AL Roker has been put on the spot by a Today guest after being called out live on the air.
Ahead of the January 9th premiere, host Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 73, spoke about Season 10 of Finding Your Roots on Today.
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On Tuesday’s episode, the PBS star listed the names of potential guests – including weatherman Al, 69, actor/director Clint Eastwood, 93, and singer Dolly Parton, 77 – who turned him down to appear on his program.
Al seemingly became embarrassed when the Harvard professor mentioned, “I begged him. He’d say yes. Then he’d call me and say he changed his mind.”
Al’s co-host, Craig Melvin, 44, shouted, “We have to make this happen!”
Towards the end of the interview, Craig pointed his notes at his co-star and said, “I can’t wait till this one sits at your table.”
Al bowed his head, slapped his knee, and chuckled.
“Is this a commitment?” Henry asked.
Al replied, “Yeah. We will talk about this. I’m serious. Seriously.”
“He has to talk to his wife,” Craig interrupted -referring to Al’s partner, Deborah Roberts, 63.
The beloved meterologist shook his head and added, “No, I have to talk to my siblings.”
Craig closed: “Oh, that too.”
This is not the only time the Today show hosts had an awkward moment in front of the cameras.
DISSING AL
On Thursday, Craig and Al participated in a segment on Today’s Third Hour called How Often Should You…? with co-hosts Sheinelle Jones, 45, and Dylan Dreyer, 42.
The hosts talked about how often people should clean the items in their hsome.
A Shop Today contributor joined the show to guide the hosts in this lesson.
The contributor spoke about the right time to take down the Christmas tree and how often individuals should clean their humidifiers, shower heads, and pajamas.
The contributor still had one more thing to add about hairbrushes, but the hosts ran out of time.
“It was on hairbrushes, so Al doesn’t need it anyway,” Dylan said.
Craig cracked up and cheered, “That was the funniest thing you’ve ever said!”
Al seemed to laugh it off after his co-star mocked him for his bald appearance.
Before the two could say anything else, Sheinelle took the show to commercial.
THE CORRECT WAY
Craig and Al have thrown shade plenty of other times on the morning show.
In October 2023, the TV duo sat down with the editor-in-chief of Travel & Leisure magazine, Jacqui Gifford, to talk about traveling in the fall.
Craig gave the introduction and messed up when he said, “Well, it’s officially Harvest Season, which makes it the perfect time to plan a little getaway and maybe see some fall foilage.”
Al corrected him: “It’s foliage.”
“Foliage,” Craig repeated as he put his head down.
“Unless you’re related to Reynolds aluminum,” Al laughed.
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