Today
Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Liz Cheney, Kenan Thompson, Brad Paisley
TV Flash files “Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Liz Cheney, Kenan Thompson, Brad Paisley” as hour 1511 of 2220 in the TV Flash guide — Today (1952–present) on NBC, season 2023, episode 242, aired 2023-12-04, 180 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S2023E242: listed hour 1511 of 2220 in the Today guide, hour 242 of 261 in season 2023. It aired 2023-12-04 (180 min). The listed hour before it is “Cast of Spamalot, Katie Lee, Kelsey Grammer” (S2023E241). Next is “Meghan Trainor, Jimmy Fallon” (S2023E243). Broadcast log — titles and dates, not a plot bible.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
TIME's Person of the Year Shortlist Reveal. Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali on Leave the World Behind. Liz Cheney on Oath and Honor. Kenan Thompson on When I Was Your Age. Performance by Brad Paisley. By the Numbers: Holiday Edition. Motivational Monday: Embracing Nostalgia and Quirkiness at the Troll Hole Museum in Ohio. Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts For All with Patrice J. Williams. Start TODAY: Low Impact with Charlee Atkins. Cooking with Cal: Raspberry Tart. TODAY's Talk: The Scoop with Justin Sylvester. Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali on Leave the World Behind. Best-Dressed Party Guest with Jasmine Snow. Elevate Your Holiday Decor with Preston Konrad. Karen Swenson on Life's About Change.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Liz Cheney, Kenan Thompson, Brad Paisley sit in the Today guide?
S2023E242 is listed hour 1511 of 2220 — hour 242 of 261 in season 2023, season 2023 episode 242.
When did Today S2023E242 air?
Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Liz Cheney, Kenan Thompson, Brad Paisley aired 2023-12-04 and is listed at 180 minutes.
Where should I start?
Start with Garroway's street-facing studio mix: news, weather, chatter. J. Fred Muggs is the 1950s mascot lore, not a side quest.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Today invented waking up with television: Dave Garroway, a chimpanzee co-host, and the mix of news, weather, and chatter still fighting every weekday morning. A 2026 reader watches the original American morning-show contract — coffee, headlines, and the idea that a network should greet you before work.
The look is coffee, headlines, and a chimpanzee in the contract. NBC's *Today* premiered January 14, 1952: Dave Garroway from a street-facing New York studio, Pat Weaver's concept of morning television as a daily utility, Jack Lescoulie and Frank Blair rounding the original company, J. Fred Muggs as 1950s mascot sensation and, in the lore, a ratings assist. Mix of news, interviews, and light features. Peak decade energy in a window that still fights every weekday. The timeline can stan a co-host war. The…
Filed against
- Dave Garroway as Host
Dave Garroway invented waking up with television on Today — a chimpanzee co-host, coffee, headlines, the mix of news, weather, and chatter still fighting every weekday morning. 1950s network contract: a host who made dawn feel like a…
- Jack Lescoulie as Announcer / co-host
Jack Lescoulie co-hosted and announced Today — coffee, headlines, and the 1950s invention of waking up with television. Dave Garroway, a chimpanzee in the mix, chatter fighting the clock every weekday morning. TV Flash files him as the…
- Frank Blair as Newsreader
Frank Blair read the news on Today — Dave Garroway, a chimpanzee co-host, the original American morning-show contract of coffee, headlines, and the idea a network should wake you. TV Flash files him as 1950s dawn craft: the voice that…
- J. Fred Muggs as Mascot
J. Fred Muggs was Today's chimpanzee co-host — Dave Garroway, news, weather, and chatter, the original American morning-show contract. Coffee, headlines, the idea that a network should wake up with you. TV Flash files him as 1950s mascot…