'Today' Show Fans Have Feelings About Meredith Vieira Co-Hosting With Hoda Kotb

From Good Housekeeping

  • NBC has tapped former Today show co-host Meredith Vieira to fill in for Jenna Bush Hager on Today with Hoda and Jenna.

  • Based on fan feedback, viewers are loving Meredith's presence on the show, particularly her dynamic with Hoda Kotb.

  • Meredith co-hosted Today between 2006 and 2011.

  • Jenna Bush Hager is expected to come back from her maternity leave later this fall.


Since Jenna Bush Hager has been away on maternity leave, NBC has asked various current and former Today show co-hosts to help fill in on the fourth-hour program Today with Hoda and Jenna. Last week, it was Maria Shriver. This week, it's Meredith Vieira.

So far, Hoda Kotb and Meredith have interviewed Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, Viola Davis, and Alex Rodriguez, all while sipping white wine and talking about the biggest headlines in the news. While fans undoubtedly miss seeing Jenna on the Today show every morning, many have made it very clear on social media that they really love having Meredith on the program.

"I love Hoda and Meredith together. They work so well together," one viewer said. "I am cracking up at Meredith Vieira and Hoda Kotb right now. How old am I?," another said. "So happy that Meredith and TODAY have never cut ties, it’s great to see her back every now and again!," a different fan noted on Instagram.

As fans of the fourth-hour show can recall, Meredith also stepped in while Hoda was out on maternity leave this spring and summer. Hoda was off the Today show from mid-April through Labor Day after adopting her second baby girl, Hope Catherine.

At the moment, it's unclear how long Meredith will be subbing in for Jenna (who is expected to return later this fall after giving birth to her first boy, Henry Harold). After all, Meredith is already plenty busy hosting Fox's new syndicated game show 25 Words or Less. But based on this positive response, it's clear that the Today show audience definitely wants her on the program more often.

Who knows, maybe Meredith will be asked back when third-hour star Dylan Dreyer, who is currently pregnant with her second, goes out for her maternity leave in January. Let's hope so!


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