Every so often, television magic happens in the most unexpected ways. This time, it wasn’t a celebrity guest or a viral news segment that captured America’s hearts—it was a 2-year-old boy with an irresistible love for Al Roker’s iconic weather catchphrase, “Sunday Sunday!”
Little Justin, a lively toddler from Miami, became an overnight sensation after a clip of his enthusiastic reaction to Roker’s weekend forecasts made its way onto Morning Boost. In the clip, viewers watched as Justin’s eyes lit up every time he heard Al Roker’s booming voice declare “Sunday Sunday!” The joy was so genuine that it caught the attention of TODAY producers, leading to an invitation for Justin and his parents—Justin Sr. and Sheli Muñiz, a respected anchor at NBC 6 in Miami—to join the TODAY family live in New York City.
On December 15, Justin walked into Studio 1A with his parents, ready to meet the familiar faces he had only seen on television. Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Sheinelle Jones welcomed the family warmly. But the group quickly noticed that one very important person was missing.
“We’re missing just one person, Justin. Who are we missing?” Hoda playfully asked.
“We’re missing somebody,” Sheinelle added, as the studio audience leaned in with anticipation.
Then, like a scene straight out of a movie, the famous voice rang out off-camera: “Sunday Sunday!” Justin’s head spun around instantly, eyes wide with delight. To his amazement, Al Roker himself appeared, walking across the studio with a smile as big as the toddler’s. He sat down beside Justin and embraced him warmly.
“How are you, buddy?” Roker asked, pulling him close. “My little ‘Sunday Sunday!’ guy.”
What followed was a heart-melting exchange that had the entire studio—and millions watching at home—laughing and cheering. At first, Justin seemed more interested in a toy dinosaur he had brought along than in repeating his favorite catchphrase. When Al encouraged him to say it together, counting “One, two, three,” Justin simply listened, refusing to perform on cue.
Hoda and Sheinelle tried to coax him as well, but the toddler remained silent, prompting Al to joke, “Justin’s thinking, ‘I’m no trick pony. I don’t perform on your command.’” The audience erupted with laughter.
And then, just when everyone least expected it, Justin suddenly shouted with all the enthusiasm in the world: “Sunday Sunday!”
The studio exploded in cheers. His proud parents beamed as the tiny star relished his moment. He wasn’t done yet, either. Justin insisted his mom and dad say it too, which they happily did. Energized, Justin repeated it once more, sparking another round of applause and laughter.
Sheli Muñiz later explained how her son’s fascination with the phrase began. “That’s why we started filming it, because we realized during the days that he wasn’t saying it, and Al, he’s asking for it. I caught myself YouTubing ‘Sunday Sunday Al Roker’ and I couldn’t find anything,” she admitted with a laugh. “So that’s why I started recording, initially. And now we have this whole compilation of videos.”
The videos quickly turned into a family project, and eventually into a national moment that brought Justin face-to-face with his weather idol. Before the segment ended, Justin delivered one final “Sunday Sunday!”—a perfect encore that left the TODAY hosts doubled over with joy and viewers across the country smiling from ear to ear.
What began as a simple family recording turned into a reminder of what makes morning television so special: those unscripted, wholesome moments that bring people together. For Al Roker, it was another chapter in his decades-long career of spreading joy to millions. For Justin, it was a dream come true—a chance to share his favorite phrase with the man who made it famous.
And for everyone watching, it was proof that sometimes, the biggest stars can come in the tiniest packages.