TV hosts stun rock legend twice with unexpected on-air moment
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There’s nothing quite like an on-air mishap to grab attention, and this week brought not one, but two uncomfortable moments that had a guest visibly caught off guard.
The incidents quickly sparked chatter among viewers, many of whom were left wincing at the slip-ups.
It all started innocently enough. The legendary Rick Springfield—yes, the man behind the iconic 'Jessie’s Girl'—was set to join the TODAY team to chat about his latest tour, TV series, and, of course, the story behind his chart-topping hit.
Ever the professional, Al Roker teed up the segment with a respectful nod to Springfield’s enduring career.
But then, things took a turn for the embarrassing. As Roker finished his intro, co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, and Sheinelle Jones (filling in for Carson Daly) burst into song—not with 'Jessie’s Girl', but with the chorus of '867-5309/Jenny' by Tommy Tutone.
Oops! Wrong ‘80s classic, wrong artist, and a classic case of mistaken identity that had Roker and Craig Melvin exchanging mortified glances.
'Very close,' Roker, 70, quipped, trying to smooth over the gaffe.
If that wasn’t enough, the awkwardness continued when Springfield finally sat down for his interview.
As he shared stories from his decades-spanning career, Melvin let out a yawn, right in the middle of Springfield’s answer.
The rock star, quick on the uptake, turned to Melvin and asked with a wry smile, 'Am I boring you?'
The studio erupted in nervous laughter as Melvin, red-faced, insisted, 'No, no—it was a cough!' Springfield, ever the good sport, replied, 'It’s early. Don’t worry about it. I’ll probably yawn too.'
It’s not the first time Melvin has found himself in a sticky situation on live TV.
Since stepping into his new role earlier this year, he’s had a few memorable slip-ups—including accidentally introducing the show as Today With Hoda & Jenna instead of Today With Jenna & Friends, and even getting his own son’s age wrong on Bring Your Kid To Work Day. (Don’t worry, his son Delano was there to correct him—on air, no less!)
Despite the morning’s mishaps, Springfield handled it all with the grace and humour you’d expect from a seasoned performer.
For those who might not know, Rick Springfield first made waves in Australia with his 1972 hit 'Speak to the Sky,' before conquering the US charts with 'Jessie’s Girl' in 1980.
This song not only won him a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance but has also become a permanent fixture on jukeboxes and karaoke playlists worldwide.
And while the TODAY show’s hosts may have mixed up their ‘80s anthems, the program itself is still hitting the right notes with viewers.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings, TODAY recorded double-digit gains in both total viewers and the key 25-54 demographic for the week of 30 June, trailing only ABC’s Good Morning America by a slim margin.
So, what’s the takeaway from this morning's TV mishap? Even the pros get it wrong sometimes—and sometimes, the unscripted moments make for the best television.
Rick Springfield’s good-natured response is a reminder that a little humour goes a long way, especially when things don’t go to plan.
Have you ever been mistaken for someone else, or had a classic case of 'wrong song, wrong artist'? Or maybe you’ve had your own awkward moment on stage or in the spotlight? We’d love to hear your stories—share them in the comments below.
Read more: Comedian falls flat after his debut on Channel 10: 'This gets worse and worse by the second'
The incidents quickly sparked chatter among viewers, many of whom were left wincing at the slip-ups.
It all started innocently enough. The legendary Rick Springfield—yes, the man behind the iconic 'Jessie’s Girl'—was set to join the TODAY team to chat about his latest tour, TV series, and, of course, the story behind his chart-topping hit.
Ever the professional, Al Roker teed up the segment with a respectful nod to Springfield’s enduring career.
TODAY show hosts embarrass Rick Springfield by confusing ‘Jessie’s Girl’ and yawning during his interview. Credit: YouTube
But then, things took a turn for the embarrassing. As Roker finished his intro, co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, and Sheinelle Jones (filling in for Carson Daly) burst into song—not with 'Jessie’s Girl', but with the chorus of '867-5309/Jenny' by Tommy Tutone.
Oops! Wrong ‘80s classic, wrong artist, and a classic case of mistaken identity that had Roker and Craig Melvin exchanging mortified glances.
'Very close,' Roker, 70, quipped, trying to smooth over the gaffe.
If that wasn’t enough, the awkwardness continued when Springfield finally sat down for his interview.
As he shared stories from his decades-spanning career, Melvin let out a yawn, right in the middle of Springfield’s answer.
The rock star, quick on the uptake, turned to Melvin and asked with a wry smile, 'Am I boring you?'
The studio erupted in nervous laughter as Melvin, red-faced, insisted, 'No, no—it was a cough!' Springfield, ever the good sport, replied, 'It’s early. Don’t worry about it. I’ll probably yawn too.'
It’s not the first time Melvin has found himself in a sticky situation on live TV.
Despite the morning’s mishaps, Springfield handled it all with the grace and humour you’d expect from a seasoned performer.
For those who might not know, Rick Springfield first made waves in Australia with his 1972 hit 'Speak to the Sky,' before conquering the US charts with 'Jessie’s Girl' in 1980.
This song not only won him a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance but has also become a permanent fixture on jukeboxes and karaoke playlists worldwide.
And while the TODAY show’s hosts may have mixed up their ‘80s anthems, the program itself is still hitting the right notes with viewers.
So, what’s the takeaway from this morning's TV mishap? Even the pros get it wrong sometimes—and sometimes, the unscripted moments make for the best television.
Rick Springfield’s good-natured response is a reminder that a little humour goes a long way, especially when things don’t go to plan.
Read more: Comedian falls flat after his debut on Channel 10: 'This gets worse and worse by the second'
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