What Happened on the 'Today' Set?

So, you know how sometimes things happen on live TV that no one sees coming? Well, that's exactly what went down recently on the 'Today' set. On Wednesday, November 20, legendary actor Richard Gere decided to spice things up during his interview with Savannah Guthrie. He flipped the bird right there on national television! Imagine viewers at home sipping their coffee, settling into their morning routine, and then BAM—this unexpected gesture lands on their screens.

Now, if you’re wondering why on earth Richard would do such a thing during a family-friendly morning show, let me break it down for you. It wasn’t just random. There’s a story behind it, and it’s actually kind of funny once you hear the full context.

Why Did Richard Gere Flash the Middle Finger?

Let’s rewind for a moment. During the interview, Savannah, 52, confronted Richard, 75, about the gesture. She was clearly caught off guard, exclaiming, "You just did an obscene gesture on this family morning show!" But here's the thing—Richard wasn’t just throwing shade for fun. He was acting out a scene from his new series, The Agency. The 'Today' team had shown a clip from the show but conveniently cut out the part where Richard’s character flips the bird. So, being the professional actor that he is, Richard decided to finish the scene live, right there in front of Savannah.

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"You didn’t show but that’s what I did in the piece!" Richard explained to the broadcasters. "That’s what the clip was!" Savannah countered, "That’s what the clip was but we cut that part out. But then you did it live!" And Richard, with his signature charm, replied, "I could see that but it didn’t make any sense without that! My hand did that, I have no control!"

Other Celebrity Mishaps on 'Today'

But wait, there’s more! Savannah couldn’t resist referencing another celebrity mishap that happened earlier in the week. She joked, "I’m bleeping you! You know, Cher was on here doing an f-bomb yesterday so I don’t know what’s happening!" It seems like the 'Today' show has been full of surprises lately, with celebrities letting loose and showing their unfiltered sides. Cher’s f-bomb during her live segment on Tuesday, November 19, was certainly memorable.

Hoda Kotb, 60, was interviewing Cher, 78, about her new memoir when Cher dropped the bomb. Hoda asked Cher about advice she received from Lucille Ball regarding her marriage to Sonny Bono. Cher, knowing she was on live TV, asked if producers would bleep out any curse words. Hoda assured her they would, but as we all know, things don’t always go as planned. Cher recounted Lucille Ball's advice, "F–k him. You’re the one with the talent!"

Hoda’s reaction was priceless. She looked utterly shocked and exclaimed, "Oh! OK … we didn’t have the seven-second [delay]! But we will get for the next feed!" Cher, ever the quick-witted star, retorted, "Well you said I could!" Hoda, realizing her mistake, joked, "I should have bleeped it myself! Bleep!"

Richard Gere’s Excitement for 'The Agency'

Despite the unexpected drama, it’s clear that Richard is thrilled about his new show. The Agency is inspired by the French series The Bureau, which Richard became a fan of. During his appearance on 'Today,' he raved about the quality of the show. "It’s very well-written … it’s terrific," he said. "I mean, they’re all wonderful. And we shot it like a movie. We do it the same way. Movie directors, movie actors, the schedule is like a movie schedule. It feels the same to me."

The Agency premieres on Friday, November 29, on Paramount+ and Showtime. Fans of Richard and high-quality drama should definitely keep an eye out for it. Whether you’re into espionage, thrilling plot twists, or just want to see what Richard’s capable of next, this show promises to deliver.