GMA Trounces Today Show In Savannah Guthrie's Debut
July 10 2012, Published 12:00 p.m. ET
Looks like Ann Curry got the last laugh.
ABC's Good Morning America spoiled Savannah Guthrie's Today show debut Monday, beating its NBC rival by a margin of 4.425 million total viewers to 4.069 million.
Guthrie's debut was down more than half a million viewers from the 4.604 Today earned in former host Ann Curry's final week. GMA racked up 6,000 more viewers in the coveted 25-to-52-year-old demographic, as well.
Guthrie, who is NBC's chief legal analyst, took over for Curry after NBC's once-dominant morning juggernaut lost a 16-year lead over GMA earlier this year.
The 40-year-old Guthrie said of taking over: "This was a little unexpected, as we all know, but I just want to say that I'm so proud and honored to be in a place occupied by so many women I admire."
In her last Today broadcast, an emotional Curry told viewers, "I'm sorry I couldn't carry the ball to the finish line, but man, I did try."
ABC was also buoyed Monday by the successful debut of summer spin-off Good Afternoon America.
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