After going off the air for a long time, Savannah Guthrie’s expected return to the “Today” show raises questions about what will happen next with Hoda Kotb. Kotb stepped in during Guthrie’s absence and helped keep the show steady while Guthrie dealt with a high-profile family crisis involving her missing mother, the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Tucson home in the early hours of February 1.
Now, as producers plan Guthrie’s first morning back on the show, sources claim NBC is weighing how much space Kotb will have on that day and beyond.
Source reveals plans for Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ show return and Hoda Kotb’s future
The Daily Mail reported that NBC has started planning a welcome for Savannah Guthrie, but many wonder what will happen to Hoda Kotb once Guthrie returns to the “Today” show. One network source told the outlet, “They want the moment to feel hopeful.”
They claimed, “Something simple that viewers on the plaza and at home will instantly understand” — and per the report, that “hopeful” gesture could include releasing yellow balloons as a tribute.
Guthrie has spent significant time away from the show in recent months. Before her mother went missing, she had already been off-air while recovering from surgery to remove vocal cord nodules. But she recently went back to New York, visiting her co-workers and marking her first visit to “Today” headquarters in about three months.
As far as Kotb’s future in the show goes, the Daily Mail reported that the substitute broadcaster will not sit with Guthrie upon her return. However, sources claimed that Kotb is ready if the show asks for more.
An NBC insider told the outlet, “This isn’t just about feelings – it’s about protecting the franchise,” adding, “Morning TV is a multimillion-dollar machine.” They claimed, “Right now, that stability is Hoda,” suggesting that she is thus “absolutely ready to step back in full-time if asked,” as “she never really left the building mentally.”
However, an insider highlighted the uncertainty around Guthrie’s comeback timeline, noting, “There’s real uncertainty about Savannah’s timeline,” adding, “No one knows when – or if – things return to normal.”
Originally reported by Ishika Mishra on RealityTea.
