Latest news with #LesterHolt
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Work At ‘Dateline.' Here's The 1 Question I Get Asked The Most — And My Answer Might Surprise You.
When I tell people I'm a writer at 'Dateline NBC,' I get a variety of reactions. Often I hear, 'Cool! What's Lester Holt really like?' Or 'Do you think that husband really disconnected his wife's oxygen tank while they were scuba diving on their honeymoon or was it just a bizarre accident?' However, sometimes I detect a look of mild horror, the kind I imagine trauma surgeons and cops get. It's a look that says, Wow, you spend every day immersed in all that darkness. Isn't it depressing? Actually ... no. When I first started at 'Dateline,' the show followed a different format. We covered consumer issues, did investigations and profiles (one was of a young and sunny Taylor Swift, no less), and offered plenty of human interest stories. But times change and so does the audience. True crime is where our audience went and we met it there with, I like to think, an arsenal of journalistic talents: expert storytelling that captures victims, families and killers in all their human, complicated glory; the highest standards of fairness; and maybe just as important as anything else, true respect for the lives that are taken and the loved ones left behind. Still, I admit the subject matter is dark. Nearly every episode involves a murder, or at least a disappearance. We do some powerful stories about the wrongfully convicted, but those people are usually convicted of killing someone. Death almost always figures into what happened in one way or another. I work on the 'open' of the show: the minute and a half at the top that highlights the most dramatic parts of the story. It includes things like: how many hearts the victim touched, how shocking the crime was, and how depraved the killer's actions were. In short, it's made up of the saddest, starkest, most potent stuff. Like my colleagues in this strange, very particular universe, I have developed an eye for small moments that reveal deep emotion, whether it's anger or grief. And I've written the words 'a chilling discovery,' 'a savage assault,' and 'a bizarre twist' more times than I care to count. So, yes … dark. And, of course, heartbreakingly sad. But depressing? No. Many of our greatest and most popular writers — including Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Edgar Allen Poe and Agatha Christie, to name just a few — wrestle almost exclusively with sinister themes, like violence and murder. People don't tend to think of their work as 'depressing.' Spine-tingling? Yes. As well as engaging. Thought-provoking. I would argue one of the reasons great writers engage with this material is that the stakes in a murder mystery are so high. A human life is taken. In Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Hours,' Virginia Woolf says, 'Someone has to die in order that the rest of us should value life more. It's contrast.' But dark stories offer a flip side as well: the possibility for redemption, hope and understanding. This is such a fundamental paradigm that it resonates even with children. Studies show that fairy tales, many of which are scary, help children process difficult emotions like fear, envy and loneliness. This reassures children that they are not alone and that they're 'normal.' Fairy tales give children a safe place to explore these feelings and can teach them how to express and deal with them in an effective, constructive way. For grown-up readers, different kinds of mysteries may offer different kinds of sustenance. In an astute essay for Time magazine, award-winning novelist Tana French argues these stories mostly fall into one of two camps. The first, like those written by Christie, are about restoring order and seeing justice meted out. Her offerings are tidy, self-contained, feature a satisfying resolution — and go perfectly with a cup of tea. 'In a world that can often be chaotic and reasonless, we need these stories,' French writes. Others, which French dubs 'wild mysteries,' ask us to engage with deeper questions about human nature. 'What are we capable of? How much of who we are is determined by choice, by circumstance, or by nature?' French asks. 'The questions stay unanswered because they're unanswerable.' I like to think 'Dateline' gives viewers a bit of both kinds of stories. By the end of the hour, you will (almost always) know who committed the crime. You will know how. You will usually know why. But we take on the deeper, thornier questions, too, like how well do we ever really know another person — even one we're married to? Can a person simply snap? And, in an increasingly complicated world, what constitutes justice? I know some people say that shows like 'Dateline' serve up the trauma and pain of real people for the entertainment of our viewers. But the show's producers tell me that the victims' loved ones say talking about the case provides a kind of balm. They refer to their experience working with 'Dateline' as cathartic and say it leaves them feeling 'lighter.' They feel like someone 'important' is really listening to them and they trust that we will take their story seriously and tell it correctly. It can be a truly transformative experience for them. One producer also told me that 'Dateline' creates 'an important historical record of serious crime. Something that people can always look back on to see what really happened, told by the people it happened to.' In these times of rampant mis- and disinformation, this is no small thing. I