From costume and wig design to set construction, the Today Show’s annual Halloween extravaganza is a massive undertaking. It takes a village of talented individuals to bring the creative vision to life. To get a glimpse into the magic behind the 2024 Today Show Halloween special, let’s delve into the intricate processes involved in creating this yearly spectacle.
Production designer Ed Helbig, a 22-year veteran of Today’s Halloween celebrations, reveals the unique challenges faced each year. This year’s theme, “VHS Rewind,” presented a particularly demanding task: transforming the plaza into a nostalgic video rental store in under a week.
The team had to procure new store shelves and modify them to replicate the angled displays characteristic of video stores. Sourcing approximately 300 VHS tapes from prop houses and eBay was another hurdle. The meticulous effort extended to recreating every detail of the iconic video store aesthetic.
Helbig emphasizes the collaborative nature of the production, highlighting the numerous individuals contributing to the show’s success. It’s a testament to the teamwork and dedication required to execute such a large-scale event.
Costume designer Staci Greenbaum echoes the sentiment, sharing the specific challenges of crafting costumes for the anchors and co-hosts. For the “VHS Rewind” theme, accuracy was paramount, paying homage to the iconic looks of beloved movie characters.
Working with often grainy photos and old movie footage, Greenbaum and her team meticulously recreate costumes, ensuring authenticity down to the smallest detail. Dylan Dreyer’s Lydia Deetz costume from Beetlejuice, with its all-black ensemble, exemplified the difficulty of interpreting details from limited visual resources.
Most Today Show Halloween costumes are custom-made or individually tailored, rarely sourced from Halloween stores. The team considers fabric weight, construction techniques, and the anchors’ individual sizes. Carson Daly’s Austin Powers suit, for instance, required a custom approach due to his height. Greenbaum fondly recalls Peter Alexander’s Mrs. Doubtfire costume, complete with a custom tartan plaid skirt, as a particularly enjoyable project.
The hair design process, led by Emmy-winning hair designer Jodi Mancuso, is equally intricate. Each wig is handcrafted, requiring 40 to 60 hours of meticulous work. Mancuso, a 23-year veteran of Saturday Night Live, brings her expertise to the Today Show, creating transformative wigs for the anchors.
This year’s wigs included complex creations like Carson Daly’s Austin Powers wig, Peter Alexander’s Mrs. Doubtfire wig, Jenna Bush Hager’s Rose from “Titanic” wig with special coloring, and Al Roker’s Beetlejuice wig adorned with moss. Despite the demanding schedule, Mancuso relishes the challenge and finds immense satisfaction in seeing the anchors embody their characters through her creations. The collaborative spirit and dedication of the entire team culminate in a captivating Halloween spectacle that viewers eagerly anticipate each year.
