Ann Curry's Send-Off Hits 'Wrong Note'

There was no fancy farewell montage or goodbye song performance: just Ann Curry, on the Today couch alongside Matt Lauer, Al Roker, and Natalie Morales, bidding adieu to the viewers she loves. "This is not easy to say, but today is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of Today. I will still be a part of the Today show family, but I'm going to have a new title and a new role," said an emotional Curry. "And this is not as I expected to ever leave this couch after 15 years, but I am so grateful, especially to all of you who watch."

Curry talked about her new role and apologized for not being able to "carry the ball over the finish line, but man, I did try." Matt, Al, and Natalie all chimed in with praise, but the entire segment lasted less than five minutes—a far cry from Meredith Vieira's long goodbye, as noted by many in the Twitterverse:

• NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala: "Struck by how Meredith Viera's leaving of Today was HUGE production/celebration, Ann Curry's today so somber and sad. Wrong note".
• Huffington Post Media: "Ann Curry's 'Today' tenure comes to an end. Meredith Vieira got a two-hour farewell. Curry was given 5 minutes after 15 years on the show."
• @desusnice: "Meredith Vieira got a flashmob on her last day. Ann Curry got a forehead kiss & no cab fare."

Click for more on what Curry will be doing next. (More Ann Curry stories.)