Jimmy Fallon surprised departing Today show host Hoda Kotb with an extra special present during her final episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna.
The comedian and presenter, 50, dropped by the studios during Friday’s farewell episode and brought with him a framed piece of carpet from the elevators at 30 Rock.
Handing over the gift, which had the infamous NBC peacock logo printed all over it, Hoda and co-host Jenna Bush Hager immediately burst into laughter.
‘You cut some carpet out of the elevator?’ a shocked Hoda then gasped.
‘Yes,’ Jimmy confirmed. ‘I took an X-Acto knife and cut a square out of the carpet.’
Jimmy entitled the gift ‘onwards and upward’ because ‘you’re going on the elevator and going up.’
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Jimmy Fallon surprised departing Today show host Hoda Kotb with an extra special present
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He gifted Hoda a framed piece of carpet from the elevators at 30 Rock
He joked: ‘It’s small enough that you can hide it in the closet and when I come and visit you, you can take it out.’
Hoda was blown away by the unique present and rushed to voice her appreciation for her dear friend.
‘Jimmy, I love you,’ she declared. ‘Some of the funnest times of being in this building was sitting next to you.’
Hoda was treated to a number of surprises throughout the Today show’s morning broadcast, including guest appearances from several of her celebrity pals.
Among them was Gayle King, who dropped by and commended Hoda for retiring ‘on her own terms.’
Embracing her friend, she said: ‘I wanted to be her to cheer you on.’
Kathie Lee Griffin, who fronted the Today show alongside Hoda from 2008 to 2019, also made a surprise appearance.
‘You took away fear,’ she shared. ‘You proved to me that you are a fearless person.’
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The special present featured NBC’s signature peacock logo in all its glory
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Hoda now has a little slice of NBC and 30 Rock with her
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Hoda was amused by the gift and rushed to voice her appreciation for her dear friend
Oprah Winfrey also had an extra special message for Hoda.
In a pre-recorded video message, she said: ‘Well, I know what making this decision feels like.
‘I know how challenging it is to come to the moment where you say, “I have done it, I have done it,” and now it’s time to move on to the next thing.
‘And I will tell you that in the future, you’re going to look back and you’re going to say, “Was that the right decision? Did I do the right thing?”
‘And I will assure you that yes, you have made the right move.’
Talk show host Oprah, 70, continued: ‘Although it has been very hard to do I know that Haley and Hope are going to benefit so much from this decision.
‘And whatever you decide to do in your next chapter, in the next adventure, it will be the best decision for you and for your family.’
Besides all the heartfelt messages from her loved ones, Hoda also had a special message for viewers at home.
‘I have become who I am on this hour of this show, and you are there with me every step of the way,’ she said.
‘So as I sit here today in my final moments, on this final day in this chapter of my career, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my very full heart for the ride of a lifetime. I love you.’
