Carson Daly, 53, has been named permanent co-anchor of “Saturday Today,” and the longtime NBC personality is already celebrating with his colleagues in signature fashion.
Daly received the promotion just before sitting down for an exclusive interview Thursday from the Today Studio, where he opened up about the cast’s spirited holiday gatherings. “We definitely have some holiday cocktails,” he admitted. The weekday co-host will now pull double duty, joining Laura Jarrett, Joe Fryer and meteorologist Angie Lassman on Saturday mornings while keeping his regular spot alongside the main crew.
Jarrett, his “Saturday Today” partner, offered a glimpse into their timeline. Their anchor happy hours typically start around 1 p.m., she noted, and the afternoon unfolds from there. “The boys leave at one point in the afternoon, and then that’s when things really get interesting,” Jarrett joked.
Daly filled in the gaps from his own vantage point. “I leave at three, and I come into work the next day, and there are stories about you guys staying there, and Ubers, and all kinds of stuff,” he divulged. “So, we have a good time when we get together.”
The festive rituals extend beyond drinks. The anchors also mark the season with a white elephant gift exchange, adding another layer to their off-camera camaraderie.
Savannah Guthrie, 52, has her own memorable chapter in Today show party lore. During a July 2024 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live,” she recounted losing a tooth at the company’s annual holiday party. “When you’re at the TODAY show Christmas party, it starts at, like, 3 p.m. Lot of day drinking. It was — I don’t know,” Guthrie said at the time. She woke the next morning to discover a gap where a molar had been. “I had, like, a blank space. It’s weird,” she added.
Thursday’s news triggered an on-air toast during Jenna Bush Hager’s “Morning Boost” segment. Daly appeared alongside Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones, and the group raised pints of Guinness beer to mark his new role.
Guthrie seized the moment to praise her colleague. “I always say to anyone who will listen that Carson is like salt and pepper on a meal. He makes everything taste better, he makes every segment he’s in pop,” she said. “You bring so much love and light and I am so happy, so cheers to you,” she added.
Daly’s own statement struck a domestic note. “I’m thrilled to add ‘Saturday Today’ to my weekday morning schedule,” he said. “My kids asked if I’ll still make pancakes. I told them yes, but I’ll be making them for Laura, Joe and Angie instead. I’m equal parts grateful and excited for this opportunity.”
Libby Leist, executive vice president of Today and Lifestyle, framed the move in institutional terms. “Carson has been an integral part of the ‘Today’ family for the past 13 years, and we are thrilled that our viewers get to spend one more day of the week with him,” she said in a statement. “Carson and Laura make a great team, and we can’t wait for this fresh new chapter of ‘Saturday Today,'” she added.
The Daly-Jarrett pairing now anchors a weekend edition that has cycled through several configurations in recent years, with the network betting on chemistry forged partly through those unscripted afternoons.
Daly will continue his weekday “Today” duties while integrating the Saturday commitment into a schedule that already spans radio, occasional primetime specials and family time.
