Take a look at NBC's Ann Curry who joined Facebook in 2008.

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Women dominate the show's viewership and the ham-fisted replacement of anchor Ann Curry with Savannah Guthrie last year tore at the show's popularity.

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Vieira bested a host of internal candidates for the role alongside Matt Lauer, including weekend "Today" anchor Campbell Brown, "Today" newsreader Ann Curry and newswoman Natalie Morales.

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As he made clear in the follow-up question that was asked by Ann Curry in that interview, this is not something he has had the luxury to focus on.

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Even Savannah Guthrie edged out Lauer, at 42%, despite also having shouldered a portion of the blame, fairly or not, for the unpleasant ouster of her predecessor, Ann Curry.

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Today, which began its downward spiral in the ratings after Meredith Vieira left in 2011, never regained its footing after its abysmal treatment of Ann Curry when she was fired last summer.

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But in their haste, NBC execs risk blowing up the situation the way they did in hustling Ann Curry off the "Today" show, sparking a backlash against Matt Lauer and sending what had been the iconic morning show plunging into second place.

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Mr. Lauer, who has occupied the "Today" co-anchor chair since 1997, has become a stabilizing force over the last decade, especially through the show's sweeping anchor transformations on the female side, from Katie Couric to Ann Curry, who took over for Meredith Vieira in June.

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Also with Penelope Ann Miller, John Lone, Tim Curry, Ian McKellen, Peter Boyle, and Jonathan Winters.

NEWYORKER: Shadow,The