Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor on Today, marks 10 years in the role this summer. Guthrie has had an eventful decade, interviewing presidents, corporate CEOs and global newsmakers on a regular basis. 

It’s a busy time in news to say the least, and Guthrie feels the Today team has never been stronger. “I feel the best I’ve ever felt, the most comfortable I’ve ever felt in this job,” she said. “I’m just grateful every day to be able to do it.”

Also: Welcome to the 30th Anniversary of the ‘B+C’ Hall of Fame

The pandemic has, of course, been a front-page story for two years, and the war in Ukraine gives news gatherers another colossus to tackle. That’s just the pace of the game in 2022. “The news cycle just seems to get shorter and shorter, to the point where I don’t know that there is even such a thing as a news cycle anymore,” said Guthrie, also NBC News chief legal correspondent. “We used to talk when I was starting out about the 24-hour news cycle. Now it’s like the 24-second
news cycle.”

Starting in Stations 

Guthrie was born in Australia and raised in Tucson. She studied journalism at the University of Arizona, and learned about television while working part-time at local PBS station KUAT Tucson. Her roles included grip, camera operator and director, and she got on-air, hosting a fundraising slot one Sunday morning. 

Guthrie parlayed that into a weekend anchor/weekday reporter job in Butte, Montana (DMA No. 185, if you’re scoring at home). Ten days after she arrived, the staff was brought in for an emergency meeting. The station, they were told, was shutting down. 

“I’d spent all my money to get there,” Guthrie said. “It was crushing. My career was over before it began.”

Guthrie was able to land at a station in Columbia, Missouri, then another in Tucson, before she began law school at Georgetown. 

“I was done with TV,” said Guthrie. “Or so I thought.”

She sought freelance work at the D.C. stations, and got a call from NBC-owned WRC about an assignment. 

Practicing law at the time, Guthrie was about to become a law clerk for a federal judge, but had an “epiphany,” she said, about getting into network news. She told the judge she would not be taking the job. “He was flummoxed,” she said. “Nobody does that.”

Guthrie continued freelancing in local TV, then landed a job at Court TV. Based in New York, she became a legal analyst at various networks, including at NBC’s Today, and NBC offered her a position in 2007. “To be walking the halls of 30 Rock and meeting these people was beyond my wildest dreams,” Guthrie said. 

She became NBC News’s White House correspondent late in 2008, and landed on Today in June 2011, becoming co-anchor in 2012.

Noah Oppenheim, NBC News president, said Today “sets the tone” for NBC News each morning. “No one is smarter, no one works harder or does more preparation, and no one is more adept on their feet, in the moment, when doing live interviews,” he said of Guthrie. Oppenheim also mentioned Guthrie’s “exceptionally high emotional intelligence,” a vital asset for interviews. 

“She is the full package,” he added. 

Co-anchor and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Hoda Kotb sings a similar tune, calling Guthrie “incredibly well-prepared” each morning. “There’s not a detail she misses and there’s not an interview she shirks away from,” Kotb added. 

Guthrie, who is 50, has children who are 7 and 5. With the kids in mind, she authored the 2017 children’s book Princesses Wear Pants with Allison Oppenheim, wife of Noah. 

Waking up well before dawn is challenging, but Guthrie said being part of the Today team, all of whom get up early, work their butts off and make a compelling show each day, gives her inspiration. “How fun is it to be in a joint enterprise, doing something you think has purpose and meaning, that’s fun and creative and exciting?” she said. 

The show offers viewers the right mix of hard news and hope, said Guthrie, and the can-do attitude on both sides of the camera is “contagious.”

“How could you not feel like you want to pour everything you have into it,” she said, “when everyone is pouring everything they have into it?” ■

The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame -- the premier industry event paying tribute to the pioneers, innovators and stars of the electronic arts -- returns with a full, in-person live gala celebrating the event’s 30th anniversary. The Hall of Fame celebration will take place at New York’s Ziegfeld Ballroom on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

The new B+C Hall of Fame inductees join the ranks of more than 400 honorees previously recognized by Broadcasting+Cable magazine. The new Hall of Fame inductees (alphabetically) are:

Emily Barr, president & CEO, Graham Media Group.

