‘He should be put back on the Today show’: Industry support for Karl Stefanovic grows as This Time Next Year proves ‘the public still likes him’
For more than two years, Karl Stefanovic was rarely mentioned in the press without the prefix ’embattled Today host’.
But eight months after being sacked from Channel Nine’s breakfast show, industry support for Karl is growing at a rapid rate.
TV insider Rob McKnight told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that he reckons Karl ‘should be put back on Today’ – although Channel Nine has no plans to do so.
‘Everyone says he should return to the Today show’: Industry support for Karl Stefanovic is growing as This Time Next Year proves ‘the public still likes him’
McKnight, a former Studio 10 executive producer and editor of industry website TV Blackbox, added that the public ‘still likes Karl’ despite the negative headlines.
The ratings for Karl’s prime time show, This Time Next Year, also prove his popularity.
‘This Time Next Year actually beat Australia’s Got Talent which aired in an earlier timeslot [on Tuesday night], so that is quite impressive,’ said McKnight.
‘I would think it did well enough that Nine would consider another series. Going up against Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention? was always a big ask, as it has become one of the biggest shows on TV, so all in all I think Karl’s show did well.’
Verdict: TV insider Rob McKnight told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that he reckons Karl ‘should be put back on Today’ – although Channel Nine has no plans to do so
McKnight added that there is a discrepancy between how Karl is portrayed in the media and how he’s seen by members of the public.
‘It seems to me the media are just wanting Karl to fail,’ he said.
‘From what I can tell, the audience still like Karl and if he did go back to the Today show – and there’s nothing to suggest he will be going back – I still think it would be the comeback story of the year and audiences would embrace it.
‘Don’t always believe the media bubble when it comes to who’s hot and who’s not with actual viewers.’
McKnight concluded: ‘Everyone knows I think Karl should be put back on the Today show, I’ve said it very loudly from day one.’
‘Don’t always believe the media bubble’: McKnight (pictured) said there is a discrepancy between how Karl is portrayed in the media and how he’s seen by members of the public
Karl fell out of favour with Channel Nine last year and was sacked as host of the Today show in December, with executives blaming his personal life for falling ratings.
He came under scrutiny following his split from ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn and, in the months leading up to his departure from Today, he found himself caught in a whirlwind of bad publicity due to his relationship with now-wife Jasmine Yarbrough.
After taking an extended break from the public eye to focus on himself, Karl is back on screens as host of This Time Next Year season two.
Boned: Karl fell out of favour with Channel Nine last year and was sacked as host of the Today show in December, with executives blaming his personal life for falling ratings