believe our stories also resonate with viewers because, though the terrible people are truly terrible, the heroes we feature really are heroic — whether it's the detective who picks up the ice cold case and keeps digging until she finds the truth or the prosecutor who refuses to give up on the impossible-to-prove case or the sister whose hands grow raw from putting up 'missing' posters. These people's resilience struck me in an especially personal way several years ago. Though I'm fortunate to never have experienced violent crime, my mother died when I was a child. One otherwise-unremarkable day, I realized that I was older than she was when she passed. I thought I'd made my peace with her death years earlier, but on that day I was suddenly acutely aware of just how little time she'd been given on this planet. I was stewing in the sour juice of helplessness, bitterness and sadness when I started working on my next 'Dateline' story. As I began to go through the interview tapes to find the best soundbites, I found myself appreciating the friends and family members of the victim in a way I never had before. They had confronted the most terrible thing life could throw at them and somehow kept going in surprising, inspiring ways. The same is true of the loved ones in most of our 'Dateline' stories. Some of these people have actually helped solve cases. Others have found inventive ways to help other families going through similar trauma. But no matter what they've experienced, there's one thing they all share: Despite any apprehension about becoming public people — which in this day and age can be unpleasant or even dangerous — they went on national TV to make sure we knew who their murdered cousin, aunt or friend was. They spoke up to keep their memories alive. Their unbelievable strength has moved and healed me. I now carry some of their words around with me, like an aspirin for a headache, or a railing when I feel wobbly. I work on a program that some have called 'The Murder Show.' They're not wrong, but maybe toiling in a dark world makes the light more visible. Maybe it's only because of sadness that we even know and understand joy. Maybe it's injustice that allows us to appreciate justice. As Virginia Woolf might say, it's contrast. Lorna Graham is the author of 'Where You Once Belonged' and 'The Ghost of Greenwich Village,' and is a writer at 'Dateline NBC.' She has written numerous documentaries, including 'Auschwitz,' produced by Steven Spielberg and narrated by Meryl Streep, which competed at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival. Across numerous films, PSAs, and speeches, she's written for Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, and Morgan Freeman. She graduated from Barnard College and lives in Greenwich Village. Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ My Experiences On 'Sex And The City' Left Me Reeling. A Recent Run-In With One Of Its Stars Left Me In Shock. I Was One Of The Most Famous Pop Stars In The World. No One Knew The Secret Pain I Hid. A Guy I Once Dated Is Now Famous, And It's As Weird As You'd Imagine
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Week of May 26 Evening News Ratings: All 3 Newscasts Struggle For Viewers Post-Memorial Day
The week after the Memorial Day holiday weekend proved slow for the evening newscasts as all three failed to make week-to-week gains in total viewers or the Adults 25-54 demo. NBC Nightly News was the only newscast not to record declines across the board for the week of May 26, as enough of an audience tuned in for Lester Holt's final broadcast as anchor to keep it from falling into the negative zone with total viewers. Holt has something else to smile about: His final week in the anchor's chair brought the demo gap between Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight with David Muir to just 53,000 viewers-its closest finish since January. Note: The weekly averages of ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News are based on four days (Tuesday-Friday). Monday's (05/26/25) broadcasts were retitled due to the Memorial Day holiday. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages. According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, WNT averaged 7.042 million total viewers and 884,000 demo viewers for respective drops of -2% and -9% compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2024 (the week beginning May 27), WNT was down -3% in total viewers and -14% in the demo. NBC Nightly News finished second in total viewers and the demo, averaging 5.720 million total viewers and 831,000 demo viewers. Week-to-week, the newscast was flat in the former category and dipped -5% in the latter. Year-to-year, Nightly News was up +2% in total viewers and +4% in the demo-the only newscast with gains relative to the same week in 2024. CBS Evening News drew 3.600 million total viewers and 490,000 A25-54 viewers for declines of -8% in the former category and -12% in the latter. Year-to-year, the newscast declined -15% in total viewers and -24% in the demo. ABC NBC CBS • Total Viewers: 7,042,000 5,720,000 3,600,000 • A25-54: 884,000 831,000 490,000 Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 5/26/25), Previous Week (w/o 5/19/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 5/27/24). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 6/1/25) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 6/2/24). Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in select markets. Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Averages based on regular telecasts.
