SH0CK ANNOUNCEMENT: Today unveils a new co-host in surprise shake-up - GMT - G1
‘NO NEED TO THINK TWICE’: Today ANNOUNCES New Co-Host in Sh0cking Move
TODAY Show hired a new lead co-anchor to take a seat at the desk in September in a surprise move as NBC executives praised the host’s “tireless reporting.”
The U.S. Sun has learned that Laura Garrett will be taking on the role at the desk, co-hosting Saturday Today as well as NBC News Saturday.
Laura Garrett has been named as the new co-anchor for Saturday Today and NBC News SaturdayCredit: Getty
NBC execs praised Laura’s tireless reporting in a statement obtained by The U.S. SunCredit: Instagram / Laura Jarrett
A new face has been added to the Today Show anchor deskCredit: NBC
For the big switch, Laura will be working for the weekend version of Today from its new home in New York City, after it was hosted from Washington D.C. for the past two years.
“In her first months at NBC News, Laura has quickly made her mark with tireless reporting, sharp legal insight and powerful storytelling,” Libby Leist, Executive Vice President of Today said in a statement.
“Not only is she a terrific journalist, she’s also a wonderful colleague. We can’t wait to officially welcome her to Saturday TODAY.”
The veteran journalist joined NBC News in January 2023 covering the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court while also providing analysis on legal issues, law enforcement and major breaking news stories.
NBC News correspondent Joe Fryer will also join the New York weekend team as the Today Feature Ancho, according to NBC.
Joining Peter Alexander, Laura Jarrett and Joe Fryer in studio 1A will be meteorologist Angie Lassman who joined NBC News in December 2022.
It was also recently announced that Kristen Welker, who has been co-hosting the Today weekend desk, had taken on a new role as moderator on Meet The Press.
Kristen will continue co-anchoring Saturday Today through August.
MAJOR MOVES
In June, Kristen’s move was announced with help from Today’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb.
“Chief White House Correspondent, Saturday anchor of Weekend TODAY, and now we can announce: new moderator of ‘Meet the Press,’” Savannah said before breaking into applause.
“Come on girl,” Hoda said while clapping. “Way to go, way to go!”
Kristen beamed as Savannah described her as “one of the most capable and wonderful and best colleagues we have.”
“My TODAY show family, you guys have been so supportive of me, always, and in this moment I’m so grateful,” Kristen said.
“This is truly the honor of my life.”
Kristen replaces Chuck Todd as moderator, and is the second woman and first Black journalist to moderate ‘Meet the Press.’
“I’m just so fortunate, proud and I just feel so truly humbled that after nearly a decade of serving as moderator an extraordinary body of work that Chuck is the one passing the baton on to me,” she said during the June announcement.
In June it was announced that Kristen Welker was moving to Meet The Press as moderator, she will conclude her Saturday Today co-hosting responsibilities this monthCredit: Getty
Laura’s position will be in New York, as the studios for Saturday Today are heading back to the Big Apple from DCCredit: Getty
Chaos at NBC: Production Staff Stage Mass Walkout Over Star Host's 'Toxic Bullying'!
NEW YORK — The famously affable persona that defined Jimmy Fallon’s late-night dominance just took a devastating hit following an explosive exposé by Rolling Stone. An array of internal communications, paper trails, and testimonies from 16 current and former staff members have peeled back the curtain on a toxic, high-pressure environment inside Studio 6B at The Tonight Show.
Behind the Megawatt Grin: The "Crying Room" of Studio 6B
To tens of millions of viewers tuning in each night, Fallon appeared to be the ultimate showman: buoyant, approachable, and quick to turn celebrity interviews into lighthearted games. But according to internal accounts, daily life for the show's production crew felt more like walking through a minefield.
Witnesses described a workplace culture held hostage by the host's unpredictable mood swings:
"Good Jimmy Days" vs. "Bad Jimmy Days": Staffers reportedly spent mornings reading the room to anticipate the host's temper. On bad days, minor production errors could trigger verbal lashings and public dressing-downs in front of colleagues.
Guest Dressing Rooms Turned "Crying Rooms": The psychological strain was so severe that empty guest dressing rooms reportedly became sanctuaries where staff retreated to cry and regain composure before heading back onto the studio floor.
Severe Mental Toll: Multiple staffers described seeking therapy, taking prescribed anti-anxiety medications, or leaving the industry altogether after months of enduring chronic emotional exhaustion.
HR Complaints and Systemic Instability
The investigative report outlined issues extending far beyond occasional bad days, pointing instead to systemic administrative neglect over nearly a decade.
Internal emails and formal complaints submitted to NBC’s Human Resources documented erratic behavior, explosive outbursts, and concerns regarding the host's workplace conduct. Yet, with Fallon serving as a ratings engine and core asset for the network, complaints were repeatedly brushed aside or quietly managed, leaving junior personnel with little choice but to transfer or resign.
The revolving door in the executive offices mirrored that chaos: The Tonight Show burned through nine showrunners in just nine years—an unprecedented turnover rate that underscored chronic instability at the top.
A Midnight Apology to the Crew
Hours after the report went live and triggered a wave of public backlash across social media, Fallon and showrunner Chris Miller convened an emergency, mandatory Zoom meeting with the production team.
During the call, Fallon offered a contrite, somber apology to his staff:
"It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends… I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive to everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people."
While the internal apology acknowledged the distress within the ranks, the revelation has permanently altered public perception. The revelation leaves NBC’s flagship late-night franchise grappling with a stark reality: the cost of prime-time laughter was borne by a backstage crew driven to the brink.
