Al Roker he has a reasonable explanation for the sudden, mid-show exit from the Today show on Monday, September 28.
“Well, I got out of the Today show up early because I have jury duty,” the weatherman, 72, said in an Instagram video Monday. “It’s everyone’s civic duty to do your part. I said duty twice!”
Roker delivered his message with a big smile as he stood outside a New York City courthouse. He was dressed for the occasion in a gray suit and tan fedora.
“Hey now! All up! Time for #juryduty,” Roker said in the caption.
Roker’s fans praised his commitment to reporting for jury duty in the comments section.
“No, but imagine being a defender and looking up and seeing AL ROKER!!!” one user replied, while another said, “I’d love it. Civic duty is a must!”
Earlier on Monday, fans noticed that Roker was not present for the weather forecast Dylan Dreyer step in. Today host Savannah Guthrie he told viewers at the time that Roker “had to leave a little early,” but gave no further details.
Craig Melvin he later promised that the beloved weatherman would “be back tomorrow.”
Roker later provided an update in his comments section, stating that he had postponed his jury duty for a time when his work schedule was less busy.
“To update you, I got a delay until December when work is a little more crazy,” he said in the comments section. “But I love jury duty. I know I’m lucky that my company pays me while I’m on a jury. Not everyone has that luxury.
This is not the first time Today fans were disappointed after Roker was missing from his regular broadcast. Last year, Roker stepped away from the morning show for a week. In December 2025, Melvin joked that Roker was enjoying “one of his 16 weeks of vacation”. Guthrie said Roker was away to celebrate his 71st birthday.
Al Roker and Craig Melvin are out of the office. Both Roker, 69, and Melvin, 45, were absent from Today on Friday, June 28, and their coach Sheinelle Jones gave an explanation. “The guys are starting the weekend early,” Jones, 46, said during the third hour of the morning show as he stood next to the host. […]
“He’s having a great birthday,” Guthrie said. “We love you, Al, wherever you are in the world!”
Roker’s wife, Deborah Roberts, said that she and her husband were spending the week in Italy to celebrate the weatherman’s big day.
“To the man who brings life, love and laughter to my world, happy birthday,” said the 20/20 wrote a coach in a post to honor Roker. “Your kindness, happiness and generosity are endless blessings. Love you so much! Please join me in showering @alroker with the biggest birthday wishes in his heart!”