TVNewser has some quotes from a TV Guide article describing NBC's efforts to groom a possible replacement for Katie Couric. The pertinent detail: MSNBC's Natalie Morales is close to signing on as a full-time correspondent on Today, which will get her more airtime.

But the best quote is about NBC's choices if Couric happens to bolt to CBS: "While the charming Morales is a favorite within NBC News, Weekend Today co-anchor Campbell Brown has more experience in hard-news reporting and would also be a serious candidate to join Matt Lauer on the weekday show. Says one person familiar with the talks, 'I think they would like to morph Natalie and Campbell together.'"

Well, why wouldn't they? With Campbell's hard-news chops and sparkling personality, and Morales' engaging style and eyes you could get lost in, NBC would be able to create an über-anchor that even the iconic Couric would have difficulty beating.

Alas, the technology to create the Borales (or should it be called the Nampbell?) hasn't quite been perfected, so we'll just have to see which of these standouts wins the position next to Lauer. That's if Couric leaves, which as the daily updates we're given testify, isn't a done deal by any means.