Katie Couric Back At NBC — Thanks To Matt Lauer

Katie Couric is coming back to NBC for the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics — after plans to take over "Today" with Matt Lauer fell apart over her old pal's sex scandals!

NBC made the big announcement about Katie joining Mike Tirico in South Korea shortly after Megyn Kelly was bumped from being part of the network's Olympic team. But insiders had already told The National ENQUIRER that Matt had lured Katie back to talking to the network in a bid to totally take over "Today" from the former FOX News host!

An insider told The ENQUIRER about the speculation that Lauer and Katie were planning a comeback just days before the longtime host was abruptly fired by the NBC news division. “Megyn’s ratings are dragging down the whole show,” a source dished in early November. “Matt and Katie had some of the greatest chemistry in daytime TV history, and if anyone can bring the ‘Today’ show back from the brink, it’s them!”

“Matt’s been with the show for 20 years and is fiercely protective of the brand,” the source added. “They would be willing to share the spotlight if it means bringing ‘Today’ back to the top of the heap!” Instead, Megyn briefly had a last laugh when Lauer was publicly disgraced over shocking charges of sexual harassment.

But now the network has confirmed that they had reached out to Katie. That leaves new gal Megyn facing a potential new conflict from another "Today" veteran — after insiders already reported that she had to deal with NBC making another offer to Bryant Gumbel!