Bye-bye, Billy: Carson Daly takes over Bush's Today Show time slot in the wake of lewd hot mic conversation with Donald Trump

  • Carson Daly is taking over the Today Show slot left empty during Billy Bush's suspension
  • Follows lewd comments he made while on a bus with Donald Trump  

Carson Daly is taking over the Today Show slot left empty during Billy Bush's suspension in the wake of lewd comments he made while on a bus with Donald Trump.

Daly, 43, will co-host Tuesday's 9am slot of the show as executives powwow about what do about the scandal and when or if Bush should return, reports Variety.

Daly, who got his start as a VJ for MTV, will cohost with Tamron Hall, says the outlet. But it is yet unclear how long he might take over for Bush, or how long Bush will be off of the show, though sources told TMZ it's unlikely he'll be back.

Carson Daly is set to take over for Billy Bush in the 9am time slot after Bush's suspension in the wake of the Donald Trump p***ygate scandal

Carson Daly is set to take over for Billy Bush in the 9am time slot after Bush's suspension in the wake of the Donald Trump p***ygate scandal

Daly will cohost with Tamron Hall - an insider told People magazine that staff would be 'fine if Bush never came back'

Daly will cohost with Tamron Hall - an insider told People magazine that staff would be 'fine if Bush never came back'

NBC has not officially said how long Bush's suspension will last. 

On Monday, Hall was one of the anchors to mention Bush's absence, saying 'NBC, which owns Access Hollywood, has suspended Billy for his role in that conversation, pending further review. With that said, let’s turn to last night’s debate, where that 2005 tape played a big role.'

An inside source told People magazine that the Today staff, especially the women, wouldn't mind if he doesn't return. 

In the infamous videotape, Trump and Bush can be heard making lewd comments about soap actress Arianne Zucker and then Bush encourages her to hug Trump

In the infamous videotape, Trump and Bush can be heard making lewd comments about soap actress Arianne Zucker and then Bush encourages her to hug Trump

'Tamron doesn’t like him and they have always been uncomfortable around each other. Al doesn’t speak to him, like at all. There is no love lost there,' said the insider.

He 'hasn’t really endeared himself to the rest of the cast and crew anyway, so they’re fine with him leaving, if that’s what the decision is... Does anyone tune in to to watch Billy? Probably not really. So if he leaves, it’s not a big deal.'

Bush was heard on a hot mic with Donald Trump in an Access Hollywood bus in 2005 in which Trump is heard making lewd comments about women and seemingly bragging about grabbing women's genitals their consent.  

As Trump tells a story about hitting on a married woman - Bush's then co-host on Access Hollywood, Nancy O'Dell, he says 'I’ll admit it. I did try and f*** her ... I moved on her like a b****, I couldn't get there though, and she was married' as a man, who may or may be Bush, chortles and says 'This is huge news!'

Suspended host Billy Bush stepped out for lunch on Monday (pictured)
His outing marked the first weekday since a 2005 tape of him making disrespectful comments about women leaked

Suspended host Billy Bush stepped out for lunch on Monday - the first weekday since a 2005 tape of him making disrespectful comments about women leaked

'Sheesh, your girl is hot as sh*t,' Bush says, his attention veering to Days of Our Lives actress Adrianne Zucker, who stands outside the bus. 'Yes! The Donald has scored! Woah, my man!'

Trump then says he needs some Tic-Tacs in case he starts kissing her. 'I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet,' he says as Bush howls. 'When you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything.'

'Whatever you want,' Bush says.

'Grab 'em by the pu**y. You can do anything.' 

'Uh yeah, those legs, all I can see is the legs,' says Bush. 

After they get off the bus, Bush encourages Zucker to hug Trump. 'How about a little hug for the Donald? He just got off the bus,' Bush says to Zucker.

A furor erupted over not only Trump's comments but Bush's and his seeming willingness to play 'wingman' for Trump.

'I know we've all been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours. Let me be clear — there is simply no excuse for Billy's language and behavior on that tape. NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter,' NBC Senior Vice President Noah Oppenheim said in an internal memo, according to NBC News. 

'Billy was devastated and crying when the leaked tape of him with Donald Trump in 2005 was first leaked to The Washington Post,' a source told US on Monday. 'He was crying that his career was over.'

Daly executive produces New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. He has three children with wife Siri Pinter. 

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