Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson

Celebrity News

Is Al Roker’s ‘Today’ job in peril?

All the back-slapping, orchestrated tweeting and phoniness in the world won’t change the fact that weatherman Al Roker is feeling nervous after Sam Champion’s appearance Thursday on the “Today” show.

Champion jumped from ABC’s top-rated “Good Morning America” to the Weather Channel, which is partly owned by NBC. But TV insiders say the Peacock Network now has some leverage with Roker, whose $8 million contract expires later this year.

“NBC could install Champion at ‘Today’ for a fraction of what they are paying Roker,” said one source.

But Champion is locked in for multiple years to host a three-hour block on the Weather Channel.

Just when you thought that NBC suits couldn’t create a situation worse than Ann Curry’s bungled, forced exit two years ago, the showdown between Roker and Champion threatens to do just that or worse.

Al Roker (left) and Sam Champion on “Today.”Peter Kramer/NBC

Unlike Curry, who had her fans and detractors, Roker is universally beloved by the audience and the staff at NBC. I hear that Roker now has his agents exploring other opportunities.

Still, “Today” show executive producer Don Nash told me, “As much as we are happy to have Sam in the family at the Weather Channel, the ‘Today’ show is not in the market for a weather anchor. Al is beloved by NBC and our viewers. [He and Sam] are longtime friends and supportive of each other.”