How Al Roker convinced Cheryl Lee Ralph to star in “Weatherhunter” (exclusive)

Today, when Weather Anchor and co-host Al Roker pitched Cheryl Lee Ralph in his new PBS Kids Animation Series, she couldn’t say no to her longtime friends.

“He had this idea and said, ‘You’re playing this role,'” Abbott Elementary School star, 69, remembers only people before seeing her character has an interesting perception. “I had to say to Al, ‘Wait a minute, why am I playing a little old lady and you’re going to be younger than me?” ”

Created and starring by 71 broadcasters, Weatherhunter teaches children the basics of weather and how climate affects the world around them.

According to Ralph, the show, inspired by Roker’s “Love of the Weather,” debuted on PBS Kids on September 8th. It follows his beloved weathercaster Al Hunter (Roker) as he and his weathered family move to Roker’s own new town.

Also, the animated series starring Holly Robinson Peate and Lever Burton’s voice talents, where a brave family of hunters fly around the sky, soaring the streets of their own flying van (Vanceformer) to give the atmosphere of a major magical school bus, going on weather-related adventures, learning about thunder, snow, rainfall and more.

“We love seeing this science explored by children who want to learn, and how they navigate the storms of life,” Ralph said of the series.

The winner of Emmy will appear first in the second episode of the show. The Hunters’ “very brave and very lively” neighbor, Joyce, is associated with the family’s three children on the pet she is raising.

“We see the kids when the dog runs away because we are afraid of thunderstorms,” ​​she says.

Ralph points out that just because Joyce is uttering “a little old lady” doesn’t mean she won’t let out.

“She’s moving around it, riding her bike, still caring for the flowers and talking to the kids,” she says. “Just like Abbott Elementary School loves being intergenerational, we love seeing the same thing with weather hunters.”

A few days after PBS cut 15% of staff as a result of the July poll to eliminate federal funds in public media, the officials confirm that the first season of 40 episodes of Hashunter will not be affected.

In response to the government’s cuts, Ralph says the work the network does is more important than ever.

“I really want to encourage people to support PBS,” she says. “When you see those commercials coming and people say, ‘We’re going to do this for you,’ that’s exactly what they’re doing. They’re doing it for you. “Produced documentaries, these TV shows like Weather Hunter like Sesame Street, films we can see, series we see from other parts of the world, it’s done to open our hearts.”

“Now is now more time than ever for people to support public broadcasts,” continues Ralph. “It’s not that side, it’s for everyone, not all sides. It’s for all people in the public and we need to be more supportive than ever.”

Ralph adds that Sesame Street, which will mark its 56th season on Netflix on November 10th, is one show that remains on her bucket list for her decades of career.

“I loved Sesame Street and I still love it,” says Ralph. “I love the way I can look back at the people who have been on Sesame Street over the years and how they influenced them. I’m really looking forward to being able to do an episode at some point.”

It’s about being Ralph’s happy despite still waiting for answers to her lingering questions about the show until she was asked to become Elmo’s “friendly neighbor” in the iconic series.

“I don’t know why Al Roker is younger than me, but it’s fine,” jokes Ralph.

You won’t miss the story. Sign up for people’s free daily newsletters and stay up to date with what people have to offer, from celebrity news to stories of fascinating human interests.

Weather Hunters is currently available on PBS Kids. The new episode will be released on September 24th from 7:30am on weekdays. The first 10 episodes are currently available for streaming on the PBS Kids’ app. Additional episodes will be unfolded at a later date.