Full Breakdown
Craig Melvin’s Son Delano Joins “Today” for Bring Your Kids to Work Day
4/24/2026, 2:09:28 PM
Delano Melvin’s On-Air Debut
On Thursday, April 23, 2024, “Today” co-anchor Craig Melvin welcomed his 12-year-old son Delano to Studio 1A for the program’s annual Bring Your Kids to Work Day. Delano read a brief news piece announcing the winners of Nationwide Insurance’s “Wackiest Pet Names of 2026,” naming “Internet Browser” as the top dog and “Cheddar Big Booty Cheeseburger” as the leading cat entry. He closed the segment by jokingly suggesting a future piece on “tips for getting your dad to raise your allowance.”
Background & Key Participants
Bring Your Kids to Work Day is an NBC tradition that lets staff children experience a live broadcast. Craig Melvin, a regular co-anchor on the third hour of “Today,” has participated in prior years. The April 23 broadcast also featured veteran co-hosts Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer, as well as co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who later discussed Melvin’s upcoming vacation and Hoda Kotb’s return as his temporary replacement.
Timeline Highlights
- April 9, 2024: Melvin announced a short “well-deserved vacation.”
- April 13, 2024: Hoda Kotb returned to the desk, filling in for Guthrie.
- April 23, 2024: Delano’s on-air segment aired during Bring Your Kids to Work Day.
On-the-Ground Details
Delano arrived early, was placed in a spinning chair, and was gently redirected by his father to stay in front of the camera. Roker defended the youngster’s playful antics, noting they mirrored his own on-air style. While reading from the teleprompter, Delano also explained that the family dog, Miles, was named after football player Myles Garrett and the comic-book hero Miles Morales.
Official Statements & Responses
Melvin praised Delano’s composure, emphasizing that the teen followed teleprompter cues despite initial nerves. Roker highlighted the father-son dynamic as a lighthearted moment for viewers. Guthrie acknowledged Melvin’s upcoming leave, introduced Kotb as interim host, and stressed continuity for the audience. Melvin reiterated that his son’s allowance-increase suggestion would not be acted upon.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This kid's a chip off the old block!” — Al Roker, Today co-host
- “That's not happening,” — Craig Melvin, Today co-anchor
- “You've been holding it down here for a long time,” — Savannah Guthrie, Today co-anchor
- “He's just doing what you do.” — Al Roker, Today co-host
- “No, son, you've got to… the cameras,” — Craig Melvin, Today co-anchor
What’s Next for “Today”
After Melvin’s brief vacation, Hoda Kotb will anchor alongside Guthrie and Roker, preserving the show’s regular format. NBC has indicated that future Bring Your Kids to Work Day editions will continue to feature staff children in on-air roles, reinforcing the program’s family-friendly focus.
