Savannah Guthrie is reportedly set to return to her NBC Today show for the first time since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared. The organization is reportedly making plans for her return and how her first show should be presented.
Savannah has been hosting the NBC Today Show since July 2012. She, however, stepped back a few months ago due to a vocal cord surgery. Then, her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1 and has been missing since.
Savannah has, hence, not been back at NBC, but as per the Daily Mail, she is set to return soon. Sources have reportedly told the outlet that the network executives and producers are planning a tribute for Nancy in Savannah’s first show. They are likely to release yellow balloons at the 1 Rockefeller Plaza as a symbol of support.
Since Nancy’s disappearance, people have been leaving yellow balloons and roses in front of her house, praying for her return. A source reportedly told the Daily Mail about the potential gesture from NBC:
“They want the moment to feel hopeful. Something simple that viewers on the plaza and at home will instantly understand.”
“She’s praying for answers and instead her mother’s home has become a circus. Right now that house feels like the scene of a crime, not a family home. The idea of tearing it down has come up simply because the memories there are becoming unbearable,” the source added.
Blogger Perez Hilton reacted to the news of Savannah Guthrie’s imminent return to the Today Show on his website. He highlighted the uncertainty around the entire situation and wrote:
“Ugh. We can only imagine. For now, everyone involved seems to be navigating an incredibly delicate moment — and on live television, no less — while at the center of it all is a daughter still waiting for answers.”
Notably, Savannah Guthrie had uploaded numerous posts on social media after Nancy’s disappearance. She urged her alleged kidnappers to return the 84-year-old and also announced up to a $1 million reward for any information about her mother’s whereabouts.
More about Savannah Guthrie’s return to NBC, with Hoda Kotb’s future in doubt
In Savannah Guthrie’s absence, Hoda Kotb had been hosting the Today Show on NBC. However, with the former’s return, the 61-year-old could be removed from the position again. However, as per a source, Kotb is willing to take up the role full-time, as they reportedly told the Daily Mail:
“This isn’t just about feelings — it’s about protecting the franchise. Morning TV is a multimillion-dollar machine, and they need stability. Right now, that stability is Hoda. And Hoda is absolutely ready to step back in full-time if asked. She never really left the building mentally.”
Meanwhile, another insider reportedly opened up about the cutthroat business at NBC, telling the outlet:
“You think The Morning Show is bad? That’s nothing. These people will steal your chair while you’re still sitting in it. From the hair and makeup people to the producers, you can’t trust anyone, they all talk.”
However, the sources confirmed that the executives and producers of the show are focused on bringing Savannah Guthrie back.
Edited by Aditya Singh