In a festive broadcast from Rockefeller Center, the Today show turned the holiday into a living tribute to a century of NBC programming.
Key points
- The Today show used Halloween to celebrate NBC’s centennial, featuring costumes that referenced Friends, SNL, Johnny Carson and other iconic programs.
- Carson Daly’s surprise appearance as Ella Langley included a live musical performance, adding a unique twist to the costume reveal.
- A trivia contest pitted a “Friends” team against a “Seinfeld” team, with the former winning a set of Peacock pillows.
During Friday’s broadcast, the Today show anchors stepped onto the Rockefeller Center Plaza in New York City to unveil a series of Halloween costumes that marked NBC’s 100‑year anniversary, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
Savannah Guthrie opened the segment dressed as an NBC Page, a coveted fellowship for recent graduates, and was joined by Jack McBrayer, who famously portrayed the same role on 30 Rock. The duo led viewers on a mock tour of the NBC Studios, setting the tone for a night of nostalgic nods.
Anchors Kick Off Celebration as NBC Page
The lineup continued with Willie Geist as late‑night legend Johnny Carson, Dylan Dreyer as Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, and Jenna Bush Hager as Phoebe Buffay from Friends, complete with a live rendition of “Smelly Cat” and a cameo by her cat, Maisie. Al Roker paid homage to Saturday Night Live by appearing as Gumby, cigar in mouth and Emmy in hand, while Sheinelle Jones performed a dance as a Radio City Rockette.
Carson Daly surprised viewers by portraying Ella Langley and even performed the song “Choosin’ Texas.” Other notable costumes included Laura Jarrett as gymnast Simone Biles and Craig Melvin channeling Snoop Dogg, complete with a Martha Stewart cameo. The hosts then faced off in an NBC‑themed trivia game, with Team Friends (Bush Hager, Geist, Dreyer, Jones) edging out Team Seinfeld (Roker, Melvin, Jarrett, Daly) for a set of Peacock pillows.
Iconic NBC Shows Inspire Costumes
The elaborate reveal underscored the Today show’s tradition of turning Halloween into a showcase of television history, blending humor, music and a playful competition that highlighted the network’s cultural legacy.
Reader questions
Which NBC shows were honored in the Today show’s Halloween costumes?
Costumes paid tribute to Friends, Saturday Night Live, I Dream of Jeannie, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and the NBC Page program, among others.
Who won the NBC‑themed trivia game on the broadcast?
Team Friends—Jenna Bush Hager, Willie Geist, Dylan Dreyer, and Sheinelle Jones—defeated Team Seinfeld to claim the prize.
What character did Carson Daly portray for the Halloween segment?
Carson Daly dressed as Ella Langley and performed the song “Choosin’ Texas.”
Source: yahoo.com
