Craig Melvin's Homecoming to Columbia Featured on NBC’s "Today"
South Carolina native Craig Melvin will spotlight the Midlands in a segment airing Thursday on NBC’s national morning show, "Today."
Melvin teased the segment Wednesday during a preview on the Facebook page of local station WIS.
“Welcome to my hometown, Columbia, S.C. Join me for a little trip down memory lane. I’m going to bring you back here to my childhood with my kid brother, introduce you to some of my favorite people and places that really sort of shaped me, molded me. And of course, there will be food.”
The video shows Melvin standing in the newly renovated Finlay Park in downtown Columbia, accompanied by clips of local restaurants, a barber shop visit, and a conversation with Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, who was recently re-elected.
Melvin’s visit comes nearly a year after he became co-host of NBC’s "Today" show, taking over from Hoda Kotb after a 13-year tenure at NBC News.
Many remember Melvin for his early career at WIS, the NBC affiliate in Columbia, where he began working as a student at Columbia High School and later became the station’s nightly news anchor.
Despite his national role, Melvin often celebrates his hometown and South Carolina roots in his broadcasts. This week, locals are eager to hear his perspective on Columbia.
Author's summary: Craig Melvin returns to his Columbia roots in a "Today" show feature, sharing his childhood memories and local highlights with a national audience.