Ann Curry's 'Today' Exit: What the Media Is Saying

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As expected, Ann Curry -- longtime veteran of Today, co-anchor for a year -- announced her abrupt departure on Thursday morning.

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It was nothing if not dramatic: while Curry's predecessor, Meredith Vieira, was given an extended farewell upon her exit last year, an emotional Curry was allotted a few minutes in the middle of the four-hour broadcast.

"This is not easy to say but today is going to be my last morning as a regular role of Today," said Curry, holding back tears, at 8:50 a.m. "This is not how I expected to ever leave this couch after 15 years. But I am so grateful especially to all of you who watch, we often call ourselves a family, but you are the real Today show family."

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Addressing viewers, she added: "You are why I’ve ventured into dangerous places and interviewed dictators and jumped out of planes and climbed mountains. I have loved you and I have wanted to give you the world and I still do."

Curry, who's been at Today 15 years and is expected to be replaced at the co-anchor's desk by Savannah Guthrie, will remain with NBC News as a national and international correspondent as well as Today's anchor-at-large. In a seemingly unrehearsed aside, she conceded defeat: "I'm sorry I couldn't carry the ball over the finish line."

Naturally, Twitter-happy media industry types and outlets alike immediately took to the micro-blogging platform with mixed reactions -- and some shock over Curry's raw and tearful swan song.

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"Meredith Vieira got a two-hour farewell. Ann Curry was given 5 minutes after 15 years on the show," observed a tweet from Huffington Post's Media blog.

ESPN correspondent Jamie Little wrote, "Sad to see Ann Curry bid farewell to the @Today show. Been an avid viewer since 18 & she's always been part. Appreciate her journalism."

tweet-text ">Meanwhile, Colin Cowherd, an ESPN radio commentator, took a sarcastic approach, posting: "Ann Curry making 10 MILL a yr for some time, to talk on TV, is leaving The Today show. I mean it's sad and stuff but... I'll get through it."

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tweet-text ">Sharp-witted TV blogger Tara Ariano, no fan of Curry, retweeted a straightforward news update from NY 1 anchor Pat Kiernan, adding: "WE DID IT! [balloon drop]."

tweet-text ">Quipped political author-blogger Ana Marie Cox: "Ann Curry leaving NBC to spend less time with your family."

tweet-text ">As Curry addressed her exit, many tweets quoted excerpts of her farewell speech, particularly her surprisingly honest "finish line" remark. Ironically, the Today show -- which runs down the morning's top stories and trends -- became the story, and Curry's demotion liekly eclipsed the program's other coverage in terms of viewer interest.

tweet-text ">"Lots of media folks watching Today Show for the first time ever right now," tweeted Joe Weisenthal of The Business Insider.

tweet-text ">On a somewhat wistful note, New York Times arts reporter Dave Itzkoff referenced the final scene from the past season of Mad Men, writing: "Ann Curry exits the Today Show and enters a bar where Don Draper is waiting. "Are you alone?" she asks. [cut to black]."

tweet-text ">Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

tweet-text ">Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

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