NBC May Lure an Old Hand to Steer ‘Today’ Show

Because of the holidays, everything is on hold at NBC News this week in the wake of the abrupt termination of negotiations with David Nuell to become senior executive producer of the “Today” show.

Latest speculation is that former “Today” show executive producer Steve Friedman could be lured back to the network in the role of a senior adviser for NBC News, keeping tabs not only on “Today” but also on Jane Pauley’s upcoming prime time project. (Pauley and Friedman are old pals, as are Friedman and “Today” executive producer Marty Ryan.)

This week, NBC News President Michael Gartner and his family are skiing in Colorado and News Senior Vice President Dick Ebersol--the boss of “Today”--is wearing his other big cap at the network as NBC Sports president, overseeing the production in Miami of the Orange Bowl game on New Year’s between No. 1 Colorado and No. 4 Notre Dame that could decide the national college football championship.

Friedman was noncommittal Wednesday when confronted with the rumor by phone in Manhattan. “No one has talked to me, but I’m here and they can talk to me if they want,” he said. “I’ve kept close to NBC ever since I left and see a lot of people there regularly. But my year off is just about up and who knows what might happen?”

Friedman left “Today” two years ago, after a spectacular run that restored the venerable NBC show to first place in the morning network race, to become the head man at GTG Entertainment’s “USA Today: The Television Show” for his old boss at NBC, Grant Tinker.

Friedman, with the giant Gannett Co.’s millions available, spared no expense in getting the program off the ground but the four-anchor, rapid-fire concept he came up with proved to be a tough sell with viewers and after three months, he was relieved with a settlement in the neighborhood of $1 million.

Meanwhile, Nuell and his lawyer are refusing further comment on the situation.