MSNBC names new anchor for ‘Way Too Early’

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

MSNBC has settled on its pick for a new anchor of “Way Too Early.”

Jonathan Lemire, a frequently substitute host and NBC News analyst who appears on other shows as well, will take over for Kasie Hunt, who left the network to join CNN, where she will be featured prominently in that network’s planned streaming service.

The show is officially being renamed “Way Too Early with Jonathan Lemire.”

In addition to his new role at MSNBC, Lemire is also leaving the Associated Press and will join Politico as its White House bureau chief in November.

“Way Too Early” typically originates from Washington, D.C. and it’s not an uncommon sight for Lemire to wrap that show and then appear just minutes later on “Morning Joe” as one of the show’s panelists or filling in for the primary hosts.

The show originally debuted back in 2009 and was anchored by Willie Geist, who was and still is part of the “Morning Joe” team as well.

MSNBC rebranded it as “Morning Joe First Look” in 2016, but went back to that name when it moved Hunt off her primetime weekend show “Kasie DC” to anchor the 5 a.m. block.

“Way Too Early” takes on a more informal, often irreverent style that examines the latest news of the day. It typically starts each show with the anchor teasing stories and then saying “it’s way too early for this…”