Over the summer, Pippa Middleton did her first sit-down interview on American television. She sat down with Today’s Matt Lauer and it was super-embarrassing. For every American! Matt Lauer was so sycophantic, he gave me a headache. He treated her like SHE was the princess. Pippa seemed pleasant enough but she really didn’t say anything interesting in the interview. But the whole ordeal was so successful (??) that NBC sources claimed that Today really, really wanted to give her a six-figure paycheck to be a “special correspondent.” This week, we got an update on that situation:
NBC is set to offer Pippa Middleton a correspondent gig on “Today” after sending her on a test shoot to Utah. Despite the network’s weak denials, sources exclusively tell Page Six that NBC News has been talking to the 31-year-old sister of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge after Pippa’s interview with Matt Lauer last June was a big ratings hit.
“Today has been doing a test piece with Pippa in Utah, and if it works out well — and it looks like it will — they will hire her as a correspondent.” After the Lauer interview in June, Page Six reported that NBC hoped to offer Pippa a regular gig on “Today,” a source said. A source told us at the time, “NBC, along with all the major networks, has been trying to sign Pippa for some time.” The source added NBC’s deal with Pippa would be for special reports on subjects such as lifestyle and health, rather than dishing on the British royals.
An NBC rep sniffed back in June of talks with Pippa, “This is 100 percent not true and it seems anyone suggesting otherwise is ‘royally’ jealous.” Or NBC News is ‘royally’ fibbing, again.”
Pippa has been shooting an “out west” test feature for “Today” in Utah after she was spotted meeting with NBC executives in New York. The move comes after the beautiful Brit was aggressively pursued by rival US networks, particularly ABC.
Another source adds, “The deal with NBC isn’t done yet, but everybody is hopeful it will be done very soon. They want to make sure Pippa is comfortable in this role. The ratings for Pippa’s interview with Matt Lauer showed she is very popular with ‘Today’ viewers, and she really impressed everyone at NBC.”
Us Weekly’s source claimed that NBC has approached Pippa several times with lucrative deals: “They have been discussing it for awhile.” Another source says that Pippa turned Today down once before but now she’s looking to make a deal because she wants to focus on “health and mind-type journalism.” #PippaTip: If one wants to get paid a six-figure salary to say a few words about diet and exercise every few months, go to the colonies. Pippa has already been largely discredited as any kind of “journalist” – she was fired from The Telegraph, her lifestyle/party planning book bombed and people think she’s an idiot. So… a good fit for Today?
And The Daily Mail claims that Pippa was NOT in Utah but in Wyoming this week, doing a trial piece with Today. I’m including the video below. It looks like Pippa was sent to Wyoming to dance with some locals. And they say journalism is dead, right? Just think – talented journalists are losing their jobs right and left and Today is going to offer Pippa a huge contract for #PippaTips On Camera. #PippaTip: When dancing, move one’s feet.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
“Go to the colonies”. Died.
+1
I like her skirt tho
Europe did not want her, now the US is actively trying to shove her down our throats. Honestly, I wouldn’t have a problem with Pippa except that I see her “career” is solely based on her being the sister to the future queen of England and a serious, though sometimes subtle sense of entitlement, she might be smart or clever, but the way she structured her career has left a sour taste in my mouth.
Ur a jellus h8tr, pippa is beautiful and amazing and works so hard and has a great bum and anyone who disagrees is ugly and should get a life pippa has never put a foot wrong and her family deserves a title and I can’t believe how jellus everyone is of the royal family they bring in so much money and and and and…..
(I’m just kidding – I can speak English properly, and Pippa is appalling.)
I am having a giggling fit over your comment!!
As a journalism student at University and a former reporter who quit reporting because the jobs aren’t there anymore…yep, I just can’t (bitter grumble, bitter grumble)
The Guardian says NBC in London wanted Pippa very badly and has also been courting her for awhile.
I know she incites a whole lotta hate, but she does have the right to make a living and accept any job that comes her way regardless of how she gets it. The vast majority of jobs are obtained these days through connections anyway. Her alternative is to sit in her house all day and not work at all.
Or she could work for her parents. Or another job doing something else, whatever she did before. I don’t think her choices have to be TV personality/celebrity or nothing at all.
@lucy2 her choices should be her decision alone. If I was Pippa, had no journalism training but was offered such a gig I’d be all over it. If NBc wants to pay me the big bucks who am I to argue with them?
The choices don’t have to be that, but let’s face it, if someone knocked on our door and said, “I’ll give you $500,000 to do a fluff piece once a month on television.” How many of us would turn it down?
Kim Kardashian gets that for hosting a weekend “party” in Las Vegas.
No, her alternative is to get a 40 hour/week desk job like the rest of us. Having said that, heck she’s just as entitled to trade on name recognition as the Kardashians or Hiltons or Spellings. That’s some fine company to be in.
I totally agree. Why shouldn’t she accept any job she finds fit?
(And no, I am not a fan of hers.)
Like Wooward and Berstein would have wanted.
So skeevy Matt Lauer has his sights set on Pippa now? Run, Pippa, run!
