The Today show saw yet another unexpected shift in its morning lineup this week as Dylan Dreyer became the latest cohost to step away from the third hour—without explanation. Dreyer, 42, was notably absent on Thursday, March 21, leaving Craig Melvin and Al Roker to anchor while Saturday Today cohost Laura Jarrett stepped in to fill the gap.
Jarrett, 40, has quietly become NBC’s go-to substitute lately. Just one day earlier, she sat in for Jenna Bush Hager on Today With Hoda & Jenna, and throughout the week she’s been covering for Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb as both enjoy spring break trips with their families. Kotb even shared a peaceful beach sunset photo on Instagram earlier in the week, marking a rare, quiet moment away from the studio.
Meanwhile, Dreyer’s other third-hour cohost, Sheinelle Jones, has also been absent this week—as viewers increasingly wonder what’s behind the string of schedule shake-ups.
Before her unexplained day off, Dreyer shared her own slice-of-life moment on Wednesday, March 20. Posting a screenshot of a text from her husband, Brian Fichera, she included a photo of shattered glass covering a table—an apparent result of life with three energetic boys.
“Well that took a turn! #boys,” she captioned the Instagram Story, while Fichera added: “Boys are great!! Mornings good!”
Though Dreyer didn’t detail why she skipped Thursday’s show, she did hint at spending the day in New Jersey, posting a simple shot of a classic bologna-and-eggs breakfast with the caption: “Must be in NJ #iykyk.”
Dreyer and Fichera, who married in 2012, share three sons—Calvin, 7, Oliver, 4, and Rusty, 2. The meteorologist frequently shares her family adventures online, from trips to the circus to beach days and bedtime chaos. Earlier this month, she posted photos from a circus outing, beaming as her sons wielded glowing light-up toys.
Just days before her absence, Dreyer made headlines for a candid revelation about her evening routine with her boys. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she explained how she sometimes showers with all three of her kids when she’s trying to streamline their bedtime schedule.
“When I shower at night, if I can get all three in the shower with me so I can get everybody bathed at once, we’re good to go!” she shared.
The admission sparked conversation online—not surprising, considering she added that the routine is becoming “a little weird” as her eldest grows older. Calvin, she said, now stays in the bath while she showers “to keep things appropriate.”
“But you know, I put the towel on pretty quickly,” she added. “I don’t linger.”
The comment, while honest and humorous, brought Dreyer into brief spotlight on social media, where many praised her for her real-world honesty about managing parenthood.
While Dreyer stepped away, Laura Jarrett continued demonstrating why NBC keeps calling her up. Since joining the network in 2023, Jarrett has steadily become one of the most versatile fill-ins on Today. A lawyer by training and the daughter of former Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, she has quickly earned admiration from colleagues and viewers alike.
Her steady presence this week—covering for Guthrie, Kotb, Bush Hager, and now Dreyer—did not go unnoticed. Fans have increasingly speculated that Jarrett may be part of NBC’s long-term strategy for its morning lineup.
The past few days have marked unusual turbulence for the Today show, with multiple hosts off the air simultaneously. While spring break accounts for Guthrie’s and Kotb’s absences, Jones’ and Dreyer’s departures have remained unexplained.
NBC has not released any statements addressing the sudden shift—leaving viewers to speculate whether these are merely coincidental absences or whether internal scheduling changes are underway.
Given how frequently Jarrett has been called in throughout the week, viewers are starting to wonder if the network is testing her in multiple hosting combinations. Whether intentional or not, her presence has fueled conversation about her growing role on the show.
For Dreyer, juggling parenting with the demanding schedule of a morning-show personality has never been easy. Over the years, she has been open about her fertility struggles, her hectic home life, and the challenges of raising three young kids while working in live television.
Fans often praise her authenticity, especially when she shares candid, sometimes messy glimpses of real parenthood—a theme that has become central to her public identity.
This week’s absence, paired with her humorous Instagram moments, reinforces what viewers have come to expect: Dreyer tackling chaos with a smile, even when things break—literally.
It remains unclear when Dreyer and Jones will return to the studio or whether NBC plans to discuss the unusually thin hosting lineup. Historically, the Today show has weathered unexpected absences before, especially during peak vacation seasons.
For now, viewers can only watch and wait as Laura Jarrett continues to step in—earning more visibility and more momentum with each appearance.
And as the week wraps up, one thing is certain: the Today show is anything but predictable.
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