Al Roker.Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty
Al Rokerwill be back on theTodayshow Friday for his first in-studio appearance in two months sinceblood clots in his leg and lungssent him to the hospital.
AnchorsSavannah Guthrie,Hoda Kotb,Craig Melvinannounced the happy news on Tuesday’s episode of the NBC morning show.
“We have some great news to share this morning: Al is coming back to the show,” said Guthrie, 51.
“Everyone’s like, ‘When when?’ Well, we have our date,” added Kotb, 58. “He’ll be here Friday. He’ll be right here in Studio 1A . This is his place. He’ll be in his seat, right where he belongs. I cannot wait for that.”
After Melvin, 43, praised the reunion and that everyone “will be back together,” Guthrie noted that the show is “not the same without Al,” sweetly adding that “our sunshine is coming back Friday morning.”
Roker, 68, has been a staple onTodayas the program’s premier weather anchor since 1996, and previously made appearances as a substitute weathercaster from 1990 to 1995, filling in for the lateWillard Scottbefore his semiretirement.
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Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
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His health issues caused him to miss theMacy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade— his first in 27 years — andthe annual Christmas Tree Lightingat Rockefeller Center. But on Dec. 8, he shared via Instagram that he was out of the hospital once again.
Since then, Guthrie, Kotb Melvin and theirTodaycolleagues have been providing steady updates on Roker’s recovery. They even includeda sweet shout-out to him in their 2022 digital holiday card, andsurprised Roker at home with a Christmas carol singalong.
He’s been updating fans on his recovery on Instagram, too,and made a virtual appearance onTodayto check in with his status.
“It’s been a tough slog, I’m not going to deny this,” Roker said on Dec. 12. “This has been the hardest one yet — and you know, I’ve had my fair share of surgeries. But it gives you a profound sense of gratitude for this outpouring of prayers and thanks. I’m a very fortunate person.”
Deborah Roberts and Al Roker.Al Roker/instagram
But recovery has been slow, Roker noted. “You lose a certain amount of muscle mass for every week you’re in the hospital, and I was in the hospital for 4 weeks. So it’s just a certain amount of weakness,” Roker said, adding that he’s doing physical and occupational therapy every day. “I’ve got to just get my strength back. And in the meantime, I was thinking in January of getting my knee replaced, so I’ve got to push that back. So I’ve got a number of issues.”
“I just feel like it’s going to be a little bit of a slog, but a lot of people have to deal with a lot more with a lot fewer resources,” Roker said. “I’m very fortunate, very blessed to be able to have these resources.”
Al Roker and his Today colleagues.Nathan Congleton/Today
It’s unclear if Roker will return full time toTodayafter Friday’s show. MeteorologistDylan Dreyerhas been filling in for Roker during his absence.
The one thing that is clear:Todayviewers will be happy to see him. Since his absence, many who line up outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza to watch the show each morning have been carrying signs wishing him well.
“We have so many signs, like, ‘We miss you Al,’ ‘We love you Al,’ " noted Guthrie in December. “We feel the same and he’ll be back soon. We want him to take his time and feel good, which he will. But we love him and he’ll be back soon.”
Todayairs weekdays beginning at 7 a.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
