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NBC News has named Dee Dee Thomas executive producer of the weekend edition of “Today.” Thomas had been a senior producer for the 8 AM hour of NBC’s flagship morning news show, but started her career as a production assistant on the weekend edition of the program in 1993.
Thomas replaces Pat Burkey, who was elevated to EP of “NBC Nightly News” in July after serving as EP on the weekend editions of both “Nightly” and “Today.”
“Dee Dee has been an integral part of the senior leadership team here at “Today,” said “Today” EP Jim Bell in a statement. “She is a first-rate producer, and I am thrilled to see her return to the broadcast where she first began her career here at NBC News.”
More information in the official announcement, after the jump.
DEE DEE THOMAS NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF “WEEKEND TODAY”
NEW YORK – August 25, 2010 – Dee Dee Thomas has been named executive producer of the weekend editions of “Today.” The announcement was made by “Today” executive producer Jim Bell and is effective September 6. Most recently, Thomas served as senior producer of “Today,” where she oversaw the 8 a.m. hour of the top-rated morning news program.
“Dee Dee has been an integral part of the senior leadership team here at “Today,” said Bell. “She is a first-rate producer, and I am thrilled to see her return to the broadcast where she first began her career here at NBC News.”In her new role, Thomas will oversee all aspects of “Weekend Today,” working closely with the broadcast’s anchors Lester Holt, Amy Robach and Jenna Wolfe and the show’s team of talented producers.
As senior producer at “Today,” Thomas was responsible for the planning and execution of several special broadcasts including the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with Matt Lauer and Al Roker reporting live from New Orleans, “Today’s” Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Ann Curry and Al Roker live from the theme park’s widely anticipated grand opening at Universal Orlando, and Matt Lauer and Al Roker’s unforgettable trip to Key West as part of the “Today” Takes a Vacation series. Other specials Thomas oversaw included “Today’s” Thanks and Giving, which focused on the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and “Today’s” extensive Green Week coverage in 2010 and 2011. While Thomas was senior producer, the 8 a.m. hour consistently grew in both total viewers and in the key 25-54 demographic.
During her tenure at “Today,” Thomas produced coverage for five Olympic Games: the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, the 2000 Sydney Summer Games, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, the 2004 Athens Summer Games and the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. In addition, she produced “Today Throws a Wedding” in both 2001 and 2002 and travelled to Cape Town, South Africa with Matt Lauer in 2007 for the popular “Where In The World Is Matt Lauer” broadcast. Thomas received three Daytime Emmy Awards in 2007, 2010 and 2011 as part of the “Today” production teams that won for Outstanding Morning Program.
Thomas first started at NBC News in 1993 as a production assistant at “Weekend Today.” In 1995, she joined “Today” as a production associate and was promoted to a researcher soon after. Over the next 16 years, Thomas climbed the ranks at “Today,” serving as an associate producer from 1999 to 2001, a segment producer from 2001 to 2008, a coordinating producer from 2008 to 2009, and a supervising producer in 2009.
Thomas graduated from Southwestern University in 1993. She began her career as an associate producer at KERO-TV, a CBS affiliate in Bakersfield, California in 1993 where she produced the daily 12 p.m. newscast. Thomas lives in New York City with her husband, Charles Reed and their two children.