With tearful goodbye, Curry leaves 'Today'

June 29, 2012 at 4:11AM

Ann Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, saying, "This is not as I expected to ever leave this couch." Her exit represents NBC's most visible response to the morning show's worst stretch in the ratings in nearly 20 years. "Today" hadn't lost a single week since 1996, but this spring it was beaten four times by ABC's "Good Morning America."

Curry's exit marked a stark contrast to the tribute shows given to predecessors Meredith Vieira and Katie Couric. She announced it during the final five minutes of her shift, ending a week of awkward television as she continued working after word spread that NBC was looking to oust her. "For all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I'm sorry I couldn't carry the ball over the finish line but, man, I did try," she said, breaking down.

Curry joined the show as a news anchor in 1997. Passed over for the co-host job when Vieira replaced Couric, she was given the chance when Vieira left last June. But her pairing with co-host Matt Lauer never seemed to click and she took the fall for the show's ratings troubles. Savannah Guthrie is expected to replace Curry.

Curry will remain at NBC News, saying she's been given a "fancy new title" to lead a reporting team. NBC said she will be anchor-at-large and that she will be in London with the show for the Olympics. "To all of you watching, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me touch yours," she said.

'I'M THE LUCKIEST GUY': Ben Affleck is managing to live a relatively private life in the fishbowl of Hollywood. He's no longer tailed daily by the paparazzi, as he was when he dated Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004. The paparazzi weren't going to change their ways, so Affleck changed his life. He married Jennifer Garner, had three kids, and cut down his "compulsive" work schedule. But not entirely: Affleck was in Washington recently to raise awareness for his Eastern Congo Initiative to reduce the child mortality rate in the region. "I feel like I have a chance to do the most exciting stuff that I've done in my career," he said. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

DIRECT TO FANS: After selling a comedy special directly to fans, Louis C.K. is taking the same approach to his tour. The comedian said he'll charge a flat, no-fee rate of $45 to all of the shows on a 39-city tour he kicks off in October. Tickets are available only through louisck.com. "I'm trying something new, building on the fun, success and fan-benefit of selling my content online," he said. His FX show "Louie" debuted its third season Thursday.

RECOVERING: Rapper-actor 50 Cent is out of the hospital after being injured in a car accident in New York on Tuesday, his rep said. The rep says 50 Cent was treated for "minor neck and back injuries" and is now "doing fine." Bruce Miller, who was driving the car, was also injured and has been released from the hospital. Photos of the 36-year-old on a stretcher were posted on his website www.ThisIs50.com. The Grammy winner, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, appeared in a neck brace.

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