Carson Daly will begin a new role as the co-anchor of "Saturday Today" starting November 7. He will serve alongside Laura Jarrett to fill a position previously held by Peter Alexander, who departed for a new anchor role at MS NOW.
The move increases Daly's commitment to NBC News, as he is expected to continue his weekday appearances on the "Today" broadcast. This means Daly will work six days a week for the network. He will also maintain his roles as host and executive producer of "The Voice" and executive producer of "The Voice: Celebrity."
Daly has been with NBC since 2002, appearing on programs including "Last Call" and "The Voice." Since 2013, he has been a correspondent and co-anchor for "Today," where he originally provided updates on trending popular culture on social media before becoming more integrated into the anchor team.
Libby Leist, executive vice president of Today and lifestyle at NBC News, stated in a press release that Carson has been an integral part of the "Today" family for the past 13 years and that the network is thrilled viewers can spend one more day of the week with him. She added that Daly and Jarrett make a great team for this fresh new chapter.
Daly, who is not known as a hard news journalist, brings years of experience as a host and interviewer from his time in radio and for MTV. NBC News believes he and Jarrett, who specializes in legal issues, will complement each other. The show will also continue to feature feature anchor Joe Fryer and meteorologist Angie Lassman.
The change comes as NBC News recalibrates its Saturday lineup following a shuffle by ABC for the weekend editions of "Good Morning America." On September 12, Disney news division's senior political correspondent Rachel Scott began co-anchoring Saturday telecasts of "Good Morning America" with Whit Johnson, while Rhiannon Ally moved to Sundays with Gio Benitez.
Daly's arrival appears aimed at giving the show a distinct identity, similar to the in-depth interviews on Willie Geist’s "Sunday Today" or the music and food focus of "CBS Mornings" on Saturdays. Previously, NBC News staffed "Saturday Today" with journalists tied to Washington, D.C. coverage. Before Jarrett joined, Peter Alexander was paired with Kristen Welker, who now moderates "Meet the Press." At one point, those two anchors hosted the program from the nation's capital.
In a statement, Daly said he is thrilled to add the Saturday show to his weekday schedule. He joked that while his kids asked if he would still make pancakes, he told them he would be making them for Laura, Joe, and Angie instead. He stated he is equal parts grateful and excited for the opportunity.
