The Kids Tonight Show - Lester Holt (S1E5)
"NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt joins the show and shares a funny story about how he couldn't stop giggling during a broadcast, plays a hilarious game of Real or Phony News and partakes in an awesome "Mayhem" party.
| Air Date | 2021-10-28 |
|---|---|
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | Peacock |
Storyline
In this episode of The Kids Tonight Show, young hosts welcome NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt to the studio for a lively conversation and games. Holt shares a behind-the-scenes anecdote from his career about a broadcast where he struggled to maintain his composure and couldn't stop giggling on air, giving kids a glimpse into the human side of a trusted news figure. The story highlights that even serious professionals have moments of uncontrollable laughter.
The episode features a game called Real or Phony News, where Holt and the kid hosts try to distinguish between genuine news headlines and fabricated ones, blending humor with media literacy. The show wraps up with a "Mayhem" party segment, a high-energy activity that brings playful chaos to the set. Throughout the episode, Holt's warm demeanor and willingness to play along with the young hosts create an engaging atmosphere that balances entertainment with insight into journalism.
What kids learn
Children watching this episode can learn about the importance of credibility and professionalism in journalism through Lester Holt's presence and stories. His anecdote about giggling during a broadcast teaches kids that making mistakes or losing composure is a natural part of being human, even for people in serious, high-profile jobs. This helps normalize imperfection and shows that professionals can recover gracefully from awkward moments.
The Real or Phony News game introduces basic media literacy concepts, encouraging children to think critically about the information they encounter. By distinguishing real headlines from fake ones in a playful context, kids begin to understand that not everything presented as news is accurate, a foundational skill in today's media landscape. The game format makes this lesson accessible and fun rather than preachy.
The episode also models respectful conversation between children and adults. Watching the young hosts interact confidently with a prominent journalist demonstrates that kids' voices and questions have value, fostering self-assurance and curiosity about the world beyond their immediate experience.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is Lester Holt and why is he a good guest for a kids' show? | Lester Holt is the anchor of NBC Nightly News, one of the most-watched evening news programs in America. He's known for his calm, trustworthy delivery and decades of journalism experience. His appearance on a kids' show works well because he brings credibility and real-world perspective while showing a playful, approachable side. Kids see that serious professionals can also be funny and relatable, which makes journalism feel more accessible. |
| Is the giggling story appropriate for young children? | Yes, the story about Holt struggling not to laugh during a broadcast is entirely appropriate and relatable for children. It's a lighthearted, humanizing moment that shows even respected professionals have funny slip-ups at work. There's nothing embarrassing or inappropriate about the anecdote—it simply illustrates that maintaining composure can be challenging and that laughter is a natural human response. Kids often find these behind-the-scenes glimpses both entertaining and reassuring. |
| What is the Real or Phony News game teaching my child? | The game introduces foundational media literacy by asking players to identify which headlines are real and which are made up. It encourages kids to pause and think critically rather than accepting every claim at face value. While presented as entertainment, the game plants seeds for later discussions about fact-checking, reliable sources, and the difference between news and misinformation. It's an age-appropriate entry point into understanding that not everything they hear or read is true. |
| What happens during the Mayhem party segment? | The Mayhem party is a high-energy, playful segment where the set erupts into organized chaos with games, music, and physical activities. Holt participates alongside the kid hosts in what appears to be a fun, celebratory finale to the episode. The segment is designed to be silly and entertaining, giving kids a chance to see the guest let loose and enjoy himself. It balances the more conversational portions of the show with pure fun. |
