The forecast for PBS Kids’ Weather Hunters calls for family-friendly adventure. With a star-studded voice cast, this new animated series premiering September 8 features an inquisitive eight-year-old named Lily Hunter (Tandi Fomukong), mom Dot (Holly Robinson Peete), sister Corky (Kapri Ladd), and brother Benny (Lorenzo Ross). Rounding out the Hunter crew is Lily’s weatherman father Al, played by creator and EP Al Roker. Not much of a stretch for the Today show host. 

Each episode presents meteorological and scientific concepts in a fun and easily digestible way. The STEM-centric program follows the Hunters as they uncover weather mysteries and learn how climate can impact individuals and communities on a global scale. Other characters viewers will meet include Al Hunter’s grandfather, Wallace Reed Hunter (LeVar Burton) and neighbor Ms. Joyce (Sheryl Lee Ralph).

Here Roker goes into the making of the passion project and why it will resonate with people of all ages. 

How did Weather Hunters come together? 

Al Roker: I’ve been working on this for literally over a decade. In fact, the kids in the show Corky, Lily and Benny kind of mirror my children…I came to this in a circuitous route in a way I came to weather in a circuitous route. I didn’t plan on being a TV weatherman. I don’t call myself a meteorologist because I don’t have that degree. My first love, and still my first love, is animation. My dream job would have been to be an animator for Walt Disney in the heyday of The Little Mermaid and films like that. I’ve always loved that, but I’ve come to love weather, and I love my family. So, I was able to combine the three things I love into one show. 

When I was in local news doing local television weather, every time I’d go to a school, teachers would tell me the number one topic kids are interested in is weather. They are fascinated by it. Animation is a natural form of storytelling. So, I created a show that represents the three loves of my life: my family, weather and animation. It took a while, but as the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait. PBS and PBS Kids was the perfect place for this because PBS Kids is one of those places where parents know their kids are in a safe space.

Not only is there animation involved and storytelling, but there is a curriculum to make sure kids are getting the correct information they need to go ahead and be better human beings. There is also, in a sense, a safety aspect of it, of giving kids a safe space. To be able to work with PBS and do a show about weather. To also make sure it’s accurate, that it presents weather in a way that helps kids understand the world around them, it could not be a bigger fulfillment of a dream. 

There is also a historical component with Al Hunter’s grandfather, voiced by LeVar Burton, voicing Wallace Reed Hunter. One of the original WWII Tuskegee weathermen. 

Yes. One of the things we tried to do is base it on some folks. There was a guy named Wallace Reed, who was a meteorologist for the Tuskegee Airmen. The all-black Army air unit during World War II. They needed meteorologists. So, we based his character on this real-life person. We’ve extrapolated it out as an homage to Jim Tilmon, one of the first black TV weather people who was a pilot on American Airlines and worked at WMAQ-TV in Chicago as a meteorologist. It was very important to try and anchor this in some reality, even if there are wonderful flights of fancy and imagination. I think it’s important to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going. I think this is one of those things that does that. 

I love that you have Yvette Nicole Brown perform the title song. Why was she the right choice for that? 

As an older guy, I remember when both animated shows and certainly sitcoms explained the premise of the show in the first 45 seconds with a great theme song. I wanted a theme song. Also, my father’s family is based in Senegal, so we wanted to have a feel of that in the opening. Then to get Yvette to do the singing. She is such an incredible actor and singer and has been in a number of sitcoms. So, there is this great DNA with her singing what I feel is an earworm of a theme song. 

PBS

Tell me about putting together this star-studded cast. There is a lot of buy-in here. 

We also have this great cast. Tandi Fomukong, who plays Lily, is really great. Then there is also Benny played by Lorenzo Ross, who is a little older, but sounds younger. Corky, played by Karpi Ladd, is also terrific.  We have Sheryl Lee Ralph. We have Holly Robinson Peete. Interestingly enough, I worked with Holly. She has been a dear friend for years. Her son and my son both have learning issues. We’ve bonded over that. Our daughters are around the same age as well. She played a character I developed for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries for The Morning Show Murders, which was developed from my book. She played Billie Blessings. So, when I was looking for a TV wife Dot Hunter, I had to see if Holly would do this. And she did and is terrific. 

Then to get LeVar Burton, who is kind of the OG of PBS Kids. It all came together. LeVar was on the Today show, and I thought, “Listen, nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I asked if I could send him a link because there was something I was working on and would love if he would be the voice. He agreed. Everything about this has been a dream come true. I could not be more proud of this show. 

With representation and diversity so important, what does it mean to you to also be showcasing this family of color? 

What is amazing about American television, and when I say television, I mean anything you look at on a screen. I think what’s unique about our country is, yeah it took a while, but if you turn on television, you see a reflection of America. I think that Americans look at it and see itself there. You don’t necessarily have to be a person of color to watch a family of color and not relate to them. You can relate to the things they are going through. You can relate to the questions that Lily and Benny and Corky ask their mom or dad because we ask those same questions.

 I don’t care who you are. You want to know what makes the sky blue, why is the rainbow the colors it is and why are they in a certain order?  The other thing I’m very proud of is that while it’s a show that is aimed at 5-8 year old children, I think all people are going to watch it. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, brothers, sisters and others will come away with it thinking, “I didn’t know that. It’s kind of cool.” The point of the show is to reflect and hopefully instill the awe of nature and what we experience every day. To take a moment to look at it and think why does it happen and how does it happen. And isn’t it amazing that it could happen. 

Weather Hunters premiere, September 8, PBS (Check Local Listings)