A viewer turned Craig Melvin’s seventh-grade school portrait into a Halloween costume and brought it to the Today plaza, giving the NBC anchor a chance to meet his younger self.
Lakeva K. Ferreira, from Charlotte, North Carolina, made the trip for the show’s October 30 broadcast. She left on Thursday and drove through the night, arriving in Manhattan on Friday morning.
Ferreira wore oversized glasses and a white turtleneck and carried a violin, matching the younger Melvin’s outfit and pose. A blue backdrop was attached to her costume, making her look as though she were standing inside the photograph.
Her arrival coincided with a Halloween broadcast celebrating NBC’s 100th anniversary. The anchors had their own costume reveals planned, with the festivities continuing through the show’s third hour and Jenna & Sheinelle.
Melvin Asked Whether Al Roker Had Paid His Lookalike
Al Roker spotted Ferreira in the crowd and immediately celebrated. “Yes! Oh, there is a god!” he exclaimed, according to Today. Melvin had a question for his delighted colleague: “Did you pay that person?”
Within minutes, Ferreira was inside Studio 1A with Melvin, Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly. Guthrie introduced her as the image of the familiar photo, but Ferreira stayed in character, playing her violin while the anchors laughed. Daly delivered his verdict: “Lakeva, you win Halloween.”
When Melvin asked why she had chosen him, Ferreira explained, “I decided I was going to be you because they clown you so much.” She thought someone should have tried the costume already and decided to do it herself. Melvin thanked her for coming, Guthrie welcomed her into the Today family, and Daly predicted that she would go viral.
Ferreira’s appearance continued into the third hour, when she introduced a cooking segment as Melvin alongside Roker and Dylan Dreyer. The real anchor eventually stepped in: “Alright, OK, I’m going to take over.” She remained with the group for the segment and joined the hosts for a Halloween cocktail.
Jimmy Fallon and Charlamagne Have Joined In on the Photo Joke
Melvin discussed the portrait during his January 15, 2025, appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with Guthrie. They were visiting shortly after he became her co-anchor, and Fallon brought out the school picture during their conversation. “They burn me frequently with it,” Melvin said in the clip shared by Page Six, adding, “Roker usually does it.”
The picture returned during Charlamagne tha God’s August 19 appearance on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. The radio host claimed he had an even more embarrassing photograph from the years when he and Melvin worked in Columbia, South Carolina. He was at Hot 103.9, while Melvin worked at local television station WIS.
According to TV Insider, Charlamagne said the image came from a newspaper feature about young people working in arts and entertainment. It showed Melvin lying on grass with a golden retriever licking his face. Charlamagne didn’t have it with him, but Sheinelle Jones offered $12 to see it. Jenna Bush Hager doubled the offer to $24.
Melvin Had His Own Snoop Dogg Transformation Planned
For his own Halloween appearance, Melvin dressed as Snoop Dogg, with the real Martha Stewart joining him during the reveal. He said the outfit was less cumbersome than some of his previous costumes and didn’t require elaborate choreography. His task was to attempt the rapper’s relaxed walk and manner.
The hairstyle required more preparation. Saturday Night Live hair designer Jodi Mancuso, whose team worked on the hosts’ wigs, said Melvin’s Snoop Dogg look took the most time of their creations for that year’s broadcast. Melvin also spent time in the makeup chair listening to “Drop It Like It’s Hot” ahead of his appearance.
Stewart later joined Melvin, Guthrie and Daly to prepare Halloween food. While helping with a spiderweb cheesecake, Melvin spilled chocolate on her white tracksuit. “Real Snoop would never do that!” Stewart told him.