\nAt the link is a clip from Meredith Vieira’s last day as a ‘Today’ co host. As Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” plays, a single camera goes with Merideth, first from the studio downstairs into the 1A control room and then up and out onto the plaza.<\/p>\n
Until I visited last month, I couldn’t really “get” the lay out and relationships to what is where, but if you’ve ever wondered, this is about as good a look as you’ll get. There is a second floor studio above the main set which I think is mostly used for cooking segments now, but before the news nooks were built a few years back in 6C, that was were Lester Holt did the weekend news shows.<\/p>\n
Having seen the cast and crew of this show in action, I have to tell you that action is the key word. From 7 till 9 every morning, they are in and out and back and forth from the studio to the plaza more than a jack in the box. It takes a lot of coordination and pros to pull this off and they do it like no one else! Even in the rain.<\/p>\n
Outside, it’s all handheld, Steadicam and jib and inside there are four ped cameras, a Merlin (center photo below) and a hand held. I think there must be at least eight camera operators and that many or more utility people, plus a small army of producers and floor directors.<\/p>\n
By the way, Meredith will be back in the fall with her own syndicated show that will be done in NBC’s Studio 6A, on a set that resembles Vieira’s home, with her actual furniture and family photos, Enjoy and share!<\/p>\n