'Today' show fans shocked after hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb go missing as familiar stand-ins take over
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones of NBC's 'Today' show filled in for Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, who were notably absent from their regular Monday morning slots. Later, Jacob Soboroff who filled in for Carson Daly and AI Roker joined them at the desk.
NBC's morning news/talk show 'Today' is currently the fifth longest-running television series in the United States. Savannah Guthrie joined the network in 2012, while Hoda Kotb joined in 2018. Both are well-liked by the show's audience.
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‘Savannah is off, Hoda is on assignment’
Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin, who were filling in as hosts, began Monday's show by introducing stories about the Texas shooting on Sunday, the severe weather conditions that have been sweeping across the country, and the sale of First Republic Bank to JP Morgan. Melvin did not forget to inform the audience that "Savannah is off," indicating that the news anchor will be off again this week.
We check in with @hodakotb and @JennaBushHager who are down in New Orleans for the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Sponsored by New Orleans & Company. pic.twitter.com/XiS2Co8XfB
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 1, 2023
Melvin further added that "Hoda is on assignment in New Orleans, in fact, we're going to check in with her and Jenna a little bit later.” Hoda and Jenna Bush Hager's visit to New Orleans appears to herald the start of a new 'Today Show' tradition, as the duo has returned to host a part of the show live from the city's Jazz Fest in Jackson Square. This is going to be the duo's second time hosting their show from this location, having done so for the Tulane Book Festival last year. Wearing sleeveless tops and mini-shorts, the hosts danced to Lizzo at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in Louisiana.
Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will return
According to sources, ardent fans of the show who look forward to seeing Savannah and Hoda on-screen will have absolutely nothing to worry about because they will return to their usual hosting spots later this week. It's not the first time the hosts have abstained from a show; in March, Hoda Kotb reportedly took some time off to deal with a family health issue, while Savannah Guthrie had to leave the show abruptly after being diagnosed with the new coronavirus infection.
When the two anchors returned later in the month, they addressed their time away from their usual hosting spots. Hoda Kotb's absence from the early morning show for over a week earlier this year prompted viewers to wonder what went wrong, and her cryptic online posts fueled the fire, leaving her followers perplexed but then the network went ahead to clarify that she was dealing with a family matter.
As for Carson Daly, it is known that he is most likely in California filming live shows for ‘The Voice’ and will be back towards the end of the week.