Nomi Bergman, president, Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership.

Brandon Burgess, former president & CEO, ION Media. 

Susanne Daniels, global head of original content, YouTube.

Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor and chief legal correspondent, TODAY & NBC News.

Hoda Kotb, co-anchor and co-host, TODAY & TODAY with Hoda & Jenna.

Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman, Universal Studio Group.

Leo MacCourtney, president, Katz Television Group.

Dan Mason, chairman emeritus, The Broadcasters Foundation of America, and past president and CEO, CBS Radio.

Steve Miron, chief executive officer, Advance/Newhouse Partnership.

Steven R. Swartz, president and CEO, Hearst.

Curtis Symonds, president, HBCU GO TV/Allen Media Group.

ESPN, Iconic Network. 

While the Hall of Fame previously has inducted iconic shows, ESPN is the first network to be admitted into the fold. “It’s a tremendous honor for ESPN to receive the first Iconic Network Award from The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame,” Jimmy Pitaro, chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, told B+C/Multichannel News. “When we launched in 1979, ESPN immediately created an indelible bond with sports fans by matching their passion. Thank you to the thousands of dedicated ESPN employees who, over four decades, have continued to create a non-stop immersive sports experience.”

“The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame has always been one of the entertainment industry’s signature events,” said Bill McGorry, chairman of the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame. “In a year like no other, we are beyond thrilled to be able to welcome back our community with a star studded live 30th Anniversary gala that will surely be a night to remember. With great anticipation, we look forward to celebrating together in April.”

“Each year we are completely awed by our Hall of Fame honorees and this class of 2021 raises the bar yet again,” B+C Editor-in-Chief Bill Gannon said. “This class is particularly noteworthy for the visionary and innovative leaders who have changed the industry both before and during the pandemic. The Hall of Fame is thrilled to add these exceptional individuals to the prestigious classes of honorees that have come before them.”

“Broadcasting+Cable’s Hall of Fame is one of the most important events in broadcasting,” Jim Thompson, president of Broadcasters Foundation of America, said. “Their generosity in donating a portion of the proceeds to support the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation of America is admirable, and we cannot thank them enough. Over the past 30 years, the Hall of Fame has contributed more than $700,000 to help our fellow broadcasters who have been hit by debilitating illness, accident, or disaster. We are grateful for the continued support of the Hall of Fame. With their help, we can continue to provide aid to our colleagues in desperate need.”

Since the event’s inception, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Broadcasters Foundation of America, a charitable organization that provides financial grants to those of our industry colleagues and their families who are in acute need due to critical illness or accident, advanced age, death of a spouse or other serious misfortune. In addition, the event benefits The Paley Center for Media, a non-profit organization leading the discussion on the social significance and advancement of television, radio and emerging platforms for the professional and media-interested public.

For sponsorship, table, ticket and advertising information, please contact Jessica Wolin at  jessica.wolin@futurenet.com or 212-685-4233.

For more information please visit the B+C Hall of Fame website.

Follow the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame at #BCHOF2021. ■

CBS Media Ventures's Jeopardy! has had a string of guest hosts this year since the death of Alex Trebek in November.

The show’s ratings started out on top at 6.2 when Ken Jennings began his six-week guest hosting stint in the week ended Jan. 17. But since Jennings’ start the long-running game show has had a bumpy ride, bottoming out at a 4.4 with LeVar Burton at the podium in the week ended Aug. 1. Burton's stint, though, was heavily impacted by the Tokyo Olympics, which pounded most syndies in the frame.

Jeopardy! has since rebounded: first with CNBC's David Faber earning a 4.5 in the week ended Aug. 8, and then second with Fox Sports' Joe Buck nabbing a 5.2 in the week ended Aug. 15. Buck's rating marked a 13-week high for the game show and a 16% jump over the previous week.

