Today with Hoda & Jenna

Today with Hoda & Jenna
Also known as
  • The fourth hour of Today (2008–present)
  • Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda (2008–19)
Genre
Presented by
Narrated byLes Marshak
No. of seasons11
Production
Executive producers
  • Tammy Filler (2017–2019)
  • Joanne LaMarca Mathisen (2019–2021)
  • Talia Parkinson-Jones (2021–present)
Production locationsNBC Studios
New York, New York
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time44–52 minutes
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseApril 7, 2008 (2008-04-07) –
present
Related
Today

Today with Hoda & Jenna (also known as the fourth hour of Today or simply Hoda & Jenna) is an American daytime television talk show on NBC, hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. The program airs as the fourth hour of NBC's Today at 10:00 a.m. in all time zones (subject to local delay) as a "show-within-a-show" with its own hosts, opening sequence, theme music, and website. The Monday through Thursday editions of this portion of the program air live in the Eastern Time Zone and on tape delay elsewhere; the Friday edition is pre-recorded.[1]

The program originally began as an expansion of Today, hosted by Ann Curry, Natalie Morales and Hoda Kotb. For 11 years, the program grew as its own distinct entity as Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda, after Kotb was joined by Kathie Lee Gifford on April 7, 2008. On December 11, 2018, Gifford and NBC announced that she would be leaving Today. On February 26, 2019, it was announced that Jenna Bush Hager would be succeeding Gifford as the new co-host.

History

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2007–08: Start of the fourth hour

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On January 17, 2007, at its press tour sessions, NBC News announced that Today would be expanded to four hours beginning that fall.[2] To make room on its schedule for the expansion, NBC – rather than disrupting an hour of programming time already allocated for syndicated or local programming on its stations – made the decision to cancel the low-rated daytime soap opera Passions and use that hour allocation for the new fourth hour.[3]

The fourth hour debuted on September 10, 2007, originally hosted by Ann Curry, Natalie Morales, and Hoda Kotb.

2008–19: Kathie Lee and Hoda

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Logo for Kathie Lee and Hoda from 2008 to 2019

Kathie Lee Gifford replaced Curry and Morales as co-host on April 7, 2008,[4] and over time became more of its own distinct entity, and was being referred to more as simply Kathie Lee & Hoda, with its own website and social media presence. The fourth hour does not have news or weather segments (other than local newsbreaks aired during the first half-hour on some NBC stations, provided they air the fourth hour at 10:00 a.m.) or input from the earlier hosts and is structured virtually as a standalone talk show, with an opening "host chat" segment reminiscent of the one popularized by Gifford and Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, as well as interviews and features focusing on entertainment, fashion and other topics aimed at female viewers.

Hoda Kotb (left) and Kathie Lee Gifford (right) in 2008

Kathie Lee & Hoda competed with ABC's The View and CBS' The Price Is Right in most markets in the Central and Pacific Time Zones, but most stations in the Eastern Time Zone air it live one hour before those programs, as ABC and CBS's late morning daytime programs are not tape delayed for each time zone. Not all NBC affiliates carry Kathie Lee & Hoda live. The program airs on tape delay in some markets that may air it later in the morning or early afternoons at the station's discretion to make room for local news or syndicated programming.

On September 26, 2011, NBC began to rebroadcast Kathie Lee & Hoda as part of its overnight lineup (formerly known as NBC All Night) on weekday early mornings at 2:05 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time[5] (varied according to local scheduling; although the rebroadcast is pre-empted by NBC affiliates in a few markets, such as those owned by Graham Media Group), as a replacement for Poker After Dark, which was canceled due to legal issues involving that show's sponsor Full Tilt Poker and televised poker in general.

On December 11, 2018, NBC and Gifford announced that she will be retiring from her position of anchoring the fourth hour in April 2019, her 11th anniversary since joining Today.[6][7] Kotb would continue anchoring the fourth hour.[8]

2019–present: Hoda and Jenna

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On February 26, 2019, NBC announced that Jenna Bush Hager would replace Gifford on the fourth hour of Today after Gifford's departure on April 5, 2019.[9][10] The renamed Today with Hoda & Jenna premiered on April 8, 2019.[11] Joanne LaMarca Mathisen, who previously served as senior producer and left in January 2017,[12] returned to NBC to become the new executive producer.[13] Tammy Filler, the executive producer for Kathie Lee and Hoda since July 2017,[14] left Today to become executive vice president and editor-in-chief of E! News.[15][12]

In the fall of 2019, a number of NBC stations and affiliates also carrying the syndicated NBCUniversal Television Distribution program The Kelly Clarkson Show began to carry a late-night repeat of that show instead of Hoda & Jenna to give the former an additional cumulative ratings boost. Those stations that do not air Kelly or prefer to air it only once per day continued to carry Hoda & Jenna until March 28, 2022, when NBC replaced its late-night rebroadcast of Hoda & Jenna with a rebroadcast of Top Story with Tom Llamas from NBC News Now.

