Ann Curry's Firing from 'Today' Not Matt Lauer's Fault

RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting that after Ann Curry left, the cast and crew of the TODAY show has "rallied around" co-anchor Matt Lauer.

"The cast and crew have rallied around Matt and feel that he has been unfairly blamed for Ann's firing," a source close to the situation tells Radar.

Last month, "Today" show executive producer Jim Bell told the Hollywood Reporter that Lauer is not responsible for Curry's departure from the morning program.

"And Matt, I need to say for the record, really should not bear any of the blame for that," Bell said. "I'm the executive producer of the show. He's not. He's the public face of the show. So he's taken some of this. But it has been wrong. And that fact should be corrected."

Curry was replaced by Savannah Guthrie and, according to a source, "is truly settling into her role."

She walked into a sh*t storm, which she had nothing to do with and has handled it with true class," the source told RadarOnline.com. "Savannah is truly part of the TODAY show family. She is wicked smart but she isn't arrogant about it. The cast is truly working together."

According to a RadarOnline.com source, Lauer is "extremely supportive of the show and just wants to be back on top."

In August, Curry made her first appearance on the "Today" show since she was fired. Many said the interaction between Curry and Lauer was awkward.

Curry sat down with "Today" show host Matt Lauer on the show's set in London for a four-minute segment (watch at left) that spotlighted Getty Images chief photographer Adam Pretty.

Three months after NBC fired a tearful Curry, ABC's "GMA" is back on top. The morning show continues to post historic viewing margins over "Today."

"GMA" began the new television season as the No. 1 morning show in America and is No. 1 for 28 days straight in total viewers.

Nielsen said "GMA" is No. 1 in total viewers in all six weeks after the Olympics ended - marking the longest stretch at the top in more than 18 years.

"Good Morning America" stood as the No. 1 morning newscast in the final 4 weeks of the season in both overall viewers and the key adult news demo.

For the 5th week running, "GMA" outdrew "Today" in every head-to-head telecast of the week in Total Viewers(Mon: +1.159 million, Tues: +814,000, Wed: +718,000, Thurs: +888,000 and Fri: +832,000). In fact, "GMA" hasbeaten "Today" in all but one telecast since the end of the Olympics (the first Monday after the Games), representing a string of 28 straight single-day victories (regular telecasts).

In addition, for the 3rd time in the last 4 weeks, "GMA" outdelivered "Today" in all 5 telecasts of the week in Adults 25-54 (Mon: +305,000, Tues: +15,000, Wed: +238,000, Thurs: +433,000 and Fri: +184,000). "GMA" concluded the 2011-12 season by beating the "Today Show" in the final 11 telecasts of the season in the demo and in 25 of 29 days overall (regular telecasts) since the end of the Olympics.

After NBC fired Curry, GMA viewership skyrocketed and "Today" hasn't won a week since.

Curry was rehired by NBC as a News National and International Correspondent/Anchor and "Today" Anchor at Large. Curry reports for all platforms of NBC News including "Today," "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Rock Center with Brian Williams," "Dateline," MSNBC, and all digital properties. Curry also serves as anchor for multiple NBC News primetime specials, regularly substitute anchors for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and reports for "Rock Center with Brian Williams."