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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune TELEVISION Friday, November 23, 2001 C7 Uncertain Tomorrow for NBC’s Troubled ‘Today’ ' Top 10 TY shows f Repee Se wings trtake10 BY PHYLLIS FURMAN KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE ' ebceGieeur Jonathan Wald, executive pro- te hoe “Today” show,is facheavy pressure following a rtincs slide at the NBC morning program. With ABC’s “Good Morning America” carving away at the dominant “Today”position, Wald, who took over the top job just six months ago, is feeling the heat from both “Today” staffers and NBC brass, NBC insiders said. Two key “Today” producers have left in recent weeks, while longtime “Today” staffers are grumbling. “@ West Wing NBC © Frasier NBC © Frasier NBC @ Jag CBS The moves come as a once ‘oday” suddenly looks worcael After years ofleading the pack by a wide margin,last weekits lead over No. 2 show “GMA” dipped to just 880,000 viewers — the narrowest gapin five years. For the season to date, CBS is up 15 percent in morning viewers, ABC is up 9 percent, and NBC is down 7 percent. The declines are especially surprising given the intense news cycle following Sept. 11, when viewers would be expected to flock to “Today.” “The show ‘is clearly on a downward trend,” said Steve Friedman, executive producer of At the same time, NBC News CBS’ “Early Show,” who used to boss Neal Shapiro has been meeting with small groups of “Today” run “Today.” “The question is can producers in what sources said is an attemptto root out problems at the show. he turn it around?” Wald, the former executiv producerof “NBC Nightly News,” and the son of former NBC News ON THIS DATE president Richard Wald, has been a favorite of “Today” anchor Katie Todayis Friday, Nov. 23, the 327th day of 2001. There are 38 daysleft in the year. Today’s Highlightin History: Couric NBCpresident Andy Lack. He holds one of the most scrutinized jobs in’ TV, having te- On Nov. 23, 1971, the People’s Republic of placed legendary “Today” pro- China was seated in the U.N.Security Council In 1765, Frederick County, Md., repudiated ducerJeffZucker. Wald was chosenoverlongtime “Today” No. 2 Michael Bass, who sustained the show's strong lead when he served as interim boss the British StampAct. In 1889,the first jukebox made its debut in San Francisco,at the Palais Royale Saloon. In 1903, singer Enrico Caruso made his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, appearing in “Rigoletto.” from December2000 to May 2001 of this year. “Today” spokeswomanAllison Gollust downplayed NBC News In 1936, Life, the magazine created by HenryR.Luce, wasfirst published. In 1943, during World WarII, U.S. forces seized control ofTarawa and Makinatolls from boss Shapiro’s meetings with staffers, calling them routine. She said it is too soon to judge W: Answering critics who say the show has lostits signature snappy the Japanese. In 1945, most U.S. wartime rationing of foods, including meat andbutter, ended. In 1963, President Johnson proclaimed Noy. 25 a dayof national mourningfollowing pace, Gollust ‘said the show was forced to make adjustmentsafter Sept. 11. “People like routine,”she said, addingthat“Today”has returned to its regular format. theassassination of President Kennedy. In 1980, some4,800 people were killed by « series of earthquakes that devastated southern Ital e Channel 9:30 KUTV-2> 10:00 11:30 WAV KTVX-4> 1247675 Tonight Show (N) KSL-5 > TV-14'(CC) 93434781 KUED-7 > > a 16630" KSTU-13> KJZZ-14 > KUPX-16 > 1 49168 KPNZ-24 > (Cc) ‘TRG41014 | “ToyStony 32410 ‘TV-PG'287168 ‘Van, 17 Animals” 91 VIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIViVivivivirvivdviviviviviviviviw ak 763859. ‘TV-14' (CC) 1901946 "TV-14 (CC) 1925526 “TV-14°(C0)1924897 ‘TV-14' (CC) 1914410 “TV-14(CC) 3156061 ak ‘Tennessee firm. ] 1598946 i Mohicans®(1892) or7160 | i} Michael Keaton, 743120 ‘TV-G7415675 ‘Shootout Semifinal - Teams to Be Announced. | rr pend (1969, Science Fiction) Kenji Sahara ‘G(C ) 737697 [LonelyGuy” 15709491 | “Day the World Ended” (N) (1. | = (CC) 0203149 1 TVA tae monsety (Under owpines rating my {you hrater, planamaereyouratchara na hesmeloseaneeaa sugars ay (0) BEETLE BAILEY i [Cinema Secrets "Host |Take Overs” (cca (11:35) Movie: “The aR 0 CALBoiessay SAUSE YOu.S SLORIA: 5 (1988) Ch| th a Ps ogonyoutVR, yourd a | 90118168 “WOGamatarYER Panewyatem youhve8 VCRwiththeVCRpansfst(kontobytheVCR, 1 17 animals visited. ‘ 5 'S ROMs as . Samy IXLeVs {% FOOD HAPPENED, LIFE TIME HAPPENED, HE HAPPENED |
