NBC Network - Today - "The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube" (Excerpt, 6/30/1981) ▦

Here's an excerpt from the Today show on the NBC Network as aired over WMAQ Channel 5. Here, co-host Tom Brokaw is interviewing James G. Nourse, research associate at Stanford University's Chemistry Department and author of "The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube" - and Jane Pauley is seen very briefly, along for the ride.
In this segment, we learn that its invention was originally designed to teach 3-dimensional objects and their meaning to architectural students, that there are 43 quintillion moves (!), that the mass possibilities are why it is so difficult, how it's similar to what Mr. Nourse deals with in his regular job, what color he starts with to get the colors back to where they should be, that there's nothing random about it, the possibility of sore wrists and "Rubik thumbs," and how having a mathematical mind helps when playing it (but is not absolutely required); and as he explains all this the camera shows him actually working to get it all back (which he manages to do about 60% of the way into this clip)
Preview of next segment (a Gene Shalit interview with Swoosie Kurtz) is underway when recording ends
Previously we posted a commercial for Rubik's Cube from Ideal that aired in August of the previous year as you can see here: • Rubik's Cube - "Judge ...
This aired on local Chicago TV on Tuesday, June 30th 1981 within the 7:00am to 9:00am timeframe.
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[@JenMistress]

I think the easiest way to peel off the stickers and put them back on. There we go, solved. 😉😂🤣

[@BB..........]

My dad bought this book back then and I was able to use it to finally be able to solve it in 10 minutes at age 11.

[@bryanloveseighties]

Back when it was brought forth, I couldn't solve the Rubik's Cube at all except a couple of times when I did but that was fool luck. Three decades later, I decided to go back to trying to solve it and I used the little instruction sheet that came with it and I had the patterns that were illustrated in that sheet memorized. Now I can always solve it.

[@Foxonian]

I remember watching this segment on Today back then. I was and still am amazed at how fast that guy was.

[@ninjamaster3453]

2:19 bigger than the nation debt -- so far

[@carmelopappalardo8477]

I wish I was back in that time period.

[@tinogamo]

Me too.

[@seancaruana4209]

"The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube" is not to try it. 😁🙂 In all seriousness though, before the clip ends we see Swoosie Kurtz. I think that this may be her first appearance back on Today, since December 9th 1980. That was the sad morning where many people learned about John Lennon's death, which Fuzzy had the entire Today program in its entirety on CZcams. 😪

[@70s80s]

I took it apart and put it back together!😉

[@MTVCOPS]

We were all solving these in grade school after this book.

[@ninjamaster3453]

I actually had that book

[@ajaugenti1976]

I remember the rubik's cube!

[@Lupton2000]

This may have been the first week of the new set.

[@wandagail2564]

I'm not gonna get this....Damnit 😫😆🤣

[@michiganjack1337]

2:20 Don’t worry we’re getting closer to that number for the national debt.
😂😢👉🤯

[@tadool5352]

I still have mine and I still haven’t gotten it solved.😂😂

[@5roundsrapid263]

I never knew Andy Kaufman was so good at Rubik’s Cube! 😂

[@aaronmccracken7351]

🎶 Here I come to solve the CUUUBE! 🎶

[@andyrose5616]

Kaufman’s love child with Tim Conway.

[@WinterInTheForest]

I bet this guy was a chick magnet

[@djnak7856]

The laugh is on you. He got married shortly afterward and dedicated his second book (solutions to other puzzles like the Pyraminx) to his wife Cindy.
There's no reason to put someone down just because their interests are scientific, or not the same as yours, or whatever.

[@WinterInTheForest]

@@djnak7856 Why don't you try having a sense of humor and toughen up a little? It's a joke bro, relax.