Topics in this article

Hoda Kotb shows what it’s like behind the scenes at ‘Today’ with skeleton crew

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

NBC News “Today” co-anchor Hoda Kotb posted a video documenting what it’s like to come into work in a mostly deserted Studio 1A.

“Today” has been split anchoring since March 18, 2020, and Kotb’s co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, began anchoring from home after reporting minor cold like symptoms. She has continued to appear regularly on “Today” since then.

In addition, Al Roker and Craig Melvin have been joining the show remotely as well after they came into contact with a “Today” staffer who contracted the virus.

A “Today” production team member, Larry Edgeworth, died from complications from coronavirus March 20, 2020.

Kotb’s video seems to suggest that only one crew member is in studio with her — and only a skeleton staff is on duty elsewhere in the complex located across the street from NBC News headquarters in 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

She also noted that her studio preview monitors were showing a live feed of Michael Feldman, Guthrie’s husband, who is serving as her “at home technician,” who appeared to be “sitting in” for his wife in the home TV studio the network built in their basement.

The apparent reduction of staff at the “Today” studios is apparent on air — the show has simplified how it shoots the set and eliminated the handheld camera shots that “float” in front of its video wall to break down key points of the top story (which has unfailingly been coronavirus over the past week or so).

To further ease the reduction of staff, “Today” is rerunning segments from old shows during its third and fourth hours, though each hour does receive an updated opening block.

Popular Searches