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TheTodayshow crew brought a massive dose of Sin City to New York City for their fun-filled Halloween episode this year.
PEOPLE was on hand to watch the unveiling of theTodaysquad’s highly anticipated costume reveal for their annual Halloween variety show. The theme this year? Viva Las Vegas!
Throughout the festive morning,Todayco-hostsHoda KotbandSavannah Guthriecould not contain their joy and laughter, whether on camera or off, as they posed and “performed” dressed as Cirque du Soleil aerialists.
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“You don’t wanna be next to Savannah,” Kotb, 58, told PEOPLE. “She drops bombs on me during the show that I’m seriously afraid I’m gonna laugh and get fired.”
Guthrie, 50, confirmed: “We basically laugh through every single morning.”
The dynamic duo, who reassured PEOPLE that they have zero dance or gymnastics experience, wore aqua-hued matching one-piece ensembles as they climbed up onto aerial rings hanging from a stage set-up at Rockefeller Plaza for the big show.
“When we rehearsed, the rings were maybe like three inches off the ground. And then we came out here and we’re like, ‘Whoa, those are really high,'” Guthrie said.
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Behind the laughs, the reality is that the two working moms are there to lift and support each other whenever the other person is having a bad day.
“I think the best part is, is we can lean on each other,” Kotb shared. “Cuz the good news is, when one of us is having a bad day, the other one normally isn’t. So it’s like, that’s the way it kind of works. It’s like we kind of balance each other out.”
Ultimately, Kotb said the best thing they do for each other is “We just listen. I think that’s it. Someone told me the best way to have a friendship or raise kids or do anything is four words. ‘Listen and love, love, love.’ That’s it.”
“It’s true. That’s it,” Guthrie affirmed. “We like give each other a little squeeze. That’s it. A nudge.”
Outside the famed NBC studios, loyal fans lined up on Monday to see their favoriteTodaystars dressed in various Vegas-themed attire.
Al Roker, 68, come out dancing as late legendSammy Davis Jr.while “magician"Carson Daly, 49, channeled illusionistDavid Copperfield, with Dylan Dreyer donning a black bobbed wig and snazzy black sequins as a magician’s assistant.Willie Geist, 47, portrayed Las Vegas’s biggest star as the one and onlyElvis Presley.
“I love Celine,” Bush Hager shared to PEOPLE. “I feel like I’ve been preparing for this moment since I was like 20 years old.”
Today’s D.C. correspondentsPeter Alexander and Kristen Welker, both 46, recreatedBen AffleckandJennifer Lopez’ssurprise Vegas weddingin a tux and bridal gown.
In red boxing gloves and a red satin robe,Craig Melvinhit the ring asMuhammad Ali, telling PEOPLE that he gave a heads up to the late legend’s wife,Lonnie Ali, who he connected with whenhe covered the sports figure’s memorial service in 2016.
“He’s an icon,” Melvin, 43, told PEOPLE. “If you look back, we haven’t done a lot of characters who are no longer with us, so I was a little apprehensive. But they do such a good job with the hair, the makeup and the wardrobe stuff.”
Showing off his championship belt, he revealed, “This belt was made somewhere overseas and they shipped it in a couple weeks ago, and these suspenders hold it up because it’s so heavy.”
However, it wasSheinelle Jones, 44, in full Las Vegas showgirl mode who stole the show with her dance moves — after blowing her colleagues away last year asTina Turner.
“She did a great, beautiful dance as a showgirl,” Guthrie praised.
“She’s a pro,” Kotb added. “I loved her I loved Jenna. I loved Sammy Davis. Al — and that was Jenna’s real voice. She hit one of the high notes!”
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Todayairs weekdays from 7–10 a.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
