TV star Hoda Kotb sure has a fan in Al Roker! In a new interview, the 63-year-old meteorologist candidly opened up about his friend Hoda’s recent Today show promotion to co-anchor — and revealed her transition was “completely natural” and “seamless!” When asked by Entertainment Tonight how Hoda’s new gig has been going, he replied, “It’s one of those things where it’s just completely natural. Hoda’s been there and everybody loves Hoda so it’s been seamless.”

Hoda took over the Today co-anchor job from Matt Lauer, 60, who was fired from NBC in late November 2017 following sexual misconduct allegations. “We wish nothing but the best for him and his family and [that] they get the support and the help that they need,” Al said of his former co-star. Al isn’t the only Today cast member to recently speak out about Matt’s firing. On Monday, Jan. 15, People published Katie Couric‘s first comments about the unfortunate situation.

“The whole thing has been very painful for me. The accounts I’ve read and heard have been disturbing, distressing, and disorienting and it’s completely unacceptable that any woman at the Today show experienced this kind of treatment,” Katie, 61, confessed. The journalist added that she never knew of Matt’s indiscretions. “I had no idea this was going on during my tenure or after I left,” she shared.

Katie continued, “I think I speak for many of my former colleagues when I say this was not the Matt we knew. Matt was a kind and generous colleague who treated me with respect. In fact, a joke I once made on late-night television was just that, because it was completely contrary to our brother-sister relationship. It’s still very upsetting. I really admire the way Savannah [Guthrie] and Hoda and the entire Today show staff have handled a very difficult situation.”

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