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{{use mdy dates|date=February 2014}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Meredith Louise Vieira | name = Meredith Vieira
| image = Meredithv.jpg | image = Meredithv.jpg
| caption = Vieira hosting NBC's '']'' in 2009 | caption = Meredith Vieira hosting NBC's '']'' in 2010
| birth_name = Meredith Louise Vieira | birth_name = Meredith Louise Vieira
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|12|30}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|12|30}}
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| alma_mater = ] | alma_mater = ]
}} }}
'''Meredith Louise Vieira''' (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality.<ref name=tvg>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/meredith-vieira/bio/195239 |title=Meredith Vieira |magazine=] |access-date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show '']'' (1997–2006), the original host of the ] daytime version of the ] '']'' (2002–2013), and as co-host of the ] ] '']'' (2006–2011). She currently hosts the syndicated weekday game show '']''. '''Meredith Louise Vieira''' (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and ].<ref name=tvg>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/meredith-vieira/bio/195239 |title=Meredith Vieira |magazine=] |access-date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show '']'' (1997–2006), the original host of the ] daytime version of the ] '']'' (2002–2013), and as co-host of the ] ] '']'' (2006–2011). {{as of|2019}}, she hosts the syndicated weekday game show '']''.


Vieira has also been a contributor to '']'', '']'', and '']'', and hosted the ] series '']'' (1994–2005). From 2014 to 2016, she hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show, '']''. Vieira has also been a contributor to '']'', '']'', and '']'', and hosted the ] series '']'' (1994–2005). From 2014 to 2016, she hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show, '']''.


==Early life== ==Early life==
Vieira was born in ],<ref name=tvg /> and raised in nearby ], the daughter of Mary Elsie (Rosa), a homemaker, and Edwin Vieira, a medical doctor,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3069900182.html |title=Vieira, Meredith 1953(?)- - Dictionary definition of Vieira, Meredith 1953(?)- &#124; Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2017-04-28}}</ref> both ] ]. She is the youngest of four children, with three older brothers.<ref name="GH">{{cite news|url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/names/celebrity/meredith-vieira-sep06 |title=Wit, Wisdom & Warmth: Meredith Vieira Uncensored |first=Jenny |last=Allen |work=Good Housekeeping |date=September 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123092305/http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/names/celebrity/meredith-vieira-sep06 |archive-date=November 23, 2007 }}</ref> All four of Vieira's grandparents came from the ]—three from ], one of the nine islands in the ]. The family name ] means "scallop" in Portuguese. They ] to ] in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, settling around ]. Vieira was raised in the ] faith, but she has stated in recent interviews that she has "spirituality, not a religion".<ref name="GH2">{{cite news |url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/celebrity/meredith-vieira-counting-blessings-5 |title=Counting Her Blessings |first=Lesley |last=Dormen |work=Good Housekeeping |year=2007 |access-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327085147/http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/celebrity/meredith-vieira-counting-blessings-5 |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Vieira was born in ],<ref name=tvg /> and raised in nearby ], the daughter of Mary Elsie (Rosa), a homemaker, and Edwin Vieira, a medical doctor,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3069900182.html |title=Vieira, Meredith 1953(?)- - Dictionary definition of Vieira, Meredith 1953(?)- &#124; Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2017-04-28}}</ref> both ] ]. She is the youngest of four children, with three older brothers.<ref name="GH">{{cite news|url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/names/celebrity/meredith-vieira-sep06 |title=Wit, Wisdom & Warmth: Meredith Vieira Uncensored |first=Jenny |last=Allen |work=Good Housekeeping |date=September 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123092305/http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/names/celebrity/meredith-vieira-sep06 |archive-date=November 23, 2007 }}</ref> All four of Vieira's grandparents came from the ]—three from ], one of the nine islands in the ]. The family name ] means "scallop" in ]. They emigrated to ] in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, settling around Providence, Rhode Island. Vieira was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but she has stated in recent interviews that she has "spirituality, not a religion".<ref name="GH2">{{cite news |url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/celebrity/meredith-vieira-counting-blessings-5 |title=Counting Her Blessings |first=Lesley |last=Dormen |work=Good Housekeeping |year=2007 |access-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327085147/http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/celebrity/meredith-vieira-counting-blessings-5 |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


Vieira attended the ], a ] all-girls offshoot of ] in Providence, graduating in 1971.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnschool.org/page.cfm?p=2186&newsid=2154 |title=Meredith Vieira '71 Launches Day-Time Talk Show |date=September 4, 2014 |publisher=] |access-date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> She graduated with a degree in English from ] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sites.tufts.edu/jumble/2011/06/08/meredith-vieira-leaves-the-today-show/ |title=Meredith Vieira Leaves the Today Show « Jumble |publisher=Sites.tufts.edu |date=2011-06-08 |access-date=2017-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009111148/http://sites.tufts.edu/jumble/2011/06/08/meredith-vieira-leaves-the-today-show/ |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Vieira attended the ], a ] all-girls school in Providence, graduating in 1971.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnschool.org/page.cfm?p=2186&newsid=2154 |title=Meredith Vieira '71 Launches Day-Time Talk Show |date=September 4, 2014 |publisher=] |access-date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> She graduated with a degree in English from ] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sites.tufts.edu/jumble/2011/06/08/meredith-vieira-leaves-the-today-show/ |title=Meredith Vieira Leaves the Today Show « Jumble |publisher=Sites.tufts.edu |date=2011-06-08 |access-date=2017-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009111148/http://sites.tufts.edu/jumble/2011/06/08/meredith-vieira-leaves-the-today-show/ |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


==Career== ==Career==


===Beginnings on radio and local TV (1975–1982)=== ===Beginnings on radio and local TV (1975–1982)===
Vieira began her broadcasting career in 1975 as a news announcer for ] radio in ], doing afternoon drive news during the ''B. J. Dean Show''. She began a career in television working as a local reporter and anchor at ] in Providence, eventually making her way into the newsroom at ] in New York City where she was an ] from 1979 to 1982. Vieira began her broadcasting career in 1975 as a news announcer for ] radio in ], doing afternoon-drive news during the ''B. J. Dean Show''. She began a career in television working as a local reporter and anchor at ] in Providence, eventually making her way into the newsroom at ] in New York City where she was an ] from 1979 to 1982.


