al was trying to explain why he pulled a weird frozen face for 17 confusing seconds during a live segment last week ... and when Savannah tried to joke about Roker being a perfect fit for a wax museum, Al shot back ... "We ARE in a wax museum, so it all works out pretty well."

Not funny, but it's obvious Al -- who is SUPER TIGHT with Ann -- is so desperate to rip the show ... he's firing off zingers, even if they don't really zing.

It's just the latest in a string of anti-Lauer behavior, which began after Matt railroaded Ann Curry off the show simply because he didn't like her. Last week, Roker accused his colleagues of throwing people "under the bus."

So, we gotta ask ...

In the wake of the Colorado shooting, Ann Curry has been tapped to co-anchor  "Today" this weekend along with Savannah Guthrie ... the woman who replaced her as co-host of "Today" earlier this month.

According to NBC, Curry and Guthrie will be traveling to Aurora, CO to provide "special coverage" of the massacre.

Matt Lauer will not be making the trip.

Curry's final day hosting "Today" came on June 28, after weeks of speculation about her ousting. Guthrie was named her official replacement the next day and took her first official turn next to "Today" fixture Matt Lauer on July 9.

Call it morning (show) wood ... but Matt Lauer was SOOOO excited about introducing Savannah Guthrie as his new "Today" show co-anchor ... he could barely sit still.

With a giant "Thank god Ann Curry's finally gone" smile on his face ... Lauer said he was "pleased to be sharing this new day" with Guthrie ... noting, "We're all very happy" about the change.

Guthrie said it's "an honor" to be sitting next to Lauer.

Just don't piss him off.

It's official -- NBC just announced Savannah Guthrie is the new co-anchor of "Today."

As TMZ first reported, Savannah was a lock to replace Ann Curry, who had fallen out of favor with both NBC brass and Matt Lauer after co-hosting the show for just one year.

Curry made her tearful farewell Thursday -- and it was Guthrie who took Curry's seat this morning ... although no on-air announcement was made.

"Today" executive producer Jim Bell just released a statement announcing Savannah's new position -- saying, Guthrie "has a one-of-a-kind combination of sharp wit and approachability, and our viewers value her journalistic skills and legal background just as much as her humor and charm."

Bell added, "She can effortlessly go from interviewing the Secretary of State to jumping Olympic-sized hurdles on the plaza."

Savannah Guthrie was alongside Matt Lauer on "Today" this morning … in the barely-cold chair that once belonged to Ann Curry ... but producers wussed out on making it official.

In fact, the beginning of the show was highly irregular -- the announcer always intros the anchors, not today on "Today."

TMZ broke the story -- Savannah has already inked her deal to replace Ann ... this after Meredith Vieira turned down an offer to return to the show.

Now it's unclear when the announcement will be made. We're told Matt is on vacation next week ... ditto for Al Roker. 

Well, at least there will be plenty of time for the announcer to nail that new open.

Ann Curry's chair isn't even cold yet ... but "Today" producers have already lined up a new ass to fill it for tomorrow's show ... and it belongs to Savannah Guthrie -- the woman who will replace Curry.

NBC sources tell us, Savannah will be anchoring with Matt Lauer Friday ... and it's "likely" they will formally announce the big switch during the show.

We're told the reason it's likely is because Matt is on vacation all next week for the holiday -- and the network wants to announce his new co-host while he's still around ... to show a united front.

TMZ broke the story ... Ann would be getting the chop after Matt made it clear he didn't want to work with her anymore. The declining ratings at "Today" didn't help.

After Ann's emotional exit announcement on Thursday's show, sources say she was in no mood to talk ... and kept quiet by herself in the studio until it was time to leave.

During exit negotiations, Ann had previously demanded the remaining $20 million of her co-hosting contract -- but NBC didn't want to pay her that kinda cash. It's unclear what kind of payout Ann will get, but our sources say NBC offered $10 mil.

As Ann Curry said when she said her goodbyes on "Today" ... she wears her heart on her sleeve, so she made it pretty clear there's no love lost between her and Matt Lauer.

