Al Roker will be back on the Today show Friday for his first in-studioappearance in two months since blood clots in his leg and lungs sent him tothe hospital.
Anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin announced the happy news onTuesday’s episode of the NBC morning show.
“We have some great news to share this morning: Al is coming back to theshow,” said Guthrie, 51.
“Everyone’s like, ‘When when?’ Well, we have our date,” added Kotb, 58. “He’llbe here Friday. He’ll be right here in Studio 1A . This is his place. He’ll bein his seat, right where he belongs. I cannot wait for that.”
After Melvin, 43, praised the reunion and that everyone “will be backtogether,” Guthrie noted that the show is “not the same without Al,” sweetlyadding that “our sunshine is coming back Friday morning.”
Smoker, 68, has been a staple on Today as the program’s premier weatheranchor since 1996, and previously made appearances as a substituteweathercaster from 1990 to 1995, filling in for the late Willard Scott beforehis semiretirement.
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TODAY — Pictured: Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb on Thursday,November 3, 2022
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb
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The TV personality has been absent from Today for several weeks, lastappearing on the Nov. 4 broadcast. He was first hospitalized, released weekslater and then returned to the facility after Thanksgiving.
His health issues caused him to miss the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — hisfirst in 27 years — and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at RockefellerCenter. But on Dec. 8, he shared via Instagram that he was out of the hospitalonce again.
Since then, Guthrie, Kotb Melvin and their Today colleagues have beenproviding steady updates on Rocker’s recovery. They even included a sweetshout-out to him in their 2022 digital holiday card, and surprised Roker athome with a Christmas carol singalong.
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He’s been updating fans on his recovery on Instagram, too, __ and made avirtual appearance on Today to 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 ofsurgeries. But it gives you a profound sense of gratitude for this outpouringof prayers and thanks. I’m a very fortunate person. “
Al Smoker
Al Roker/instagram Deborah Roberts and Al Roker
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At home, Roker has been surrounded by his family, including his wife DeborahRoberts and daughters Courtney, 35, and Leila, 24, as well as son Nick, 20,when he returned from college.
All have been a steady support for Roker. “I feel good, I feel strong. Andevery day, I already feel little bit better,” he said, thanking his medicalteam at New York Presbyterian Hospital, including his doctor and “all thewonderful nurses.”
But recovery has been slow, Roker noted. “You lose a certain amount of musclemass for every week you’re in the hospital, and I was in the hospital for 4weeks. So it’s just a certain amount of weakness,” Roker said, adding thathe’s doing physical and occupational therapy every day. “I’ve got to just getmy strength back. And in the meantime, I was thinking in January of getting myknee 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 peoplehave to deal with a lot more with a lot fewer resources,” Roker said. “I’mvery fortunate, very blessed to be able to have these resources.”
Al Roker Surprised by Sweet Serenade from ‘Today’ Staffers as He Recovers atHome
Nathan Congleton/Today Al Roker and his Today colleagues
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It’s unclear if Roker will return full time to Today after Friday’s show.Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer has been filling in for Roker during his absence.
The one thing that is clear: Today viewers will be happy to see him. Sincehis absence, many who line up outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza to watch the showeach morning have been carrying signs wishing him well.
“We have so many signs, like, ‘We miss you Al,’ ‘We love you Al,'” Guthrienoted in December. “We feel the same and he’ll be back soon. We want him totake his time and feel good, which he will. But we love him and he’ll be backsoon.”
Today airs weekdays beginning at 7 am ET on NBC.