===CBS News (1982–1993)=== ===CBS News (1982–1993)===
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Vieira explained what led her to become ''The View'''s moderator in an interview with the '']'', by making the following statement: Vieira explained what led her to become ''The View'''s moderator in an interview with the '']'', by making the following statement:


{{quote|Once I realized I was a reporter who didn't want to report because it required a tremendous amount of travel, nobody was too interested in having me work for them. I had to reinvent myself.<ref name="Oscar Pre-Show">{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/magazine/20000326vieira8.asp |work=] |title=Audience can share Meredith Vieira's view from the red carpet |first1=Rob |last1=Owen |date=March 26, 2000}}</ref>}} {{blockquote|Once I realized I was a reporter who didn't want to report because it required a tremendous amount of travel, nobody was too interested in having me work for them. I had to reinvent myself.<ref name="Oscar Pre-Show">{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/magazine/20000326vieira8.asp |work=] |title=Audience can share Meredith Vieira's view from the red carpet |first1=Rob |last1=Owen |date=March 26, 2000}}</ref>}}


In August 2006, Vieira told '']'' that she hasn't watched ''The View'' since she left the show, except the episode when ] announced she was leaving. She said it was "very sad" what's happened to it: "I'm proud of the work we did there, but it's not a good time in the history of the show... It's hard to watch. It sort of became a joke."<ref>{{cite news |author=TMZ Staff |url=https://www.tmz.com/2006/08/28/meredith-calls-the-view-a-joke/ |title=Meredith Calls "The View" A "Joke" |work=TMZ |date=August 28, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> On August 29, 2006, Vieira told the '']'' that she didn't mean that ''The View'' was a joke. She said the interview was taken out of context. "I felt that the media was turning into a joke, not that the show was a joke," she says. ''Time'' added a clarification to its website, saying " assures ''Time'' that in no way were her comments meant to be insensitive or derogatory..."<ref>{{cite news |author=TMZ Staff |url=https://www.tmz.com/2006/08/29/meredith-view-not-a-joke-actually/ |title=Meredith: "View" Not A Joke, Actually |work=TMZ |date=August 29, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> In August 2006, Vieira told '']'' that she hasn't watched ''The View'' since she left the show, except the episode when ] announced she was leaving. She said it was "very sad" what's happened to it: "I'm proud of the work we did there, but it's not a good time in the history of the show... It's hard to watch. It sort of became a joke."<ref>{{cite news |author=TMZ Staff |url=https://www.tmz.com/2006/08/28/meredith-calls-the-view-a-joke/ |title=Meredith Calls "The View" A "Joke" |work=TMZ |date=August 28, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> On August 29, 2006, Vieira told the '']'' that she didn't mean that ''The View'' was a joke. She said the interview was taken out of context. "I felt that the media was turning into a joke, not that the show was a joke," she says. ''Time'' added a clarification to its website, saying " assures ''Time'' that in no way were her comments meant to be insensitive or derogatory..."<ref>{{cite news |author=TMZ Staff |url=https://www.tmz.com/2006/08/29/meredith-view-not-a-joke-actually/ |title=Meredith: "View" Not A Joke, Actually |work=TMZ |date=August 29, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref>
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ABC originally offered Vieira hosting duties on the syndicated ''Millionaire'' to sweeten one of her re-negotiations for ''The View''.<ref name="Vieira leaves Millionaire" /> When the show was honored by ] on its 2007 ''Gameshow Hall of Fame'' special, one of the show's executive producers, Leigh Hampton, said that when the syndicated version was being developed, the production team felt that it was not feasible for Philbin to continue hosting, as the show recorded four episodes in a single day, and that the team was looking for qualities in a new host: it had to be somebody who would love the contestants and be willing to root for them. After O'Donnell declined the opportunity to host the syndicated version, Vieira was the one that the team settled on, because she had the above-mentioned qualities.<ref name="Gameshow Hall of Fame" /> On the special, Vieira herself gave the following explanation for why she decided to host the syndicated ''Millionaire'': ABC originally offered Vieira hosting duties on the syndicated ''Millionaire'' to sweeten one of her re-negotiations for ''The View''.<ref name="Vieira leaves Millionaire" /> When the show was honored by ] on its 2007 ''Gameshow Hall of Fame'' special, one of the show's executive producers, Leigh Hampton, said that when the syndicated version was being developed, the production team felt that it was not feasible for Philbin to continue hosting, as the show recorded four episodes in a single day, and that the team was looking for qualities in a new host: it had to be somebody who would love the contestants and be willing to root for them. After O'Donnell declined the opportunity to host the syndicated version, Vieira was the one that the team settled on, because she had the above-mentioned qualities.<ref name="Gameshow Hall of Fame" /> On the special, Vieira herself gave the following explanation for why she decided to host the syndicated ''Millionaire'':


{{quote|1=I did the show because I fell in love with the show, and really, first and foremost, as a parent, there aren't that many shows on television that you can watch as a family. And when ] approached me and said, "Would you be interested in hosting the syndicated version?", I said, "Just point me toward the contract! I am so there!"<ref name="Gameshow Hall of Fame">{{Cite episode |title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |series=Gameshow Hall of Fame |publisher=GSN |airdate=January 21, 2007}}</ref>}} {{blockquote|1=I did the show because I fell in love with the show, and really, first and foremost, as a parent, there aren't that many shows on television that you can watch as a family. And when ] approached me and said, "Would you be interested in hosting the syndicated version?", I said, "Just point me toward the contract! I am so there!"<ref name="Gameshow Hall of Fame">{{Cite episode |title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |series=Gameshow Hall of Fame |publisher=GSN |airdate=January 21, 2007}}</ref>}}


