You’re probably standing in your kitchen, coffee in hand, wondering if you already missed the Hoda and Jenna wine pour or if Savannah Guthrie is about to break some major news. We've all been there. Trying to pin down the today show show schedule can feel like a moving target because the show is basically a four-hour marathon that morphs from hard news to lighthearted cooking segments before you can even finish your toast. It’s not just one show; it’s a living, breathing broadcast entity that starts in the dark of early morning and ends when most of us are thinking about lunch.
The rhythm of Studio 1A is legendary.
If you show up at 7:00 AM sharp, you're getting the heavy hitters. This is the "straight" news hour. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb usually lead the charge here, joined by Al Roker for the first of many weather checks and Craig Melvin handling the desk. They tackle the overnight headlines, political shifts, and whatever global crisis is currently trending. It's fast. It's loud. The crowd outside in Rockefeller Plaza is usually at its peak energy here, waving signs and hoping for a five-second camera spot.
The Core Breakdown of the Today Show Show Schedule
Most people don't realize that the NBC morning powerhouse is actually partitioned into distinct blocks. You can't just tune in at 9:30 AM and expect the same vibe you saw at 7:15 AM.
The first two hours (7:00 AM to 9:00 AM) are the flagship. This is where the big interviews happen. If a movie star has a premiere or a politician needs to clear the air, they’re sitting on those orange couches during this window. Around 7:30 AM, things usually pivot slightly to more lifestyle-heavy news—think health trends or consumer alerts. But the real shift happens at the top of the 8:00 AM hour. This is often called the "Second Hour," and it feels a bit more casual. You'll get the "Pop Start" segment, where they rapid-fire through entertainment news and viral clips.
Then comes the 3rd Hour.
Starting at 9:00 AM, the today show show schedule shifts gears significantly. Usually hosted by Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer, and Craig Melvin, this hour—often branded as 3rd Hour of Today—is much more conversational. It feels like a group of friends hanging out. They dive deeper into "Consumer Reports" style segments, parenting advice, and long-form human interest stories. The news ticker at the bottom of the screen is still there, sure, but the urgency of the 7:00 AM block has evaporated.
Why the Fourth Hour is a Different Beast
At 10:00 AM, everything changes.
Today with Hoda & Jenna is technically part of the franchise, but it’s its own ecosystem. Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager take over, and the news desks are replaced by chairs, wine glasses (sometimes), and a whole lot of laughter. This hour is almost entirely lifestyle and entertainment. They talk about their lives, their kids, and "Read with Jenna" book club picks. If you’re looking for the today show show schedule to give you stock market updates, don't look here. This is where you go for heart.
Navigating Local Variations and Preemptions
Here is the thing about live TV: it’s fragile.
Your local NBC affiliate has a say in what you see. While the national broadcast follows the 7-11 AM ET window, stations in the Central or Pacific time zones might tape-delay segments or slide them around to fit local news broadcasts. In the West Coast, you’re often watching a delayed feed unless there is a massive breaking news event that warrants a "Live Across All Time Zones" notification.
And don't get me started on Special Reports.
If the President speaks or a major trial verdict comes in, the today show show schedule gets tossed out the window. NBC News will break in, and suddenly Hoda is replaced by a news anchor in D.C. It’s frustrating if you were waiting for a cooking segment, but that's the nature of the beast.
Real-World Examples of Schedule Shifts
Remember the Olympics? Or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
During these weeks, the schedule is unrecognizable. During the Summer or Winter Games, the Today crew usually decamps to whatever city is hosting. You might see Savannah and Hoda broadcasting from Paris or Milan at 3:00 AM local time just to hit that 7:00 AM ET slot in the States. The segments become 100% sports-focused.
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Then there are the "Steals and Deals" segments with Jill Martin. These don't happen every day. Usually, they pop up on a Thursday or around big holidays. If you're hunting for those 60% off vacuums, you have to keep an eye on the 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM hours specifically. They rarely put these in the first 30 minutes of the show because that time is reserved for "hard" news that earns the show its journalistic credentials.
How to Check the Daily Lineup Like a Pro
If you want the absolute, down-to-the-minute details for today, the best place isn't actually the TV guide on your cable box. Those are often generic.
Instead, look at the Today show’s official social media feeds—specifically X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram Stories. Every morning around 6:00 AM ET, the producers post a "What's coming up" teaser. They’ll list the guests: "Coming up in our 8:00 hour, we have Matthew McConaughey, and in the 4th hour, a performance by Kelly Clarkson."
Honestly, the website's "Upcoming Guests" page is the gold standard. It usually maps out the next 48 to 72 hours.
- Check the Guest List: If your favorite author is on, they are almost always in the 8:30 AM or 10:30 AM slots.
- Watch the Transitions: The "Today" anchors will literally tell you what's coming up after the commercial break. Listen for the "tease."
- Use the App: The NBC app allows for "Live" streaming, which is great, but its "Schedule" tab is surprisingly accurate for local variations.
Behind the Scenes: The Invisible Clock
There is a producer with a headset in Studio 1A who is the master of the today show show schedule. They use something called a "Rundown." This is a spreadsheet where every second is accounted for.
- 7:00:00 - Opening Montage
- 7:01:30 - Top Stories
- 7:08:00 - First Weather Toss
- 7:12:00 - Local News Break (where your local anchor takes over for 4 minutes)
This "Local Break" is where most people get confused. If you’re in New York, you see WNBC news. If you’re in Los Angeles, you see KNBC. This happens at roughly :26 and :56 past every hour. If you're trying to time your commute, use these local breaks as your cue to leave.
The Musical Performances
Summer is the best time for the schedule because of the Citi Concert Series. These live performances usually happen in the 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM hours. If you’re a fan of the artist, you’ll notice they do a soundcheck (often aired briefly in the 7:00 hour), an interview in the early 8:00 hour, and the actual "concert" kicks off around 8:40 AM.
It's a lot of coordination.
The stage is set up outside in the plaza, meaning the anchors have to literally walk through a crowd of screaming fans to get from the indoor desk to the outdoor stage. This adds a level of unpredictability. If the weather is bad—like a sudden downpour—the schedule shifts again as they scramble to move the musical act inside.
Actionable Steps to Master Your Morning
Stop guessing when your favorite part of the show is going to start.
First, set a recurring alert on your phone for 7:00 AM ET if you want the news, or 10:00 AM ET if you want the entertainment. Second, follow the show’s executive producers on social media; they often leak "surprise" guests that aren't on the official today show show schedule yet.
Lastly, if you missed a segment, don’t wait for the rerun. The Today show website uploads almost every individual segment as a standalone clip by 12:00 PM ET. You can go straight to the "Food" or "Pop Culture" section and watch exactly what you missed without sitting through the weather or the news.
Keep your remote handy, but keep your smartphone closer. That's the only real way to stay on top of a broadcast that moves this fast. The show hasn't stayed on the air for over 70 years by being static; it stays on top by changing every single minute. Now you know how to change with it.
Expert Tip: If you're planning to visit the plaza, arrive no later than 5:30 AM. Even though the today show show schedule says 7:00 AM, the "pre-show" interaction with the crowd starts much earlier, and that's your best chance to get Al Roker to say hi to your mom on camera.
Check your local listings for channel numbers, as NBC is broadcast on different frequencies depending on your provider, but the timing—barring special events—remains the rock-solid foundation of American morning television. Just remember that during election cycles or Olympic years, all bets are off. Your best bet is to check the NBC News app's "Live" tab for the most current, up-to-the-second broadcast status.