February 2012 American Way Magazine - page 40

Here’sWhat’s
Happening
in His Neckof
theWoods
Today co-anchor andeveryone’s favoriteweatherman,
ALROKER hasearned successanda faithful followingby
maintaininga sunnydisposition— rainor shine.
ByJuneCross PhotographyByEvanKa a
It’s adrizzlyMonday morn-
ing, and NBC’s Today
showhasbeenon theairnearly 15minutesby
the timeweathermanAlRokerstrollsonto the
set, lookingdapper inasubtlegray-and-brown
plaid jacketwithgray trousers.His latearrival
isn’t an indication of slacking off: Roker’s al-
readybeenatwork formore thananhour.He
hosts WakeUpwithAl beginningat6a.m.onthe
WeatherChannel,whose studios area stone’s
throwfrom Today ’sspace inRockefellerCenter.
The sunhasn’t come up yet, but dozens of
touristswaitoutside,peeringpatientlythrough
the studio window. When that windowwas
introduced in 1998, it created a sea change in
morning television thathasworked inRoker’s
favor. Today existsbetweenentertainmentand
news, a tradition that goesback to itsveryfirst
host,DaveGarroway,whohelmedtheshowfrom
1952to1961.HewasthefirsttoabandonthestiŠ
formalityof anews anchor in favor of amore
casual, informal style—one thatRokerandhis
co-anchorshavemastered,consistentlyearning
themthetopspotinthemorningratingswithan
averageof2.5millionviewersperday.
Whilehisco-anchorsMattLauer,AnnCurry
andNatalieMoralesrunthroughthemorning’s
headlines, Roker sits in a corner checkinghis
44 FEBRUARY 01, 2012 AA.COM/AMERICANWAY