Prior to hosting the syndicated version of ''Millionaire'', Vieira was a celebrity contestant in a special tournament on the third season of the original primetime version, winning $250,000 for her selected charitable organization, the ].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Celebrity Millionaire |series=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |publisher=ABC; Valleycrest Productions |airdate=December 17, 2001}}</ref> Seven and three-quarter years later, she would even turn the tables on Philbin himself with her surprise appearance on the finale of the show's 10th anniversary primetime revival on August 23, 2009—hosting its final segment while giving him the opportunity to answer one question in order to win $50,000 for his selected organization, ] in ].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Night 11: The Finale |series=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: 10th Anniversary Celebration |publisher=ABC; Valleycrest Productions |airdate=August 23, 2009}}</ref> Prior to hosting the syndicated version of ''Millionaire'', Vieira was a celebrity contestant in a special tournament on the third season of the original primetime version, winning $250,000 for her selected charitable organization, the ].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Celebrity Millionaire |series=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |publisher=ABC; Valleycrest Productions |airdate=December 17, 2001}}</ref> Seven and three-quarter years later, she would even turn the tables on Philbin himself with her surprise appearance on the finale of the show's 10th anniversary primetime revival on August 23, 2009—hosting its final segment while giving him the opportunity to answer one question in order to win $50,000 for his selected organization, ] in ].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Night 11: The Finale |series=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: 10th Anniversary Celebration |publisher=ABC; Valleycrest Productions |airdate=August 23, 2009}}</ref>


On January 10, 2013, Vieira announced that after eleven seasons with the syndicated ''Millionaire'', throughout which she had hosted more than 1,800 episodes and offered a vast multitude of contestants a combined total of over $70,000,000,<ref>{{cite web |title="Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Rings in the New Year with "Cruise In and Win Week," January 7–11, 2013! |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/01/03/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-rings-in-the-new-year-with-cruise-in-and-win-week-january-7-11-2013-416110/20130103abc02/ |website=The Futon Critic |date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> she would be leaving the show as part of an effort to focus on other projects in her career. She finalized taping of her last episodes with the show in November 2012.<ref name="Vieira leaves Millionaire">{{cite news|title=Meredith Vieira Leaving Syndicated "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Series |url=https://www.deadline.com/2013/01/meredith-vieira-leaving-syndicated-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-series/ |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |website=] |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520122144/http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/meredith-vieira-leaving-syndicated-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-series/ |archive-date=May 20, 2014 }}</ref> On January 10, 2013, Vieira announced that after eleven seasons with the syndicated ''Millionaire'', throughout which she had hosted more than 1,800 episodes and offered a vast multitude of contestants a combined total of over $70,000,000,<ref>{{cite web |title="Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Rings in the New Year with "Cruise In and Win Week," January 7–11, 2013! |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/01/03/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-rings-in-the-new-year-with-cruise-in-and-win-week-january-7-11-2013-416110/20130103abc02/ |website=The Futon Critic |date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> she would be leaving the show as part of an effort to focus on other projects in her career. She finalized taping of her last episodes with the show in November 2012.<ref name="Vieira leaves Millionaire">{{cite news|title=Meredith Vieira Leaving Syndicated "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Series |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/meredith-vieira-leaving-syndicated-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-series-401807/ |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |website=] |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520122144/http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/meredith-vieira-leaving-syndicated-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-series/ |archive-date=May 20, 2014 }}</ref>


===''Today'' and ''The Meredith Vieira Show'' (2006–2016)=== ===''Today'' and ''The Meredith Vieira Show'' (2006–2016)===
]]] ]]]
Vieira accepted an offer to succeed ] as co-anchor of '']'' on April 6, 2006, the day after Couric announced that she would depart the show to become anchor of the '']''. The following day, Vieira announced on ''The View'' that she would be leaving the show to be co-anchor of ''Today'', a role ''View'' co-host and ] journalist ] had filled nearly four decades earlier during her tenure at NBC during the 1960s and 1970s. Vieira hosted the show with Matt Lauer from September 13, 2006, through June 8, 2011, also becoming a contributing anchor for '']''.<ref>{{cite news |author=MSNBC staff |date=April 7, 2006 |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/vieira-chosen-courics-today-successor-wbna12185893 |title=Vieira chosen as Couric's 'Today' Successor |work=Today.com |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322541.html?display=Breaking+News |title=NBC Preps for Vieira Announcement |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=April 6, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> Vieira accepted an offer to succeed ] as co-anchor of '']'' on April 6, 2006, the day after Couric announced that she would depart the show to become anchor of the '']''. The following day, Vieira announced on ''The View'' that she would be leaving the show to be co-anchor of ''Today'', a role that ''The View'' co-host and ] journalist ] had filled nearly four decades earlier during her tenure at NBC during the 1960s and 1970s. Vieira was replaced as the moderator of ''The View'' by ]. Vieira hosted the show with Matt Lauer from September 13, 2006, through June 8, 2011, also becoming a contributing anchor for '']''.<ref>{{cite news |author=MSNBC staff |date=April 7, 2006 |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/vieira-chosen-courics-today-successor-wbna12185893 |title=Vieira chosen as Couric's 'Today' Successor |work=Today.com |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322541.html?display=Breaking+News |title=NBC Preps for Vieira Announcement |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=April 6, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref>


Vieira continued as host of ''Millionaire'' while appearing on ''Today''. As part of her contract with ''Millionaire'', Vieira agreed not to appear on ''Today'' during hours that would conflict with the airing of the game show on competing stations. As a result, she rarely appeared on the third or fourth hours of ''Today''. Her first appearance during the third hour came on June 25, 2008, for "''Today'' Throws a Wedding". She also appeared during the entire third hour during the ], ] and the ] on January 20, 2009. Vieira continued as host of ''Millionaire'' while appearing on ''Today''. As part of her contract with ''Millionaire'', Vieira agreed not to appear on ''Today'' during hours that would conflict with the airing of the game show on competing stations. As a result, she rarely appeared on the third or fourth hours of ''Today''. Her first appearance during the third hour came on June 25, 2008, for "''Today'' Throws a Wedding". She also appeared during the entire third hour during the ], ] and the ] on January 20, 2009.


