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Today (American TV program)
Today (American TV program)
from Wikipedia

Today
Also known asThe Today Show
Genre
Created bySylvester Weaver
Presented by
Narrated by
Theme music composer
Opening themeToday (2013–present)
Ending theme"Energetic Today"
"Slow Today"
ComposersAdam Gubman & Non-Stop Music
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons70
No. of episodes18,000+
Production
Executive producersLibby Leist,[1] Tom Mazzarelli
Production locationsStudio 1A, NBC Studios
New York City, U.S.
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time4 hours (weekdays),
60 or 90 minutes (Saturdays),
1 hour (Sundays)
Production companyNBC News Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 14, 1952 (1952-01-14) –
present
Related
Early Today

Today (also called The Today Show) is an American morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was the first of its genre on American television and in the world, and after 73 years of broadcasting it is fifth on the list of longest-running American television series.

Originally a two-hour program airing weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., it expanded to Sundays in 1987 and Saturdays in 1992. The weekday broadcast expanded to three hours in 2000, and to four hours in 2007 (though over time, the third and fourth hours became distinct entities). Today's dominance was virtually unchallenged by the other networks until the late 1980s, when it was overtaken by ABC's Good Morning America.

Today retook the Nielsen TV ratings lead the week of December 11, 1995, and held onto that position for 852 consecutive weeks until the week of April 9, 2012, when Good Morning America topped it again. Today maintained its No. 2 status behind GMA from the summer of 2012 until it regained the lead in the aftermath of anchor Matt Lauer's departure in November 2017.[2][3] In 2002, Today was ranked No. 17 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.[4]

The entertainment magazine Variety reported the 2016 advertising revenue during the first two hours of the show was $508.8 million.[5]

On July 15, 2020, NBC launched Today All Day, a 24-hour digital streaming extension of the program available through its website and Peacock.[6]

History

[edit]

Founding

[edit]
First Today logo, used from 1952 to 1960
First variant of the current logo, introduced in 1974
Logo used from 2009 to 2013
Plain version of the current Today logo
Original host Dave Garroway, with mascot J. Fred Muggs (and companion) in 1954
The set in January 1952

The show's first broadcast aired on January 14, 1952, as the brainchild of television executive Sylvester “Pat” Weaver, who was then vice president of NBC. Weaver was president of the company from 1953 to 1956, during which time Today's late-night companion The Tonight Show premiered. In pre-production, the show's proposed working title was The Rise and Shine Revue.[7] The show was first supervised by Jerome Alan Danzig.[8]

Today was the first program of its genre when it premiered with original host Dave Garroway. The program blended national news headlines, interviews with newsmakers, lifestyle features, other light news and gimmicks (including the presence of the chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs who served as the show's mascot during the early years), and local news updates from the network's stations. It has spawned several other shows of a similar type, including ABC's Good Morning America, and CBS' now-defunct The Early Show. In other countries, the format was copied – most notably in the United Kingdom with the BBC's BBC Breakfast and ITV's Good Morning Britain, and in Canada with Your Morning on CTV Television Network.

Scheduling history

[edit]

When Today debuted, it was seen live only in the Eastern Time Zone and Central Time Zone, broadcasting for three hours each morning but seen for only two hours in each time zone. Since 1958, Today has only broadcast live on the Eastern Time Zone, and has been on broadcast delay for the five other U.S. time zones (Central, Mountain Time Zone, Pacific Time Zone, Alaska Time Zone and Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone). Partly to accommodate host Dave Garroway's declining health, the program ceased live broadcasts in September 1959, opting instead to broadcast an edition taped the previous afternoon punctuated with live newscasts each half-hour. The experiment, which drew criticism from many sides, ended when John Chancellor succeeded Garroway in July 1961.[9]

Today's weekday version was a two-hour program for 48 years, airing from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in all time zones except for Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, until NBC expanded the program to three hours (extending the program until 10:00 a.m.) on October 2, 2000. A fourth hour (which extended the program until 11:00 a.m.) was eventually added on September 10, 2007.

In August 2013, Today released a mobile app for smartphones and tablets.[10]

Current weekday showtimes and arrangements

[edit]

The program airs live in the Eastern Time Zone[11] and on tape delay beginning at 7:00 a.m. in each of the remaining time zones. The remaining three feeds are frequently updated with minor fixes and repairs, and often, correspondents will tape updates that are then edited into the delayed feeds. NBC affiliates in some markets including in the east coast, such as WESH in Orlando, Florida, air the third and fourth hours of Today on tape delay to accommodate live syndicated programs airing at such times.

When breaking news stories warrant, Today will produce a West Coast edition by broadcasting parts of the show live for viewers there. In such an event, the live portion does not typically go beyond the 7:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) half-hour or the bloc before the first set of advertisements. Once completed, the remaining blocs/segments taped from the East Coast edition will follow. Throughout the live segment, the presenters will explicitly make some reference to the show being live on the west coast from time to time until the tape-delayed segments resume.

In some instances, when an NBC News Special Report of breaking news or a live event occurs during the Today show time slot in the eastern time zone, the show's anchors will assume hosting responsibilities and the show will go live across all time zones until such time when the Special Report segment finishes. At that point, viewers outside the Eastern Time Zone will return to regularly scheduled programming (i.e. the segment of the Today show feed already in progress in their corresponding time zone or their local newscast).

Local cut-ins

[edit]

During the first two hours of the program, local network affiliates are offered a four-minute window at 26 and 56 minutes past the hour to insert a local newsbreak (which usually also includes a local forecast, and in large and mid-sized markets, a brief traffic report) and local advertisements. Certain NBC affiliates that produce an additional morning newscast for a sister station or digital subchannel may prerecord the local inserts aired during the first one to two hours of Today to focus production responsibilities on just one of their local channels.

Satellite radio simulcast

[edit]

Starting in June 2014, SiriusXM began simulcasting Today on a new channel called Today Show Radio, Channel 108, with The Best of Today starting at 6 am (Eastern) and the Today Show's live broadcast from Studio 1A at Rockefeller Center in New York City starting at 7:00 a.m. (Eastern), with a tape delayed broadcast at beginning 7:00 a.m. Pacific time. On Tuesdays Off the Rails with Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones airs at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern). On Wednesdays The Happy Hour with the producers of Jenna & Friends airs, and on Thursdays Today Show Confidential with the producers of TODAY airs. The channel also simulcasts NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) The Today Show Radio service is not currently available on SiriusXM's sister service in Canada and Channel 108 is locked out for Canadian subscribers.

Studio

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RCA Exhibition Hall (original studio)

[edit]

The Today program first originated from the RCA Exhibition Hall on 49th Street in Manhattan in a space now occupied by the Christie's auction house, just down the block from the present-day studio. The first set placed a functional newsroom in the studio, which Garroway called "the nerve center of the world." The barrier between backstage and on-stage was virtually nonexistent. Garroway and the on-air staff often walked through the newsroom set. Glimpses of the camera crew and technicians were a frequent occurrence, as were off-screen voices conversing with Garroway. Gradually, machines and personnel were placed behind the scenes to assemble the news and weather reports, and the newsroom was gone by 1955.

Studio 3K, Florida Showcase, Studio 8G, and Studio 3B

[edit]
Today is broadcast from Studio 1A in 10 Rockefeller Plaza, to the left of 30 Rockefeller Plaza

In the summer of 1958, television manufacturer Philco complained to NBC that staging Today in a studio explicitly called the RCA Exhibition Hall was unfair (RCA owned NBC at the time). The network bowed to the pressure, and on July 7, 1958, Today moved across the street to Studio 3K in the RCA Building, where it remained through the early 1960s.

On July 9, 1962, the program returned to a street-side studio in the space then occupied by the Florida Showcase. Each day, the Today production crew would have to move the Florida-related tourism merchandise off the floor and wheel in the Today news set, desks, chairs and cameras. When the show wrapped at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the news set would be put away and the tourism merchandise returned to the floor.

After three years in the Florida Showcase, Today moved back to the RCA Building on September 13, 1965. The network converted its news programming to all-color broadcasts at that time, and NBC could not justify allocating four (then-expensive) color cameras to the Florida Showcase studio. For the next 20 years, the show occupied a series of studios on the third, sixth, and eighth floors of NBC's headquarters; most notably Studio 3K in the 1970s, Studio 8G (adjacent to Studio 8H, home to Saturday Night Live; also the current home of Late Night with Seth Meyers) in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and finally Studio 3B from 1983 to 1994.

Studio 1A

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Today moved to the new street-side studio on June 20, 1994, providing a link to the show's 1950s origin.

Since the debut of the 1990s set, the national morning news programs of each of the major broadcast and cable-news networks have moved street-side – including two of Today's Rockefeller Center neighbors, Fox News' Fox & Friends (at Sixth Avenue) and CNN's since-cancelled American Morning (in the summer of 2005, CNN reversed the trend, abandoning its street-level studio and moving upstairs in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle). ABC's Good Morning America broadcasts from Times Square Studios, although only a portion of its studio is street side.

The outdoor studio at the Torino Winter Olympic Games, 2006

In 2006, Studio 1A underwent a major renovation to prepare for the upgrade to high-definition television broadcasts. After the departure of Katie Couric and while a new set was readied (during the summer of 2006), the program was broadcast from a temporary outdoor studio in Rockefeller Plaza, the same set that NBC used at the Olympic Games since 2004.[12] During the week of August 28, 2006, the show was moved to a temporary location outside of Studio 1A because MTV was converting the outdoor studio into their red carpet booth for the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. A mock set was set up in Dateline NBC's studio, which was also used during inclement weather. The program also used a temporary outdoor set at NBC Studios, and MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann (which joined at Studio 1A in 30 Rock on October 22, 2007).

Today set in 2015

On September 13, 2006, Today moved back into the revamped Studio 1A space. The new studio was divided into five different sections on the lower level including an interview area, the couch area, the news desk, the performance/interview/extra space area, and home base, which is where the anchors start the show. A gigantic Panasonic 103-inch plasma display monitor is often used for graphic display backgrounds. A kitchen set is located upstairs from the main studio. The blue background that is seen in the opening of the show in home base moves up and down to allow a view of the outside from the home base.

Some minor changes were implemented throughout the early and middle part of 2013, not only in the way that things are presented, but also with modified graphics and minor updates to the set. That year, a new, larger anchor desk was introduced with space to seat all four main anchors (Guthrie, Lauer, Morales and Roker). The new desk brought an end to the "news desk", as the third "news reader" (Morales) now sits at the main anchor desk. Other minor changes included a new larger desk for the third hour. After the August 16, 2013, broadcast, the program vacated Studio 1A, while the space underwent a remodeling with a more modern look with (as stated by executive producer Don Nash) "a lot more bells and whistles to play with."

Studio 1A in 2017 showcasing the 6' x 16' screen

On September 16, 2013, Today debuted a new set and graphics package (it was originally set to debut on September 9, 2013, but was delayed one week to complete final design details).[13] The "home base" is located on a platform that can spin 360°, therefore allowing the view and direction of the camera to change depending on the half-hour. A new couch and background was added in the "sofa area" (where the anchors sit and discuss topics). A social media area known as the "Orange Room", was also added to Studio 1A, which contains screens that display Twitter comments or trending topics,[14] Carson Daly was hired to present segments from the room during the broadcast.[15] Six screens that also connect to one 6' x 16' screen were added in the fashion/special topic area. During its first two days of use, the show transitioned away from its news and entertainment format to a format that emphasized the social interaction of the anchors, Roker and newsreader.

