Sheinelle Jones joined Craig Melvin for episodes earlier this week. Savannah Guthrie was off on assignment. The assignment? The beginning of the production of the upcoming Wordle game show. On Friday’s episode, Craig Melvin was shocked when he got slapped during a live broadcast of the NBC morning news program. Keep reading for all the details.
Today Host Craig Melvin Gets Slapped During Live Broadcast
Craig Melvin has seen a lot during his time on the Today Show. But one thing he’s never had happen was getting slapped on live television. He loved every second of it and begged his guest to do the honors.
Days of Our Lives star Deidre Hall joined Craig Melvin for an interview. This year marks her 50th anniversary as Dr. Marlena Evans on the show. The soap opera has been counting down Marlena’s most iconic episodes. As a soap opera actress, Deidre Hall is a queen at slapping people.
During their interview, the Today Show host mentioned this to her. “Of all of the storylines that you’ve been a part of over the years, what I’ve always enjoyed is your ability to slap. You’re a great slapper,” he said.
Deidre Hall thanked him, and he launched into a wild request. “It would be one of the greatest professional honors of my life if you could slap me,” Craig Melvin told her. The actress responded, “I would be privileged to slap you!” as the crew enthusiastically cheered the idea.
Ever the professional, Deidre Hall explained to Craig Melvin how to step up the realistic slap.
“I’m going to draw my hand back and I’m going to come very close to your face,” she said. “And when you feel that happen, you’re going to snap your head,” she coached. Craig Melvin took the “slap” like a champ.
He jerked his head back and shouted in pain during the stunt. Deidre Hall joked that she meant to miss before the two dissolved into laughter. “You’re the best,” Craig Melvin told her.
Deidre Hall Opens Up About Nearly Turning Down Iconic Role
It’s hard to imagine Days of Our Lives without Deidre Hall. But she opened up to Craig Melvin about nearly turning down the role. When she read the script, she wanted the job. However, she assumed that she was a “fallback” option. “Because I’m no dummy, I turned it down too because I thought there must be something wrong with the part!” and turned it down,” she explained.
Luckily, her agent called her back and made it clear that she was the first choice. Deidre Hall then accepted the job. And she has no plans to leave after five decades. “As long as my key card opens the gate, I’m there. It’s my family. I love that place. I couldn’t resist,” she said.
Deidre Hall fulfilled one of Craig Melvin’s dreams by slapping him on live television. Tell us in the comments how you think he did.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
