Already have an account?
Get back to the

Sam Champion Stops By Today Show, Talks Longtime Al Roker Friendship: Watch the Video

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Let the rain pour: longtime morning show meteorologist-rivals Al Roker and Sam Champion are finally standing under the same umbrella! The former Good Morning America weatherman stopped by the Today Show on Thursday, Jan. 16 and was greeted with hugs, not jeers, from Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales, and Roker in Studio 1A.

Related: PHOTOS: The Today show's most memorable moments

Champion, 52, abruptly left GMA, the Today show’s arch morning show nemesis, last month for a new gig at The Weather Channel — which is partially-owned by NBC Universal. The former ABC employee, who even enthusiastically flashed his brand new NBC identification card, sat with the quartet to discuss his new 3-hour morning weather show, which has yet to be named.

Along with the Weather Channel program, Champion will appear on the Today show in emergency weather situations.

Related: VIDEO: Watch Kate Gosselin's talked-about Today show appearance

“We’ve known each other for 25 years,” said Today show veteran Roker. “This is the first chance we’re actually going to get to work together.” In an odd revelation of a bromance between the two former onscreen rivals, Champion responded, “You were the first person and my first friend in New York.”

The weathermen met when they were both covering, of all things, a circus event shortly after Champion first landed in NYC in the 1980s. “Al came up and we made friends during that live show,” he said Thursday.

“Can I just say that having Al and Sam at the same table, I would call this a weather forecaster vortex,” joked Guthrie. “Welcome to the team,” added Lauer.

sam champion and al roker
Al Roker and Sam Champion met when they were both covering, of all things, a circus event shortly after Champion first landed in NYC in the 1980s. “Al came up and we made friends during that live show,” he said Thursday.

Related: PHOTOS: Best-dressed TV show hosts

The ABC News alum said farewell to his GMA costars, Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Lara Spencer, and Josh Elliott, in early December during an emotional sendoff that remembered his 25 years and 1,800-plus broadcasts with the network. “This will always be my home,” Champion said to his colleagues in a montage of clips that were shown during the episode.

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!