 After serving as "Today" news anchor for seven years, Palmer was abruptly replaced by Deborah Norville in September 1989, and was moved to Norville's old position at "NBC News at Sunrise".WTVJ, then the NBC owned-and-operated television station in Miami, offered Palmer the lead local news anchor chair in late 1989, but Palmer turned down the opportunity.Palmer left NBC News in March 1990 to anchor a syndicated program, "Instant Recall".