In the eyes of their loyal viewers, TV weathermen, who are watched on a daily basis (often for years), are already stars. But movies and TV shows occasionally cast Hollywood stars as weathermen/ladies, sometimes even in leading roles. Here are thirteen roles, nine from movies and four from TV shows, that came to mind. Six of the movie weathermen had leading roles as did two of the TV roles. (I invite you to add to the list.)
MOVIES
LA Story (1991) - Steve Martin portrayed zany Los Angeles weatherman, Harris K. Telemacher. This comedy was well-received by critics, boasting a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes (only one movie on this list has a higher score). It grossed $29 million ($61 million when adjusted for inflation).
Groundhog Day (1993) - Bill Murray portrayed Pittsburgh weatherman Phil Connors. The movie made $71 million at the domestic box office ($147 million adjusted for inflation) and had a spectacular Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%.
To Die For (1995) - Nicole Kidman portrayed villainous New Hampshire weather lady Suzanne Stone, who aspires to network TV stardom. This indie film movie grossed $21 million ($41 million when adjusted for inflation) and was a favorite of critics, with an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Lucky Numbers (2000) - John Travolta portrayed Russ Richards, a Harrisburg, PA weatherman who wins the lottery. The movie was panned (22% Rotten Tomatoes score) and grossed just $11 million.
The Perfect Storm (2000) - Christopher McDonald portrayed Boston meteorologist Todd Gross. Despite a sub-par Rotten Tomatoes score of 47%, the movie grossed $183 million in the US ($290 million adjusted for inflation)
Bruce Almighty (2003) -Jim Carrey portrayed Bruce Nolan, a weatherman on a local cable station in Buffalo who is given one week to play God. Not a big hit, it grossed $48 million at the box office and had a Rotten Tomatoes score of 48%.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) - Steve Carell portrayed dim San Diego weatherman Brick Tamland and he reprised the role nine years later in Anchorman 2. The first Anchorman grossed $85 million and had a Rotten Tomatoes Score of 66%. The second's gross was double that of the first and its Rotten Tomatoes score improved to 75%.
The Weather Man (2005) - In this drama Nicolas Cage portrayed Chicago weatherman David Spritz who, despite a troubled home life, is hired for a job in New York. It grossed $19 million, with a Rotten Tomatoes core of 58%.
Vacation (2015) - Chris Hemsworth portrayed horse hung Arkansas weatherman Stone Crandall. Despite a Rotten Tomatoes score of 26% the movie grossed $106 million.
HONORABLE MENTION
In the movies Twister (1996) and The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Helen Hunt and Tamlyn Tomita played meteorologists, but weren't on-screen weather personalities. Both films were big hits. Twister grossed $242 million in the US ($470 million adjusted for inflation) and was the second most popular movie of 1996. (However, despite a 60% Rotten Tomatoes score, it was awarded the Golden Raspberry for movies that grossed more than $100 million). The Day After Tomorrow pulled in $186 million ($257 million after inflation).
Twister
The Day After Tomorrow
TV SHOWS
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77) - John Amos played Minneapolis weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard for ratings challenged WGM-TV.
Just Our Luck (1983) - In this flop ABC sitcom, Richard Gilliland played Keith Burrows, a weatherman at KOPC-TV in Venice, CA who buys a bottle he broke at a flea market which turns out to be the home of a male genie named Tabu. (Note: Venice is part of the Los Angeles TV market and has no TV stations of its own.)
Welcome to New York (2000) - In this very shortlived CBS comedy, Jim Gaffigan played a TV weatherman (whose name was also Jim Gaffigan) from Ft. Wayne, Indiana hired for a morning news show in New York. The show lasted less than one season.
Back to You (2007-08) - Another unsuccessful sitcom, this Fox show (starring Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton) had Ayda Field in the role of Pittsburgh weather personality Montana Diaz Herrara (the joke was that her birth name was Sally Lerner).
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