Inside Scarlett Johansson's First Day as Jenna Bush Hager's Guest Co-Host onJenna & Friends(Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Scarlett Johansson and Jenna Bush Hager on Jenna & Friends January 21.Photo:TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

Scarlett Johanssonis living the dream.

The actress is trying her hand at co-hosting television this week onJenna & Friends, the fourth hour of the NBC morning staple withJenna Bush Hager, and the fast friends (and even faster dynamic duo) took PEOPLE along for the ride on Jan. 21.

“It’s a complete dream. I was saying to Jenna earlier, it’s like that thing that I imagined as a 10-year-old: Some day I’m going to be on a daytime show and meet all of these amazing people,” Johansson tells PEOPLE exclusively as she and Bush Hager mingle after the show.

“I mean, it’s a testament to what you guys have all built here that I’ve literally walked down the street and have gotten more traction from guest hosting theTodayshow than any other project that I’ve done!” she says with a laugh.

Jenna Bush Hager and co-host of the week Scarlett Johansson on Today with Jenna and Friends Jan. 21.TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

The morning started with the hosting pair filming their cold open (in layman’s terms: the show’s intro) around 9:30 a.m. before they briefly parted ways for final touchups. Bush Hager, clad in a black sweater dress and a smile, retreats to her dressing room (which is, indeed, just astiny as the anchors always joke).

The little room is stuffed with colorful shoes and coats and clothes and of course books, and Bush Hager is equally as funny and charming — chatting casually about the broach she wore on her jacket outside on the plaza earlier that morning — even when there aren’t a million cameras on her.

The in-house PA system then informs Bush Hager she’s got five minutes to air, so while she gets in the zone, everyone heads down to Studio 1A, where anchorsCraig Melvin,Al RokerandDylan Dreyerare wrapping their3rd Hour,

Producers ribMelvin over his recent PEOPLE cover, asking if autographed copies are going to be his go-to Christmas gift next year, and Dreyer is wonderfully welcoming, complimenting haircuts and outfits as she goes.

The studio team quickly swoops in to change the set over for Bush Hager and Johansson, and Roker, meanwhile, is busy offering up barbecue pizza from the 3rd Hour’s earlier segment (reminder, it is barely 10 a.m. at this point) because that’s just how they roll, he says.

“It’s such a good vibe here. I’ve done obviously morning shows and whatever for years and years, publicizing projects I worked on and whatever, [but] it’s always so fun to come on this show,” says Johansson. “And the opportunity to be on this show for an hour and get to know more people at the show? It’s just awesome. It’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re doing a fun thing. This is an upbeat thing.'”

“I told Al I’m coming after his job,” she tells PEOPLE. “You guys, [no] if I ever did weather for the week, it would be bad. ‘It looks cold,’ meanwhile, it’s the hottest weather they’ve ever had,” jokes Johansson.

Bush Hager, however, is quick to shower her guest in compliments.

“She’s so naturally curious. I know that from hanging with her. And she’s a good listener. And that’s part of how you do this job. So I knew she’d be good. Listen, she’s made us all cooler because we cultivated these shows with her in mind,” she says.

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As the show wraps, the crew chants “Scar-lett! Scar-lett!” over and over again. The star is visibly flattered.

“They don’t do this on movie sets!” she quips.

“I love her,” says Bush Hager. “And also, when something ends and you’re starting something new, to have people raise their hands and show up for you, it’s the most gracious, amazing feeling. Truthfully.”

Jenna & Friendsairs weekdays at 10:00 a.m ET on NBC.

source: people.com