Since Hoda Kotb’s departure from the Today show’s fourth hour,
numerous media personalities have stepped in as guest hosts alongside Jenna Bush Hager.
While the search continues for a permanent co-host, one guest in particular made quite the impression—both on-screen and behind the scenes.
Comedian Heather McMahan recently joined the NBC morning show for a week-long guest-hosting stint, and her presence quickly became a fan favorite.
However, it wasn’t just her comedic timing that caught attention—her amusing interaction with Sunday Today anchor Willie Geist had viewers talking.
A social media clip shared on February 27 captured McMahan’s flustered but hilarious reaction when she unexpectedly ran into Geist in a dressing room.
In the clip, the comedian was visibly surprised by his presence and immediately complimented his choice of attire, exclaiming, “You look so good in blue!” before realizing she wasn’t exactly dressed for the moment. “Oh my god, I’m wearing my slippers!” she added with mock embarrassment.
Geist, always quick with a witty remark, played along. “Are we an item?” he joked, to which McMahan enthusiastically responded, “Yeah, we kind of are.”
Jenna Bush Hager, who was seated nearby getting her makeup done, couldn’t resist joining in on the playful exchange. “By the way, just to be clear, I heard from his wife. She’s OK,” she quipped, alluding to Geist’s real-life marriage to Christina Geist.
McMahan, keeping up the comedic bit, reassured everyone that her own husband, Jeff Daniels (not to be confused with the actor of the same name), was completely on board with the joke. “He was like, ‘if anybody, it’s Willie,’” she laughed.
The humorous back-and-forth didn’t end there, as Geist continued the joke, adding that his wife Christina was surprisingly unbothered by the playful banter. “I was surprised at the lack of resistance I got from my wife. She was like, ‘great, she’s awesome,’” he said. Bush Hager then chimed in again, teasing that Christina would give her full approval—as long as she got tickets to one of McMahan’s comedy shows.
Beyond the lighthearted moment with Geist, McMahan’s on-air presence also won over Today show viewers. Many took to social media to praise her chemistry with Bush Hager, with fans calling for her to become a permanent fixture on the program.
“[Make] her the permanent co-host she rocks! ❤️,” one fan enthusiastically commented on Instagram. Others echoed the sentiment, with one viewer writing, “I need more of this maybe on a permanent basis.”
McMahan’s natural charisma and comedic timing seem to have struck a chord with the audience, making her a standout among the guest hosts who have taken a turn in the co-hosting chair. Whether or not NBC considers her for a permanent role remains to be seen, but for now, her Today show stint has certainly left a lasting impression.
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