Cracked It

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). 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. Garroway and the on-air staff often walked through the newsroom set. 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. 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. 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.

Current weekday showtimes and arrangements

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. 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. On Wednesdays, The Happy Hour with the producers of Jenna & Friends airs, and on Thursdays, Today Show Confidential with the producers of TODAY airs. 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. , Pacific Time, half-hour or the bloc before the first set of advertisements. When breaking news stories warrant, Today will produce a West Coast edition by broadcasting parts of the show live for viewers there.

Fourth hour

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. 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). 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). From 1995 to 2012, Today generally beat ABC rival Good Morning America in the Nielsen ratings among all network morning programs. Gubman went on to write music for the network’s 2012 election coverage, and continues to provide audio content for Today. In March 2013 — “The Mission” was replaced with a theme composed by Adam Gubman for Non-Stop Music.

For the week above, the third hour (referred as “Today II” by NBC exclusively for Nielsen ratings counts) https://lifesratchet.com drew 2.9 million viewers and the fourth hour , referred in Nielsen ratings as “Today III”,, delivered 1.7 million. Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama joined as a special guest on November 4, 2025. There were about 60 guest co-hosts which the program called “contenders” for Hager (including actress Scarlett Johansson), and comedian Matt Rogers.

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. 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. Ratings for the program rose immediately following Norville’s departure and Couric’s arrival. It was not uncommon for Norville not even to appear until the two-hour show’s second half-hour.

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). 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 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. 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. 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. “Misty” served as Today’s theme until 1971, when NBC News correspondent Frank McGee joined the show.

Kotb revealed her plan to resign from her roles as co-anchor of Today and co-host of the fourth hour in early 2025 on September 26 — 2024, although she will continue with an unspecified position at NBC. Since 2007 — she has retained her role as the co-host of the fourth hour of the show. In an email (Andrew Lack), the Chairman of NBC News, remarked that Kotb has “seamlessly stepped” into her new position and that she and Guthrie “quickly hit the ground running. The title for Curry was modified to “Today Anchor at Large and NBC News National & International Correspondent,” which included leading a seven-member team producing content for NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, Rock Center with Brian Williams, and Today, along with occasional anchoring for Nightly News.

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). 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 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.

The program is hosted by Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, and continues to be a distinct entity from the earlier hours of Today. Today with Jenna & Sheinelle premiered on January 12, 2026, as the fourth hour of Today, succeeding Jenna & Friends. 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. We want you to know that the entire Today family will continue to bring you informative and important stories, just as we always have. 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. After Megyn Kelly Today was canceled on October 26, 2018, NBC announced that Today anchors would host the third hour.

This show holds the distinction of being the first of its kind in American television and globally, and after 74 years on air, it ranks fifth among the longest-running television series in America. Savannah Guthrie (co-anchor of TODAY), will be joined by a well-known figure while Craig Melvin is absent. This summer’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY features notable performers, including a triumphant Voice Coach and several Grammy awardees, among others. Once again, the TODAY co-anchor urged the public for any information that might assist in the safe return of her missing mother.

Pat Weaver (the creator), imagined a role that would extend beyond the conventional duties of standard sit-down news anchors. The weekend editions of Today consist of Saturday Today (with Laura Jarrett anchoring alongside Joe Fryer as features anchor and Angie Lassman as weather anchor), while Sunday Today is solely anchored by Willie Geist. The updated set maintains the 360 home base that was part of the previous design. In September 2015 (the set of Today underwent another update), which added new floors, a new couch, and a new anchor desk.

It has led to the creation of several similar shows, including ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS’ now-defunct The Early Show. As recently as January 1955, the show had not yet been broadcast in cities like Denver; the network had not expanded its feed west of Omaha until the fall of 1954. The working title proposed during pre-production for the show was The Rise and Shine Revue. According to the entertainment magazine Variety, the advertising revenue for the first two hours of the show in 2016 reached $508.8 million. Until the late 1980s, Today’s position was almost unchallenged by rival networks, when it was surpassed by ABC’s Good Morning America.

Here’s what’s happening in your world (even as we speak,” was the traditional local cue used by Scott. He completely exited from television on December 15), 2015. Scott, who became famous for his antics involving costumes and props, continued to make on-air appearances to uphold his custom of wishing centenarians a “happy birthday,” even while semi-retired. Viewers not tuning in to an affiliate that provides local weather segments following the outcue (including those watching internationally or NBC stations lacking a news department), are shown a national temperature summary on a weather map. After NBC acquired The Weather Channel in 2008, personnel from that network began frequently joining Today forecast segments, either from the site of a weather event or from the cable channel’s headquarters in suburban Atlanta, or serving as substitutes for Roker. Other individuals — including Ann Curry, have leveraged the role to enhance their journalistic expertise, sometimes stepping away from the newsdesk to explore the field. Since the program began, the delivery of the latest news headlines has been essential to its function.