Chelsea Handler Lauer Jokes Must Stop: NBC Warns Host to 'Lay Off' Matt Lauer?
Chelsea Handler, comedian and host of "Chelsea Lately," has allegedly been instructed to stop making jokes about Matt Lauer and NBC's "Today" show. The host has specifically made fun of Matt Lauer and Al Roker, two members of the "Today" cast, and now it appears she has been told enough is enough.
"Chelsea's writers were warned to lay off Matt," a source close to the show told The New York Post. "They don't want them making more fun of Matt and the Ann Curry situation right now."
Comcast, which owns NBC and E!, were upset over a joke Handler made after Roker confessed to accidentally pooping his pants at the White House.
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"This isn't the first time a 'Today' show cast member was in the news about this sensitive subject," Handler joked. "For years it was common knowledge that Matt Lauer spent every morning [expletive] all over Ann Curry."
Part of the problem is that NBC is still sensitive after the decision to replace Ann Curry with Savannah Guthrie. Ratings fell immediately after Curry was replaced, and fans began expressing their outrage over the situation. Curry is reportedly taking action to get back on TV, albeit on a different channel, and could possibly take executives to court over her contract.
Meanwhile, calls for Matt Lauer to relinquish his hosting gig have increased, especially after an unusual appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. People took to Twitter to call for him to quit and leave NBC for good, but Lauer has not announced any plans to step aside.
Recent reports state that Lauer is now petitioning NBC to let Curry out of her contract "so that she can take the CNN gig. He can't imagine why the bosses are dragging their feet and are at a stalemate. It would allow Ann to get back on the air on a regular basis and everyone can move on from the debacle," a source told Radar Online.
"Matt only wishes Ann the best and thinks it's for the best if she were to take a job at another network," the source added.
An E! spokesman has denied the claim that Handler was cautioned about making jokes about "Today" and told the New York Post that "no such request was made."
