There was a “passing of the baton” at the Today show this morning. Willie Geist is leaving the third hour of the Today show as Billy Bush takes over.
“I’ve been wearing a lot of hats lately. I have a big head, but not big enough for all those hats,” said Geist on the Today show this morning. “I’ll step away from the third hour, but I pass the hat to a guy with another big head. Billy Bush, the hat is yours.” Bush will co-host with Tamron Hall and Al Roker.
Geist continues as host of the Sunday Today show as well as a critical part of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, as Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski told us last month.
Bush leaves Access Hollywood where he has been co-host for the last 12 years. Former Today show national correspondent, news anchor and third hour co-host Natalie Morales has moved West to take Bush’s seat at the Access Hollywood desk.
The third hour of the Today show launched in 2000. The fourth hour was added in 2007.