Willard Scott doesn't do much around the Today show these days; except for an occasional week where he subs for Al Roker, all the semi-retired weatherclown (hey, he was a clown once) really does is his periodic shout outs to the nation's centenarians.But at this point, I'm starting to wonder if those centenarians are more with it than the man who's giving them the tributes.
Almost every time I've seen Scott lately, he seems to mumble his way through the birthdays. While he's always been known for wacky asides and nonsensical ad-libs, they seem to be getting wackier as time goes on. But worst of all, he often falls behind the rotating Smucker's jar graphic that serves up each centenarian's name, location and photo. I mean, if you're a guy who's survived 100 years, don't you at least deserve to not have your face smiling on national TV while the audience is being told that you love wearing frilly dresses to church?
This has been happening for quite a while, as this year-old clip from The Soup demonstrates:
I know the tribute to the centenarians was something that Scott started on Today lo those many years ago, and it's something he's closely identified with. But Roker can do the birthdays just as well. Thanks for the laughs, Willard; go relax and live out your golden years.
(Then again, given some of the people Willard works with on Today, maybe his behavior is normal in comparison.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-29-2009 @ 12:30PM
Ryan said...
But what would The Soup do with out him?
But honestly I'm not sure the man has complete control of his faculties, he needs to just sit back and take it easy. Also the Network has to be sitting there with their finger on the dump button every time he's on the air.
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1-29-2009 @ 12:37PM
Rod said...
Isnt it about time for you to retire as well.
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1-29-2009 @ 1:33PM
kate said...
His teeth creep me out-
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1-29-2009 @ 2:38PM
samodernist said...
He actually discussed cooking and eating squirrel one morning about two months ago while I was getting ready for work...and he was COMPLETELY SINCERE! - It was hilarious...Actually the one they need to get rid of is Gene Shalit. Gene is an awful movie critic.
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1-29-2009 @ 3:04PM
steveo said...
Al Roker is the clown. Scott is fine for his occassional segments.
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3-18-2009 @ 2:10AM
Preston said...
I think that Willard Scott needs to retire respectfully. I love him, but Today just doesn't want to let him go. He's done a great job respecting those that turned 100 years old on the weather forecasts that he's done. They gave him special awards for acknowledging and recognizing centenarians. At first, he got 400 letters a week for the 100th birthdays, then it increased to 10,000 or more when it spread to their adult children and grandchildren that later saw him on TV in the '80s and '90s. And they sent their greetings to him too. I think that Al Roker should take over and do the weather from now on. Willard should end his run and enjoy his retirement.
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