One thing noticeably absent from the morning show on the network covering the 2008 Olympics — a live bug.

NBC’s Today show aired a two-hour Beijing broadcast this morning that was pre-taped (we hear last night). At 9amET, the show moved to a live show from New York, with Natalie Morales and Al Roker anchoring.

With the Opening Ceremony beginning at 8:08amET, Matt Lauer would be unavailable for a live show, as he is co-hosting this year (and right now). It airs tonight at 7:30pm on NBC.

The only mentions of the Opening Ceremony during the broadcast this morning described the event as occurring, “tonight.”