Vieira announced on May 9, 2011, that she would depart as co-host in the following month, but would remain with ''Today'' in the role of special correspondent. Her last appearance as regular co-host was on June 8; she returned to the show for the Halloween broadcast on October 31, 2011, and again as special co-host with Matt Lauer in ], United Kingdom for the ]. She has remained with NBC in a minimized role and became a contributor to ''Dateline NBC'' and a correspondent on '']''. In January 2013, she filled in for ] on the fourth hour of ''Today'', appearing alongside ], and she reported the story ''Inconceivable'' on '']''. Vieira announced on May 9, 2011, that she would depart as co-host in the following month, but would remain with ''Today'' in the role of special correspondent. Her last appearance as regular co-host was on June 8; she returned to the show for the Halloween broadcast on October 31, 2011, and again as special co-host with Matt Lauer in ], United Kingdom for the ]. She has remained with NBC in a minimized role and became a contributor to ''Dateline NBC'' and a correspondent on '']''. In January 2013, she filled in for ] on the fourth hour of ''Today'', appearing alongside ], and she reported the story ''Inconceivable'' on '']''.


Vieira was one of the hosts for NBC's coverage of the ]. She and co-host ] were ] of the opening ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keller |first1=Emma G. |title=NBC lambasted over banal butchering of opening ceremony – and rightly so |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Grandoni |first1=Dino |title=Tim Berners-Lee Honored At London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/28/tim-berners-lee-lee-london-2012-olympics-opening-ceremony_n_1714256.html |work=The Huffington Post |date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Vieira also provided some ''Today'' Olympics coverage during the games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14469139/ns/nbcnightlynews/t/meredith-vieira/#.UAxaI2HBU30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727004020/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14469139/ns/nbcnightlynews/t/meredith-vieira#.UAxaI2HBU30 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-27 |title=Meredith Vieira |date=October 2011 |work=NBC Nightly News |publisher=TODAY.com |access-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> Vieira co-hosted the opening ceremony of the ] with ], and was slated to provide coverage during the two weeks of the games. On February 14, 2014, she became the first woman to solo anchor NBC's Olympics prime time coverage, alternated with Lauer while covering for an ailing ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deadline.com/2014/02/meredith-vieira-makes-us-tv-history-at-olympics-tonight-subbing-for-bob-costas/ |title=Meredith Vieira Makes U.S. TV History At Olympics Tonight, Subbing For Bob Costas |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=February 14, 2014 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/olympics/wp/2014/02/14/meredith-vieira-will-anchor-nbc-olympics-coverage-matt-lauer-uses-free-time-to-luge/ |title=Meredith Vieira will anchor NBC Olympics coverage; Matt Lauer uses free time to luge |last=Larimer |first=David |date=February 14, 2014 |newspaper=] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> Vieira was one of the hosts for NBC's coverage of the ]. She and co-host ] were ] of the opening ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keller |first1=Emma G. |title=NBC lambasted over banal butchering of opening ceremony – and rightly so |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Grandoni |first1=Dino |title=Tim Berners-Lee Honored At London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/28/tim-berners-lee-lee-london-2012-olympics-opening-ceremony_n_1714256.html |work=The Huffington Post |date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Vieira also provided some ''Today'' Olympics coverage during the games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14469139/ns/nbcnightlynews/t/meredith-vieira/#.UAxaI2HBU30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727004020/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14469139/ns/nbcnightlynews/t/meredith-vieira#.UAxaI2HBU30 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-27 |title=Meredith Vieira |date=October 2011 |work=NBC Nightly News |publisher=TODAY.com |access-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> Vieira co-hosted the opening ceremony of the ] with ], and was slated to provide coverage during the two weeks of the games. On February 14, 2014, she became the first woman to solo anchor NBC's Olympics prime time coverage, alternated with Lauer while covering for an ailing ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/meredith-vieira-makes-us-tv-history-at-olympics-tonight-subbing-for-bob-costas-683253/ |title=Meredith Vieira Makes U.S. TV History At Olympics Tonight, Subbing For Bob Costas |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=February 14, 2014 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/olympics/wp/2014/02/14/meredith-vieira-will-anchor-nbc-olympics-coverage-matt-lauer-uses-free-time-to-luge/ |title=Meredith Vieira will anchor NBC Olympics coverage; Matt Lauer uses free time to luge |last=Larimer |first=David |date=February 14, 2014 |newspaper=] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref>


In July 2013, Vieira announced that she would begin hosting her own syndicated afternoon daytime ], '']'', starting in September 2014, produced by ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/07/09/meredith-vieira-talk-show-nbc/2502161 |title=Meredith Vieira gets daytime talk show |last=Levin |first=Gary |date=July 9, 2013 |work=] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> On January 4, 2016, it was announced that the show would be ending after two seasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/the-meredith-vieira-show-canceled-two-seasons-1201675405/ |title='The Meredith Vieira Show' To End After Two Seasons |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=January 4, 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 4, 2016}}</ref> The talk show aired from September 8, 2014 to May 20, 2016 and ended with 290 episodes. In July 2013, Vieira announced that she would begin hosting her own syndicated afternoon daytime ], '']'', starting in September 2014, produced by ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/07/09/meredith-vieira-talk-show-nbc/2502161 |title=Meredith Vieira gets daytime talk show |last=Levin |first=Gary |date=July 9, 2013 |work=] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> On January 4, 2016, it was announced that the show would be ending after two seasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/the-meredith-vieira-show-canceled-two-seasons-1201675405/ |title='The Meredith Vieira Show' To End After Two Seasons |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=January 4, 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 4, 2016}}</ref> The talk show aired from September 8, 2014 to May 20, 2016 and ended with 290 episodes.


