The Today Show is the first American breakfast television show that airs every morning on NBC. The first episode of the Today Show was aired on January 14, 1952 and it became the fourth longest running American television series. Originally, the Today Show had a two hour program on weekdays. When the producers of the TV show saw that the show was successful, they decided to expand it to Sundays and Saturdays. The dominance of Today Show was virtually unchallenged, that is until the ABC network released Good Morning America.

Over the years, the format of the Today Show has changed. The show blended national news headlines, interviews with newsmakers, lifestyle features, and gimmicks. The Today Show eventually added a sports section, as well as weather, horoscope and entertainment sections. The Today Show was aired live only in the Eastern and Central time zones, broadcasting three hours per morning but seen for only two hours in each time zone.

Partly to accommodate host Dave Garroway’s declining health, The Today Show ceased live broadcasts in the summer of 1958, opting instead to broadcast an edition tapes the prior afternoon. This experiment drew criticism from many sides and ended when John Chancellor replaced Garroway in 1961. The first set of the Today Show was placed in a functional newsroom in the studio, which Garroway called the nerve centre of the world. The barrier between backstage and on-stage was virtually non-existent. Glimpses of camera crew and technicians were a frequent occurrence, as were off screen voices conversing with Garroways. After the Today Show gained more popularity, the studio was moved in the main  headquarters of NBC. Today, the set for the Today Show includes the interview area, the couch area, the news desk, the performance/extra space area, and home base, which is where the anchors start the show. The Today Show runs even nowadays in both weekdays and weekends, and is still one of the most successful shows in America. The Today Show has even got special series, such as Saturday Today on the Plaza, featuring live performances by the biggest names in music and Broadway industry.

The Today Show, or simply Today, is one of the most popular and long lasting American breakfast TV shows ever. The popularity of The Today Show goes beyond the American boundaries, as people worldwide are watching it. Since 1952, when The Today Show aired for the first time, 61 seasons have passed, comprising 17,937 episodes, as of February 2012. The Today Show is actually the 4th-longest running American TV series and was even designated one of the greatest TV shows of all time by TV Guide. The Today Show is also popular due to its amazing hosts. And Matt Lauer is one of the best ones.

Matt Lauer was born on December 30, 1957, in New York City, to boutique owner Marilyn Kolmer and bicycle-company executive jay Robert Lauer. Matt Lauer graduated from Ohio University, where he attended the School of Media Arts and Studies. In 1979, Matt Lauer was beginning his career in television, working as a producer of the 12 o’clock news for a local television in West Virginia. In the following year, Matt Lauer was already an on-air reporter for the morning newscasts. He then decided to move around the country in order to advance his career in journalism. He was a news anchor in New York and a local talk-show host in Boston, as well as the host of PM Magazine. Matt Lauer also worked for ESPN as a sideline reporter and hosted segments of HBO Entertainment News later on.

In 1993, Matt Lauer finally got his big break. He filled in as the newsreader on the The Today Show for Margaret Larson. The following year, Matt Lauer was already a full-time cast member on The Today Show. He started as a news anchor and he has never left The Today Show ever since. Starting with 1997, Matt Lauer is a co-anchor of The Today Show. When The Today Show producers came up with the idea of a series about their family roots, Matt Lauer and Katie Couric initially resisted. They changed their mind, though, and the series turned out to be a hit. Matt Lauer is surely one of those faces that people will always remember. And he has The Today Show to thank for that.

In the morning, while drinking their coffee, most people turn on the TV to see the latest news, weather forecast and other valuable information on the Today Show. The Today Show is one of the best viewing programs, as it has been running for several years now and has gained massive popularity. The Today Show has first debuted in 1952 and it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world.

