Today


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From Wikipedia:

Today (also referred to as The Today Show) is an American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre, spawning similar morning news and entertainment television programs across the United States and around the world. The show is also the third-longest running American television series. Originally a two-hour program on weekdays, it expanded to Sundays (currently one hour) in 1987 and Saturdays (two hours) in 1992. The weekday broadcast expanded to three hours in 2000, and a fourth hour launched in 2007.

The show's first broadcast aired on January 14, 1952. It was the brainchild of Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr., who was then vice-president of NBC. Weaver was president of the company from 1953 to 1955, during which time Today's late-night companion The Tonight Show premiered. In pre-production, the show's proposed title was The Rise and Shine Revue.

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

When Today started, it was seen live only in the Eastern and Central time zones, broadcasting three hours per morning but seen for only two hours in each time zone. Later, Today aired live for five hours a morning on Monday morning, but it was seen for only two consecutive hours in each of the four U.S. continental time zones. Since 1958, Today is tape-delayed for the different time zones. For many years it was a two-hour program from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in all time zones except for Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Virgin Islands, until NBC expanded it to three hours on October 2, 2000. A fourth hour was added on September 10, 2007. In some markets (such as Boston, Massachusetts, on WHDH-TV), the third and fourth hours of Today are aired on further tape delay.

During the first three hours, local affiliates are offered a five-minute window at :25 and :55 to insert a local newsbreak, although the show provides additional segments for those affiliates who do not do so.

When breaking news stories warrant, Today will broadcast a live West Coast edition. The live updates typically do not last longer than the 7:00 a.m. (PT) hour and once completed, will return to the taped East Coast feed. When the anchors welcome the viewers to the show, they will note the current time as being "Pacific Time" and continue to note it as such until the tape delay is started. In some instances, when NBC Special Reports occur during the Today timeslot, the show's anchors will assume hosting responsibilities.

Highlights
Katie Couric on her first day on Today
01:40
Ann Curry on becoming the news anchor on Today in 1997
02:44
Hugh Downs on Dave Garroway's style on Today
01:04
Florence Henderson on being a "Today Girl" on Today
01:16
Al Roker on replacing Willard Scott on Today
02:45
Jane Pauley on auditioning for Today and getting the job as co-host
09:37
Who talked about this show

Steve Allen

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33

Charlie Andrews

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Charlie Andrews on joining Today
01:31
Charlie Andrews on how he came to work with Dave Garroway on Today
06:37
Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today
02:18
Charlie Andrews on moving from Chicago to New York to write for Today and writing for Dave Garroway's radio show "Dial Dave Garroway"
01:39
Charlie Andrews on working for Today creator Sylvester L. Weaver (Pat Weaver)
01:57
Charlie Andrews on the early format and staff of Today hosted by Dave Garroway
04:03
Charlie Andrews on the differences between writing for Garroway at Large in Chicago and Today in New York, and working with the directors of those shows
01:37
Charlie Andrews on working for Today producer Mort Werner
02:24
Charlie Andrews on leaving Today
01:27

Rona Barrett

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Rona Barrett on moving over to Today (The Today Show)
04:50

Tom Brokaw

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Tom Brokaw on how he came to anchor Today
02:51
Tom Brokaw on Today first facing competition from Good Morning America while he was anchor, and on covering the 1981 Royal Wedding
04:48

Harvey Bullock

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Harvey Bullock on working with Dave Garroway on the Today show and on meeting his wife while working on the show
07:22

Julia Child

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Julia Child on her appearance on the Today show while promoting her book
02:20

Connie Chung

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Connie Chung on filling in for Jane Pauley on Today
00:12

Chuck McCann with Emerson College

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Chuck McCann on performing with puppets on Today, which led to a job on The Sandy Becker Show
02:21

Shecky Greene with Emerson College

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Shecky Greene on his comedic persona, and on appearing on Today with Katie Couric
06:46

Joan Ganz Cooney

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Joan Ganz Cooney on Pat Weaver's creation of and advertising structure on The Tonight Show and Today
01:16

Bob Costas

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Bob Costas on filling in on Today
00:19

Katie Couric

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Katie Couric on her first day on Today
01:40
Katie Couric on getting hired for Today
04:51
Katie Couric on what she learned from Today
02:07
Katie Couric on her first day on Today
01:40

Judith Crist

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Judith Crist on memories of appearing on Today
00:56
Judith Crist on Al Morgan inviting her to be movie critic for Today
06:27
Judith Crist on her appearances on Today
12:35
Judith Crist on reviewing "Cleopatra" and not enjoying Elizabeth Taylor's performance
06:40
Judith Crist on her time as a film critic on Today
08:30
Judith Crist on the format of her reviews on television; on wearing wigs and who her audience was
07:21
Judith Crist on interviewing Federico Fellini on Today
05:43
Judith Crist on why she left Today
01:33

