Dec. 11--Longtime "Today" weather forecaster Willard Scott is retiring, the NBC morning program announced Friday.
Scott has been associated with the morning program since 1980, when he was hired from NBC's Washington station WRC to join co-hosts Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley. His arrival occurred when "Today" was locked in its first ratings battle with ABC's "Good Morning America."
A natural clown -- he once played Bozo on a local station -- Scott was up for any stunt on "Today." He famously appeared on the show dressed as South American singer Carmen Miranda (for charity) and stood at the weather map done up as pop singer Boy George. The lighter tone he brought to "Today" helped lift the show back to first place, where it remained for much of the decade.
Scott, 81, stepped down from his role as weather forecaster on "Today" in 1996 but has remained a presence on the program since. In recent years, he's appeared once or twice a week to give birthday wishes to centenarians (a tradition he started in 1983) in a taped segment sponsored by fruit spread maker Smucker's.
Between his years at "Today" and NBC's owned station in Washington, Scott has put in 65 years at the network.
Current "Today" weather anchor Al Roker has always cited Scott as a mentor. The entire cast of the program will give Scott a send-off on Tuesday.
