Today
Helen J. Shen, Darren Criss
TV Flash files “Helen J. Shen, Darren Criss” as hour 1879 of 2220 in the TV Flash guide — Today (1952–present) on NBC, season 2025, episode 87, aired 2025-05-01, 120 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S2025E87: listed hour 1879 of 2220 in the Today guide, hour 87 of 261 in season 2025. It aired 2025-05-01 (120 min). The listed hour before it is “Dennis Quaid” (S2025E86). Next is “Rory McIlroy, Dolly Parton” (S2025E88). Broadcast log — titles and dates, not a plot bible.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
TODAY's Consumer: Summer Travel Guide as This Week Is the Best Time to Book. Steals & Deals: Travel Ready with Jill Martin. Broadway Week: Maybe Happy Ending.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Helen J. Shen, Darren Criss sit in the Today guide?
S2025E87 is listed hour 1879 of 2220 — hour 87 of 261 in season 2025, season 2025 episode 87.
When did Today S2025E87 air?
Helen J. Shen, Darren Criss aired 2025-05-01 and is listed at 120 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…