‘Today’ Al Roker Gets Snippy, Refuses Staff’s Help During Blunder

The Today Show‘s Al Roker got snippy on the air recently, refusing help from a staff member after a technical blunder caught him unawares.

Al is usually the one giving colleagues a hard time, but technology got him back this week. After a technical glitch left the meteorologist fumbling, a staff member tried to offer some help. But a snappish Al refused them, leading to an uncomfortable moment in front of the camera. Read on to find out what happened to Al and why he snapped at one of the show’s crew members.

Al Recently Interrupted A Guest’s Happy Moment With Mockery

Al Roker is often the troublemaker and prankster of the Today Show crew. He is known for making sarcastic jokes about his colleagues and poking fun at them both on-air and online.

But he may have taken things a little too far when he mocked a popular guest in the middle of a happy moment. Astrophysicist and fan favorite Neil deGrasse Tyson made an appearance on Today last week. And he played a game with Al, called “Who’s Warmer?” The two bantered back and forth as they played the game, and then Al asked Neil, “Who’s warmer? Death Valley, California, or the Apollo 11 Landing Site?”

Clearly in his element, Neil responded quickly that it depends on whether the question is in regards to daytime or nighttime temperatures. During the day, Neil explained, the Apollo 11 landing site is “way hotter.” Al revealed on the board that Neil was right, and Neil broke out in a little happy dance. Al sarcastically quipped, “I don’t know if we really needed to see that.” Neil gave a chuckle and the co-hosts laughed uncomfortably, but the joke didn’t land the way Al seemed to think it would.

Today‘s Al Roker Gets Snippy At A Staff Member Trying To Help Amid On-Air Blunder

But it was Al Roker who was on the losing side in a situation on Thursday, August 24.

Last Thursday, Hoda Kotb directed the show towards Al Roker for some weather information. But instead of cutting to Al like normal, there was a mic malfunction that left the meteorologist sounding distant and warped. Hoda and co-host Craig Melvin’s voices were clear, but Al’s microphone wasn’t cooperating. To distract the audience while things were sorted, Craig broke into a rousing rendition of Neil Diamond’s, “Sweet Caroline.”

Al seemed to realize that things weren’t going according to plan and fumbled with his microphone. Craig playfully chided him, “You have to turn your microphone on, Al.” A crew member dashed onto the set and tried to offer Al a handheld microphone. But a flustered Al snapped, “I’m good; I got a mic. I turned it on.” They were able to finish the segment without further difficulty, but the snappish moment stood out in stark contrast to Craig’s good-natured pivot.

Do you think Al Roker‘s reaction was appropriate, or a little too harsh? Do you like the way he jokes around with colleagues, or do you think he takes things too far? Sound off in the comments. And catch The Today Show every weekday morning on NBC.