This Friday, January 10, is Hoda Kotb’s last day anchoring the Today show. In the fall, Puck reported that Hoda was asked to take a pay cut, so after almost 18 years on NBC’s morning show, she decided to leave to spend more time with her daughters, Harley, seven, and Hope, five. All week long, NBC is doing a “Hoda-bration” to celebrate her final days, where they’re showering her with surprises. If it’s anywhere near as fun as Hoda’s 60th birthday week was, I’m sure her producers and coworkers have a lot of awesome things lined up.
NBC has yet to hire Hoda’s replacement, so beginning on Monday, Jan. 13, the 10:00 a.m. hour will become Jenna & Friends until Jenna Bush Hager’s co-anchor is announced. Until then, Today is going the rotating co-host route, or as Jenna put it, ”a month of wonder women.” The three “friends” that Jenna has lined up next week are Eva Longoria, Taraji P. Henson, and Keke Palmer. On the Jan. 7 show, Jenna announced her next surprise guest co-host: Scarlett Johansson. ScarJo will co-host for a week beginning on Jan. 21.
The Black Widow star will be joining Jenna Bush Hager on Today with Jenna & Friends as a guest co-host, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21, Bush Hager tells PEOPLE.
“Scarlett Johansson is the queen! First of all, I’ve been obsessed with her movies since forever. The Girl with a Pearl Earring, I mean that shows you I’m a nerd who loves to read,” theToday star, 43, says. “She’s also a big reader, which will be so much fun. We have so much in common.”
Both Bush Hager and Johansson have twin siblings, and they also have daughters similar in age. Johansson’s daughter Rose is 10 years old, while Bush Hager’s eldest, Mila, is 11.
“It’s just a wild dream. But that’s what I’m saying, the fact that she’s coming to give us a week of her time, she could be doing anything, is a testament to the show that we have built. So I am beyond thrilled. I cannot wait,” Bush Hager adds. “We’ve never seen Scarlett Johansson host a daytime show before!”
During the Jan. 7 broadcast, Bush Hager teased the show has “so many fun things planned” with Johansson.
“First of all, you guys had a great click. She is an awesome person,” Kotb said. “And right away, I still remember, right when she was here, you were like, ‘Can she do it?’ You know when you know someone’s gonna be good at something?”
“I think we’re gonna have a blast,” Bush Hager added.
Today with Jenna & Friends will launch Jan. 13, following Hoda Kotb’s last day on Jan. 10. Bush Hager announced on the Jan. 6 broadcast that a rotating list of celebrity guests would be stepping in to help fill the empty slot before Johansson takes over. The stars include Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria and Keke Palmer.
“What’s so cool about it is that it really does feel like we’re pulling up chairs for all different types of people,” says Bush Hager. “Yes, we have actors, but we also have comedians and people in media. And I think that really is what we’re hoping to have: a total representation of who watches our show and something for every viewer.”
It sounds like Jenna has a fun list of co-hosts lined up thus far. Taraji always brings it, so I’m sure that’s going to be a lively morning. Obviously, rotating co-hosts is not a new thing by any means, but it’s always fun for a little while. A decade ago, I’d say something like, “Wow, Scarlett is a big get!” But, given that her husband (Colin Jost) is one of the two anchors for SNL’s Weekend Update, it makes sense that someone would think to approach her about the gig. I honestly have no idea what kind of a host ScarJo will make, but she strikes me as someone who’d be more reserved. Perhaps she’ll prove me wrong.
photos credit: IMAGO/RW/Avalon/Avalon, Getty
Very interesting timing but she pops up SNL last week.
So NBC would have cut Hoda’s salary but they’ll spend the money to give her a sendoff.
Stay classy, NBC.
THIS was my first thought.
Love Hoda , Jenna not so much , won’t watch it .
Is ScarJo broke? This seems like a very bad fit for her.
This was my thought when she signed up for a Jurassic World movie.
Seems like it would be fun to do for a week. Good to stay in the public eye. People are talking about money, but there’s also the issue that actors like to work. It’s not just the money. They want to be on set.