Vieira guest anchored ] for a few episodes in 2019, due to host ] being on maternity leave. Vieira guest anchored '']'' for a few episodes in 2019, due to host ] being on maternity leave.


=== Other television work === === Other television work ===
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==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Vieira married ] journalist ] on June 14, 1986.<ref name="larry">{{cite news |type=transcript; interview with ] |title=Six Great Writers |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/22/lkl.00.html |work=] |publisher=CNN |date=February 22, 2004 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Meredith Vieira Today |url=http://meredithtoday.ivillage.com/entertainment/2007/06/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120175333/http://meredithtoday.ivillage.com/entertainment/2007/06/ |work=iVillage |date=June 2007 |archive-date=January 20, 2008 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> They live in ], ]. Cohen has had ] since he was 25 years old, and has had two bouts of ], one in 1999 and one a year later.<ref name="lhj">{{cite news|first=Judith |last=Newman |title=Meredith Vieira: A Look Back |work=The Ladies' Home Journal |url=http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/meredithvieiraarticle_08202002.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216234500/http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Flhj%2Fstory%2Fdata%2Fmeredithvieiraarticle_08202002.xml |year=2002 |archive-date=February 16, 2007 |access-date=September 3, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Goldberg, Alan B. {{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=1153944 |title=Meredith Vieira talks about husband's MS, cancer battles |access-date=2006-06-07 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311081853/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=1153944 |archive-date=March 11, 2007 }}, ABC 7 Chicago, February 2, 2004.</ref> Vieira and Cohen have three children; their younger son, Gabe Cohen, is a reporter based in ].<ref name="Meredith Vieira Is Moved to Tears After Mystery Guest Delivers Mother's Day Surprise—Watch the Emotional Clip">{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/655153/meredith-vieira-is-moved-to-tears-after-mystery-guest-delivers-mother-s-day-surprise-watch-the-emotional-clip/ |title=Meredith Vieira Is Moved to Tears After Mystery Guest Delivers Mother's Day Surprise—Watch the Emotional Clip |publisher=EOnline.com |date=2015-05-10 |access-date=2015-09-15}}</ref> Vieira married ] journalist ] on June 14, 1986.<ref name="larry">{{cite news |type=transcript; interview with ] |title=Six Great Writers |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/22/lkl.00.html |work=] |publisher=CNN |date=February 22, 2004 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Meredith Vieira Today |url=http://meredithtoday.ivillage.com/entertainment/2007/06/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120175333/http://meredithtoday.ivillage.com/entertainment/2007/06/ |work=iVillage |date=June 2007 |archive-date=January 20, 2008 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> They live in ], ]. Cohen has had ] since he was 25 years old, and has had two bouts of ], one in 1999 and one a year later.<ref name="lhj">{{cite news|first=Judith |last=Newman |title=Meredith Vieira: A Look Back |work=The Ladies' Home Journal |url=http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/meredithvieiraarticle_08202002.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216234500/http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Flhj%2Fstory%2Fdata%2Fmeredithvieiraarticle_08202002.xml |year=2002 |archive-date=February 16, 2007 |access-date=September 3, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Goldberg, Alan B. {{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=1153944 |title=Meredith Vieira talks about husband's MS, cancer battles |access-date=2006-06-07 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311081853/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=1153944 |archive-date=March 11, 2007 }}, ABC 7 Chicago, February 2, 2004.</ref> Vieira and Cohen have three children; their younger son, Gabe Cohen, is a reporter for CNN based out of their Washington, D.C. bureau.<ref name="Meredith Vieira Is Moved to Tears After Mystery Guest Delivers Mother's Day Surprise—Watch the Emotional Clip">{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/655153/meredith-vieira-is-moved-to-tears-after-mystery-guest-delivers-mother-s-day-surprise-watch-the-emotional-clip/ |title=Meredith Vieira Is Moved to Tears After Mystery Guest Delivers Mother's Day Surprise—Watch the Emotional Clip |publisher=EOnline.com |date=2015-05-10 |access-date=2015-09-15}}</ref>


===Balancing family and career=== ===Balancing family and career===
Vieira joined '']'' in 1989, following the birth of her first child. ], executive producer of ''60 Minutes'', allowed her to work part-time for two seasons so she could care for her child. After that, it was arranged that she would work full-time. But after two years, she became pregnant again and asked to continue the part-time arrangement. Hewitt declined her request, firing her, and deciding instead to hire someone who would work full-time. Her departure from the show garnered headlines, as a national debate started to take place about whether women could balance both family and career. She turned down opportunities to co-host CBS's '']'' and ABC's '']'' in the mid-1990s when her children were young. Vieira joined '']'' in 1989, following the birth of her first child. ], executive producer of ''60 Minutes'', allowed her to work part-time for two seasons so she could care for her child. After that, it was arranged that she would work full-time. But after two years, she became pregnant again and asked to continue the part-time arrangement. Hewitt declined her request, firing her, and deciding instead to hire someone who would work full-time. Her departure from the show garnered headlines, as a national debate started to take place about whether women could balance both family and career. She turned down opportunities to co-host ABC's '']'' and CBS's '']'' when her children were young.