The graphics were also overhauled with introduction of the new set (a slightly modified version of this package and the revised logo debuted on Early Today that November, further integrating the early-morning news program's branding with Today). The logo-to-peacock animation was moved from the left corner to the bottom right side corner of the screen. The logo that was first previewed on September 13, 2013, pared down the number of circular arches from five to three with its coloring switching from different variations – generally shades of red, orange and yellow to depict a sunrise – to entirely orange.

In September 2015 Today updated the set once again,[16] the update included new floors, a new couch, and a new anchor desk. The new set retains the 360 home base used in the previous design. The new set replaced much of the dark wood colors with lighter colors and removed the emphasis of orange in previous design in favor of orange accents.

In February 2018, while Guthrie and Kotb were at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the studio underwent major changes including a new curved 40ft video wall and flooring in the former screen area as well as a large Today logo installation;[17] and by November of the same year, the Orange Room got a minor change that included a triangular-pattern wall and wooden flooring. Then, in November 2020, ahead of Election Night coverage, a new large video wall was added in front of the Orange Room (ending the Orange Room as a studio space in Studio 1A). This video wall is used primarily for the weather forecasts but also other pieces of the show.[18]

On-air staff

[edit]

Weekdays

[edit]

Main show

[edit]

During the week, the flagship hours of Today (7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.) are co-anchored by Savannah Guthrie (2012–present) and Craig Melvin (2025–present) alongside co-hosts Al Roker (Weather and Feature anchor 1996–present), Carson Daly (Feature anchor 2013–present), and Jenna Bush Hager ("Morning Boost" feature anchor)

Third hour

[edit]

Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer – who appear on the main show as contributors – serve as the co-hosts (with Roker and Melvin) of 3rd Hour Today at 9:00 a.m.

Fourth hour

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Jenna Bush Hager hosts the fourth hour with rotating guest co-hosts – titled Today with Jenna & Friends – at 10:00 a.m.

  • Note: 3rd Hour and Jenna & Friends – while considered extensions of the Today show – are their own distinct entities and are listed as such.[19]

Weekends

[edit]

Weekend editions of Today include Saturday Today co-anchored by Peter Alexander and Laura Jarrett alongside co-hosts Joe Fryer (features anchor) and Angie Lassman (weather anchor), and Sunday Today anchored solely by Willie Geist.

Former staff

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Today anchors were termed as "Communicators" on the program's inception. Creator Pat Weaver envisioned a person whose responsibilities would go beyond the bounds of traditional sit-down news anchors. The Communicator would interview, report, moderate dialogue and generally tie the show together into a coherent whole.[20] Garroway and his successors have all followed that model, with little variation. Now, the hosts are expected to do much the same, and on any given day will talk with correspondents, newsmakers and lifestyle experts; introduce and close each half-hour, conduct special segments (such as cooking or fashion) and go on-assignment to host the program from different locations. Although the "Communicator" nomenclature has since dropped out of favor, the job remains largely the same.

Anchors

[edit]

Including Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, nine men and eight women have served as primary Today hosts since the program's inception:[21]

Co-Anchor Pairings
Years Anchor 1 Anchor 2
1952–1961 Dave Garroway - -
1961–1962 John Chancellor - -
1962–1971 Hugh Downs - -
1971–1974 Frank McGee - -
1974–1976 Jim Hartz Barbara Walters
1976–1981 Tom Brokaw Jane Pauley
1982–1989 Bryant Gumbel Jane Pauley
1990–1991 Bryant Gumbel Deborah Norville
1991–1997 Bryant Gumbel Katie Couric
1997–2006 Katie Couric Matt Lauer
2006–2011 Matt Lauer Meredith Vieira
2011–2012 Matt Lauer Ann Curry
2012–2017 Matt Lauer Savannah Guthrie
2018–2025 Savannah Guthrie Hoda Kotb
2025–present Savannah Guthrie Craig Melvin
Host tenures by duration
# Host Number of years
1 Matt Lauer 20 years, 331 days
2 Katie Couric 15 years, 60 days
3 Bryant Gumbel 15 years, 3 days
4 Savannah Guthrie 13 years, 107 days (ongoing)
5 Jane Pauley 13 years, 82 days
6 Barbara Walters 9 years, 264 days
7 Dave Garroway 9 years, 156 days
8 Hugh Downs 9 years, 30 days
9 Hoda Kotb 7 years, 8 days
10 Tom Brokaw 5 years, 111 days
11 Meredith Vieira 4 years, 269 days
12 Frank McGee 2 years, 189 days
13 Jim Hartz 2 years, 26 days
14 John Chancellor 1 year, 52 days
15 Deborah Norville 1 year, 45 days
16 Ann Curry 1 year, 20 days
17 Craig Melvin 284 days (ongoing)

Notes:

  • Walters was hired as a Today writer and researcher in 1961, making her first appearance that August with a segment on the Paris fashion show. She was appointed as a "Today Girl" and reporter in October 1964; a Today panelist in September 1966, and became the program's first female co-anchor upon Frank McGee's death in April 1974.
  • Pauley was hired as a Today panelist in 1976, and was promoted to co-anchor when Bryant Gumbel joined the program in 1982.
  • Curry served as the show's Anchor at Large from 2012 to 2015, after her time as a primary host.
  • Guthrie first joined Today as co-host of the third hour, in 2012 she was promoted as co-anchor replacing Ann Curry.

News anchors

[edit]

From the show's inception, the idea of providing the latest news headlines has been critical to the function of the program. In that vein, there has always been at least one person on set whose job it is to prepare and deliver newscasts. In 1952, that person was called the "news editor" or (informally) "news chief". In modern parlance, the term "newsreader" or "news anchor" is preferred. Under the two-hour format, four newscasts were delivered, once every half-hour. Presently, there are only two newscasts, delivered at the top of each of the first two hours. Some anchors, including Jim Fleming, Lew Wood, Floyd Kalber and John Palmer, were seasoned journalists before joining the program. Others, including Ann Curry, have used the position to increase their journalistic acumen, at times leaving the newsdesk behind to venture into the field. News anchors have included the following:

The program in 1961: John Chancellor, Frank Blair, and Edwin Newman

Weather anchors

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For the program's first 25 years, weather reports were delivered by the host or newsreader. Dave Garroway illustrated the day's forecast by drawing fronts and areas of precipitation on a big chalkboard map of the United States, based on information gathered earlier in the morning from the National Weather Service in Washington, D.C. Subsequent hosts John Chancellor and Hugh Downs dropped the chalkboard weather map concept, and instead read a prepared weather summary over a still image of a weather map. When the show converted to all-color broadcasts in 1965, weather maps were prepared and projected on a screen behind Frank Blair, who delivered the forecast immediately after his news summaries.[24] Following Blair's retirement on March 14, 1975, Lew Wood took over the newsreader and weather reporting duties (using Blair's format). When Floyd Kalber became newsreader in 1976, Wood was relegated to weather, sports, roving reporter assignments, and presenting live on-air commercials until his departure in 1978.

The weather is reported every half-hour during the program's first two hours, though since Al Roker was named weather reporter on January 26, 1996, an interview is conducted by him in place of the national weather forecast at least once during the show, leaving only the local weather inserts by NBC stations.

Prior to Roker, Today weather reporters were Bob Ryan (1978–1980) and Willard Scott (1980–1996). Until Ryan's hiring, no one on the show had practical experience or academic credentials in meteorology. With NBC's purchase of The Weather Channel in 2008, personnel from that network frequently participate in Today forecast segments, at the site of a weather event or from the cable channel's suburban Atlanta headquarters, or as a fill-in for Roker. This lasted until 2018 when TWC was acquired by Entertainment Studios.

NBC owned-and-operated stations and network affiliates are given a 30-second window to insert a local forecast segment into the program following the national weather report; Roker's outcue for the local break is "That's what's going on around the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods," although in recent years, this outcue was used during only starting the second half-hour. During the first half hour, Roker simply uses "your local forecast" which appears after a 30-second commercial. Those not watching on an affiliate which provides local weather segments following the outcue (including international viewers, as well as NBC stations that do not have a news department) see a national summary of temperatures on a weather map.

The semi-retired Scott, who gained fame through his antics that included costumes and props,[25] still appeared on-air to continue his tradition of wishing "happy birthday" to centenarians. Scott's traditional local cue was "Here's what's happening in your world, even as we speak." He retired completely from television on December 15, 2015.

Regular panelists

[edit]
1973 show panel: Gene Shalit, Barbara Walters and Frank McGee

The job of "panelist" has no set definition. Panelist duties can range from conducting interviews to reporting on a number of topics in-studio and in the field. Regular panelists on the program include the following:

Today Girls

[edit]

From 1952 to 1964, a notable member of the cast was a woman, often an entertainer, the Today Girl. Usually, she discussed fashion and lifestyle, reported the weather, covered lighter-fare stories or engaged in verbal jousting with Garroway. Estelle Parsons was the first to hold the job, though her title at the time was "Women's Editor". Upon her departure in 1955, the Today Girl name was adopted. The last to hold the position, Barbara Walters, discussed the job in her autobiography Audition: A Memoir. She wrote that the Today Girl era pre-dated feminism, as it was believed that nobody would take a woman seriously reporting "infotainment" - Walters described the position as a "tea pourer".[26] In 1966, Walters was promoted to co-anchor alongside Hugh Downs, and the Today Girl position was eliminated. Those who held the position were:

J. Fred Muggs

[edit]

From 1953 to 1957, the program featured J. Fred Muggs, a chimpanzee whose antics entertained viewers, but frustrated the program's staff, especially Dave Garroway. Also occasionally appearing was J. Fred's "girlfriend" Phoebe B. Beebe.

Transitions

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Pauley to Norville

[edit]

In 1989, Deborah Norville (then anchor of the network's early-morning news program at the time, NBC News at Sunrise) replaced John Palmer at the Today newsdesk, at which point he assumed her previous role on Sunrise. She also began substituting for Tom Brokaw on NBC Nightly News. Shortly after Norville's appointment as Today's news anchor, the decision was made to feature her as an unofficial third host. Whereas Palmer had read the news from a desk separate from where Gumbel and Pauley sat, Norville was seated alongside the program's hosts at the opening and closing of every show. Before long, gossip columns and media observers predicted that NBC would remove Jane Pauley from the program and replace her with Norville in an effort to improve the program's recently declining viewership among young women, the demographic most coveted by morning shows.[27] During this period, Saturday Night Live featured a sketch titled "All About Deborah Norville" (a takeoff on the classic film All About Eve), which depicted Norville as ruthlessly scheming to take Pauley's place as Today co-host.

In October 1989, it was announced that 13-year veteran Pauley would leave Today at the end of the year.[28] NBC, as expected, announced that Norville would become co-host. An emotional Norville hugged Pauley on the air after the announcement was made, and many at the network hoped the negative press generated by Norville's increased presence on the program would end. However, this turned out not to be the case. Prior to the announcement of Pauley's departure, much of the criticism had focused on Norville's youth and beauty, with many branding her "the other woman" and a "home wrecker", in a reference to what some felt seemed like her intent on "breaking up" the television marriage of Gumbel and Pauley.[29]

The negative press only heightened after the announcement of Pauley's resignation, and Norville was put under a gag order by NBC brass, which prevented her from defending herself from the widespread and erroneous reports that she somehow orchestrated her rise on Today. In January 1990, the new anchor team of Bryant Gumbel and Deborah Norville, minus Jane Pauley, debuted with disastrous results. Nielsen ratings for the program began to plummet. Critics felt that Gumbel and Norville lacked chemistry and many loyal viewers began turning to rival ABC's Good Morning America (GMA).

