NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC affiliates and TODAY

Well NBC isnt letting Megan Kelly Today's beautiful and very expensive studio go to waste. Starting on Monday the new rotating group of hosts retreated up to Studio 6A to present the 3rd hour programme in front of a studio audience. Similar to what GMA Day does and their studio upstairs at their Time Square studio. Newscastudio has a nice article with piccys.
https://www.newscaststudio.com/2018/10/30/today-third-hour-studio-6a/

Not a fan of the lighting changes they've made, it feels a bit more dingy to me now. They're also now placing the set furnishings right up to the screens losing the great depth it had under Megyn Kelly.



Also, whilst they had a studio audience Monday, they didn't today, losing all the energy Megyn's show had in my opinion. They did somewhat recreate the roundtable feature from MKT, with Today's anchors but with more generalised topics and not the headlines. They discussed keeping a journal and how they got engaged.

Might be expensive but that studio is pretty hideous.

I think its brilliant for a talk show set. But its certainly there has been some tinkering with the brilliant lighting design from The Lighting Design Group. So the set doesnt look its best any more. And likely the furniture hasnt been screen tested probably in they way NBC would like, because of the quick turnaround in putting this format together.
I suspect that NBC Today is in a MAJOR testing phase with the 3rd hour. I think we are gonna see several formats get thrown into the mix. Who knows we may see the audience return and likely a rotating gang of presenters. Likely the furniture will be scrapped so I wouldnt hang my hat on that furniture they are using right now. Its likely to change. Im sure NBC is kicking themselves that they let the brilliant Tamron Hall leave the network. I like NBC News, its always been my preferred, but they do make some boneheaded personnel decisions.

US set design is very different... The ITV Daytime stuff (some of which is US designed) is the closest we have.

I saw the most bizarre high, swivel chairs on Live with Kelly and Ryan recently. So odd to a UK eye.

There's a US TV design vernacular that just doesn't chime with UK audiences. It's a bit like someone's gone a bit mad in a Ligne Roset store.

If anyone has any questions about Studio 1A them PM me. I am in New York and will be going to KLG and Hoda as a vip as I know KLG. Any questions about the set PM me and I will ask them

Thursday Today basically reverted to Megyn Kelly's set-up. Small audience as well. Much better in my opinion.

The US TV industry does love high chairs doesn't it?

On my visit yesterday, it seems that they have stopped the orange room or are re doing it as there is a panel with wooden strips representing the today logo coming across it. Looking In, it seems like it's now being used for storage, but the large wall of screens at the back are still operational

They're making some modifications for midterms coverage.

That wall has been in place since October. It replaces a huge perspex TODAY logo sculpture and it rolls out of the way when they need to use the Orange Room.

Here is the scultrure that was previously there.

Read more about it here.