Maria Shriver made what she called a surprise appearance on NBC's "Today" show on Monday, sparking a fury of rumors about the former "Dateline" anchor's possible return to the network that used to employ her.
A spokesperson for NBC told the New York Times that Shriver was just participating in the network's papal coverage live from the Vatican. She introduced a story on the new pope's name on Monday, and appeared on NBC and MSNBC on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, TMZ reported that NBC and other networks had been courting Shriver but that the former first lady of California had no interest in returning to daily television. TMZ reported:
We're told the networks have offered her money at various times and for most people it would be a huge deal -- for Maria ... sources say it's not gonna change her life and isn't nearly enough to make her sign a contract.
Shriver left her NBC News job temporarily when her husband Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for governor of California. She fully parted ways after he was elected.