Savannah Guthrie to Host 'Wordle' Show for NBC as Mother's Disappearance Hits 100 Days

Savannah Guthrie Announces New Primetime 'Wordle' Game Show

NBC has officially announced that "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie will be the host of a new primetime "Wordle" game show. This announcement coincides with the 100-day mark of her mother's disappearance, adding a layer of personal significance to the project.

Jimmy Fallon, the host of "The Tonight Show," who is set to produce the game show, appeared on "Today" alongside Guthrie to promote the new program. During the interview, Fallon shared some behind-the-scenes details about the development of the show.

"We’ve been developing ‘Wordle’ as a game show for the past two and a half years with The New York Times, and it’s official, we are making ‘Wordle’ game show with our host, Savannah Guthrie!" Fallon said, expressing his excitement about the collaboration.

Guthrie added, "We’ve been holding this secret between us for, like, a long time now." Her comments highlighted the secrecy surrounding the project, which has been in the works for several years.

A Personal Connection to the Game Show

"Wordle" is a widely-popular puzzle game that first went viral in 2021 and was later acquired by The New York Times. The game's popularity has made it a household name, and its adaptation into a television format is a significant move for NBC.

Guthrie revealed that "Wordle" had been picked up by NBC in February and was supposed to be shot in March. However, the network's plans were disrupted by the tragic disappearance of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her Tucson, Arizona, home. She expressed gratitude to the network, Fallon, The Times, and Universal for pausing production.

"When everything happened with me and my family, they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you,’" Savannah said. "And Hollywood is like a really tough business, as you know, and I didn’t expect that. And I just want to say, thank you. It means so much to me."

Fallon responded, "We can’t do it without you," adding, "We need you, bud. You’re so good, and it’s so fun. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It’s fantastic."

Filming is expected to take place in the summer, although an air date has yet to be announced.

The Search for Nancy Guthrie Continues

Guthrie returned to "Today" in early April after a two-month absence as the search for her mother drew national attention. Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been taken from her home against her will in the early hours of February 1 and was last seen when her son-in-law dropped her off at home around 10 p.m. the night before.

Footage captured from a device in front of the home showed a masked man was seen on her doorstep and appeared to be armed with a handgun. This incident has raised concerns about her safety and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

A series of unverified ransom notes were sent to media outlets, including TMZ and a local Tucson station, leading many to believe the disappearance is somehow financially motivated. However, no suspects have been publicly identified.

Appeals for Public Help

Investigators and the family have repeatedly appealed to the public for help. There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million in connection with the case — a million of it from the Guthrie family for their mother's recovery. The family has asked anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.