Ann Curry

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Ann Curry on becoming the news anchor on Today in 1997
02:44
Ann Curry on her co-hosts on Today, and on the fun she had on the show
04:08
Ann Curry on being an anchor on Today, and how she had learned to be comfortable on camera by that point in her career
01:46
Ann Curry on the "Ends of the Earth" series on Today and why she was committed to using it as an opportunity to discuss climate change, and on broadcasting live from the South Pole
03:16
Ann Curry on reporting on the war in Kosovo for Today
08:13
Ann Curry on 9/11, and on how she contributed to NBC News' reporting on the tragedy, and on going to Ground Zero on September 12th and every day for weeks after
07:18
Ann Curry on her dedication to covering the genocide in Darfur for Today, and on interviewing the leaders involved in the conflict
11:12
Ann Curry on interviewing Maya Angelou
03:41
Ann Curry on interviewing Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
03:37
Ann Curry on how she approached the stories she covered at the time when she was co-anchoring Dateline, news correspondent on Today, and occasional sub on the NBC Nightly News
06:15
Ann Curry on not having expected to become co-anchor on Today, and on how she felt when she got the offer
02:07
Ann Curry on receiving the offer to be co-host on Today, and on her first day in the role, and on wanting to remain true to her mission of covering news stories that matter
02:34
Ann Curry on how decisions were made about stories when she was co-anchor on Today, and on the increasing pressure of new technologies on the broadcast program
04:33
Ann Curry on not internalizing pressure as the female host on Today, and on competing for interviews and the idea of chemistry between hosts
02:40
Ann Curry on how she found out she would no longer be co-host of Today
00:39

Michael Dann

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Michael Dann on station managers not believing people would get up early enough to watch Today
00:30
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver and the creation of Today, The Home Show, and The Tonight Show
03:17

Hugh Downs

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Hugh Downs on Dave Garroway's style on Today
01:04
Hugh Downs on being offered the role of host of Today
00:49
Hugh Downs on hosting Today and turning down other television offers
01:58
Hugh Downs on why he was drawn to hosting Today
01:17
Hugh Downs on his versatility and changes to the format on Today
01:57
Hugh Downs on his preparations for hosting Today
02:55
Hugh Downs on memorable interviews he conducted on Today
09:05
Hugh Downs on leaving Today in 1971
01:18
Hugh Downs on how Today evolved during his tenure on the program
02:49
Hugh Downs on "The Today Girl" on Today
02:05

Linda Ellerbee

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Linda Ellerbee on co-hosting Today for one week
02:32

Reuven Frank

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Reuven Frank on dealing with Today during his second stint as President of NBC News
04:09

Julian Goodman

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Julian Goodman on working on the first episode of Today
01:41

Herb Granath

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Herb Granath on how Pat Weaver started The Today Show, The Tonight Show and The Home Show
01:15

Earl Hamner, Jr.

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Earl Hamner on working as a writer on the early Today shows
04:33

Florence Henderson

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Florence Henderson on being a "Today Girl" on Today
01:16
Florence Henderson on working with host Dave Garroway on Today
02:17
Florence Henderson on working with NBC's Pat Weaver 
02:02
Florence Henderson on the hosts during her run as a "Today Girl" on Today
01:33
Florence Henderson on working on Today when Charles Van Doren was a correspondent
01:28
Florence Henderson on working on Later Today
01:17
Florence Henderson on co-hosting Later Today, which airs immediately after Today
04:23

Lynwood King

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Lynwood King on how he came to direct Today with Dave Garroway, and on Garroway's difficulties doing a show in the morning
06:14
Lynwood King on how the Today format changed over the years, from Dave Garroway's tenure to the then-present
02:08
Lynwood King on the various features of Today during his tenure, including the chimp J. Fred Muggs
01:59
Lynwood King on his schedule directing Today, and on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure including Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Dirk Bogarde, Harpo Marx, and Arlene Francis
06:14
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway's skill as an interviewer on Today
02:07
Lynwood King on on producer Robert Bendick being fired from Today, and on Dave Garroway being replaced as host
03:37
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway being replaced as the host of Today with John Chancellor
03:38
Lynwood King on being dismissed from Today, and moving on to direct the NBC News documentary series Project XX
03:04

Stewart MacGregory

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Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Today
11:45

