The Today show crew is preparing to say their final goodbye as Hoda Kotb hosts her last show on Friday, January 10.
After seven years in the co-anchor seat next to Savannah Guthrie, Kotb is officially retiring.
But before she signs off for the last time and leaves her anchor chair behind, the people in the Today show control room pulled one last prank on Kotb.
After coming back from break following the first half hour of the show, Guthrie began the script.
“We’re back at 7:30 it’s Friday morning,” Guthrie said. “And it’s a day of mixed emotions as we get ready to say goodbye to an icon here at 30 Rock.”
“Let’s face it, all around the world we’ll be counting down to it,” Guthrie continued as she began to giggle and the cameras panned their way over to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree that is still lit up and standing behind the Today studio in New York City.
Teary Hoda Kotb Announces She Is Leaving ‘Today’ Show
“Yes, our beloved Christmas tree is coming down tomorrow.”
The prank turned what would have been tears into belly laughs as Kotb, Guthrie and Kotb’s successor Craig Melvin realized Guthrie wasn’t talking about Kotb but the iconic Christmas tree so many people travel to see each holiday season.
“What? Did you think we were talking about something else?” Guthrie joked as Kotb buried her face in her hands.
Guthrie and Melvin praised the control room for their mood-lightening joke.
“Brilliant,” Melvin added. “They had to have one last crack at you,” Guthrie said to Kotb on behalf of those in the control room.
‘Today’ Show Hosts React to Hoda Kotb’s Surprising Exit
Kotb decision to retire comes after celebrating her 60th birthday on the Today plaza.
She said she saw her career so clearly and knew it was time to shift her focus to her beloved mom and her two young daughters.
Prior to her final broadcast, Kotb took to Instagram to share a quick message, writing, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
