good morning, america. breaking right now, the christmas storm that could wreck so many holiday travel plans for millions of americans. snow, high winds, big rains, and thunderstorms. major delays looming on the road and in the air. will you make it home in time for the holiday? new this morning. police on high alert. the new threats this morning after the two officers were shot execution-style, ambushed in their squad car. emotional individualle vigils as friends and family. outrage growing as police blame leaders for inciting the violence. lady came in with a child. >> is he choking? >> yes, he's choking. two parents in panic after their son started choking on a

jaw breaker the size of a quarter. the hero who rushed in to save their son with only seconds to spare. their emotional reunion caught on tape. ♪ i'm on top of the world, hey up, up, and away. the daredevil soaring to new height. 8,000 feet above the ground. balloons, a lawn chair, and a shotgun. shooting the balloons to freefall out of the clouds. we'll go inside his amazing journey. and good morning, america. so everybody here loves the song, loves the movie. that guy did it in real life. >> yeah. >> we'll have more on that. today, the start of the holiday week. we have a lot to get to this monk, including the new threats to police officers overnight. a lot of people could have trouble getting home for the holidays. >> the weather is the big story. we want to get right to it. big storms brewing this morning could turn out to be a real nightmare for millions just before christmas. rob marciano is tracking it all.

>> good morning, rob. >> good morning. it's already started. we take you to colorado where big-time problems yesterday across i-70. for a time it was shut down. they're chaining up this morning. it will be a slow go throughout the day. avalanche mitigation will be ongoing. you don't hear that too often. east of the mississippi river wednesday. rain and wind. it will affect the ground and the airports. one storm teams up with a southern storm. strong thunderstorms across the south. mostly a rain event. but, again, that wind is going to be reeking havoc across parts of the i-95 corridor. not only rain but tornados. some of the storms could be severe in the way of tornadoes and strong winds. over six inches of rain over tallahassee. and two or three or more inches of rain across the northeast. not looking at much of a white christmas. but it will be very, very wet. difficult to travel. we'll get the latest on the

two new york city police officers killed in the line of duty. vigils and mourning here in new york. fear across the country with police on high alert. linsey davis is on the scene with what we know about the gunman and his last chilling words. >> reporter: good morning, george. police officers in some of our country's largest cities now being urged to take extra precautions. all because of what happened on this street corner in brooklyn, new york, after one man allegedly told two bystanders watch what i'm about to do. police say the ambush happened so fast, officers wenjian liu and rafael ramos never saw their attacker coming. a man authorities have identified as 28-year-old ismaaiyl brinsley. at about 1:30 p.m., he's on a bus to new york. suspected of shooting his former girlfriend earlier that morning. threats posted on instagram. i'm putting wings on pigs today. they take one of ours. let's take two of theirs. making his intentions very clear with these hashtags.

shoot the police. r.i.p. eric garner, and r.i.p., mike brown. >> those postings were very anti-police, based on the briefing i had. they would seem to indicate he had a strong bias against police officers. >> reporter: according to the nypd, at 2:47, officers were sitting in their car. brinsley told two bystanders to follow him. then said, watch what i'm about to do. thetsz wh that's when police say he walked up to the passenger side of the patrol car, took a shooter's stance, and fired four shots. >> shots fired. >> shots fired. >> reporter: striking both officers in the head at point blank range. s.w.a.t. teams chased him to a nearby subway station. this dramatic video capturing the moment bystanders dropped to the ground in fear. >> get on the floor! >> reporter: police say brinsley then shot himself in the head.

he has a long criminal history, with more than a dozen prior arrests in georgia, ohio, and new york. in a vigil overnight, brooklyn residents and police united in their grief, mourning the loss of the two officers. liu on the job for seven years. just got married a few months ago. ramos, a husband and father of two. on facebook, one of his sons posting this. today, i had to say bye to my father. he was the best father i could ask for. it's horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer. in an exclusive statement, brinsley's mother said her son was a troubled young man and his life was spiralling out of control. he also reportedly suffered from mental illness. i also want to show you this. what started out as a few flowers yesterday, a massive vigil for the two fallen officers today. george? >> a lot of support for the police. okay, lindsey, thanks very often. the killings have widened a rift between the mayor and the police force. many feel he failed to back them up during anti-police protests.

