The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Friday Is Lester Holt's Last Day As NBC Nightly News Anchor

**Posted by RadioActive** May 30, 2025 6:19 am

Friday marks another milestone on U.S. network TV - it's the last newscast anchored by Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News. He's surrendering the chair after over a decade of being what the network calls "the most trusted anchor" on television.

Holt, you may remember, got his chance after former anchor Brian Williams was involved in a scandal over exaggerating his own news exploits. He was demoted to MSNBC and eventually left the network altogether.

But while Holt bolts, he's not gone for good. In an unusual move for a retiring anchor, he's staying on at NBC to do segments for and continuing to host the long running "Dateline NBC," which still does pretty well in the ratings. He says hoisting the anchor from those duties will give him more time to do in-depth features for the show.

I'll be curious to see what his last words are in his old position. Most retiring anchors give a final statement of some kind in the last segment of their show and it will be interesting to see what he has to say.

Former substitute and ex-ABC newsman Tom Llamas assumes the anchor chair on Monday, going against his former colleague David Muir down the dial.

News Anchor Lester Holt Signs Off

**Posted by RadioActive** May 30, 2025 6:24 am

Nowhere near as high profile, but also worth noting that Andy Johnson is also retiring from the business on Friday. Not familiar with the name? He's been the morning news voice for Classical 96.3 for the past 12 years.

Broadcast Dialogue also notes that Johnson, whose real name is John Andersen, has worked in the biz for 50 years and once hosted the Toronto morning show for the long-departed CKO Radio.

Best wishes on your retirement, sir. You've certainly earned the rest!

**Posted by RadioActive** May 30, 2025 1:36 pm

NBC's Savannah Guthrie looks back on Holt's career in advance of his final show.

A look back at Lester Holt's career hosting 'Nightly News'

**Posted by RadioActive** May 30, 2025 7:33 pm

They took the last five minutes or so of the newscast for a recap of some of Holt's more famous moments as anchor, with the staff who worked for him and members of his family coming out on set to stand behind him and applaud him as he left. (That's his son standing behind him in the photo below. He's an anchor in Chicago, and also gave his dad a heartfelt on-air farewell.) It was a nice way to go out, filled with obvious emotion.

No one knows how Tom Llamas, who takes over on Monday, will be received, but I strongly suspect the era of the network anchor as a star player is nearing an end on broadcast TV and Holt will go down as one of the last of his breed.

It was in the end, a touching send-off, with his last words being "Oh my goodness. It has been quite a ride. Thanks everybody!"