Norville to Couric

[edit]

By the end of 1990, Today, the longtime dominant program, was officially the second-place morning show behind GMA, and most of the blame was pinned on Norville. By the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1991, Norville saw her role as co-host continually minimized. Today aired special editions of the program called "America at War", with Gumbel anchoring most of the show alone. It was not uncommon for Norville not even to appear until the two-hour show's second half-hour. In addition, she was directed not to initiate conversation on the show and only speak when asked a question by Gumbel. Norville left the show for parental leave in February 1991. It was announced that Katie Couric would substitute co-host during Norville's absence. Ratings for the program rose immediately following Norville's departure and Couric's arrival.[30]

Midway though her maternity leave, Norville was interviewed by People. In the story, she avoided conversation about her recent trouble on Today, and instead focused on her newborn baby boy. She was photographed breastfeeding her son, a seemingly innocuous event, but NBC management was said to be greatly displeased by this, believing the photo to be "in poor taste". By April 1991, in light of improved ratings on Today and NBC's displeasure at the People photograph, it was announced that Norville would not return to Today and that Katie Couric had been named the program's co-host. Norville, it was disclosed, would continue to be paid in accordance with her contract, although she would no longer appear on any NBC News programs.

Couric to Vieira

[edit]

On April 5, 2006, Katie Couric announced on her 15th anniversary as co-host of Today that she would leave the program and NBC News at the end of May to become the new anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. Couric's final broadcast, on May 31, 2006, was dedicated to her 15 years as one of the show's co-hosts, and celebrated her move to the anchor chair at CBS, where she also became a correspondent for the network's Sunday night newsmagazine program 60 Minutes. Couric said during the show, "It's been a pleasure hosting this program, and thank you for fifteen great years." A special video presentation was broadcast, recapping her best moments and news stories on Today during her 15 years with the show.

The day after Couric's announcement, Meredith Vieira, then a host of ABC's The View announced on that show that she would take over as Lauer's co-anchor in September. Lauer and Vieira began co-hosting together on September 13, 2006.

On June 1, 2006 (the day after Couric's departure), NBC News announced that for the summer of 2006, Today would move to a temporary outdoor studio as Studio 1A was going through renovations to prepare for its switch to high-definition. On that same day, NBC News launched a new advertisement promoting Vieira's arrival. That summer, Couric's anchor seat was filled by various hosts, consisting of Curry, Morales and Campbell Brown (all of whom were considered candidates to replace Couric), until Vieira took over that fall.

In March 2010, Vieira signed a contract to keep her with the program until at least September 2011.[31] However, she announced on May 9, 2011, that she would depart as co-host in the following month, but would remain at NBC News as a special correspondent.[32]

Vieira to Curry

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After announcing her resignation, Meredith Vieira departed the program on June 8, 2011. Vieira's spot was filled by the program's longtime news anchor Ann Curry, appearing alongside Matt Lauer as co-host. Correspondent Natalie Morales replaced Curry as news anchor in turn, with Al Roker remaining as the weather anchor. Savannah Guthrie joined Morales and Roker as co-host of the third (9:00 a.m.) hour.

Almost a year after her departure, Vieira returned briefly to Today as a special correspondent for events relating to Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebration. On June 5, 2012, she co-presented the show with Lauer from London.

Curry to Guthrie

[edit]

NBC revealed on June 28, 2012, that Ann Curry would no longer co-host Today, and would continue to work for NBC News (where she remained until her departure in January 2015), including continuing to appear on Today. Curry's title was changed to "Today Anchor at Large and NBC News National & International Correspondent," with responsibilities including leading a seven-person unit producing content for NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, Rock Center with Brian Williams and Today, with occasional anchor duties for Nightly News. Curry also reported for NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. On July 9, 2012, Savannah Guthrie succeeded Curry as co-anchor alongside Lauer, Roker and Morales.[33]

Ann Curry's final show as co-anchor was subdued compared to the earlier departures of Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira, as it did not include retrospectives of Curry's 15-year run on the program or goodbye to messages from colleagues and celebrities, although Curry – seated alongside Lauer, Natalie Morales and Al Roker in the couch area of the Studio 1A set – gave a tear-filled farewell message to viewers.[34][35] Rumors of Curry's departure from Today began weeks before NBC formally announced that she would no longer be co-host, spurring negative press similar to that resulting from the departure of Jane Pauley and her replacement by Deborah Norville 23 years earlier, as early reports suggested that Matt Lauer had a hand in the program's decision to let Curry go.[36][37][38] Viewership declines for the program that began in the months following Curry becoming co-host precipitated in part due to public criticism over Lauer's alleged involvement in Curry's departure; loyal viewers once again began turning to the competing Good Morning America, which toppled Today's 16-year consecutive run as the top-rated morning news program during the week of April 9, 2012.[2] The public relations problems for Lauer that resulted from the accusations, led then-executive producer Jim Bell to admit responsibility for the negative press, in defense of Lauer, in a series of interviews with The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter and the Associated Press.[39][40][41]

Lauer to Kotb

[edit]

On November 29, 2017, Hoda Kotb became the interim co-anchor after Matt Lauer was terminated. Prior to that, she had been a third co-anchor of Today, sitting alongside Lauer and Guthrie at the beginning of the second half-hour. Today never formally made the announcement that Kotb would be joining earlier, instead Kotb came on earlier. She held that position on April 17, 2017, after her return from maternity leave until Lauer's termination on November 29, 2017. On January 2, 2018, her interim status became permanent, making her and Savannah Guthrie the first all-female anchor duo in Today's history and the second all-female anchor duo overall.

NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said in an email that Kotb has "seamlessly stepped" into the position, and with Guthrie, "quickly hit the ground running". "They have an undeniable connection with each other and most importantly, with viewers, a hallmark of Today," Lack added.[42]

Just before the holidays, NBC executives offered the job to Kotb.[43] She also continued to co-host the fourth hour of the show, a role she had held since 2007.

Kotb to Melvin

[edit]

On September 26, 2024, Kotb announced her decision to step down as co-anchor of Today and co-host of the fourth hour in early 2025, but would remain at NBC in a role that was unspecified. Kotb had been co-hosting the fourth hour since 2007. In her announcement on the show, Kotb said she made her decision after turning 60 and stated, "I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new."[44] On November 14, 2024, Kotb's final day was announced for January 10, 2025, with Today news anchor and 3rd Hour Today co-host Craig Melvin succeeding Kotb as co-anchor of Today beginning January 13, 2025.[45]

Controversies

[edit]

Gumbel's memo

[edit]

In 1989, Bryant Gumbel wrote a memo to the program's then-executive producer Marty Ryan, which was critical of other Today personalities, and was leaked to the press. In the memo, Gumbel commented that Willard Scott "holds the show hostage to his assortment of whims, wishes, birthdays and bad taste... This guy is killing us and no one's even trying to rein him in." He commented that Gene Shalit's movie reviews "are often late and his interviews aren't very good".[46]

There was enough negative backlash in regard to Gumbel's comments toward Scott that Gumbel was shown reconciling with Scott on Today.[47]

Selective editing of George Zimmerman 9-1-1 call

[edit]

After the killing of Trayvon Martin, Today ran a selectively edited version of the 9-1-1 call that George Zimmerman made prior to shooting and killing Martin (which he defended as being committed in self-defense while standing trial for the shooting, for which he was acquitted on charges of murder in July 2013), which had the effect of making Zimmerman appear racist. In a March 2012 edition of the program, Today played a recording of Zimmerman saying, "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black." However, several seconds of the call were cut from the 911 tape, removing Zimmerman's description of Martin, and a question asked to him about the teenager by the 911 operator. In the original, unedited tape, Zimmerman said, "This guy looks like he's up to no good. Or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about." The operator then asked, "OK, and this guy – is he black, white or Hispanic?", to which Zimmerman answered, "He looks black."

In an opinion piece, Erik Wemple of The Washington Post wrote that Today's alteration "would more readily paint Zimmerman as a racial profiling. In reality's version, Zimmerman simply answered a question about the race of the person whom he was reporting to the police. Nothing prejudicial at all in responding to such an inquiry... it's a falsehood with repercussions. Much of the public discussion over the past week has settled on how conflicting facts and interpretations call into question whether Zimmerman acted justifiably or criminally... To portray that exchange in a way that wrongs Zimmerman is high editorial malpractice..."[48]

Following an internal investigation into the production of the segment, NBC News fired two employees who were involved in the piece, including a producer based at the division's Miami bureau, in April 2012.[49] In December 2012, George Zimmerman filed a defamation lawsuit against NBC for the editing of the 911 call. Florida Circuit Court Judge Debra Nelson dismissed the suit on June 30, 2014, citing that there were "no genuine issues of material fact upon which a reasonable jury could find that the Defendants [NBCUniversal] acted with actual malice," but although Zimmerman could not prove that he was the victim of "actual malice", stated that the malice standard was appropriate since Zimmerman is a public figure.[50]

9/11 Moment of Silence omission

[edit]

On September 11, 2012, Today sparked outrage after the program neglected to interrupt an interview with Keeping Up with the Kardashians co-star Kris Jenner to broadcast the 11th anniversary remembrance ceremonies of the September 11 attacks at 8:46 a.m. Eastern.[51] NBC was the only national television news outlet in the United States that did not interrupt regular programming to broadcast the moment of silence live. While the coverage of the ceremonies was not seen on the NBC network feed in most of the country, the network's New York City flagship owned-and-operated station WNBC interrupted the Today broadcast to run locally produced special coverage of the entire ceremony.[52]

Matt Lauer termination

[edit]

On November 29, 2017, NBC terminated Lauer following allegations of "inappropriate sexual behavior". NBC News chairman Andrew Lack announced Lauer's termination, stating: "It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment. While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he's been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident. Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected, and to ensure that any actions that run counter to our core values are met with consequences, no matter who the offender." Lauer would eventually be replaced by the long-time anchor of the show's fourth hour, Hoda Kotb.[53]

Although NBC did not publicly report or comment on the specifics of the allegations, the entertainment industry publication Variety ran a two-month long investigation involving interviews with Lauer's former NBC colleagues on his behavior towards them, which included lurid accusations of making verbal and typed lewd comments, as well as making suggestive references to a colleague's sexual performance.[54] It was later learned that the firing occurred after Lauer’s one-time co-host Meredith Vieira urged her assistant, who was among the complainants, to report the matter to NBC.[55]

Megyn Kelly blackface controversy

[edit]

During the episode of October 23, 2018, Megyn Kelly participated in a panel discussion on the appropriateness of blackface in Halloween costume on her morning show Megyn Kelly Today. During the segment, Kelly recollected that "when I was a kid, that was okay as long as you were dressing up as like a character", and added that "[Luann de Lesseps] wants to look like Diana Ross for one day, and I don't know how that got racist on Halloween." Her comments were widely criticized for being interpreted as defense of the practice, which is generally considered to be a derogatory caricature of African-Americans.[56] Critics likened Kelly's remarks to a previous incident during her tenure at Fox News Channel, where Kelly asserted that Jesus and Santa Claus were white.[57][58]

Later that day, Kelly issued an internal email apologizing for the remarks, stating that "I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry", and that "I've never been a 'pc' kind of person — but I understand that we do need to be more sensitive in this day and age. Particularly on race and ethnicity issues which, far from being healed, have been exacerbated in our politics over the past year. This is a time for more understanding, love, sensitivity and honor, and I want to be part of that. I look forward to continuing that discussion."[56]

Kelly opened the October 24 episode with a public apology, as well as a follow-up discussion with African-American commentators Amy Holmes and Roland Martin on why blackface is considered controversial.[58][59] The same day, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Kelly had left the Creative Artists Agency, and had hired an attorney. It was also reported that, prior to the incident, Kelly and NBC had been discussing canceling the program so she could focus more on serving as a correspondent, but that the comments may have an impact on her future at the network. The week's remaining episodes were replaced by encores.[60][61][62]

On October 26, 2018, NBC News confirmed the cancellation of Megyn Kelly Today and announced that the show's existing anchors would temporarily fill the third hour.[63]

Expansion

[edit]

Current

[edit]

Weekend Today

[edit]

Today first expanded to weekends on September 20, 1987, with the debut of the Sunday edition. Five years later on August 1, 1992, the Saturday edition made its debut, expanding the program to seven days a week. The Sunday broadcast was originally 90 minutes in length, until the third half-hour being dropped with the expansion of Meet the Press to an hour-long broadcast in 1992; it now airs for one hour, while the Saturday broadcast airs for 90 minutes.

