A new book is out that details behind the scenes of the last days of Ann Curry's employment with the "Today" show.
Co-host Ann Curry described her final days appearing regularly on the show as "professional torture."
The main person behind Curry's departure was Jim Bell, the executive producer of "Today," who called his plan to get rid of Curry "Operation Bambi," according to the new book, "Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV," by New York Times reporter Brian Stelter.
The name was given to the plan because staff members believed getting rid of Curry would be similar to shooting Bambi.
The book also details a blooper reel that Bell created of Curry's on-camera mistakes and then created a photo of Curry wearing a yellow dress and standing next to Big Bird, asking the question, "Who wore it better?" According to the book, Bell denies these actions.
The excerpt print in the New York Times also says that Curry arrived at the studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza one day last month without her identification, and she had to present herself to the security guard and spell her name.
The departure of Ann Curry from the "Today" show was the beginning of a string of negative incidents that have been a public relations disaster for the show, which now comes in second in the ratings to "Good Morning America."
The book also places blame for Curry's firing on her co-host Matt Lauer, who had a lack of chemistry with Curry and was indifferent to her role on the show.
Lauer's reputation has been damaged from the incident. The morning show host joked that his own Q rating, which is a measure of his popularity with the public, was below polio.
Curry remains with NBC News, though she has appeared on the air only a few times since leaving "Today."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
