Mikey Day ‘Didn’t Know’ Hoda Kotb Was Leaving ‘Today’ Before Appearing on the Talk Show

Mikey Day admitted that he had no idea Hoda Kotb was leaving Today before his dramatic reaction to the news went viral.

The Saturday Night Live star appeared on Today on December 3, and walked off the stage when Jenna Bush Hager informed him that Hoda, 60, would be departing the program early next year. “No. No!” he screamed upon hearing the news of her exit. Eventually, he returned to his seat in utter shock.

“I didn’t know that Hoda was leaving,” he exclusively told Closer at The American Museum of Natural History Gala in NYC on December 5.

During the appearance on the long-running talk show, Jenna, 43, asked Mikey, 44, if he would be interested in taking Hoda’s job. He said that he would be down to come guest cohost any time. “It just kind of happened,” he reflected on the offer.

Jenna will welcome guest cohosts in the show’s fourth hour following Hoda’s final episode on January 10. Today With Hoda & Jenna will be renamed Today With Jenna & Friends as she searches for a permanent cohost.

“I found out on the air,” he said of Hoda’s big news. “But I would absolutely go there and fill in anytime they need someone. It would be fun because those ladies are great.”

Mikey reiterated that Hoda and Jenna are “great” and “so cool” and he had “a blast” during his visit to Today even though he was hit with Hoda’s bombshell. He joked that much like SNL, Today has its own afterparties, only they happen at 11:30 a.m. “I got coffee. I went ham,” Mikey quipped.

Mikey hasn’t been the only star who was devastated by the news of Hoda’s Today departure. On October 15, Henry Winkler came to visit Today and shared a powerful message ahead of her next chapter.

“Before I go any further, I want to say this, I know that a lot of people have sat here,” the Happy Days alum said. “There are a lot of guests that come through this show that you have been doing for a long time. You two make each guest feel like they are the only guest.”

“And I just want to say on behalf of my wife, Stacey, and I, we are going to miss you, as America is going to miss you,” Henry, 79, added. “Thank you for always making me [feel] welcome. The two of you have a chemistry that is going to be very difficult to fill. That is the truth.”

Jenna told him, “Well, if you want a job, there’s one opening up.”

“But I’m not kidding,” he replied. “There you go. I love you very much. You have always made me feel wonderful.”

On Thanksgiving, Hoda cohosted her final Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Today. Guest Cynthia Erivo brought her a bouquet of flowers and shared a sweet sentiment about her exit from the talk show.

“Before you even begin, yes, these flowers are for you because I know that this is the last Thanksgiving parade you’re doing,” Cynthia, 37, said.

“I wanted to celebrate that and I wanted to say we love you,” the Wicked star added. “Thank you for all of the hard work you’ve done all of these years.”