Hoda and Jenna of ‘Today’ hit Las Vegas: ‘Everybody’s a something’

By John Katsilometes

Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 | 2:04 p.m.

In our 24/7 town, there is always time for “Today,” and the NBC morning show hit the Strip for a live broadcast this morning and banked Friday’s show from Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace.

Co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager (stepping in for the vacationing Kathie Lee Gifford) have gone full throttle in their brief stay in the city. Kotb spent the past couple of days tailing Jennifer Lopez in the run-up to her headlining premiere of “All I Have” at Axis at Planet Hollywood and was at the boffo debut performance Wednesday night.

Hager has spent ample time sampling the city’s thrill rides, including Sky Jump at Stratosphere and the Slotzilla zip line on Fremont Street. Guests this morning included Teller, who made Hager’s wedding ring vanish (but only after it slipped from her hand and nearly rolled down the concrete steps at Roman Plaza) and Human Nature.

The Aussie headliners, who just announced their revamped stage show “Jukebox” at the Venetian’s Sands Showroom, performed Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” which is in that new production. Also appearing were members of “Legends in Concert” at Flamingo Las Vegas and Searsucker chef Brian Malarkey.

On Friday morning, Olivia Newton-John, the showgirls and Elvis from “Legends” and the UNLV Rebel Girls highlight the Las Vegas guests.

Kotb and Hager were fired up during the morning broadcasts, even as they suffering from a lack of sleep — Kotb said on the air that she was in bed at 1 a.m. and up again at 2. They’ll sleep later.

After the live show and before this morning’s taping for the Friday broadcast (which airs starting at 7 a.m. on KSNV Channel 3), Kotb and Hager took a booth at Serendipity 3 and talked of their dizzying Las Vegas visit. That session:

I’ll ask both of you, what are your quick, snapshot impressions of Las Vegas on this trip?

Kotb: I love the juice and the energy. I’ve been riding in one lane — the J.Lo lane — since I got here. Everything about it explains why Las Vegas is so infectious The feeling you had in that arena, when you are walking through the casino and people high-fiving you, “You’re going to J.Lo!” It felt like a sporting event, you know what I mean? I love that vibe.

Hager: I’ve got to do sort of the opposite. I’ve been jumping off buildings. I jumped off the Stratosphere, the Sky Jump, I drove 130 mph at Dream Racing. Incredible. I did the Slotzilla zip line, and I loved that. I loved all of it. The point is, Las Vegas has something for everybody. The adventure part was something I didn’t know about. I usually see shows, my husband and I go to restaurants …

Kotb: Or go play the slots, lose money …

Hager: Hah, exactly, and go home and be sad. But this was a pure adventure shoot, and it was a blast.

If you were to come back as a pure tourist, what would you do?

Kotb: I would definitely do shows. I would see Lionel Richie, I want to see Celine, I would see Britney. I would make it to show after show, and then I’d play Wheel of Fortune until my wallet was empty. Wheel! Of! Fortune! You know how it spins … my mom once hit $1,000 on that wheel.

Hager: Nooo!

Kotb: Yes! I never thought you could hit on it, but ever since she did that, I thought I might hit on it.

Hager: I agree — the shows. I saw Garth Brooks here with my husband (Henry). The other thing we did — I was here pregnant once, you know that takes out a little of the fun — but we went hiking at Red Rock Canyon, and it was gorgeous. But we like to eat. We love the restaurants.

Kotb: All the chefs. I had no idea about all the chefs here. I mean, I knew Giada had a place here, and Bobby Flay and a couple of others. But it’s out of control with celebrity chefs.

Any revelations about the city, something you hadn’t expected?

Kotb: What didn’t I expect? The camaraderie. I expected everyone to just keep to themselves, but there’s such a sense of joy and fun … it’s a place that likes to have a good time. You walk through these lobbies, and you feel it.

Hager: It’s like, “Hey!” Everybody’s “hey!” and a high-five.

Kotb: Everybody’s a hug. Everybody’s a something.

Hager: There is an energy that is contagious, for sure.

During the show earlier, you mentioned that the last presidential debate is coming to Las Vegas in October. Jenna, do you have any plans to actively campaign?

Hager: Well, I’ll be active in that I’m supporting a family member, my uncle Jeb who is running for president. But I’m not going to be active in that way. Of course I adore my uncle and want the best for him.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.