EP 487: The Today Show's Al Roker

Al Roker returns to the show to tell stories from The Today Show and his early days in local television including how he annoyed his way into his first gig as a TV weatherman, some of his worst on-air flubs, and what he loved about doing those quirky, feel-good segments at the end of your evening news. He says every local news team has there own version of Ron Burgundy, recalls working with a young Maury Povich back when Maury was serious DC newsman, and how he once handled a racist comment from another news anchor on live television. Al discusses the best piece of advice he got from his mentor and predecessor Willard Scott, what it’s like to wake up at 3:45AM every week day to do The Today Show, and what happened on the one time he overslept. Plus Al Roker shares his favorite live shot from outside on Rockefeller Plaza, his riskiest in person encounter with a major hurricane, and why he thinks five-year plans are overrated.

Order Al Roker’s book You Look So Much Better in Person: True Stories of Absurdity and Success on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. You can see Al every weekday on NBC’s The Today Show and follow him on twitter at @alroker. Today's episode was sponsored by Chili. One of the most effective ways to get better sleep is through temperature regulation. Chili makes both the chiliPAD and OOLER, two really cool gadgets that fit over the top of your mattress and use water to control the temperature of your bed. Go to www.chilitechnology.com/KICK, and get one-hundred fifty dollars off any sleep system with code KICK.