First on TVNewser: The new set for NBC’s “Today” will debut on Monday, September 9, according to the show’s executive producer, Don Nash.
“It is much more than a fresh coat of paint,” Nash tells TVNewser. “It is much more ‘current’ than what we have, I think it is much more exciting. We will have a lot more bells and whistles to play with, but it is classy, just like the show itself.”
Next week will be the final week for the current Studio 1A, Nash says, with the show moving out onto the plaza for about three weeks until the new set is complete and ready for production. The show will also be getting a new graphics package to complement the new set.
“It will affect all four parts of the show, it is totally gutting the current studio,” Nash says.
“Today” has also been tweaking its format somewhat. This week the 9 AM hour of the program was re-branded as “Today’s Take,” featuring a new introduction and voice-over, and expanding on the roundtable format with Willie Geist, Natalie Morales and Al Roker. The first news segment of the third hour was pushed down from where it had been to make room for the expanded chat section, part of a formula Nash says they have been tweaking.
“While the third hour is always going to be part of the Today show, we wanted to give it a little more definition,” Nash says. “We decided we would take what was the chat at the top of the show, called “Today’s take,” and brand the whole show that way.”