Entertainment

'Baywatch' Matt Scared Viewers Away

I would like to personally thank the American morning news audience for turning on their TVs, seeing Matt Lauer dressed as Baywatch-era Pamela Anderson, and changing the channel to Good Morning America. Thanks to you, we may never have to see him in a women's bathing suit again, because for the first time in 22 years, Today's Halloween episode was beat in the ratings by ABC's rival Good Morning America.

It's obviously not Lauer's fault alone, but in all seriousness, the costumes on NBC were just outdated. Why dress up as Baywatch in 2013? I'm sure there's a more current reference to some kind of female clothing item that would have the same, lackluster humor.

But he wasn't trapped in a different decade alone. The rest of the Today team had bizarre choices too, with Al Roker as Mr. T, Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb as Wilma Flinstone and Betty Rubble, and Natalie Morales and Savannah Guthrie as Laverne & Shirley. I don't get it either.

Over on Good Morning America, though, costumes included Miley Cyrus, Olivia Pope, Ron Burgundy, Kimye and even Sharknado. Hey news producers, just a little tip for next year since you clearly weren't aware, people like contemporary Halloween costumes. You want to get that 18-49 demographic? Stick to references from that group's lifetime.

And then if we're lucky, we'll never have to see this again.