Natalie Morales to Access Hollywood/Today West Coast Anchor

johnkay · **Joined:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:23 am **Posts:** 6403

Quote:

Veteran “Today” news anchor Natalie Morales, who also co-hosts the third hour of the NBC morning show, is weighing her options with her contract expiring in October, The Post has learned.

Among the options, she’s being discussed as a host for NBC’s sister entertainment show “Access Hollywood,” said one source.

“Natalie is moving to California,” said the source, suggesting that a move is a fait accompli.

If that happens, NBC would essentially be swapping current “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush for Morales. Bush is expected to join “Today” as a co-host in its third hour at 9 a.m. ahead of the summer Olympics.

NBC is also talking about keeping Morales at “Today” by offering her a West Coast role, or a dual role with appearances on “Access Hollywood,” sources said.

NBC declined to comment.

Meanwhile, reps for Morales, a 10-year veteran of the morning show wars, have been in early talks with ABC about a possible slot at rival show “Good Morning America.”

An ABC insider said: “ ‘GMA’ is happy with the team they have.”

Some industry watchers have speculated that ABC might add a third hour to “Good Morning America,” as ad rates are higher than those for “Live with Kelly and Michael,” which follows at 9 a.m.

Still, the Disney-owned show is locked into long-term station deals that might prevent that from happening.

“Live” is also set to lose co-host Michael Strahan, who is jumping to “GMA” in May.

The looming changes come as both ABC and NBC are fighting for every viewer. ABC’s “GMA” finally toppled NBC’s “Today” show in total viewers in 2012, and that lead continues, but NBC is now closing the gap and is winning in the key advertiser demo among viewers ages 25 to 54 years.

http://nypost.com/2016/05/03/today-news ... -the-fall/

Nick! · **Joined:** Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:48 am **Posts:** 5566

I am not surprised. Natalie has gotten more popular over the years. I follow all her miscellaneous guest appearances and spanish-language work. She's a player with near celeb status and as foxy as a 43 old can be. IMO I believe she could do acting roles if she chose. Regardless, the more NatMo the better as far as I'm concerned!

sparty · **Posted:** Wed May 04, 2016 11:26 pm

It's official
Natalie will host AH and is Today's West Coast anchor, whatever that means

http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/natalie- ... day/292844

newsguy · **Joined:** Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:58 pm **Posts:** 2474

Her and Kit would make a great duo.

bigzman · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am **Posts:** 6425

Tons of sexy caps to follow, I am sure of that during the afternoons.

newsguy wrote:

Her and Kit would make a great duo.

Brettfan · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:37 pm **Posts:** 3914

I did hear Shaun Robinson left the show recently. I don't watch AH. AH Live was moved to my area at the crack of dawn as well and uses a giant table and audience now. I only watch these shows: Insider, E! News, Inside Edition and Entertainment Tonight.

johnnya2k4 · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2016 11:10 am

Brettfan wrote:

I did hear Shaun Robinson left the show recently. I don't watch AH. AH Live was moved to my area at the crack of dawn as well and uses a giant table and audience now. I only watch these shows: Insider, E! News, Inside Edition and Entertainment Tonight.

ET hasn't been the same since Mary Hart retired years ago, and Maria Menounos has made E! News great again (unlike the other shows, she's also Managing Editor, meaning some editorial control) like in the days of Steve Kmetko and Jules Asner. Billy Bush has been flying solo on Access for some time now, and the pairing with Natalie Morales is making me love the show more.

By the way...Extra won their second Emmy just recently for Entertainment News Program.

Nick! · **Joined:** Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:48 am **Posts:** 5566

Brettfan · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:37 pm **Posts:** 3914

Just understood the deal and it sucks. Natalie won't host Today Show but host the failing AH and AH Live. Good luck but the shows got buried overnight in my area. I probably won't watch. I don't even know the times.

fordloco · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2016 5:06 pm

Now the thing we love to do here, speculate.

