Al Roker's Divine Blueprint: How He's Raising a Generation of Resilient, God-Fearing Kids

By Familyguide Staff

Al Roker embarks on a new venture aimed at inspiring and educating young audiences.

Titled WEATHER HUNTERS, this fresh animated series draws inspiration from Roker's iconic position as a meteorologist on the TODAY show, as well as from his own children.

"I believe we all develop an interest in weather as we grow, given its universal impact on our lives," he shared. "With so much weather activity globally, this moment is ideal for WEATHER HUNTERS."

He emphasized the importance of "demystifying these phenomena and clarifying their causes for children," adding, "Even once the mystery is unveiled, the sense of wonder persists."

The storyline of WEATHER HUNTERS centers on 8-year-old Lily Hunter, her father Al, mother, brother, and sister, all united by their shared enthusiasm for meteorological studies.

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Roker strongly advocated for the inclusion of a theme song for the series, a wish that was granted.

He fondly recalled braiding his daughter Courtney's "voluminous hair, a process that could last an hour and a half. During that time, we'd belt out the theme songs for TALESPIN, DUCKTALES, and CHIP 'N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS...we knew every lyric." This personal experience made it crucial for him "to have a theme song that is not only excellent musically but also reinforces WEATHER HUNTERS as a show for the whole family."

While the children in the program do not share names with Roker's real-life trio, the characters themselves were born from his family's dynamic. The concept for the series originated when his own children were roughly the same age as the characters portrayed.

"It took some time, but patience pays off," remarked Roker. He confirmed, "The series draws loosely from my personal family experiences."

"Al Hunter is a remarkably attractive bald African American man — I can't imagine who he might be inspired by!" he joked. "Furthermore, my wife Deborah Roberts serves as a co-anchor on 20/20, and the three children in the series mirror my own three kids, who consistently showed curiosity about weather."

Roker, who is also a grandfather to a 2-year-old granddaughter, expressed his excitement for her to watch the show, of which he is immensely proud.

"This project represents the ideal convergence of all key aspects of my life — my loved ones, climate science, meteorology, and the art of animation," he stated.

Recently, Roker hosted a screening of the program for families in Arkansas.

"A child even inquired about the origins of a firenado! I thought, 'Wow, this question comes from a 6-year-old, and I only learned about firenadoes myself a decade ago,'" Roker recounted. He believes this highlights why "now is the opportune moment for WEATHER HUNTERS, as children encounter various weather phenomena online and can then impress their peers by explaining, 'Hey, do you understand why this occurs?'"

Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager at PBS KIDS, commented, "Daily weather affects everyone, influencing our routines, health, and overall welfare. We are delighted to partner with Al Roker on this pertinent new series, designed to impart fundamental scientific principles engagingly. WEATHER HUNTERS aims to provide children with the foundational knowledge to grasp meteorology comprehensively, fostering their STEM abilities to observe, gather data, and explore local weather conditions."

The voice cast includes Roker as Al Hunter, Holly Robinson Peete as the mother, Sheryl Lee Ralph as their neighbor Ms. Joyce, and LeVar Burton portraying Grandpa Wallace Reed Hunter, as WHRO disclosed.

Viewers can catch the series premiere on PBS starting September 8th.