Kathie Lee Gifford Ratings On Today Show Plummet
In the January 26th issue of the National Enquirer it was revealed Kathie Lee Gifford and her co-hostess Hodda Kotb are struggling to pump up their sliding ratings. If you’re not a follower of NBC’s The Today Show the producers decided to try and extend the show by adding a fourth hour in September of 2007.
Kathie Lee who made what seemed like constant headlines when she was the co-hostess with Regis Philbin was brought on in April of 2008 to try and generate interest for the fourth hour. Kathie Lee and her co-hostess Hoda have worked hard to draw attention to the show. Kathie Lee underwent a major makeover including a significant hair redo to freshen her look and even the Kathie Lee haters agreed she looked great.
Unfortunately the ratings for the NBC fourth hour have continued to slide and show no sign of going up. Since Kathie Lee has joined the show it has lost viewers dropping from 1.9 million to 1.7 million. Although the network claimed the drop was seasonal, the numbers have not picked up and the fourth hour continues to be on shaky ground.
Critics are not sure whether the problems are directly tied to Kathie Lee or the time slot or other issues. There are also questions about Hoda and Kathie and their chemistry as co-hostesses.
Industry watchers believe the fourth hour may be on its last legs and could be going off the air. Some experts believe Kathie Lee may be replaced.
Hodda is very popular with the network and viewers and could wind up in some other role. Ironically when Kathie Lee was with Regis, her popularity was at an all time high even though she had viewers who loved to hate her.
At this point only time will tell what will happen to the show. Insiders say Kathie Lee has given 150% to the show and is totally dedicated to making it a success but something is just not working.
One thing which comes to mind is the fact that all television viewing is down, not just Kathie Lee’s show or the morning shows. As more people transition to the Web for their news and related viewing, TV viewership is suffering. There was also a major downturn of television viewership during the writers strike which has not yet rebounded to similar levels.
Kathie Lee is not the only talk show hostess suffering from low ratings. Yes, it’s true she has had a love/hate relationship with the media and her viewers but this time Kathie Lee may be as much a victim of the change in viewership patterns and habits as she is to her on-air talents.
What do you think? Are Kathie Lee’s low viewership numbers related specifically to her as an on-air talent, to her partnership with Hodda or just the current trend away from morning television?
Tags: Fourth Hour or Today Show, Hodda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, NBC, Regis Philbin, The Today Show
January 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
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February 19th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I personally loved the show when it started. I stopped watching when they brought on Kathy Lee. She’s a snob. She talks down to Hodda. Corrects her choice of words. She’s just mean.The people that are home during the day and watching this show want someone in their home that is like them. That sees things the way they do.Someone that talks the way they do. Your in their kitchen. You are having a conversation with them. Your there to offer them some entertainment and maybe some answers to some of their problems. We don’t want to hear, Me, Me, Me. I. I. I..Who cares. The kids are taking a nap.I am taking a break and you want me to listen to how wonderful are. Think not… Hodda is a friend. Kathy Lee is the one you want to toss your coffee at and ask to leave.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
i like both ladies very much they make it intresting
but if i had to chose one of them i would choose hoda!!!.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Kathie Lee keeps this show going.She is so funny. I hope the show stays on.
March 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Everyone is probably watching The Doctors on a different channel in the same time slot.
March 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Kathie Lee really need to start wearing pantyhose again. That would make me stay tuned in.
March 7th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Excellent site!!!love the layout aswell
March 21st, 2009 at 8:25 am
How would i add a link to this on my own page ?
April 13th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Kathie needs to show more cleavage and low cut tops then the show will be more enjoyable.
May 5th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Crappie Mee is just that. She’s on the highest horse, name drops on a dime, talks and talks and talks over every one. I for one am sick and tired of her tired face. Who does she think she is? The female version of Phegis Rilbin who won’t even take care of his paraplegic son. These personalities are only good for tabloid fodder.
May 16th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
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May 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
4 hours of Today is too many. The show should have remained a 3 hour broadcast with Matt and Meredith the hosts of all three hours. Even though they brand Kathie Lee and Hodda’s show as a 4th hour it is really nothing like the first three hours.
Hodda gets on my nerves a lot more than Kathie Lee does!
May 24th, 2009 at 12:43 am
the show is to many hours! hoda is great and deserves a great opportunity to have a good show. kathie lee is old news. she should go home and take care of her aged husband. she is rude, talks over everyone. the faces she makes aren’t funny neither are her jokes. sometimes it seems as if hoda wants to just scream, “shut up!” lose kathie lee or put a muzzle on her!
May 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I can not stand kathy lee she is rude obnoxious self centered mean etc. etc. I love hoda and would watch the show if it wasn’t for kathy lee. she is horrible.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:15 am
Kathie Lee is extremely self centered. She would plummet any shows ratings! I cannot stand her constant interrupting and always bringing the conversation back to herself. Regis has to be thrilled she left and he got Kelly Ripa to replace her. Gifford has no class, and has extremely poor communication skills!
June 5th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Hoda is intelligent, friendly and interesting. Kathie Lee is a hoax. She is haughty, boring, trying to look and act younger than she is, and flirts with the guests (like Gene Simmons on the 6/4 show - trying to replace Frank when he bites the dust??) She turns the entire segment around to be about her. Very self centered. I only watch to see Hoda and I bites my nails through the rest. Hoda is a diamond, Kathie Lee is a bad CZ replicate.
June 8th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Kathie Lee is a religious bigot and a nasty person. I stopped watched the today show when she started & switched to the Early Show. I will still occassionally tune in to the 3rd hour (NOT the fourth) because I miss Ann Curry, and I want a quick new fix. Not for Matt (who is also a bit nasty) and never for Kathie Lee. I would consider watching Hoda by herself, but it not worth dragging thru Kathy Lee.
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I heard Kathie Lee was on vacation last week so I watched the show and LOVED Bethenney Frankel ! ! ! She should be the new co-host with Hoda and retired that tired old snob Kathie Lee. Don’t you all agree ?????
July 24th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Seriously- who cares. OMG get a life!
July 27th, 2009 at 5:25 am
kathy lee is fun refreshing and alive. love watching her on the internet in Ireland. x
August 18th, 2009 at 10:49 am
i’d do kathy lee for hours but not watch her on tv…too boring
August 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Hoda is the type of person I wish I could be. Kathty Lee not so much
September 15th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
The 4th hour of Today is my favorite daytime show. Enjoy both Kathie Lee and Hoda, but Kathie Lee makes the show and I don’t enjoy it as much when she’s away.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I’m just curious — for those of you who like/enjoy Kathie Lee, what specifically do you like about her? I’m firmly in the dislike Kathie Lee camp because she not only strikes me as a phony but a mean, self-centered, hypocritical (in regard to her religious beliefs) one, and that combination of qualities is just unpleasant to watch. But I’m very curious about what people who like her, see in her. Apparently she has some redeeming qualities that so far have completely eluded me!
October 26th, 2009 at 10:16 am
when I first learned Kathie Lee would be co-hosting with Hoda, I thought oh no, and read many negative comments from Kathie Lee haters. However, I think she is totally different on Today than she used to be when she was with Regis and talked about her kids constantly. Her hair makeover looks great and I enjoy the 4th hour with her. I also enjoy the SNL skits about Kathie Lee and Hoda.