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Posts with tag al roker

What's On Tonight: Cops, Al Roker, Graham Norton Show

  • Robin HoodAt 8, FOX has a new Cops.
  • Food Network has the special Al Roker's Weird Restaurants at 8.
  • Cartoon Network has two Hellboy animated films at 8: Sword of Storms and Blood and Iron.
  • At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
  • There's a new Robin Hood on BBC America at 9, then a new Graham Norton Show.
  • At 9:30, HGTV has a new Divine Design.
  • At 10, TLC has a new Trading Spaces.
  • At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new Bleach.
  • At 1am, Cartoon Network has a new Code Geass, followed by a new Shin Chan.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Al Roker, NBCU and the Weather Channel

RokerSo, you probably heard that the NBC Universal empire will be expanding by one, once it has added The Weather Channel to its media outlets. On MSNBC this morning, the subs on Morning Joe were crowing about CEO Jeff Zucker, sucking up royally, and even hyping GE stock.

It was all really uncomfortable, obvious and out of place when you are tuning in for news, politics, some pop culture and get NBCU corporate cheerleaders in full pom-pom mode.

Okay, enough ranting; there is some news to report. If the deal goes through -- and it will -- Today weatherman Al Roker may be relocating or he'll be repurposed, becoming the face of The Weather Channel.

Continue reading Al Roker, NBCU and the Weather Channel

Corporate synergy watch: Today's coverage of the Universal fire

Team coverage of the Universal fireThis morning, as I watched the Today show, I noticed that they had "team coverage" of the big fire on the Universal Studios back lot. Not only did they have reporter Peter Alexander doing a live remote from the scene, but they decided to send Al Roker, who was in L.A. to tape Celebrity Family Feud, over there, as well. Matt Lauer called the fire "devastating," and Alexander went on to list all the sets that went up in smoke, including the town square from Back to the Future. Oh, and some of the video archives were destroyed, even though there are backups.

All of this was delivered in somber tones, as if this was like those wildfires that have enveloped that part of the country over the last few years. It made you wonder if anyone got hurt. Thankfully, no one did. So why the somber tone? Sure, these sets might have some sentimental value, but they're just fake storefronts. And why have a reporter there if Roker was already available? It makes you scratch your head until you realize that NBC and Universal are corporate siblings.

Continue reading Corporate synergy watch: Today's coverage of the Universal fire

Al Roker ready for the Feud?

Al RokerAl Roker is in final negotiations to host the NBC celebrity edition of Family Feud, the one that we wrote about recently as a summer series on the Peacock.

Roker, currently the main weatherman and easy-going interviewer on Today (the first three hours at least!), would seem a perfect fit for this job. He's friendly, funny, personable and has a high recognizability/likability rating. He's also busy on the dial with Food Network shows, both producing and hosting. In fact, in 2006 his production company put out Celebrity Food Fights, about competing celebs -- not unlike Family Feud concept -- for Food Network.

Continue reading Al Roker ready for the Feud?

AOL readers rate TV talk show hosts

Ellen DegeneresSo, AOL TV did a poll about America's favorite talk show hosts and 1.3 million people made their feelings known. Interesting results. I didn't agree with some of them, like who I like waking up with. Diane Sawyer was the top choice, but I'd go for the second place finisher, Matt Lauer. As for whom to go to bed with -- TV talk show wise, that is -- I can't believe most of the people chose Jay Leno. Is he really that popular? I prefer David Letterman; I'm a sucker for the Top Ten lists.

Gallery: Talk Show Hosts

Regis PhilbinConan O'BrienJay Leno on David LettermanDiane SawyerEllen DeGeneres

Continue reading AOL readers rate TV talk show hosts

What's On Tonight: Nova, Al Roker, Nip/Tuck, ECW

  • The UnitAt 8, ABC has a new Duel.
  • NBC has a new Clash of the Choirs and a new Biggest Loser.
  • PBS has a new Nova at 8, then a new Independent Lens.
  • AMC has the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol at 8.
  • Also at 8: Food Network has Al Roker's Christmas in New York.
  • At 9, CBS has a new episode of The Unit, then a new Cane.
  • Lifetime has the movie On the 2nd Day of Christmas.
  • At 10, TNT has a new Saving Grace.
  • FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
  • Bravo has a new The Real Housewives of Orange County.
  • There's a new ECW on Sci-Fi at 10.
  • The Travel Channel has Christmas to the Extreme at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Celebrity blogs you should be reading

John HodgmanA while back, I showcased some blogs that celebrities were (at the time) keeping. David Duchovny had one for a while, but it was just to promote one of his movies and he stopped it. Zach Braff had one for Garden State, but doesn't update it as much as he used to at his new site (though it's still pretty entertaining). And of course we know that Rosie O'Donnell updates hers, a little too much probably.

But there are other TV celebs who blog too, so it's time for an update. After the jump, a list of some of the better blogs out there.