Vieira discusses her family and career decisions in the book ''Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women'' by ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Belkin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/magazine/13viera.html?_r=1&sq=Meredith%20Vieira&st=cse&oref=slogin&scp=5&adxnnlx=1220803316-Gbtt6KQJXz9YM%20Sx7z86fQ&pagewanted=print |title=Meredith Vieira: Her Morning Shift |work=The New York Times |date=August 13, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> Vieira discusses her family and career decisions in the book ''Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women'' by ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Belkin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/magazine/13viera.html?_r=1&sq=Meredith%20Vieira&st=cse&oref=slogin&scp=5&adxnnlx=1220803316-Gbtt6KQJXz9YM%20Sx7z86fQ&pagewanted=print |title=Meredith Vieira: Her Morning Shift |work=The New York Times |date=August 13, 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref>
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** 2014: NBC reporter for the ] ** 2014: NBC reporter for the ]
** 2014–2016: '']'' host & executive producer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/meredith-vieira-launching-daytime-talk-582252 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Michael |last=O'Connell |title=Meredith Vieira Launching Daytime Talk Show With NBCUniversal |date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> ** 2014–2016: '']'' host & executive producer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/meredith-vieira-launching-daytime-talk-582252 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Michael |last=O'Connell |title=Meredith Vieira Launching Daytime Talk Show With NBCUniversal |date=July 9, 2013}}</ref>
** 2019–present: Guest co-anchor of the fourth hour of ], ], with ] ** 2019–present: Guest co-anchor of the fourth hour of '']'', '']'', with ]
* 2019-present: Host of 25 Words or Less (syndicated game show) * 2019–present: Host of '']''


===Other notable appearances=== ===Other notable appearances===
* 1998: ] host * 1998: ] host
* 2000: ] pre-show host for ABC<ref name="Oscar Pre-Show" /> * 2000: ] pre-show host for ABC<ref name="Oscar Pre-Show" />
* 2003: A brief stint in the Broadway show '']'', appearing in various scenes<ref name="TMM">{{cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78722-Meredith_Vieira_Will_Sing_Dance_and_Act_in_Millie_One_Show_Only_April_2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/2013.01.31-180754/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78722-Meredith_Vieira_Will_Sing_Dance_and_Act_in_Millie_One_Show_Only_April_2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-31 |title=Meredith Vieira Will Sing, Dance and Act in Millie |first=Kent |last=Jones |work=Playbill |date=April 2003 |access-date=September 4, 2009 }}</ref> * 2003: A brief stint in the Broadway show '']'', appearing in various scenes<ref name="TMM">{{cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78722-Meredith_Vieira_Will_Sing_Dance_and_Act_in_Millie_One_Show_Only_April_2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131180754/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78722-Meredith_Vieira_Will_Sing_Dance_and_Act_in_Millie_One_Show_Only_April_2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-31 |title=Meredith Vieira Will Sing, Dance and Act in Millie |first=Kent |last=Jones |work=Playbill |date=April 2003 |access-date=September 4, 2009 }}</ref>
* 2003: Made appearance on '']'' as Bree Flanders * 2003: Made appearance on '']'' as Bree Flanders
* 2003: Made appearance on ] (Season 7, Episode 17) as a Security Guard. * 2003: Made appearance on '']'' (Season 7, Episode 17) as a Security Guard.
* 2004 version of '']'', a cameo as the host of a proposed game show * 2004 version of '']'', a cameo as the host of a proposed game show
* 2004: Vieira "hosts" a ] of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', called ''Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle?'' on disc 2 of the ] DVD of '']'' * 2004: Vieira "hosts" a ] of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', called ''Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle?'' on disc 2 of the ] DVD of '']''
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* 2011: A guest investigator on the '']'' episode "Murdered Matron" when ] (TAPS) investigated the ] on ], New York * 2011: A guest investigator on the '']'' episode "Murdered Matron" when ] (TAPS) investigated the ] on ], New York
* 2011: Made a cameo appearance in "]", the finale of the sixth season of the revived series of the British TV sci-fi drama '']'' * 2011: Made a cameo appearance in "]", the finale of the sixth season of the revived series of the British TV sci-fi drama '']''
* 2012: Made a guest appearance of the ] of the 2008 program, ]. * 2012: Made a guest appearance of the ] of the 2008 program, '']''.
* 2015 and 2016: For two years, has been a guest narrator at the ], held during the Christmas season at ] at the ] Resort<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Mauney |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disney-candlelight-processional-lineup-2015-story.html |title=Disney releases partial Candlelight Processional lineup |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dewayne |last=Bevil |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-epcot-candlelight-narrators-20161025-story.html |title=Epcot: More narrators for Candlelight Processional set |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref> * 2015 and 2016: For two years, has been a guest narrator at the ], held during the Christmas season at ] at the ] Resort<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Mauney |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disney-candlelight-processional-lineup-2015-story.html |title=Disney releases partial Candlelight Processional lineup |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dewayne |last=Bevil |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-epcot-candlelight-narrators-20161025-story.html |title=Epcot: More narrators for Candlelight Processional set |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref>
* 2016: Announcer and co-anchor of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics on ] and '']'' * 2016: Announcer and co-anchor of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics on ] and '']''
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==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Meredith Vieira}} {{Commons category|Meredith Vieira}}
⚫ * , her official blog at
* {{Charlie Rose view|1623}}
⚫ * {{IMDb name|896680}}
* {{Worldcat id|lccn-n95-26547}}


