As a devoted fan who’s grown up with Hoda Kotb gracing our mornings for over two decades, it’s bittersweet to hear about her departure from The Today Show. However, as a seasoned viewer who’s witnessed many changes in the broadcasting world, I’m not entirely surprised by the rumors swirling around potential replacements.
It seems we’re still grappling with the news that Hoda Kotb is departing from The Today Show next year, and speculation abounds regarding her potential replacement. Although Hoda has some time left before she leaves, NBC might be pondering over who will succeed her, given her illustrious tenure. If these rumors hold water, they may already have someone in mind to step into her esteemed role.
When Kotb declared she was leaving, she also made it clear that she would continue hosting the program until the 2024 TV schedule ends and into early 2025. Therefore, we’ll still be enjoying her presence for some time. Nevertheless, a source from Us Weekly suggests that NBC may have already chosen her successor.
The standout figure causing quite a buzz across the network is Laura Jarrett, and her chances are looking particularly strong. Not only is she the host of Weekend Today, but she shares the same legal background as Savannah Guthrie, one of her co-anchors at the Today show. She’s gained a lot of favor among the team and has risen through the ranks rather swiftly.
Jarrett joined NBC in 2022, previously serving as a top advisor to President Barack Obama. Similar to Savannah Guthrie, she is also a lawyer by profession. Currently, she works as one of the weekend anchors for Today’s show, and she occasionally fills in during the week as well, as demonstrated in the adorable video from Hoda & Jenna.
However, there are a few other prime options for the role of co-anchor, as the source said:
An alternative possibility is that they might switch positions among the anchors. For instance, Craig Melvin could be paired with Savannah, or Sheneille Jones could take Craig’s place as a co-anchor with Savannah instead.
Following a similar vein, one of today’s weather forecasters, Dylan Dryer, recently discussed this matter with E! News. He pointed out that any of the current weekday anchors – Melvin, Jones, Carson Daly, and Jenna Bush Hager during her fourth-hour co-hosting with Kotb, as well as the weekend team Peter Alexander and Jarrett – are all strong contenders for the role. Consequently, it would be unexpected if they were to bring in a new hire. In line with this, Dryer remarked:
It’s unlikely that naming anyone from our main team would come as a shock, given that we all step in when someone is absent. As far as I know, no decisions have been made yet, but if it turns out to be one of the core members, I wouldn’t find it surprising at all.
History shows us that it’s quite possible that NBC will elevate one of its existing anchors into Kotb’s position, as she took over from Matt Lauer back in 2018. She initially joined the broadcasting company in 1998 on Dateline, and later moved to co-host the 10 a.m. hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford starting from 2007.
It appears that other journalists being considered for this top position have similar backgrounds, such as Laura Jarrett, who has only been there a few years. Given our familiarity with someone from Today who’s occupied Kotb’s seat for six years, it seems fitting that they might be the one to continue in that role.
Regardless of who succeeds Hoda Kotb in her position, they will find themselves stepping into some rather large footsteps. She has been a cherished anchor on Today for such a long time, with viewers appreciating her ability to express her emotions sincerely and skillfully handle both heavy and light subjects. While she excels at delivering hard news, it’s her lighter moments that truly endear her to fans as well. For instance, her recent viral moment at the Olympics with Tom Cruise has been a hit, showing her support for all athletes.
The void that Hoda Kotb’s departure will create on this show is substantial, but NBC has some highly capable contenders to fill her spot. It’s likely that the chosen one will measure up to the high standards she has established, along with Jarrett.
As we draw nearer to the 2025 TV program lineup and Kotb’s official departure, we will keep you informed about any developments in this regard and who might take her place. For now, don’t forget to tune in to the esteemed anchor every weekday during the initial, second, and fourth hours of The Today Show from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on NBC or with a Peacock subscription.
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2024-09-27 18:08