CAUGHT IN HEADLIGHTS: Former “Today” show co-anchor Ann Curry was subjected to sophomoric high-jinks as officials looked to get her off the show and promote her colleague Matt Lauer, a book claims. (AP)
NBC killed Bambi.
“Today” show brass called their plan to boot Ann Curry from the couch “Operation Bambi” — likening the axing of the amicable anchor to offing Disney’s innocent animated fawn, a book claims.
Former “Today” executive producer Jim Bell had plotted for months to force out Curry — and resorted to a series of sophomoric tricks to achieve that end, show sources say in “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV. ”
Among the low blows alleged in the book:
* Bell commissioned a blooper reel of Curry’s worst on-air “Today” moments.
* The male-dominated staff frequently mocked Curry’s love of yellow dresses. Staffers once Photoshopped a picture of the Sesame Street character Big Bird next to a yellow-clad Curry with a caption asking, “Who wore it best?”
* Bell once called staffers into his office so he could mock Curry’s tripping over her own tongue during cross talk with a local station.
Curry gave a tearful sign-off on June 28 in an awkward, cringe-worthy goodbye that still haunts the NBC show.
Hours after that broadcast, a tone-deaf Bell took his top lieutenants to the Brasserie Ruhlmann restaurant in Rockefeller Plaza and raised wine glasses to toast Curry’s departure, the book reports.
Bell, who has since left “Today” to lead NBC’s Olympic coverage, has denied calling Curry’s removal “Operation Bambi.”
An NBC representative yesterday declined to discuss the book, written by journalist Brian Stelter and due to be released Tuesday.
“We are focused on covering several major news stories this week and producing the best show we can for our viewers, not on year-old gossip,” the rep said.
“Today’s” 16-year-long winning streak over ABC’s “Good Morning America” ended last summer, as the rival morning show overtook it in the ratings.
Bell, seeing his ratings fall in early 2012, thought his three-part Operation Bambi would save the day, the book says.
In addition to Curry’s removal, he reportedly wanted a contract extension for co-anchor Matt Lauer and the promotion of Savannah Guthrie. All three goals were achieved, but “GMA” still caught up with “Today.”
The 30 Rock suits are steamed about the book and believe Curry shares at least equal blame for “Today’s” faltering.
“She was making $12 million a year. You’d think she’d be professional enough to realize it wasn’t working,” said an NBC insider.
Network officials are convinced the perception that Lauer stabbed Curry in the back originated from the deposed anchor herself.
Lauer was always fine with Curry because “what does he care — he’s making $25 million a year,” the NBC insider said.
After her removal from “Today,” NBC shifted Curry to an ill-defined, rarely seen reporting gig.
The network, though, has been heavily promoting this week Curry’s interview with Jackie Hance, the mother who lost her three daughters in the wrong-way crash on the Taconic State Parkway four years ago.
Curry is set to appear only on tape. She has not been on NBC live since last year.
Additional reporting by Michael Shain