Meredith Vieira was born ...:
... December 30, 1953, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Mary Elsie and Edwin Vieira. She is married to Columbia University professor Richard Cohen. They have three children.
The Early Years :
Growing up in New England, Meredith stuck close to home when she chose to attend Tufts University near Boston. She graduated magna cum laude and took her first career step at WORC radio in Worcester, Mass. That led to a series of broadcast journalism jobs in Providence and at CBS' flagship station in New York City.
Her journalistic acumen propelled her to the network level, first as a correspondent for news-magazine shows, including 60 Minutes, and as a co-anchor of the CBS Morning News.
Becoming a talk show host:
Meredith left CBS for a position with a news-magazine show at ABC. After its cancellation, Meredith decided to redesign her career a bit, taking on the role of "moderator" on the fledgling morning talk show, The View in 1997. Teamed with her fellow co-hosts (Joy Behar, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos and Barbara Walters at the time), Meredith was tasked with opening and closing the show, as well as guiding conversations.
A key moment in her career:
Stepping back into the role of news anchor, when she accepted the position of co-host of The Today Show in 2006. Replacing Katie Couric, who became the anchor of the CBS Evening News, Meredith officially joined Today co-anchor Matt Lauer on Sept. 13, 2006.
What does the future hold?:
More success, most likely. Vieira seems like the perfect fit for The Today Show, bringing both the sensibilities of a journalist and the laid-back banter of a talk show host to a program that requires exactly that experience. Vieira's image is less perky than Couric's but that might aid the already No. 1 program, giving it added journalistic weight.
And Just For Fun :
- Plans to continue her Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hosting duties through the 2008 season. The once mega-popular show, hosted by Regis Philbin, continues in syndication.
- Will also continue to host Lifetime Channel’s Intimate Portrait, spotlighting the lives of remarkable and influential women.
- With her debut on Today, will have worked for all three major networks (CBS, ABC and NBC).
- Has the same birthday as co-host Matt Lauer.
- Is a seven-time Emmy Award winner.
