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‘Today’ Ends For Host; Tomorrow Still Up In Air

Newsday

After 15 years, it ended like most long goodbyes, with tears, hugs and a few laughs. Bryant Gumbel’s farewell on Friday’s “Today” show, in fact, was missing just one minor element: a clue about where he is headed next.

Looking - for once - tired and even drawn, Gumbel was greeted with accolades from figures as diverse as former President Bush and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who lauded Gumbel as “someone who consistently sought the truth.”

But he let down his emotional guard only a few times during the two-hour tribute, which featured visits from old friends like Muhammad Ali and poet Maya Angelou. He choked up when his close friend (and replacement) Matt Lauer told him, “We’ll miss you a lot.”

There was no hint of any of the old controversies. Willard Scott, whom Gumbel targeted in his infamous 1988 memo, gave him a kiss, adding that “everybody in this building loves Bryant Gumbel,” Jane Pauley, his co-host during the ‘80s, dryly observed that “he always had coordinated outfits (and) he never had jet lag.”

Gumbel is expected to decide on his next move within a few weeks. ABC News has made an offer (which reportedly would include his eventually replacing Hugh Downs as co-anchor of “20/20”) while CBS News has also aggressively pursued him.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE ‘REAL REASONS’ David Letterman’s Top 10 list of the “real reasons” Bryant Gumbel is leaving the “Today” show: 10. Tired of losing his car keys in Gene Shalit’s hair. 9. NBC wouldn’t let him devote first hour of show to wrestling highlights. 8. Katie Couric always calling at 4 a.m. and chirping, “Up yet, sleepyhead?” 7. Furious that NBC commissary never served sandwich called the “Gumbelburger.” 6. To boost ratings, the network wanted him to come out as a lesbian. 5. Wants to devote more time to his true calling - collecting porcelain kitties. 4. Found out that his Internet sex partner, “Ingrid,” was actually Matt Lauer. 3. Heard they were trading Katie for Kathie Lee. 2. Wants to see for himself what it’s like to stand outside the “Today” show window and give the finger. 1. Sick of Willard Scott grabbing his ass. - Associated Press

This sidebar appeared with the story: THE ‘REAL REASONS’ David Letterman’s Top 10 list of the “real reasons” Bryant Gumbel is leaving the “Today” show: 10. Tired of losing his car keys in Gene Shalit’s hair. 9. NBC wouldn’t let him devote first hour of show to wrestling highlights. 8. Katie Couric always calling at 4 a.m. and chirping, “Up yet, sleepyhead?” 7. Furious that NBC commissary never served sandwich called the “Gumbelburger.” 6. To boost ratings, the network wanted him to come out as a lesbian. 5. Wants to devote more time to his true calling - collecting porcelain kitties. 4. Found out that his Internet sex partner, “Ingrid,” was actually Matt Lauer. 3. Heard they were trading Katie for Kathie Lee. 2. Wants to see for himself what it’s like to stand outside the “Today” show window and give the finger. 1. Sick of Willard Scott grabbing his ass. - Associated Press