Ann Curry's Greatest Gaffes and Funny 'Today' Moments

By Scott Harris Posted May 30th 2010 12:32PM

It's happened to everyone: You're at a party and you meet two people with the same name and next thing you know, you've gone and mistaken one for the other. Man, it's just mortifying, right? Well, that's pretty much what happened to 'Today' news anchor Ann Curry earlier this month, except instead of people, she confused two entirely different American universities that happened to both be named Wheaton. And it wasn't at a party -- it was at one of their commencements. Where she was the featured speaker.

Awkward.

But then again, that's nothing new for Curry, who has humbly turned awkwardness into an art form over the past decade on NBC's morning show. From her charmingly distracted reading of the news to her frequent off-the-cuff comments during live segments, Curry adds a special brand of unpredictability to the AM hours. After the jump, a look at her most, um, interesting moments.

In light of her most recent headline-grabbing gaffe, then, we thought we'd take a brief look back at some of our favorite Ann Curry moments, big and small. Because doing the news isn't easy, folks. And Ann Curry is here to prove it.

• Woe Is Wheaton Before we get into the vintage Curry goodness, we figured it was best to start off with the aforementioned Wheaton gaffe. While speaking at the Massachusetts Wheaton, Curry name-checked alumni from the Illinois Wheaton. Following the flub, she said: "I am mortified by my mistake, and can only hope the purity of my motive, to find a way to connect with the graduates and to encourage them to a life of service, will allow you to forgive me."

• Where Is Illinois, Anyway? You knew it would eventually happen: A network splurges on one of those crazy touch-sensitive green-screen wall maps only to have their anchor flub basic geography. But hey, we're sure Curry isn't the first person to misplace the entire state of Illinois.

• I Might Need Two After this inspirational story about a grandma who used the cellphone in her bra to call the cops after a thief swiped her purse, Al Roker decided to make a joke about the woman setting her phone to vibrate. Curry turned what could have been an awkward comment into, well, a really awkward comment when she decided that one bra-mounted massage device wouldn't quite do the job for her.

• At It Again Of course, Curry really made her name not with breast-related gaffes but rather with her penchant for bumbling and stumbling over her words during the most basic part of an anchor's job: reading the news. Here's the gang at 'The Soup' weighing in on some classic Curry dialogue.

• Sweeeet Okay, this is basically just one second of Curry squeaking like a chew toy caught in a lawn mower, but we just love it. Can we get this as a ring tone, NBC? Once we take our bra-phones off vibrate, that is.

• Ann Isn't Alone We don't want to give the impression that Curry is dragging down the quality and professionalism of 'Today,' of course. Because she isn't. In fact, as this gag reel shows, she fits right in on the show where mistakes are a way of life.

• Tenth Ann-iversary All joking aside, we love Ann Curry, so we thought we should end our tongue-in-cheek tribute with this clip from her tenth anniversary on 'Today,' which includes one of her all-time great moments: her live sky dive right into a random family's front yard. Keep up the good work, Ann, we're counting on you.

Tags: ann curry

Comments

(122)

Sunday 30 May

By momjest1

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Ann Curry...beautiful inside and out!

By j

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wow , it must be a slow news day . This twits mug has been on here all day long

By kim

Ann Curry IS the Today show.

Tuesday 01 June

By ronniusa

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OMG.. WHO GIVES A RATS A@@. WHAT IDIOT IS PUTTING HER ON A PEDESTAL. I am FLOORED at anyone giving a CRAP. She is NO BODY... JUST A PERSON and SHE IS STANDING IN HER OWN CRAP FOR NOT DOING HER OWN HOMEWORK... AS A PERSON IN HER POSITION SHE SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD... SHUT UP ANN CURRY... TAKE YOUR LICKS AND GO AWAY

SERVES HER RIGHT FOR TRYING TO NAME DROP - YOU GOT WHAT YOU DESERVED.

By Nicole A.

She is an incredible woman with such a big heart :)

By MAC

The media is covering her stupidity by putting a 'spin' on it. It was a stupid mistake, especially for a reporter who is supposed to be keen on getting facts correct. If that's missing where's the worth in the reporter...?
MAC

By Smitty

Funny, years of newscasting and thats all ya got? Just shows the true professionalism in this beautiful lady.

By Kathi

Just love Ann Curry. Her content of her heartfelt speech to this year's graduates had far greater value than naming past graduates. Hopefully, that is what the graduates took away from it.

By janie

The postive result of her mistake was that now many more soon-to-be graduates will hear her speech. It was definately inspiring regardless of where she made it!

By marian

wouldn't watch curry and miss Fox News channel

By caradv

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So why did you bother to read this article?

By Brian Workman

"Big Deal!" "Old News!" Move On!!!

By Nancy

Ann Curry is one of the worst on news television. She's constantly making mistakes, and she's extremely irritating in her interview style. Get rid of her and I predict your ratings will improve.

By Bill

Nancy? Are you psychic, or merely a professional critic. I wish that someone would follow You around for a day, and would videotape You every time You misspeak....

By SMitty

Nancy, is someone jealous now...? Dont hate her because she is so beautiful.

By Ron Loves Kathy

Ann has a genuine heart, guess she'll always be known as another human like most of us with a genuine heart!

By davidjspuria

Funny, how Gretchen Carlson never gets profiled. She's hands down the best ever female morning host.

By Jim

Ann your Great

By Pual

Please, she is great, sincere, true and intelligent. You never make mistakes? She carries it well and can laugh at herself...the most important of traits. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman who I never get tired of watching. You go girl. Stay true to yourself and don't ever be ashamed to make a mistake, because you will always learn from that mistake and ultimately be better as proven in your humanity and proffessional success, be a better person.

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