Updated at 7:30 a.m. ET: Meredith is back!
She made a surprise return to TODAY this morning, after a tease in which viewers saw only her face in shadow.
"You look better in silhouette," Matt joked.
Meredith was very clear: She really came back to see super-fan Linny and J. Fred Muggs, the former TODAY icon who Meredith thought was the actual returning "legend."
"This cheap stunt was not my idea," she joked. "I thought I was coming to see that chimp. But the chimp's in retirement in Florida refused to come up here. So you got the chump instead."
Did you guess correctly? And are you happy to see her back? Let us know in the comments.
All joking aside, Meredith came back to announce she was joining TODAY in London for the Summer Olympics.
"Of all the things that I did when I was on the TODAY show for five years, I think the Olympics was my very favorite experience," Meredith said, adding she'll report on Britain's "flair and the flavor" and host the opening ceremony with Matt and Bob Costas.
Another perk? TODAY will start its broadcast at noon local time. "I can just drink all day long," Meredith joked.
Original post from 7 a.m. ET: Who is the legend returning to TODAY?
We've had many TV icons who have graced the broadcast during the past 60 years, including the first female co-host and a chimp who often stole the show.
You've woken up to these TV icons every day, but only one is returning for today’s show.
Who do you think it is? Leave your guesses in the comments.
