‘You’ve Lost Me’ — Samantha Armytage’s Today Show Comeback Backfires Spectacularly After Savage Viewer Backlash
Fans were divided after the 49-year-old stepped back into the hosting seat to replace Sylvia Jeffreys.
Samantha Armytage is back hosting Today, and viewers are torn about whether they want to see her on the breakfast program permanently.
The 49-year-old has taken over from Sylvia Jeffreys, who has been one of several temporary fill-ins while Nine looks for a permanent replacement for Sarah Abo.
But some viewers told Yahoo Lifestyle that they “changed channels immediately” when they saw the Golden Bachelor host in the hot seat on Wednesday.
“Straight to Sunrise as soon as I saw her,” wrote one.
“If Sam is the replacement, it’s 7 for me,” added another.
“Sorry, Channel 9… but you’ve officially lost me as a viewer,” said a third.
Not everyone was opposed to her return to nationally telly, with some exclaiming “thank God” that she was back.
“I love when Sam hosts. No question really who the replacement should be. Sam’s alive, bubbly, and knows how it’s done right,” commented one supporter.
Others encouraged viewers to “give Sam a go” and let her have time to thrive.
The 49-year-old had a two-week stint on Today last month and was meant to return this Monday, but she fractured her ankle and had to delay her comeback to Wednesday.
Sam told Yahoo Lifestyle she thoroughly enjoyed being asked to fill in.
“It was fun…I love brekkie TV, I know how to do it. It’s nice to be asked,” she said.
As for whether she would do the job permanently while Sarah is on maternity leave, Sam said she hasn’t been asked yet.
A poll of more than 1,000 Yahoo Lifestyle readers found at the time of writing that 83 per cent did not want her in the hot seat long-term, with many preferring Sylvia instead.
Channel 9 has been rotating familiar and fresh faces in Sarah and Karl Stefanovic’s seats to see who resonates with audiences.
So far, the network has tested the likes of political reporter Charles Croucher, Sylvia, Melbourne presenter Tom Steinfort, Michael Willesee Jr, and Sam.
As the hunt for co-hosts continues, Today has been lagging in the ratings compared to rival Sunrise.
The Channel 7 show averaged 460,000 viewers last Monday to Friday, according to The Daily Telegraph, which pales in comparison to Today’s 292,000 people.