Scarlett Johansson is living the dream.
The actress is trying out this week as a co-host on television Jenna and friendshour four of NBC’s morning show with Jenna Bush Hager, and the fast friends (and even faster dynamic duo) took PEOPLE for a ride on January 21.
“It’s a complete dream. I told Jenna before, it’s like that thing I imagined as a 10-year-old: One day I’m going to be on a daytime show and meet all these amazing people,” Johansson tells PEOPLE exclusively as she and Bush Hager mate after the show.
“I mean, it’s a testament to what you’ve built here that I’ve literally walked down the street and gotten more attention from the guests that were hosting Today show than any other project I’ve done!” she says with a laugh.
Jenna Bush Hager and weekly co-host Scarlett Johansson on Today with Jenna and Friends on January 21st.
TODAY with Jenna and Friends/YouTube
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The morning began with the host couple filming their cool open (in layman’s terms: introduction to the show) at around 9:30am before splitting up briefly for final touches. Bush Hager, dressed in a black sweater dress and smiling, retreats to her dressing room (which is, indeed, small as the presenters always joke).
The room is filled with colorful shoes and coats and clothes and of course books, and Bush Hager is equally witty and charming – casually discussing the brooch she wore on her jacket outside in the square earlier that morning – even with t million cameras on her.
The internal PA system then informs Bush Hager that she has five minutes to go on air, so by the time she enters the zone, everyone descends into Studio 1A, where hosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer are wrapping up their 3rd hour,
The producers complimented Melvin on his recent PEOPLE cover, asking him if autographed copies would be his main Christmas present next year, and Dreyer is wonderfully hospitable, complimenting her on her hair and outfits.
The studio team quickly swoops in to change the set for Bush Hager and Johansson, while Roker is busy serving up barbecue pizza from an earlier 3rd Hour segment (reminder, it’s barely 10 o’clock at this point) because that’s just how they roll, he says.
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The set never stops moving, not even once, for the next hour helmed by Bush Hager and Johansson. TodayThe fourth watch is a well-oiled machine — the result of the many professionals who showed up to get the job done (and enjoy the fun).
“It’s such a good vibe here. I’ve been doing morning shows and whatever for years and years, posting projects that I’ve been working on and whatever, [but] it’s always so much fun to come on this show,” says Johansson. “And the opportunity to be on this show for an hour and meet more people on the show? It’s just great. It’s like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re doing a fun thing. This is an optimistic thing.'”
And Johansson is a natural next to Bush Hager – no surprise after learning that the morning TV host has been a longtime dream of the actress.
“I told Al I was coming over after his work,” she tells PEOPLE. “You people, [no] if I ever did the weather forecast for the week, it would be bad. ‘It looks cold,’ meanwhile it’s the warmest weather they’ve ever had,” jokes Johansson.
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Bush Hager, however, is quick to shower his guest with compliments.
“She’s so naturally curious. I know that from hanging out with her. And she’s a good listener. And that’s part of how you do this job. So I knew she was going to be good. Listen, she made us all cool because we cultivated these shows with her in mind,” she says.
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As the show ends, the crew sings “Scar-lett! Scar-lett!” again and again. The star is visibly flattered.
“They don’t do this on movie sets!” she jokes.
The two then say their goodbyes (if only for the rest of the day before Johansson returns the next morning) and just like that, she’s off to her next engagement in what turns out to be an endlessly crowded schedule.
“I love her,” says Bush Hager. “And also, when something ends and you start something new, to have people raise their hands and show up for you, it’s the most gracious, amazing feeling. Honestly.”
Jenna and friends airs weekdays at 10:00 a.m. ET on NBC.
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