The talk about Al Roker‘s retirement has increased as he marks a big milestone, but the longtime TV favorite says he’s not planning to stop. While celebrating his Al Roker 30th anniversary on Today Show, Roker made it clear he still loves what he does.
Al Roker isn’t thinking of retiring at all
Speaking ahead of the 30th anniversary, AL Roker shared his honest thoughts in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. “Well, let’s put it this way. I haven’t thought about retirement,” he said, before joking, “Somebody at NBC, that might be a different story.”
He explained, “I love what I do. I feel good. I love this job. I love doing it. At some point I guess I won’t be, but I don’t feel like that’s anytime soon, so I’m just gonna keep going.” He also noted that Today has always been about more than one person. “I think that’s the beauty of the broadcast is that the mission over these 74 years has not changed.”
“The way we bring it to you may have, and look, the fact of the matter is we are each temporary custodians of this legacy … at some point I won’t be part of the show, somebody else will be,” he continued. “But to be part of a pretty cool club is very special. To say that this was a dream job isn’t really accurate because it never dawned on me that I could be on the Today show.”
Looking back on his career, Roker said he feels quite “fortunate.” He recalled one unforgettable day when he interviewed Don Rickles, Betty White, Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke all within 24 hours.
Roker also remembered a powerful moment during 44th U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2013 inauguration. “[Obama] acknowledged when I asked him about the weather and then Vice President Biden runs up and shakes my hand,” Roker recalled. “For a kid from Queens, that’s some pretty heavy stuff.”
When asked how he wants viewers to remember him, Roker kept it simple. “People, when they watch, that they didn’t feel like I wasted their time,” he said. “And that hopefully they felt better after watching than before.”
For now, Roker plans to keep showing up and doing the job he loves, with no retirement plans in sight.
Originally reported by Ojas Kulkarni on ComingSoon.
