Al Roker Shares Surprising Reason He Left the “Today” Show Mid-Broadcast
Al Roker Shares Surprising Reason He Left the “Today” Show Mid-Broadcast
Rachel McRadyMon, September 28, 2026 at 1:55 PM UTC
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Al Roker left Today mid-broadcast to fulfill his civic duty as a juror
He was replaced by Dylan Dreyer for the remainder of the broadcast
He addressed his departure in a lighthearted Instagram post outside the courthouse
Al Roker disappeared from Today‘s broadcast on Monday, Sept. 28.
After giving the forecast several times, the 72-year-old weatherman left the NBC morning show, with Dylan Dreyer filling in for him for the remainder of the broadcast.
Al Roker shares the reason he left ‘Today’ early on Sept. 28, 2026Credit: Al Roker/Instagram; Today
“We have Dylan taking over for Al, who had to leave a little bit early,” Savannah Guthrie shared without offering an explanation for Roker’s absence.
“Yeah, a little switcheroo again this morning,” Dreyer, 45, replied.
Al Roker delivering the forecast on ‘Today’ before he exited the broadcast on Sept. 28, 2026Credit: Today
At the top of the 3rd Hour of Today, which Roker co-hosts alongside Dreyer and Craig Melvin, Melvin, 47, shared, “Al had to step out for just a little bit. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
Sports reporter Kaylee Hartung filled in for Roker on the show.
The Today staple addressed his abrupt departure and absence in an Instagram post.
While standing outside a courthouse, Roker shared, “Well, got out of the Today show early because I’ve got jury duty. It’s everybody’s civic duty to do the duty.”
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Of course, the resident jokester couldn’t let the opportunity slide, jokingly adding, “I said duty twice!”
“Hey now!!! All rise!! Time for #juryduty,” he captioned the clip.
It was an early morning for Roker, who began the day with a workout ahead of the 7 a.m. start time for Today.
Sharing a video of himself walking on the treadmill, lifting weights and working on his balance, Roker wrote on Instagram, “Good morning, @starttoday_ family. Let’s get the week started off right. @rjose07 put me through my paces this morning as we get ready for another busy weather week. Remember, #somethingisbetterthannothing Let’s #checkthebox.”
He soundtracked the clip with the theme song for The A-Team.
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Roker has prioritized his health in recent years, following his 2020 prostate cancer diagnosis.
“The bonus was that it kind of jump-started me to try to get back in shape. Walking became, in a sense, my therapy, because I had done it before,” Roker told PEOPLE last year. “And the doctor said, ‘Listen, you’re in decent shape but as you get older, anytime you have other issues, your fitness level plays a big part in it.’ ”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
