NBC’s morning show was a hit, and its anchors celebrated by celebrating every minute.
Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, and Hoda Kotb were present during the morning broadcast. They reflected on the show’s iconic legacy with a rich montage that reflects on the seven decades of its existence.
The footage showed clips of anchors from the past as well as milestone moments from the series’ history.
“I believe the secret sauce to why this show has survived 70 years is its great company,” Kotb, who is 57, said as Melvin, 42 added, “There’s no where this show hasn’t gone.”
Today’s first episode aired Jan. 14, 1952. David Cunningham Garroway, the anchor of the news program at the time was David Cunningham Garroway. He was eventually paired with Barbara Walters, whom he had hired to be a writer.
Hugh Downs, Katie Couric and Tom Brokaw are just a few of the notable anchors that have graced the show’s history.
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Roker, Kotb, and Daly spoke to PEOPLE (the TV Show!) on Thursday. Jeremy Parsons, PEOPLE’s TV Show! Roker spoke about the best parts of filming in locations and traveling. “What I love most about those times, when we take trips as shows, is that we get time to spend with each other. There’s a lot of hustle and bustle during the show. You’re always running around. It’s amazing how blessed we are when we get to be together for extended periods of time.
Kotb was also reflecting on her 2018 co-anchorship.
She said, “I believe it’s one those things that was almost too big for me to even dream about, to have it register, that it was even possible.” “I don’t speak out loud unless it’s done. It was very meaningful to me.” It was also a great deal to be the first Savannah female team, which we knew at that time, but didn’t know it.
Kotb said that a mom and her daughter once came up to Kotb and said, “We just wanna tell your daughter something. From now on, my daughter will know that two women anchor a television show is totally normal. That was a regular. It was a huge moment for me.”
Daly, who joined the show as a 2013 guest star, said that “it’s never lost to me to walk into [that] show.” It is said that if you love what your do, you have never worked a single day in your entire life. This is a saying that has never been truer for me, as I get to watch the Today Show every day.
