In a shocking and satirical twist, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has taken a jab at Hoda Kotb’s recent departure from the Today show, with a cheeky dig at her co-hosting future. In its latest skit, SNL cleverly alluded to Matt Lauer’s controversial departure, insinuating that Kotb may face a similar fate unless she maintains her position – or risks being replaced by none other than Ellen DeGeneres.
The sketch, which aired during this weekend’s episode, had audiences in stitches as the show’s writers riffed on the drama surrounding Kotb’s exit from Today. The scene humorously portrayed Kotb as being caught in a tug-of-war between staying in her current role or facing a new, albeit unexpected, challenge. The punchline? She would be replaced by DeGeneres, who was depicted in the skit as keen to join the Today show with her signature quirky style.
The SNL segment didn’t hold back in poking fun at Kotb’s decision-making process, with exaggerated dramatizations of high-stakes negotiations and playful references to DeGeneres’ candid demeanor and recent media ventures. The joke about DeGeneres entering the morning talk show scene was a pointed reference to her years of hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which ended its run after 19 seasons.
The comparison to Matt Lauer, the disgraced former Today anchor, added another layer of dark humor, as the sketch implied that Kotb’s future at the network could hinge on her maintaining her position amid internal pressure. It served as a nod to Lauer’s shocking ouster in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, a scandal that has continued to haunt NBC ever since.
Fans of SNL took to social media to react to the segment, with many praising the show’s ability to tackle such a sensitive topic with humor, while others questioned whether it crossed a line given the seriousness of the issues involved. Regardless, the sketch added fuel to the ongoing speculation about Kotb’s role and potential shakeups within Today.
In a time when morning talk shows are constantly evolving, this SNL moment has added another layer of intrigue and humor to an already dramatic situation. As for Kotb and her future at Today, only time will tell whether she’ll stay or face the hypothetical fate of being replaced by a talk-show legend.
