Tuesday morning’s episode of The Today Show had a slightly different lineup as two familiar faces were missing from their usual spots.
Co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin were notably absent for the second day in a row, prompting a shift in the morning show’s hosting duties.
Stepping in for the duo were Sunday host Willie Geist and Saturday co-anchor Laura Jarrett, who seamlessly took over the broadcast.
At the beginning of the show, Willie addressed their absence,
clarifying that Savannah and Craig were simply taking a well-deserved day off.
“Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Today. Thank you for joining us,” Willie said as he kicked off the show.
“I’m Willie Geist alongside Laura Jarrett. Savannah and Craig are enjoying the day off.”
Their time away followed a special outing at Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) milestone event, The SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert, held at Radio City Music Hall on Friday evening. The high-profile celebration featured current and former SNL cast members in an unforgettable three-hour performance.
Craig Melvin took to Instagram to share glimpses of the exciting event. Posting several pictures from the concert, he expressed his enthusiasm about the experience.
“So enjoyed being in the house for the @nbcsnl 50th concert,” Craig wrote. “Was a great Valentine’s Day date night for me and @lindsaycz. If you haven’t watched it, check it out on @peacock. Concert for the ages.”
The shake-up in Today’s lineup comes after Craig’s recent promotion to permanent co-anchor earlier this year. In January, he officially stepped into the role previously held by Hoda Kotb, who made the decision to step down after nearly three decades at NBC News.
Hoda had announced her departure last September, citing personal reasons and a desire to devote more time to her family. “I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and try something new,” she explained. “Obviously, I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have.”
Since his promotion, Craig has been a welcome addition to the Today team. Savannah Guthrie herself acknowledged his appointment as one of the most well-received decisions in NBC News history. “The larger staff found out this morning, and people broke into applause,” she said at the time. “This is one of the most popular decisions NBC News has ever made. Congratulations.”
Reflecting on his new role, Craig shared his gratitude for the opportunity. “I am beyond excited and grateful,” he said. “I talked to mom and dad yesterday, and I’m thankful they’re still young enough and healthy enough to be able to see this.”
With Savannah and Craig expected to return soon, their temporary absence allowed viewers to see Willie Geist and Laura Jarrett step up and seamlessly handle hosting duties. While fans may have missed the regular lineup, the morning show continued to deliver its signature mix of news and entertainment without missing a beat.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
