Live TV is unpredictable. Even with careful planning and a team of professionals, things can still go wrong – or just get really strange. A memorable example happened over 16 years ago on the Today show, when weather presenter Al Roker had a surprising encounter with a furry Star Wars character who jumped on his leg.
This week marks a major milestone for Al Roker: 30 years with the Today show! While he’s had many memorable moments on the program, he recently shared a particularly unusual one with People magazine. It happened on Halloween in 2009 during a *Star Warsthemed episode. Roker, always up for a good time, dressed as Han Solo – complete with a wig, vest, and blaster. Lucasfilm even helped out, sending actors dressed as Ewoks to add to the fun.
Lucasfilm helped us out with some amazing props, including a real X-wing fighter displayed on the Plaza! We also had R2-D2, C-3PO, and a group of Ewoks. Those Ewoks were quite mischievous – it seemed like they’d made a stop at the Cantina bar before the show!
During a Halloween-themed cocktail segment on the show, things got unexpectedly wild when two Ewoks showed up and started causing trouble. They playfully grabbed drinks, did the moonwalk, and one even playfully climbed on Al Roker’s leg. It was a chaotic and funny moment!
During the original broadcast, the TV host smiled at the camera and said, “I feel so dirty.” However, looking back more than fifteen years later, he now seems to find the moment amusing. He then continued by saying,
Whenever I watch it, I still crack up. It’s so unexpected – nobody could have predicted that! I know they probably wouldn’t appreciate me mentioning it, but it still makes me laugh to this day.
I believe the “they” I mentioned earlier refers to the people at Lucasfilm. They’re very careful with the Star Wars brand, as it’s generally seen as family-friendly. However, we likely wouldn’t still be discussing this event after all these years if that Ewok hadn’t behaved inappropriately with Al Roker, proving that any publicity is good publicity.
The Star Wars franchise not only endured but thrived. This TV moment happened before Disney bought Lucasfilm and launched a new chapter with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015.
If you’re wondering how long Al Roker has been on Today, he started in 1996, taking over for Willard Scott. He’s been a familiar face on television ever since, and you can still catch him on NBC from 7:00 to 11:00 am.
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2026-01-29 16:38