Today marks Al Roker’s 30th anniversary at NBC. He joined the family as a weatherman on the Peacock’s Cleveland affiliate on Dec. 11, 1978. We would’ve let this milestone pass had we not been watching Today waiting for them to cut to the Golden Globes nominations had he not stated on-air that what he asked parent company GE for was a full set of Black & Decker power tools: “I need a power drill,” he said, while air drilling. “That’s what I got.” Did we know Al is a handyman? And why does that image make me giggle?Give Roker a gift of your own: Post your favorite Al memory below.
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I thought that Al Roker started on Today in the ’90s. I didn’t know that he’d been working with NBC for 30 years. I’ve enjoyed watching him do the weather on Today. Even though Willard Scott is the best, Al’s done a fine job with Today as well as hosting the June-July installment on Family Feud this past summer and that show on Food Network. Congratulations on all his success!
Maybe Al’s old power drill broke down and he wanted a new one. But everybody knows Black and Decker makes the best tools. No product placement mention on TV can beat that. So much for the corporate testiness. Guys like drills and tools! It’s a man thing to like drills!
The first I ever heard of Al was when he was doing local weather for WNBC and David Letterman, whose show taped across the hall at the same time Roker was on the air live, used to terrorize him.
Al later became a semi-regular fixture on “Late Night.” In particular I remember his guided tour of the NBC Commissary.
My ex and I used to joke that there was a secret government conspiracy and that Al Roker was actually the king of the world. This was around 2001-2002 when he was on EVERYTHING (commercials, talk shows, cooking shows, grills, products, etc.)
My fave Al moment is when he was reporting for some hurricane and someone had to hold him down to the ground by holding on to his leg.
My two favorite Al Roker moments are from the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2004, Al and Matt Lauer did a full routine with the U.S. Women’s synchronized swimming team. In 2008, they did rhythmic gymnastics. Both skits were hilarious. And the fact that Al can do them with a straight face just makes me love him more. His wife, Deborah Roberts of ABC, is really cool, too.
lol Of course I JUST realized that the clip posted is one of the fav moments I mentioned below. I love it. Mandi, you should posted the synchronized swimming clip, too!
Um, Al must not be much of a handyman because Black & Decker makes the cheapo tools you get at Walmart. I’m sure Mr. Roker could afford something a little more respectable, like Dewalt or Makita.