See ‘Today’ Host Craig Melvin’s Sweet Interactions With ‘Sesame Street’ Muppets

Craig Melvin followed up his recent college commencement speech with another exciting off-screen opportunity.

After waking up early to host Today on Wednesday, May 27, Melvin stayed up late to host Sesame Workshop’s annual fundraising gala. “Elmo, tonight we get to do something we never get to do,” Melvin told the lovable red Muppet in a Wednesday Instagram video. Elmo goes on to ask, “Really? Oh, what is it? What is it?” He replies, “Stay up past our 8 p.m. bedtime!”

Melvin goes on to quip, “Work’s gonna be tough tomorrow, but who cares?” The clip ends with Elmo exclaiming, “Who cares? We’re staying up late! Yeah, baby!”

Fans gushed over the adorable interaction in the post’s comments. “Elmo in his suit is the cutest thing,” one user wrote. Another added, “Mr. Melvin you are living my dream omg.” Someone else shared, “Oh my this is sooooo sweet! Elmo and Craig matching ties. They up past 8: PM. PRECIOUS.”

Melvin opened up about his night out with the Muppets on the Thursday, May 28, episode of Today. “It’s their largest fundraiser of the year, working to provide essential resources for children and families all around the world. Great work doing that. How was the night?” Carson Daly asked, to which Melvin responded, “Dude, they were all there. Big Bird was there. Snuffy was there. Grover was there. Abby was up late.”

The show went on to share a sweet photo of Melvin and Big Bird sharing a hug at the event, as well as red carpet pics of Melvin with his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, his former Today colleague Hoda Kotb, and Sesame Street‘s Grover, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby.

“You guys raised a lot of money last night,” Daly noted. Melvin added, “What Sesame Street does and has done for generations [is] nothing short of remarkable. So, I was honored.”

Daly continued, “And how they’ve evolved and kept up with the times and tackled certain social issues, to explain that to children. They’ve just been incredible. So, good work.” He went on to joke, “Abby doesn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn like you do. They’re still sleeping over there at Sesame Street.”

Czarniak shared more pics from the gala via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “This was a special moment,” she wrote alongside a snap of Melvin speaking on stage with Big Bird. She also posted a photo of herself and Melvin with some of the Sesame Street characters, writing, “Mom and dad date night :).”

While Melvin hosted Tuesday night’s Sesame Workshop gala, Kotb was honored for her “inspirational commitment to kindness, community, and families everywhere,” per the event’s website. The gala also featured a performance from will.i.am and an appearance from John Oliver.

Today, Weekdays, 7am, NBC