Where is Craig Melvin? ‘Today’ viewers wonder amid co-anchor’s absence
“Today” show viewers are keeping an eye out for Craig Melvin amid the newly minted co-anchor’s absence. Melvin replaced veteran Hoda Kotb in January as leading the 7 to 9 a.m. blo…
“Where in the world is Craig Melvin” is the question on “Today” show viewers’ lips, amid the co-anchor’s absence this week, just months into succeeding Hoda Kotb in January.
Kotb, 60, announced in September that network mainstay Melvin, 45, would replace her on the 7 to 9 a.m. block alongside Savannah Guthrie.
Guthrie, 53, on April 10 shared that sports commentator Mike Tirico would co-host in Melvin’s absence, noting, “Craig’s going on Easter break with his kids.” Melvin shares son Delano, 11, and daughter Sybil, 8, with wife, sports broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak.
But still, some were surprised when Melvin was absent from their screens, with several outlets running stories dedicated to his absence.
This isn’t Melvin’s first extended absence so early into his new gig.
In an apparent attempt to get ahead of speculation, NBC itself published a March 12 story, begging the question, “Where is Craig Melvin on the ‘TODAY’ Show — and Is He OK?” amid a days-long absence.
The network shared that Melvin had tested positive for the flu, joking that it coincidentally happened to be March Madness.
“However, it coincides with [Melvin’s alma mater] Wofford winning last night so maybe he stayed up and watched the game,” quipped Guthrie.
Melvin was “literally made for this job,” Kotb said upon announcing in November that he would replace her after nearly 20 years with the show, calling it “one of the most popular decisions NBC News has ever made.”
Kotb announced in September that upon celebrating her 60th birthday, she wanted “to try something new” and would therefore be stepping away from “the longest professional love affair of my life.”