Former Speaker Newt Gingrich appeared on NBC’s Today show this morning, where he told Ann Curry that, if Nancy Pelosi knows something about him that would keep him from becoming president, she should simply “spit it out.”

On the heels of last night’s news that his ex-wife Marianne would be sitting down for a revealing (and damning) interview about him, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich spoke with Today co-host Ann Curry Thursday morning.

Today’s Matt Lauer put author Jodi Kantor on the heat seat Monday morning over her controversial new book, The Obamas, which claims — among other things — that there are tensions between White House staff and the First Lady.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney — long seen as the “candidate to beat,” the one constant as his rivals take their turns rising and inevitably falling in the polls — is regarding the Iowa caucuses with just a smidge of trepidation. In a segment taped yesterday in Des Moines, Romney told the Today show’s Savannah Guthrie that he’s hoping for 25 percent of the vote, at best.

Among other things, the Holiday season means end-of-the-year gift giving, and as such, television viewers receive the gift of promotional appearances from authors looking to hawk their recently penned tomes. Take for example Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, who this morning appeared in enemy territory to sell his recent biography Killing Lincoln on NBC News’ Today Show. This appearance wasn’t all about pushing product, however, as O’Reilly shared his opinion on a number of GOP candidates and their chances on getting elected.

Isaiah Mustafa, the actor better known as The Old Spice Guy in the company’s ubiquitous commercials, surprised Matt Lauer today with a painting of the two of them…with a raccoon…and a giant gummi bear. The joke springs from a skit Lauer did for his “Where in the World?” trip in November, where he paid homage to the Old Spice commercials with several costume and scenery changes. So Mustafa recorded a video response to it, with him finishing a “noble friendship portrait” in a scarf and towel, reminding Lauer of all the fun they’ve had together, “from shark riding in San Jose to ride sharking in Jose San Lucas.”

As we first reported back in August, NBC has its eye on Ryan Seacrest to replace morning show veteran Matt Lauer as host of Today. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Today show executive producer Jim Bell, NBC News president Steve Capus and Lauren Kapp, NBC News’ senior vice president for marketing and communications, met with Seacrest Tuesday evening to discuss bringing him onto the show…

It’s Barney Frank O’clock, kitties! The Massachusetts congressman, who recently announced his plans to retire after he completes his current term, dealt Today show host Savannah Guthrie a healthy helping of sarcasm after taking issue with her questions and comments. *rubs hands together* Here we go.

On Wednesday morning’s Today show, comic legend Bill Cosby appeared in a daze as appeared on deck for an interview. Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb announced the comedian was “in the house” but apparently the comedian was caught in deep thought, or perhaps a daydream, as producers zoomed in on the comedian’s face.

The Ruth Madoff explanation tour continued today with a nearly 20 minutes on the set of the Today show this morning alongside son Andrew Madoff and his fiance. Matt Lauer served as interviewer and challenged Madoff over her recent claim in her recent 60 Minutes interview that she and her husband had attempted suicide by talking a number of pills. A NY Mag report suggested that Bernie Madoff refuted that claim, though Laure revealed that he later personally told him that it was true.

In a heated interview, Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Today‘s Ann Curry today on the defeat of the jobs bill in the Senate. “The president’s jobs bill didn’t even get unanimous vote from Senate Democrats. Why didn’t the president roll up his sleeves months ago and line by line address this issue for the need for jobs to create a bill that both parties could support?” Curry asked. “The president’s jobs bill didn’t even get unanimous vote from Senate Democrats. Why didn’t the president roll up his sleeves months ago and line by line address this issue for the need for jobs to create a bill that both parties could support?” Curry asked. “Hey, he not only rolled up his sleeves; we rolled up our sleeves, our pant legs, we were in our gym shorts working like the devil. They’ve made it real clear that under no circumstances are they prepared to pay for anything that we need to do now so we don’t raise the debt further in order to help people have jobs.”

If not in the news then be on the news, you know? Next week the television’s first family, the Kardashians, are taking their first swing at primetime, Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner, Khloe, Kourtney and of course Kim each having a turn as Hoda Kotb‘s <em>Today</em> co-host. Whether or not they should be being no matter, the Kardashians can really do anything!

Former Vice President Dick Cheney is, much to the prolonged chagrin of Chris Hayes, continuing on his media blitz in promotion of his memoir. That included a visit to Today, where Cheney told host Matt Lauer that, despite what detractors might say, the war in Iraq was “sound policy.” Lauer kicked things off with a very odd question: Does Cheney think there’s something about his demeanor that has people calling him “divisive”? (The correct response is: “Huh?”) Things became more interesting from there.

Judge solely by the amount of attention she has received this week, it’s fair to say that Tea Party darling and aspiring media figure Christine O’Donnell has been successful at promoting her new book Troublemaker. But if you draw a distinction between the quantity and quality of media attention, well then perhaps its a different story all together. This morning O’Donnell showed up on NBC’s TODAY and was fairly interrogated by Savannah Guthrie who questioned O’Donnell’s previous explanations for why exactly she walked off of the set of Piers Morgan Tonight earlier in the week.

