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Al Roker attends the premiere of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on March 14, 2024 in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
The expression “time flies” is something Al Roker knows firsthand!
Amid the Today show’s week-long festivities commemorating the 30th anniversary of the morning show’s iconic plaza, the 69-year-old weatherman reunited onscreen with a family whose newborn first appeared on the series 30 years ago in 1994. But before the moment could unfold, footage from the first meeting played, featuring Roker holding Jordan Burrell as a baby.
“You guys have brought the youngest viewer to the Today show yet,” Roker said as he approached the child’s parents, Maria and Gregory Burrell. “This is Jordan. I better give you back to him.”
As Jordan’s mother revealed the young one was just 6 months old, Roker responded: “What a guy!”
Cut to the present day, Roker’s colleague Hoda Kotb had a surprise to share: “Three decades later, please welcome back the Burrell family!”
Jordan and his father, Gregory, then walked out onto the plaza to greet the Today show team. In full amazement at the moment, Roker said, “Wow!”
Although Gregory’s wife Maria died before this fateful moment could occur, the family knew how much a reunion of this caliber would mean to her. “She would be elated. I’ll tell you, we got up bright and early to get here to see your show in 1994,” said Gregory.
“We came up for a trip my former business partner gave us,” he continued. “So we came to see the Kiss of a Spider-Woman with Vanessa Williams. And then, we came down here [to the Today show plaza] and Jordan was crying. We remember Al saying, ‘Where is that baby? Where is that baby?’ And then, 30 years later, we get a call. First, we wanted to know how did you find us after 30 years? … It’s exciting.”
Jordan, similarly, was “very surprised” to get the call as well. “At first, I thought it was spam. So, this was like the most unexpected result from that,” he said.
Additionally, of his “surreal” experience coming face to face with Roker all these years later, Jordan said: “I was just along for the ride when I was first here!”
From there, fellow Today anchor Carson Daly joked, “Why don’t you just pick Jordan up again and recreate that moment?”
“That’s going to be extremely awkward,” Roker responded, laughing.
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(L-R) Gregory Burrell, Jordan Burrell and Al Roker on ‘TODAY’ on June 5, 2024.TODAY/YouTube
Toward the end of the clip, Roker sent Jordan and his father Gregory home with a special gift: two Today show T-shirts.
“We’ve got some new T-shirts. Here ya go, wear these well,” Roker said. “I hope you’ll think of us. We’ll be thinking of you guys and your beloved mom, Maria. … [It’s] really special to see you!”
Roker has been at NBC for 45 years. However, he didn’t officially join the Today show full-time until January 1996.
All week long, the Today show is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Studio 1A and its plaza. The event will culminate with Megan Trainor performing on the plaza during the 2024 Citi Concert Series on TODAY.
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