Prepared for a sudden exit.
NBC has devised a backup strategy for “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, incorporating a specific phrase to use if her mother’s disappearance becomes breaking news during a live broadcast.
According to a source from “Today,” should there be significant news regarding Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping while Savannah is on air, a producer will discreetly inform the 54-year-old anchor that she is “needed off set.” This phrase is their agreed signal for such situations.
“We would immediately remove her from the segment, even if it means cutting it short,” the source disclosed to the Daily Mail.
The insider explained, “Savannah knows that hearing she’s ‘needed off set’ indicates there’s important news concerning her mother. She would be taken aside and informed in private, while another anchor would handle the live announcement as a breaking story.”
“She would understand that there was news about her mom and we’d take her into an office and tell her, at the same time that another anchor would report it as a breaking story.”
The insider added that the daily morning news show would “never in a million years” have Savannah report on any news of her mother’s disappearance unless she wanted to.
The source said Guthrie “trusts” the network to tell the story respectfully and has accepted that NBC will not hold any developments on her mother’s case out of sensitivity for her.
“Savannah understands that she has a public who is very invested in Nancy’s story, and understands that we wouldn’t necessarily wait for her to find out before reporting it,” the source said.
Guthrie made her highly anticipated return to the “Today” show on Monday after spending nearly two months off air, after her 84-year-old mother vanished without a trace from her Tucson home on February 1.
The “Today” host was “welcomed with open arms, lots of hugs, some tears, some smiles,” on her first day back, according to the insider.”
Last month, after her exclusive sit-down interview with former co-host Hoda Kotb, Guthrie reportedly told NBC that she was interested in returning to the show “around now,” the insider said, adding that it would “give her enough family time and to see if there was anything promising to happen with her mom’s search.”
Once news of Nancy’s disappearance broke, “Today” show colleagues were reportedly left grappling with guilt. One source told the outlet it was “a wakeup call.”
Guthrie has had the full support of the network — including top NBC leadership execs — who, the source said, “have had her back the entire time whether she wanted to come back or not.”
The insider said Guthrie appears to be back on air for good, but the network will support her if she needs to step back again.
“If she isn’t feeling it, or needs more time off, she will be given it,’ the source said.
“They would love to have Savannah back full time, but if she has to leave, they will allow her, but they anticipate she is back for good.”
The Post reached out to NBC for comment.
