Definition
Al Roker (born 1954) is an American television weather presenter, journalist, and personality who has been the weather anchor on NBC’s Today show since 1996. He is the most famous weatherman in America, known for his jovial demeanor, his willingness to do literally anything on camera (wearing a dress, visiting a snake pit, being launched into the air), and his very public struggles with weight loss and weight regain. Roker has also written books, produced documentaries, and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest uninterrupted live weather report (34 hours). He is, by any measure, a national treasure.
Why It Matters
Al Roker is proof that you can be famous for being nice. In an era of divisive media figures, Roker is universally liked — partly because he’s genuine, partly because he’s been on TV for so long that he’s part of the furniture, and partly because he once pooped his pants at the White House and told everyone about it. That story — from his 2012 book Never Goin’ Back — made him more relatable than any celebrity confession in history. Roker also matters because he’s a Black man who has been a staple of American morning television for decades, in a medium that has historically been very white. He broke barriers without making it his entire identity. He just showed up, did the weather, wore silly costumes, and became America’s weatherman.
Example
“He watched Al Roker report from a hurricane in 2012. The wind was tearing at his coat. The rain was horizontal. Roker was smiling. ‘This is serious,’ he said, while grinning. ‘Do not go outside.’ He was outside. He was the reason people didn’t go outside. He was the best argument for staying home.”
Related Terms
- Today Show — The NBC morning program Roker has anchored since 1996
- Weatherman — The profession Roker redefined as entertainment
- Morning TV — The genre Roker dominates
- Guinness World Record — The 34-hour weather report Roker completed
- Broadcast Journalism — The field where Roker has spent his career