The morning was already packed with gifts when “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie looked at her longtime colleague, Hoda Kotb, and teased another surprise.
“Well, listen, we have one last guest this time who wants to wish you well for your next adventure,” Ms. Guthrie said.
Kermit the Frog popped up on the couch and started serenading Ms. Kotb with “Rainbow Connection,” a song he sings to his two young daughters every night.
“Oh my God,” Ms. Kotb’s mouth, when he held his daughters on the couch “Today” and wiped away tears.
During the 8 a.m. hour of NBC’s “Today” on Friday, all the big stories of the news day are unheard of – Los Angeles fires, president-elect Donald J. Trump’s campaign ruled in New York court, the Supreme Court TikTok heard – was dismissed.
Instead, the show turned into an ongoing celebration of Ms. Kotb, who left “Today” for the last time. In September, Ms. Kotb, in notificationsaid he will leave the job, one of the most important in television, after being part of the show for 17 years. He said during his recent 60th birthday that he wanted more time with his children. NBC announced in November that “Today” host, Craig Melvin, will change it.
Mrs. Kotb’s departure has allowed NBC to boast something that can sometimes be difficult for the “Today” franchise: a shift in power.
Mrs. Kotb’s manager, Matt Lauer, never had a chance to say goodbye to the viewers behind him was quickly fired by the network, has been accused of sexual misconduct. When Ann Curry was forced to leave as a host of “Today” in 2012, she all but told viewers she refused to leave. “To all of you who see me as a player, I’m sorry that I couldn’t get the ball to the end, but man, I tried,” he said of his final as the home owner.
Mrs. Kotb, on the other hand, left when he was on top. And the network he’s called home for 26 years has made it clear he’ll be happy to give his star-spangled send off.
Special guests – including Simone Biles, Kathie Lee Gifford, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Jimmy Fallon and Jamie Lee Curtis – all presented awards on Friday, ending a week that “Today” was written billed as “Hoda-bration!”
“I can’t believe you came,” Ms. Kotb said, his voice breaking, while greeting and hugging the gymnast Ms. Biles in the studio.
“Yes,” Ms. Biles replied. “You showed up and inspired me.”
Mrs. Kotb is coming out of a very turbulent business. Salaries for news anchors are beginning to decline, and other veterans, including Chris Wallace of CNN and Neil Cavuto of Fox News, have also announced their resignations recently.
Mrs. Kotb released “Today” very well. The show has bested its rival, “Good Morning America,” in total viewers and all-important demographic ratings for 10 consecutive weeks. That’s the show’s longest such winning streak in more than a decade. Mrs. Kotb is also leaving her role to host the popular 10 a.m. show with Jenna Bush Hager.
At 8 o’clock in the morning on Friday, Ms. Guthrie and other “Today” regulars gave their farewells in a video package.
“Hoda, I love you, I love you very much,” Ms. Guthrie said. “Like I always told you, whether you sit next to me or not, whether we wake up at 4 in the morning together or not, I will be by your side, and you will always be by my side. “
Mrs. Kotb, again in tears, then looked at his colleagues, and charged them all. He told Carson Daly that he was the “secret fish” on the show. As for Al Roker, he said he was his first friend on “Today.” For Ms. Guthrie, he said, “My God, you are my person, you are my person.”
And to his heir, Mr. Melvin, he told her he had “got this,” before he kicked out to laughter from the “Today” studio.
“Come Monday, at 7 o’clock in the morning,” he said, “I will sleep.”