I literally had to do a double take when I read that the Today show was going to extend to a fourth hour. Huh? Really? I know America loves a morning news program, and no one does it better than Today, but that seems a wee bit excessive. What will hour four look like and why are they doing it? Well, the expansion, which is set to begin in September, takes the top-rated show the extra mile. More time on the air, more money, blah, blah, blah. NBC News president Steve Capus said of the extension, “The success of the Today show has been remarkable throughout its history, and the program has never been in a better position than it is right now. This is a tribute to all the dedicated hard work of Matt [Lauer], Meredith [Vieira], Al [Roker], Ann [Curry] and the entire behind the scenes team. You can’t do this with a program that isn’t a powerhouse—and that is exactly what we have at Today.” No word yet on who will take over anchor duties for the fourth hour. Vieira is under contract as host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, so she bails after 9 a.m. More details about anchor duties will come as the extended show gets closer.