NBC names Hoda Kotb co-anchor of 'Today,' replacing disgraced Matt Lauer
NBC kicked off 2018 on Tuesday morning by officially naming Hoda Kotb as cohost of the popular Today show alongside Savannah Guthrie, the first time two women have co-anchored NBC's flagship morning show.
Kotb, who has 30 years of experience in television news, replaces Matt Lauer who was fired in November 2017 after numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.
Guthire and Kotb celebrated the announcement at the start of Tuesday's show as Guthrie said: "Hoda is officially the co-anchor of Today... this has to be the most popular decision NBC has ever made, and I am so thrilled."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
"You are a partner and a friend and a sister, " Guthrie added, "And I am so happy to be doing this."
Kotb responded warmly to Guthrie, saying: "Well, there's no one I'd rather be sitting next to in 2018 than you."
NBC News chairman Andy Lack announced the move just moments before the show went live on Tuesday, saying in a statement: "Over the past several weeks, Hoda has seamlessly stepped into the co-anchor role alongside Savannah, and the two have quickly hit the ground running. They haven an undeniable connection with each other and most importantly, with viewers, a hallmark of Today."
Kotb first joined Today in 2007 as the co-anchor of the show's fourth hour alongside Kathie Lee Gifford. She'll continue those duties while adding the first two hours of Today, from 7 a.m. ET to 9 a.m. ET, to her schedule. (Today's third hour is currently hosted by Megyn Kelly.)
The Today show fam have been celebrating the news throughout the morning, sharing their joy on Twitter.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Former Today host and current NBC News head anchor Lester Holt chimed in as well.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Indeed, it's probably a welcome respite for everyone at NBC after the turmoil that closed 2017.
Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
