It feels like a weird time to hone in on relationship issues between Savannah Guthrie and her colleagues, considering the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. And yet the news cycle never stops, and the turnover on the Today show has made people focus on how everyone is supporting Savannah Guthrie.
With Craig Melvin out this week on vacation, the focus has once again been on Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb’s relationship, as Kotb stepped in to cover for Melvin. The two former cohosts reunited for a short time and joked that it was “just like old times,” but Rob Shuter is reporting that behind-the-scenes things between them are complicated.
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“This was never a natural pairing,” one insider told Shuter. “They made it work — but it wasn’t Savannah’s choice.”
And they really made it work, to the point that the Today show had Kotb be the one to conduct the interview with Guthrie about her mother’s disappearance. But reportedly, Savannah originally wanted Willie Geist to replace Matt Lauer, not Hoda Kotb.
“Hoda got the job because audiences loved her,” the source said. “Not because Savannah wanted her there.” And that has reportedly been hanging over the two of them since then. Forgive maybe, forget not or something like that. Plus, Shuter adds that the environment is just very competitive, always.
“There’s always been competition,” the insider added. “This is morning TV — it’s a ratings war every single day.”
Kotb left the show of her own accord and has made no indication she wants to return full-time. She has just been filling in when needed. But reports indicate things might change if the ratings do. “If ratings spike this week, everything changes,” the source explained. “NBC will notice.”
And if the network feels that change can be traced back to Kotb’s return, they might do something about it. “Savannah may have to get used to seeing a lot more of her,” the insider said. And is that something she wants? “They play family on TV,” the insider said. “But this is business — and business comes first.”
This, of course, also affects Craig Melvin, according to Rob Shuter. “Craig is a genuinely nice guy — but he doesn’t really play the game,” a source told the Hollywood insider. “Hoda? She’s the opposite. All game… and not so nice.” And if she wants to return, sources believe the network won’t say no. “If Hoda decides she wants her old job back, Craig won’t stand a chance,” the insider added. “He’ll be elbowed out.”
The Today show has had a rotating group of hosts in the past few months in Guthrie’s absence. Hoda Kotb, Sheinelle Jones, and Laura Jarrett all filled in for Guthrie while she was taking time to be with her family amid the investigation into her mother’s disappearance. Melvin is expected to return on April 20, so Kotb will likely just be filling in for a week. For now.
“If the numbers go up while he’s gone? That’s not just awkward — it’s dangerous,” the source added. “A big problem.”
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