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Matt Makes a Greenlandic Friend

Posted: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:36 AM by Dan Fleschner
Filed Under:

One of the beauties of live TV is its unpredictability. In many cases, when things don't go as planned -- or when technical glitches pop up -- everyone has to improvise to make sure that we stay on the air and retain some semblance of coherence.

Other times, unpredictability has hilarious consequences. Take this morning, when Matt was doing a long explanation of what happens in the Greenlandic town of Ilulissat.

While talking about roads, hospitals, restaurants and bars, he made a new friend, an apparent local named Peter.

For a few seconds there, nobody -- especially Matt -- knew exactly what was happening or what was going to happen.

As it turned out, Peter just wanted to stop and say hello.  WATCH VIDEO

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Comments

Matt, Anne and Al
Congratulations on such an informative series from around the globe. I hope you all have a safe trip back to your loved ones

Patrick Kavanagh Dublin Ireland (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 3:56 PM)

Kudos to Matt, Al, Ann & Meredith for the great show this week!  Love learning all about these places through them.  Did not see the whole "Peter" encounter - just on the internet.  GREAT JOB MATT!  Always knew you were a class act!

Jen Burdalski, Sicklerville, NJ (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 3:57 PM)

Matt, your a professional with a human touch.  How nice to see.  I commend the today show for going to the ends of the earth to teach the viewing audience about global warming and it's obvious affects on the environment. Well done! Ann, the band that ended your segment gave myself and probably all watching  a chuckle for the day!  You all are an amazing team.

Maureen Dawson Oak Hill, VA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:17 PM)

I love watching the Today. Matt, Ann, Al, keep up the great work! You three are awesome!

Connie Pusey, Milford, Delaware (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:19 PM)

I applaud NBC for 22 minutes of great television this morning without one mention of Britney Spears.  Too bad it takes The Ends of the Earth to get a break from such nonsense.  Absolutely beautiful series.  Thanks.

Gina, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:19 PM)

I LOVE Matt. He doesn't miss a beat. Smart, cute, friendly, funny-what more could you want in a morning anchor?

Connie Parker, Baltimore, Md (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:26 PM)

Matt, you are so smooth and natural. You handled the unexpected with Peter so well and I, too, loved the way you put your arm around him. Keep the beard!

All of you guys make my morning - at least until I have to go to work.

Noella Wyatt, Ellensburg, Wash (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:36 PM)

I missed most of the series, due to work...  Will DVD's be available for purchase?  The little I did see, was most informative.  Thank you,  

Sandra Lundgren, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:41 PM)

TODAY SHOW...
  Wonderful 2 day series.  I would hope that some teachers acrosss the nation let their kids watch.  Peter was great too.  
 THANKS

Pam Phelps, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:45 PM)

Matt, enjoyed your show today , Tuesday.  But please try to get the studio to stop the music everytime you start to talk.  We the public want to hear your words and the so called background music is not in the background...love you all great job.

Betty (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:46 PM)

That last note i sent  i forgot to put my address .Sorry

Betty,Edgewater FL (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:49 PM)

We all know which way the the water flows when flushing a toilet in the Northern Hemisphere...It flows the opposite way in the Southern Hemisphere...Al...Which way on the Equator???

Chuck, York, PA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 5:21 PM)

Matt, Al and Ann, come to our end of the earth, Unalakleet, Alaska. We'll show you a great time. Come our way during the 2nd week in March for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. You'll have A GREAT Time. By the way, Matt, you taking Pete under your arm is one of the coolest things I saw on live Network TV!

Paul Ivanoff III, Unalakleet, Alaska (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 5:34 PM)

MATT YOU ARE SUCH A COOL GUY I JUST WISH THERE WERE MORE GUYS LIKE YOU. LOVE YOUR SHOW ESPECIALLY WHEN I SEE HOW KIND HEARTED ALL OF YOU CAN BE.

DORA HERNANDEZ, EL PASO, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 5:58 PM)

I went to visit Ilulissat this summer.  Matt, you are so luck to be there right there right now.  It is such a wonderful place.  

Kristen, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 6:09 PM)

Hi Matt

           You do great work.  Keep it up.  I dont miss the show.  

Liz Irizarry,Levittown,Puerto Rico (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 6:19 PM)

I think the greatest part of that interchange was when Matt put his arm around Peter, and Peter had a look of great surprise, like he wasn't sure why he was being touched - then understanding with that huge grin.  So funny!  Well done Matt.  It definitely brightened up my morning.

Marie D., San Diego, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 6:23 PM)

you guys rock! what a great experience for all of us! thanks so much for jobs well done!

Suzanne Menkhaus, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 6:45 PM)

Matt - I thought you did a great job - especially given that you and Peter speak different languages...keep up the good work - this 'around the world trip' is facinating and I'd like to see more....I hope you broadcast from there tomorrow morning.....

ajspirit, NYC (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:08 PM)

I know I e-mailed before, but Peter rocks.  You guys need to bring him on the show.
Susan

Susan Osborn (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:03 PM)

It was great how Peter really didn't understand the concept of the TV camera.  Even when Matt said "wave to America" Peter really just wanted to hang out with Matt :)  Thanks for the great coverage all over the world!

Lana, Arlington, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:09 PM)

I really ejoyed watching the segment of Matt with Peter and had such longings for the show.  Unfortunately I live in Brazil and we do not get the Today Show down here. I will just have to be happy seeing some of the segments on the internet.  Matt you are the nicest and your family must be so proud.

