Hours and hours, 34 of ’em, of weather
His voice reduced to a croak, Al Roker completed a 34-hour marathon weather forecast Friday on NBC’s “Today” show.
Roker had his marathon certified by Guinness World Records as the longest continuous live weather broadcast. He beat a 33-hour record set in September by Norwegian TV personality Eli Kari Gjengedal. The “Rokerthon” also raised some $70,000 for the USO.
Roker thanked his team and Mother Nature – an active, cold weather pattern over the United States kept things interesting. During his marathon, which was streamed live online, he did nearly 300 live shots for different TV outlets around the world, as far away as Australia.
He wasn’t interested when his colleagues asked if he’d try to break his own record next year.
“I’ve done this once,” he croaked. “That’s it.”
Rolling Stones’ legal battle resolved
A spokeswoman for Mick Jagger says the Rolling Stones have settled a legal battle that brought insurance underwriters to Utah looking for evidence about the mental health of his girlfriend before she took her life in March in New York City.
Spokeswoman Fran Curtis declined to elaborate on the settlement in an email message Friday, but she said the $12.7 million claim had been resolved before details were reported last week.
She said it was upsetting that private information was made public in court.
A federal judge allowed underwriters to gather information about fashion designer and Utah native L’Wren Scott from her brother last month, but he told the Salt Lake Tribune he wasn’t contacted.
Scott’s suicide prompted the rock group to postpone a concert tour. They filed the claim for losses due to the delay.
Michaels back on stage after surgery
Former Poison frontman Bret Michaels made a return to the stage Thursday, just one week after a string of six hospital visits and kidney surgery.
On stage, Michaels made it clear to the screaming crowd at Mavericks at The Landing that he was just fine, shouting after nearly every song, “Jacksonville, Florida! Jacksonville, Florida! Thank you!”
Michaels was hospitalized Nov. 1 when, against medical and friends’ advice, he performed a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, but then was immediately rushed to a hospital.
Michaels has had numerous physical issues through the years. He was diagnosed with diabetes as a child and was struck in the head by a set piece during the Tony Awards in 2009, an injury that led to a near-fatal brain hemorrhage.
The birthday bunch
Judge Joseph Wapner is 95. Actor Ed Asner is 85. Singer Petula Clark is 82. Comedian Jack Burns is 81. Pop singer Frida (ABBA) is 69. Actress Beverly D’Angelo is 63. Former “Tonight Show” bandleader Kevin Eubanks is 57. Comedian Judy Gold is 52. Actor Jonny Lee Miller is 42. Actor Sean Murray (TV: “NCIS”) is 37. Actress Shailene Woodley is 23.