On Tuesday’s NBC Today – aired live from the White House to promote President Obama’s final State of the Union – the morning shows hosts could not contain their glee at being there. At the top of the show, co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed: “And a morning show first....an unprecedented morning live at the White House....a moment of history for us, for this show, and where so much history has been made.”
Fellow co-host Matt Lauer gushed: “That’s right, on the cool scale, this one’s off the charts. We want to first say thank you to the Obamas and everyone here at the White House for the access they have granted us. It's unbelievable.” Guthrie added: “That’s right, they rolled out the red carpet, the blue carpet, the green carpet. And we have so much to show you.”
Minutes later, Lauer turned to weatherman Al Roker, reporting from the White House Navy Mess cafeteria. Roker held a up a paper cup and marveled: “I can show you the greatest to-go cup in world. Look at that, the presidential seal.” Moments later, Guthrie was in the same place and touted: “I mean, even the plates are cool and official looking, saying ‘E. Pluribus Unum.’”
At the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, Guthrie heralded: “Welcome back on a really special day. We are here at the White House. We're facing the south lawn. We're looking at the Washington Monument. And we are pinching ourselves.”
As the hosts all stood on the White House balcony, Lauer enthused: “I'm not leaving. I always wanted to stand here.”
Roker encouraged them all: “Smile and wave, boys! Smile and wave!” Lauer chimed in: “That's a postcard right there.” Guthrie observed: “It’s one of those moments for sure.” Lauer agreed: “It really is.”
Here are transcripts of 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET hour show openings on January 12:
7:01 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And a morning show first. It is America's most famous address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, home to every U.S. President but one. The center of power in America.
JOHN F. KENNEDY: The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it.
GUTHRIE: Site of some of the most important events in history. As President Obama gets set to deliver his last State of the Union address to the nation tonight. We'll talk to him.
MATT LAUER [TO OBAMA]: You wanted to unite people, and t,hey’re not united. Is it a failure?
GUTHRIE: And the Vice President as well, an unprecedented morning live at the White House.
7:02 AM ET TEASE
GUTHRIE: Welcome to a special edition of Today on this Tuesday morning. And we're on the steps of the White House. I have to say, that qualifies as special. We are on the North Portico, a moment of history for us, for this show, and where so much history has been made.
MATT LAUER: That’s right, on the cool scale, this one’s off the charts. We want to first say thank you to the Obamas and everyone here at the White House for the access they have granted us. It's unbelievable.
GUTHRIE: That’s right, they rolled out the red carpet, the blue carpet, the green carpet. And we have so much to show you.
(...)
8:01 AM ET
GUTHRIE: Good morning, everybody. Welcome back on a really special day. We are here at the White House. We're facing the south lawn. We're looking at the Washington Monument.
NATALIE MORALES: Amazing.
GUTHRIE: And we are pinching ourselves. This is State of the Union day, a day of excitement and anticipation here in Washington, and especially in this building.
LAUER: I'm not leaving.
AL ROKER: No.
LAUER: I always wanted to stand here. It was here not long ago when the Pope came to visit. The ceremony was right there on the south lawn. [To Carson Daly] This is your first time at the White House.
CARSON DALY: It’s absolutely incredible. Marine One lands right here.
MORALES: Can’t beat this view.
ROKER: Smile and wave, boys! Smile and wave!
DALY: Hi, mom.
LAUER: That's a postcard right there.
GUTHRIE: It’s one of those moments for sure.
LAUER: It really is.