Until the late 1980s, the fame and dominance of The Today Show was unequalled and unchallenged by other TV networks, when it was overtaken by ABC’s Good Morning America. From the inception of the show, the idea of The Today Show was to provide the latest news has been critical to the good functioning of the program. In this respective, the Today Show has always had one person on set whose job was to prepare and deliver newscasts. In the beginning The Today Show had a two-hour format, where four newscasts would be delivered, every half hour. In the more modern format, there are only three newscasts, delivered at the top of each of the first three hours.

In the first 25 years of existence, the weather segments were presented by the host or the newsreader. Recently, with the purchase of the Weather Channel by NBC in association with two private equity groups, the forecast segment is now augmented with reports and observations by the Weather Channel staff. The first brand extension of the Today Show was created in 1982, when Early Today was conceived as a lead-in for Today Show. It even had the same anchors, Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley. The program was conceived so local stations could carry the full hour or one of the two half hours. All other extensions of the Today Show had low ratings and immediately had to be cancelled. Nowadays, the Today Show has got a weekend edition that are tailored to the priorities and interests of weekend viewers, offering special series that feature live performances by the biggest names in music and Broadway, outside the studio.

There is no doubt in the fact that the Today Show is an amazingly popular American morning show. The Today Show has been airing on NBC for many years and during this long period of time, it only managed to draw more fans and increase its popularity. The Today Show was first aired on January 14, 1952. The success that this morning show has managed to achieve and keep for more than 50 years is best explained through the fact that the Today Show has meant a big change in the way television was seen in the 1950s. This is the first of its genre in the US, but also in the world.

Currently, the two anchors of the Today Show are Matt Lauer and Ann Curry. The first two hours of the show are hosted by these stars, alongside with broadcast meteorologist Al Rocker, but also with news anchor Natalie Morales and Chief Legal Analyst Savannah Guthrie. Well, for the next two hours of Today Show the hosts are changed. Al Rocker and Natalie Morales are the main anchors of the Today Show during the third hour of the morning series. The fourth hour of the Today Show is actually hosted by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford. As you probably know, the Today Show has a weekend edition, too. Anyway, the hosts of the show once again change, so you should not imagine that Matt Lauer and Ann Curry will also bring you the latest news and lifestyle tips during the Sundays and Saturdays.

The anchors of the Today Show during the Saturdays’ edition are Lester Holt and Amy Robach. The Sunday Today Show is hosted by Jenna Wolfe, but you should know that the three stars also contribute to the other daily shows of the main series. And since the morning show is so amazingly successful nowadays, it surely seems that they created a great team. Watching the morning show each day will surely be the best way to get properly informed about the latest events, but also to receive valuable advices and lifestyle tips.

Every single morning, I love waking up to The Today Show. While I get dressed and get ready for work, The Today Show is there to brighten my day. It is impossible not to love The Today Show. This vibrant American breakfast TV show airs on NBC every single morning, since 1952. Believe it or not, The Today Show turned 60 on January 14, 2012. This should come as no surprise, though, considering that The Today Show is extremely popular, not only nationwide, but throughout the whole world. Moreover, The Today Show is the 4th longest running American TV series of all times. Imagine that!

Although The Today Show was originally intended as a weekdays program, the success of the series determined its producers to expand it on Sundays, and later on to Saturdays, as well. And speaking of producers, The Today Show was created in 1952 by Sylvester B. “Pat” Waver, Jr., then vice-president at NBC. 60 years later, The Today Show is presented by Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Natalie Morales, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Kathie Lee Gifford. Nevertheless, the team behind The Today Show is so much bigger. Luckily, you cannot possibly get bored with The Today Show. Each episode runs for 4 hours (240 minutes), which is enough to put yourself up to date with the national and international latest news, but also with the latest lifestyle trends.

The Today Show deals with about every topic that people are interested in nowadays, including politics, entertainment, sports, media, and business. What I like most about The Today Show is that the series has always paid attention to interviews. It is one thing to talk about 4 hours, and a total different thing to invite guests who take part in the discussion and voice their opinion. In this way, The Today Show is closer to the people. One thing is for sure, though: I will never get bored of The Today Show. What better way is there to wake up and start your day, than by watching The Today Show? It will fill you with energy and you will be ready to face a new day.

