The Today Show premiered on NBC on January 14, 1952, launching the modern era of morning television. Hosted originally by Dave Garroway and developed by NBC president Pat Weaver, “Today” became one of the most influential formats in television history.

This episode of Philo T. Farnsworth & 100 Years of Television continues the countdown with Milestone #70 — NBC Today (1952), exploring how the Today Show filled the last empty hours of the broadcast day and set the template for morning television for decades to come. 

By 1952, the television networks (NBC, CBS, and DuMont) had established beachheads across much of the broadcast day. Prime time featured prestige dramas and variety shows, while afternoons were dominated by soap operas and game shows aimed at homemakers.

But mornings remained empty — until NBC introduced Today, a format designed to blend news, interviews, weather, and light features into a daily companion for American households.

In this episode:

• The origins of the Today Show

• Pat Weaver’s vision for morning television

• Dave Garroway and the first broadcast

• How Today changed television forever

Countdown #70 — NBC Today (1952)

100 Years of Television — 1927–2027