It’s hard to be the new kid at school: the more you try to fit in with the cool kids, the more likely you are to end up eating alone at lunch.
It’s a lesson Nine rookie Samantha Armytage seems destined to learn the hard way after embarking on something of a media blitz to boast that she will be joining the network (and its Today breakfast show) over the summer.
Of course, the substitute presenter job is for just over a week, while the regular presenters Karl Stefanovic and Sara Abo They are on vacation and it’s all smiles on set.
But Inside Mail learns that behind the scenes, there are already rumblings of discontent over his appointment (and the accompanying fanfare) within Nine.
Network insiders say there was a strong feeling at the Today show that the station should promote the show’s existing summer bookings rather than lavish attention on the interloping host.
That’s not to say it’s Sam’s fault: some types of television just don’t work or work well with others, especially when it comes to sharing the spotlight with such a boisterous personality.
And, of course, we hear that your biggest fear is, “What if she qualifies?”
It’s been all smiles on the Today show following revelations that Samantha Armytage will help host the show over the summer.
Armytage had a successful nearly decade-long career fronting Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise with David Koch before being replaced by Natalie Barr.
However, behind the scenes there are internal rumors about Armytage’s appointment.
Armytage will help out while regular hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo are on vacation
After all, Armytage enjoyed a huge fan base during his successful almost decade-long run fronting Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise, with David Koh.
If she manages to attract a similarly dedicated crowd on Nine, will network executives be tempted to pair her with Stefanovic when the ratings season begins next year?
We can see why they are nervous.
Meanwhile, at Armytage’s alma mater, Sunrise, the reaction has been somewhat more collegial, but only if we grade these things on a bell curve.
‘Is Sam joining today?’ An employee yawned when approached by Inside Mail. “It’s kind of predictable… but mostly boring.”
Bored? Foreseeable? Come on, come on!
Obviously they didn’t ‘get’ everything wild Plato and Heraclitus Sexual “jokes” in Armytage’s harrowing Sunday Telegraph column over the weekend.
But of course, who did it?
- Read Steve Jackson and Peter van Onselen’s full INSIDE MAIL column tomorrow