⚫ *{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017074534/http://meredithtoday.ivillage.com/entertainment/ |date=October 17, 2006 |title=''Meredith Today''}}
{{S-start}}
⚫ *{{IMDb name|896680}}
{{succession box
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| title = ] Pageant co-host with ]
| years = 1998
| after = ] and ]
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{{s-ttl|title= '']'' co-host| years= 1997–2006}}
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{{s-ttl| title=Co-anchor of '']''<br />with ] | years=2006–2011}}
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{{Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Game Show Host}} {{Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Game Show Host}}
{{60 Minutes}}
{{Portalbar|Journalism|Biography|United States}} {{Portalbar|Journalism|Biography|United States}}
{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}
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Latest revision as of 00:54, 16 November 2024

American broadcast journalist and television personality (born 1953)

Meredith Vieira
Meredith Vieira hosting NBC's Today in 2010
BornMeredith Louise Vieira
(1953-12-30) December 30, 1953 (age 70)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Alma materTufts University
Occupations
  • Broadcast journalist
  • television host
Years active1975–present
Television
Spouse Richard M. Cohen ​(m. 1986)​
Children3

Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show The View (1997–2006), the original host of the syndicated daytime version of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2002–2013), and as co-host of the NBC morning news program Today (2006–2011). As of 2019, she hosts the syndicated weekday game show 25 Words or Less.

Vieira has also been a contributor to Dateline NBC, Rock Center with Brian Williams, and NBC Nightly News, and hosted the Lifetime television series Intimate Portrait (1994–2005). From 2014 to 2016, she hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show, The Meredith Vieira Show.

Early life

Vieira was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and raised in nearby East Providence, the daughter of Mary Elsie (Rosa), a homemaker, and Edwin Vieira, a medical doctor, both first-generation Portuguese Americans. She is the youngest of four children, with three older brothers. All four of Vieira's grandparents came from the Azores—three from Faial Island, one of the nine islands in the archipelago. The family name Vieira means "scallop" in Portuguese. They emigrated to New England in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, settling around Providence, Rhode Island. Vieira was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but she has stated in recent interviews that she has "spirituality, not a religion".

Vieira attended the Lincoln School, a Quaker all-girls school in Providence, graduating in 1971. She graduated with a degree in English from Tufts University in 1975.

Career

Beginnings on radio and local TV (1975–1982)

Vieira began her broadcasting career in 1975 as a news announcer for WORC radio in Worcester, Massachusetts, doing afternoon-drive news during the B. J. Dean Show. She began a career in television working as a local reporter and anchor at WJAR-TV in Providence, eventually making her way into the newsroom at WCBS-TV in New York City where she was an investigative reporter from 1979 to 1982.

CBS News (1982–1993)

Vieira first gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in its Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including West 57th (1985–89) and 60 Minutes (1989–91). Her final assignment at CBS was as co-anchor of the CBS Morning News (1992–93).

Move to ABC, Turning Point; Intimate Portrait; The View (1994–2006)

Vieira moved to ABC initially as one of six regular correspondents for the news-magazine show Turning Point (1994–99), and was also the host of the Lifetime Network's show Intimate Portrait, which debuted on January 3, 1995, and ran until August 28, 2004.

Vieira served as the original moderator and co-host of ABC's daytime talk show The View from its debut on August 11, 1997, until June 9, 2006. As moderator, she was responsible for opening and closing each of the show's live episodes, introducing "Hot Topics," guiding conversations, and breaking to commercials. On her final episode of The View, Vieira's co-hosts gave her a roast to commemorate her departure.

Vieira explained what led her to become The View's moderator in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, by making the following statement:

Once I realized I was a reporter who didn't want to report because it required a tremendous amount of travel, nobody was too interested in having me work for them. I had to reinvent myself.

In August 2006, Vieira told Time that she hasn't watched The View since she left the show, except the episode when Star Jones announced she was leaving. She said it was "very sad" what's happened to it: "I'm proud of the work we did there, but it's not a good time in the history of the show... It's hard to watch. It sort of became a joke." On August 29, 2006, Vieira told the New York Post that she didn't mean that The View was a joke. She said the interview was taken out of context. "I felt that the media was turning into a joke, not that the show was a joke," she says. Time added a clarification to its website, saying " assures Time that in no way were her comments meant to be insensitive or derogatory..."

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2002–2013)

Vieira became the first host of the American syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on September 16, 2002; prior to that, American audiences had known it as a primetime show on ABC hosted by Regis Philbin. Rosie O'Donnell (who would later succeed Vieira on The View) was originally offered to host the syndicated version, but rejected it almost immediately. Vieira won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host for her hosting duties on Millionaire (one in 2005, the other in 2009); as such, she is the second woman ever to win an Emmy Award in this category (after Betty White for Just Men! in 1983), and the first to win multiple times. In addition to hosting the show, Vieira also served as its co-executive producer, a title that she would hold from 2005 until her departure from the show.

ABC originally offered Vieira hosting duties on the syndicated Millionaire to sweeten one of her re-negotiations for The View. When the show was honored by GSN on its 2007 Gameshow Hall of Fame special, one of the show's executive producers, Leigh Hampton, said that when the syndicated version was being developed, the production team felt that it was not feasible for Philbin to continue hosting, as the show recorded four episodes in a single day, and that the team was looking for qualities in a new host: it had to be somebody who would love the contestants and be willing to root for them. After O'Donnell declined the opportunity to host the syndicated version, Vieira was the one that the team settled on, because she had the above-mentioned qualities. On the special, Vieira herself gave the following explanation for why she decided to host the syndicated Millionaire:

I did the show because I fell in love with the show, and really, first and foremost, as a parent, there aren't that many shows on television that you can watch as a family. And when Michael Davies approached me and said, "Would you be interested in hosting the syndicated version?", I said, "Just point me toward the contract! I am so there!"

Prior to hosting the syndicated version of Millionaire, Vieira was a celebrity contestant in a special tournament on the third season of the original primetime version, winning $250,000 for her selected charitable organization, the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund. Seven and three-quarter years later, she would even turn the tables on Philbin himself with her surprise appearance on the finale of the show's 10th anniversary primetime revival on August 23, 2009—hosting its final segment while giving him the opportunity to answer one question in order to win $50,000 for his selected organization, Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.

