Willie Geist joining 'Today' show Nov. 12

Willie Geist will no longer have to be at work way too early.

The MSNBC personality will join Al Roker and Natalie Morales as a host of the 9 a.m. hour of the "Today" show beginning Nov. 12, NBC News said Wednesday.

Geist has been a regular on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and host of that network's 5:30 a.m. Eastern newscast, "Way Too Early." He'll turn over the early newscast to another host, but still appear on the 6 a.m. hour of "Morning Joe," The Associated Press reports.

"It's the 'Today' show, arguably the most iconic brand in news television," Geist said.

The third hour of "Today" has started an opening segment where the hosts banter about some of the day's top stories, similar to the "hot topics" on "The View."

"There is a sense of just loosening up the show a bit," said Geist, son of CBS News reporter Bill Geist. "I think that by having me there they hope I can bring a little more of that in terms of a sense of humor and a different point of view."

Geist, 37, spent several years behind the scenes in television for jobs at CNN and Fox Sports.