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Where Is Lester Holt? 'NBC Nightly News' Host Steps Back From Show
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NBC Nightly News anchor and managing editor, Lester Holt, has stepped down from the long-running program after 10 years. Newsweek reached out to Holt's representative via email for comment. The Context Holt was named anchor of NBC Nightly News in June 2015. Prior to that, the 66-year-old anchored the news show's weekend editions starting in 2007, and co-anchored Weekend TODAY beginning in 2003. He also currently anchors Dateline, a program he's been a part of since 2011. The journalist announced his departure from NBC Nightly News in February, and NBC's Tom Llamas, 45, will succeed him as anchor and managing editor. What To Know Holt's last day with NBC Nightly News was on Friday and he will now focus his efforts on Dateline. Prior to signing off from his last broadcast, the newsreader shared a message with viewers, which was later posted to NBC News' Facebook account: "You may recall the announcement back some months ago that I would be leaving my post here at Nightly News in order to expand my role as host of Dateline. Well, today is that day. After 10 years, this is my last Nightly News broadcast." Lester Holt reports in a temporary television studio before the start of the third U.S. presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016, in Las... Lester Holt reports in a temporary television studio before the start of the third U.S. presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016, in Las Vegas. MoreHolt added: "As anchor, it has been an honor to lead this program and an honor to be welcomed into your homes. I'm so grateful for your trust. Around here, facts matter. Words matter. Journalism matters. And you matter. Over the last decade, we have shared some dark and harrowing days and nights from our country. The pandemic. Mass shootings. Natural disasters. Each testing our resilience and our compassion. It's why I often like to leave you with something to smile about. Moments that reassure and connect us. I'll miss our evenings together, and I will miss the team that puts it all together, my dear friends and my colleagues." Members of the NBC Nightly News crew joined Holt on camera as he continued his statement. "For now, I just want to say thank you to my incredibly supportive and patient family and all of you," Holt said, before sending well-wishes to Llamas. "NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas premieres Monday, and I wish Tom great success. I'll see you on Dateline. In the meantime, please continue to take care of yourself and each other, and I'll do the same." Llamas, who hosts Top Story, "is the first weekday Latino evening news anchor of an English-language show," per NBC. On Monday, Llamas took to Instagram ahead of his first NBC Nightly News show. "Tonight's the night!" he told his 72,000 followers. What People Are Saying In the comments underneath Llamas' Instagram post, Access Hollywood host Mario Lopez wrote: "Congrats and good luck my man!" Facebook user Charmaine Glaze said in a comment with over 1,100 reactions: "I'm gonna miss Lester Holt. I looked forward to watching him every day. I'm sadden to see him go but glad I can still catch him on Dateline. Congratulations Mr. Holt. Take care of yourself and each other!!" Other Holt fans also shared how much they'll miss him on Facebook. Asha Gorwara Sachdeva shared in a note with 528 reactions: "Will be missed. He was a good journalist and a newscaster." Smith Heather posted a message with 248 reactions: "You are a class act Lester Holt. I always liked watching you report the news with heart. I will continue to watch you on Dateline." Alecia Lathrop-May added in a post with 73 reactions: "Thank you for all you have done Lester!!! Thank you for reminding us what is important, 'Facts matter, words matter, journalism matters!!'!!!" What Happens Next Dateline airs on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and is available to stream on Peacock.
Washington Post
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Tom Llamas is taking over for Lester Holt. Will viewers keep watching?
For the past 10 years, 'NBC Nightly News' viewers have come to expect Lester Holt in the anchor seat at 6:30 every weeknight, providing a tight and polished overview of the day's biggest news stories. The newscast has only had three anchors in the past 40 years: Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams, then Holt. On Monday, Tom Llamas will take over the job, while Holt will remain at the network to expand his role on 'Dateline.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Llamas to start as new face of ‘NBC Nightly News' this week
There will soon be a new face of 'NBC Nightly News.' On Monday, June 2, Tom Llamas will take over as anchor and managing editor, replacing Lester Holt, who anchored the program for 10 years. Llamas explains how he plans to take 'Nightly News' on the road to share our stories. 'I live by two tenets, and I think this is true of all of NBC News,' Llamas said. You want to be tough but fair, and you want to report the news without fear or favor, and that's what I'm going to do. I think you have to go to those stories and leave the anchor desk, which I'm going to do a lot, because I believe in sort of shining a light and bearing witness. Because I think when there's a story or an event that causes the whole nation to pause and to look at a city or a town in America, because something has happened there, I want our viewers to know that I'm going to be there as well. Because I think the greats in our business, they could talk on television, but what truly made them great is that they were great listeners. And I think you have to go down there and hear people's stories, because in America, people have a lot to say, and they want to be heard." PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Lester Holt to anchor last 'NBC Nightly News' tonight before stepping down Llamas is currently a senior national correspondent and anchor of 'Top Story with Tom Llamas' on NBC's streaming platform, which he will continue each weeknight. You can watch Tom Llamas and 'NBC Nightly News' at 6:30 p.m. each weeknight on Channel 11. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
