3rd Hour Today
originally aired on NBC
The program debuted on January 14, 1952, as the brainchild of television executive Sylvester Weaver. It was the first of its genre on American television and in the world, and after 71 years of broadcasting it is fifth on the list of longest-running U.S. television series. Today was ranked No. 17 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002.