and fearing copy cat killer, police departments all across the country are ramping up security after new threats overnight. pierre thomas joins us with the latest. >> reporter: good morning, george. today, around the country, police on high alert. those deaths come at a time when officers are being killed at a disturbing pace. from new york city to boston, baltimore and new jersey. police leaders and unions putting officers on high alert and urging extra caution fearing they could be targeted and ambushed. in the wake of the shootings of two of new york's finest, some turning their backs on new york mayor bill de blasio, as he came to the hospital to show his grief. anger fueled by the feeling that he and attorney general eric holder haven't been supporting police enough over the michael brown and eric garner cases. >> there is blood on many hands

tonight. the blood on the hands starts on the steps of city hall. in the office of the mayor. >> reporter: new york's former governor tweeted the deaths were the result of anti-cop rhetoric of eric holder and mayor de blasio. holder, who called the assassinations an unspeakable act of barbarism, didn't respond to the governor. >> we stand with the police department. no one has ever given up on the police department or said we were anti-police department. >> reporter: the killing of the nypd officers comes at a tense moment. new statistics on police deaths show that compared to last year, officers killed in the line of duty surged by 23%. with those killed by firearms up a staggering 58%. just hours after the police were killed in new york, an officer was killed in florida. and on another note from new

york, despite all of the raw emotion, the family of slain officer ramos said mayor de blasio is welcome at the funeral, george? he did contact officer -- commissioner ramsey from philadelphia and said, look, everything needs to be done to heal these wounds. >> pierre thomas, thank you very much. >> tense situation there. as is this. new developments in the massive sony hack attack. north korea accusing the obama administration of being behind the making of the movie "the interview." all of this as the studio said it will find a way to get that film out. abc's tom llamas is here with the latest. >> reporter: lara, good morning to you. sony says they will release the movie "the interview" in some form. this as the cyberattack escalating to an international incident, with north korea, threatening the u.s. and hackers apparently mocking the fbi. long proclaiming its innocence,

north korea is now saying they know who did hack sony. president obama. the claim made on state-run tv one day after the u.s. publicly accused the communist country of coordinating the sony cyberattack. a government spokesman talking about targeting the white house, the pentagon, all of mainland usa, if the u.s. does not agree to a joint investigation with the north koreans. which they say would prove they didn't do it. this, as president obama clarified how he views the sony cyber attack. >> i don't think it was an act of war. i think it was an act of cybervandalism that was very costly, very expensive. >> reporter: the administration reviewing whether or not to put korea back on its list of state-sponsored terrorism. it came off in 2008 under president bush. >> if the united states retaliates, there will be retribution and we're in for a tit for tat. it could escalate into something more serious. >> reporter: over the weekend, the hackers taunting the fbi with a new message sent to the

hollywood reporter. the new message links to this, youtube video titled "you are an idiot." >> they're mocking the fbi, congratulating them on the effort to find who they are. >> reporter: the hollywood reporter couldn't verify the authenticity of the e-mail. but says the message appeared similar to previous ones. sony says they are exploring ways to distribute "the interview." so far, no details. today, north korea is refusing to participate in a discussion with the u.n. security council about its human rights record. lara? >> thank you so much. we want to turn to anchor, paula faris with today's other stop stories. good morning, paula. >> good morning to you. frightening moments at a football game. a terrifying ordeal for fans leaving an nfl game in tampa. a bolt of lightning struck the parking lot, injuring 11 people. nobody was hit directly. but one man was knocked unconscious. others were injured by flying rocks and debris while one man was knocked unconscious.

