Prince CharlesSomeday Prince Charles will reign over the United Kingdom, but today he just predicted it. And lots of it. During a visit to BBC Scotland headquarters, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Prince of Wales took a surprise turn as the lunchtime weatherman. With delivery that was smooth and charming, Charles presented a bleak forecast for the country with a smile: “This afternoon it will be cold, wet, and windy across most of Scotland,” he began, pointing to the map behind him. But the prince also proved he could warm up the weather with a clever ad lib. When he spoke of the “potential for a few flurries over Balmoral”—where the royal family has a castle—he quipped: “Who the hell wrote this script?”
Steve CarellIn Anchorman, Steve Carell played meteorologist Brick Tamland, who described himself as being “polite and rarely late,” someone who enjoys “a nice pair of slacks,” and who doctors believe “has an IQ of 48.” So in 2010, when Carell was appearing on England’s GMTV to promote Date Night, the hosts asked him to reprise the character as he presented the regional forecast. His prediction? “Ice, lots of ice! Ice and triangles—which are the most dangerous types of ice storms, the triangle ice.”
Tom HanksDoing the weather can be difficult enough without having to present it in Spanish—especially if you don’t really speak it. But that’s just what Tom Hanks gamely tried to do last year when he visited Univision’s Despierta America to promote his film Larry Crowne. And rather than fumble through pronouncing numbers or delivering a forecast for “Nuevo York,” Hanks told anchor Chiquinquira Delgado, “I’m just going to dance.” And after he did, Delgado was full of praise, “You did great, Tom. Maravilloso.”
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Chris BoshA year before he joined the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh played for the Toronto Raptors and delivered a frigid weather report on a local news channel: “If you’re going to be at the game tomorrow,” Bosh said with a basketball in his hands, “here’s the forecast—clear skies and minus-2.” He then ad-libbed, “I’m so glad I play inside.”
Tom GreenIn 2006, comedian Tom Green brought his absurdist humor to Los Angeles’s Fox 11 newscast. In preparation for doing the weather, Green asked for a special graphic—a bunny rabbit—before settling on a spinning school bus. When it came time to deliver the forecast, Green hopped on set in rabbit ears, munching on a carrot, shouting, “I’m a bunny rabbit! I’m a bunny rabbit! I’m a bunny rabbit!” No word on whether you need to bring an umbrella for that.
Gerard ButlerWhat Gerard Butler lacked in meteorological skills while presenting the weather for Scotland in August 2009, he made up for with charm and his native accent. “I was just going tell everybody that today, in the east coast, up here in Scotland… it’s going to be beautiful. And surprise, surprise, it’s going to be raining in Glasgow and the west coast.” And in the afternoon? “I… have no idea,” said the actor. Just like a real weatherman.
Pat SajakYears before he started drinking on Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak was a mischievous local weatherman in Nashville. During one broadcast in the 1970s, “Patrick” got a little goofy with WSM anchor Dan Miller in a bit that Sajak scripted himself. When a case of the giggles prevented him from delivering the weather, Sajak had to compose himself. “Excuse me,” he finally said, “this is really embarrassing.”
Triumph the Insult Comic DogSince the weather in Hawaii is generally magnificent (with the occasional perfect front moving in), it wasn’t such a disaster when celebrity weather-canine Triumph the Insult Comic Dog called for a slightly poopy forecast. “Thanks for the, uh, throw there, Howard,” Triumph began like a pro. “By the way, you’re terrific, you know? With that talent and that haircut, you’re on the rocket ship to, uh, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.” It got even funnier from there. “Oh noooo! Light winds! Light winds! What will Hawaii dooooo???”
David LettermanHaving been a local weatherman in Indianapolis—where he once famously predicted hail stones “the size of canned hams”—David Letterman was a natural back in 1988, when he crashed a local broadcast in New York—with a young Al Roker. Hurricane Dave was unstoppable. “Sunrise and sunset. These are very important statistics,” he joked. “If you happen to be a raccoon or a bat.” And once the weather map showed up, the forecast took a dark turn. “Ooh what’s that?” Letterman asked Roker. “I think you ought to think about having that biopsied.”
George Carlin's Hippy Dippy WeathermanThough you wouldn’t lay out tomorrow’s outfit based on George Carlin’s “hippy dippy weatherman” routine, the comedian’s alter ego, Al Sleet, made regular appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show back in the mid-’60s. “Tonight’s forecast,” Sleet famously predicted, “Dark. Continued dark throughout most of the evening, with some widely scattered light towards morning.” During a 1978 special, Carlin revisited the spacy Sleet: “The temperature at the airport is 88 degrees, which is stupid, man, because I don’t know anyone who lives at the airport.”