The Today Show is one of the longest running shows of the American television. The Today Show has more than 60 years and is very popular among Americans of all ages who are fans of this TV program and kept watching it no matter how many changes occurred through the years. The Today Show is iconic for many and in the last years, the show kept developing more and more. A really interesting part of Today Show is related to food, of course. And, as many people want to gain more knowledge on this topic, because obesity is an important problem in the country, on the Today Show, this segment offers now more and more interesting recipes and advice. Recently, chef Terrance Brennan was in the studio of the Today Show offering viewers a few tips and tricks to improve the taste of the classic grilled cheese sandwiches.

Food education is very important in this country, that is why home cooking is heavily promoted on the Today Show. Although many do not realize it yet, eating only junk food and fast food will ruin in time their health. Obesity doesn’t refer just to the fat, but also on all the diseases that a fat organism can encounter. This is why the Today Show offers a lot of great food ideas, most of them simple, so, anyone can prepare a delicious meal in a short time, without having great cooking skills.

The Today Show also had a segment where the subject was related to the usage of leftovers. Many Americans throw their leftovers without thinking how much money they are really throwing away on a long period of time. During the Today Show, viewers were able to see great ideas about how to use the holiday leftovers, which are usually many. During celebratory times, everyone cooks a lot and there are plenty of leftovers. The Today Show brought Alex Guarnaschelli in the studio and he offered a lot of advice regarding what can be prepared with this type of leftovers. In present, the Today Show has a great food segment, important for all the viewers.

The Today Show is one of the most successful morning television shows to ever been produced. The popularity of the Today Show cannot be denied and this show surely has millions of fans and not only in the United States. The Today Show first debuted in 1952 and during the years it only gained more fame. The most important rival show to The Today Show is of course, Good Morning America.

If one thing is certain about The Today Show that surely is given by the fact this is considered to be one of the best shows in the history of American television. The current anchors of The Today Show are Matt Lauer and Ann Curry. The first anchors of the show were Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters, John Chancellor and Dave Gorroway. The show airs every day starting with 7 a.m., except Sundays when The Today Show starts at 8 a.m. So, as you probably already know, this morning show also airs on Sundays, due to the increased popularity it gained throughout the years. Since more people watched the show, the producers of The Today Show decided to air the amazing morning series also during the weekends. On Saturdays, The Today Show begins at 7 a.m. and only on Sundays the show starts one hour later. The first Today Show to be aired on Sundays debuted on September 20, 1987. However, when the show started to be aired on Sundays for the first time, Saturday was the only day of the week in which The Today Show was not on. Well, that surely changed in 1992. 

On August 1, 1992, The Today Show was aired for the first time on Saturdays. No matter if you love more the fact that this show offers you the possibility to find out the latest news, the weather prognosis, if you like to be informed about several aspects linked to a healthy lifestyle or you love finances and health stories, watching this show surely is a great idea to learn everything there is to know about all these things. And of course, there is no better morning show you can enjoy during breakfast or before going to work.

Sixty years. The Today Show started broadcasting on January 14, 1952. Only one show has a longer history on television – the Today Show’s “neighbor” on NBC, Meet the Press. This longevity is remarkable, especially when you consider how much and in how many ways the world has changed in sixty years… and even how the medium of television itself has evolved over these six decades.

The Today Show’s formula for success has remain basically unchanged. A mix of ‘hard’ news and ‘soft’ stories, delivered in a casual setting (on a sofa instead of behind an anchor desk) by friendly, familiar faces. This formula has been stretched from one hour to two, three and now four hours each morning. It’s fair to say that the Today Show now owns most of the broadcast real estate from early to mid-morning. And it has really become a collection of shows, one leading into the other.