Who gets to come in and help Savannah put up with Laurer? :TickTock

notter59 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:43 pm **Posts:** 817

Natalie and Dylan are the only reasons I watch morning news.

epictimewaster · **Joined:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:45 am **Posts:** 1301

fordloco wrote:

Now the thing we love to do here, speculate.

Who gets to come in and help Savannah put up with Laurer? :TickTock

Erica Hill, and they'll position it like, "With this new opportunity suddenly presenting itself, we thought no one was more deserving..."

DonR · **Joined:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:27 pm **Posts:** 604

Erica gone from the weekend shows, and now NatMo gone from the days...not good at all.

Art Vandelay · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2016 12:52 pm

I watch Today/Weekend Today for Dylan mostly. As long as she's there,all is well.

Congrats and Good luck to NatMo with her new gigs. :Kool

tdubya68801 · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2016 10:29 pm

Brettfan wrote:

Just understood the deal and it sucks. Natalie won't host Today Show but host the failing AH and AH Live. Good luck but the shows got buried overnight in my area. I probably won't watch. I don't even know the times.

Access Hollywood isn't even available on the local channels in my area. Access Hollywood Live is on Reelz channel (DirecTV 238) late at night.

Nick! · **Joined:** Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:48 am **Posts:** 5566

Natalie mentioned today that the date she is leaving is very near. I'm thinking the middle of this month. Don't know if she'll be starting her new shows right away. She has to move and get settled yet. I do get Access Hollywood in HD but I only get Access Hollywood Live in 480p SD so I'm pissed.

chrislognshot · **Joined:** Mon Aug 16, 2004 5:33 pm **Posts:** 1303

Nick! wrote:

Natalie mentioned today that the date she is leaving is very near. I'm thinking the middle of this month. Don't know if she'll be starting her new shows right away. She has to move and get settled yet. I do get Access Hollywood in HD but I only get Access Hollywood Live in 480p SD so I'm pissed.

does she have the clause that does not let person start working for another show or company for awhile. most news sport and radio people get that when they sign a contract.

pacificRT · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2016 6:14 pm

chrislognshot wrote:

does she have the clause that does not let person start working for another show or company for awhile. most news sport and radio people get that when they sign a contract.

Not sure why you say that, chris -- what you're talking about is called a "no compete" clause.
It doesn't apply here, though.

In this case, even if Natalie has a clause like that in her contract it would be irrelevant to her situation right now,
because Access Hollywood is produced by NBC Universal just like Today is. It's all under the same corporate umbrella.
She can appear on there (and has) as many times as she wants and it makes no difference. Billy Bush is basically trading places with Natalie,
as he's going to be a regular on Today starting in September. But they'll both be working for the same employer once it's all done, just on different shows.

And you're also forgetting that Natalie will continue to do West Coast reports for Today even after she
starts anchoring Access Hollywood, so she's going to have both full and part time jobs going at once.

.

DonR · **Joined:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:27 pm **Posts:** 604

I don't know if there's any truth to this:

http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/natalie-morales-today-nbc-101761

...but the Today Show won't be the same without Natalie. No Erica on the weekends, and Natalie leaving for the West Coast, it is goodbye to the Today Show for me.

I have Access Hollywood in HD, which I never watch, btw. However that will change when NatMo joins them.

pacificRT · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:34 pm

DonR wrote:

I don't know if there's any truth to this:

http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/natalie-morales-today-nbc-101761

There were rumors of NatMo & Tamron not getting along well earlier, but more like a year ago or more.
On air more recently, if they're still not getting along, then they both conceal it very well...they seem as
friendly toward each other as each of them does with say, Savannah or Dylan.

And the article also doesn't take into account how Billy Bush figures into the whole thing.
I seriously doubt they'd be uprooting him and doing this kind of a trade if
it was only about Natalie having issues with somebody. Has to be more behind it than that.

No offense to Natalie, but any threat or dispute she would be involved in wouldn't make
NBC jump through hoops the way they did during the whole mess with Lauer and Curry.

.

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Natalie Morales to Access Hollywood/Today West Coast Anchor

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