al roker

We're fairly certain this week's Top 5 TV Replay features the full gamut of human emotions: shame, unlikely heroism, redemption, anger and awkwardness.

Indeed, it was a heady week. Between the Murdoch scandal, Comic-Con and the hottest temperatures New York has ever seen, the week on TV was oddly cathartic.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the best TV clips the week had to offer. And don't forget to vote for your personal favorite in our weekly poll.

"The lift" is a move that took Johnny Castle and Baby a lot of practice to pull off in 'Dirty Dancing.' So imagine how successful Ryan Gosling and Al Roker were when they spontaneously decided to try it on national TV Wednesday on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM on NBC).

It all started when Roker mentioned Ann Curry had been talking about Gosling's 'Dirty Dancing' moves in the new film 'Crazy, Stupid, Love.' This prompted Gosling to suggest he try them out with Roker, who then took a couple of running starts at Gosling, who unsuccessfully tried to lift him into the air.

Meredith Vieira has seen her share of pranks and surprises on 'Today,' not the least of which was Wednesday's farewell flash mob for her last day on the show. It included a crowd of people singing Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing,' with assists from Abe Vigoda and Jimmy Fallon. Wednesday on 'Access Hollywood Live' (weekdays, syndicated on NBC), Al Roker talked about how they were able to surprise Vieira with such a big production.

"The great thing is, Meredith usually comes in drunk," Roker deadpanned, "so it's not really that hard to get much by on her." Kidding aside, Roker said Vieira didn't get a copy of the rundown for that morning's show, so she knew something was going on but it would have been hard to guess exactly what.

There was a void, a yawing chasm begging to be filled. And then there was Al Roker, just the man to fill the yaw.

For too long there had been no fifth Wiggle; no Orange Wiggle. Roker fixed that on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC), stepping in to be a Wiggle for two days, starring in a video and joining the kids band for a live performance.

"I'm going to be the Orange Wiggle, what do you think?" Roker told a small group of kids in a conspiratorial voice. One little girl said he'd have to have a lot of courage. Roker needed more energy than courage, working the band's 10-hour video shoot, and keeping up with them onstage. "These guys are still smiling," Roker said, amazed they could keep it up after 20 years in the business.

The live performance found Roker dressed as a bunch of grapes singing a song about 'Fruit Salads,' then another about 'Potatoes.' He called the stint with the Wiggles one of the highlights of his career. And then, as quickly as he came, the Orange Wiggle was gone.

James Durbin said on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM on NBC) that he felt he was voted off 'American Idol' at the right time. Many were disappointed to see Durbin go, and though he admitted he was blindsided, he said he felt he'd had a "perfect night" during the competition round, and "I really felt like it was kind of my time to go." He got a bit more consolation from Meredith Vieira on today's show.

Al Roker noted that this was the first time Vieira had ever said she "liked his tail." Ann Curry then picked up and shook a bushy, furry tail Durbin wears attached to his belt and said that's what Vieira was referring to. "No, I actually wasn't talking about that," Vieira said, to the mock embarrassment of all involved.

Vieira felt it was an injustice when Durbin was voted off. Vieira is also leaving 'Today' soon. Perhaps they should launch their own talk show, 'Meredith and the Fox.'

Al Roker got spectacularly tongue-tied during a weather segment and flubbed a hand-off to Matt Lauer on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC).

Roker simply needed to direct viewers to The Weather Channel homepage for updates. But, instead, he uttered a string of nonsense syllables and something that sounded suspiciously like "crappy." Afterward, Roker roared with laughter.

While Al Roker compliments Wendy Williams on her decision to appear on 'Dancing With the Stars,' the weatherman gets distracted by a staffer offstage and loses his train of thought on 'The Wendy Williams Show' (weekdays, syndicated).

"What was that? What was he just doing?" Roker asked, pointing to the crew member responsible for pre-show warm-up. "That's very distracting! I'm sure the ladies love that."

After Anthony Mackie describes himself as a fan of hugging during an interview, Al Roker steps up to get some man love from the actor on 'Today' (weekdays, syndicated).

Mackie calls himself a "giver" who "likes to spread the love around." "I like to encompass you like a good breakfast. You know what I mean? Make you warm. Mmm!" he said.

A scary moment took place this morning on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC) when a man jumped the barricade while Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Willie Geist, who was filling in for Matt Lauer, reported from outside.

Although images of the incident weren't captured on camera, the man can clearly be heard storming the barricade that separates onlookers from the show's studio in Rockefeller Plaza in New York. Vieira shouts in surprise, and then the camera immediately cuts away to Ann Curry, who starts to read the news.

Another 'Lost' star has finally booked his first post-Island role.

Henry Ian Cusick, who played handsome Scotsman Desmond Hume on 'Lost,' will play the lead in ABC's new Shonda Rhimes pilot about professional crisis management consultant Olivia Price. Cusick's character is a lawyer who works for Kerry Washington's Price, TV Line reports.

Actress Katie Lowes has also landed a role on the show as a young lawyer on the team.

In other TV news ...

• CBS greenlit the J.J. Abrams / Jonah Nolan pilot 'Person of Interest.' The show is about an "ex-CIA hitman and a scientist who team up to prevent crimes before they happen." [Entertainment Weekly]

• Kathy Griffin wants a Tony, which is probably why she's heading to Broadway with a limited-run show called 'Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony.' The show will run from March 11–13 and 15–19, and the comedian will tackle "fresh material due to the revolving door of pop culture, political and celebrity missteps." [The Hollywood Reporter]

• Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt might be interested in joining the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' cast, but Andy Cohen isn't into it. "Hell no," tweeted the 'Watch What Happens Live' host yesterday when someone asked if he'd consider it. [Twitter]

Al Roker scales one of the cables supporting the roadway on the George Washington Bridge and changes an extra-large light bulb as part of his duties on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC).

On 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC), anchor Natalie Morales swings on a trapeze 30 feet in the air and Al Roker climbs the George Washington Bridge as part of a new recurring segment called "Have You Ever?"

Hoping for a viral hit, the hosts of 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC) star in a music video about dancing and partying that's visually reminiscent of the opening of 'The Brady Bunch.' Yikes!

On 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC), Meredith Vieira and Al Roker take a load off and enjoy champagne, roses and foot massages in honor of completing yesterday's 41st New York City Marathon.

Halloween always brings unexpected surprises on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC), and this year was no different. Tina Fey and Will Ferrell appear as their characters from 'Megamind' while Matt Lauer and Al Roker show up as Clark Kent and Superman, respectively.