Savannah Guthrie recently reflected on her unexpected promotion to the 7 a.m. slot on NBC’s Today show, a move that came amidst a swirl of controversy and personal uncertainty. In June 2012, Guthrie was tapped to replace Ann Curry shortly after Curry announced her departure. The decision, which took Guthrie by surprise, left her feeling terrified and unsure about her future on the show.
Guthrie, who had been anchoring the 9 a.m. slot and serving as a White House correspondent, was thrilled yet apprehensive about the new role. Despite her accomplishments at the network, she doubted her ability to maintain the position.
"At that point, I had come this far, and I was the anchor of the 9:00 on the Today show, and had been the legal correspondent, and been a White House correspondent, and all my dreams had already come true," Guthrie shared.
Her promotion occurred during a tumultuous time for Today, marked by controversy following Curry's exit. Guthrie recalled the emotional turmoil she experienced upon receiving the news of her advancement.
"When they came and it was this controversy in this time, you know, when I was offered the job, I was in tears," she confessed.
The uncertainty surrounding her new role stemmed from being the last to know about her promotion. Guthrie expressed her fear of not lasting long on the show.
"I was as terrified as I could possibly be because the bosses at the time had made a decision, and I quite literally was the last to know, and I was so afraid, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn't last," she admitted.
Despite these concerns, Guthrie has thrived in her role as co-anchor of Today. Her tenure now stands as a testament to her resilience and adaptability in a challenging environment.
"I'm so happy that I survived and that I'm still here," Guthrie stated with relief.
However, Guthrie's ascension did not come without its challenges. The climate at Today during her early days was described by Ann Curry as one filled with verbal harassment.
"I would be surprised if many women [at Today] didn’t understand there was a climate of verbal harassment that existed. It would be surprising if somebody didn’t see that. It was verbal sexual harassment," Stephen Curry remarked.
Reflecting on these circumstances, Guthrie acknowledged that it wasn't a joyful occasion for anyone involved at the time.
"I came at a time of a lot of controversy for the show, and it wasn’t, I don't think, a happy occasion, really — for anyone, including me," she remarked.