It was revealed on the 2019 Halloween show that Kotb and Hager had only hosted five shows together since the premiere of the revamped hour in April 2019, due to both women being away for parental leave.[16] On the same day, Hager announced she would return on November 11, 2019.[17]

On January 16, 2020, Kotb and Hager announced that the Thursday and Friday editions of Hoda & Jenna would be recorded in front of a live studio audience starting February 6, 2020, and called Hoda & Jenna & Friends.[18] The revamped editions were broadcast from Studio 6A, formerly used by Megyn Kelly Today, instead of Studio 1A.[19] However, the program would later return to Studio 1A due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with another NBC program The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon moving into Studio 6A.[20] On October 6, 2021, it was announced that former co-executive producer of The Wendy Williams Show and Tamron Hall, Talia Parkinson-Jones would be named the new executive producer of the show taking the place of LaMarca Mathisen.[21]

On September 4, 2024, Hoda & Jenna debuted a new opening theme performed by Meghan Trainor.[22] The theme music was originally revealed on April 8, 2024, during the 5th anniversary of Hoda & Jenna.[23] Trainor had previously created "Wake Up to Kathie Lee and Hoda", a theme song for Kathie Lee & Hoda.[24]

On September 26, 2024, Kotb announced she would be stepping down as co-anchor of Today, but would still remain at NBC.[25]

Recurring elements

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The show's signature element is its opening "host chat" segment where the latest entertainment headlines and stories are discussed. This segment was called Today's Talk during the Kathie Lee and Hoda era of the program,[26] however that name has not been used since Hager joined the program as co-host.

The show is most notable for its frequent use and display of wine on-air. Speaking about the wine, Gifford, in an interview with Variety, said: "People just assume we are drinking wine the whole time, but the reality is most days it just sits there."[27] Gifford has also said that they have a sip once or twice but the wine is used mainly as a prop to be funny.[28]

Segments

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The show has had many recurring segments throughout its years. They include:

Current

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  • Ambush Makeover is a segment on Thursdays where select fans who show up in Rockefeller Plaza get a makeover.
  • All Rise for Judge ________ (Guest's name) is a game where they ask a guest their argument on a few topics.
  • Chooseday is a segment on Tuesdays where viewers vote from a selection of three outfits each for Hoda & Jenna to wear the next day on the show.
  • Hoda & Jenna's Relationship Dilemmas is a segment where they give relationship advice to viewer's questions.
  • iHoda Live, which succeeds the original iHoda, is a segment where Hoda brings in the artist of her favorite song of the moment to perform live. Joshua Radin was the first to perform.[29]
  • Read With Jenna is a monthly on-air book discussion club in the style of Oprah's Book Club. The segment started in March 2019 when Hager chose the book The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin. Due to the size of the Today Show's audience, most of the books chosen by her have become instant best-sellers.[30][31]
  • The Scoop is a segment where they talk about the latest celebrity news and gossip. At the end of the year, they do a special year-in-review version called The Scoopies.
  • Weekend Watchlist is a segment that provides movie and TV recommendations to binge.

Former

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  • Friday Funny was a segment where Kathie Lee shares jokes and puns during the Today's Talk.
  • Give It Away was a segment where prizes are given to 5 viewers.
  • Favorite Things was a segment where Kathie Lee and Hoda share their favorite products.
  • iHoda was a segment where Hoda shares her favorite song of the moment during Today's Talk.
  • Who Knew? is a trivia game that is partially taped live across the street at The Shop at NBC Studios.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2019 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Talk Show Informative Today with Kathie Lee & Hoda Nominated [32]
Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb Won [32][33]
2020 Outstanding Talk Show Informative Today with Hoda & Jenna Nominated [34]
Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager Nominated [34]
2021 Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment Today with Hoda & Jenna Nominated [35]
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager Nominated
2022 Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment Today with Hoda & Jenna Nominated [36]
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager Nominated
People's Choice Awards The Daytime Talk Show of 2022 Today with Hoda & Jenna Nominated [37]
2023 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Today with Hoda & Jenna Nominated [38]
2024 GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Live TV Journalism – Segment or Special "TikTok Sensations 'The Old Gays' Talk About How They Became Friends and Their New Docuseries" Nominated [39]

