Megyn Kelly became one of the most controversial figures during the 2016 election.
When she made the announcement she was moving to NBC, pundits hailed it as a major move.
But her decision has created one major problem.
When Kelly jumped to NBC, she was promised a daytime talk show, a Sunday night news magazine, and a role on the network’s breaking news coverage.
But months after joining NBC, and still no start date for any of her programs has been announced.
Celebrity Insider reported:
“Kelly is not thrilled by her quiet rollout.”
“She was promised fireworks and a huge advertising campaign around her debut,” the person shared. “Now it doesn’t even look like she will be getting a weekday show until the end of the year. They have managed to piss off everyone!”
If Kelly is not getting a daytime talk show until the end of the year, her Sunday night news magazine program may not debut until 2018.
That’s because NBC televises Sunday Night Football from September through the playoffs in January.
Sunday Night Football is the highest rated show on television.
It’s also preceded by a one hour pre-game show.
There is no room on the network lineup for Kelly’s Sunday night program until the middle of January 2018.
This could throw a monkey wrench in NBC’s big plans for Kelly.
Out of sight and out of mind could become a problem.
She has not been on television since the first week of January.
That would mean by the time she gets a regular show on NBC, it would be almost one full year from the last time she regularly hosted a television program.
Kelly’s arrival also rubbed many at NBC the wrong way.
The peacock network canceled the popular “Today Talk” 9am show that was hosted by Al Roker and Tamron Hall in order to make room for Kelly.
It’s also causing tension with the staffers and hosts of the 10am show.
Celebrity Insider reported:
A source said staffers are confused, and they do not know if they will keep their jobs if Kelly decides she wants to hire fresh faces.
According to Radar: “It is a mess and causing massive internal drama. The staff at the Today Show’s 9 and 10am hour do not know if they should be looking for new jobs.”
Gifford and Kotb are among those left in the dark.
The Insider added: “Kathie Lee and Hoda have been kept in the dark about what is happening to their show and are livid. And now Megyn is pissed that she’s going to get a slow rollout starting with just a weekend show that no one cares about.”
Tucker Carlson took over Megyn Kelly’s 9pm slot on Fox News and is delivering higher ratings than she ever drew.
She may not be the bankable TV-star the network executives had originally thought.
And with a delayed rollout at NBC, as well as controversy behind the scenes, she may not be worth the price NBC paid to acquire her either.