‘Today’ celebrates Natalie Morales’ 20th anniversary at the network

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On the same day NBC News said goodbye to Kathie Lee Gifford, it briefly marked the 20th anniversary of “Today” west coast anchor Natalie Morales even as her future role at the network is uncertain.

• Morales joined “Today” from Los Angeles during the show’s 8:30 a.m. half hour Friday, April 5, 2019.
• “We are cheering for you from afar,” said Savannah Guthrie from New York. “There is no one who has done it with more intelligence, more grace, more goodness, more kindness, more class than you. We love you.”
• Morales moved to the west coast in 2016 to host the NBC produced syndicated entertainment newsmagazine “Access Hollywood” and its spinoff “Access Hollywood Live,” which is now known as “Access” and “Access Live.”
• She was previously newsreader and co-host of “Today” based out of New York.
• Even as Morales celebrates the milestone, her future role at the network is unclear.
• Page Six reported earlier this year that NBC is removing her from her role on “Access” — though she will reportedly remain with the network, including her role as west coast anchor of “Today.”
• NBC reportedly is planning on hiring Mario Lopez, currently host of competitor “Extra” to take over “Access.”
• This show switched executive producers recently.
• It’s worth noting that this Natalie Morales is a different person as the same-named actress who stars on NBC’s freshman sitcom “Abby’s.”