NBC's East Coast-West Coast anchor swap is complete: Access Hollywood anchor Billy Bush will be joining Today in the weekday show's third hour (weekdays, 9 a.m. ET/PT).
Bush's move from the NBCUniversal syndicated entertainment show in Los Angeles to the morning show in New York has been expected since the announcement early this month that Today anchor Natalie Morales would be moving to Los Angeles to become Today's West Coast anchor and assume anchor duties on Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood Live.
Bush is scheduled to begin his Today duties during NBC's coverage of the Olympic Games in August.
In an e-mail to Today staff Tuesday, senior vice president Noah Oppenheim, who oversees the morning show, confirmed Bush's impending arrival and welcomed him to the show.
"Billy has been a part of the Today extended family for quite some time — he brings boundless energy, a great interviewing style and a deep knowledge of pop culture," Oppenheim writes. "During 15 years as host of Access Hollywood and 6 years as co-host of Access Live, Billy has covered and interviewed literally everyone in Hollywood. Following an early start in radio, Billy broke into TV as a freelancer on WNBC. He credits his very first segment, involving a painful chest-waxing incident (well before Steve Carell) with him getting the full-time gig."
Morales is expected to make the move to Los Angeles this summer.
