Why Ann Curry will probably shine in her new role away from NBC News

Former 'Today' co-anchor Ann Curry tearing up while announcing her departure from the show.

Maybe it's just me, but when you're paying someone $12 million a year, you expect them to, well, work.

That's a hefty sum to shell out for someone to simply sit on the bench, which is what former Today co-anchor Ann Curry has been mostly doing since her messy divorce from the show in 2012.

Sure, Curry did the occasional interview or made appearances on Meet The Press and Nightly News, but, for the most part, she was persona non grata at 30 Rock.

Clearly, the suits at NBC got tired of cutting such a big check for someone the network had very little use for anymore.

On Tuesday Curry announced she was ending her long-term relationship with NBC News to develop a new media start-up that will be partially funded by, of all companies, NBCUniversal.

That's a good move for Curry and more up her journalistic alley. The start-up will give her a chance to produce documentaries and cover stories that interest her most. Curry was never really a good fit for the happy talk, morning TV world. It's all about chemistry and Curry had very little of it with her co-anchor -- and possible backstabber -- Matt Lauer. It was often difficult watching all the forced and phony smiles. At times, Lauer looked as if he would've preferred sitting next to a tarantula.

I was never a big fan of Curry's mostly because she talked too much and never had an off switch. Good journalists know how to listen. There must've been a clause in Curry's contract that stipulated she would get paid by the word. Why else would she consistently interrupt guests with her incessant yapping?

I didn't even like the way Curry talked, all deep and whispery like she just got the scoop of the century when she was only interviewing a so-called expert about online dating.

But, I gained a new found respect for Curry for the way she handled her ugly ouster, all dignity and class. She even cried on live TV while announcing her departure and rightfully pulled away as Lauer tried to hug her.

Sometimes bad things happen for good reasons. Curry will probably shine in her new role. She doesn't have to play nice on air with people she clearly doesn't like. And, if she finds herself talking too much during her interviews, at least she, or one of her producers, can trim the segment in the editing room, something she could never do on live TV.