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Not even a pro like Craig Melvin is immune to an early morning yawn — even when he’s interviewing one the biggest stars of the ’80s.
On the Thursday, July 10 episode of the 3rd Hour of Today, Melvin, 46, got called out for yawning during an interview with ‘80s icon Rick Springfield.
As Springfield, 75, was talking about his hit 1980 track “Jessie’s Girl,” he paused briefly to ask the morning show co-host, “Am I boring you?”
Melvin, Al Roker and Jill Martin all had a good laugh at Springfield’s joking comment, and the morning show co-host quickly assured the musician, “Not at all, Rick. I apologize.”
Today Show
Of course, Springfield took the moment in stride, saying, “It’s early. Don’t worry about it. I’ll yawn too.”
Melvin tried to excuse the yawn, insisting, “It was a cough!”
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Springfield continued to crack jokes throughout the segment, prompting Roker, 70, to declare, “I like this guy!”
Later in the interview, Melvin asked Springfield about a brain injury he sustained during an onstage fall in 2000, and Springfield replied with a blank expression, looking around the room and saying, “I’m sorry, what?”
In March, the rock star revealed to PEOPLE that a Prenuvo whole-body MRI scan found that he had brain damage from his fall, which occurred during a show in Las Vegas.
“I fell 25 feet, hit my head and then wood came down and hit my head, and then my head hit the stage again,” he told PEOPLE. “I thought I had just broken my wrist, but on the scan I found out I have some brain damage from the fall, so I’m working on trying to repair that.”
Today Show
Later during his Today segment, the co-hosts presented Springfield with a Today onesie for his future grandchild, prompting Springfield to dryly retort, “It’s a free plug!”
As for his future grandpa name, Springfield joked, “I’m thinking ‘Your Excellency,’ ‘Caesar,’ the ‘Right Honorable Mr. Springfield.’ Easy stuff for a kid to pronounce.”
The co-hosts were impressed by Springfield’s quick quips, with Melvin saying, “Rick Springfield, I had no idea you were so funny, by the way. Come back, come back anytime.”
Roker added of Springfield, “He has vaulted into the top five of favorite guests.”
