Toronto’s embattled mayor returned before a U.S. television audience Tuesday to try to convince Americans he has changed for the better since he admitted to smoking crack cocaine while in office.

Mayor Rob Ford has become a regular punch line on late-night talk shows south of the border for his crack cocaine admission and antics, and he joined NBC’s “Today Show” for a live interview that gave him a chance to rehabilitate his image and freely tout his record ahead of October’s municipal election.

In his second interview with Matt Lauer, the mayor didn’t give a yes or no answer when the broadcaster asked him if he has used crack cocaine or any other illegal drug since their first interview in November, which took place days after Ford stunned reporters with his crack cocaine admission.

Ford laughed at the question, telling Lauer he doesn’t use illegal drugs but he experimented with them “probably” a year ago.

At a news conference at city hall a few hours later, Ford refused to give a response and walked out of the room when reporters asked the same question. As he walked away, he suggested the reporters were jealous of his interview with NBC.

In that interview with Lauer, Ford denied that he is still drinking heavily on occasion and he tried to explain his infamous appearance at the Steak Queen restaurant in Etobicoke, where he was filmed rambling in Jamaican patois in an apparent state of intoxication.

“I’ve been brought up with a lot of Jamaican friends and we went out. I drank and I enjoyed myself on, I think, it was a Friday. I can’t remember what night it was," Ford told Lauer from his Toronto home. "You know what, Matt? Maybe you’re perfect but I’m not and we’re moving on in a positive direction and we're moving forward.”

Ford was filmed at the restaurant on a Monday night in January and he is heard swearing and saying “F---ing Chief Blair” in the video, referring to Toronto police Chief Bill Blair.

Ford's rant occurred weeks after he told CP24 he was finished drinking alcohol.

At one point in the NBC interview, Lauer asked Ford if he has been an effective mayor since council voted to strip him of several key powers last November.

Ford claimed he “led the charge” to restore electricity after December’s ice storm and he took credit for what he claimed was the “lowest tax increase over the last three years. Mostly, he rattled off things that happened before that November vote, including the elimination of the vehicle registration tax in December 2010 and the signing of new collective agreements with unions representing city employees.

Ford appeared on the “Today Show” a day after two high-profile candidates – John Tory and Karen Stintz – entered Toronto’s mayoral election.

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