On a typical Monday morning, NBC executives and producers aspire for “Today” to resemble any ordinary broadcast of their established morning program.
Absolutely, they won’t skip it. Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin will undoubtedly welcome viewers with today’s top news. While Melvin has been a consistent figure on the show, Monday will be his debut as a co-anchor, replacing Hoda Kotb. It’s anticipated that viewers won’t bat an eye over this change.
During a recent interview,” stated Melvin, “he mentioned that our daily offerings are generally familiar to people, and they anticipate it. It would be quite foolish to alter that significantly.
Currently, Melvin assumes control as “Today” experiences a fresh surge of popularity. Indeed, it’s common knowledge that the majority of linear TV programs, including long-standing morning shows, are witnessing a steady drop in audience numbers. However, “Today” has managed to show some resilience. Over the past ten weeks, it has garnered the highest viewership among the three major morning broadcasts, a title that is usually held by its competitor, “Good Morning America.” As usual, it has also attracted the most viewers within the 25-54 age range, which advertisers highly value. Notably, “Today” has been enjoying its strongest ratings run since April 2012, a period just before Ann Curry’s departure, which was marked by a controversial and emotional goodbye that garnered significant criticism from viewers.
To put it simply, there have been some rocky transitions at “Today” in recent times. Kotb stepped into the co-anchor position in 2018 following a scandal involving her predecessor, Matt Lauer, which led NBC to terminate his contract. Guthrie joined the show after producers found that Lauer and previous co-anchor Curry didn’t have a strong on-screen chemistry. As a result, “Today” lost its title as America’s top morning broadcast network to “GMA.
That was yesterday.
During her recent interview, Guthrie expressed optimism for a smooth changeover. Kotb will continue to be a part of the team, as viewers will still see her, but Craig has consistently been present each day, a fact well-known to both our audience and our staff.
Today, following NBC’s popular summer broadcast of the 2024 Paris Olympics and increased viewership during holiday seasons, has garnered even more attention. In the weeks leading up to Kotb’s departure, the program has been under a spotlight. Now, with Kotb departing, Melvin and Guthrie will need to maintain the show’s success as Today enters the first quarter — with the absence of the annual Christmas tree outside Studio 1A for another year.
Melvin admits the show has positioned him such that should anything go wrong, he’ll bear the blame, as they’ve done all they could.”
Or
“In other words, if things don’t work out in this show, Melvin believes it will be on him because everything necessary has already been done by them.
Producers are taking on additional responsibilities behind the scenes. It’s not just about covering singular events for “Today”. The executive in charge of all hours of NBC News’ morning franchise (around 23 hours weekly) emphasizes that their team also focuses on the fundamentals. Libby Leist, an executive vice president at NBC News, explains, “Our goal is to deliver a fantastic show every day and ensure our content remains timely, relatable, and beneficial for our audience”. She adds, “We understand our purpose, and Craig and Savannah are the faces leading it.
The producers aim to make sure that the audience recognizes all the “Today” team members such as Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, Sheinelle Jones, Jenna Bush Hager, Peter Alexander, Laura Jarrett and Willie Geist. Leist comments, “Our anchors have developed a strong bond. They’ve been working together for quite some time now,” indicating a longstanding and reliable show.
Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of linking “Today” with the regional stations that air it. A dedicated team is in place to discover stories that will particularly resonate in specific areas or markets. By keeping affiliates informed about such content, it could encourage viewers watching local morning news to stay tuned for “Today.” Leist emphasizes, “Those connections are crucial.
Melvin and Guthrie are set to influence the inclusion of more sports on “Today,” a move that not only showcases NBC’s existing NFL partnership, but also its upcoming ties in the fall, when it obtains new rights to air NBA games as part of an 11-year deal. It’s anticipated that Melvin will journey to Milan soon to cover the progress of preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics, another sports event under NBC’s management.
According to Guthrie, who some may remember interviewed tennis legend Roger Federer numerous times, the program is now featuring “more sports stories than in the past.” Guthrie expresses a desire to focus on such tales even more. During the halftime show of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” this Sunday evening, both Guthrie and Melvin are expected to appear.
After spending numerous years at NBC News, Melvin has landed his new position at “Today”. Previously, he hosted a daily segment on MSNBC and performed various tasks for “Today”, and he anticipates continuing to feature during the 9 a.m. slot of the show.
In the early stages of his professional journey, Melvin admits that he didn’t anticipate such an opportunity. Working at WIS in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, Melvin reminisces about his ambition to advance to a larger market, which at the time could have been Atlanta or Chicago. Leaving for a new job outside the city was a significant step. “My entire family resides in South Carolina – my siblings, parents, and uncles all live within a 15-mile radius.” When he accepted a position at WRC, NBC’s station in Washington D.C., “my grandmother expressed concern about my decision. I was fully committed to retiring there.
It’s possible that some people might think the new morning pair still has a long way to go. However, today it is expanding its usual morning routine with digital additions such as a streaming channel and a wellness app. Guthrie comments, “We have truly aimed to connect with our viewers in their preferred spaces.” The coming Monday’s welcome could mark the beginning of many such expansions.
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2025-01-12 23:46