Ann Curry makes debut as 'Today' co-anchor

[June 10, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- After 14 years as the understudy, Ann Curry is in the big chair now at NBC's "Today" show.

She had her first day Thursday as co-anchor with Matt Lauer on television's top-rated morning show. Her predecessor, Meredith Vieira, had an on-air going-away party Wednesday.

Curry has been on the show since 1997 as the regular newsreader, and has filled in as co-host dozens of times.

She referred to that in her opening, saying, "I'm Ann Curry, in for I guess nobody this morning -- me, myself and I. It's nice to be able to say that, isn't it?"

Lauer welcomed her, saying she had already been on the show so long that "it's a little bit like a member of the family moving to a new seat at the table."

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Online:

"Today" show: http://on.msnbc.com/mGEUqA

http://on.msnbc.com/j2vhnY

[Associated Press]

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