Friday’s edition of Today saw some unexpected faces behind the desk, with Willie Geist and Laura Jarrett stepping in for Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb. While the duo gamely tackled the usual Friday fare of light news and puff pieces, their presence sparked speculation about the show’s future, especially given Kotb’s upcoming exit.
Social media reactions were predictably mixed, with some viewers missing the familiar faces while others championed Geist and Jarrett as a refreshing change of pace. Jarrett’s presence, of course, fueled rumors that she’s being considered as Kotb’s replacement. Her legal background (like Guthrie’s) and rapid rise at NBC make her a plausible contender. The question then becomes, if Jarrett moves to weekdays, who takes over her Saturday Today duties?
Geist, a veteran of both hard news and morning show banter, provided a steady hand alongside Jarrett, offering a potential glimpse into a post-Kotb (and possibly post-Guthrie) world. Whether this was a simple fill-in or a strategic test run remains to be seen.