The weekend broadcasts continue the Today format of covering breaking news, interviews with newsmakers, reports on a variety of popular-culture and human-interest stories, covering health and finance issues, and national weather reports. NBC feeds the Saturday edition from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (although it is often shortened by a half hour to air the network's "The More You Know" block in full when there is an early start to sports) and the Sunday edition from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (both in the Eastern Time Zone), although many of the network's affiliates air local newscasts in those time slots and carry the network broadcast earlier or later in the morning; many NBC affiliates also bookend the Sunday edition with local morning newscasts that immediately precede and follow the program. NBC's New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles owned-and-operated stations air the Sunday edition simultaneously (but not live) at 9:00 a.m Eastern, 8:00 a.m. Central and 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Weekend editions are tailored to the priorities and interests of weekend viewers – offering special series such as "Saturday Today on the Plaza", featuring live performances by major music acts and Broadway theatrical productions outside the studio throughout the summer.

During NBC Olympic broadcasts, the weekday anchors and staff present the majority of the program on both Saturday and Sunday throughout the two weeks to maintain promotional momentum, with limited contributions from the weekend team from New York. During some Olympic broadcasts, weekend editions are preempted all together to show live sports.

Early Today

[edit]

The first brand extension of Today was created in 1982. The early morning news program Early Today was conceived as a lead-in for Today, featuring the same anchors as the main program at the time, Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley. The half-hour program was fed twice to allow affiliates to carry one or both broadcasts. NBC canceled the program after a year, and replaced it with NBC News at Sunrise, originally anchored by Connie Chung.

In April 1999, NBC canceled Sunrise for two brand extensions of Today. One was Early Today which was revived September 7, 1999; the revived program originally was produced by CNBC and focused on business and financial news before switching to general news under the same production staff as MSNBC First Look in 2004. Early Today continues to air on the network, airing live each weekday morning at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time (with an updated telecast for viewers in the Pacific Time Zone), and on tape delay until 10:00 a.m. Eastern – corresponding with the start time of Today in the Pacific Time Zone – to allow for adjustment in airtimes for other time zones and for certain NBC stations without a local morning newscast to air Early Today in lieu of one.

Today 3rd Hour

[edit]
Today
Also known as3rd Hour Today
The 3rd
Genre
Presented by
Production
Production locationNBC Studios
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time44–52 minutes
Original release
ReleaseOctober 29, 2018 (2018-10-29) –
present
Related
Megyn Kelly Today

Today 3rd Hour (often shortened to The 3rd), the current name for the third hour of Today, features anchors who appear in the first two hours of the program. After Megyn Kelly Today was canceled on October 26, 2018, NBC announced that Today anchors would host the third hour.[64] The new third hour premiered on October 29, 2018, with Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker anchoring for the first 20 minutes from Studio 1A, reporting on the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, with Savannah Guthrie anchoring live from Pittsburgh.[65] At the top of the program, Kotb said:

Today, as you know, we are starting a new chapter in the third hour of our show as it evolves. We want you to know that the entire Today family will continue to bring you informative and important stories, just as we always have.[66]

After 20 minutes, the program continued with Jenna Bush Hager from Studio 6A, the former home of Megyn Kelly Today, where broadcasts of the third hour would begin to be based.[67] Since its debut, the third hour has used a modified nameless opening title sequence compared to the other editions of Today. Various other Today and NBC News personalities filled in until January, when it was announced that the official hosts would be Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer and Craig Melvin, with the show becoming a primarily panel discussion program under the banner of The 3rd Hour. On December 4, 2018, an NBC News spokesperson confirmed that The 3rd would move to Studio 1A to streamline the production process and create a more seamless broadcast. The last day at Studio 6A was January 4, 2019, with new broadcasts in Studio 1A beginning on January 7.[68]

Today with Jenna & Friends

[edit]

Today with Jenna & Friends premiered on January 13, 2025, as the fourth hour of Today, succeeding Hoda & Jenna. The program is hosted by Jenna Bush Hager and guest hosts, and continues to follow a similar format as its predecessor as its own distinct entity.

Today All Day

[edit]

On July 15, 2020, NBC launched Today All Day, a digital extension of Today which is a streaming video channel on the program's website and Peacock.[6] It features blocks of soft news and lifestyle segments drawn from the program, as well as original content hosted by the program's personalities. NBC plans to eventually widen its distribution via third-party internet TV services in addition to its own.[69]

Former

[edit]

Later Today

[edit]

On September 7, 1999, NBC launched Later Today, a talk show that was intended to air immediately following the then two-hour Today. Replacing Leeza (which would continue in first-run syndication for one more year) on the network's morning schedule, Later Today was hosted by Jodi Applegate, Florence Henderson and Asha Blake. The program was canceled on August 11, 2000, due to lackluster ratings; it was replaced two months later by the third hour of Today, later known as Today's Take.

Today's Take

[edit]
Today's Take
Also known asThe Take
GenreTalk Show
Presented by
Production
Production locationsRockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York City
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time44–52 minutes
Original release
ReleaseOctober 2, 2000 (2000-10-02) –
September 22, 2017 (2017-09-22)
Related
Megyn Kelly Today

Today's Take (sometimes called The Take) was the third-hour segment of Today. This "show-within-a-show" had its own anchors (although featuring on-air staff that appears during the first two hours of the program), opening title sequence and theme music.

On October 2, 2000, NBC expanded Today to three hours, with the addition of an hour from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. For its first twelve years, the format of the third hour was originally structured similarly to Today's first two hours, using the same anchors as that portion of the broadcast; separate anchors began to be used for the third hour over time, with only the news anchor (Ann Curry until 2011, then Natalie Morales) and the weather anchor (Al Roker) being shared with the main 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. block – this was particularly the case during instances where Matt Lauer or his co-host (Katie Couric, then Meredith Vieira from 2006 to 2011, Ann Curry from 2011 to 2012, and finally Savannah Guthrie during the final months of the original format) could not be present for the entire hour due to reporting assignments or personal commitments. Vieira, outside of breaking news situations, was specifically disallowed by contract from any duties in the third hour due to her hosting commitments to the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire by Disney–ABC Domestic Television.

The network revamped the format of the third hour on November 12, 2012, and gave it the in-program title Today's Take. Roker was joined during the revamped third hour by Natalie Morales and Willie Geist (who had recently joined Today after ending his run as the original anchor of MSNBC's Way Too Early); MSNBC anchor and Today correspondent Tamron Hall was added as a co-host for that hour of the program on February 24, 2014, and Ellie Kemper joined the program on June 29, 2015, as a temporary co-host (until July 17, 2015).[70]

With the change, traditional news segments at the beginning of the hour were abandoned in favor of a topical "host chat" format similar to the opening segment of the succeeding fourth hour of the program (with the only difference being that top general news events are discussed somewhat more often, in addition to featuring topical discussions on offbeat and pop culture-related stories and periodic clips from television programs aired the previous night and viral video). Instead, the news segment (titled News with Natalie, anchored by Morales, and alternately titled Today's News on days when Morales was off) was featured prior to the local update cutaways near the end of the first half-hour; national weather segments are also retained following the host chat segments in both half-hours. Beginning in May 2015, the News with Natalie/Today's News segment moved to 9:30 a.m. and the national weather segment to follow and the host chat at 9:30 a.m. was discontinued.

On August 22, 2016, both Morales and Geist left Today's Take and former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush officially joined the set. Bush was later suspended and eventually fired from the segment as well as the program following Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape during U.S. Republican and presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign in October 2016.

On February 1, 2017, Hall left Today's Take. Weekend co-anchor Sheinelle Jones and weekend meteorologist Dylan Dreyer filled in as co-hosts alongside Roker until a new morning lineup began in the fall.[71]

Today's Take aired its final episode on September 22, 2017, and Megyn Kelly Today replaced it on September 25, 2017.

Megyn Kelly Today

[edit]

Megyn Kelly Today premiered on September 25, 2017, as a replacement for Today's Take. It was hosted by former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, and was structured as a daytime talk show.[72][73][74][75][76][77]

In the wake of stable but lower viewership in comparison to the timeslot's predecessor, a desire by Kelly to focus more on her overall role at NBC News, and in the wake of controversy over a recent segment discussing blackface,[78][79] the show was officially cancelled on October 26, 2018.[80][81] Kelly never again appeared on NBC and departed the network three months later.

Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda

[edit]

Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda was the fourth-hour segment of Today hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, which aired from April 7, 2008, to April 5, 2019. It replaced the original fourth hour that debuted earlier that fall on September 10, 2007, originally hosted by Ann Curry, Natalie Morales, and Hoda Kotb. The program was its own distinct entity, with its own website and social media presence. The fourth hour does not have news or weather segments or input from the earlier hosts and is structured virtually as a standalone talk show, with an opening "host chat" segment reminiscent of the one popularized by Gifford and Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, as well as interviews and features focusing on entertainment, fashion and other topics aimed at female viewers.

On December 11, 2018, NBC and Gifford announced that she would be retiring from her position of anchoring the fourth hour in April 2019, her 11th anniversary since joining Today.[82][83] Kotb continues co-anchoring the fourth hour.[84] On February 26, 2019, NBC announced that Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush would replace Gifford.[85]

Today with Hoda & Jenna

[edit]

Today with Hoda & Jenna premiered on April 8, 2019, as the fourth hour of Today, succeeding Kathie Lee & Hoda.[86] The program was hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.[87] Kotb hosted the program until her departure on January 10, 2025.

Music

[edit]

Today host Dave Garroway selected Les Brown's "Sentimental Journey" as the program's original theme music, which was used during Garroway's entire run from 1952 to 1961. In 1962, when Hugh Downs became host, Django Reinhardt's "Melodie au Crepuscule" was chosen as the new theme; it was replaced in 1963 by "Misty", an instrumental ballad composed by Erroll Garner and performed by Bobby Hackett and John B. Seng.[88]

"Misty" served as Today's theme until 1971, when NBC News correspondent Frank McGee joined the show. Composer Ray Ellis penned an instrumental theme entitled "This is Today", a jazzy, up-tempo piece that served as the program's main theme until 1978. Because This is Today closely resembled Stephen Schwartz's song "Day by Day" from the musical Godspell, Schwartz successfully sued for copyright infringement.[89] "This is Today" was revised as a result, with the second version of the piece incorporating the familiar NBC chimes was used until 1981, at the close of the Tom BrokawJane Pauley era.[88] The chimes were also used throughout the program to introduce and conclude segments, usually in combination with the familiar Today sunburst logo.

