Patricia McKinnes will drop into millions of households today as the Ohio University graduate student competes for a spot as a guest anchor on NBC's The Today Show.
Out of hundreds of video entries, McKinnes was chosen as one of 16 semifinalists for the Anchor for TODAY contest. She will appear on the show today as a guest host.
Viewers voted online and via text message until 5 p.m. yesterday to determine the winner out of four featured semifinalists, including McKinnes. The winner, who will move on to the final four, will be announced on the show today. If McKinnes ultimately wins, she will guest host an episode of The Today Show, scheduled to air March 2.
McKinnes, a 49-year-old mother of five and grandmother of two, had 1 to 2 minutes of video to exhibit her skills for The Today Show cast. She enlisted the help of fellow OU student Dan McBrayer for her entry. In honor of Today Show host and OU grad Matt Lauer, McKinnes printed a picture of Lauer's face and had McBrayer wear it as a mask. She took Matt on a tour of his alma mater's campus.
I just felt like it would work
McKinnes said.
People from The Today Show interviewed McKinnes and asked her why she decided to enter the contest. She just laughed and said, because I knew I could win.
McKinnes, who will graduate with a master's in communication and development studies this year, plans to work in hospital communications. But her dream job would be to portray a mother or grandmother in a sitcom, she said. She is a veteran performer, having previously performed stand-up comedy and emceeing an event at the Blue Gator, 63 N. Court St., during Moms Weekend 2005.
Although McKinnes is vying for a guest spot on a talk show, she wants to work in hospital communications. McKinnes earned her bachelor's degree from OU in 2005 ' 30 years and five universities after beginning her undergraduate studies. She said she thinks it is this good example of never giving up that won emotional appeal with The Today Show video judges.
Catch McKinnes on The Today Show from 7 to 10 this morning on NBC. A snippet of her entry video can be viewed by clicking on the Today Show tap at msnbc.com. 17
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Caitlin Price