| Will my child understand the journalism references in this episode? | The episode is designed for a general young audience, so journalism concepts are presented in accessible, entertaining ways rather than technical terms. Kids don't need prior knowledge of news broadcasting to enjoy Holt's stories or play along with the games. The show uses humor and relatable scenarios to make these ideas understandable. If your child asks questions about what a news anchor does, the episode provides a natural starting point for that conversation. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | In the inaugural episode, Jimmy Fallon gives the four kid hosts -- Mykal-Michelle, Recker, Olivia and Dylan -- tips on anchoring a talk show, including how to shoot lasers out of their eyes. |
| 1 | 2 | Dancer, singer and actress JoJo Siwa joins the show, shares why she's proud of being her authentic self this year and plays hilarious and intense house games as part of the JoJo-lympics. |
| 1 | 3 | Questlove and Black Thought - members of "The Tonight Show" house band - join to reminisce about how they met in high school and the key to the perfect birthday party before a surprise performance by Dylan and Recker. |
| 1 | 4 | Popular online creators and well-known pranksters Brent and Lexi Rivera, Jeremy Hutchins and Pierson Wodzynski of AMP World join the show for an epic, legendary games episode. |
| 1 | 5 | "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt joins the show and shares a funny story about how he couldn't stop giggling during a broadcast, plays a hilarious game of Real or Phony News and partakes in an awesome "Mayhem" party. |
| 1 | 6 | Popular online creators Charli and Dixie D'Amelio join the show and reveal the best and worst parts of working together while being sisters; the hosts compete to see who can make the best ice cream sundae without using their hands. |
| 1 | 7 | Magician Dan White stops by the show and performs some crazy and unforgettable magic tricks; one of the hosts gets cut in half and another gets pied in the face. |
| 1 | 8 | "Frozen" actress Kristen Bell joins to talk about the inspiration behind her new book and to show off her weirdest talent; the hosts play a silly game of "Bell or Not Bell"; Egg-braham Lincoln stops by with some jokes. |
| 1 | 9 | Activist, model and star of "Grownish" Yara Shahidi joins the show to talk about her cool karate skills; pointless PSAs, mayhem times a million and a hilarious game of history trivia. |
| 1 | 10 | Real-life astronaut Mike Massimino joins the show to talk about being in space and plays a fun game of Globe Grab. |
| 1 | 11 | Singer-songwriter and "Clash of the Cover Bands" host Meghan Trainor plays a hilarious game of All About that Bass and shares her favorite vacation memories. |
| 1 | 12 | Yo-yo world champion Gentry Stein shows off some of his most awesome tricks, plays a crazy game of Velcro Madness against host Recker and joins the most yo-yo-tastic mayhem party yet. |
| 1 | 13 | "Annie Live" stars Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess talk about their upcoming musical and play the craziest game of Box of Lies; a visit from a caveman, unboxing galore and Recker gets very confused. |
| 1 | 14 | Olympic skateboarding champion Bryce Wettstein kickflips into the show and answers a jaw-dropping question from a surprise guest; a crazy game of All Ball and the silliest, skateboard-iest mayhem party yet. |
| 1 | 15 | "Saturday Night Live" legend and "Kenan" star Kenan Thompson joins the show to talk about his favourite impressions and a possible "Good Burger" sequel; a crazy game of What's Behind Me and a whole bunch of plopping. |
| 1 | 16 | YouTube star Nastya and online looping genius Marc Rebillet join the Pajama Party episode. |
| 1 | 17 | Miranda Cosgrove of "iCarly" joins the show for some random dancing; actor Matt Damon answers the silliest questions from the What?! Bucket; Twitch superstar Ninja stops by. |
| 1 | 18 | "Glee" star and author Chris Colfer joins the show for a lightning round of questions with Young Dylan; National Spelling Bee champion and Guinness World Record holder Zaila Avant-garde gets a surprise from a special guest. |
| 1 | 19 | Actors Matthew McConaughey and Nick Kroll join to talk about the inspiration behind their "Sing 2" characters; adults spell things, two of the hosts have a Corn-Off and the show examines the origin of yogurt. |
| 1 | 20 | Dancer and actor Pressley Hosbach joins the show to talk about her time on "Dance Moms" and "Stage Fright"; Pressley takes a spin on the Random Dance Generator and unleashes a whole lot of mayhem. |
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