By the time Bryant Gumbel was appointed co-anchor of the program in 1982, a new version of Ellis' "This is Today" theme was introduced, using a looser, more relaxed arrangement that continued to feature the NBC chimes in its melody. A shorter arrangement of "This is Today" was used for the show open (featuring a rotating globe and the Today sunburst) from 1983 to 1985. The main theme was used until 1985, and due to its popularity with viewers was resurrected as the show's secondary theme in January 1993. The 1982 theme later served as the program's official "anniversary" music, used to open and close retrospective segments in the leadup to Today's 60th anniversary in 2012.

1985 saw the end of the synthesizer era at NBC as composer John Williams wrote a series of themes for all NBC News programs, with a cut entitled "The Mission", serving as the principal theme for NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. Williams also composed two themes for Today: an opening fanfare for the program that was derived from the opening of "The Mission", and a two-minute closing theme for the show entitled "Scherzo for Today", a dramatic arrangement that made heavy use of strings and flutes. In the late 1980s, "Scherzo" was played in its entirety multiple times daily during the weather scrolls that ran during local commercial breaks; however, most NBC affiliates preempted these segments with locally slotted advertising. The new Today themes – used in tandem with the show's new opening sequence featuring the Statue of Liberty and a new living room studio set – gave the program a distinctly modern look and sound beginning in September 1985. A series of Williams-penned bumpers featuring "The Mission" signature were also used to open and close segments. "Scherzo for Today" was used as the program's closing theme until 1990, and "The Mission" bumpers were used until 1993 (one of them could be heard as a station break lead-in on NBC's Meet The Press until 2004).

Meanwhile, Williams' opening fanfare had opened the program ever since its 1985 introduction, with two brief interruptions; new opening themes were briefly introduced and quickly discarded in the summer of 1994 (to mark the debut of Studio 1A) and in 2004. The fanfare was iconically accompanied by Fred Facey announcing "From NBC News, this is Today… with (anchor) and (anchor)" (with "Live from Studio 1A in Rockefeller Plaza" being added to the introduction on June 20, 1994, when the show moved to its new studio). Although Facey died in April 2003, his introduction of the Couric–Lauer team was used for the duration of Couric's era (except for special editions requiring special introductions). Weekend Today announcer Les Marshak became the new voice of the weekday program on September 13, 2006.[90] A lighter theme employing the NBC chimes was used to open the show's 7:30 a.m. through 9:30 a.m. half-hour segments, and was also used as a closing theme.

In March 2013, "The Mission" was replaced with a theme composed by Adam Gubman for Non-Stop Music. Along with Non-Stop Music, Gubman's rebranding could be heard dating back to Today's coverage of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in April 2011. Gubman went on to write music for the network's 2012 election coverage, and continues to provide audio content for Today.

Notable people

[edit]
  • Robert Bendick (1917–2008), Today show producer, 1953–1955, and 1958–1960.

Ratings

[edit]

From 1995 to 2012, Today generally beat ABC rival Good Morning America in the Nielsen ratings among all network morning programs. By the week of September 11, 2006, the program earned 6.320 million total viewers, 1.6 million more than the 4.73 million viewers earned by Good Morning America. This gap eventually decreased, as by the week of June 30, 2008, Today was watched by an average of 4.9 million viewers, compared to Good Morning America's 3.8 million.[91]

Furthermore, by the week of October 12, 2008, Today's total viewership had gone up to 4.910 million viewers, compared to second place Good Morning America's total viewership of 4.25 million (and significantly above the 2.66 million viewers earned by CBS' The Early Show).[92] For the week above, the third hour (referred as "Today II" by NBC exclusively for Nielsen ratings counts) drew 2.9 million viewers and the fourth hour (referred in Nielsen ratings as "Today III"), delivered 1.7 million.

For the week of January 4, 2009, the 8:00 a.m. hour of Today averaged 5.998 million viewers; the 9:00& a.m. hour, meanwhile, averaged 4.447 million total viewers and a 1.4 rating among adults aged 25–54, marking that hour's best ratings since the week of August 11, 2008. The 10:00 a.m. hour averaged 2.412 million total viewers and a .8 rating in the demographic, the highest total viewership for that portion of the program since the week of December 31, 2007.[93]

For the week of April 11, 2011, the program passed its 800th consecutive week as the No. 1 rated network morning news program, with 5.662 million total viewers (ahead of Good Morning America by approximately 1.2 million viewers).[94]

During the week of April 25, 2011, Today averaged 6.424 million viewers, marking its best weekly total viewership since August 11, 2008, during the 2008 Summer Olympics. This was largely buoyed by the April 29 coverage of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, which earned 9.628 million viewers (beating Good Morning America's coverage by more than 1.6 million viewers), and was also the best single day rating since November 8, 2000, the day after the 2000 presidential election.[95]

International broadcasts

[edit]
  • In Middle East and North Africa NBC News programs, including the live broadcast of Today, are shown daily on the 24-hour news network OSN News in MENA Region.
  • In Australia, NBC Today (the title used in that country to avoid confusion with the local Nine Network program Today) airs an edited 42-minute version of the first two hours from 4:00 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday on the Seven Network (rerun at 9:00 a.m. on sister network 7two). The Today's Take hour (which is abbreviated to the same runtime) only airs Saturdays on the primary channel and Tuesday to Saturday on 7two; while Seven broadcasts the Sunday edition at 5:00 a.m. on Mondays, following Meet The Press. The program was originally trimmed to 63 minutes, with the local news cutaway removed. However, a news ticker appears at the bottom of the screen, containing national headlines, as well as information on the next edition of Seven's morning program Sunrise. A national weather map of Australia is inserted during local affiliate cutaways during the weather segment. Today does not air on the primary regional affiliates Prime7 and GWN7, which instead air infomercial. The show has aired on Seven since the mid-1980s, when clips from the show often aired as part of Seven's News Overnight program.
  • In the Philippines, Today returned to cable-tv on November 2, 2020. The show now airs live with repeats on TAP TV. Today previously aired on 9TV (formerly called as Talk TV and Solar News Channel) from 2011 to August 2014; an edited 90-minute version of the weekday editions aired Tuesdays through Saturdays at 5:30 a.m., with a two-hour abbreviated broadcast of the Friday editions airing at 10:00 a.m. local time on Saturdays. Weekend Today airs Saturdays for two hours at 10:00 p.m. and Sundays at 11:00 p.m. local time. The local affiliate cutaways during the weather segment were removed only from the weekday editions. Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda (titled Today's Talk for the TalkTV/SNC/9TV broadcasts) aired Tuesdays to Saturdays at 3:00 a.m. Both shows were removed from the schedule since then, particularly with the relaunch of 9TV as CNN Philippines.
  • In the United Kingdom and several other countries, Today aired on Sky News from 1989 to 1993.
  • In Europe, The Today Show together with other NBC productions such as The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Dateline NBC was aired for several years on the NBC-owned NBC Super Channel, later turned into NBC Europe. Initially Today aired live in the afternoon, from 1993 until 1995, when then NBC Europe began airing it on a one-day delay the morning after the original U.S. broadcast.
  • In Asia, The Today Show was shown live during prime time on NBC Asia. This Pan-Asian network was owned by NBC and showed NBC productions such as The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Dateline NBC from 1994 until 1998, when the network was turned into National Geographic Channel.
  • In Indonesia, NBC Today is aired on NBC-US at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. WIB (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. WIB from March to November) with WNBC local weather exclusively for SVICLOUD TV Box. Aimed for U.S. expatriates in Indonesia.

Accolades

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
is an American morning news and talk program broadcast weekdays by NBC from Studio 1A at Rockefeller Center in New York City, having premiered on January 14, 1952, as the first network program dedicated to early-morning television viewing. The show, which airs from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, pioneered the blended format of breaking news, live interviews, weather updates, lifestyle segments, and human-interest features that defines contemporary morning broadcasts, establishing a template emulated by competitors. Originally hosted by Dave Garroway with chimpanzee sidekick J. Fred Muggs, it has evolved through multiple anchors, including Frank Blair, Jane Pauley, and Bryant Gumbel, to its current weekday co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin for the first two hours, followed by segments led by Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer. As the longest-running daily morning program in U.S. television history, Today has garnered institutional recognition, such as the 2023 Peabody Award for its sustained influence on the genre, and individual honors like Al Roker's 2025 News & Documentary Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, while maintaining competitive ratings dominance despite periodic host transitions and workplace upheavals.

Origins and Early Development

Inception and Launch

The Today show was conceived by NBC television vice president Sylvester "Pat" Weaver as an innovative early-morning program to fill the previously unoccupied time slot before 10:00 a.m. EST and to compete with morning radio broadcasts. Weaver, who joined NBC in 1949, aimed to create a daily format blending news, weather, interviews, and entertainment to engage viewers during non-peak hours. In 1951, he initiated development of the program, selecting Dave Garroway, known for his relaxed style from Chicago broadcasts, as the inaugural host to convey information in an approachable manner. The show premiered on January 14, 1952, at 7:00 a.m. from a street-level studio at 10 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, featuring large windows that allowed passersby to observe the broadcast. Garroway opened the first episode with the line "Well here we are," introducing segments including hand-drawn weather maps prepared by the host himself. Originally formatted as a two-hour weekday program, Today marked the debut of network morning television, pioneering a casual yet informative style that deviated from rigid evening news conventions. Garroway hosted until 1961, establishing the show's foundational approach to live, personality-driven content.

Pioneering Innovations and Format Establishment

The Today show debuted on January 14, 1952, as the pioneering early-morning network television program, airing from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET and introducing a novel format that integrated news, weather, interviews, and light entertainment to engage viewers during previously unprogrammed hours before 10:00 a.m. EST. Conceived by NBC programming executive Sylvester Weaver, the show represented a strategic bid to compete with dominant radio morning broadcasts by leveraging television's visual capabilities for live, dynamic content delivery. Broadcast live from NBC's RCA Exhibition Hall in New York City, it featured advanced studio equipment including multiple cameras and time-zone clocks, enabling a fluid, information-dense presentation that set the template for future morning programs. Dave Garroway anchored the inaugural broadcast, embodying Weaver's vision of a "communicator" host who combined journalistic rigor with an approachable, improvisational style, eschewing the formal tone of evening news to create a conversational rapport with at-home audiences. Key format elements included segmented blocks for national and international news updates, hand-drawn weather reports delivered directly by Garroway, and early experiments with remote field reports, which expanded television's capacity for real-time storytelling beyond studio confines. This structure emphasized brevity and variety, with short, digestible features on science, culture, and consumer topics, establishing the multi-segment blueprint that influenced competitors like ABC's Good Morning America upon its 1975 launch. Subsequent refinements solidified the show's foundational innovations, such as the 1953 introduction of an outdoor broadcast plaza at Rockefeller Center for viewer interaction and live performances, enhancing accessibility and spectacle in morning television. By prioritizing live production techniques and a balanced mix of hard news with lifestyle content, Today not only survived initial low ratings but defined the genre's causal emphasis on audience retention through relatable, timely programming, as evidenced by its enduring replication in rival formats.

