The lady, the tramp, and the Today show! Matt Lauer and Kathie Lee Gifford locked lips briefly on Tuesday, Mar. 17, while participating in the Twizzler Challenge, a charitable endeavor started by a few of their colleagues at NBC to help raise money and awareness for autism.
The challenge — modeled after the spaghetti scene from Disney’s beloved animated classic Lady and the Tramp — was first conceived and executed by Willie Geist and Meredith Vieira on her daytime talk show last Wednesday, Mar. 11. It requires two participants to munch a Twizzler vine from both ends until their lips touch.
“I’m now challenging Matt Lauer and Kathie Lee to do this,” Vieira said on her show, also calling out Bachelor Chris Soules, his fiancee Whitney Bischoff, and others to join the fun. “You must Lady and the Tramp a Twizzler and then challenge another couple or make a donation to New York Collaborates For Autism.”
On Tuesday, Lauer and Gifford followed through with Vieira’s proposition.
“Oooh, get over here!” Lauer said to Today co-host Gifford, who was clad in a festive form-fitting green shift dress for St. Patrick’s Day.
She retorted: “Your world’s going to be on fire!” joking that it would be “nothing compared than what goes on in the makeup room.”
Holding a tiny strand of licorice between their lips, the two personalities quickly nibbled their way through the sweet confection and ultimately locked lips for a few seconds!
Lauer then went in for a second peck, while a wide-eyed Gifford appeared totally stunned. “Who’s the lady and who’s the tramp?” one co-host remarked.
Upon completion of what’s believed to be the next Ice Bucket Challenge, Gifford challenged two other beloved TV personalities. “I challenge Regis and Hoda!” she said, noting that he would be on Kotb’s radio show the following day.
Watch the insane, funny video above!
