TV & VIDEO - Aug. 24, 1989

“Today” show co-anchor Bryant Gumbel went casual on Wednesday’s show from NBC studios in New York. He wore no tie. The show’s executive producer, Marty Ryan, said that Gumbel explained during the broadcast that it was a summer day and he was opting for the casual look to make a point. The origin of it, a “Today” spokesman explained, was a discussion that Gumbel and co-anchor Jane Pauley had several days ago, which continued on Wednesday’s show, about how women who appear on TV can be far more flexible in their attire than men. Male anchors, Gumbel’s argument went, are forced by tradition to wear suits and ties, and any deviation from that is immediately noticed.