“Welcome to the Craig era!” Savannah Guthrie told staffers of her new “Today” co-anchor, Craig Melvin, after he was unveiled as Hoda Kotb’s replacement on Thursday.
An insider told Page Six that the morning show’s internal staff meeting was “downright joyful” after the news broke.
We’re told “Today” staff was “cheering and chanting, ‘Craig, Craig, Craig!’” as Melvin entered the room.
Guthrie added during a speech, “The future is so, so bright and we are so grateful that we have Craigers,” Guthrie’s nickname for Melvin.
Holding back tears, Melvin spoke and said, “This is more special to me and my family than you probably will ever know,” we hear.
Melvin, 45, vowed to his colleagues to, “continue to do the work and hopefully stand on your shoulders and represent all of you like Hoda has,” we’re told.
“Today” bosses Libby Leist and Tommy Mazzarelli also spoke, spies told Page Six.
Kotb attended with her fourth hour “Today” host, Jenna Bush Hager, and “everyone was hugging and cheering,” the source said.
Melvin taking over for Kotb — who said in September that she’d leave the show on Jan. 10 — was a no brainer for industry insiders and staffers at “Today.”
One insider pointed out that Melvin paid his dues after being at the network for well over a decade.
“It is a moment where one of the good guys finally got his due… They did right by him. Had they passed him over, it would have been offensive,” the source said.
“Now it just remains to be seen if they will retain that ‘magic Hoda dust.’ He could be the male version of her. It will come down to TV chemistry,” the insider added.
Several sources described Melvin as the “nicest guy ever.” “People love him. They are overwhelmingly thrilled. Everyone is happy,” the second source said.
He has Kotb’s seal of approval, too.
“You were made for this job… You have all the things that this job needs. You’re the right person for it,” she told him after the announcement.
An “excited and grateful” Melvin, said it meant “a lot to inherit” the position from Kotb, and called her “the heart” of the show.
“This is the latest in a long line of blessings. I talked to mom and dad yesterday, and I’m thankful they’re still young enough and healthy enough to be able to see this,” he said during Thursday’s broadcast.
Starting Jan. 13, “Today with Hoda & Jenna” will be rebranded as “Today with Jenna & Friends,” with a “rotating cast of fill-in co-hosts” until they find a permanent replacement.
