Natalie now ‘national’
NBC’s Natalie Morales, a candidate to replace Katie Couric on “Today” before Meredith Vieira got the job, will remain with the show, but with a new title: national correspondent.
The move won’t radically change what Morales has been doing on “Today.”
She’ll continue reporting and will have a “regular presence” on the third hour of the show, according to NBC.
“Today’s” rival, “Good Morning America,” has snared a good “get”: Bruce Springsteen, who’ll perform live on Tuesday (7-9 a.m./Ch. 7). It’s his only TV appearance to support his new album, “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions.”
Back to NBC: How much worse can it get for the network’s prime-time schedule? Tuesday’s edition of “Celebrity Cooking Showdown,” which aired from 8 to 9 p.m., pulled in a paltry 3.4 million viewers – and was outrated by “Gilmore Girls” on The WB (4.1 million viewers in the same timeslot).
The news wasn’t much better for ABC, which saw “Less Than Perfect” return after a year off the air to only 4.7 million viewers at 9:30. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.
Last, but not least:
* Morning Dhue: Laurie Dhue (“Geraldo at Large”) and Ch. 5’s Rick Folbaum sub on “GDNY” today and tomorrow (7-9 a.m./Ch. 5).
* Q104’s Ken Dashow and Jonathan Clarke presenting at tonight’s Jammy Awards at Madison Square Garden.
* Sunday: Ch. 5’s Linda Schmidt runs in the Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury’s Race for Spinal Victory at Jones beach, while Ch. 11’s Jim Watkins kicks off the Lincoln Tunnel 5K Run to benefit Special Olympics of N.J.
* Dan Rather and his wife dining at Destino in midtown. Seth Green (“Family Guy”) was there, too.
* Reflexologist Joseph Horan prepping a syndicated radio series, “Heart and Sole.”
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* Looks like “Lost” could be losing one of its cast members. Cynthia Watros (right), who plays Libby on the ABC island drama, has inked a deal to join the CBS sitcom pilot “My Ex-Life” opposite Tom Cavanaugh.
* Fox’s “House” snared its biggest audience ever Tuesday: 23.3 million viewers following “American Idol” from 9 to 10 p.m. The hospital drama stars Hugh Laurie.