This Was Television On January 14
1952: Today begins
NBC’s venerable morning show helped establish a format which has endured since television’s earliest days. Today showcased news, interviews, feature segments, and entertainment. Originally hosted by Dave Garroway (frequently joined by a chimpanzee co-host by the name of J. Fred Muggs), it has since featured popular personalities including Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Katie Couric, Willard Scott, Al Roker, Matt Lauer, and Ann Curry. The dominant morning program for decades, today it remains one of the longest-tenured TV shows on American airwaves. -A.D.
Today’s Birthdays: Mark Addy, murdered king (49); Frank Aletter, character actor (d. 2009); Jason Bateman, Bluth ballast (44); Mark Goodson, game show producer (d. 1992); LL Cool J, special agent (45); Barry Jenner, officer (72); Hal Roach, producer (d. 1992); Andy Rooney, curmudgeon (d. 2011); Steven Soderbergh, director/producer (50); Vernee Watson-Johnson, Sweathog associate (59); Carl Weathers, acting coach (65); Guy Williams, space patriarch (d. 1989).
This Was Television 
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