A Great Look Inside ‘Today’, NBC Studio 1A…Viera Sendoff Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtAScZzhFg
At the link is a clip from Meredith Vieira’s last day as a ‘Today’ co host. As Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” plays, a single camera goes with Merideth, first from the studio downstairs into the 1A control room and then up and out onto the plaza.

Until I visited last month, I couldn’t really “get” the lay out and relationships to what is where, but if you’ve ever wondered, this is about as good a look as you’ll get. There is a second floor studio above the main set which I think is mostly used for cooking segments now, but before the news nooks were built a few years back in 6C, that was were Lester Holt did the weekend news shows.

Having seen the cast and crew of this show in action, I have to tell you that action is the key word. From 7 till 9 every morning, they are in and out and back and forth from the studio to the plaza more than a jack in the box. It takes a lot of coordination and pros to pull this off and they do it like no one else! Even in the rain.

Outside, it’s all handheld, Steadicam and jib and inside there are four ped cameras, a Merlin (center photo below) and a hand held. I think there must be at least eight camera operators and that many or more utility people, plus a small army of producers and floor directors.

By the way, Meredith will be back in the fall with her own syndicated show that will be done in NBC’s Studio 6A, on a set that resembles Vieira’s home, with her actual furniture and family photos, Enjoy and share!

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