Since Hoda Kotb stepped away from the Today show, longtime NBC personality Willie Geist 

has been making more frequent appearances in the morning show’s studio. His presence has been particularly notable during the Jenna & Friends segment, where he has stepped in to co-host alongside Jenna Bush Hager. While fans have enjoyed seeing him in this role, 

his recent viral moment on the show has led to an unexpected development—one that he admits makes him feel “very uncomfortable.”

On the March 4 episode of the morning show, Bush Hager made a surprising announcement that caught Geist off guard. She compared him to The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal, who has been widely embraced online as “the internet’s boyfriend” due to his affable personality and charm. Much to Geist’s dismay, Bush Hager revealed that he was now receiving a similar title.

“Our team has pegged you now as ‘morning TV’s boyfriend,’” Bush Hager told him, prompting an immediate reaction from Geist. Groaning at the unexpected label, he confessed, “Makes me very uncomfortable.” Bush Hager, however, wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily, diving into the hilarious moment that had sparked this newfound title.

The situation stemmed from a playful yet flustered interaction Geist had with comedian and podcaster Heather McMahan, who had recently guest-hosted the Jenna & Friends segment. During her week-long stay on the show, McMahan had an amusingly awkward encounter with Geist when he casually popped into her dressing room to say hello to her and Bush Hager.

In a clip shared by the Today show on February 27, Geist was seen walking into the room to greet McMahan, who immediately became flustered by his presence. Clearly caught off guard, she blurted out a compliment before suddenly panicking about her appearance. “Oh my god, I’m wearing my slippers!” she exclaimed, realizing she wasn’t quite prepared for the unexpected visit.

Sensing the comedic moment unfolding, Geist playfully asked, “Are we an item?” to which McMahan responded without hesitation, “Yeah, we kind of are.” Their lighthearted exchange quickly gained traction online, as fans couldn’t help but delight in McMahan’s endearing reaction to Geist.

When discussing the moment on the March 4 episode, Geist admitted to Bush Hager that he and McMahan “had a moment,” acknowledging the humorous dynamic between them. Bush Hager elaborated on how the normally confident and outgoing McMahan had an unexpected reaction upon seeing him. “She saw you and she just shriveled up inside,” Bush Hager teased, emphasizing just how flustered McMahan had become.

As the conversation continued, Bush Hager took things a step further by reading some of the comments fans had left on the video. Many viewers had enjoyed the interaction and shared their thoughts, reinforcing the idea that Geist had unknowingly stepped into his new role as “morning TV’s boyfriend.” Although Geist good-naturedly scoffed at the compliments being showered upon him, he couldn’t deny the attention the moment had received.

Adding to his discomfort, Geist revealed that he hadn’t even been aware the interaction with McMahan had been filmed. It wasn’t until he returned home that his wife informed him about it. While he found the entire situation amusing, the unexpected title still left him perplexed.

“I don’t even quite know what it means to be morning TV’s boyfriend,” Geist admitted, still processing the unexpected comparison. “I guess it’s an honor to be in the company of Pedro Pascal.”

Despite his reluctance to embrace the title, fans clearly appreciate Geist’s charisma and charm, making his regular appearances on Today all the more entertaining. Whether or not he fully accepts his new moniker, one thing is certain—viewers will continue enjoying his presence on the show, and perhaps even more hilarious moments like this will arise in the future.

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