Just a few months ago, reports surfaced that Today Show host Matt Lauer had had enough early morning TV work, and would be departing the show when his current contract came to an end. While NBC denied the report, rumors have persisted that not only is Lauer serious about leaving, but that NBC executives are reasonably (and quite seriously) considering possible replacements. Mediaite has learned that the top choice of certain key Comcast and NBC execs is American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

A Connecticut woman who lost her eyes, hands and most of her face in a horrific chimpanzee attack has revealed the results of a face transplant. Charla Nash, who was visiting a friend when the friend’s chimp charged and attacked her, survived the attack and underwent face transplant surgery in May. “I’m beginning to feel my jaw and chin,” she told TODAY. “And I can move my mouth and smile. I still feel weak. But little by little I’m getting stronger.”

In an exclusive, TODAY will reveal Charla Nash‘s new face for the first time. Nash, the Connecticut woman who was disfigured in a horrific chimp attack, underwent face transplant surgery. NBC News reports TODAY’s Ann Curry will debut post-surgery photos and video of Nash on Thursday morning’s show. Nash’s daughter Briana and brother Stephen will join Curry in studio to talk about how Nash is doing since the face transplant.

It’s been about a whole month since Bill O’Reilly picked a fight with a rapper, perhaps prompted by the fact that others have picked up the mantle. Among them is Laura Ingraham, who has been doing yeoman’s work in calling out Chris Brown for his corrosive influence on American culture. He and his friends (which he apparently has) have struck back, and in response O’Reilly extended an open invitation to Brown and 50 Cent to debate their stances.

Just before six o’clock ET, the American space shuttle program came to an emotional end, as Atlantis made a picture-perfect landing at the Kennedy Space Center. “Atlantis is home,” said NASA control. “Its journey complete. A moment to be savored.” The final flight’s mission wrapped with one final act–sending a small payload into orbit before returning to Florida. “Having fired the imagination of a generation, a ship like no other, its place in history secured. The space shuttle pulls into port for the last time, its voyage at an end.”

strong>Al Roker, weatherman, scholar and dancer, decided he’d attempt to recreate an iconic scene from Dirty Dancing with the help of actor Ryan Gosling. Roker tried, in vain, to get Ann Curry to dance, but she gave the impression that she’d rather have her teeth drilled than be carried through the air. We’re with you, Ann. Also, cute dress. Also, we’re going to be sure to follow your lead and somehow incorporate the phrase “gorgeous hunk of man candy” into conversation today.

He’s the guy many Americans know as the sweet and adorable British prime minister from romantic comedies, and now he’s the face of the U.K.’s outrage over the phone hacking scandal engulfing Rupert Murdoch‘s News Corp–Hugh Grant, who this morning told NBC’s Matt Lauer that one of the reasons the hacking of celebrities, politicians and others went on for years is that the government lived in fear of Murdoch’s power. “He had the power through his papers to get them elected, and his paper knew dirty details about individual MPs and so they were unwilling ever to take him on.”

Last night, Anderson Cooper again boldly defended the indefensible, putting “all those who dare to disparage Octomom Nadia Suleman” on his RidicuList (and for those of you who write for Washington-based blogs, before you write an outraged post about Coop, be advised: Cooper is being what we call sarcastic). At any rate, reflecting on Suleman’s recent visit to NBC’s TODAY, where her brood of 14 kids, including eight two year olds, wreaked havoc on the set, sending both Ann Curry and David Gregory into baby wrangling duty, Cooper suggests all you “haters” knock it down a notch.

Was it you? Were you the one who clicked that thumb around 8:23 Friday morning (during the show! synergy!) and became TODAY‘s 500,000th fan? Somebody did it, and NBC’s top-rated morning show is celebrating the social media milestone that few shows have hit. TODAY’s half a million fans outnumber those of other breakfast shows–twice the [...]

NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders, who’s covered the Casey Anthony story for three years, was outside the Orange County Jail this morning, telling viewers of TODAY that this could be the last full day and night in custody for Anthony, who faces sentencing tomorrow on lesser charges of lying to prosecutors and could–conceivably–be released for time served. “Had Casey been convicted of murder, she could have faced the death penalty,” said Sanders. “The judge could sentence Casey to four years, but with the time she’s already served, she could walk free.”

In his first public comments since the jury verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial, prosecutor Jeff Ashton told NBC’s Matt Lauer this morning that going into the courtroom–with jurors coming back after just eleven hours of deliberation–”we were feeling pretty good. We didn’t feel that a not guilty verdict in that short a period of time was realistic, but that’s the jury system.” Ashton, whose work in delivering an emotional and powerful closing statement in the case was hailed by commentators, admits he was “shocked” by the jury’s not guilty verdict.