Lester Holt signs off 'NBC Nightly News'

Lester Holt wrapped a piece of TV history Friday. He was the first solo Black anchor of one of the three major weekday evening news broadcasts, and was also Brian Williams' replacement at "NBC Nightly News" nearly 10 years ago (June 22, 2015) after his predecessor was forced off the broadcast for exaggerating stories about covering the war in Iraq.

"It has been an honor to lead this program and an honor to be welcomed into your homes," Holt said in the closing minutes of his last "Nightly" broadcast, as producers and other support staff gathered around him at the 30 Rock studio where the program originates.

"We've shared some dark and harrowing days," he added, then threw to the fast cut, covering 10 years of Holt-reported stories, from election nights to tornadoes and every other breaking news event in between, most recently his visit to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. In a rare emotional moment — or rare for Holt — he closed with, "It has been quite a ride. Thanks, everybody."

While he began this pioneering run with a whole lot of drama, the Holt tenure was mostly steady and reliable, much like Holt himself. During a farewell tribute on Friday's "Today" show, co-host Craig Melvin observed what many colleagues have long said about Holt — "what you see is what you get," Melvin said.

"I tell my staff this is not rocket science," Holt characteristically replied. "Just tell important stories and be kind to each other."

Not rocket science certainly, but a challenging and complex job nonetheless. Unlike Williams, who embraced the celebrity and spotlight that came with the role, Holt avoided both. He also eschewed familiar big-time trappings and well-established stylistic touches like the "voice of God" on-air authority, and the sense that news wasn't news until it had been proclaimed news by the anchor.

The closest he got to an opinion was at the end of every broadcast, which he ended with "Take care of yourselves and take care of each other." (He joked during his "Today" tribute that the phrase, which he adopted during the pandemic, was actually first used by Jerry Springer.)

As managing editor, Holt's style and interests were aligned with the broadcast — typically a serious news-of-the-day lead, often from Washington, with a mix of international news and investigations. The Holt-anchored broadcast was traditional and, other than the anchor, almost indistinguishable from the "Nightlys" of years past. By contrast, ABC rival David Muir's "World News Tonight" has tended to be more conversational and at times sensational.

Nevertheless, the Muir style has proved more popular. "WNT" now averages around 8 million viewers, and "Nightly" often under 6 million, a reversal from when Holt started. Neither Holt, 66, nor NBC News have indicated this transition has anything to do with ratings. Holt said on "Today" he's leaving for an "opportunity to take on a bigger role at 'Dateline,' " while adding, "The timing seemed right [and] I never wanted to be associated with just one thing."

Starting Monday, the new anchor is a familiar face, too: Tom Llamas, 45, "World News Tonight" weekend anchor from 2014 to 2021, when he joined NBC as senior national correspondent, anchor of "NBC News Now," and frequent stand-in for Holt on "Nightly."

The first Latino anchor of one of the three evening news broadcasts, Llamas becomes the seventh solo anchor of "Nightly" since its launch in 1970, when it replaced "The Huntley-Brinkley Report," and only the third since Tom Brokaw stepped down in 2004. In an interview with an NBC affiliate anchor this week, Llamas said he'll make "maybe small changes here and there but not major changes. It's a great broadcast," adding "I believe in evolution, not revolution."