Rocker Rick Springfield calls out host in awkward TV interview: ‘Am I boring you?’

Sydney-born rocker Rick Springfield has called out a US TV host for this gesture during a live interview on breakfast television.

It was all sorts of awkward when Rick Springfield made a guest appearance on the US Today show on Thursday, with the rock legend calling out one of the host.

Anchors Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Kaylee Hartung, delivered a cringe-worthy TV moment when they welcomed the rocker onto the show by belting out one of his hits.

But as it turned out, they were singing the chorus of another ‘80s hit, 867-5309/Jenny, by Tommy Tutone.

Fellow co-hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin quickly pointed out the embarrassing gaffe, before 75-year-old Springfield quipped, “Very close.”

Rick Springfield’s guest appearance on the US Today show was one awkward moment after another. Picture: NBC

Things got more awkward when Sydney-born Springfield sat down on the couch with Roker, Melvin and Jill Martin for a more intimate chat.

As the singer was discussing his 1980s hit Jessie’s Girl, an action from Melvin caused him to get off track.

“It’s really taken on a life of its own after I recorded it and put it out,” Springfield began. “You can't really plan anything like that and you can’t really foresee anything like that – that just happened.”

He then paused briefly before asking Melvin, “Am I boring you?” after the host apparently yawned mid-interview.

“No, no, no, not at all, Rick. I apologise. It was a cough,” Melvin replied with a nervous laugh.

Host Craig Melvin appeared to yawn mid-interview. Picture: NBC

Springfield straight up asked Melvin is he was “boring” him. Picture: NBC

But Springfield was a good sport about it all, laughing off the incident while assuring Melvin: “Dude, it’s early. Don’t worry about it. I’ll probably yawn too.”

Later in the interview, Melvin asked Springfield about a brain injury he sustained during an onstage fall in 2000.

Springfield replied with a blank expression and looked around the room before playfully replying, “I’m sorry, what?”

The joke prompted Roker to crack up and say, “I like this guy!”

Springfield said he had a “fun time” in a follow-up Instagram post.

At the conclusion of the interview, the hosts were so impressed by Springfield’s quips that Melvin said, “Rick Springfield, I had no idea you were so funny, by the way. Come back, come back anytime.”

“He has vaulted into the top five of favourite guests,” he added.

Indeed, Springfield later took to Instagram to say he had a blast on the program.

“Had a fun time with the gang at @todayshow this morning!” he captioned a happy snap of them posing for a photo.

Originally published as Rocker Rick Springfield calls out host in awkward TV interview: ‘Am I boring you?’