As Hoda Kotb prepares to leave the Today show after 17 years, comedian Trevor Noah shared heartfelt advice during an October 7 episode of the NBC program. Reflecting on his own departure from The Daily Show in December 2022, Noah offered insights into the transition process.
When Kotb, 60, jokingly referred to the segment as an “excavation,” Noah quipped, “Are you asking me this because you’re leaving now?” Co-host Savannah Guthrie chimed in, asking if it was an interview or a therapy session.
Noah acknowledged the challenges of change, emphasizing that such moments often require “a moment of soul searching.” He expressed his feelings about leaving The Daily Show, stating, “I miss many moments at The Daily Show. I miss the people and I miss the idea. I miss the routine but it’s that old adage: you have to let go of something old to hold on to something new.”
He added that leaving a familiar environment allows for personal growth, saying, “There are new parts of yourself that you discover… It just becomes like a gradual change.”
Noah’s “one piece of advice” for Kotb was to take her time as she transitions from her role. “Don’t jump into everything else on the other side,” he cautioned. “I made that mistake initially and now I found a nice cadence and different rhythm, where I don’t have the same push anymore, but it’s nice. It’s a different type of feeling.”
Kotb announced her departure from the show last month in a heartfelt letter to NBC staff, stating, “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why.” During her on-air announcement, she sat surrounded by colleagues including Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, and Guthrie, visibly emotional.
In a recent PEOPLE cover story, Kotb, a mother of two daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, reflected on her decision to leave. “I’ve kind of been contemplating, wondering, thinking about what I wanted this next chunk of my life to look like as I turned 60,” she shared. “And I like adventure, I like new beginnings. I’m a sunrise person and not a sunset person, and I was wondering, what does it look like for me?”
She acknowledged the pull of her instincts, saying, “You either go toward it or you shove it down and say, ‘Nope, this is the way. I’m going to stay here because it’s safe.’” Although she recognizes the financial security and job stability of remaining at NBC, she has been motivated by her children to explore new opportunities and experiences.
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