NEED TO KNOW
Craig Melvin didn’t exactly get off on the right foot for his first time guest co-hosting Today with Jenna & Friends.
The Today co-anchor, who replaced Hoda Kotb in January, made a surprising admission on Monday, Nov. 3, as he took his place at the round table alongside regular host Jenna Bush Hager.
“This is a nice set,” Melvin, 46, said, adding, “You know, I’ve never seen the show.”
Bush Hager, 43, called out her friend, saying, “That is so rude!”
The NBC journalist insisted that he missed the fourth hour of Today due to logistics. “Well, because we’re just getting off,” he explained.
But Bush Hager wouldn’t let the comment slide, asking producers, “Did you just hear him say he’s never watched the show?”
“No, because I’m usually in transit, but this is nice,” Melvin insisted.
However, Bush Hager pointed out, “Here’s the thing about it. It’s a full hour.” Melvin then conceded, “I know, I could probably watch some of it.”
NBC
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Melvin co-anchors the first two hours of Today alongside Savannah Guthrie and co-hosts the 3rd Hour of Today alongside Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer.
But despite the early flub on the fourth hour, Melvin recovered and took a moment to praise Bush Hager’s efforts since Kotb’s exit from the program.
“What you have managed to do over the last few months on this show, from just a purely broadcasting perspective, as the kids would say, real recognize real,” Melvin told Bush Hager. “To be able to sit next to someone different every day or two and do this, that’s a feat.”
Melvin, who noted that he’s been the 58th guest co-host on the show, added, “You and I have both been in the business long enough to know you sit next to people that you don’t really like a lot.”
And while Bush Hager insisted, “No, I like everybody!” Melvin wasn’t buying it, replying, “Okay, sure, we’ll play along.”
In addition to members of her Today show family, Bush Hager has also had a variety of celebrity guest co-hosts, including Dwyane Wade, Olivia Munn, Tyra Banks, Cardi B, Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson and more.
