Savannah Guthrie has had a traumatic 2026 as her beloved mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing in early February. Now, as the much-talked-about FBI investigation continues, the longtime NBC host has a new show on the horizon, a television version of the New York Times game Wordle.
The announcement came one day after Gutherie shared a Mother’s Day message as the search for her mom continues.
According to a press release, NBC has greenlit a TV game show version of the iconic game “Wordle,” with Guthrie, an avid player, as host. The series, executive-produced by Jimmy Fallon, is expected to premiere sometime in 2027.
On the show, players will be challenged to solve five-letter word puzzles in what is described as “a supersized battle of smarts, speed and fun.”
The show’s official tagline continues: “It builds on the way the puzzle community engages with Wordle every day — solving together, sharing wins, debating strategies, and cheering one another on.” The series’ contestants will compete for cash prizes, and casting is currently underway.
Jimmy Fallon Released A Statement
Fallon released a statement following the news that NBC had ordered “Wordle” with Guthrie as host. He said, “I feel very honored to be working with Savannah Guthrie on this show.”
He continued, “Savannah has that rare combination of intelligence, charm, and warmth that makes everyone feel instantly welcome. And she obviously knows how to host a show. I am SUPER PROUD and HAPPY, and I think we developed a SOLID GAMER for PRIME-time.”
Fallon, who also hosts NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” has produced several other shows for the network. One of the most recent is the now-canceled “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon.” However, he was also behind the “That’s My Jam” and the revival of “Password.”
Fans Are Mixed On The Idea Of A ‘Wordle’ Game Show
Game shows remain quite popular on network television. However, social media users have mixed opinions about bringing “Wordle” to television screens. One person said on X, “I’ll never watch NBC again. Savannah is gonna scream at you, courtesy of Jimmy Fallon. This is a horrible idea, and it’ll flop like Jimmy’s other shows.”
Another person said, “Imagine explaining to someone in 2019 that guessing a 5-letter word online would become a whole NBC game show.”
After that, a different social media user stated, “So we’re all going to sit down in 2027 and watch people sweat over five-letter words like it’s the Super Bowl of spelling? Somewhere, a parent is already yelling “IT’S EITHER CRANE OR SLATE!” at the TV.”
Lastly, another X user said, “Wordle becoming a TV game show in 2027 is peak ‘turn everything into content’ era. Somehow it still makes sense, though.”
Savannah Guthrie Returned To ‘Today’ in April
Guthrie’s mother went missing on February 1 after last being seen the night before. Naturally, the beloved host took some time away from her hosting duties as the investigation into her mother’s disappearance kicked into gear.
Per NBC, she then returned to the show on April 6 after not being featured since the last Friday of January. Guthrie was greeted not only by her cohosts but also by welcoming fans holding signs with hopeful messages.
She addressed the crowd, saying, “These signs are so beautiful. You guys have been so beautiful. I’ve received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my whole family. We feel it. We feel your prayers, so thank you so much.”
‘Today’ Remains The Number 1 Show In Morning TV
Guthrie has been a staple on “Today” since 2012 and currently hosts the show alongside Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, Al Roker, and Jenna Bush Hager. According to TV Insider, the latest ratings show it remains the highest-rated of the three network morning shows, which include ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS Mornings.”
For the week of April 20, “Today” averaged 2.996 million viewers. The show drew 639,000 viewers in the all-important 25 to 54 demographic. These numbers represent increases of 1% and 5%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2025.
“Good Morning America” wasn’t far behind, with 2.924 million total viewers. “CBS Mornings” came in third, averaging 1.756 million.
