Meredith Vieira looking to leave ‘Today,’ says friend

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

First we heard about Katie Couric exiting the “CBS Evening News,” and now comes word Couric’s “Today” successor, Meredith Vieira, wants out of her co-anchor slot on the long-running morning show when her contract is up in September.

According to one of Vieira’s longtime close friends, “this is mostly about her husband and her family — though Meredith has never made a secret about how that early morning schedule is not something she wants to do at this stage of her life.”

Vieira’s husband, Richard Cohen — “whom she absolutely adores,” said the source — has long battled multiple sclerosis and cancer, and it’s thought Vieira understandably feels this is a time when she should be spending the maximum amount of time with him.

“Meredith loves the news and loves everyone at ‘Today,’ but she clearly feels family trumps career at this point,” the source said.

Neither NBC nor Vieira would comment on the rumors, first reported by TV Guide, beyond a network statement released Wednesday stressing “the ‘Today’ show anchors are under contract and firmly in place.”

Last October, Vieira told the Ladies Home Journal, “I’ll know when it’s time to go, and I’m not afraid to go. … I wouldn’t jump into another show. I would look forward to not working, to traveling with Richard and carving out time for us.”

† Discussion about Vieira’s successor has focused on “Today” newsreader and veteran show mainstay Ann Curry, the show’s third hour anchor Natalie Morales and CNBC’s Erin Burnett.

† Now that “Entertainment Tonight” is reporting Matt Lauer plans to leave when his “Today” deal ends Dec. 31, 2012, speculation has begun about his replacement, with Willie Geist of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” frequently mentioned.

COURT DOCKET: Chicago Bear Brandon Manumaleuna has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking to recover the $27,000-plus he shelled out to an L.A. car customizing shop that Manumaleuna claims merely took his cash and did nothing.

According to TMZ, 310 Motoring is charged with failing to customize the NFL player’s Bentley.

ROLLING INTO TOWN: The one and only Whoopi Goldberg hits town Saturday for the opening of “White Noise,” which she’s producing at the Royal George Theatre on Halsted. Given she doesn’t fly, “The View” co-host will zip in and out of town via her private bus.

† Goldberg certainly has a lot on her plate these days. Along with producing “White Noise,” she’s producing a Broadway musical based on her “Sister Act” flicks — and is slated to direct a documentary about groundbreaking African-American comic Moms Mabley. The Oscar winner also may revive her one-woman “Moms” show about Mabley for a possible Off-Broadway gig.

LOL: Comedian Dean Edwards, who spent two seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” will be on deck at all three local Zanies clubs April 13-16. Well known for his impressions of Don Cheadle, Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington and Wayne Brady, Edwards is a frequent guest on the late-night talk show circuit.

WHAT A DOLL! I’m hearing that Miley Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, is “crazy angry” about a blow-up sex doll — marketed as “Finally, Mylie!”

According to a key member of Papa Cyrus’ team, the country crooner and key player in his daughter’s superstar career “went ballistic” when he heard about the doll — featuring a Miley look-alike on the box’s cover, and a promotional tagline about the doll’s, uh, “anatomy” that spoofs his famous “Achy Breaky Heart” hit.

Yes, legal action from the Cyrus clan is expected.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: Jewelry designer Paloma Picasso — daughter of modern art icon Pablo Picasso — toured the Museum of Contemporary Art with MCA chief curator Michael Darling, spending lots of time in the Jim Nutt exhibition, while here promoting her new collection for Tiffany. … Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano tested whether some of his visiting family members from Venezuela had a fear of heights by taking them up to “The Ledge” atop Willis Tower the other day. … When Stanley Cup champ Patrick Kane heard a group of big Hawks fans were at a private event upstairs at Harry Caray’s, he decided to surprise them — popping into the party and thrilling all by posing for photos and signing autographs. … Actor and funnyman David Koechner got his red meat fix at Gibsons Rush Street steakery. … While here promoting her new memoir, soap opera queen Susan Lucci dined at La Sorella di Francesca in Naperville.

Bill Zwecker reports on “Good Day Chicago” and “Fox Chicago News at 9” on WFLD-Channel 32.