Willie Geist leaving third hour of NBC's 'Today'
Willie Geist is leaving the third hour of NBC's Today. The co-host announced his departure, and that new Today co-host Billy Bush would be his replacement, on Monday's episode of the NBC morning show.
"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 Monday's Today. "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."
It's the latest shakeup in an evolving third-hour of Today. Natalie Morales recently relocated to the West Coast, taking Bush's old Access Hollywood gig, as NBC News continues to tinker with the 9 a.m. show in an effort to make it success more in line with the first two hours fronted by Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie.
See photos of all of the 'Today' anchors through the years:
Geist has no shortage of duties at NBC News. He now anchors Today's Sunday show and continues to serve as co-host on three hours of MSNBC a.m. flagship Morning Joe. The latter, which has seen ratings rise in 2016, has been garnering more buzz than usual thanks to the election year.
Bush only recent joined the Today family after a long, and poorly-guarded, courtship. He formally boarded the show in May, getting his first big platform in the Rio Olympics.
He joins Tamron Hall in toplining the third hour.
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