Live, Today Stage Star-Studded Halloween Specials

Morning talk shows turned Halloween into variety spectacles Friday, led by Live with Kelly and Mark and NBC’s Today, each leaning heavily on pop-culture impressions, musical numbers and audience participation. Live’s “It’s Trending” Halloween special — the show’s first in its new studio near the Village parade — featured roughly 67 costume changes and sketches, celebrity cameos including Ryan Seacrest and Alix Earle, and a studio audience whose dumpster-diver costume won an eight-day Danube River cruise valued at $15,000. Executive producer Michael Gelman praised the creativity as hosts spoofed hits from Severance to Fantastic Four favorites. Today staged a “coast to coast” themed special with Savannah Guthrie as Miranda Priestly, Jenna Bush Hager as Anna Wintour, Sheinelle Jones channeling Beyoncé (Cowboy Carter), Craig Melvin as Prince, Peter Alexander as Jimmy Buffett and several ’90s throwbacks performed with musical numbers. Producers and hosts said the Halloween episodes are planned year-round and that they are already discussing next year’s shows.