Here’s what’s currently taking place in your world” was the customary cue delivered by Scott. On December 15, 2015, he completely stepped away from television. Although Scott was semi-retired and became famous for his costumes andweekend betting previewprops, he continued to appear on-air to uphold his tradition of wishing centenarians a “happy birthday.National temperature summaries on a weather map are provided to viewers who miss the local weather segments — including international audiences and certain NBC stations without a news department. Following NBC’s acquisition of The Weather Channel in 2008 (staff from the network regularly contribute to Today forecast segments), whether at the location of a weather event, from the cable channel’s suburban Atlanta headquarters, or as a substitute for Roker. Ann Curry, among others, has leveraged the role to enhance her journalistic skills, sometimes leaving the newsdesk to work in the field. Since the start of the show, delivering the most recent news headlines has been essential to its purpose.
Weekdays
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. 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.
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.
Current weekday showtimes and arrangements
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.
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. She also continued to co-host the fourth hour of the show, a role she had held since 2007. 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”. 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.
The network revamped the format of the third hour on November 12 — 2012, and gave it the in-program title Today’s Take. On July 15 — 2020, NBC launched Today All Day, a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel featuring blocks of soft news and lifestyle segments from Today, as well as original content hosted by the program’s personalities. 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. 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. 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.
Pat Weaver (the creator), visualized a role extending beyond the limits of conventional sit-down news anchors. The weekend editions of Today feature Saturday Today with Laura Jarrett and co-hosts Joe Fryer , features anchor, and Angie Lassman (weather anchor), while Sunday Today is solely hosted by Willie Geist. The new set continues to use the 360 home base from the previous design. The set was updated again in September 2015 (introducing new floors), a new couch, and a new anchor desk.
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.
From the summer of 2012 until Matt Lauer’s exit in November 2017, Today held the No. 2 position behind GMA, later recovering the top spot. The weekday broadcast increased to three hours in 2000 and expanded to four hours in 2007, with the last two hours evolving into separate segments over time. During the week of April 11 — 2011, the program celebrated its 800th consecutive week as the top-rated network morning news program, attracting 5.662 million viewers, approximately 1.2 million more than Good Morning America. Between 1995 and 2012, Today regularly outperformed its ABC competitor Good Morning America in the Nielsen ratings for all network morning shows. Gubman proceeded to compose music for the network’s 2012 election coverage, and he continues to supply audio content for Today. In March 2013 — Adam Gubman’s composition replaced “The Mission” as the theme for Non-Stop Music.
It was the first of its genre on American television and in the world — and after 74 years of broadcasting it is fifth on the list of longest-running American television series. TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie will be joined by a familiar face in Craig Melvin’s absence. The lineup for this summer’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY features a victorious Voice Coach — decorated Grammy winners, and more. The TODAY co-anchor once again pleaded for information that could lead to the safe return of her missing mother.
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.
Sometimes, if a breaking news NBC News Special Report or a live event interrupts the Today show during its timeslot in the eastern time zone, the anchors will take on hosting duties, broadcasting live across all time zones until the Special Report concludes. The program combined national news headlines (interviews with newsmakers), lifestyle features, lighter news, and gimmicks, such as the early years mascot J. Fred Muggs the chimpanzee, alongside local news updates from network stations. The inaugural broadcast of the show took place on January 14, 1952, conceived by television executive Sylvester “Pat” Weaver, who was vice president of NBC at the time.
- , Pacific Time, half-hour or the bloc before the first set of advertisements.
- On Wednesdays, The Happy Hour airs with the producers of Jenna & Friends, while Thursdays feature Today Show Confidential with the producers of TODAY.
- While continuing to follow a similar format as its predecessor as its own distinct entity, the program did not have a permanent co-host, but instead featured a different guest co-host each day.
- Ratings for the program rose immediately following Norville’s departure and Couric’s arrival.
Presently (there are only two newscasts), delivered at the top of each of the first two hours. Under the two-hour format (four newscasts were delivered), once every half-hour. In that vein, there has always been at least one person on set whose job it is to prepare and deliver newscasts. 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. Today anchors were termed “Communicators” at the program’s inception. 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.
