Willie Geist Is Named Co-Host of 9 a.m. Hour of \'Today\'

October 10, 2012, 8:00 am

By BRIAN STELTER

NBC's “Today” show on Wednesday welcomed Willie Geist, the MSNBC newsman and occasional comedian, as the new co-host of its 9 a.m.
hour.

The network confirmed that Mr. Geist would become a permanent presence on “Today,” where he has regularly filled in for Matt Lauer this year.
His impending appointment was first reported last month.

Mr. Geist is currently the host of the irreverent 5:30 a.m. newscast “Way Too Early” and a co-host of the 6-to-9 a.m. “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, a favorite of political junkies. He said in an interview that he will continue co-hosting the 6 a.m. hour of “Morning Joe” because he “wanted to keep a foot in the ‘Morning Joe' political world.'â €

Then, he said, “I'll jog across the street and finish prepping for the 9 a.m. hour.” (The “Today” studio is in a building across 49th Street from MSNBC's studio, both at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan.)

“Way Too Early,” which was conceived by Mr. Geist three years ago, will continue, but with a new host. He or she has not been chosen.

Mr. Geist's appointment on “Today” will begin Nov. 12, the Monday after the presidential election. He will replace Savannah Guthrie, the previous 9 a.m. host, who was promoted to co-host the flagship 7-to-9 a.m. hours earlier this year after NBC removed Ann Curry from the position.

Mr. Geist's transition is intended to be a smooth one, unlike Ms. Curry's. He appeared on the show on Wednesday morning to talk about his promotion, and he'll continue to show up in advance of the appointment date. “I do expect there will be some Halloween hazing, although they won't tell me what it is yet,” he said in the interview, referring to the show's annual Halloween costume episode.

Jim Bell, the executive producer of “Today,” said in a statement: “We are thrilled to add Willie to the ‘Today' team. He brings a solid news background with a keen sense of creativity and humor. From politics to pop culture, Willie is a skilled and versatile reporter who will make a great addition at 9 a.m. and contribute to the entire broadcast.”

Mr. Geist will continue to fill in for Mr. Lauer, who has been the co-host of the 7-to-9 a.m. hours since 1997. Mr. Lauer recently renewed his contract at “Today.”

He'll also continue to contribute to the NBC Sports Network, where he anchored some Summer Olympics coverage earlier this year.

But his main job will now be the 9 a.m. hour of “Today,” which was created in 2000 as an extension of the morning show franchise. He'll be joined by Al Roker and Natalie Morales, two members of the 7-to-9 a.m. ensemble who a lready co-host the 9 a.m. hour.

Of the 9 a.m. program, Mr. Geist said, “it's going to become more of its own hour.”

Already “Today” has taken some steps toward becoming more of a talk show. Earlier this fall it added a conversational segment called “Take Three,” where the co-hosts and a guest talk about hot topics of the day.

“Loose, smart with a sense of humor is a great combination,” Mr. Geist said.

For more than 15 years “Today” was the No. 1 morning show in the United States, but it has fallen behind ABC's “Good Morning America”
in the ratings this year. Mr. Geist is the second fresh face, after his friend Ms. Guthrie, who has joined the cast since “G.M.A.” started winning.

“Right now I see a moment of great opportunity,” Mr. Geist said, “and the great news is that everybody over there at the ‘Today' show feels the same way too.”