Savannah Guthrie is adding another role to her NBC resume.
During the May 11 episode of Today per People, the 54-year-old journalist announced she will host NBC’s upcoming Wordle-inspired game show. Jimmy Fallon joined Guthrie during the 8 a.m. hour of the broadcast to help unveil the new project, which Fallon is executive producing.
Savannah Guthrie is an award-winning journalist, attorney and television host best known as a longtime co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. Before joining Today in 2011, she worked as a White House correspondent and anchor for NBC News after beginning her career as a local TV reporter and practicing law. Guthrie has covered major national and international stories and has become one of the most recognizable faces in morning television.
“This is very exciting, I have a big announcement to make,” Comedian Jimmy Fallon said. “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!”
“We’ve been holding this secret between us for a long time now,” Guthrie admitted. “And we’re going to make Wordle a game show.”
Fallon raved over Guthrie as host: “I’m so happy it’s you. We were looking, we’re like, ‘Who’s the perfect host of this?’ We need to have someone that looks like they play Wordle, someone that knows how to run a show and host it, and we did the pilot, and you are amazing, by the way.”
Guthrie provoked, “I thought you picked me because I have a skirt that looks like a Wordle.”
Savannah Guthrie shared an emotional update while announcing her new NBC hosting role for the network’s upcoming Wordle game show.
During Today’s May 11 broadcast, Guthrie described the series as “super fast-paced and fun” and called it a family-friendly show that kids can enjoy while learning at the same time.
Jimmy Fallon, who executive produces the project, praised Guthrie as the perfect host, saying the team felt they couldn’t do the show without her. Guthrie then thanked NBC, Fallon, Universal and The New York Times for supporting her and delaying production while she dealt with her family crisis.
“It kind of feels strange to do everything right now, but this is something that’s full of joy,” Guthrie said.
Her Today co-anchor Craig Melvin jokingly reminded Fallon to “return her” after filming wraps.
Production on the game show is expected to begin this summer, with casting currently underway.
The announcement comes just over a month after Guthrie returned to Today following a leave of absence tied to the abduction of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her Tucson, Arizona home on Feb. 1. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects, and the FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or an arrest.
