Jenna Bush Hager and Scarlett Johansson hit it off when the Jurassic World: Rebirth star joined as a guest co-host this week on Today With Jenna & Friends. So much so, Johansson has made it clear that she is willing to stay on the show full-time if they’ll have her.
Luckily for her, one NBC star who knows the job better than anyone just gave her blessing: Hoda Kotb.
Bush Hager told Johansson that she recently caught up with her former Today co-host over drinks. “When I saw Hoda she was like, ‘You and Scarlett!’ And I said, ‘I know,'” she shared. Later on in the broadcast, she revealed that Kotb admitted she was “kind of jealous” of their undeniable chemistry.
Kotb famously retired from NBC in early January after over 25 years on the network. The fourth hour of Today has since temporarily rebranded to Today With Jenna & Friends as Bush Hager continues her search for a permanent co-host to fill Kotb’s seat.
“You know when I saw Hoda last night I actually said to her, ‘You left me, you broke my heart so I had to date one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. And we fell in love,'” she recounted to Johansson. “And [Kotb] was like, ‘I know, I’m kind of jealous about it.'”
Johansson, who is guest hosting for this entire week on Today, has announced many times on the show that this is her “dream job.” The co-hosts have bonded so much this week that they even got matching “best friend” piercings during Thursday’s (Jan. 23) broadcast.
“It’s my favorite job that I’ve ever had,” she said. “I have to say this really fills my cup. I absolutely have to come back if you’ll have me.”
Bush Hager made it clear that she would do everything she could to have Johansson back on the show. But it seems like it may come down to whether or not NBC can afford her full-time.
“Are you kidding me? We started a GoFundMe so you could be here all the time. It’s been a dream,” Bush Hager told her. And just yesterday, Bush Hager pleaded for Johansson to stay on the show with her “if we can round up a lot of money.”
Johansson later tried to have a “gracious” reaction when Bush Hager announced who her next guest co-hosts will be on Today With Jenna & Friends: Kelsea Ballerini, Jordin Sparks, Ciara, and Wynonna Judd. Ciara will host two days on the show.
This may not be the last that we’ll see of Johansson. Even if she is not able to stay on as a permanent co-host on Today With Jenna, Bush Hager and Johansson teased that they’re already hoping to have her back on the show in March.
Today with Jenna & Friends airs on weekdays at 10/9c on NBC.