Matt Lauer and Abe Vigoda: Separated at birth?
Posted: Monday, January 19, 2009 12:29 PM by Rick Schindler
Filed Under:
Live from Studio 1A, Celebs, Matt Lauer
As part of a morning devoted to the impending inauguration of Barack Obama, TODAY aired a story about how presidents are aged by the office. But if a graphic of Matt Lauer is to be believed, the pressure of the presidency is nothing compared to what the job of TODAY show anchor does to a man.
With before-and-after pictures of presidents from Abe Lincoln to George W. Bush as evidence, NBC News’ Mike Taibbi reported that presidents seem to age two years for every year they’re in office.
“Kind of like this job,” TODAY’s Al Roker quipped to co-hosts Lauer and Meredith Vieira afterward.
Coming out of a break a few segments later, Vieira remarked, “You know how before, we were showing how stress ages the president? Well, we have a phenomenal graphics department here, and we were able to see Matt and how he’s going to look four years from now.”
As she spoke, a new before-and-after picture appeared on viewers' screens. On the left was a smiling Lauer as he is now.
On the right was Abe Vigoda, the 87-year-old character actor best-known for playing glum detective Fish on the 1970s sitcom "Barney Miller" and for being erroneously reported as dead in 1982.
“The similarities are striking,” Vieira said, fighting back laughter as Roker roared with glee next to her.
“You called in Abe Vigoda?” Lauer asked.
“Just like Abe Vigoda, you are not dead,” Vieira replied.