For real, punky! Lauer wants dat azz of lies!
Why? It’s not like her books sold or she’s a major draw.
I swear producers are running out of ideas.
Seriously, that is the confusing part.
Her book was a failure and she is a laughingstock in the U.K…why is NBC like, “Let’s hire her!” Seems like an awful lot of money for someone who basically has nothing to say.
I’m so tired of people like her getting these gigs. I get it, I really do, but every time I see Jenna Bush Hagar’s face, and hear her banal, cringe worthy “reporting style” I want to punch her. To be fair, I didn’t care for Chelsea Clinton either. Pippa is never going to happen. EverEverEver!
She is not the one to blame tho, u know? She is not asking for any of this. NBC went to her. I think she is smart to use the luck that just keeps falling onto her lap.
I don’t blame these people for grabbing these jobs, but it becomes tiresome after awhile because there are so many more educated and qualified people who will never simply be given such opportunities. Despite their hard work and who they know.
Agreed. And let’s face it. There’s little journalism in these two-hour morning shows. It’s 7 minutes of news at the top if the hour, 3 minutes at the bottom–followed by weather both times–then it’s fluff (aka ‘human interest’). I’ve been on leave from work this week & have had far too much time to see this!😄
Yeah, what is it about NBC News that they think just being related to someone famous qualifies a person for a high profile journalism job? It’s weird. Are there no actual journalists out there to hire?
This. I don’t blame Chelsea Clinton or the Bush girls or even Pippa for taking the pay check. I side the networks. Then again, Today has long been nothing but a glorified four-hour infomercial, so maybe it’s best to not hire actual journalists who might have ethical qualms.
Good for Pippa. While I don’t think she has much talent when it comes to journalism of any kind, she is a lucky gal and she is smart to use every opportunity that is offered to her! I’d do the same!
I’m agrre with otherrenee..If NBC is willing to throw oodles of money at her hoping something might work, let “em. Take it to the Bank PIPPA. I won’t watch her though
yup, yup!
Just as many suspected back then. She annoys me more than Kate ever has. But as with Kate, I think my annoyance is more towards the press/media who try to ram everything about this woman down our throats as if she the epitome of greatness. They do the same with William’s wife. It only makes people become sick of hearing about them.
Having said all of that, I will admit that this would be a good career move for Pips. The U.S. media love British Royals and anyone closely related to them, so they would enjoy a daily/weekly dose of Pippa.
at least she works… tries to work… wants to work… whatever.
I do not understand the hype of this chick AT ALL
Ugh. Why don’t the Brits with Royal connections send over somebody with some personality. If you count awkward and loud Fergie, who did her stint in American ‘celebrity-ism,’ as a 3 on a scale from 1 – 10, Pippa is a negative 5.
She and her sister have no charm appeal. Their personalities are bland. They don’t have that certain something that connects them to an audience.
1. Is the population demographic in Utah characteristic of NBC’s viewership in the US?
2. I have a nice ass too.
I have a fabulous bottom as well!
I currently live in Utah. It is 2/3rd Mormon Republican, because the leaders of the Mormon church tells their members to vote Republican (I was a Mormon for 28 years, so if any Mormon wants to disagree with me, we are on!). This same church poured millions and millions of dollars into California to vote against gay marriage (Prop 13). The Mormon church is one of the 50 top corporations in America (good Mormons pay 10% of their income as tithing – I know, I did). This state is difficult to live in because of the religious fundamentalism, but I call it clean, and look at the mountains. Republicans court a religious vote all over America. They want to own our wombs. (Republicans showing up to vote last week, and winning so many seats in Congress, does not bode well for that issue, as well as much of our progressive social agenda).
Personally I feel offended that Will & Kate are coming to New York, when they are unable to work at home. Photo op’s and all of that kind of deception are really so tasteless, and merely an attempt to elevate their status. I despise the fact that the royals and company, are taking advantage of US citizens.
Dunno. And she wasn’t in Utah, but rather Wyoming. And that geographic mistake came from some ‘real’ professional journalist. Abandon all hope….
So … someone at NBC News watched BBC America’s Almost Royal this summer and decided, “hey, that sounds like a great idea for a Today Show segment”?
The interview with Lauer was pretty bad, wish she had some said some cute little stories about George, like his favorite plush toy or his favorite pureed food, or like Harry said, ‘he’s a little Winston Churchill!’ NBC gave Diana’s brother, Charles a special correspondents gig too years ago, so its not unheard of.
That being said, maybe she is better interviewing, than being interviewed.
I’m curious what’s happening with her and Nikko since he is based in Switzerland now.
I think she should dump Nikko and hook up with a high-profile actor. The gossip would be spectacular.
She is now in Switzerland, so I suppose things continue with Nico.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2826535/Too-posh-push-luggage-Pippa-Middleton-gets-VIP-treatment-baggage-carousel-arriving-Switzerland.html#ixzz3IUkqYpme
poor Switzerland!
Jumping the shark. NBC will decide to cut Today to a one hour show in 3…2…1…