Miriam Machado, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:23 PM)

Just has i thought.... you will not post a negative comment about the hipocracy of the segment aired concerning Matt Lauerand Peter. Again i ask...How did Matt get there.  He got there  by burning thousands of gallons of get fuel thereby hstening the melting of our polar icecaps.  NBC should be ashamed!

Tim Brus (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:40 PM)

Matt was a class act.... Al, I hope you paid for that $1000 Panama hat.  The hat maker seems surprised, it looked rude that you did not ask to try it on.  

Alejandro, West Milford, New Jersey (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:48 PM)

I missed the Peter incident live, but watched it on video.  True professionalism and also, you were just downright nice.  That's why I love you guys!

Jan Lewis, Bladenboro, NC (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:57 PM)

I am a 6th grade science teacher in Lincoln, Nebraska.  We are fortunate to have the opportunity to be in contact with other schools around the globe sharing in the Andrill discoveries in Antarctica.  We have been chatting through an Andrill teacher blog with a teacher and his students in Uummannaq, Greenland.  They have been telling us that the icebergs are melting at a very fast rate.  Our students have shared weather and ideas on climate change.  We are busy building responsible students who hold the future of our planet now in their hands.  We think shows like this and projects like Andrill help students understand what they need to do to be proactive as they move through their school years.  Thank you for teaching all of us about our responsibility to our planet.

Anica Brown, Lincoln, Nebraska (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:30 PM)

Peter seemed to be of Asiatic descent.  But Greenland is an island in the Atlantic.  Was Greenland ever a part of the North American continent?  Could those who crossed the Berring Straits thousands of years ago migrated across the top of the world and settled in what is now Greenland?

John Holten (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:31 PM)

What restaurant was Merdith dining at during your Monday morning segment on breakfast all over the world.  You showed her having a lovely meal somewhere at Rockafeller Center.  Which restaurant? (Matt and Ann were shown in location eating typical breakfasts)

Margaret DeVinney Plano, Texas (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:45 PM)

These last two days confirm why the Today show has been my favorite mornng show for years.  Thank you for sharing your outstanding talents in presenting these shows about a very serious issue. Hats off to NBC for caring such an informative show.  Our world is very awesome and I hope we can preserve it for our children and grandchildren.  I appreciated the segment on recycling especially the part about tennis shoes. The next time I take things to the recycler I will remember what I learned today on Today.  You guys are the tops in your profession.

Catherine Rad (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 11:32 PM)

Matt, Ann, Al, and NBC,
Please consider offering a video of this latest adventure. I think it would be a wonderful video to have in school libraries.I am enjoying the brief segments I'm able to watch before I head off to work. (I'm a teacher.) They are so interesting and meaningful. Great job.

Ro G. Gloversville, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 11:47 PM)

Thank you for your climate and going green special. My seventh grade students have been required to visit the website daily to watch the video clips and review the articles. How timely for my science classroom. Thank you and keep it up. You all rock!

Darlene Riefel, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:09 AM)

I think Peter said, "you are from England?"

Alex, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:24 AM)

Incredible job NBC Today. I thought that unexpected piece showed   Matt at his best.He is numero uno on  commercial TV.

Thanks

Jerry T ,Melbourne, Australia (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 2:46 AM)

since I'm at work I'm missing all of this great information... you should definately put together what I'm sure is spectacular footage and make a prime time show of it.... LOVE YOU GUYS!

Linda Eulagio (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:37 AM)

Hey Matt!  Sorry we missed you.  We are Americans living in Ilulissat.  We got to see your broadcasts via the Internet.  Maybe we will see you next time!

Chris & Carole Shull

Chris from ILULISSAT, GREENLAND (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:44 AM)

We were in NYC in March of this year and went to the Today Show every morning.  My husband literally ran into Matt one afternoon outside the Today offices as he was coming from the restroom (having just finished the NBC tour).  He was so impressed at what a nice, genuine person Matt was.  My husband introduced himself as a fan from Tennessee and Matt shook his hand and thanked him very graciously.  

Matt is real, a sincerely decent individual and that showed in his interaction with Peter in Greenland.  What a wonderful piece of television!  

M. Wright, Johnson City, TN (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:13 AM)

Are you going to get up to Thule Greenland on this trip?  Next September you should try the Canadian resupply flights to Alert, Canada, just 450 miles south of the North Pole.  A 4-1/2 hour round trip from Thule that includes an hour on the ground in Alert.  Santa stops at Alert first and then at Thule on he way south.

Chester Drake, Franklin, Massachusetts from Thule AFB (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:52 PM)

Ann's trip was so timely for me and our family as we have a son down on the ice for 3 months.  You have given us such a picture of what life is like in Anartica.  I have such an appreciation for all the researchers who are down there and their dedication to the work that they are doing.

Sheri, Granby, Colorado (Sent Wednesday, November 07, 2007 7:34 PM)

That was cool

Julian Garcia Laredo Texas (Sent Thursday, November 08, 2007 3:40 PM)

Please find out and tell us more about Peter.  I'm sure he has a story.  He knew some English phrases too!  Thanks!

M. Thompson, Castle Rock, CO (Sent Thursday, November 08, 2007 4:33 PM)

Matt, you and Peter made my day.  It is a great start when I can laugh that early in mornings.

Claudia Ward, Londonderry, Ohio (Sent Thursday, November 08, 2007 4:52 PM)

How can I get a CD of the Ends of the Earth?This would be perfect for my 2nd grade Science class to watch.

Susan Jarvis,Bremen,Kentucky (Sent Thursday, November 08, 2007 8:48 PM)



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