So far this week, we've learned that Katie Couric is reportedly leaving the CBS Evening News to go back to daytime, Meredith Vieira might be leaving the Today show when her contract runs out in September -- and now it looks like Matt Lauer might be signing off from Today as well. It's starting to feel like musical chairs -- er, news desks.
A source tells Entertainment Tonight that Lauer, 53, has given notice to NBC that he'll be leaving Today when his contract is up on Dec. 31, 2012. The dashing anchor has been part of the Today show since he was a substitute news reader (hey, we've all gotta start somewhere) in 1992. When Bryant Gumbel left in 1997, Lauer took his place as a full-time anchor opposite Katie Couric, staying on when Vieira replaced Couric in 2006.
In response to reports about Viera and Lauer's departure, NBC issued a statement saying... well, nothing, really.
"There seems to be an awful lot of speculation around news anchors these days, and it's not our practice to comment on any of it," a rep for the network told E! News. "Matt Lauer has a long-term contract with NBC News and Today."
Viera's contract is up for renewal this September, but Lauer's contract doesn't expire until December 2012 -- so even if he's leaving, viewers get plenty of time to say goodbye. To get the nostalgia started, here's an adorable clip of Lauer interviewing Cookie Monster on Sesame Street.