References

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  1. ^ Benbow, Dana Hunsinger (September 6, 2013). "Today show secrets: Kathie Lee hums to herself, Hoda devours M&Ms". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  2. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (January 17, 2007). "NBC's Today Is Expected To Add a Fourth Hour". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  3. ^ Adalian, Josef; Dempsey, John (January 17, 2007). "NBC cancels 'Passions'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  4. ^ "Kathie Lee Gifford Joins "Today"". CBS News. March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  5. ^ Stelter, Brian (November 27, 2011). "'Today' Repeats Help Fill NBC's Late-Night Lineup". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  6. ^ Kim, Eun Kyung (December 11, 2018). "Kathie Lee Gifford announces she's stepping away from TODAY in 2019". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Kathie Lee Gifford departing Today". NBC Connecticut. December 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  8. ^ Stelter, Brian (December 11, 2018). "Kathie Lee Gifford is leaving 'Today'". CNN. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Triggs, Charlotte. "Jenna Bush Hager Will Co-Host Today's Fourth Hour After Kathie Lee Gifford's Departure". People. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  10. ^ Schaffstall, Katherine (April 5, 2019). "Kathie Lee Gifford Celebrated in Her Final Episode of 'Today'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  11. ^ Stone, Natalie. "Jenna Bush Hager Begins Today with Support from Dad George W. Bush (and a New Wine Glass)". People. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  12. ^ a b de Moraes, Lisa (April 23, 2019). "Joanne LaMarca Returns To 'Today' To EP Hour 4 With Hoda &Jenna". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  13. ^ Steinberg, Brian (April 23, 2019). "NBC News Sets Joanne LaMarca as EP, 'Today' Fourth Hour". Variety. Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  14. ^ "Tammy Filler, executive producer, fourth hour of TODAY". TODAY.com. February 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  15. ^ Holloway, Daniel (April 22, 2019). "E! Expands News Coverage, Brings 'Today' Vet Tammy Filler Aboard (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  16. ^ Birk, Libby. "'Today' Show Co-Host Jenna Bush Hager Announces Return Date From Maternity Leave". TV. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  17. ^ Juneau, Jen. "Surprise! Jenna Bush Hager Makes a Return to the Today Show for Special Halloween Episode". People. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  18. ^ Corinthios, Aurelie. "Today's Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager Will Have a Live Studio Audience Twice a Week". People. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  19. ^ Steinberg, Brian (January 16, 2020). "NBC Will Add Live Studio Audience to 'Hoda & Jenna' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Steinberg, Brian (July 14, 2020). "Jimmy Fallon Journeys to NBC's Studios in Muted Late-Night Return". Variety. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Johnson, Ted (October 6, 2021). "Talia Parkinson-Jones Named Executive Producer Of 'Today With Hoda & Jenna'". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  22. ^ Cote, Jacqueline Burt (September 4, 2024). "'Today With Hoda and Jenna' Reveals Catchy New Theme Song That Will Be 'Stuck' in Your Head". Parade. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Strout, Paige (April 8, 2024). "Today's Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager Celebrate 5th Cohosting Anniversary". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "Meghan Trainor debuts original song just for Kathie Lee and Hoda". TODAY.com. April 6, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Arkin, Daniel (September 26, 2024). "Hoda Kotb will step down as co-anchor of NBC's 'TODAY' show". NBC News. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  26. ^ "About | NBCUniversal Media Village". www.nbcumv.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  27. ^ Steinberg, Brian (August 15, 2014). "Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb Reveal All About 'Happy Hour' On 'Today'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  28. ^ Hart Duerson, Meena (August 21, 2013). "Kathie Lee and Hoda: Why we drink on the air". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  29. ^ "Watch Joshua Radin sing 'Brand New Day' live on TODAY". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  30. ^ Canfield, David (June 24, 2019). "How Jenna Bush Hager became the new book club queen". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  31. ^ Leach, Samantha (July 3, 2019). "If Jenna Bush Hager Recommends It, America Will Read It". Glamour.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  32. ^ a b Lewis, Hilary (March 20, 2019). "Daytime Emmy Awards: 'Days of Our Lives' Scores Leading 27 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  33. ^ Schwartz, Brie (May 6, 2019). "Kathie Lee Gifford Thanked Regis Philbin in Her Emotional Emmy Award Speech". Oprah Magazine. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  34. ^ a b Nordyke, Kimberly; Howard, Annie (May 21, 2020). "Daytime Emmy Awards: 'General Hospital' Tops Nominations | Hollywood Reporter". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  35. ^ "Nominees Announced For The CBS Broadcast Of The 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards". The Emmys. May 25, 2021. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  36. ^ Wang, Jessica. "Daytime Emmy Awards 2022: See the full list of winners". EW.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  37. ^ VanHoose, Benjamin. "2022 People's Choice Awards: See the Complete List of Winners". Peoplemag. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  38. ^ Coates, Tyler; Lewis, Hilary (December 16, 2023). "Daytime Emmys: 'General Hospital,' 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' Among Top Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  39. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 17, 2024). "GLAAD Media Awards Nominations Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
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