Fresh off a first place showing in the morning ratings race (first place among adults 25-54, that is), NBC’s Today is poised to maintain that momentum with a big October.
Today show will launch three new franchise series this October, led by NBC News correspondents: Mr. Smith Goes To… with Harry Smith, Stay Tuned Today with Savannah Sellers and Today’s Consumer with Vicky Nguyen.
The new series are part of Today’s October to Remember, where the program will host some of America’s top celebrities and newsmakers throughout the month, capped off by the show’s traditional Halloween bash.
Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Carson Daly will kicked off the October to Remember earlier, as Kotb announced personal Pink Power Today series for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“This month, you will see what the Today show does best — big events and interviews with newsmakers that are at the center of our culture,” Today show ep Libby Leist tells TVNewser.
Those newsmakers of which Leist was speaking include former First Lady Michelle Obama, who will make a special announcement on International Day of the Girl, Tom Hanks, who will spotlight Elizabeth Dole’s Hidden Heroes organization (Guthrie interviewed Hanks about the foundation last November), and Monica Lewinsky, who will sit down for a live interview for National Bullying Prevention Month.
Additionally, fashion icon Victoria Beckham, Academy Award-winning actress Dame Julie Andrews, comedy legend Eddie Murphy, and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will join the program to announce their new projects.
“The fact that we put on a live show every day, gives us the unique ability to connect in real time with the audience on issues that matter, and it allows us the platform to showcase extraordinary people,” Leist added.
The NBC morning show, like its counterparts, is looking for ways to bring viewers back into the fold. Today was -4% in total viewers and -10% in the key A25-54 demo this past season compared to the 2017-2018 TV news season. Good Morning America, No. 1 among the morning shows in total viewers, was -4% in total viewers, and -9% in the key A25-54 demo. CBS This Morning was -9% in total viewers, and -10% among adults 25-54.