>> they were all on the ground. people put raincoats and jackets over them so they didn't go into shock. >> the lightning hit that woman's suv. one of the top stars in college football has been cleared of sexual assault allegations after a school conduct hearing. an arbitrator saying there's not enough evidence to show that jameis winston violated florida state university's code of conduct. the woman accusing him has the right to appeal. he's never answered questions about exactly what happened two years ago. a new clue in the search for a missing philadelphia college student. shane montgomery's keys were found in a river. he was last seen in a parking lot on the banks of that river. he disappeared early thanksgiving morning after leaving a bar. okay. and switching gears now. the clock is ticking for all you last-minute holiday shoppers. about 72 hours remaining.

stores are making changes to accommodate that final frenzy. the final push. shipping companies are bracing for a record crush of traffic. mara schiavocampo is here with all of the details. good morning, mara. >> paula. good morning. if you haven't finished your shopping now, you're running out of shopping and shipping, but don't stress. the procrastinating might help you score a great deal. christmas countdown. black friday and supersaturday in the rearview mirror, and just three days until christmas, last-minute shoppers are rushing to get those gifts this morning. luckily, some retailers are offering marathon hours, perfect for procrastinators. kohl's staying open around the clock. 24 hours each day through christmas eve. macy's open from 7:00 a.m. until midnight until christmas eve. toys "r" us, j.c. penney and target also offering extended hours.

longer hours and bigger discounts. >> a lot of retailers know you haven't gotten your gifts yet. they'll be putting out big deals. to try to catch your attention. >> reporter: it's not just the buying you have to worry about. there's shipping, too. today, u.p.s. expects to deliver 34 million packages and their busiest day of the year. deadlines for christmas delivery are fast approaching. tuesday is the last day for postal service express shipping. as for those ditching stores forsythes, today is the last date for walmart.com's rush shipping and amazon's two-day shipping which is free for prime members. there is some good news for those last-minute shoppers. in some major cities, amazon is offering free same-day delivery on christmas eve for orders placed by 10:00 a.m. a great service for people like me. paula? >> is anybody selling a christmas miracle? probably not. that's what i need to get mine accomplished. thank you, mara. finally, can you imagine for a moment, a lottery jackpot worth almost 3 billion, with a

"b," dollars. they don't have to imagine in spain today where they just held their annual el gordo. that means the fat one. it's tradition that children sing the winning numbers on live tv. and, listen to this, during today's drawing, one of the girls started crying. people started clapping to get her through it. to make her feel better. can you imagine the pressure? with nearly $3 billion at stake. every human being in spain was watching that drawing. no word yet on the number of winning tickets. they are about $23 to $25. they're pretty pricey, but you can't win the whole thing, it's shared. >> is it too late to buy a ticket? >> it's shared by many. >> a great christmas gift. a lot of people give lottery tickets for christmas gifts. >> i think that's great gift. >> it ends up usually being a bad gift. but it's fun. >> i'm fine with sharing $3 billion. it's okay. >> very generous of you.

we're going to move on to lindsey vonn, facing a new challenge this morning after a ski accident this weekend. it happened when she was mounting her comeback to the slopes after two knee operations, and we have the story. >> she is back. >> reporter: it was a return to action that seemed impossible just a year ago. 30-year-old lindsey vonn speeding through a super g race in the french alps on saturday. >> lindsey vonn is back. >> reporter: putting her on the verge of tying the record for world cup race wins. the past two years have been an uphill battle for the downhill darling. the gold medal winner forced to the sidelines following a series of devastating crashes and a recurring knee injury. keeping her out of the sochi olympics and putting her career into question. now just four races back, she nearly tied the world cup record on sunday when her luck took a turn yet again. >> oh, trouble! and vonn is down!

>> reporter: her troublesome right knee was uninjured. her improbable comeback still on track. >> she's a tough cookie. she's fearless. she wants to get back on that mountain and race as fast as she can. >> reporter: the superstar skier crediting boyfriend tiger woods with helping her get back to her best. >> your will is the most powerful thing that you have. >> reporter: she'll be back in competition early next month. gunning for a chance to rewrite history yet again. for "good morning america," neal karlinsky, abc news, los angeles. >> yeah, do not count her out. also in the news an incredible rescue story. a high school freshman attacked by a bear, dragging her by her leg until she was saved by the family dog. abc's matt gutman has the incredible story. >> reporter: 15-year-old leah reeder is walking her dog, ralph, near her home in east point, florida, just after 6:00 p.m. sunday. >> she seen ralph get antsy and start barking. when she looked up, it was just

