From quiet on set to order in the court.
Viewers of The Today Showwere left in confusion when Al Rokermade a sudden departure during the Sept. 28 broadcast, with meteorologist Dylan Dreyerfilling in for him throughout the rest of the episode.
“We have Dylan taking over for Al, who had to leave a little bit early,” anchor Savannah Guthrie said during the show, with Dreyer adding, “Yeah, a little switcheroo again this morning.”
And when it was time for the third hour of Today, which Roker cohosts alongside Dreyer and Craig Melvin, Melvin said at the top of broadcast, “Al had to step out for just a little bit. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
But while it seemed the departure would remain shrouded in mystery, it was Roker himself who soon drew back the curtain on where he’d gone.
“Got out of The Today Show early,” the 71-year-old said in an Instagram video, “because I’ve got jury duty.”
And indeed, the building behind him was not Rockefeller Center, where Todayfilms, but instead an impressive building featuring columns.
But Roker couldn’t help but bely the grandeur of the moment with a well-timed potty joke.
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Today‘s Al Roker Shares Rare Photo of Son Nick Roker Heading to College
“It’s everybody’s civic duty to do your duty,” he added in the video, before quipping, “he said ‘dooty’ twice!”
These days, when Roker isn’t delighting fans onscreen with his weather reports or being an upstanding citizen in a New York City courthouse, he and wife Deborah Robertsare enjoying life as empty nesters, having dropped off their son Nickat college in early September.
“I feel good,” Roker—who also is dad to 27-year-old Leilawith Roberts and Courtney Roker, 39, with ex Alice Bell—exclusively told E! News in a joint interview with his wife of 31 years Sept. 19. “I remember I was the first to go to college in my family, and I was the oldest of six. And I know my parents were just kind of thrilled to have one free bed. So, you know, I’m looking forward to his next chapter.”
As for Roberts, she expressed her mixed feelings about her children having officially both flown the coop.
“I feel excited,” she admitted, before adding, “It’s always hard for me because at my core, I am a mom and a mama bear, and I miss the kids terribly. But you know what? I love seeing them spread their wings and start to fly a little bit.”
Plus, it allows for her and Roker to enter a new phase of life together.
“We’re holding up pretty well,” she added. “We’re having date night.”
For a closer look at the Today Show family on and off camera, read on.
