Additional Coverage:
- TODAY’s Al Roker drops thinly veiled dig at Craig Melvin forcing Dylan Dreyer to step in (irishstar.com)
Al Roker’s Prickly Holiday Joke Stuns Today Show Co-Hosts
It seems the holiday spirit brought out Al Roker’s mischievous side on “The Today Show” this past Friday! The beloved meteorologist left his co-stars Sheinelle Jones, Craig Melvin, and Dylan Dreyer in stitches-and a little stunned-with a cleverly “prickly” Christmas joke.
The festive fun unfolded as the hosts were discussing the White House’s holiday decorations. Roker decided to get in on the gifting action, presenting his colleagues with charming White House-themed ornaments, including red plaque cards, hanging decorations, and mini Christmas trees in red vases.
“I’m gonna gift each one of you, here you go. There’s one for you,” Roker announced, to which Dylan playfully responded, “I’ll take the whole tree!” Craig added, “This is great, thank you, Al.”
But Roker wasn’t done yet. With a twinkle in his eye, he turned to Craig Melvin and delivered his hilarious punchline: “Here’s something for you, Craig, since you’re so prickly.” He then handed a mini Christmas tree to Melvin, quipping, “I didn’t mean to needle you.”
The studio erupted in laughter as Craig, a good sport, simply replied, “Thank you.” Dylan Dreyer, perhaps sensing more comedic jabs coming, humorously warned, “Somebody’s going to get hurt here!”
This lighthearted exchange comes on the heels of recent speculation surrounding Craig Melvin’s future at “The Today Show.” Last month, Melvin sparked rumors of his departure after sharing an emotional Instagram post reflecting on his extensive 20-year news career, including his time at MSNBC.
His nostalgic message, which he shared with his 432,000 followers, initially led some fans to believe he was announcing his exit from the popular morning program. However, Melvin quickly clarified that he’s not going anywhere. His post was, in fact, a congratulatory message to MSNBC on their new rebrand to “MS NOW,” standing for “My Source [for] News, Opinion, [and the] World.”
In his Instagram post, alongside a photo of himself anchoring, the 46-year-old wrote, “Long before @todayshow, I started my journey at 30 Rock hosting a show on @msnbc, and spent a decade making unforgettable memories with amazing colleagues.” He continued, expressing gratitude for his past work and colleagues, and wishing MSNBC well on their “next chapter.”
While Craig Melvin dedicates his professional life to delivering the news, his most cherished role is undoubtedly at home with his two children, Delano and Sybil. He married fellow broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak in 2011, and the couple welcomed their son, Delano, in March 2014, followed by their daughter, Sybil, in November 2016.