Richard Gere Steals the Show on Today, Leaving Savannah Guthrie Playfully Flustered: “Is It Getting Hot in Here?”

Runaway Gere! Richard Gere made an unforgettable surprise appearance on the Today Show on Thursday, October 16, leaving co-host Savannah Guthrie completely flustered in an on-air moment that quickly went viral.

The 76-year-old Pretty Woman actor, known for his charming personality and romantic film legacy, was scheduled to appear later on the morning program to discuss his latest project, Wisdom of Happiness, which he executive produces alongside the Dalai Lama. However, before his official interview, Gere decided to have a little fun by unexpectedly crashing the show’s Pop Start entertainment segment.

At the time, hosts Jenna Bush Hager, Dylan Dreyer, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, and Carson Daly were midway through the segment when Gere suddenly appeared on set. The sight of the Hollywood heartthrob immediately threw Guthrie off her rhythm.

“It’s hard for Savannah to keep her concentration right now,” Melvin teased, as Gere confidently crossed the studio to take a seat beside the visibly flustered anchor.

“Oh, look, come sit down,” Guthrie said with a laugh, trying to compose herself. “Hi, Richard Gere.”

The veteran actor playfully joked that the Today show often shares clips that “really embarrass” him – though it was clearly Guthrie who was feeling the heat this time. “Now I’m like, ‘Oh, is it getting hot in here?’” she quipped while fanning herself.

As the laughter continued, Gere couldn’t resist teasing Guthrie further. He pointed out that she was supposed to leave the studio before his actual interview. “Well, I have to catch a flight,” Guthrie admitted, explaining that she was heading to Tucson, Arizona, for a future Today segment.

That’s when Bush Hager jumped in and asked the question everyone was thinking: “Did you come here for her? For Savannah?”

“Yes! Yes!” Gere replied enthusiastically. “I thought, well, at least I’m going to come over and sit with her for a second before she leaves for Tucson.” True to his word, Gere stayed by Guthrie’s side for the remainder of the segment, sharing laughs and lighthearted exchanges with the Today team.

In a twist of fate, Guthrie didn’t end up missing Gere’s full interview after all – her flight to Tucson was delayed, allowing her to stay and join co-host Craig Melvin for the segment about Wisdom of Happiness.

“She hasn’t seen the film, but she’s also leaving for Tucson,” Gere teased as they sat down together for the discussion.

“She stuck around just for you!” Melvin chimed in, to which Gere jokingly replied, “She put off the flight to Tucson!” Guthrie clarified that her flight had simply been delayed, but Gere wasn’t done teasing. “Call me afterwards,” he said with a smile, when Guthrie mentioned she planned to watch the film during her travels.

The playful back-and-forth had the entire studio laughing, with viewers praising the exchange as one of the funniest and most charming Today Show moments of the year.

Of course, the flirtatious energy was all in good fun. Savannah Guthrie has been happily married to political consultant Mike Feldman since 2014, and Richard Gere has been married to publicist Alejandra Silva since 2018. Still, fans couldn’t get enough of the cheeky encounter between the Pretty Woman star and the morning show host – a perfect mix of Hollywood charm and live TV spontaneity.

Even at 76, Richard Gere continues to prove he’s still got that unmistakable movie-star magic – and on this particular morning, Savannah Guthrie was clearly the most enchanted audience member of them all.