On January 10, 2013, Vieira announced that after eleven seasons with the syndicated Millionaire, throughout which she had hosted more than 1,800 episodes and offered a vast multitude of contestants a combined total of over $70,000,000, she would be leaving the show as part of an effort to focus on other projects in her career. She finalized taping of her last episodes with the show in November 2012.

Today and The Meredith Vieira Show (2006–2016)

Vieira with Michael Bublé

Vieira accepted an offer to succeed Katie Couric as co-anchor of Today on April 6, 2006, the day after Couric announced that she would depart the show to become anchor of the CBS Evening News. The following day, Vieira announced on The View that she would be leaving the show to be co-anchor of Today, a role that The View co-host and ABC News journalist Barbara Walters had filled nearly four decades earlier during her tenure at NBC during the 1960s and 1970s. Vieira was replaced as the moderator of The View by Rosie O'Donnell. Vieira hosted the show with Matt Lauer from September 13, 2006, through June 8, 2011, also becoming a contributing anchor for Dateline NBC.

Vieira continued as host of Millionaire while appearing on Today. As part of her contract with Millionaire, Vieira agreed not to appear on Today during hours that would conflict with the airing of the game show on competing stations. As a result, she rarely appeared on the third or fourth hours of Today. Her first appearance during the third hour came on June 25, 2008, for "Today Throws a Wedding". She also appeared during the entire third hour during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Barack Obama inauguration on January 20, 2009.

Vieira announced on May 9, 2011, that she would depart as co-host in the following month, but would remain with Today in the role of special correspondent. Her last appearance as regular co-host was on June 8; she returned to the show for the Halloween broadcast on October 31, 2011, and again as special co-host with Matt Lauer in London, United Kingdom for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She has remained with NBC in a minimized role and became a contributor to Dateline NBC and a correspondent on Rock Center with Brian Williams. In January 2013, she filled in for Kathie Lee Gifford on the fourth hour of Today, appearing alongside Hoda Kotb, and she reported the story Inconceivable on Dateline NBC.

Vieira was one of the hosts for NBC's coverage of the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She and co-host Matt Lauer were criticized for their NBC coverage of the opening ceremony. Vieira also provided some Today Olympics coverage during the games. Vieira co-hosted the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics with Matt Lauer, and was slated to provide coverage during the two weeks of the games. On February 14, 2014, she became the first woman to solo anchor NBC's Olympics prime time coverage, alternated with Lauer while covering for an ailing Bob Costas.

In July 2013, Vieira announced that she would begin hosting her own syndicated afternoon daytime talk show, The Meredith Vieira Show, starting in September 2014, produced by NBCUniversal Television Distribution. On January 4, 2016, it was announced that the show would be ending after two seasons. The talk show aired from September 8, 2014 to May 20, 2016 and ended with 290 episodes.

Vieira guest anchored Today with Hoda & Jenna for a few episodes in 2019, due to host Hoda Kotb being on maternity leave.

Other television work

In May 2018, Vieira co-hosted Royal Wedding Watch with Matt Baker, PBS's weeklong coverage of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

25 Words or Less (2019–present)

Vieira returned to daytime TV in the fall of 2019 as host of the syndicated game show 25 Words or Less from Fox Television Stations. Based on a board game, the show pairs contestants with celebrities in an effort to guess a list of five words using less than 25 words in total.

Personal life

Vieira married CBS News journalist Richard M. Cohen on June 14, 1986. They live in Irvington, Westchester County, New York. Cohen has had multiple sclerosis since he was 25 years old, and has had two bouts of colon cancer, one in 1999 and one a year later. Vieira and Cohen have three children; their younger son, Gabe Cohen, is a reporter for CNN based out of their Washington, D.C. bureau.

Balancing family and career

Vieira joined 60 Minutes in 1989, following the birth of her first child. Don Hewitt, executive producer of 60 Minutes, allowed her to work part-time for two seasons so she could care for her child. After that, it was arranged that she would work full-time. But after two years, she became pregnant again and asked to continue the part-time arrangement. Hewitt declined her request, firing her, and deciding instead to hire someone who would work full-time. Her departure from the show garnered headlines, as a national debate started to take place about whether women could balance both family and career. She turned down opportunities to co-host ABC's Good Morning America and CBS's The Early Show when her children were young.

Vieira discusses her family and career decisions in the book Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women by Elsa Walsh.

Career timeline

Other notable appearances

See also

References

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  29. Petski, Denise (May 19, 2018). "How To Watch The Royal Wedding Of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle On TV". Deadline. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  30. Carras, Christi (May 19, 2018). "How to Watch the Royal Wedding". Variety. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
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  32. "Six Great Writers". Larry King Live (transcript; interview with Larry King). CNN. February 22, 2004. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
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  35. Goldberg, Alan B. "Meredith Vieira talks about husband's MS, cancer battles". Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved June 7, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), ABC 7 Chicago, February 2, 2004.
  36. "Meredith Vieira Is Moved to Tears After Mystery Guest Delivers Mother's Day Surprise—Watch the Emotional Clip". EOnline.com. May 10, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  37. Belkin, Lisa (August 13, 2006). "Meredith Vieira: Her Morning Shift". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
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  39. Jones, Kent (April 2003). "Meredith Vieira Will Sing, Dance and Act in Millie". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  40. Mauney, Matt (July 8, 2015). "Disney releases partial Candlelight Processional lineup". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  41. Bevil, Dewayne (October 25, 2016). "Epcot: More narrators for Candlelight Processional set". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 13, 2016.

External links

Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host
In 2023, the category was moved to the Primetime Emmy Awards as Outstanding Host for a Game Show.
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