DK
NBC TODAY Special Opening - Pope Benedict's Resignation: http://youtu.be/rsgnroZoJa0
NBC TODAY Opening - Evolution of the Introduction Announcement: http://youtu.be/a1zApNJFrwc
NBC TODAY Opening - Evolution of the Introduction Announcement: http://youtu.be/a1zApNJFrwc
HO
So each week, for the past few weeks, they've introduced tweaks and changes across Today's presentation.
First, a tweaked set - the same basic design, but with a new larger desk which is now also where the news comes from (like GMA...). There are far more four-presenter shots at the desk, and there are a handful of other changes made to the set. They've also changed the direction a little, with more big fast 'swooping' shots in and out, and they've also tried other things like a Morning-Joe-esque photo montage of the 'cast and crew' of Today showed going out to a break.
Then, as mentioned earlier in the thread, they then ruined their graphics. They look a little better this morning, but they're still large and ugly where previously Today had more subtle graphics.
And now, this morning, they've reworked the title music, intro music and bed. These, at least, are of a decent quality.
As DanielK mentioned, you can stream or download the first hour (edited down) on iTunes, if you want to see. Unfortunately I can't provide caps or videos.
First, a tweaked set - the same basic design, but with a new larger desk which is now also where the news comes from (like GMA...). There are far more four-presenter shots at the desk, and there are a handful of other changes made to the set. They've also changed the direction a little, with more big fast 'swooping' shots in and out, and they've also tried other things like a Morning-Joe-esque photo montage of the 'cast and crew' of Today showed going out to a break.
Then, as mentioned earlier in the thread, they then ruined their graphics. They look a little better this morning, but they're still large and ugly where previously Today had more subtle graphics.
And now, this morning, they've reworked the title music, intro music and bed. These, at least, are of a decent quality.
As DanielK mentioned, you can stream or download the first hour (edited down) on iTunes, if you want to see. Unfortunately I can't provide caps or videos.
DK
One thing I don't understand is the new wipe between each headline at 7am. The whole design is based on the diagonal lines yet it cahgnes to massive sqaures that fade our separately.
EDIT: Just checked my podcast. I hope to god that the music is not new normal Today music, the headline bed is to light for a normal broadcast, the titles should never ever dump The Mission, re work it but never dump it IMO. Also it sound like a terrible rework of some of their election stuff. Video up soon.
EDIT: Just checked my podcast. I hope to god that the music is not new normal Today music, the headline bed is to light for a normal broadcast, the titles should never ever dump The Mission, re work it but never dump it IMO. Also it sound like a terrible rework of some of their election stuff. Video up soon.
Last edited by DanielK on 11 March 2013 11:39pm
GI
Lately I've been watching some of these US morning shows and my impression is that GMA is pure fluff. Today at least has a decent news update at the start before it goes into lifestyle/celeb themes later on. Another thing I noticed on GMA, it feels like these secondary presenters get much more screen time than the 2 main presenters, especially the young blonde. As for the set, I like the NY background on GMA but overall Today set is much more classy and just nicer on the eye. GMA giant desk and everything around it is quite tacky imo.
GI
Is Maria getting hired? Shriver laughs and jokes with Matt Lauer as she co-anchors Today from Rome... while Savannah Guthrie is holed up in New York
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295861/Maria-Shriver-Shriver-laughs-jokes-Today-host-Matt-Lauer-Rome.html#ixzz2O5f87K19
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/maria_back_to_work_6J4C7jaACX6TdBl0zEBjFI
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295861/Maria-Shriver-Shriver-laughs-jokes-Today-host-Matt-Lauer-Rome.html#ixzz2O5f87K19
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/maria_back_to_work_6J4C7jaACX6TdBl0zEBjFI
NY
What are your thoughts on CBS's offering "CBS This Morning"?
