The Today Show’s Most Hilarious On-Air Moments
The Today Show has given viewers countless memorable moments over its long run, but perhaps none are quite as endearing as the unscripted mishaps that have occurred live on air. From technological blunders to celebrity gaffes, these spontaneous incidents remind us that even the most polished television professionals are delightfully human. These moments, often embarrassing for the hosts but entertaining for viewers, have become part of the show’s charm and legacy.
One of the most notable incidents occurred in September 2013 when Hoda Kotb accidentally revealed her personal phone number on national television. While demonstrating a new Samsung smartwatch with Kathie Lee Gifford, Kotb attempted to call the watch from her own phone, inadvertently displaying her number on screen for millions to see. Her reaction of genuine shock, followed by Gifford’s playful admonishment—”Hoda!!”—created a moment of authentic television that resonated with viewers. This technological mishap serves as a reminder of the risks that come with demonstrating new gadgets live on air, but also highlights the genuine rapport between the hosts who handled the moment with humor rather than panic.
The show has also witnessed its fair share of amusing technical difficulties, such as in May 2012 when Ann Curry was interviewing Jane Pauley and the studio lights suddenly went out. Rather than panic, Curry smoothly continued, “The lights have gone out, but Jane is still here this morning and can still tell us what is happening in the dark.” The segment concluded with weatherman Al Roker pretending to be responsible for the blackout, jokingly holding unplugged cords and feigning electrical shock. In another memorable incident, Kathie Lee Gifford found herself in an unexpected predicament during a segment featuring birds from SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. What started as a controlled animal demonstration quickly turned comical when one of the birds decided to perch atop Gifford’s head, thoroughly disheveling her carefully styled hair while she pleaded, “Someone take the bird! Regis take the bird please!”
Celebrity appearances have provided some of the show’s most unexpected moments. In February 2024, comedian Larry David shocked everyone by suddenly attacking the beloved children’s character Elmo during a segment. David grabbed the puppet’s face and shook him, leaving hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Craig Melvin visibly stunned. As David began walking away, Elmo called after him, “Mr. Larry, wait! Elmo loved you before! Let’s talk about how you’re feeling!” to which David retorted, “Somebody had to do it!” Though David later apologized, Guthrie wasn’t ready to let him off the hook, telling him, “Elmo, you’re such a sweetheart. Larry, you are not a sweetheart. Have you ever heard that?” In another memorable celebrity incident, Richard Gere startled Savannah Guthrie by flipping her the bird at the start of an interview. When Guthrie exclaimed about the gesture being inappropriate for a “family morning show,” Gere explained he was merely completing a scene from his espionage thriller that NBC had cut off, saying, “My hand did that, I have no control!”
Language mishaps have also provided memorable Today Show moments. In November 2024, music icon Cher accidentally dropped an F-bomb while sharing breakup advice she had received from Lucille Ball. Recounting what Ball had told her about her 1975 divorce from Sonny Bono, Cher quoted, “F* him. You’re the one with the talent.” When the curse word wasn’t bleeped out in time, Kotb burst into laughter, explaining, “We didn’t have the seven seconds, but we will get it for the next feed,” to which Cher innocently replied, “Well, you said I could!” Similarly, in July 2025, Jenna Bush Hager caused a stir when she inadvertently cursed while sharing a story about her friend’s child. “Christina goes—I don’t know if you can say this—but he was like, ‘God, [my son] George is acting like an ahole,'” Bush Hager recalled before immediately realizing her mistake. “Oh, sorry, sorry. Everybody’s looking at me like, ‘Why did you say that?'” The genuine surprise on her face and the reactions from her colleagues made for a truly authentic television moment.
Name pronunciation and introductions have created their own category of humorous flubs. In December 2024, meteorologist Dylan Dreyer mispronounced actor Timothée Chalamet’s name, prompting good-natured ribbing from her colleagues. Al Roker jokingly called him “Chamalamdingdong,” while Hoda added “Chamalama!” Similarly, Jenna Bush Hager created an awkward moment while introducing basketball star Dwayne Wade on her segment of the show. “I’ve never gotten to do it with an NBA super…” she began before abruptly stopping when she realized how the statement might sound. She quickly clarified, “Your wife is here, I didn’t mean it like that! I’ve never gotten to host with someone like you and I’m just so thrilled.” These verbal missteps remind viewers that even professional broadcasters sometimes trip over their words, especially in the high-pressure environment of live television where there are no do-overs.
What makes these moments so special is how they break through the polished veneer of television production to reveal genuine human reactions. When lights go out, birds misbehave, or words come out wrong, we witness authentic responses rather than scripted perfection. The hosts’ abilities to laugh at themselves, to pivot gracefully, or to simply acknowledge the awkwardness creates a connection with viewers who face similar embarrassing moments in their own lives. In an era of increasingly edited and curated media, these unplanned incidents on The Today Show offer something refreshingly real—reminding us that sometimes the most memorable television moments are the ones nobody planned for, where professional composure briefly gives way to surprised laughter, embarrassment, or unfiltered reactions that make these television personalities seem wonderfully, relatably human.
