On the NBC morning news program Today, the designation "special edition" often applies to instances wherein one or both hosts anchor the program from a location other than Studio 1-A, or in the event of significant news developments. The edition also can start before the usual 7am ET start time in all time zones or go past the usual endtime of 11am ET. The expansion of an episode is not at all unusual, usually for planned long-duration news events such as presidential inaugurations or elections. The first such expanded edition came on January 20, 1953, with the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Breaking news can also extend the show's hours: during the 7 July 2005 London bombings and Friday following the Boston Marathon bombing, Today remained on the air for six hours, from 7am to 1pm EDT.
Most special editions are introduced as "From NBC News, this is a special edition of Today".
These were just some of the special editions of Today that were broadcast.
1950s
1952
February
When news of the death of Britain’s King George VI reached New York in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 6, 1952, the plan for that morning’s show was thrown out and the program instead covered the monarch’s death. News anchor Jim Fleming helped lead coverage that day, and live analysis was provided by NBC foreign correspondent H.V. Kaltenborn.
March
In part to bring the new show to a wider audience, NBC partnered with Time Magazine to produce a special primetime edition of Today. Dave Garroway, Jack Lescoulie and Jim Fleming anchored the half-hour edition, which aired at 9pm ET on Monday, March 31, 1952.
July
Today staff covered the 1952 Republican National Convention in Chicago from July 7–11, 1952. News anchor Jim Fleming traveled to Chicago, and Dave Garroway and Jack Lescoulie remained in New York. To bring the event to the nation, 55 microphones were placed around the convention hall, along with eight cameras and miles of coaxial cables. Ten cities were added to the NBC network for the event, mainly west of the Mississippi River, bringing the estimated audience to some 70,000,000 Americans. The same procedure was followed for the Democratic National Convention, held in the same building July 21–26.
1953
January
January 20, 1953: Today'''s first presidential inauguration coverage—the first inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dave Garroway and Jack Lescoulie anchored from New York. News anchor Jim Fleming broadcast from Washington for the day's coverage. NBC correspondent Merrill Mueller demonstrated the network's first portable Vidicon television camera, employed for the first time that day.
March
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953. The time difference between Moscow and New York meant Today would get first crack at the story. The hastily assembled show that morning included analysis from Today news anchor Jim Fleming, who once worked in NBC's Moscow bureau, and veteran NBC foreign correspondent Hans von Kaltenborn. Alexander Kerensky, a former leader of the Russian Provisional Government, was awakened and brought to the RCA Exhibition Hall to add his commentary on Stalin's death.
Twelve days later, March 17, 1953, Garroway hosted the show from the Nevada Test Site to cover an atomic bomb test. The nuclear detonation was carried live on Today at 8:20am ET (5:20am local time).
June
Tuesday morning, June 2, 1953: Today covered the coronation of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, in collaboration with the BBC. The BBC provided live audio of the ceremonies. Still pictures taken from television screens in London were faxed to the RCA Exhibition Hall studio, where Garroway would show them to viewers. Multiple correspondents from both NBC and the BBC offered commentary and analysis, both in-studio and on location at Westminster Abbey. Coronation coverage began at 5am EDT and concluded at 9am EDT.
1955
January
The show originated from Miami Beach the week of January 10–14, 1955. The trip was a coordinated effort among Today, Tonight Starring Steve Allen and Home with Arlene Francis. A blurb in the New York Times promised "Seminole Indians wrestling eight-foot alligators, an underwater sound interview and a Dixieland band."
OctoberToday originated from Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, October 18, and Wednesday, October 19.