The Today show is suffering poor ratings despite Georgie Gardner’s on-air chemistry with Karl Stefanovic.
On Sunday, Georgie, 46, seemed to admit she isn’t the best of friends with Nine’s multi million dollar man, but insisted good mates don’t always make good colleagues.
As she comes to terms with the fact they’re getting consistently beaten by rival Sunrise in viewership, she told Stellar on Sunday: ‘I’m trying to find my groove’.
‘I am trying to find my groove’: Georgie Gardner admits she isn’t the best of friends with Today co-host Karl Stefanovic… amid reports Nine ‘aren’t impressed’ with the show’s ratings
Georgie insisted the reports suggesting she initially turned down the gig were false, but conceded that she spent a very long time thinking about it.
‘I wanted to be absolutely sure I was ready, and that I was right for the network, and right for the show,’ she said.
Unless Today ever drops to a one-host system, the journalist may never get an answer to that hypothetical.
Wait and see: As she comes to terms with the fact they’re getting consistently beaten by rival Sunrise in viewership, she told Stellar on Sunday: ‘I’m trying to find my groove’
What’s abundantly clear, is that right now, viewers aren’t finding the overall product as compelling as Seven’s Sunrise.
Georgie didn’t directly acknowledge the show’s struggles to gain steam after Lisa Wilkinson’s shock exit last year – she’s just focused on meeting her potential.
‘I am not expecting to shoot the lights out straight away,’ she said, ‘I am trying to find my groove.’
Hit and miss: ‘I am not expecting to shoot the lights out straight away,’ she said – a task she’s trying to accomplish alongside divisive co-host Karl
The difference: ‘Good chemistry doesn’t necessarily equate to being best friends,’ she said
It’s a task she’s trying to accomplish alongside divisive co-host Karl – a man she said she doesn’t need to be friends with to make good television.
‘Good chemistry doesn’t necessarily equate to being best friends,’ she said.
The show was a formidable ratings opponent to Sunrise prior to Lisa’s departure.
In July last year entertainment reporter Peter Ford revealed Karl ‘rates poorly’ with female viewers following his separation with wife of 21-years Cassandra Thorburn.
After Georgie’s first week on Today this year, a source alleged to New Idea that Channel Nine ‘aren’t impressed’ with the show’s opening ratings.
Tuning out? Today’s ratings continue to slide despite Georgie’s addition to the breakfast panel