Savannah Guthrie is back on "Today."
The NBC anchor returned to the morning show on Tuesday, Sept. 8, after taking some time off for the past two weeks. Guthrie was back behind the desk with co-anchor Craig Melvin when the show kicked off its first episode after the long Labor Day weekend.
"Look who's back," Melvin pointed out at the top of the broadcast. "Savannah Guthrie, we missed you!"
"It's back to school week, for everybody! I'm bringing you a shiny new apple at 7:30," Guthrie quipped to Melvin before diving into the day's news.
Guthrie had been absent from "Today" since Monday, Aug. 24. At the top of that day's broadcast, Melvin noted that his regular co-anchor was enjoying "some time off." Kristen Welker filled in for Guthrie for the week
beginning Aug. 24, and Laura Jarrett stepped in the following week.
Amid her break, Guthrie stepped out at the US Open in New York on Aug. 25, making a rare red carpet appearance at the tennis tournament. She attended the event with her husband, Mike Feldman.
Guthrie previously stepped away from the "Today" show for a few weeks in the summer to film an upcoming game show based on Wordle, which she will host. "We're going to shoot the whole season, and we're super excited," Guthrie said in July.
After coming back on the air in August, she said it was "nice to be back home," noting she "had a little game show summer."
Guthrie was also absent from the "Today" show for two months earlier this year after her mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing on Feb. 1. Authorities in Arizona are continuing their search. In August, the "Today" anchor marked six months since her mother went missing in an emotional plea with the public for any information that could help locate her.
"Six months ago, someone took her out of her bed in the dead of night. We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair ever since," Guthrie wrote on Instagram.
"We are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward. Someone knows something. Someone suspects something. Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes. Someone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual - perhaps with someone they deeply love. Perhaps they are afraid to come forward. Perhaps they are conflicted. Perhaps they are angry or upset for being in this situation. There is a way out - to tell what you know. You can do so anonymously. The reward is available. There is a way to end this situation and do the right thing."
In a June conversation on "Today" with Jenna Bush Hager, Guthrie shared that continuing to do her job amid her mom's disappearance hasn't been easy.
"I know maybe people wonder, 'What's going on? How is she able to do that job? Is she not thinking about it? Did she forget?' No. Never," she said, adding, "I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Savannah Guthrie returns to 'Today' after break – 'Look who's back'
