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Live from Studio 1A: How Many Today Show Employees Does It Take?

Today, Meredith, Ann and Al were all outside for the 8:00 open ("open" is our lingo for the beginning of every half-hour of the show). Of course, today we have some slightly nasty weather here in midtown Manhattan -- snow, freezing cold, and wind. This makes getting three people outside and camera-ready a little more tricky.I was standing in the hallway right outside the studio, where everyone was

Today, Meredith, Ann and Al were all outside for the 8:00 open ("open" is our lingo for the beginning of every half-hour of the show). Of course, today we have some slightly nasty weather here in midtown Manhattan -- snow, freezing cold, and wind. This makes getting three people outside and camera-ready a little more tricky.

I was standing in the hallway right outside the studio, where everyone was gathering before walking outside. It was quite a scene getting ready to brave the elements. We had several wardrobe people helping everyone into their coats, hats, and snow boots. Audio guys were helping them run their mics and battery packs on the outside of their winter garb. A couple production assistants were giving them their scripts and information for the 8:00 open. Hair and makeup people were on-hand to do some last-minute touch-ups. Our stage manager was also getting himself equipped to brave the elements. And on top of all of that, Meredith was still doing some affiliate promos in the studio until about 7:58:30. So by the time she left the studio and started getting her coat on, we heard another stage manager yell "One minute!"

This is live TV. Especially for a show like TODAY, where we have segments inside, outside, and in different parts of the studios, there are often lots of moving parts to coordinate. And of course, winter weather doesn't make outside segments any easier. But they were all in place, ready to go, at 8:00. No one watching at home would have known the scene that it took to make that happen.