Matt Lauer is such a pimp. That’s what I get from all of these stories about the behind-the-scenes chaos of NBC’s morning programming. The Today show has been struggling for the past year, ever since Ann Curry took over as co-anchor of the show with Lauer. Lauer and Curry’s chemistry is just OFF somehow, and Ann has been visibly struggling in the position. The result has been a drop in ratings, and sources continue to claim that Lauer (and producers) place the blames on Curry. Yesterday, TMZ reported that Curry wants NBC to buy out her contract completely – giving her $20 million to walk away from NBC. NBC wants to give her $10 million and a “foreign correspondent” position. So… they still have some issues to work out.

Meanwhile, NBC is reviewing their options for Ann’s replacement. Sources tell TMZ it will definitely be Savannah Guthrie, while other sources tell Radar that it’s Hoda Kotb. The woman not being mentioned by anyone? Natalie Morales. The same Natalie who was Lauer’s VERY ALLEGED rumored lover circa 2006-07. The same Natalie who might have a young child who looks a great deal like Matt Lauer. Imagine that – Lauer didn’t want to promote his maybe-alleged lover? Weird. So, Page Six reports that Natalie is considering leaving Today too, because she thinks she’s being “passed over”:

Could “Today” veteran and news reader Natalie Morales be the next to leave the NBC morning show? Sources tell us “Today” will announce the long-rumored departure of its co-host Ann Curry by the end of the week, and that the show’s third-hour co-host Savannah Guthrie is the front-runner to replace her. The network’s Hoda Kotb has also been reported to be in line to take the reins.

But, either way, sources tell us Morales could be next out the door. “If Natalie’s passed over for the job, she’s going to leave next,” a source told Page Six. Morales has been with “Today” since 2006 and was mentioned as a possible replacement for Meredith Vieira when Vieira stepped down from her co-anchor post last year.

“This will be the second time [Natalie] has been passed over for the top job. And she’s not happy,” a source tell us.

A NBC Universal rep had no comment on Curry or her replacement, but said the talk about Morales being disgruntled is “totally untrue.”

A different source adds: “Natalie couldn’t be happier in her current role.”

Curry, meanwhile, is expected to leave “Today” imminently, after a year on the job. During her time as co-anchor, the program’s ratings have slipped — at times lower than rival ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Sources tell us NBC suits are currently locked in meetings around the clock to finalize Curry’s exit. The network has been negotiating with her over a severance package from her $10 million-a-year contract.

While the sources said an announcement about Curry is finally expected by the end of the week, some insiders said the news could come as soon as today. Although sources at NBC say Guthrie is the current favorite to replace Curry, others close to the talks say that brass had not made any final decisions as of last night.

[From Page Six]

I’m kind of glad that NBC isn’t pulling from that shallow talent at MSNBC. Wait, that’s not fair – I was just thinking about how much I love to hate-watch Morning Joe. But you know who I love on MSNBC? I love Rachel Maddow, and I would love to see her try her hand at morning programming. That would be unique, right? But Rachel is really good at light banter AND straight reporting, and I could see her exceling on a morning show. Still, they won’t do that. They’ll go with perky Savannah, trust me. It won’t be Hoda. It won’t be Natalie “Scarlet A” Morales either.

Photos courtesy of WENN.