It’s hard being the new kid at school – the harder you try to fit in with the cool kids, the more likely you are to eat alone at lunch.
It’s a class Nine newbie Samantha Legertage seems destined to learn the hard way after embarking on something of a media blitz to boast about joining the network – and its breakfast show Today – this summer.
Sure, the fill-in hosting gig lasts a little over a week while they are regular presenters Karl Stefanović And Sarah Ab are on holiday and it was all smiles on the set.
But Inside Mail hears that there is already dissatisfaction behind the scenes about her appointment – and the associated commotion – within Nine.
Network insiders say there was a strong feeling on the Today show that the broadcaster should promote the programme’s existing reserves over the summer rather than focus on the interim presenter.
That’s not to say it’s Sam’s fault: some TV types just don’t work or mesh well with others, especially when it comes to sharing the spotlight with such a loud personality.
And of course we hear that their biggest fear is: ‘What if she scores?’
There was nothing but laughter on the Today show following revelations that Samantha Armytage will help host the program this summer
Armytage had a successful nearly ten-year stint 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 fill in while regular hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo are on vacation
After all, Armytage enjoyed a huge fan base during her successful nearly decade-long run as frontman of Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise, with David Koch.
If she manages to attract a similarly devoted audience at Nine, will the network’s executives be tempted to pair her with Stefanovic when the viewing season kicks off next year?
We can see why they’re nervous.
Meanwhile, the reaction at Sunrise, Armytage’s alma mater, was a bit more collegial, but only if we judge these things on a bell curve.
“Sam a member today?” one employee yawned when contacted by Inside Mail. ‘It’s a bit predictable… but mostly boring.’
Boring? Predictable? Oh, come on!
They clearly didn’t ‘take’ all the game Plato And Heraclitus sex jokes in Armytage’s sniveling Sunday Telegraph column this weekend.
But again: who did that?
- Read the full INSIDE MAIL column by Steve Jackson and Peter van Onselen tomorrow