AceShowbiz -

Matt Lauer apparently has prepared his return to the small screen. The former "Today" co-host reportedly wants to do a tell-all special to explain his side of the story about the sexual misconduct scandal which led to him being fired from the NBC show after more than two decades serving as the co-host.

A source claims to Star magazine (via HollywoodLife.com) that the 59-year-old TV personality is hoping that he will get much-needed sympathy through the special. "Matt knows it will take something dramatic to change people's opinion of him," says the source. "An interview is probably unwise, but he's desperate to be back on TV."

It is said that Hoda Kotb, who was recently tapped to replace Lauer on "Today", will be co-hosting the alleged tell-all special interview, and according to the source, the decision is not something that doesn't take much consideration.

"There's a reason Matt wants his old chum to do it," reveals the source. "He's hoping she'll go easy on him. He thinks she's a soft touch. Hoda is a seasoned journalist and knows what she's doing--and what he's allegedly trying to do."

But it seems like it won't go as smooth as Lauer thinks it's going to be. "Hoda didn't get where she is by being naive or a pushover," the source shares. "She knows exactly what Matt is up to, and if this interview happens, she's going to approach him like any other subject of an investigation."

The source goes on saying that "Hoda is a woman first, a journalist second, and [being] Matt's friend is a very, very distant third."