Hey there, friends! This week, you might have noticed something a little different when tuning into NBC Nightly News. Instead of hearing Lester Holt's steady voice, Savannah Guthrie was smiling and delivering the news. What's the scoop? Lester, who has been anchoring the show for over two-and-a-half years, had to call in sick on Tuesday, February 20, according to TVNewser. Yep, even anchors need a break sometimes.
Turns out, Lester caught the flu after returning from his coverage of the Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. He landed back in the States on Saturday, February 17, and managed to anchor the show for a couple more nights. But eventually, his body said, "Enough!" One thoughtful commenter on the TVNewser post even chimed in with some sage advice: "Get lots of rest, eat plenty of chicken soup. Miss your broadcast." How sweet is that?
View this post on InstagramTamaflu+a warm puppy+chicken soup sent by my @datelinenbc friends: everything I need to beat the flu. Thanks to @savannahguthrie for holding the fort on @nbcnightlynews Hope to be better tomorrow!
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Savannah Guthrie: The Ultimate Stand-In
With Lester under the weather, Savannah Guthrie has had to step up and take on a double shift. She's been hosting the Today show until late at night, covering PyeongChang time, and then waking up early to anchor NBC Nightly News. Can you imagine how tired she must be? I know I'd be running on a lot of caffeine. Hopefully, Lester's treating her to a few Starbucks runs to keep her energized!
Why Lester Loved His Time in South Korea
Even though he's sick now, Lester clearly had a blast during his time in South Korea. In an earlier interview with Business Insider, he described the Olympics as "a really nice distraction." He explained, "There's something about the Olympics that kind of transcends politics. Honestly, it gives us a little break, not that we don't cover politics, but it allows us to focus on something truly unifying." At 58 years old, Lester went on to say, "But more than a distraction, it's great to see young athletes — not just American ones but kids from all over the world — who work tirelessly year after year. They get this once-in-a-lifetime shot every four years, and if they're lucky, they come away with a medal and people remember their names. It's just fun to be a part of." Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?
NBC's Winning Streak
It seems Lester's time in South Korea was a win-win for everyone. NBC Nightly News ranked as the #1 most-watched evening broadcast among 25-to-54-year-old news viewers during the first week of the Olympics. This continues an impressive 87-week streak. So, in the 2018 Evening News Games, Lester definitely takes home the gold medal, wouldn't you say?
