Today show host Tony Jones makes final dig before sign off

Over the past month, the Today show—and its ever-changing stars—have never been far from the headlines.

And with many of the program’s famous faces now having departed as they prepare to welcome the new batch of hosts in 2020, Today’s remaining cast seem to be going a little off-script.

This was perhaps most evident in outgoing sports reporter Tony Jones’ parting words during his final appearance on Friday.

Tony’s Today farewell

While live crossing to the studio from Melbourne, Tony referenced his dog, Archie, who he said ‘should have just stayed in bed with mum’.

“Archie, it’s not a great morning,” he rhetorically asked the pup.

“The good news is, Archie has a new two-year contract. I got the arse. It’s all going very, very well.”

After the thinly-veiled quip at his 12-month stint on Today, Tony’s colleagues were left to diffuse the awkward on-air moment.

“The heart’s in the mouth a little bit because where’s Tony going to go with this, but that’s one of the great joys of live TV,” news presenter Tom Steinfort replied.

Contrasting characters

However, despite the veteran reporter’s undeniably memorable sign-off, it came in stark contrast to outgoing Today Extra host Sonia Kruger’s final episode just hours later.

Instead of a quipped-filled cross, Tom, Deborah Knight and David Campbell, instead threw Sonia an on-air party of sorts which included a warm hug from ousted Today host Deb.

The goodbye also featured a lengthy showreel of highlights from her eight ‘fabulous’ years with the network, as well as a large cake, vintage bottle of champagne, and a dramatic balloon drop to mark her last day.

Meanwhile, Georgie Gardner, who was also farewelled that same week, got a different send-off again.

After news broke that her former castmate Karl Stefanovic would be replacing her alongside Allison Langdon, Georgie was a no-show on Monday morning.

In her stead was a statement from Deb and Tom revealing that she would no longer be returning to the show.

“You might have read over the weekend that Georgie has left the Today show,” Deb told the show’s audience, “After a really challenging year, we want to wish Georgie all the very best.”

“She has been a committed and passionate member of the team here,” Tom added.

“She has always been a woman of strength here, a woman of class, and also, who could forget, a very wicked sense of humour that would just pop up from time to time as well.”

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