The Today show's Savannah Guthrie is about to add a new line to her resume: game show host. And not just any game show — one based on the internet's favorite daily brain teaser, Wordle.
Because apparently, guessing five-letter words with six tries is now appointment television. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for the future of entertainment.
Jimmy Fallon, who's been cooking up this concept with The New York Times for over two years, dropped the news that Guthrie would be the one wrangling contestants. He called it "very exciting," which is exactly what you'd expect from a late-night host with a new project.
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Start Your News DetoxFor the two people living under a rock since 2021, Wordle gives players six attempts to pinpoint a new five-letter word every 24 hours. The New York Times snapped up the game in January 2022, clearly seeing the potential for global obsession (and, now, cash prizes).
The TV adaptation promises a "super fast-paced and fun family game." Contestants will duke it out for those sweet, sweet cash rewards. Fallon, ever the hype man, gushed that Savannah was the "perfect host" because she "looks like she plays Wordle" and, you know, "knows how to run a show."
A Bittersweet Project
Here's where it gets a little less game show glitz and a lot more real life. Guthrie revealed that production for the show had to hit pause due to a personal crisis. Her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1st. The show was originally slated to start filming in March.
NBC, Jimmy Fallon's team, The New York Times, and Universal decided to delay filming, a move Savannah publicly thanked them for. She noted that Hollywood isn't exactly known for its patience or understanding, making their support particularly meaningful.
Three months later, Nancy Guthrie is still missing, and leads are scarce. Savannah admitted that doing anything right now feels strange, but she described the Wordle project as "full of joy." Which, in the face of such a difficult personal struggle, makes a show about guessing words feel a little less trivial and a lot more like a necessary dose of happy.
