Vieira cracks teeth, has panic attacks, rocks ratings

April

First Meredith Vieira does an on-air faceplant last week, while filming an ice-skating segments with “Blades of Glory” star Will Ferrell. Then, according to her blog, she gets rushed by to the hospital by her daughter for a possible appendicitis. And then the Irvington resident finds out she’s got two cracked front teeth. Who can blame her for having a panic attack?

But according to an interview in the May issue of Ladies Home Journal, the Today host has actually be suffering from anxiety problems for a while now. “I think some times maybe the magnitude of life just sort of seeps into my brain … When I have a lot of anxiety . . . I can’t cross bridges. So I think a couple of times [my family] thought, ‘Oh my God, what’s the matter with her? She’s driving on the bridge saying she hates her job. You know. I hope she doesn’t make a quick right midstream.’”

Hmm, those bizarre dreams about being naked in a bunker with Diane Sawer are starting to make more and more sense.

The good news, though, is that anxiety and depression don’t translate to depressed ratings. We already kinda knew as much from Rosie O’Donnell View numbers, but according to the Post, the Today show’s Nielsen’s are looking good, too. Although ratings are down slightly for the morning program (as they are across the board, for all morning shows), Today has doubled the gap between it and its closest competitor, Good Morning America.

So take it easy, Meredith. Breath. You’ve got a lot to be proud of. (Except, of course, that minor dental problem.)

Meredith Today blogÃ‚Â

“Panic Attacks Vexing Vieira” [NY Post]

“Today Rules Without Katie” [NY Post]

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 at 9:15 am by Ted Mann.
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