Savannah Guthrie, a prominent co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, has announced that she will be temporarily stepping away from her hosting duties to pursue an exciting new project. During the broadcast on Thursday, July 16, the 54-year-old television personality revealed her plans to take several weeks off to film the game show adaptation of the popular word puzzle, Wordle.
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In her announcement, Guthrie expressed enthusiasm for her new role, stating, “We’re about to do it. Guys, I’m headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks.” The project, which is being executive produced by the renowned late-night host Jimmy Fallon, has generated considerable buzz among her colleagues. Craig Melvin, another co-anchor, expressed his excitement by proclaiming, “We’re going to lose you for a minute,” highlighting the temporary absence Guthrie will have from the show.
The production aims to capture the widespread appeal of Wordle, a game that achieved viral status shortly after its launch. Guthrie shared her anticipation for the show’s debut, mentioning it is likely to air in the new year. “I can’t wait for everyone to see it,” she added.
Guthrie’s colleagues at Today have shown their full support for her new venture. Carson Daly chimed in, exclaiming his eagerness for the project, while Sheinelle Jones reflected on the journey of Wordle’s popularity, stating, “It’s full circle,” referring to the moment when the game first captured the hearts of Today show viewers.
Today released a statement on social media confirming that Guthrie would be absent for a few weeks to focus on the game show. The announcement of Guthrie’s participation in the Wordle project was initially made in May. During that earlier revelation, Fallon enthusiastically declared, “We’ve been developing Wordle as a game show for the past two-and-a-half years with The New York Times, and it’s official: We are making Wordle Game Show with our host, Savannah Guthrie!”
Guthrie participated in the excitement by acknowledging the long-awaiting announcement, saying, “We’ve been holding this secret between us for a long time now.” Her enthusiasm for the project reflects a deeper connection, as she described Wordle as a “super fast-paced and fun” family game that fosters learning during family viewing sessions.
The presenter returned to the Today desk in April 2023 following a difficult period marked by the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. While Guthrie had taken short breaks in the past, sources clarified that her recent time off was unrelated to her mother’s unresolved case. The FBI recently released a statement confirming the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance as a potential kidnapping for ransom, indicating that multiple ransom notes have been received during the course of the inquiry.
Authorities have urged the public to provide any information that could assist in the investigation, sharing two contact numbers for potential leads: 1-800-CALL-FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office at 520-351-4900.
As Savannah Guthrie embarks on this new venture, she takes with her the support of her colleagues and the Today audience. With the production of the Wordle game show well underway, fans of the beloved word puzzle can anticipate an exciting new television experience when it eventually airs.