In a recent cover story for InStyle magazine, Scarlett Johansson shared her thoughts on who should serve as Jenna Bush Hager’s permanent cohost on the Today show. Johansson believes that the NBC news program needs someone “spicy” and that Hager should be paired with someone funny. The actress, who cohosted the show with Hager for a week in January, also praised Hoda Kotb, a previous cohost, calling her a mentor. Johansson noted that Kotb was great to work with as she was older and had kids, providing a unique perspective.
Johansson reflected on her own experience cohosting the Today show, saying that it was a fantasy job for her. She explained that she enjoyed every element of the job, particularly interacting with people. Drawing parallels between hosting Today and Saturday Night Live, Johansson found the live aspect of the show to be fun, spontaneous, and a bit dangerous. Despite her positive experience on Today, Johansson admitted that she would not want her own TV show. She has hosted SNL six times, most recently in December 2019.
When Johansson was announced as a temporary cohost on Today, many of her friends and family were surprised by the news. However, those who knew her well were happy for her, recognizing that she was living her dream. During her appearance on the show, Johansson recounted her childhood dream of working as a breakfast television host, pretending to host a show in front of a mirror with a shampoo bottle. It was a goal she had since she was a young child.
As for Hoda Kotb, the former cohost of the Today show, she left the program after 17 years. Her final episode aired on January 10, with emotional moments as her colleagues shared their praise and support. Kotb had joined NBC in 1998 as a correspondent before becoming a host on the Today show in 2007. She was later joined by Kathie Lee Gifford as her cohost until Hager took over the role in April 2019. Kotb’s departure marked the end of an era on the morning news show.
Johansson’s appearance as a cohost on the Today show was a memorable experience for her, as she shared her love for hosting and interacting with people. She found similarities between hosting Today and SNL, enjoying the live and spontaneous aspects of both shows. While she doesn’t aspire to have her own TV show, Johansson appreciated the opportunity to cohost for a week and reminisced about her childhood dreams of hosting a morning television program. Her positive experience on the show added another dimension to her diverse career in the entertainment industry.
