The buzz for the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies was building, but an unexpected and deeply concerning event has cast a shadow over NBC’s coverage plans. “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, originally slated to co-host the highly anticipated event, will no longer be traveling to Italy.
The reason? The alarming disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her Arizona home. Investigators suspect Nancy was taken against her will, turning what should have been a celebratory week for NBC into a period of intense worry and unforeseen changes.
With the Olympics being one of the few remaining events to consistently draw massive live audiences to broadcast television (think Super Bowl level viewership!), changes to key personnel are significant. Stepping into Savannah’s role alongside Terry Gannon for the opening ceremony will be the incredibly experienced Mary Carillo. A familiar face to Olympic fans, Carillo is a veteran, this being her 17th Olympic Games. Interestingly, she even lived in Milan as a child, adding a unique personal connection to the host country.
The ripple effect extends further: Savannah’s “Today” co-host, Craig Melvin, will also not be making the trip to Italy for his scheduled late-night Olympic broadcasts. Ahmed Fareed will now take the reins for those segments.
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance isn’t just an internal NBC story; it’s a major news event, making headlines across various networks. Our thoughts are certainly with Savannah and her family during this incredibly difficult time. Despite the somber backdrop, NBC is adjusting to ensure viewers still get the top-tier coverage they expect from the Winter Games.
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/savannah-guthrie-olympics-replacement_n_69842bf1e4b03d9739263043
