When Will Savannah Guthrie Return to ‘Today’?
The search for Nancy Guthrie is headed quickly towards its third week. While the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI seemed to be making solid progress in the case in recent days, public updates have been fewer and further between. Savannah Guthrie, Nancy’s news anchor daughter, has gone quieter than she has been; that has led some fans to question when, or if, the anchor will return to the news desk at Today. Some industry insiders suspect she’ll never return; others think Today can’t afford to lose her. This is where things stand.
When did Savannah Guthrie step down from ‘Today’?
Savannah Guthrie took a step back from Today as soon as news broke that her mother had gone missing. The longtime anchor left New York, where the series is filmed, immediately. She quickly headed to Arizona to be close to family as the hunt for her mother plays out. Guthrie never set a timeline for her absence from the series. Still, it looks like her leave will be an extended one. She’s already been missing from the iconic monring show for three weeks, and authorities appear to be no closer to finding Nancy.
Guthrie has also opted out of other, planned obligations, including a stint at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Mary Carrilo stepped in to take over Guthrie’s planned coverage of the opening ceremonies. NBC also scrambled to find a fill-in for Craig Melvin. Melvin, initially slated to report on the Olympics, asked to stay stateside to be available for his longtime friend as the search for her mother intensified.
Industry insiders weigh in on when she might return
Savannah Guthrie offered no timeline for a return to air, and NBC doesn’t appear to be pushing the longtime anchor to get back in front of the camera. Some industry insiders argue that the reporter might never return to her high-profile hosting job. Status discussed Guthrie’s extended leave with veteran reporters. Several argued that Guthrie is unlikely to return to Today given her mother’s high-profile disappearance and theories linking Guthrie’s celebrity status to it. One insider claims they can’t imagine a scenario in which Guthrie would want to return to the air. She hasn’t publicly spoken about the possibility, though.
Whether that is true remains to be seen. Still, most insiders agree that Today can’t afford to lose the iconic anchor. After all, the series was dealt a blow a year ago when Hoda Kotb opted to focus on family and leave her job behind. She has been gone ever since, with some fans still lamenting the loss. While Kotb returned as a stand-in for Guthrie, she won’t be returning full-time. She has moved on, moving her family out of New York City and into the suburbs for a slower pace and a more idyllic childhood. Still, the former anchor is in for at least another week.
While fans are itching to see her return to the news desk, it likely won’t happen anytime soon. Unless, of course, there is a massive and very positive development in the search for Nancy Guthrie. For now, there is no timeline for Savannah Guthrie’s return.
At this time, the Pima County Sherrif’s Department and the FBI have not arrested anyone in connection with the abduction.