TMZ broke the story ... when Matt renegotiated his contract recently with NBC ... he made it clear he did not want Ann as his co-anchor.

So watch the video as Matt says the obligatory nice things about Ann at the end of today's show -- she does everything she can to not look at him. Compare that to her reaction to Al Roker and Natalie Morales, both of whom she looks squarely in the eye with affection.

And then Matt goes in for the kiss and Ann refuses to turn toward him. She embraces Al -- her good friend -- and Natalie, whom she calls a sister.

No doubt Ann has hard feelings, especially since NBC strung this out for months, making her a joke.

And, by the way, it was also telling that NBC didn't have Ann pass the torch to Savannah Guthrie, who was sitting off camera. 

The folks at GMA have gotta be loving this.

Ann Curry said goodbye to "Today" today -- hours after her lawyer negotiated her exit from the show -- sobbing as she told viewers, "I'm sorry I couldn't carry the ball over the finish line, but man did I try."

Curry cried as she said goodbye to her co-anchors and viewers who got to know her over the last 15 years on the show.

In an interview with USA Today, Ann said, "In every single co-host's first year, there have been kinks to be worked out, and perhaps I deserve as much blame for that as anyone."

When asked if she felt she was given enough time to work out those kinks, she flatly replied "No, I do not."

As for taking a beating by "Good Morning America" in the ratings recently, Curry says, "I know I am not to blame for the ratings worries ... and my bosses have said to me there are many factors involved."

Under her new deal, Curry will continue to produce for "NBC Nightly News," "Dateline," "Rock Center" and "Today" and will fill in as anchor on "Nightly News."

As TMZ previously reported, Ann was guaranteed $20 million for the last two years of her contract but NBC didn't want to pay that amount ... so they negotiated a lesser deal where Ann will stay on and still make good money.

When asked by USA Today about the $10-$20 million a year salary, she said "I can say that I'd love to earn that much." Fact is ... Ann was getting $10 mil a year.

We broke the story ... Savannah Guthrie will be named Ann's replacement and NBC wants her firmly in place before the Olympics so they can showcase her next to Matt Lauer.

In the case of Ann Curry and the "Today" show -- the writing is not only on the wall, it's in the editing room, because we've learned producers are already preparing Ann's farewell montage ... network sources tell TMZ.

Our sources -- and they are impeccable -- tell us they are determined to cut a deal with Ann by week's end.  We're told the deal is not closed yet -- as we reported, Ann wants her contract paid off in full to the tune of $20 million.  She also wants to leave the network.  NBC offered her a measly $10 mil and a diminished role in the news department.  We're told there has been "some movement," but the parties haven't struck a deal ... yet.

We're told NBC wants Savannah Guthrie -- Ann's replacement -- firmly in place before the Olympics so they can showcase her next to Matt Lauer.

One more thing ... There are reports "Today" news anchor, Natalie Morales, wants to leave the network because she's pissed off that she's now been passed over twice for the co-anchor job.  We're told -- by people who absolutely know -- that story is "total baloney."  We're told Natalie "loves her job and she's completely happy with what she's doing."

Maybe Natalie figured it out -- co-hosting "Today" is high risk.
 

Ann Curry and NBC are negotiating her exit from "Today" and the hang-up is money ...  sources connected with the network tell TMZ.

Our sources say Savannah Guthrie has already made her deal with the network to succeed Ann as co-anchor of "Today," but the snag is the amount of money Ann will get.

As we first reported, Ann gets $10 million a year. She is one year into a 3-year contract, and from what we're hearing NBC does not want to pay her $20 million for the balance of the contract.

Sources tell us Ann wants the full $20 mil and her exit papers. NBC wants to pay her $10 mil and give her a foreign correspondent job. And therein lies the hang-up. 

The network could pay her the $20 mil and then prohibit her from working anywhere else for 2 years.  But we're told they don't want to shell out that kind of dough, so Ann's lawyer and NBC are haggling.

NBC wants to make the switch quickly ... certainly before the Olympics so they can showcase Savannah. We're hearing the goal is to make the announcement late this week or early next.