The anchors and hosts of the Today Show have become household names and cultural icons in their own right. Barbara Walters. Tom Brokaw. Bryant Gumbel. Katie Couric. Matt Lauer. Even its weathermen became world-famous: Willard Scott and now Al Roker. It has had its share of scandals. Lots of feathers were ruffled when the popular Jane Pauley was pushed aside by blonde bimbo Deborah Norville. Yet the Today Show has endured.

Its stars are paid many millions of dollars, because the Today Show is a gold-plated franchise for NBC. The cash cow earns more than $250 million per year for the network, primarily from advertising revenues. And that’s good for another sixty years. One reason the Today Show has remained such a fixture in American broadcasting for all these years is that its structure allows it to easily incorporate breaking news. When big news happens, viewers know they won’t miss anything. And when big news is bad news (such as 9/11), people would rather receive such news from “tv friends” which is what the Today Show has always strived to be to its audience.

Whatever the future brings, in the world, in television technology and in the media business, it’s hard to imagine a world without the Today Show to turn to each morning.

Let’s all wish a very happy birthday to Matt Lauer of the Today Show!

Matt turned 54 yesterday, with a big cake and a birthday serenade from Steven Tyler (Aerosmith frontman and American Idol judge). Savannah brought out a huge photograph of Matt as a child holding a tiny fish he caught. And they all wished a happy birthday to ex-host of the Today Show, Meredith Viera! (What are the odds that both Today Show hosts have the same birthday?!)

Matt is now a seasoned veteran on the Today Show. He replaced Bryant Gumbel in 1997 with co-host Katie Couric. (Katie went on to helm the CBS Evening News, and recently joined ABC News with a daytime talk show launching in 2012.) Meredith Viera replaced Katie as Matt’s co-host in 2006, and recently left the Today Show after five successful years. (Meredith also hosts the tv game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?) Ann Curry (longtime news reader on the Today Show) is now the third co-host to share Today Show duties with Matt Lauer.

There is nothing Matt cannot do on the Today Show. From cooking segments with celebrity chefs… to touring the Great Wall of China or Easter Island or Berlin on his annual “Where in the world is Matt Lauer?” piece… to interviewing political leaders, Hollywood stars, and local heroes… to hosting the Olympics broadcasts. Matt Lauer moves comfortably between all these different worlds. Happy birthday, Matt.

The Today Show is one of the most beloved TV shows ever in the United States of America and gained more popularity with time. Because so many are curios to find out interesting things about the Today Show, here are some trivia related to this entertaining program.

The first thing you should know is that the Today Show exists since 1952 and it started in a street level studio. Because the windows were extremely big, people used to gather at the windows, so they can see themselves on TV. The address back then was 10 Rockefeller Plaza and later changed to 30 Rockefeller Plaza in a regular studio in the headquarters of NBC. Many years later, in 1994, the Today Show relocated for the second and last time until now to the previous glass enclosed studio dubbed 1-A. In the year that the Today Show started, there were only two hours of broadcasting for each time zone, in a total of 3 hours of broadcasting. Later, the broadcasting lasted for 5 hours, but the situation was the same, just 2 hours for every time zone. In 1958, things changed and the show was taped and since 2007 the show expanded to 4 hours daily. In the last years of the Today Show, there were a lot of anchors: Matt Lauer, An Curry, Natalie Morales, Al Rocker, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, Willard Scott, Lester Holt, Amy Robach, Bill Karins, Jenna Wolfe, Janice Huff. The theme for the Today Show was composed by John Williams. Former anchors that gained fame thanks to the Today Show are Dave Garroway, John Chancellor, Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Franks McGee, Jim Hartz, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Doborah Norville, Katie Couric and Meredith Viera.

Although hosting teams changed, some leaving and new people joining, the Today Show never lost its charm or viewers. Even in 2011, when the TV show approaches its 60 years milestone, the audiences are high and even requests for international broadcasting continue to come. May the Today Show have a secret recipe for a great and successful entertaining program that will last forever?