Historical Evolution

Scheduling and Time Slot Changes

The Today show debuted on January 14, 1952, as a weekday morning program airing live from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, pioneering early-morning network television at a time when no regular programming aired before 10:00 a.m. ET. This two-hour format persisted for nearly five decades, with the broadcast initially available live only in Eastern and Central time zones before being kinescoped for delayed airing in other regions. In September 2000, Today expanded to three hours by adding a 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET segment, responding to competitive pressures from shows like ABC's Good Morning America. The program further lengthened to four hours starting September 24, 2007, incorporating a 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET hour to capitalize on its dominant ratings during an 11-year streak as the top morning broadcast. Weekend editions marked additional scheduling milestones, with Sunday Today launching on , , initially as a one-hour program from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET. The Saturday counterpart followed on August 1, 1992, also starting as a one-hour broadcast before evolving into a two-hour format from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET in later years to align more closely with the weekday structure. These extensions maintained the core 7:00 a.m. ET start time for weekdays while broadening audience reach without shifting the primary slot.

Studio Transitions and Technical Upgrades

The Today show originated in a street-level windowed studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza upon its debut on January 14, 1952, enabling direct interaction with pedestrians and establishing an innovative viewer-engagement format. This setup persisted until 1958, when the production shifted to an indoor studio to accommodate expanding technical needs. The program briefly returned to a windowed space from 1962 to 1965 before relocating indoors permanently to facilitate the transition to color broadcasting, which required controlled lighting environments incompatible with the original glass-walled design. By September 13, 1965, Today had moved back into the RCA Building (now GE Building), marking NBC's push toward all-color news programming. Further internal shifts occurred in the late , including a transition from Studio 8G to Studio 3B in 1990, reflecting ongoing adaptations to NBC's facility reallocations. A pivotal external move happened on , 1994, when Today debuted in the newly constructed Studio 1A, a three-story, glass-fronted space at the corner of 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza, converted from a former Bank Leumi branch at a cost of approximately $15 million. This streetside relocation revived the interactive window concept while providing expanded 18,000 square feet for production. Technical upgrades have periodically modernized Studio 1A, beginning with the renovation—its first major overhaul—which introduced a 360-degree rotating turntable, sofa seating, and advanced broadcast completed by hundreds of workers over intensive shifts. In , further refinements included brighter treatments and an updated , captured in time-lapse of the two-week process. Subsequent enhancements in added an L-shaped for dynamic , followed by a 2021 redesign featuring curved, glossy video elements and a unified aesthetic with an oval relocation to improve spatial flow and visual integration. These evolutions have incorporated LED screens, high-definition capabilities, and ergonomic designs to support evolving production demands and viewer engagement.

Current Broadcast Operations

Weekday and Weekend Programming Schedules

The weekday edition of Today airs live on NBC from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, segmented into distinct hours with varying emphases on news, features, and lifestyle content. The flagship segment spans 7:00–9:00 a.m., co-anchored by Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin since January 13, 2025, incorporating national and international news, interviews, weather updates from Al Roker, and feature reporting from Carson Daly. The third hour, from 9:00–10:00 a.m., shifts to a more casual format co-hosted by Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer, highlighting consumer advice, health topics, and entertainment previews. The fourth hour, branded as Today with Jenna & Friends from 10:00–11:00 a.m., is led by Jenna Bush Hager and centers on cooking demonstrations, celebrity guests, and inspirational stories. Weekend editions follow abbreviated formats tailored to lighter weekend viewing. Saturday Today broadcasts from 7:00–9:00 a.m. ET, co-anchored by Peter Alexander, NBC News Chief , and Laura Jarrett, senior legal correspondent, with contributions from feature reporter Joe Fryer and meteorologist . Sunday Today, airing from 8:00–9:00 a.m. ET and anchored solely by Willie Geist, adopts an interview-driven approach emphasizing in-depth conversations with newsmakers and cultural figures. These weekend slots, shorter than the weekday broadcast, prioritize recap-style news and human-interest segments without the extended lifestyle blocks.
DayTime Slot (ET)Segment/Hosts
Weekdays7:00–9:00 a.m.Today flagship (Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin)
Weekdays9:00–10:00 a.m.3rd Hour (Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer)
Weekdays10:00–11:00 a.m.Today with Jenna & Friends (Jenna Bush Hager)
Saturday7:00–9:00 a.m.Saturday Today (Peter Alexander, Laura Jarrett)
Sunday8:00–9:00 a.m.Sunday Today (Willie Geist)

Affiliate Integration and Simulcasts

The Today program is distributed to approximately 200 affiliate stations nationwide via live satellite feeds from broadcast center in . These feeds are structured to align with local time zones, with a primary Eastern/Central Time (ECT) version airing from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET and a delayed Mountain/Pacific Time (MCT) version shifted by two or three hours to commence at 7:00 a.m. , ensuring affiliates can broadcast the show during peak morning viewing hours without requiring on-site adjustments. Affiliate integration involves stations incorporating Today into their local morning lineups, often immediately following brief local news blocks or the 25-minute precursor program, which provides a condensed news summary for pre-7:00 a.m. slots. Most affiliates clear the full four-hour duration uninterrupted to maximize national content delivery, though select markets permit brief local commercial insertions during designated breaks; preemptions for extended local programming remain uncommon due to the show's high ratings value and contractual network feed requirements. This setup allows affiliates to leverage Today's national audience draw while maintaining some scheduling flexibility around regional demands. Simulcasts of Today extend beyond traditional television to audio and digital platforms for broader reach. Since 2014, SiriusXM has aired a dedicated audio simulcast on Channel 108 (Today Show Radio), broadcasting the live program alongside supplementary segments like The Best of Today starting at 6:00 a.m. ET. Digital simulcasting occurs via the NBC app and Peacock streaming service, where subscribers can access the live broadcast concurrently with over-the-air feeds, subject to geographic restrictions tied to local affiliate availability; this integration supports cord-cutters while preserving affiliate viewership primacy.

International and Digital Distribution

The Today program maintains a primary focus on domestic U.S. broadcast via NBC affiliates, with international television distribution limited and not involving widespread syndication or dedicated foreign feeds. Segments and highlights from the show occasionally appear within NBC News' international offerings, such as through partnerships with global providers, but full episodes are not routinely aired on overseas linear TV channels. Digital distribution has expanded accessibility, particularly for U.S. viewers, through the dedicated TODAY All Day 24/7 streaming channel launched in June 2021, which aggregates live segments, replays, and original content from the program. This channel is available ad-supported on platforms including TODAY.com, the NBC News app, YouTube, Tubi, Xumo, and select smart TV services, allowing on-demand viewing of key moments without a cable subscription. Full weekday episodes can be streamed live or on-demand via Peacock, NBC's subscription service, and the NBC app, though access is geo-restricted primarily to the United States. Internationally, digital access relies on non-geo-blocked elements like short-form clips, interviews, and highlights uploaded to the official Today YouTube channel and social media accounts, which garner global viewership without formal licensing for full broadcasts. The TODAY mobile app, available on iOS and Android, provides news updates, recipes, and segment recaps to users worldwide, though live streaming features remain U.S.-centric due to licensing and rights agreements. No comprehensive international streaming partnership for linear episodes exists as of 2025, reflecting the show's emphasis on real-time U.S. morning audience engagement.

Production Elements

Facilities and Studio History

The Today show premiered on January 14, 1952, from a ground-level windowed studio at NBC's Rockefeller Center complex in New York City, designed to allow pedestrians to view the live broadcast through large windows facing the street. This setup facilitated public engagement, with crowds often gathering outside during transmissions. The program remained in this exterior studio until 1958, when it relocated to an interior space amid concerns over visibility and technical needs. From 1958 to 1962, broadcasts originated from Studio 3K within 30 Rockefeller Plaza, marking a shift to enclosed production facilities. The show briefly returned to a windowed exterior studio from 1962 to 1965 before moving back inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza to accommodate the transition to color television broadcasting, which required enhanced technical infrastructure. These interior studios supported ongoing production through the late 20th century, emphasizing controlled environments for expanding format elements like interviews and demonstrations. In 1994, NBC constructed a dedicated ground-level studio at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, designated Studio 1A, which debuted on June 20 with co-anchors Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric. This 18,000-square-foot facility, featuring street-level windows overlooking the TODAY Plaza, restored the public viewing tradition while incorporating modern production capabilities for audience interaction and outdoor segments. Studio 1A underwent a major renovation, debuting in refreshed form on September 16, 2013, with updated sets, lighting, and digital integration to enhance visual appeal and operational efficiency. The program continues to broadcast from Studio 1A at Rockefeller Center, located at 35 West 48th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, leveraging the site's central position for logistics, guest access, and live plaza events. This enduring location within NBCUniversal's headquarters has enabled consistent production amid evolving broadcast technologies, without relocation outside the complex.

Theme Music and Signature Sounds

The Today show has featured a succession of theme compositions since its debut, often reflecting shifts in musical style, production trends, and program rebranding efforts. Early iterations drew from established popular standards to evoke a light, conversational tone suitable for morning viewing. From 1952 to 1962, the program opened with "Sentimental Journey," a big-band era standard originally composed by Les Brown with lyrics by Bud Green and Dorothy Fields. In 1962, coinciding with Hugh Downs assuming hosting duties, the theme shifted to "Melodie au Crepuscule." By around 1963, it transitioned to "Misty," an instrumental jazz piece by Erroll Garner with lyrics later added by Johnny Burke. A move toward original compositions began in 1971, aligning with Frank McGee's arrival as lead anchor and an emphasis on news credibility. Composer Ray Ellis created "This is Today," a jazzy instrumental theme that served as the show's primary signature until 1978, initially as a Friday close before expanding to opens. Ellis supplied subsequent variations, including a 1979–1981 theme that replaced an earlier version amid a lawsuit, and a rearranged "This is Today" iteration from 1982 to 1985, debuting with Bryant Gumbel's first broadcast on January 4, 1982. In 1985, the theme adopted "The Mission," specifically the third movement ("Scherzo for Today") from John Williams' orchestral suite composed for NBC News programming. This energetic, fanfare-like piece, performed by the NBC Orchestra, became a hallmark sound, extending into promos and stings across NBC News properties like NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press, with elements persisting in variations beyond the 1990s. The suite's motifs provided signature cues, such as brisk brass and string flourishes signaling segment transitions. Post-2012 updates introduced production music from libraries like 615 Music, including "It's a New Day" for promos, emphasizing modern, upbeat orchestration while retaining orchestral roots; the core open from 2013 onward features a contemporary arrangement blending strings, percussion, and chimes evoking NBC's heritage.
PeriodComposer(s)Key Theme/Notes
1952–1962Les Brown et al."Sentimental Journey" (standard)
1962Unknown (standard)"Melodie au Crepuscule"
~1963Erroll Garner"Misty" (instrumental jazz)
1971–1978Ray Ellis"This is Today" (original jazzy theme)
1979–1981Ray EllisSecond Ellis original (post-lawsuit)
1982–1985Ray EllisRearranged "This is Today"
1985–~2012John Williams"The Mission" (Scherzo for Today)
2013–present615 Music et al.Upbeat orchestral open with promo motifs

