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When the announcement came last spring that not only would there be a fourth hour of the Today show, but that Kathie Lee Gifford would be joining Hoda Kotb as co-host, you could almost hear a collective groan rumble throughout tv land.

Within just a few feet of where I stood that day alone, I heard comments ranging from "What are they thinking?" to "oh great, who's going to want to watch that".. and "well, that's an interesting choice and certainly not I expected".

Well, who did we expect?  After 3 hours of morning news and fluff, who would possibly keep or draw in more of the target audience, women 25-54 years old?  They are the key demo advertisers, news and programming are all trying to reach.

“I am excited to welcome Kathie Lee to TODAY,” said TODAY show executive producer Jim Bell  “She is a morning television icon and is on a short list of personalities known by her first name alone. We are looking forward to her signature warmth and sense of humor in the fourth hour. Her addition to the TODAY family makes us stronger than ever, and she and Hoda will continue the TODAY tradition of smart, topical and fun morning television.”

Is the fourth hour of 'news' each day all that and more?  Depends on who you ask.  But I find it interesting that more of the skeptics seem to be saying, and frequently.. "hey, check out the makeover!" or "what are they doing?".  "You've got to see this", or "did you hear what KL just said?"  Which means, NBC's move is working.  Or, is it? 

Kathie Lee seems to have fallen back into her old role quite nicely.  Plus its my lead in at eleven.  So check it out because it seems love her or hate her, she and Hoda are apparently good for the water cooler.  If not more great skits on SNL.