Lester Holt to Step Down from NBC Nightly News; New Epic Nature Series ‘The Americas’ Premieres

After leading NBC Nightly News for over a decade, Lester Holt is stepping down as anchor at the start of summer. Holt, who has been the principal anchor since 2011, will not be leaving NBC entirely—he plans to continue his full-time work on Dateline. NBC has not yet named his successor.

In other entertainment news, the Emmy-winning team behind Planet Earth II and The Green Planet is back with an ambitious new series: The Americas. Narrated by Tom Hanks, the 10-episode documentary explores Earth’s great supercontinent, spanning from the Arctic to the tip of South America.

Executive producer Mike Gunton described the project as a five-year journey featuring 180 expeditions, all filmed without CGI to capture the raw beauty and incredible wildlife behaviors never seen before. “Audiences want to see new things,” Gunton said. “Whether it’s a new animal or a fresh perspective, The Americas delivers both in stunning detail.”

The Americas aims to surprise viewers with hidden natural wonders beneath familiar landscapes, showcasing breathtaking footage that pushes the boundaries of wildlife filmmaking.

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