8 (well, now more like 7) things NBC can do with the ‘Megyn Kelly Today’ set

1. Use it for parts of the regular edition of ‘Today’

OK so this one might not count anymore because NBC tried this for the “Today Third Hour” it created to replace “Megyn Kelly Today” — but announced in December 2018 it would discontinue using Studio 6A for “Today Third Hour.”

NBC may ultimately opt to keep the set in place and simply swap out the graphics and use it for portions of “Today,” similar to how rival “GMA” created a second floor studio with audience seating. ABC does have a geographic advantage in that its second floor is, quite literally, right on top of its main studio space, making it easier for talent to get from point A to point B, whereas 6A is fairly far away from 1A.

The set’s open space could serve well for segments needed more space — such as indoor musical or other performances. The video walls would make it easy to change the look and feel.

‘Good Morning America’ takes Times Square studio to new level

There have also been reports that NBC was testing Savannah Guthrie as host of the 9 a.m. hour to replace Kelly when she filled in for Kelly a few times earlier this year — so perhaps Guthrie could end up taking over the timeslot and make use of the space somehow.

2. Move Kathie Lee and Hoda to the space

Another use for the space could be the fourth hour of “Today,” which has its own branding surrounding Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.

Advertisement

The fourth hour, sans Kotb, used the space and its studio audience while Kotb and most of the most of the “Today” team was in PyeongChang in February for the Olympics. With Jenna Bush Hager filling in for Kotb the show needed to abandon Studio 1A because it was undergoing renovations.

The fourth hour of the show seems to do well with a studio audience — so that could become a permanent fixture.

One potential snag is if Kotb appears in the 9 a.m. hour of “Today” that is taking over the “Megyn Kelly Today” timeslot, she’d need to travel across the street and up six floors in between shows — though that could be handled by having her head upstairs before the 9 a.m. hour is up and have the remaining hosts “toss” up to her and Gifford in 6A.

Incidentally, during the Olympics, Kelly stayed in New York to produce editions of her show before Kotb and Gifford”s hour — and the massive video walls were used to mirror some of the looks used in parts of the NBC Olympics set thousands of miles away.

This use shows just how versatile the space can be.