Taylor Twellman celebrates 'Today' guest-hosting gig
Taylor Twellman guest-hosted the third hour of NBC’s Today on Monday, July 20, 2026, alongside Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer while Craig Melvin was on vacation. The Apple TV MLS analyst used his sports expertise on the FIFA World Cup Final and later celebrated the gig on Instagram, returning to Studio 1A again on Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Twellman filled in for Craig Melvin on the third hour of Today with Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer on July 20, 2026.
- The former U.S. men’s soccer player and Apple TV MLS lead analyst discussed Spain’s 1-0 World Cup Final win over Argentina.
- He also helped host segments on summer health, travel deals, science experiments, and microdramas, plus a Netflix cast interview.
- Twellman posted Instagram praise for the experience and returned to guest-host again on July 21.
- Melvin’s time off followed a reported Studio 1A intruder incident involving alleged hate-crime charges.
Why did Taylor Twellman guest-host Today?
Temporary fill-ins are common on morning TV, but co-anchors framed this one as extra special. Roker said Melvin was on vacation and that the team “needed a really special guest host.” Per HELLO! Magazine, he also teased that a “secret cabal” picked the substitute.
Twellman, who played professionally from 1999 to 2010 and now leads Apple TV’s Major League Soccer analysis, replied that the hosting stint would be “fun” and “gonna be good.” On the main hour, Sheinelle Jones sat in for Melvin with Savannah Guthrie.
What did Twellman cover on the show?
He opened with the FIFA World Cup Final, saying Spain were the better side after beating Argentina 1-0 and criticizing post-loss brawls and skipped press. Citing Lionel Messi’s own message that Spain were better, Twellman said the aftermath was “a difficult one for me to comprehend.”
Beyond soccer, he joined Roker and Dreyer on summer health, travel deals, science experiments, and microdramas. The trio also interviewed the cast of Netflix’s 72 Hours, including Kevin Hart, Marcello Hernández, Kam Patterson, and Ben Marshall.
How did fans and co-hosts react?
After the episode, Twellman shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram: “What a fun day @todayshow Everyone is so fun and happy!!!” Commenters urged NBC to “start drafting that contract,” said he “fit right in,” and asked for more appearances.
Dreyer chimed in asking if he would “Do it again tomorrow??” He replied, “Yes!!!!!” He was back in Studio 1A on Tuesday, July 21, again filling in for Melvin. For more BlasterPost coverage across culture and markets, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
What else surrounded Melvin’s absence?
According to reporting summarized by Yahoo Entertainment, Melvin’s vacation came less than a week after an intruder allegedly searched backstage for Roker, lunged at Melvin, and used a racial slur. Suspect Andrew Truelove faces menacing and burglary charges as hate crimes, per NBC News.
Today airs weekdays at 7 a.m. ET on NBC, with the third hour at 9 a.m. ET. Twellman’s guest turns underline how sports voices are crossing into national morning TV—and how quickly viewers noticed the chemistry.