Continue reading Celebrity blogs you should be reading

What's On Tonight: March Madness, Kid's Choice Awards, RAW

  • Press Your LuckCBS has March Madness all night.
  • TLC has a new Moving Up at 8.
  • Disney has a new Kim Possible at 8.
  • GSN is showing four classic episodes of Press Your Luck starting at 8.
  • Also at 8: Nickelodeon has the annual Kid's Choice Awards.
  • At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
  • Suze Orman celebrates her 5th anniversary on CNBC at 9.
  • A&E has a new Flip This House at 9.
  • AMC has Deliverance at 9.
  • Al Roker hosts Childhood Obesity: Danger Zone, on Food Network at 9.
  • At 11, IFC is showing the documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated.
  • At midnight, USA has the 2007 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, followed by all the Trump/McMahon nonsense on a new WWE A.M RAW.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Al Roker hosts childhood obesity special tonight

Al RokerTonight at 9:00 p.m. on the Food Network, Al Roker will host Childhood Obesity: Danger Zone, a special that delves into the obesity epidemic that now affects more than 12 million children in America. The special will focus mostly on children, including: a teenager who weighs 500 pounds; the public policy initiative put in place by Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to help overweight children; and a doctor who teaches kids how to shop for healthy food.

Continue reading Al Roker hosts childhood obesity special tonight

Things I Hate About TV: It's all about news, talk, and reality

today show logoWhat made me think of this is the news that the Today Show is expanding to a fourth hour in September.

Yeah, that's exactly what's missing from my TV schedule: another hour of Today. Hey, let's add three more hours to Good Morning, America. Maybe The View can be an all-day thing, and ABC can show All My Children at 2 in the morning?

Continue reading Things I Hate About TV: It's all about news, talk, and reality

A fourth hour of Today, and Meredith keeps me from falling - TCA Report

Today crewProbably the least-surprising news to come out of yesterday's NBC sessions was that the network is going to expand Today to a fourth hour. NBC News president Steve Capus and Today executive producer Jim Bell paneled with Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker, and Ann Curry to discuss the move as well as the show's year of transition.

Of course, the show's signature easy-going goofiness was in evidence. Matt Lauer: "I see you all typing away on your laptops, and I'm not going to tell you what your headline should be. But the headline we think should be 'Today show crew boringly happy.'" Meredith joked about kissing a monkey on the show earlier that morning: "I can't get over the fact I kissed a monkey this morning. I initiated it, and quite frankly, I can't stop thinking about it."

Continue reading A fourth hour of Today, and Meredith keeps me from falling - TCA Report

The Today show thinks we're morons

The Today crewSo, before I drove down to Rich's homestead this morning, I decided to flip on the Today show to see what they were doing for Christmas. To my surprise, the entire crew was there: Matt, Meredith, Al, Ann... even Natalie was sitting on the couch, an unusual thing to see before 9 AM. I thought that was a nice gesture on the crew's part, spending Christmas with America before going back to their families. They even said as much, saying they were going to return home to help their families celebrate after the show was over.

Then they turned things over to Lisa Daniels, who was sitting in a separate studio, to do the news and weather. Which is when it hit me: This wasn't live! I mean, think about it: Ann and Al were there in the studio. Why weren't they doing the news and weather, like they do the rest of the year? Because they probably taped the show two weeks ago, before Matt Lauer and Natalie Morales left on vacation, and they figured viewers would be too awash in wrapping paper and gingerbread to really notice or care.

They're probably right. But why assume the worst about the audience? Tell them up front that the show is on tape; I don't think we'd think any less of Today because everyone decided to take a day off on Christmas. I'd rather be dealt with honestly than treated like an idiot, wouldn't you?

What's on tonight: Christmas movies, Cops, 007, Little People, Big World

  • Al RokerAt 8, FOX has a new Cops, followed by a repeat episode and a new America's Most Wanted.
  • NBC has a new, two hour Dateline at 8.
  • TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8.
  • ABC Family has Eloise at Christmastime at 8.
  • AMC has Patton at 8.
  • Diamonds Are Forever airs on Spike at 8.
  • Hallmark is showing Christmas movies all night.
  • At 9, Food Network has Al Roker's Christmas in New York.
  • Also at 9: Showtime has Bruce Campbell in Evil Dead 2.
  • At 10, TLC has a new Trading Spaces.
  • At 10:30, TBS has National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, followed by The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Today might add fourth hour; America asks why

Today ShowOr maybe America isn't asking why. If the ratings are there, then they must be watching. But I have to wonder: what the hell do these people do that they are watching so many hours of The Today Show in the morning? I mean, I work from home and write about TV, and even I can't imagine having any interest in it. Though I guess I'm not the demographic they're shooting for.

But it's probably coming in 2007. Matt and Meredith won't host it though, and neither would Al or Ann. It would probably go to Access Hollywood's Billy Bush and maybe a co-anchor.

If they actually do a fourth hour of the show, I really hope they have more celebrity interviews! And cooking demonstations! And maybe makeup tips and fashion segments!

Today Show is #1 for 11 years

today; matt lauer; al roker; meredith vieira; ann curryThe end of sweeps last week marked Today's eleventh consecutive year as the number one morning news program in the nation. The big ratings all started in 1995, when Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric hosted together. The addition of Matt Lauer in 1997 only strengthened the show's ratings. And now, with Katie gone to CBS, the addition of Meredith Vieira seems to be fine with viewers. In fact, they seem to really like her since about 20,000 more people are watching Today than they were at this time last year.

Why is Today still number one? I think it's simply tradition. Today was the first of its kind. Good Morning America and The Early Show both are copycats of the successful format but neither show has ever been able to match Today. Even now, the anchors on Today all seem much more relaxed. The show seems to flow much smoother than Good Morning America, which is legendary for its awkward transitions, and The Early Show, which constantly seems to be fumbling. Also, NBC has 'hosts', while the other networks have 'anchors'. NBC gets that the morning programs stopped being about news a long time ago.

[Via TV Newser]

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