Authorities search for Nancy Guthrie after the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home under suspicious circumstances.
The disappearance of "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother has captivated the nation.
"Today" kicked off its broadcast on Monday, Feb. 2, and Tuesday, Feb. 3, with coverage of Nancy Guthrie, 84, whom authorities have said was taken forcibly from her home near Tucson in the middle of the night.
CNN, Fox News and MS NOW covered a press conference from the Pima County Sheriff's Department live on Tuesday; another is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 5, unless events warrant otherwise. Media outlets around the country have traveled to Tucson to report. People can't get enough of the story.
There are a lot of reasons why.
'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie is morning-show famous
For one thing, the horrific nature of the case is terrifying. When we don't know what happened or why, we fear it could happen to anyone, including us. The mystery aspect of it, as authorities work to solve what is clearly a difficult case, is also intriguing.
And, of course, Savannah Guthrie is famous.
Any news involving celebrities is always going to draw attention. Gossip and rumor are reported as fact. Cellphone photos and video of celebrities walking in or out of the gym are posted as if they were news about the moon landing. There is an entire cottage industry built around the public's hunger for news about famous people.
But Guthrie is a different kind of famous. She's morning-show host famous.
That's a different kind of celebrity. It's more familiar, more friendly. Part of the appeal of any celebrity is the feeling that, on some level, you know them. George Clooney used to talk about the difference in movie-star famous and TV-star famous. When people think you're a movie star, they recognize you but keep you at a remove. When you're a TV star, they think they know you and walk up and talk to you like they do. People welcomed him into their homes every Thursday night on "ER" like an old friend. Naturally, they want to chat with him at the airport.
A morning-show host is even more familiar. They are there every day.
Millions wake to Guthrie or Michael Strahan or another host
People watch "Today" and "Good Morning America" and "CBS Mornings" and their local morning shows when they wake up, while they're getting dressed and ready for work. They have their first cup of coffee with Guthrie or Michael Strahan. It is a cliché often used in advertising for local news stations to say something like, "We are part of your family!"
In the case of anchors like Guthrie, it's actually kind of true.
Savannah Guthrie has been a co-host of "Today" since 2012. Nancy Guthrie has appeared on "Today" several times. Co-host Sheinelle Jones called Nancy Guthrie "a beloved member of our 'Today' family" while reporting on her disappearance. None of that is surprising.
Because of the nature of their jobs and the personalities required to succeed in those jobs -- the hosts have to be friendly, someone you want to spend time with -- we know a lot about the people who have them. For instance, Guthrie was off the air for a few weeks recently because she had surgery on her vocal cords. How do we know? She told us. These are lives lived more publicly than most.
Nancy Guthrie feels like family to 'Today' viewers
So naturally, when something happens in their lives, to their audience it feels more personal. You celebrate the announcement of a pregnancy, perhaps. You mourn along with them when a family member dies. And, in this case, you agonize as the ongoing terror of Guthrie's missing mother continues as if she were a member of your own family.
Because in a way, she is.
Thus, it's no surprise that Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is a story people are invested in. They fear the worst and hope for the best for both Nancy and Savannah Guthrie. And it's all playing out in the same medium where we met them to begin with. On TV.
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Media commentary with a side of snark? Sign up for The Watchlist newsletter with Bill Goodykoontz.
