It was intended for Hoda Kotb’s post-“Today” chapter to be a happy reinvention.
According to reports, her first significant autonomous endeavor has instead caused NBC employees to become frustrated, mocked, and quietly resentful.
The former morning show star is encountering a surprisingly cold response from the very job she left behind, as insiders describe growing frustration with her requests and question her next enterprise.
Hoda Kotb’s Post Today Exit Has Left Colleagues Irritated
One year after leaving her co-anchor position on “Today,” Hoda Kotb is discovering that her split from NBC hasn’t been a fresh start.
Insiders claim that the 61-year-old presenter has continued to rely on her former coworkers for help while she develops her YouTube project, “Joy Rides.”
Sources claim that this outreach has become exhausting.
In a direct statement to the Daily Mail, one insider said, “Even Hoda doesn’t really know what this is.” She is referred to by the personnel as a constant annoyance. Now that she’s quit, everyone is over her pleading for favors.
What used to be a polite request from a well-known person is now referred to be a constant burden.
According to reports, employees who are still heavily involved in the daily grind of network news feel overworked and have limited tolerance for side initiatives that are no longer under NBC’s purview.
Inside The Mockery Surrounding Hoda Kotb’s ‘Joy Rides’ Launch
“Joy Rides” was launched as a series of celebrity interviews centered on unscripted discussions within automobiles, a simplified version of the well-known mobile interview style.
Featuring “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, the premiere program aired on January 21 and was recorded prior to Guthrie’s absence on December 19 for vocal cord surgery.
NBC executives were not impressed by the well-known guest. Many people behind the scenes made fun of the early-morning session, which was mostly shot in near darkness, as an unstable debut.
“The staff are sick of it,” an NBC producer said without holding back. Finding content for Hoda’s app is not their responsibility. They simply want her to leave because they are exhausted from working for NBC News. She’s trying too hard. On paper, the concept was adorable, but in practice, it’s awkward, forced, and draining. When people are tapped out, Hoda’s charm only lasts so long.
More than just creative critique is implied by the tone. It shows the weariness of a staff that is already under stress and feels dragged into a project that they think should be left alone.
Savannah Guthrie’s Appearance Raised Eyebrows At NBC
One of the main points of contention was Savannah Guthrie’s participation in the launch episode.
Despite the long-standing on-air bond between the former co-anchors, insiders said Guthrie’s involvement did little to spark excitement at NBC.
Rather, it increased doubts about the project’s applicability and scope.
According to one report, Savannah offered her fifteen minutes at four in the morning, highlighting the appearance’s limitations. You can learn everything from that. Savannah wouldn’t do media for anyone else with so little subscribers. In essence, Hoda is trying to regain her relevance, but nobody is impressed.
Joy 101, a channel with just under 2,000 subscribers, had received 9,497 views of the five-question interview at the time of publication.
These numbers confirmed to NBC critics that the premiere of the show did not warrant the effort that went into it.
Ratings Anxiety And Savannah Guthrie’s Absence
“Joy Rides” was the subject of intense criticism at the same time as “Today.”
Insiders claim that Guthrie went into “full panic mode” during her medical leave.
“Savannah is trying to laugh it off in public, but she’s really shaken in private,” a source claimed. She didn’t realize she had a nerve as she watched the ratings rise without her.
Ratings for the week of late December and early January indicated a 12 percent year-over-year increase, which apparently heightened that anxiousness.
“She’s updating the ratings reports like it’s her full-time job right now,” the person continued. She is being consumed by it. She is now extremely conscious of every co-host moment and every on-air decision. She seems to be viewing the show for the first time from outside. Her greatest concern is that this will alter NBC’s perception of her influence. She is staying up at night just thinking about it.
NBC Pushback And Hoda Kotb’s Post-Exit Fallout
Some employees noticed a discernible shift in tone while she was away.
As soon as Savannah was gone, the atmosphere changed. One source claimed that it no longer seemed like a classroom but rather like a community of equals. She instinctively assumes leadership roles, but everyone else finally relaxes when she leaves. It feels more laid back and cooperative. The set is now less tense. Nobody is concerned about being corrected in the middle of a conversation or going out of line. The program has a cozier vibe. It’s more akin to buddies sharing a space rather than a single authority figure controlling everything.
In response, NBC said, “Today is posting its best ratings in 14 years so far this season.” Savannah Guthrie has been in charge of the program for nearly all of that time, and she is crucial to its popularity.
The response from within NBC indicates that Hoda Kotb’s departure has left unresolved conflicts as she continues to forge her own path.
Instead, what was supposed to be a new beginning has revealed persisting tensions, changing allegiances, and a business that changes more quickly than its former stars might have thought.
