“He’d come back and be the policeman and then he’d leave me with the residue.”
From the “Today” show to PBS Kids, Al Roker has been waiting decades for this moment.
The 71-year-old weather presenter and “Today” show host announced in 2023 that he was working on a new animated series called “Weather Hunters,” according to a press release at the time.
Now two years later, that show is nearing its premiere date — which is set for Sept. 8 on PBS Kids.
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The show — created by Roker, who also stars as the voice of Al Hunter — is “designed to support kids’ learning about Earth science and meteorology through adventure and comedy,” per a 2024 press release.
But if you ask Roker, the show isn’t just about weather science — it’s even more rooted in family and working together.
“It's the perfect nexus of everything that's important in my life — my family, climate, weather, and animation,” Roker said of the show in an interview with Parents.
And that nexus is evident in the show’s catchphrase: “Whatever the weather, we’re in it together.”
“That's the mantra I want people to take away. And not just about weather, but that in this world, we're in this together,” Roker told Parents.
Fans who tune into the show will quickly realize that the characters are largely inspired by Al Roker’s family — starting with the dad, Al Hunter, who sounds and looks like America’s favorite weatherman.
“Al Hunter is an incredibly attractive bald African American — I don’t know who he could be based off of!” Roker joked, per Parents. “And the three kids on the show mimic my own three kids.”
Roker first became a father in 1987 with the birth of his daughter Courtney, whom he shares with his first wife Alice Bell, according to People.
The weatherman went on to marry Deborah Roberts in 1995 and later welcomed two children of their own — daughter Leila, 26, and son Nick, 23.
Roker said he first started developing the idea for “Weather Hunters” when his kids were younger. Now decades later, that dream has finally come true.
“It’s been a minute but good things come to those who wait,” he told Parents.
Al Roker explains why now is the ‘perfect time’ for his show
Roker hopes his new show inspires a new generation of meteorologists to follow in his footsteps.
While talking to Parents, he explained why he thinks “right now is the perfect time” to bring that to fruition — especially with all the curiosity he sees from kids and misinformation he sees from everyone else.
“There's a lot of stuff going on in the world and happening in weather. We need to try to demystify it and explain to kids why things happen,” he told the outlet ahead of his show’s premiere.
“Kids see this stuff online, they see different weather phenomena, and they can then be cool to their friends and say, ‘Hey, do you know why this happens?’” he said of his hope for the show.
It’s also a perfect time for the show because his first grandchild recently turned two, per Today.
The weather anchor became a grandparent for the first time in July 2023 when his older daughter Courtney welcomed her first child with her husband Wesley Laga, according to Today.
“Weather has always been a passion of mine, and inspiring young minds to explore its wonders has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this journey,” Roker said in the 2024 press release.
“I’m thrilled to share that passion with a new generation, including my granddaughter, Sky, who reminds me every day of the importance of leaving a better planet for our kids,” he added.
In a “Behind the Scenes” video posted on YouTube, Roker described the show as a “dream come true.”
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“We found the perfect home in PBS Kids, where families learn and grow together. I could not be prouder to share ‘Weather Hunters’ with all of you,” he said towards the end of the video.
