NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘Today’s beloved meteorologist Al Roker has recently revealed exciting news with his co-hosts which he had previously kept under the wraps.
Roker revealed he will be playing a role in an upcoming episode of the Showtime drama 'Billions' during the 'Today 3rd Hour' segment on Thursday, August 31.
Gushing over why he kept it a secret from his co-host, Roker apparently took time off from his 'Today' show obligations to focus on his new gig.
Al Roker shares sneak peek at his upcoming appearance on 'Billions'
Al Roker’s fellow ‘Today’ co-host, Sheinelle Jones, was the first to share the exciting news, introducing a clip from the Friday, September 1 episode that prominently featured Roker.
In the cameo role, 69-year-old Roker played himself in the fourth episode of season seven, aptly titled 'Hurricane Rosie'. Roker flaunted his acting skills by explaining the intricacies of hurricane ratings to David Costabile's character, Mike Wagner.
Roker’s co-hosts couldn't contain their excitement and admiration for his debut on the award-winning series. Jones was particularly enthusiastic, declaring, "It's so good!"
During the discussion about Roker’s guest appearance on ‘Billions’, the weatherman was quick to clarify that the hurricane-related information he shared in the scene was purely fictional. This led to some playful banter among the hosts.
Dylan Dreyer lightened the mood with a jest, remarking to her colleague, "I think you're getting typecast," prompting laughter from the group. In good spirits, Roker responded with humor, saying, "That's okay. They say, 'Just do what you know.'"
However, the hosts' curiosity about Roker’s television moment persisted, and Craig Melvin inquired about the details of how the scene was filmed. Roker shared some behind-the-scenes insights about the shooting process, mentioning that “it took about 45 minutes for that 45-second scene.”
Roker's co-hosts continued to shower him with praise and admiration, with Dreyer acknowledging, "You had a lot of lines there," and Jones expressing her excitement, saying, "That was awesome, Al. Congratulations!"
Why did Al Roker keep his new project a secret?
Sheinelle Jones inquired if Roker had deliberately kept the project a secret from his ‘Today’ family. Roker responded by shrugging his shoulders, explaining that he hadn't felt comfortable discussing the opportunity around the studio.
Craig Melvin came to Roker’s defense, recalling that Roker had previously mentioned he was working on something but had been quite vague about the details.
It appears that Roker celebrated his new project with his wife, Deborah Roberts, and friends earlier in the week. Roberts shared several photos from their outing in New York City on her Instagram, hinting at the enjoyable celebration of Roker’s accomplishment.
