{"id":12878,"date":"2018-01-02T15:42:33","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T20:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=12878"},"modified":"2018-01-02T15:42:33","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T20:42:33","slug":"hoda-kotb-replaces-matt-lauer-today-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2018\/01\/hoda-kotb-replaces-matt-lauer-today-show.html","title":{"rendered":"Hoda Kotb Replaces Matt Lauer on the Today Show"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hoda_Kotb_at_Virginia_Tech\"<\/a>This morning, January 2, 2018, Hoda Kotb replaced Matt Lauer on the Today Show. Hoda Kotb took Matt Lauer\u2019s place as permanent co-anchor after he was fired for sexual misconduct in November, and this morning marks the first time that the show will be hosted by two women. The first two hours of the show are now hosted by Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, and Hoda will continue to co-host the fourth hour of the show with Kathie Lee Gifford as she has been doing since 2008. The third hour of the Today show is currently hosted by Megyn Kelly.<\/p>\n

Hoda has been a substitute co-anchor for almost a decade and replaced Matt Lauer on an interim basis after his firing. She has authored three books, hosts \u201cThe Hoda Show\u201d on Sirius XM and won a Peabody award for her work as a correspondent for \u201cDateline NBC.\u201d Savannah Guthriewas excited about her new co-host and said, \u201cWe are kicking off the year right. Hoda is officially the co-anchor of Today,\u201d Savannah said. \u201cLet\u2019s give her a round of applause. This has to be the most popular decision that NBC has ever made, and I am so thrilled.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision to promote Hoda was officially announced by NBC News chairman Andy Lack in a memo just before showtime. \u201cOver the past several weeks, Hoda has seamlessly stepped into the co-anchor role alongside Savannah, and the two have quickly hit the ground running,\u201d Andy wrote. \u201cThey have an undeniable connection with each other and most importantly, with viewers, a hallmark of \u2018Today.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Two female anchors is a departure from tradition in morning shows, most of which have both a male and female. In Today\u2019s case, however, the shift to an all-female team fits with the demographics of Today\u2019s viewership. The Today show has an overwhelmingly female audience, and it makes sense for NBC to replace Matt Lauer with a female co-anchor that can connect easily with the viewers of the network\u2019s most profitable franchise.<\/p>\n

Hoda has certainly proven her ability both in her long years working with \u201cDateline\u201d and by serving as the she was the emergency substitute host on the very morning Matt Lauer was fired.\u00a0 In the days following Matt\u2019s dismissal, Andy Lack commented that the network was \u201cvery fortunate to have someone like Hoda who brings immense talent and tremendous positive energy, and then on top of that happens to have wonderful chemistry with Savannah. It makes this a decision that everyone can embrace and feel terrific about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Savannah agreed with Andy. \u201cIt was such a shock to wake up one day and not have Matt, but it was the most natural and comforting thing in the world to have Hoda right there,\u201d Savannah said. \u201cNo one wanted that to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

NBC officially offered the job to Hoda just before the holidays, and so far, she is thrilled about her new position. \u201cI\u2019m pinching myself,\u201d Hoda said. \u201cI think that we should send some medics to Alexandria, Virginia, where my mom has likely fainted.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning, January 2, 2018, Hoda Kotb replaced Matt Lauer on the Today Show. Hoda Kotb took Matt Lauer\u2019s place as permanent co-anchor after he was fired for sexual misconduct in November, and this morning marks the first time that the show will be hosted by two women. The first two hours of the show…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":616,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3374,4,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-pop-culture","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nHoda Kotb Replaces Matt Lauer on the Today Show<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hoda Kotb is taking Matt Lauer\u2019s place as permanent co-anchor of the Today show. 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This morning marks the first time that the show will be hosted by two women.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2018\/01\/hoda-kotb-replaces-matt-lauer-today-show.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Idol Chatter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-01-02T20:42:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/files\/2018\/01\/Hoda_Kotb_at_Virginia_Tech-279x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Stephanie Hertzenberg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Hoda Kotb Replaces Matt Lauer on the Today Show","description":"Hoda Kotb is taking Matt Lauer\u2019s place as permanent co-anchor of the Today show. 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