Morning television is a weird beast. You wake up, stumble to the kitchen, and there are these familiar faces on the screen acting like your best friends while you’re still trying to remember how the coffee maker works. For decades, the weekday crew at 30 Rock has been the gold standard, but the NBC Today Show weekend hosts have carved out a vibe that is totally different. It’s looser. It’s less "hard news and stock tickers" and more "let’s talk about this cool dog and maybe eat some pancakes."
Honestly, the Saturday and Sunday lineups have gone through so many musical chairs over the last few years that it’s hard to keep track of who is actually sitting on that orange couch when the weekend rolls around.
The current Saturday lineup: Peter Alexander and Laura Jarrett
If you tune in on a Saturday morning, you’re seeing the duo of Peter Alexander and Laura Jarrett. This pairing feels like a deliberate move by NBC to keep the show grounded in actual journalism while maintaining that "weekend casual" energy.
Peter Alexander is basically a staple at NBC at this point. He’s been around the block—from the White House beat to the Olympics—and he brings a sort of steady, "I know what I'm talking about" gravity to the desk. He joined the Saturday edition back in 2018, and he hasn't really missed a beat since. Then you have Laura Jarrett. She stepped into the co-anchor role in late 2023, replacing Kristen Welker (who moved over to Meet the Press).
Jarrett has an interesting background. She’s a lawyer. She worked at CNN covering the Justice Department before making the jump to NBC. You can tell. When they’re discussing a legal ruling or a complex political shift, she has this way of breaking it down that doesn’t feel like she’s reading a teleprompter. It feels like she’s explaining it to you over brunch.
Why this duo works
There’s a specific chemistry you need for a weekend show. It can’t be too stiff. Alexander and Jarrett seem to actually like each other, which is something you can’t fake for the cameras. People tried to fake it in the 90s, and it looked terrible. Now, audiences have a "BS meter" that is way too sensitive for forced laughter.
- Peter brings the institutional NBC knowledge.
- Laura brings the sharp, legal-eagle perspective.
- Joe Fryer and Angie Lassman (on weather) round out the "crew" feeling.
The Sunday morning shift with Willie Geist
Sunday is a totally different animal. Sunday Today is basically the Willie Geist show. If the Saturday show is a brisk walk through the news, the Sunday show is a long, slow exhale.
Willie Geist has been the solo anchor of Sunday Today since 2016. He has this specific "Sunday Sitdown" segment that has become a bit of a prestige destination for A-list celebrities. He isn't hitting them with "gotcha" questions. He’s just... talking. Whether it's Jerry Seinfeld or Jennifer Aniston, the interviews feel more like a podcast than a traditional morning show segment.
It’s a smart move by NBC. By the time Sunday morning hits, most people are exhausted by the 24-hour news cycle. They don't want to hear about the latest Congressional gridlock first thing. They want to hear a songwriter talk about how they wrote a hit or see a profile on a small-town hero. Geist’s dry wit and relaxed posture fit that perfectly.
The legacy of the weekend desk
We can't talk about the NBC Today Show weekend hosts without acknowledging how many people have passed through those doors. It’s often used as a proving ground. You look back at the roster and it’s a "who’s who" of broadcast news.
- Lester Holt was a weekend mainstay before he took over the Nightly News chair. He basically defined the modern weekend anchor role.
- Jenna Wolfe brought an incredible amount of athleticism and energy to the weekend beat for years.
- Erica Hill and Sheinelle Jones both had significant runs that helped stabilize the brand during transition periods.
- Dylan Dreyer—who we still see all over the weekday show—really found her footing on the weekend weather wall.
It’s a revolving door, sure, but it’s a prestigious one. It’s not the "B-team" anymore. In the age of streaming and DVR, the weekend morning slots are some of the only times people actually sit down and watch linear television in real-time.
The Kristen Welker transition
One of the biggest shifts recently was Kristen Welker leaving the Saturday desk. Welker is a powerhouse. Watching her move to Meet the Press was inevitable, but it left a big hole. She and Peter Alexander had a very "sibling-like" rapport that was hard to replace. When Laura Jarrett was announced as the successor, there was some skepticism—mostly because replacing a fan favorite is always an uphill battle. But Jarrett’s transition was surprisingly seamless. She didn't try to be Welker; she just did her own thing.
What people get wrong about the weekend gig
A lot of people think being a weekend host is a part-time job. It’s really not. These folks are usually working through the week on other NBC platforms. Peter Alexander is often reporting for the Nightly News. Willie Geist is a regular on Morning Joe over at MSNBC.
The "weekend" part is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, the production teams are scouring for stories that don't fit the frantic pace of the Monday-Friday cycle. They want "evergreen" content—stuff that stays relevant for more than six hours. That requires a different kind of editorial brain.
- The Saturday Show: Focuses more on news-you-can-use, consumer tips, and a recap of the week’s chaos.
- The Sunday Show: Focuses on long-form storytelling and cultural deep dives.
Behind the scenes: The "Orange Room" vibe
While the weekday show has the massive plaza crowd, the weekend show often feels a bit more intimate. There are fans outside, sure, but it’s not the same level of "I’ve been standing here since 4:00 AM with a sign for my grandma" intensity. This allows the hosts to be a bit more experimental.
Joe Fryer, for example, handles the "PopStart" segments and often takes on the role of the relatable guy who’s just as obsessed with the latest Netflix show as you are. Then you have Angie Lassman, who has taken over much of the weather duties. She’s had to fill the shoes of some very big personalities, but she brings a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to the climate and weather news that works well for a weekend audience.
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Why you should care who’s on the couch
The host of a morning show acts as a filter for the world. If you don't trust the person telling you the news, you're going to start your day on edge. The current crop of NBC Today Show weekend hosts seems to understand that their job is to inform without over-stimulating.
They provide a bridge. Saturday is the bridge from the work week into the "real" weekend. Sunday is the bridge that prepares you for the week ahead.
If you haven't watched in a while, the vibe has definitely shifted. It's less about the "big spectacle" and more about the conversation. In a world where everyone is screaming at each other on social media, there’s something genuinely nice about watching a group of people who seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and each other's company.
How to keep up with changes
Television is fickle. Contracts end, people get promoted, and the lineup you see today might be different in six months. If you want to stay in the loop:
- Follow the official Today social media accounts; they usually announce host changes or guest anchors on Friday afternoons.
- Check the NBC newsroom press releases for long-term casting shifts.
- Watch the "Third Hour" or "Hoda and Jenna" during the week, as weekend hosts often sub in there, giving you a preview of who NBC is currently "testing" for bigger roles.
The best way to experience the show is to just lean into the relaxation. Grab your coffee, ignore your emails for an hour, and let Peter, Laura, and Willie handle the heavy lifting. They’ve been doing this long enough to know exactly what we need on a Saturday morning: a little bit of truth and a whole lot of humanity.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
To get the most out of your weekend morning routine, try shifting your viewing habits based on the show's structure. Tune in to the Saturday Today first hour for a concise recap of any major news you missed during the busy work week. Save the Sunday Today episode for your "slow morning"—specifically the second half-hour, which is where Willie Geist’s long-form interviews usually land. If you’re a fan of a specific host, check the NBC News website for their written reporting, as many weekend anchors like Laura Jarrett and Peter Alexander contribute deep-dive articles that provide more context than a three-minute TV segment can offer.