‘Today’ Show EP: ‘We Are On Our Way Back’

By Chris Ariens 

Prostate exams, doomed skydivers, and milking goats: just another week at NBC’s morning show.

In an email to his staff this afternoon — obtained by TVNewser — “Today” senior EP Don Nash thanked them for helping produce “a show made up of moments.” He also pointed out the “inappropriate finger jokes” from Matt Lauer’s doctor following a segment which included prostate exams for Lauer and Al Roker.

I “end” with kudos to Matt and Al for showing America just how easy it is to get a prostrate screening. The inappropriate finger jokes from Matt’s doctor aside, this was about taking a risk, trying something new and making it work. It’s moments like these, brought by you, that set us apart from any other show on television. Things are coming together. We are on our way back. I feel it in the show, I hear it from the audience and I see it in the numbers.

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“Today,” which had been No. 1 in the mornings for 16 years, fell to second place behind ABC’s “Good Morning America” last year. Nash’s note after the jump…

From: Nash, Don (NBCUniversal)
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2013 4:29 PM
Subject: A Great Week!

We are a show made up of moments. Moments that inform, moments that inspire, moments that matter, moments that move.

There were so many of them this week.

Let’s start with the adoption series. Dr. Nancy’s honest and revealing story about her daughter, Kate, meeting her birth mother for the first time had America crying tears of joy. The moment when the Dutch couple met their new baby on our air for the first time was live TV at its best.

As far as tape goes, it doesn’t get much better than the exclusive video of the skydivers escaping the mid-air collision. And speaking of exclusives, this morning’s announcement that Today would be broadcasting the world’s first commercial flight to space proves the extent of what we can do on this show is, truly, limitless. I can’t wait for next August.

The third and fourth hours had some great – and very funny – moments as well, including a segment where Willie showed Natalie how to drive a stick and another one where a guy showed KLG and Hoda why they shouldn’t be milking goats.

I “end” with kudos to Matt and Al for showing America just how easy it is to get a prostrate screening. The inappropriate finger jokes from Matt’s doctor aside, this was about taking a risk, trying something new and making it work.

It’s moments like these, brought by you, that set us apart from any other show on television. Things are coming together. We are on our way back. I feel it in the show, I hear it from the audience and I see it in the numbers.

Let’s see how many moments we can create next week…

Don

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