Carson Daly, the newly named permanent co-anchor of "Saturday Today," has given fans a glimpse into the after-hours activities of the "Today" show cast, particularly during the holiday season.
"We definitely have some holiday cocktails," Daly told Page Six in an exclusive interview on Thursday. He described their festive gatherings, which often involve "wild nights out" when the cameras stop rolling. Daly's "Saturday Today" co-anchor, Laura Jarrett, added that these anchor happy hours frequently begin around 1 p.m.
Daly shared that while some co-hosts leave in the afternoon, others continue the festivities, leading to "stories about you guys staying there, and Ubers, and all kinds of stuff." He affirmed, "So, we have a good time when we get together."
Jarrett playfully noted, "The boys leave at one point in the afternoon, and then that’s when things really get interesting." The cast also participates in a white elephant gift exchange as part of their holiday celebrations.
The revelations come shortly after Daly was officially announced as the permanent co-anchor for "Saturday Today," joining Jarrett, anchor Joe Fryer, and meteorologist Angie Lassman. Daly, 53, will continue his weekday hosting duties on "Today" in addition to his new weekend role. He expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, humorously telling his children he would still make pancakes, but now for his "Saturday Today" team.
Libby Leist, executive vice president of Today and Lifestyle, praised Daly's addition to the weekend program, stating, "Carson has been an integral part of the ‘Today’ family for the past 13 years, and we are thrilled that our viewers get to spend one more day of the week with him." Leist added, "Carson and Laura make a great team, and we can’t wait for this fresh new chapter of ‘Saturday Today.'"
This is not the first time "Today" show cast members have shared anecdotes about their off-air antics. In July 2024, Savannah Guthrie recounted on "Watch What Happens Live" that she lost a tooth during a previous company holiday party, attributing it to the "lot of day drinking" that begins around 3 p.m. at such events.
Daly, who has been part of the "Today" show for 13 years, also shared a moment during a recent segment where he and co-hosts Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Sheinelle Jones raised pints of Guinness beer to celebrate his new role. Guthrie described Daly as being "like a brother" to her and added that he "makes everything taste better" and "makes every segment he’s in pop."