TV & VIDEO - June 12, 1990

A New ‘Today’: With little hoopla, lots of smiles and Willard Scott joking about the bald pate of Joe Garagiola, NBC’s “Today” show on Monday began what it hopes will prove a fresh start after nearly a year of woe. Although heavily promoted by NBC during the weekend, the new-look “Today” was oddly low-key as Bryant Gumbel and co-anchor Deborah Norville welcomed Garagiola, the show’s co-host from 1969 to 1973 and now its second co-anchor. There were no speeches, no recap by anchor Gumbel of the problems that led to Jane Pauley’s departure in December, no on-air hugging by Norville. Last December, Norville embraced Pauley after Pauley wished her well when Pauley left the show.