Steely Dan Return to Daytime Television with a Rare Live Set on NBC’s “Today Show” (2000)
On May 5, 2000, Steely Dan made a notable return to American television with a live performance on NBC’s Today Show, marking a rare public appearance by a band long associated with studio perfection rather than routine broadcast exposure. The performance came during a period of renewed visibility for Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, following the band’s late-1990s reunion and the release of Two Against Nature.
The set opened with Peg, one of Steely Dan’s most recognizable recordings, immediately establishing a relaxed yet polished tone. Even in the informal setting of a morning television program, the band’s meticulous musicianship was unmistakable, translating their famously complex arrangements into a tight, confident live sound.
From there, the performance shifted to Jack of Speed, a then-recent composition that showcased Steely Dan’s modern incarnation. Drawn from Two Against Nature, the song reflected the duo’s continued fascination with moral ambiguity and character-driven storytelling, proving that their creative voice remained sharp decades after their commercial peak.
The set’s emotional center arrived with Kid Charlemagne, a song deeply woven into Steely Dan’s legacy. Its live rendition highlighted the band’s ability to balance intricate jazz-rock harmonies with a narrative rooted in the counterculture’s rise and fall. In a daytime television context, the song stood as a reminder of Steely Dan’s intellectual depth and refusal to simplify their art for mass consumption.
Closing the performance was Black Friday, a harder-edged track that brought urgency and bite to the set. Its driving rhythm and cynical tone contrasted sharply with the bright, casual atmosphere of morning television, reinforcing Steely Dan’s long-standing reputation for irony and subversion.
Seen in retrospect, Steely Dan’s Today Show appearance in 2000 represents more than a promotional stop. It captured a band reclaiming its place in the public eye on its own terms, bringing sophisticated, literate rock into a mainstream setting without compromise. For fans, it remains a rare and valuable document of Steely Dan translating their studio-crafted world into a live, televised moment.