Before Burton and Faber, the game show's lowest rating came in at a 4.7 with Savannah Guthrie, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Robin Roberts each earning that number during their respective turns at the podium.

Find out how the guest hosts (so far) stack up below. The most recent ratings are for the week ended Aug. 15 and are based on live plus same day national household ratings from Nielsen Media Research. It's also important to note that ratings are affected by more than the guest host. Preemptions, the Tokyo Olympics, and the slow summer season, for example, all have an impact.

Also Read: New 'Jeopardy!' Host Mike Richards Steps Down After Just 9 Days

Jeopardy! is adding TV doctors Mehmet Oz and Sanjay Gupta and TV journalists CNN’s Anderson Cooper and NBC’s Savannah Guthrie to its roster of guest hosts, Executive Producer Mike Richards said Tuesday. 

As a part of each celebrity’s appearances a donation will be made to the charity of their choice by the Sony Pictures Television-produced game show that will match the cumulative winnings of the contests that compete during the weeks they guest host.

“We look forward to each guest host bringing their unique abilities to the show and to our contestants winning a lot of money that we can match for charity,” Richards said. 

Also Read: Syndication Ratings: 'Jeopardy!' Stays on Top with Ken Jennings at the Wheel

The first two weeks of Jeopardy! without originating host Alex Trebek, who died Nov. 8 of pancreatic cancer, were hosted by Greatest (Player) of All Time and consulting producer Ken Jennings, with both weeks with Jennings at the podium leading Jeopardy! to the top of syndication's household ratings chart.

Richards is currently doing hosting duties. Next up to bat are Katie Couric, Aaron Rodgers, Bill Whitaker and Mayim Bialik 

Also Read: Jeopardy! Welcomes Katie Couric, Aaron Rodgers, Bill Whitaker, Mayim Bialik as Guest Hosts

Oz hosts Sony Pictures Television’s The Dr. Oz Show and is an attending physician at NY Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center where he still performs heart surgery. He authors a syndicated newspaper column in 175 markets internationally and has written eight New York Times best-selling books, including his most recent, Food Can Fix It.

CNN anchor Cooper is a frequent competitor in Jeopardy!’s Power Players Tournament. Besides anchoring Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN and Anderson Cooper Full Circle on CNN’s digital properties, he is a regular correspondent for CBS’ Sunday night news magazine 60 Minutes and a New York Times best-selling author.

Also Read: Remembering 'Jeopardy!' Host Alex Trebek

Guthrie co-anchors NBC’s Today and also serves as NBC News’ chief legal correspondent. She’s also a New York Times best-selling author for her book Princesses Wear Pants and the sequel Princesses Save the World.

Gupta is CNN’s chief medical correspondent as well as an associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University and the associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Gupta also contributes to 60 Minutes and serves as an executive producer for HBO’s documentary unit. His fourth book, Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age, is a New York Times best-seller.

Additional guest hosts and the charities for which they are hosting will be announced later.

Add NBC News to the growing list of outlets that will be covering the testimony of former FBI director James Comey live when he testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday (June 8).

Coverage of the 10 a.m. hearing begins at 9 a.m. on Today. Anchoring that coverage from Washington will be NBC News chief legal correspondent and Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, with Matt Lauer co-anchoring from New York.

Starting at 10 a.m., anchoring duties will be shared among Guthrie, Lester Holt and Chuck Todd from Washington. Holt will stay in Washington to anchor NBC Nightly News.

Comey is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee about "his role in the development of the Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian interference in the 2016 US elections," said committee chair Richard Burr (R-N.C.) back when the hearing was announced.

The hearing follows a report in The New York Times that the President had personally asked Comey to back off the investigation of former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn over his contacts with Russian officials.

Trump subsequently fired Comey, then reportedly told Russian officials Comey was a "nut job" and that his exit had relieved some pressure on the President.

Comey is expected to confirm the contents of the memo at the hearing, though how he characterizes the conversation will be key.

Fox News Channel and CBS are also airing Comey's testimony live.