14 DAY TRIAL // This week started off with Savannah Guthrie's debut as co-anchor on The Today Show with Matt Lauer, as the video below will confirm. She comes to replace Ann Curry, who was fired a short while ago, after just one year.
Speculation has it that Lauer blamed Curry for the dip in ratings and used all his weight to get her fired even though, under normal circumstances, she would have been given more time on the show to truly prove her worth.
As it happens, she did not get that chance.
Assuming the above is even in the least bit accurate, Savannah should have no trouble NOT stepping on Lauer's toes – because he seemed positively ecstatic to have her on the show.
“It truly is a new day around here. We’re thrilled to have you here,” Matt opened the show by saying, right before adding, “We have this goofy tradition, we get to do a little déjà vu.”
The Voiceover Guy then repeated Savannah's introduction, “Savannah Guthrie, live from Studio 1A in Rockefeller Center!”
“I’m glad you played it again, because I was so nervous, I didn’t hear it the first time,” Savannah admitted, as Matt warned her she might as well “get used to that” now that she was on board.
“We’re happy because you bring a great attitude and what we like to call a weird sense of humor,” he added.
“7:02 and he’s already calling me weird,” Savannah chimed in.
A couple of weeks ago, Ann Curry announced that she was stepping down as co-anchor, saying she'd tried to “carry the ball over the finish line” but ultimately failed, in what we'd call one of the most beautiful and moving speeches in television.
Shortly afterwards, word got out that Guthrie would come to replace her and, even more importantly, that Lauer was backing the choice because he believed she would do a much better job than Curry who, he believed, did not have the right chemistry with him on camera.
NBC confirmed the switch, but Monday's show marks the first time that Guthrie graces the small screen in this capacity.
Clearly, both she and Matt were thrilled beyond words.