The hosts of the Today show gave viewers a pair of cringe-worthy moments while welcoming beloved ’80s rocker Rick Springfield to the set on Thursday morning.
After host Al Roker had talked up the star’s forthcoming appearance, co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Kaylee Hartung began belting out a song not written by the musician at all.
‘Rick Springfield is going to be in our third hour chatting about his latest tour, TV series and the story behind Jesse’s Girl,’ Roker said of the legendary ’80s earworm.
Guthrie, Hager and Hartung – who has been filling in for Carson Daly – responded by singing the chorus of another ’80s hit, ‘867-5309/Jenny’ by Tommy Tutone.
Roker and co-host Craig Melvin pointed out the embarrassing oversight before exchanging a look. ‘Very close,’ Roker, 70, quipped.
When Springfield arrived later in the show, he sat down with Roker, Melvin, and Jill Martin to discuss the smash hit that propelled his career.
That’s when Melvin let out a yawn as Springfield spoke, prompting the musician to turn his way.
‘Am I boring you?’ the Grammy winner asked, before cracking a smile.
During the show’s second hour, Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager belted out a song not written by Springfield at all, earning a reprimand from Roker and Melvin
Earlier on, another oversight that seemingly came at Springfield’s expense also occurred
The result was another awkward moment that the group looked to laugh off
Roker and Martin buried their heads in their hands in response.
Amid stifled laughs, a red-faced Melvin stammered through an explanation.
‘No, no – you’re not, man. It was a cough!’ he insisted.
Springfield, playing the good sport, cracked back: ‘It’s early. Don’t worry about it. I’ll probably yawn too.’
The blip wasn’t the first from Melvin since succeeding Kotb in Janaury, with the anchor accidentally introducing the show’s fourth hour as Today With Hoda & Jenna rather than Today With Jenna & Friends days after being tapped for the position.
Celebrity guest cohosts have filled the void for the show’s fourth hour since Kotb left.
In April, he issued an apology for an on-air blunder that saw him get his son’s age wrong while welcoming him onto the show for Bring Your Kid To Work Day
The Daily Mail has reached out to NBC for comment.
