Former Disney boss Bob Iger returned to his roots as a weatherman this week as he prepares to leave the company’s board for good.
Iger, who reigned supreme as Disney’s CEO for 15 years before stepping down in 2020 to take the executive chairman role, delivered an impromptu weather forecast to TV viewers at Disney’s ABC affiliate KABC Los Angeles’ 6 a.m. news program on Thursday.
“I have not done the weather in 48 years, but I will give it a shot,” Iger said, when asked by the show’s anchors if he would do so after a short interview, bidding the exec adieu.
The 70-year-old exec, who started as a weatherman at 23, stood in front of the green screen with his side facing the camera, and somewhat awkwardly delivered the forecast, pointing occasionally as he spoke.
“You can see there is light rain falling across the Southland this morning expected to get just a little bit heavier as the jay — day — progresses,” Iger said, quickly recovering from his fumble as his voice quavered slightly.
“However, this is just a prelude to a big storm that should be coming through the Southland Monday and into Tuesday morning,” the media mogul continued.
Iger quickly regained composure and slipped into his usual, calm, articulate, cool demeanor, ad libbing.
“Very nippy on Saturday morning, by the way, 62 degrees in the Los Angeles area,” Iger added when the seven-day forecast appeared on the greenscreen behind him. “46 degrees on Saturday morning — that’s when I bike ride. I think I may have to look out for some early morning frost.”
A full version of the weathercast is available here.
The surprise gig was part of his swan song at the company. Iger handed over his reins as CEO to Bob Chapek last year, and will be stepping down from the board at the end of the year, giving his seat to Susan Arnold.
The scion of the Mouse House began his career in 1973 at a cable station in Ithaca, New York, where his duties involved standing in front of a map while reciting the temperatures and incoming weather patterns.
In addition to his weather report, Iger also reflected on his time at the company and his next move.
“I’m looking forward to what comes next, although I’m not 100 percent sure what that is. But I haven’t had a day off since eighth grade,” Iger said.
Iger hinted that another book may be in the works, to follow his 2019 memoir “The Ride of a Lifetime.”
“I’m thinking about it,” he said. “Right now, it feels like a gigantic homework assignment.”
“But yes, I’ve been fascinated by how leaders led through the global pandemic, leading through a crisis,” Iger added. “There’s a germ of an idea there.”
Just don’t count on seeing Iger take a jaunt to space like other hyper ambitious, high-powered business leaders like Tesla’s Elon Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Virgin’s Richard Branson..
“That’s just not something that has excited me or interested me,” Iger said.