Carson Daly Named Permanent Co-Anchor of Saturday Today
Longtime NBC personality expands his role to include weekend morning broadcast duties.
1Permanent Weekend Role
Carson Daly has officially been named the permanent co-anchor for Saturday Today. He will join Laura Jarrett on the weekend broadcast starting November 7. This appointment follows his tenure as an interim co-anchor since September, filling the vacancy created after Peter Alexander departed the network in March after twenty-two years.
2Expanded Network Presence
Despite his new weekend responsibilities, Daly will maintain his existing duties on the regular weekday broadcasts of Today. He has been a consistent presence at NBC for thirteen years, originally joining the network to host the Orange Room. His continued involvement underscores his status as a central figure within the network.
3Collaborative Team Dynamics
The Saturday Today team will feature Daly alongside co-anchor Laura Jarrett, feature anchor Joe Fryer, and meteorologist Angie Lassman. Libby Leist, Executive Vice President of Today and Lifestyle, expressed enthusiasm for the new lineup. She highlighted the chemistry between Daly and Jarrett as a key component for this fresh chapter.
4Career Longevity and Evolution
Daly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue his professional growth alongside his colleagues. Having hosted MTV’s TRL from 1998 to 2003 and NBC’s Last Call until 2019, he remains a versatile broadcaster. He currently continues his long-running role as the host of NBC’s The Voice, which he has led since 2011.
5Internal Network Support
During the announcement on the weekday broadcast, colleague Savannah Guthrie praised Daly’s contributions to the show. She described him as an essential element that improves every segment he participates in. The team celebrated the news with a Guinness toast, referencing Daly’s recent ancestral visit to Ireland during the live segment.
6Context of Network Changes
The shift in the Saturday Today anchor desk follows the departure of Peter Alexander, who left the network to pursue a new role at MS NOW. This transition marks a significant change for the weekend morning program, which relies on the established rapport between its anchors to maintain consistent viewer engagement levels.
7Broadcasting Philosophy
Daly emphasized that his motivation for the new role is rooted in the quality of his coworkers. He noted that spending six days a week in the studio is an honor because of the people involved. His approach focuses on maintaining a positive environment while delivering news and pop culture updates daily.
8Future Program Outlook
As Daly prepares for his November 7 start date, the network anticipates a seamless transition for the Saturday audience. By retaining a familiar face from the weekday rotation, NBC aims to stabilize the weekend format. The program will continue to balance hard news with the lighthearted segments that define the brand.