Bill Monroe

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Bill Monroe on working with NBC News president Reuven Frank, and on working for Today
07:56
Bill Monroe on his letters segment on Today
05:48

Soledad O'Brien

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Soledad O'Brien on leaving NBC in 2003 -- at the time she was co-anchoring the weekend version of Today, Weekend Today
02:02

Estelle Parsons

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Estelle Parsons on working with Dave Garroway and Jim Flemming on Today
05:49
Estelle Parsons on being hired as a producer and commentator for Today
06:07
Estelle Parsons on Dave Garroway being hired for Today, and on the show going live
06:16
Estelle Parsons on going in front of the camera on Today
03:20
Estelle Parsons on how she was treated as a woman on the Today set
01:34
Estelle Parsons on the addition of J. Fred Muggs to Today
02:28
Estelle Parsons on being a "Today Girl" on Today, and on her day-to-day activities on the show
04:29
Estelle Parsons on signing a loyalty oath during her time on Today and on auditioning for The Actors Studio
02:08
Estelle Parsons on returning to Today, and on various other jobs she did for NBC
01:31
Estelle Parsons on the challenges of appearing live on Today
01:18
Estelle Parsons on leaving Today, and on appearing on the stage
01:39

Jane Pauley

View Interview
Jane Pauley on auditioning for Today and getting the job as co-host
09:37
Jane Pauley on leaving Today in 1989
15:08
Jane Pauley on being perplexed as to how she was hired for Today
03:59
Jane Pauley on being comfortable in front of the camera on Today
02:49
Jane Pauley on her similarity to Barbara Walters
02:35
Jane Pauley on her approach to co-hosting Today
03:47
Jane Pauley on the format of Today when she joined
04:23
Jane Pauley on co-hosting Today with Tom Brokaw
03:00
Jane Pauley on technical difficulties on Today
03:48
Jane Pauley on Bryant Gumbel taking over for Tom Brokaw on Today
02:35
Jane Pauley on memorable stories she covered on Today
02:28
Jane Pauley on dealing with her pregnancy and motherhood on air
12:17
Jane Pauley on her relationship with Today co-anchor Bryant Gumbel
03:15

Al Roker

View Interview
Al Roker on replacing Willard Scott on Today
02:45
Al Roker on getting hired to do weather on the Sunday version of Today; on moving to Saturday
03:25
Al Roker on finding his place on Today; on how his role has changed over the years; on his favorite moments on the show
05:45
Al Roker on a typical day on Today; on rules for Today
03:28
Al Roker on covering weather on location for Today; on covering 9/11 for Today
07:06
Al Roker on his Today colleague Matt Lauer
00:40

Tim Russert

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Tim Russert on becoming an NBC News executive and overseeing Today
01:21

Max Schindler

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Max Schindler on directing Today from Washington, DC
04:06
Max Schindler on dealing with Today's schedule and his family life
01:05

Bob Vila

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Bob Vila on serving as a correspondent for Today and The CBS Early Show
01:27

Barbara Walters

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Barbara Walters on joining the Today show and her first assignments there as a writer, and later as a reporter
03:31
Barbara Walters on the live aspect of the Today show and the excitement of live television in general
01:49
Barbara Walters on working with host Dave Garroway on the Today show
02:54
Barbara Walters on her Today show colleagues: Frank Blair, Jack Lescoulie, Joe Garagiola, John Chancellor, Ed Newman, and Hugh Downs
02:09
Barbara Walters on covering first-lady Jacqueline Kennedy's overseas trip for the Today show
04:34
Barbara Walters on her rise to becoming co-host of the Today show
08:26

Betty White

View Interview
Betty White on turning down a chance to work on the Today show
02:18

Jeff Zucker

View Interview
Jeff Zucker on Jane Pauley offering him a job on Today
02:08
Jeff Zucker on his first job at Today and the tumultuous atmosphere of the show at that time
05:50
Jeff Zucker on his rise to Executive Producer of Today and the hiring of Katie Couric
04:19
Jeff Zucker on his vision and innovations as Executive Producer of Today
04:26
Jeff Zucker on how he negotiated with the network to take chances and skip commercials while Executive Producer at Today
02:33
Jeff Zucker on why Today was such a good fit for him as a Producer
01:42
Jeff Zucker on a typical day of production for Today
02:01
Jeff Zucker on his management style as Executive Producer at Today
03:11
Jeff Zucker on Matt Lauer replacing Bryant Gumbel as co-host of Today
02:53
Jeff Zucker on his pride in Today and its success during his tenure as Executive Producer
01:27
Jeff Zucker on Katie Couric leaving Today and being replaced by Meredith Viera
03:27

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