People: NBC reporter offers quarantine apology
NBC News medical reporter Nancy Snyderman apologized on the “Today” show Wednesday for violating her quarantine for Ebola exposure, saying she failed to appreciate how frightened Americans were of the disease.
It was Snyderman’s first on-air appearance in a month and a half, and she followed her talk with Matt Lauer by reporting a story on women and depression. NBC had kept her off the air following an angry public reaction to her broken promise: After saying she’d stay in her New Jersey home until the danger for symptoms of the disease had passed, she was spotted in a car getting takeout food.
“I’m very sorry for not only scaring my community and the country, but adding to the confusion of terms that came as fast and furious as the news about Ebola,” said Snyderman, a surgeon who has worked for NBC News since 2006 after a long stint at ABC.
Snyderman had been reporting on the Ebola outbreak in Liberia in October and worked briefly with cameraman Ashoka Mukpo, who came down with the deadly virus. Mukpo came back to the United States for treatment and has since recovered.
Snyderman said she and fellow crew members were taking their temperatures several times a day to check to see if they were developing symptoms. But within 72 hours of agreeing to a 21-day quarantine, Snyderman left her home, compelling New Jersey authorities to make her quarantine mandatory.
Fallon and his wife welcome daughter
Jimmy Fallon has a rerun on his hands – he and his wife, Nancy Juvonen, have welcomed their second child.
A representative for the host of “The Tonight Show” said Frances Cole Fallon was born at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces.
Little Frances will join big sister Winnie Rose, 1. Both Fallon babies were born via surrogate.
The arrival of the new Fallon prompted NBC to cancel Wednesday and Thursday taping of the late-night show “due to unexpected but delightful circumstances.” Repeats will air.
Swift’s mentor joining ‘American Idol’
Taylor Swift’s mentor and record executive Scott Borchetta will join “American Idol” when the show returns in January.
Fox announced Wednesday that the Big Machine Records CEO and president will work as a mentor on “Idol” when its 14th season debuts Jan. 7.
The winner of the next season of “Idol” will be signed to Big Machine Records.
Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. are returning as judges on the series.
The birthday bunch
Game-show host Wink Martindale is 81. Actor Jeff Bridges is 65. Actress Patricia Wettig is 63. Actress Chelsea Noble is 50. Actress Marisa Tomei is 50. Comedian Fred Armisen (“Saturday Night Live”) is 48. Rapper Jay Z is 45. Model Tyra Banks is 41.