On-Air Personnel

Current Anchors and Hosts

The weekday edition of Today is co-anchored by Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin for the 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time hours, a pairing that began on January 13, 2025, after Hoda Kotb's departure from the program following 17 years with NBC News. Melvin, who joined NBC News in 2011, continues to co-host the third hour alongside Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer. Guthrie has served as co-anchor since 2012, initially paired with Matt Lauer until his dismissal in 2017 and subsequently with Kotb. Al Roker holds the role of weather and feature anchor while co-hosting the third hour from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time; he has been a fixture on the program since 1996 and is the longest-serving on-air personality. Carson Daly anchors features from the program's Orange Room, focusing on pop culture and music segments, a position he has occupied since 2013. The fourth hour, branded as Today with Jenna & Friends, is hosted by Jenna Bush Hager from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time; Hager assumed solo hosting duties in 2019 after Kathie Lee Gifford's exit. Saturday editions are co-anchored by Peter Alexander, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent, and Laura Jarrett, Senior Legal Correspondent, airing from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Alexander has covered White House reporting since 2018, while Jarrett joined the weekend team in 2023. The Sunday edition is anchored by Willie Geist from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time; Geist, also host of Sunday Today with Willie Geist, has led the broadcast since 2017.
RoleHost(s)Notes
Weekday Co-Anchors (7-8 a.m. ET)Savannah Guthrie, Craig MelvinMelvin promoted January 2025
Weather/Feature Anchor & 3rd Hour Co-HostAl RokerSince 1996
3rd Hour Co-Hosts (9-10 a.m. ET)Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan DreyerWith Al Roker
Orange Room AnchorCarson DalyPop culture focus since 2013
4th Hour Host (10-11 a.m. ET)Jenna Bush HagerToday with Jenna & Friends
Saturday Co-AnchorsPeter Alexander, Laura Jarrett9-10 a.m. ET
Sunday AnchorWillie GeistSince 2017

Former Anchors and Key Figures

Dave Garroway served as the inaugural host of the Today show from its debut on January 14, 1952, until 1961, pioneering the morning news format with a relaxed, informative style that included segments with the chimpanzee mascot J. Fred Muggs to boost ratings. Garroway's tenure emphasized live broadcasting from NBC's Studio 1A and contributed to the program's early success in establishing morning television as a viable medium. John Chancellor anchored briefly from 1961 to 1962, focusing on news delivery before transitioning to NBC Nightly News. Hugh Downs hosted from 1962 to 1971, extending his role into co-anchoring with Barbara Walters starting in 1966, during which the show adapted to evolving viewer preferences with more structured news segments. In the 1970s, Frank McGee anchored from 1971 to 1974, enforcing a format where he interviewed guests alone before including female co-hosts, a policy that drew criticism for limiting collaboration. Barbara Walters, who began as the "Today Girl" in 1961 providing light features, became the first full-time female co-anchor in 1974 alongside McGee and later Jim Hartz (1974-1976), marking a shift toward gender-balanced hosting amid broader media changes. Tom Brokaw co-anchored with Jane Pauley from 1976 to 1981, emphasizing hard news and contributing to higher ratings through on-location reporting. Pauley continued until 1989, known for her investigative segments and interviews. Bryant Gumbel co-anchored from 1982 to 1997, pairing with Pauley and later Katie Couric (1991-2006), whose tenure saw the show's ratings dominance with celebrity interviews and human-interest stories, though Gumbel's leaked memo criticizing colleagues highlighted internal tensions. Couric's departure in 2006 to CBS Evening News was amid high viewership, paving the way for Meredith Vieira (2007-2011), who focused on lighter content. Matt Lauer co-anchored from 1997 to 2017, initially with Couric and later Ann Curry (2011-2012), but was terminated in November 2017 following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by former colleagues, leading to significant fallout and lawsuits against NBC. Other key figures include Willard Scott, who served as weather forecaster from 1980 to 1996 and occasionally as a host, known for centenarian birthday segments that added whimsical appeal. Gene Shalit contributed arts and entertainment criticism from 1973 to 2010, offering acerbic reviews that became a staple. These individuals shaped Today's blend of news, entertainment, and personality-driven content over seven decades.

Anchor Transitions and Handovers

The Today show's anchor transitions have included both ceremonial handovers and contentious departures, often reflecting shifts in ratings, personal circumstances, or professional misconduct. Founding host Dave Garroway resigned in May 1961 amid personal challenges, including the recent suicide of his second wife, and hosted his final episode on June 16, 1961, concluding with his iconic sign-off, "Peace."[web:32] John Chancellor replaced him on July 17, 1961, marking an abrupt shift from Garroway's informal style to a more journalistic tone. Subsequent early transitions involved short tenures, such as Chancellor yielding to Hugh Downs in 1962, who co-hosted with Barbara Walters from 1974 until her departure in 1976 for ABC News opportunities. Jane Pauley then anchored alongside Bryant Gumbel from 1976 to 1989, providing stability during a period of format evolution toward harder news. Gumbel's 15-year run ended in 1997 when he transitioned to HBO's Real Sports, with Matt Lauer assuming the co-anchor role opposite Katie Couric. Katie Couric announced her exit on April 5, 2006, after 15 years, to anchor the , delivering a tearful farewell on May 31, 2006. Meredith Vieira was named her replacement the following day, debuting in September 2006 and co-anchoring with Lauer until 2011, when she left citing family priorities. Ann Curry succeeded Vieira in 2011 but was removed on June 28, 2012, in a widely criticized firing attributed to declining ratings and poor on-air chemistry with Lauer; her emotional sign-off highlighted internal tensions. Savannah Guthrie was appointed co-anchor the next day, June 29, 2012, stabilizing the program temporarily. Lauer's 20-year tenure ended abruptly on November 29, 2017, when NBC fired him following a colleague's complaint of inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, prompting an internal review that uncovered additional allegations. Guthrie and Hoda Kotb filled the role interimly, with Kotb formally named co-anchor in January 2018. Kotb departed her co-anchor position in January 2025 after 17 years at NBC, with her final appearance on January 10, 2025, described as emotional; Craig Melvin, previously a third-hour host, assumed the role alongside Guthrie starting January 13, 2025. These handovers underscore the program's vulnerability to leadership instability, often correlating with viewership fluctuations.

Program Format and Content

Core Structure and Daily Segments

The Today program airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, structured as a four-hour block with the first two hours dedicated to core news and informational content, transitioning to progressively lighter lifestyle and entertainment fare in subsequent hours. The format balances hard news, expert analysis, and feature reporting, with recurring elements like weather forecasts delivered by Al Roker and brief headline rundowns at the top of each hour. This structure has evolved since the show's 1952 debut as a two-hour news-interview hybrid but expanded in 2013 to include dedicated third- and fourth-hour segments for broader audience appeal. The opening two hours (7:00–9:00 a.m.), co-anchored by Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, prioritize timely news coverage, including breaking stories, political developments, and global events, often supplemented by live field reports from NBC correspondents. Guest interviews with policymakers, authors, and industry experts provide context, while segments like consumer investigations and health advisories address practical viewer concerns. Entertainment previews, such as the daily PopStart roundup of celebrity news and media trends, bridge news to lifestyle topics. From 9:00–10:00 a.m., the third hour shifts to an informal, topic-driven format co-hosted by Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer, emphasizing wellness, parenting, and human-interest features. Typical content includes recipe demonstrations, fitness tips, relationship advice, and pop culture discussions, with occasional live musical performances or audience-interactive elements. This hour incorporates viewer-submitted stories and product spotlights, fostering a conversational tone distinct from the lead hours' journalistic focus. The fourth hour (10:00–11:00 a.m.), branded as Today with Jenna & Friends and hosted by Jenna Bush Hager with rotating guests, adopts a talk-show style centered on personal narratives, celebrity anecdotes, and motivational segments. It features in-depth chats on books, family dynamics, and self-improvement, alongside lighter fare like fashion hauls and holiday-themed activities, aiming to deliver uplifting, relatable content. Across all hours, flexibility allows for extended coverage of major events, such as elections or crises, preempting regular segments as needed. The Today program expanded from two hours to three on October 30, 2000, with the addition of the third hour featuring a mix of news updates, lifestyle segments, and interviews in a more casual format than the first two hours. This extension aired from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET, hosted initially by figures like Lester Holt and later by rotating anchors including Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer, focusing on viewer engagement through recipes, health tips, and pop culture. In January 2019, the third hour relocated to Studio 1A, the primary Today studio, and introduced updated graphics to align more closely with the core show's branding. The fourth hour launched on September 10, 2007, extending the program to 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. ET with an emphasis on entertainment, celebrity interviews, and light-hearted discussions, originally hosted by Ann Curry, Natalie Morales, and Hoda Kotb. It evolved into Today with Kathie Lee & Hoda in 2008, then Today with Hoda & Jenna in April 2019 following Kathie Lee Gifford's departure, and rebranded as Today with Jenna & Friends on January 13, 2025, after Hoda Kotb's exit, featuring Jenna Bush Hager with rotating co-hosts. This hour prioritizes feel-good content, book clubs like Read with Jenna, and audience interaction, distinguishing it from the news-heavy earlier segments. Weekend editions represent related programming extensions. Sunday Today premiered on September 20, 1987, offering in-depth interviews and features, followed by the Saturday edition on August 1, 1992, which airs from 7:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. ET (with variations by market). Hosted by anchors like Willie Geist for Sundays and Peter Alexander with Laura Jarrett for Saturdays, these versions provide extended news analysis and cultural stories tailored for weekend audiences, maintaining the Today franchise's journalistic tone while competing with rivals like CBS This Morning weekends. Early Today, a 30-minute pre-dawn newscast airing weekdays from 4:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m. ET (with a brief Monday extension), serves as a companion program recapping overnight developments and previewing Today's content, hosted by anchors such as Frances Rivera and Philip Mena. Originally launched in 1982, it focuses on breaking international and domestic news, weather from Bill Karins, and wire service updates to feed into the main broadcast. NBC News explored a potential fifth hour in 2020 amid rising morning viewership but has not implemented it as of 2025. These expansions have broadened the franchise's reach without diluting its core morning news identity.

