Nine is hunting for a replacement for Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo and the network’s outsider choice has not gone down well.
Michael Willesee Jr made his big TV comeback on the Today show on Monday morning, and viewers haven’t been thrilled at the new face.
Michael comes from an Aussie journalism dynasty and was a presenter in his own right on Sky News Australia for more than a decade in the 2000s and 2010s
Yahoo Lifestyle understands Channel 9 will rotate the Today lineup over the coming weeks as it seeks a permanent replacement for Karl Stefanovic.
The network is also seeking a temporary fill-in for Sarah Abo, who is now on maternity leave.
But viewers were united in their feelings for Michael.
“Where the F did they get the new guy from? Feel like I’m watching SBS,” said one.
“Who’s the new bloke? Not working for me,” added another.
“Officially made the switch to Sunrise now,” wrote a third.
“You have a long list of charismatic and engaging male presenters to choose from to cycle through the chair, so what have you done?” commented a fourth.
Some viewers didn’t mind the fresh face and hoped he would be more relaxed in future episodes.
“He’s great .. keep him,” wrote one fan.
“Good to see Micheal on the today show sounds so much like his father that would be perfect replacement for Karl,” added another.
In addition to presenting on Sky News, Michael has also worked with the Australian and US versions of A Current Affair, and has filed reports for Nine News Australia.
He’s married to A Current Affair presenter Allison Langdon, and his father, Mike Willesee, was an award-winning news reporter, interviewer and presenter who worked at the ABC, Seven, and Nine.
His uncle, Terry, is a journalist and broadcaster, and so is his sister, Amy.
The difficult job of finding a replacement for Karl Stefanovic
Media commentator Andrew Mercado told Yahoo Lifestyle it’s no easy task to host a breakfast program like Today.
He said the lead stars have to have good onscreen chemistry, be light and breezy with the fun stories, and know how to tackle an interview with the Prime Minister, for example.
“They want a very particular person to do it because people are at home in their pyjamas,” Andrew said.
“You have to find just the right person to do it.”
It’s unclear how many people Channel 9 will cycle through before picking someone, and they have plenty of in-house talent to choose from.
Nine New Melbourne presenter Tom Steinfort was in Karl’s seat for two weeks before being replaced by the network’s chief political correspondent Charles Croucher.
Channel 9 didn’t indicate how long Michael would co-host before another face was parachuted in.
Who is replacing Sarah Abo on the Today show?
Sylvia Jeffreys is currently filling in for Sarah’s spot after she had to go on maternity leave earlier than expected due to health issues.
Samantha Armytage recently revealed she will soon take over for a guest host spot.
But the former Sunrise star and The Golden Bachelor host wasn’t sure if she wanted to make it permanent if an offer came through.
“I don’t know, is the answer to that,” she told The Daily Telegraph.