The Katie Couric era on NBC is coming to an end. The Meredith Vieira era is about to begin.

Vieira, one of the hosts of The View since its inception in 1997, will join The Today Show when Couric’s time is up. Couric is set to become the new anchor of CBS Evening News.

Vieira was announced as the new member of NBC’s morning show at a press conference Thursday.

“I really thought you were going to skew a little younger, since I’m pretty old,” the 52-year-old said, directed at NBC executive Jeff Zucker.

Zucker said he first reached out to Vieira in October, as soon as it was almost definite that Couric would be leaving once her contract ended in May.

Vieira also hosts Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and is a former reporter for 60 Minutes. She also has an acting background, appearing on The Practice, General Hospital and All My Children, in the movie The Stepford Wives, and in the Broadway play Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Her deal is rumoured to be $40 million over four years.

“I believe in growth, but right now I’m feeling terrific growth pains,” she said, as she spoke about her departure on The View.

“She is irreplaceable,” Barbara Walters said.

So Couric replaces Dan Rather, Vieira replaces Couric. Who will replace Vieira?

According to the New York’s Post trustworthy Page Six, Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond fame is the frontrunner for her job. The View reps said the report was crazy since they won’t be hiring someone new until September.






Related Stories: