From ‘Star Wars’ to balloon boy, daytime TV personalities dress up for Halloween a day early

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Daytime TV shows celebrate Halloween a day early

NEW YORK — Halloween hit the daytime talk shows a day early as TV personalities dressed up in costume Friday.

NBC’s “Today” went with a “Star Wars” theme. Matt Lauer dressed as Luke Skywalker, Meredith Vieira as Princess Leia, Al Roker as Han Solo and Ann Curry as Darth Vader. Kathie Lee Gifford dressed as C-3PO and Hoda Kotb as — you guessed it — Yoda.

“Live! with Regis and Kelly” chose a tongue-in-cheek reality show route. They showed off 20 costumes during the one hour show, although some changes were taped ahead of time.

Highlights included Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa as Jon and Kate Gosselin. Philbin wore an Ed Hardy T-shirt while Ripa had the Kate Gosselin wig, a short skirt and high heels. The two spoofed the Gosselin’s battle over money by splitting a pile of cash between them.

They also recreated the infamous “table-flipping” scene from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” with Ripa as Teresa Giudice and Philbin dressed in drag as Caroline Manzo.

The show’s program director, Art Moore, played the part of Richard Heene, the Colorado father accused of orchestrating the recent “balloon boy” hoax. Executive producer Michael Gelman was the boy, Falcon Heene.

“The View” ladies showed their fangs with various vampire costumes, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck as “Countess Chocula,” complete with a giant cereal box over her head.

Rachael Ray hit the yellow brick road as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” with guest Rosie O’Donnell as Glenda the Good Witch.

Wendy Williams of “The Wendy Williams Show” did her best Dolly Parton impression with a big, blonde wig and cleavage to match.

Martha Stewart chose a “Where the Wild Things Are” theme and dressed as Queen of the Wild Things.