Lately I've been watching some of these US morning shows and my impression is that GMA is pure fluff. Today at least has a decent news update at the start before it goes into lifestyle/celeb themes later on. Another thing I noticed on GMA, it feels like these secondary presenters get much more screen time than the 2 main presenters, especially the young blonde. As for the set, I like the NY background on GMA but overall Today set is much more classy and just nicer on the eye. GMA giant desk and everything around it is quite tacky imo.
What are your thoughts on CBS's offering "CBS This Morning"?
GM
Gotta say I'm very much liking the revamp of Today!
The music is actually really spot on!
The music is actually really spot on!
SI
Here's the "newsy" alternative...CBS This Morning Open from last year. In Feb 2013, they changed the opening credits/sequence.
JO
http://nymag.com/news/features/today-show-hosts-2013-4/
An extensive piece in April's edition of 'New York' magazine talking about the troubles with NBC's 'Today'. Lots of insider information, particularly about Ann Curry's departure - talk of her crying in her dressing room just days after tabloid reports of her removal from the show, a tension in the studio as she spoke to nobody, and an overwhelming feeling from staff involved in the show that Matt Lauer was behind her axe. It's a long piece but very thorough and interesting to read.
Heres a few interesting bits:
On the presentation front, looks like a new set will be on the way - obviously changes have already been made such as the bigger desk to fit all four hosts on (like Good Morning America).
An extensive piece in April's edition of 'New York' magazine talking about the troubles with NBC's 'Today'. Lots of insider information, particularly about Ann Curry's departure - talk of her crying in her dressing room just days after tabloid reports of her removal from the show, a tension in the studio as she spoke to nobody, and an overwhelming feeling from staff involved in the show that Matt Lauer was behind her axe. It's a long piece but very thorough and interesting to read.
Heres a few interesting bits:
Quote:
For a few days, Curry spoke to no one. The set was funereal. Curry was mad at Bell, Bell was angry with Curry, and Capus was angry at Bell. The next week, a deal was finally hammered out: Curry would get $12 million, and her own production unit at NBC, to leave Today. The day before her last morning, Curry wrote her own copy, telling Capus she wanted to “speak from the heart.” That same night, Lauer called in to ask, “So when am I taking my cyanide pill tomorrow?”
The events of the following morning are now the stuff of television infamy. Along with Bell, Burke was in the control room. When the time came to say good-bye, Curry broke down and wept as she read the script, her eyes red and swollen, appearing to recoil from a visibly shaken Lauer.
Some at NBC believed Curry purposefully self-destructed to damage both Lauer and the show, with one producer describing it as the morning-show equivalent of Curry “strapping on C4” explosives. But few dispute that her emotional state was real. After she left the set at 30 Rock, she got into a car on 48th Street and was driven to the airport to catch a flight to California. She cried the entire way.
The events of the following morning are now the stuff of television infamy. Along with Bell, Burke was in the control room. When the time came to say good-bye, Curry broke down and wept as she read the script, her eyes red and swollen, appearing to recoil from a visibly shaken Lauer.
Some at NBC believed Curry purposefully self-destructed to damage both Lauer and the show, with one producer describing it as the morning-show equivalent of Curry “strapping on C4” explosives. But few dispute that her emotional state was real. After she left the set at 30 Rock, she got into a car on 48th Street and was driven to the airport to catch a flight to California. She cried the entire way.
Quote:
When she was asked to become co-host, (Savannah) Guthrie cried in Capus’s office, worried that Curry, and Today viewers, would see her as the backstabber.
On the presentation front, looks like a new set will be on the way - obviously changes have already been made such as the bigger desk to fit all four hosts on (like Good Morning America).
Quote:
This summer, Today will have a brighter, warmer set, getting away from the smoked-glass-and-taupe stage it has now, which Wallace acknowledged was too “cool.” Uplift and warmth are the new buzzwords at Today. And a sense of transparency: The show has also borrowed a trick from CBS This Morning, using a Steadicam to reveal the set from behind the scenes so viewers get a 360-degree feel.
