Lights, cameras, a giant crowd and the Today show hosts - including the legendary weatherman Al Roker. Here is how a live TV show is really made.
The Today show is one of the oldest TV programmes in the world. It started in 1952 and goes out live every weekday morning from NBC's studios at Rockefeller Center in New York. Outside the studio is a plaza where fans stand behind barriers, hoping to get on TV.
## I was invited
This time I was invited onto the plaza as part of the show's promotion. That meant getting there very early, standing right at the front, and being close to the hosts when they came outside.
## Meeting the hosts
The hosts walked along the barrier saying hello to everyone. The best part was Al Roker, who has been doing the weather on Today since 1996. He is famous for his big smile, his hats and for chatting to the crowd between segments, and he really was that friendly. We took a selfie together.
## How live TV actually works
- **Lights:** huge white lights on stands make faces look bright even on a cloudy morning. - **Cameras:** some operators wear the camera on a harness so they can walk backwards in front of the hosts. - **Sound:** a crew member holds a long pole with a fluffy microphone just above everyone's heads, out of the shot. - **The floor crew:** people with headsets and red passes listen to the director inside and wave the hosts on, count them down or move the crowd.
Everything happens live, so there is no second try. If something goes wrong, the hosts just keep talking.
## What I learned
It looks easy on TV, but dozens of people are working to make three minutes on the plaza look relaxed. I came away wanting to know what the director sees on all those screens.