Academy Award-winning actor Jodie Foster provided a moment of pure, unscripted hilarity during a live television interview this week. The incident occurred on NBC's "Today" show, where Foster was promoting her new French-language film.
A Live Television Mix-Up
Foster, who is fluent in French, was assisting host Craig Melvin with a French-language segment tease. The conversation was flowing smoothly until the very end. Melvin asked Foster to help him say, "This is Today on NBC" in French. As Foster demonstrated the phrase, she committed a classic live television error, substituting "NBC" for its rival network, CBS.
The reaction was immediate and jovial. "No ― not CBS! NBC! Jodie!" Melvin shouted in mock outrage. Foster was instantly overcome with a fit of giggles at her own mistake. In a humorous attempt to recover, she claimed, "It’s the same letters!" – a fact Melvin was quick to playfully dispute.
The Jovial Aftermath of the Blunder
The atmosphere remained lighthearted as Melvin quipped about the competing network, declaring, "It’s a stupid network, Jodie!" He added with a laugh that the interview "was going so well" before the slip-up. Foster, still laughing, suggested the flub could be edited out, only to be reminded by Melvin of the quintessential live TV reality: "It’s live!"
This charmingly awkward moment showcased the unpredictable nature of live broadcasting and Foster's good-natured personality. The segment quickly became a highlight of her promotional tour for the film "A Private Life."
Foster's French Connection
Earlier in the same "Today" show interview, Foster shared the poignant origin of her French fluency. She credited her late mother, who had a profound love for France. After a bus trip to the country, Foster's mother returned with a decisive plan for her daughter's future.
"She came back and said, ’That’s it. You’re going to learn French, you’re going to go to French school ― someday you’ll be a French actor living in France,'" Foster recounted. She described this vision as her mother's dream for both of them. That early insistence on language lessons clearly paid off, leading to Foster's latest role in her first French film, even if it also led to a famously funny network mix-up on live TV.
