Scarlett Johansson’s Surprise Move: Could She Be The Next Hoda Kotb On Today Show?

Scarlett Johansson said hosting TODAY was a dream
Jenna Bush Hager is in-between co-hosts for her show ‘Today With Jenna & Friends,’ and Scarlett Johansson has a suggestion.

The Today Show host has seen a carousel of celebrity guest stars in recent weeks as the show looks to find a permanent co-host. She previously hosted the show with longtime on-air personality Hoda Kotb, who retired at the beginning of the year.

This week, she sat beside basketball legend Dwyane Wade, and the duo had great chemistry. Johansson made her Today Show debut in January, saying it was her “dream.”

She mentioned during her temporary hosting gig: “Everyone in my life can’t quite believe it. The people that knew me very well were like, ‘You are living your dream. I am so happy for you.’ The people that did not know me as well were like, ‘What’s going on? Are you OK?’”

Hoda Kotb retired in January, and now Jenna Bush Hager has been hosting with celebrity guest stars
Her love for the show makes her want to find the best co-host for Hager. She recently suggested in her cover story for InStyle that Hager needs someone “spicy” to be by her side.

“Jenna needs to be with someone funny,” Johansson said. She added that it will be hard to replace Hoda, because she was a “mentor.”

“With Hoda, it was so great because she was like, you know, a little older, but with kids,” Johansson said.

Maybe Johansson is putting her hat into the ring. She continued that hosting the Today Show was a “fantasy job for me.”

“I like every element of that job, because I love talking to people. It’s not dissimilar from hosting Saturday Night Live in some ways,” she said. “The live element of it is really fun. Spontaneous and a little dangerous too. I would never want my own TV show.”

Hager has had several guest hosts that made an impact. Fellow Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie took the spot earlier this week, with some agreeing they two close friends make a perfect pair.

Others raved about her connection with comedian Helen McMahan, saying she needs to take up a permanent spot. Some of the recent guest hosts include Taraji P Henson, Eva Longoria and KeKe Palmer.

Kotb’s leaving left a hole in the Today Show that will be difficult to fill. Fellow anchor Savannah Guthrie recently opened up about her reaction to hearing Kotb’s decision to retire, saying she was “heartbroken.”

She added: “I’m also thrilled for her and proud of her. That is so gutsy to leave something you love at the height of your excellence and say, ‘I’m dreaming this bigger dream for myself.’”