Matt "surfed" down 49th street this morning, arriving at Studio 1A minutes after the broadcast began.
It was the first time ever he was late, Savannah said. Matt apologized for the delay, saying he was trying out a new commute.
"The waves on Madison were huge," he joked. "It was a little rough getting across Central Park."
Savannah was initially flummoxed, calling it an unusual way to start the show with Matt not sitting next to her at the anchor desk.
She tweeted out a photo of his empty chair right before 7 a.m. ET.
Matt's surfing stunt was the brainchild of James Percelay and Michael Krivicka, viral video artists who co-founded the company ThinkModo.
The duo created a similar video to promote the movie "Chasing Mavericks." Two surfers in wet suits used motorized surfboards to glide down New York City streets.
Watch more of their popular videos below.
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