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Guthrie Pauses “Today” to Film Wordle; Mom Missing, $1M

7/17/2026

31 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Savannah Guthrie will pause “Today” on July 16, 2026.
She will film the “Wordle” series, produced by Jimmy Fallon, in Manchester, England, for a 2027 launch, adapting the New York Times five-letter puzzle and offering a cash prize.
Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson home on Feb. 1, 2026, prompting the family to offer up to $1 million for tips.

History

Historical Context

Josh Wardle launched Wordle publicly in October 2021; within weeks it grew to about 2 million daily players, prompting the New York Times to buy the game in January 2022. The platform’s viral model now underpins Savannah Guthrie’s 2027 NBC Wordle series produced by Jimmy Fallon, illustrating how media repurpose breakout puzzles for audience engagement and fundraising.

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Story summary

Savannah Guthrie will pause “Today” on July 16, 2026.
She will film the “Wordle” series, produced by Jimmy Fallon, in Manchester, England, for a 2027 launch, adapting the New York Times five-letter puzzle and offering a cash prize.
Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson home on Feb. 1, 2026, prompting the family to offer up to $1 million for tips.

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