Maria Shriver 'TODAY' Show Return? Pope Coverage Boost Ratings & Lands Show Offer, VIDEO
Maria Shriver surprised TODAY viewers on Monday when she reported from the Vatican for NBC's morning show.
The 57-year-old contributed to the network's coverage of the newly elected Pope Francis at around 7 a.m. EST. It is unclear if her role with the show is permanent but an NBC spokesperson told The New York Times Shriver "is participating in NBC News's coverage of Pope Francis in Rome."
Shriver's appearance had such positive feedback that executives at the Peacock network offered her a deal to return to the morning show, according to the news report. However, she turned down offers from NBC, other networks and cable stations.
Shriver co-anchored the weekend edition of TODAY when it first launched in 1987 and has also appeared on Dateline. She was given multiple offers during her marriage to her Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was the governor of California, a source told TMZ. She repeatedly turned down offers to return to television because her family and charity work is her top priority and she doesn't need the money.
Shriver is worth over $100 million, according to the report, and that could double after her divorce to Schwarzenegger is finalized. Shriver may appear occasionally on TODAY but a permanent role is unlikely, said the insider.
A different source told the newspaper NBC will not let Ann Curry tape live interviews but will instead run pre-taped segments with the former TODAY show host, adding, "She's been pushing for live interviews, but NBC will only air her taped interviews, presumably so they can edit them."
Curry is banned from airing live reports because the last time she sat with her former co-anchor, Matt Lauer she barely acknowledged him. She has filled in a few live reports since her TODAY exit and reported for NBC News' Rock Center with Brian Williams.
One of her last reports, on Beasts of the Southern Wild stars Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry, was a pre-taped segment.
Watch Shriver's papal coverage on TODAY with Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
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