Savannah Guthrie Uses Newfound ‘Power’ To Put Her BFF Atop
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Matt Lauer’s firing from the Today show for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the work place” meant big changes for the network. After 20 years with NBC the disgraced anchor had a strong hand in the production of the show, and now that he is out so are the people he brought up with him.
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Savannah Guthrie, who shared the desk with Matt for five years, welcomed the promotion of Hoda Kotb who replaced her former co-host, but reportedly left some staffers at the Today show "shocked" over a recent move that many insiders see as a "power grab."
Photo credit: Getty Images
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A source spoke to Page Six and said the Savannah pushed out Matt Lauer’s friend and executive producer Don Nash — who started as an NBC page and has been there for 30 years — and replaced him with her pal Libby Leist.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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“Libby is Savannah’s best friend, and Savannah pushed Don out to put Libby there. It is a power grab by Savannah to make sure she gets the best assignments and has someone at the top looking out for her,” the insider said.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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“This isn’t an issue with [Hoda] — who is just happy to be there — but it is an issue with some of the staff, who had hoped, with the ousting of Lauer, that the era of anchors with outsized power calling the shots was over.”
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However, another source pointed out that “it is not unusual at all for there to be an EP change following an anchor change,” but staffers assumed the job was going to co-executive producer Tom Mazzarelli instead.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Another source defended the change and said that Savannah’s friend is qualified for the job. Adding, “Libby is an incredibly accomplished and talented producer. For anyone to suggest that NBC would entrust her with the reins of its morning show that brings in over half a billion dollars a year because she’s ‘besties’ with the anchor makes zero sense and smacks of sexism.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Matt Lauer’s firing from the Today show for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the work place” meant big changes for the network. After 20 years with NBC the disgraced anchor had a strong hand in the production of the show, and now that he is out so are the people he brought up with him.
Savannah Guthrie, who shared the desk with Matt for five years, welcomed the promotion of Hoda Kotb who replaced her former co-host, but reportedly left some staffers at the Today show "shocked" over a recent move that many insiders see as a "power grab."
Photo credit: Getty Images
A source spoke to Page Six and said the Savannah pushed out Matt Lauer’s friend and executive producer Don Nash — who started as an NBC page and has been there for 30 years — and replaced him with her pal Libby Leist.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“Libby is Savannah’s best friend, and Savannah pushed Don out to put Libby there. It is a power grab by Savannah to make sure she gets the best assignments and has someone at the top looking out for her,” the insider said.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“This isn’t an issue with [Hoda] — who is just happy to be there — but it is an issue with some of the staff, who had hoped, with the ousting of Lauer, that the era of anchors with outsized power calling the shots was over.”
However, another source pointed out that “it is not unusual at all for there to be an EP change following an anchor change,” but staffers assumed the job was going to co-executive producer Tom Mazzarelli instead.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Another source defended the change and said that Savannah’s friend is qualified for the job. Adding, “Libby is an incredibly accomplished and talented producer. For anyone to suggest that NBC would entrust her with the reins of its morning show that brings in over half a billion dollars a year because she’s ‘besties’ with the anchor makes zero sense and smacks of sexism.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
