...Departures

A lot of people are planning or are rumored to be leaving their television jobs. So far only one is leaving for sure and that is Glenn Beck. Though he is still winning his time slot with 1.9 million viewers at the 5PM slot., but he lost 30% of his viewers from this time last year and he lost 300 sponsors. He also has had some remarks that many found offensive, mainly calling the President a "racist". Though he will still give commentary for Fox News he will be leaving by the end of 2011.

"The Today Show" may be losing not 1 but 2 of its morning anchors. Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer have been in the news lately because there have been talks about them both leaving the show. Meredith's contract ends at the end of the year and it is said that she is ready to leave the show after only 5 years. Though reps for NBC an the show have said that this is not true, it seems more like fact than fiction. Matt Lauer's contract runs out next year and he is said to be looking for a way out as well. I wonder if this has anything to do with Comcast taking over NBC?What makes this even more interesting is the other former Today Show's co-host who could be on her way out as well.

Katie Couric left "The Today Show" 5 years ago to anchor the CBS Evening news. They hoped she would bring in ratings and lift them to a higher position. Well that did not work and with her contract expiring later this year it is said that she is on her way out. I could easily see this happening. What makes this THAT much more interesting is the rumor that Katie and Matt are going to be teaming up for a show that they will both co-host. On the other hand people have said that she will have her own talk show. This is okay, but there are just SO many out there now that this would be a failure.

Either way this is going to be very very interesting. These people have become television figures that many of Americans have depended on for news and other info for many years. I am giving these departures a Digit Up because I am curious to see who or what will replace them.

...Kanye West

Poor Kanye West. The guy has had a rough two years. His mother died, his engagement fell apart and of course the whole Taylor Swift thing. Kanye went on a rant about Taylor Swift and Matt Lauer, but he left President W. Bush out of it, that beef is over for sure. While I understand what he was saying and I agree with it, he waited so late to bring it up and it just makes him look worse and adds to his "whiny" persona. Kanye might need some serious therapy, and there is no shame in that. He puts a lot of pressure on himself, more than he probably actually needs to. I would say maybe he needs an extended vacation, but maybe just a regular non-working vacation will do. I am not a huge fan of rap or hip-hop but Kanye is like at the top or towards the top of my list of favorites so I really do hope he gets everything together. Maybe he just needs to get everything off of his chest at once and that will be that. For now though I have to give him a Digit Down because I think something is just not coming together for him, despite his career success. Also it was just way too late to bring it up in that type of forum, he had a chance and he should have taken it and taken the heat for it then, with Matt Lauer.