Matt Lauer will replace Bob Costas on NBC’s Winter Olympic coverage starting Tuesday.
Costas revealed the news on Today that his eye infection had spread to both eyes and force him to miss Tuesday’s prime-time airing. Lauer has been hosting the Today show and will step in for him.
Costas will step aside on NBC for the first time since 1988 . It’s worth noting that Jim Nantz was the last person to be on prime-time as he led coverage for CBS in 1998.
Even slamming vodka with Mary Carillo could not save Costas’ eyes.
The following conversation took place between Lauer and Costas on Today.
“Reluctantly, I was trying to throw a complete game here, but I think we’re going to have to go to the bullpen, and I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but you’re Mariano Rivera, at least tonight,” Costas told Lauer by phone live on TODAY Tuesday. “Let’s hope it’s only tonight. I’m walking around, I might as well be playing ‘Marco Polo.’ I have no idea where I am.”