Performance Metrics

The Today show debuted on January 14, 1952, with initial viewership limited by the novelty of morning television and competition from radio; early ratings were modest, averaging under 1 million households in the 1950s as measured by rudimentary Nielsen metrics. Ratings fluctuated through the 1960s and 1970s amid host changes and format experiments, often trailing ABC's Good Morning America after its 1975 launch, with Today posting seasonal averages around 2-3 million viewers by the late 1980s. A 15% plunge occurred in spring 1990, attributed to host Deborah Norville's perceived stiffness, dropping weekly averages below GMA's. Katie Couric's addition as co-anchor in April 1991 correlated with a rebound, as her substitutions had already lifted ratings; by 1995, Today averaged 4-5 million viewers seasonally, retaking the weekly Nielsen lead over GMA on December 11, 1995, in a streak that lasted 852 consecutive weeks through April 9, 2012. The Couric-Matt Lauer pairing (1991-2006) drove peak growth, with 2010 seasonal averages reaching 5.6 million total viewers, bolstered by celebrity interviews, news segments, and lifestyle content appealing to women aged 25-54. Post-2012, ratings eroded following Ann Curry's June 28, 2012, exit amid a pre-existing slide; weekly averages fell from 5.2 million pre-departure to 4.59 million by July, ceding the lead to GMA for the first time since 1995, with a net loss of about 500,000 viewers in the ensuing months linked to viewer backlash over the transition to Savannah Guthrie. Guthrie's first year saw further dips to around 4.6 million seasonally, though stabilization occurred by mid-decade. The 2017 Matt Lauer scandal triggered a temporary 10-15% weekly drop, but recovery followed with format tweaks emphasizing digital integration and Hoda Kotb's promotion. Long-term, linear viewership declined industry-wide due to streaming fragmentation, halving from 5+ million in the early 2010s to 2.6-2.7 million by 2024. In the 2020s, Today has trended toward demo strength amid total viewer softness; the 2023-2024 season averaged 2.734 million viewers (0.87 household rating), dipping to 2.604 million for 2024-2025, with recent weeks (e.g., October 19, 2025) at 2.551 million (-3% week-over-week). Despite YoY declines like -24% in some 2025 summer weeks, Today led the September 2025 quarter in adults 25-54 (up 1% week-over-week) and won the full season, quarter, and multiple weeks in key demos, widening margins over rivals by 38-71%. This reflects resilience via live events, viral segments, and multi-platform reach, countering cord-cutting pressures.
PeriodAvg. Total Viewers (millions)Key Trend
1990s (pre-lead)3-4Struggles vs. GMA; Couric boost
1995-2012 dominance4.5-5.6Uninterrupted weekly wins; peak at 5.6 (2010)
2012-2015 post-Curry4.2-4.6Losses to GMA; 500k viewer drop
2020s recent2.5-2.7Demo leads; linear decline but quarterly wins

Competitive Analysis with Rivals

Good Morning America (GMA) on ABC has consistently led Today in total viewers over recent seasons, averaging 2.644 million viewers for the 2024-2025 broadcast year compared to Today's approximate 2.55 million during select weeks like October 13, 2025. CBS Mornings trails both, with around 1.945 million total viewers in the same period, reflecting its more news-focused format that appeals less to general audiences. In the key adults 25-54 demographic, however, Today maintains a competitive edge, posting 511,000 viewers for the week of October 13, 2025, ahead of GMA's figures, a trend it has held for seven consecutive years. GMA's total viewer advantage stems from its heavier emphasis on entertainment segments, celebrity interviews, and lighter human-interest stories, which broaden appeal beyond core news consumers, as evidenced by its 13th straight season atop total viewership in September 2025. Today, by contrast, leverages a mix of news, lifestyle, and viral social media-friendly content—such as fourth-hour pop culture discussions—to dominate the younger demo, though it has struggled with total viewer retention post-2017 scandals involving former anchor Matt Lauer, which temporarily eroded trust and led to a multi-year lag behind GMA. CBS Mornings gains sporadically in the demo through hard-news depth and anchor credibility but remains third due to limited entertainment crossover, with only marginal year-over-year increases like 1% in total viewers during early 2025 quarters. Advertiser value highlights the rivalry's dynamics: Today's demo strength commands higher CPM rates for youth-targeted ads, while GMA's volume in total viewers drives sheer ad inventory, contributing to ABC's overall morning franchise revenue edge despite Nielsen-measured stagnation across shows in viewer engagement trends observed in March 2025. Shifts, such as Today's occasional weekly wins in total viewers (e.g., three consecutive weeks in late 2024), underscore vulnerability to host chemistry and timely events, but GMA's stability in lead metrics persists amid broader cord-cutting pressures affecting all broadcast mornings.

Controversies and Criticisms

Editorial and Reporting Incidents

In March 2012, NBC's Today show broadcast an edited clip of George Zimmerman's 911 call to police shortly before the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. The segment omitted portions of the conversation, creating the impression that Zimmerman spontaneously described Martin as black and up to no good, implying racial profiling without provocation. In the unedited tape, Zimmerman first reported a suspicious person and only mentioned race in response to the dispatcher's direct question: "OK, and this guy—is he black, white or Hispanic?" NBC News President Steve Capus acknowledged the edit as a production error but maintained it was unintentional, stating the network regretted any misimpression created. However, the network did not air a correction on Today, opting instead for a written statement, which drew criticism for lacking transparency in broadcast journalism. Zimmerman filed a defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal in December 2012, claiming the manipulation falsely portrayed him as racist to boost ratings amid heightened public interest in the case. The suit was settled confidentially in April 2015, with NBC reiterating its error characterization. The incident fueled broader scrutiny of NBC's editorial processes, particularly in high-profile stories involving race and self-defense claims, where selective editing altered causal inferences from primary evidence like audio recordings. Independent analyses, including from media watchdogs, rated Today.com and associated NBC programming as having a moderate left-leaning bias through story selection that often negatively frames conservative or non-progressive viewpoints. Zimmerman's acquittal in July 2013 on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges underscored discrepancies between the aired narrative and trial evidence, including forensic audio analysis of screams for help on the call. Additional reporting lapses have included unquestioned promotion of narratives conflicting with emerging data. In April 2021, Today co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb expressed surprise at lower per-capita COVID-19 case rates in states like Florida— which had reopened businesses and schools earlier—compared to stricter-lockdown areas, without exploring evident factors such as voluntary compliance, outdoor activity increases, or policy trade-offs in transmission dynamics. This reflected a pattern where empirical outcomes challenging favored public health orthodoxies received minimal causal dissection on air, prioritizing consensus-driven assumptions over state-level disparities reported by health agencies. Such instances, while not always involving overt factual errors, illustrate editorial tendencies toward narrative alignment over rigorous data interrogation, consistent with critiques of systemic biases in mainstream broadcast outlets.

Staff Misconduct and Terminations

On November 29, 2017, NBC News terminated Matt Lauer, the longtime co-anchor of the Today program, following a detailed complaint from a female colleague alleging inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. NBC Chairman Andy Lack stated that the network had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident," emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations and the need to act decisively. Lauer, who had co-hosted Today since 1997 and earned an estimated $20 million annually, was immediately removed from his role, marking a significant disruption to the program's on-air team. Subsequent reports revealed additional accusers, with claims from as many as eight women describing a pattern of sexual harassment and misconduct spanning Lauer's tenure at NBC, including explicit emails, unwanted advances, and coercive encounters. Lauer issued a statement the following day apologizing, admitting he had been "the cause of heartbreak and a loss of trust" for colleagues, though he did not detail specifics of the incidents. In 2019, journalist Ronan Farrow reported allegations of a more severe assault by Lauer against a network producer in 2001, which the accuser described as non-consensual, though NBC's prior investigation did not uncover this claim. An internal NBCUniversal review concluded in May 2018, led by outside counsel, validated the credibility of the accusers' accounts and identified a workplace culture enabling such behavior, yet found no evidence that senior executives were aware of or complicit in Lauer's actions prior to the initial complaint. The probe prompted NBC to implement reforms, including enhanced reporting mechanisms for misconduct and cultural training, amid broader industry reckonings post-#MeToo. No other on-air Today anchors have faced similar terminations for verified misconduct as of 2025, though the Lauer case highlighted vulnerabilities in long-term staff oversight at major networks.

Allegations of Bias and Narrative Shaping

The Today program has faced allegations of left-leaning , with watchdogs rating it as such based on patterns in story selection and framing that disproportionately emphasize of conservative figures and policies. For instance, assesses Today.com—the digital extension of the show—as left-center biased due to a moderate favoritism toward left-leaning s through selective negative coverage of right-wing topics, while deeming its factual reporting mostly reliable. Similarly, rates the NBC Today Show as leaning left, citing consistent omission of right-leaning perspectives in reporting. Ad Fontes Media, however, places it nearer the center on but notes reliability in analysis. These evaluations draw from quantitative analyses of thousands of stories, highlighting a systemic tendency in mainstream morning broadcasts, including Today, to apply adversarial scrutiny more rigorously to Republicans than Democrats. Critics have pointed to specific on-air examples as evidence of narrative shaping that aligns with progressive viewpoints. In a 2009 segment, host Matt Lauer intensely questioned Republican Senator Susan Collins on GOP resistance to Democratic health care proposals, pressing her on procedural delays in a manner described by observers as overdrive bias, while softer treatment was afforded to Democrats in comparable discussions. A 2011 Media Research Center study of ABC, CBS, and NBC morning shows, including Today, found hosts employed an adversarial liberal agenda in questioning Republican presidential candidates by a 4-to-1 margin over Democrats, often framing conservative positions through loaded premises on issues like taxes and spending. More recently, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie's moderation of a October 15, 2020, NBC town hall with then-President Donald Trump drew sharp rebukes for perceived hostility, with Trump labeling her performance "disgusting" and disrespectful; conservative commentator Sherrie Rosen argued it exemplified liberal media bias by interrupting and fact-checking Trump aggressively on topics like QAnon and the coronavirus while allowing limited unfiltered responses. During coverage of the 2019 Covington Catholic High School incident, Guthrie's interviews with student Nick Sandmann and Native American activist Nathan Phillips were criticized for uneven framing that initially amplified Phillips' narrative of provocation, prompting viewer backlash over perceived favoritism toward the activist's account before fuller video evidence emerged contradicting it. Such incidents contribute to broader claims that Today engages in narrative shaping by prioritizing emotive, human-interest angles that align with left-leaning cultural priorities, such as expansive social issues, while downplaying countervailing data or conservative critiques. Detractors, including those citing empirical content audits, argue this reflects institutional pressures within NBC News, where left-center bias in story selection—evident in heavier focus on Trump-era controversies versus Biden administration scrutiny—fosters audience polarization rather than neutral information dissemination. Proponents of the show counter that tough questioning upholds journalistic accountability, particularly toward controversial figures, though empirical disparities in tone across parties undermine claims of equivalence.

Recognition and Legacy

Awards and Industry Accolades

In 2023, Today received the Peabody Institutional Award, the first such honor bestowed upon a morning news program, acknowledging its 70-year history as a foundational influence in American broadcast journalism through consistent delivery of news, information, personal advice, and cultural commentary. The program has earned multiple Daytime Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, including the Outstanding Morning Program in 2020 for its comprehensive weekday coverage blending news, interviews, and features. Earlier wins include recognition for daytime programming excellence in 1968 and 1971. Longtime weather anchor Al Roker, a fixture on Today since 1996, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 46th News & Documentary Emmy Awards on June 25, 2025, honoring his decades of on-air contributions to weather reporting and broader journalistic efforts. Roker also won the National Press Foundation's Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism in 2023.

Cultural and Media Influence

The Today show pioneered the format of morning television upon its debut on January 14, 1952, introducing a blend of live news updates, celebrity interviews, weather forecasts, and lifestyle segments broadcast from a windowed studio in New York City. This structure, anchored by host Dave Garroway and featuring novelty elements like the chimpanzee co-host J. Fred Muggs from 1953 to 1957, established a template that emphasized personality-driven content alongside journalism, directly influencing the creation of rival programs such as ABC's Good Morning America in 1975 and CBS's morning offerings. The show's early emphasis on visual appeal and informal tone differentiated it from evening news broadcasts, fostering a more conversational style that became standard in daytime TV. By integrating hard news with entertainment, Today revolutionized viewer engagement during morning hours, embedding itself into American daily routines and shaping patterns of media consumption for generations. Its consistent high ratings—dominating the morning slot from the late 1990s until 2012—underscored its role in defining accessible broadcast programming, with millions of viewers relying on it for a mix of information and diversion that influenced subsequent expansions in cable morning shows. President Barack Obama highlighted this cultural permeation in 2011, stating that the program had become "a part of American culture" over decades and across generations. The enduring format of Today has contributed to broader media trends by prioritizing live, location-based reporting—such as its annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage since 1953—and fostering a symbiotic relationship between television and public events, thereby amplifying cultural touchstones through real-time commentary. This approach not only sustained viewer loyalty but also set precedents for how morning programs balance immediacy with relatability, impacting the evolution of informational entertainment across platforms.

References

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