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Take a behind-the-scenes tour of a morning at TODAY

The TODAY staff works 24 hours to get the show on air so that viewers can learn about all the top stories before starting their day.
/ Source: TODAY

The TODAY staff works 24 hours a day to get the show on air to inform viewers about the top stories before starting their day. As executive producer Don Nash puts it, "TODAY never goes to sleep."

Nash offers his insight on what goes on behind the scenes to prepare for the show on a typical morning at TODAY as part of our ongoing Morning Routine series.

1:00 a.m.

The news writers get in and start crafting the various voice overs and news segments in the daily show.

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4:00 a.m.

Tom Mazzarelli, the co-executive producer, takes a hand-off from the overnight producer and goes through the plans for the show, reads the scripts and changes topic bars (the graphics you see at the bottom of the screen during various segments).

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Behind the scenes at TODAY
Behind the scenes at TODAYTODAY

4:45 a.m.

Nash calls Mazzarelli so the two can discuss plans for the show, talk about what's been ordered overnight, what needs to be added, what needs to shuffled and begin forming general plan.

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New and improved Studio 1a after 2015 renovation.
The studio before crunch time begins!Anthony Quintano / TODAY

5:30 a.m.

Nash and Mazzarelli hold a meeting in which Mazarelli walks the staff through all the changes that they've made and answers any questions the staff might have. Shortly after that, Nash and Mazarelli have meetings with the "Trending" segment team and talk about which topics they'll discuss in "Trending" and in "Pop Start," which are the pop culture-focused segments that air early in the 8 a.m. hour of the show.

6:00 a.m.

Matt and Savannah head to makeup, where they discuss "Trending" and go over over segments with the producers. Around that time, the audience begins to arrive.

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Behind the scenes at TODAY
Behind the scenes at TODAYTODAY

6:30 a.m.

Matt and Savannah head to the main anchor desk to shoot affiliate teases, which are used promote the show on NBC stations across the country.

6:50 a.m.

It's crunch time. The production staff finalizes everything and ensures tapes are ready to go, as well as all of the on-screen graphics.

7:00 a.m.

We're live!

Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie
NATHAN R CONGLETON