Updated April 6, 7:14 a.m. ET
Where in the world is Matt Lauer?
He’ll be in Studio 1A for a while longer.
Matt announced Friday morning on TODAY that he has signed a new long-term contract with NBC News.
"This is my family," he said as the crew and co-anchors erupted into applause. "I love this job. I love working with you guys."
What took so long? "Truth be told, I was developing an idea for a new show, where viewers could tune in every morning and see someone they know lose a little more of his hair every single day right in front of their eyes," Matt said Friday. "But then I thought, I could just stay here and do that."
Matt has co-anchored the show since Jan. 6, 1997. He joined the morning program in January 1994 as the news reader.
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