Savannah Guthrie Formally Introduced as 'Today' Show New Co-Host [VIDEO]
Savannah Guthrie was officially introduced as the new co-anchor of NBC's "Today" show on Monday's broadcast.
Matt Lauer welcomed Guthrie saying: "You bring a great attitude and what we like to call a weird sense of humor to this program," he said.
"It's an honor to be here," a charismatic Guthrie replied.
"I'm so proud and honored to be in a place occupied by so many women that I admire. Ann, Meredith, and Katie, and Jane, Deborah, Barbara," she said. "I love being with you guys every day."
The show also featured a special about Guthrie with highlights from her life and career.
Guthrie replaced Ann Curry who was fired on June 28 after one year as main co-host of the show.
Curry left the show in tears, amid a fierce ratings battle with ABC’s “Good Morning America” that bested NBC's hit morning show a couple of times during the Spring.
Curry's departure was criticized by several viewers who threatened not to watch the show.
It was also speculated that Lauer played a key role in Curry's departure and that the atmosphere between the two co-hosts was very tense on the days prior to Curry's farewell.
Guthrie, was co-host of the 9 a.m. hour of "Today" and the show's legal analyst.
Watch Today's Announcement :
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Guthrie graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1993 and received the top score on the Arizona Bar Exam in 2002. That year she received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was a member of Order of the Coif and received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers' Student Advocacy Award for her work with victims of domestic violence.
Prior to joining the "Today" show she worked as NBC News White House Correspondent from December 2008 to June 2011. She also worked as co-host of MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown" from January 20120 to June 2011, according to her biography on the show's website.
Guthrie joined NBC News in 2007. She traveled with Sarah Palin's campaign during the 2008 presidential elections. Guthrie and a team won an Emmy in 2009 for their coverage on election night.
Prior to 2007, she was the legal affairs correspondent based in Washington, D.C. for Court TV from 2006 to 2007. Guthrie covered Congress, the Supreme Court, and high-profile court proceedings, including the Zacarias Moussaoui trial, the Lewis “Scooter” Libby case, and the Samuel Alito confirmation hearings.
From 2004-2006, Guthrie was a national trial correspondent for Court TV. She reported on trials and court proceedings, including the Michael Jackson child molestation case, the Boston clergy sex abuse scandal and trial involving Father Paul Shanley, and the sentencing of Martha Stewart.
Guthrie joined Court TV from the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where she practiced law with an emphasis in white-collar litigation from 2002-2003.
From 2000-2002, Guthrie was a freelance reporter at WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., where she covered the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the 2001 anthrax mailings.
Guthrie was also an anchor and reporter for KVOA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Tucson, Ariz., from 1995-1999, specializing in legal affairs and politics. From 1993-1995, Guthrie was an anchor and reporter for KMIZ-TV, the ABC affiliate in Columbia, Mo., where she anchored and produced weekend newscasts.