HO
[In reply to Joshua]
Thanks Joshua, that's a really interesting article. Clearly a lot of detailed work and reporting went into that. It'll be really interesting to read Brian Stelter's book in April (and, based on that article, interesting how Stelter fits into the story itself...). It's sucha shame Ann isn't used more at NBC, she's a fine correspondent (and, for me at least, anchor).
One name that's not mentioned very often, in regards to the lack of chemistry, is Natalie Morales, who I think struggles on Today in exactly the same way Ann did. She has no onscreen chemistry with Matt, often seems quite awkward during anchor 'discussions' about things, and doesn't handle interviews too well (the opposite of Ann, too stiff and disconnected from the interviewee). I think this is why she didn't get the main co-host job in 2011 or 2012, and I suspect won't ever. She's fine when she handles actual news (hence, like Ann, makes a good news anchor and Nightly News fill-in) but doesn't, I think, click very well with the morning show agenda/content. But, like Ann, she's very popular with viewers, so I think NBC's very lucky she didn't quit when she was passed over in 2012 as I think there could have been a similar backlash and viewer decline. That's not to say they won't have a similar problem in the future, though.
Side note: she gets on much better with Savannah, Al and Willie than she does with Matt. I can't work out if this makes the rumours about a previous affair with Matt Lauer (as noted in that article) even more far fetched, or mildly plausible.
Either way, I suspect it makes for awkward viewing for some viewers, and if the negative stories and headlines about Matt don't end soon I really can't imagine he'll be in that post for long. When Ann was still there I always felt the chemistry issue was more Matt's problem than Ann's, as she got on fine with substitutes like Lester Holt and David Gregory, and I thought had some really nice chemistry with Willie Geist. Savannah and Matt get on a hell of a lot better than Ann and Matt, but I still find it harder to watch the programme when Matt anchors. He just has a vibe these days that's off putting.
Meanwhile Jenna Wolfe (weekend news anchor, formerly Saturday co-host) has announced she's expecting a baby with NBC correspondent Stephanie Gosk. Link.
Thanks Joshua, that's a really interesting article. Clearly a lot of detailed work and reporting went into that. It'll be really interesting to read Brian Stelter's book in April (and, based on that article, interesting how Stelter fits into the story itself...). It's sucha shame Ann isn't used more at NBC, she's a fine correspondent (and, for me at least, anchor).
One name that's not mentioned very often, in regards to the lack of chemistry, is Natalie Morales, who I think struggles on Today in exactly the same way Ann did. She has no onscreen chemistry with Matt, often seems quite awkward during anchor 'discussions' about things, and doesn't handle interviews too well (the opposite of Ann, too stiff and disconnected from the interviewee). I think this is why she didn't get the main co-host job in 2011 or 2012, and I suspect won't ever. She's fine when she handles actual news (hence, like Ann, makes a good news anchor and Nightly News fill-in) but doesn't, I think, click very well with the morning show agenda/content. But, like Ann, she's very popular with viewers, so I think NBC's very lucky she didn't quit when she was passed over in 2012 as I think there could have been a similar backlash and viewer decline. That's not to say they won't have a similar problem in the future, though.
Side note: she gets on much better with Savannah, Al and Willie than she does with Matt. I can't work out if this makes the rumours about a previous affair with Matt Lauer (as noted in that article) even more far fetched, or mildly plausible.
Either way, I suspect it makes for awkward viewing for some viewers, and if the negative stories and headlines about Matt don't end soon I really can't imagine he'll be in that post for long. When Ann was still there I always felt the chemistry issue was more Matt's problem than Ann's, as she got on fine with substitutes like Lester Holt and David Gregory, and I thought had some really nice chemistry with Willie Geist. Savannah and Matt get on a hell of a lot better than Ann and Matt, but I still find it harder to watch the programme when Matt anchors. He just has a vibe these days that's off putting.
Meanwhile Jenna Wolfe (weekend news anchor, formerly Saturday co-host) has announced she's expecting a baby with NBC correspondent Stephanie Gosk. Link.