“We actually had Matt on it,” Ms. Burns said. “We made it Tuesday night! And we get here, it was like: We have to take Matt off.”

Being outside the studio on a day when the “Today” anchors were reporting on Mr. Lauer’s firing also made for some surreal moments.

“The crowd, each time the news would come on, they were subdued and solemn and just a little sad,” Mr. Burns said .