black. the bear was on top of her. started attacking her. drug her into the ditch. >> reporter: as the bear bit her leg and dragged her off the road, reeder's mom said her daughter first tried screaming for help. when no one came, she tried playing dead. that's when ralph stepped in. the springer spaniel coming to her owner's rescue, lunging at the bear, sending it back into the woods. despite serious injuries to her legs, back, neck, and face. she was able to walk to her father's house a block away before going to the hospital where she underwent surgery. she is expected to be okay. at least six other people have been killed in bear attacks in north america this year. reeder's mom said she alerted wildlife officials in the past about the number of bears in east point, but to no avail. >> one of the men told me, until these bears take someone, they could do nothing. i said that's a shame someone will have to lose their lives

before y'all do something. >> reporter: this morning, her family is thankful she didn't become unlucky number seven. while the florida wildfire officials search for the bear that attacked reeder. for "good morning america," matt gutman, abc news, miami. >> the big debate here, when to play dead and when to run like the wind. >> can't figure that out. >> a very crucial distinction. >> we don't want to make -- >> i got loud with a black bear once. he looked at me and laughed. i'm not sure that one works either. you want to talk about what is happening out west? first off, we have some big winds. santa anas. take a look at this video. over 80 miles an hour in the montecito hills. a 40-mile-an-hour range. across part of the valleys. we will see them again. it will be mild. the plus side here. it will be dry. 71 in vegas. 67 degrees in phoenix. meanwhile, there's a little bit of moisture rolling up the east coast in these pockets of air.

freezing rain advisories for parts of virginia. 43 and a sprinkle or a flurry here in new york city. 39 degrees expected in washington. >> good monday morning. i am meteorologist mike nicco with the bay area forecast. check out the shallow layer of fog cloaking our neighborhoods this morning. that will be the case the next couple of mornings with near record highs in the afternoon. rain is becoming more possible on wednesday evening but not

sold on it and trending dry. temperatures are mainly in the upper 60's and tonight, upper 40's to mid-50's. slightly cooler for the and coming up on "gma," urgent manhunt. new developments in the search for a gunman wanted to shoot a tv weatherman. the new way police are trying to track the suspect. a dramatic rescue for a 3-year-old boy. choking on a jaw breaker the size of a quarter. a hero who rushed in to save his life with seconds to spare. billions spent on gift cards. why they could wind up costing you more than you expect. be right back.

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two right lanes are closed. caltrans crews have been working on the slide for hours but tell us the roads may not be clear until 10:00. let's check elsewhere. >> stick in this area so you can see how bad the backup is. once you get up to the waldo tunnel, though, it is clear except for the fog. that is still socking in the golden gate bridge. as we take you into the east bay we're seeing heavy delays there. eastbound highway 4, sig alert because of a fatality there. detours in place until 10:00. eric. when we come back,

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welcome back. check out the weather window this morning as we look northbound. isn't that absolutely gorgeous, the shallow layer of fog that's over our neighborhoods? unfortunately, it's dangerously low. the visibility around oakland, eighth of a mile to half a mile so watch out as you're traveling the east bay. it's even thicker there than it is across the north bay. temperatures very mild. a lot of us in the 50s to 47 in

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you know, i have one simple request. and that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads. >> dr. evil. sara haines has seen it three times in the last five minutes. laughed every single time. >> how can you not? >> i have the same wish myself. >> you should be happy, because a big comeback for mike meyers over the weekend, brought back dr. evil. we are going to tell you all about it. it's trending big online right . as we say good morning, america. >> come on. give it to us. >> dr. evil. >> amazing. also on this show, a dramatic rescue caught on camera. a 3-year-old boy choking on a jawbreaker the size of a quarter, his mom rushing for help. and the off-duty hero who saved

him just in time. and tis the season, gift cards a popular holiday present, but what you might not know, they could be costing you and the person you're giving them to. and then listen up. ♪ we wish you a merry christmas we wish you a merry christmas and happy new year ♪ >> they're the a cappella group that ariana grande brought to our attention. we have them live. it catapulted them to instant fame. and we have them live to get you in the mood this monday work. we're going to get the latest on the mysterious shooting of a meteorologist in texas. shot multiple times outside his waco tv station. he's lucky to be alive but the gunman still on the loose. the reward is doubled. ryan owens has the story. >> reporter: more than 100 tips have poured in since police released this sketch of the gunman they say tried to kill texas weatherman patrick crawford.

>> maybe an isolated thunderstorm. >> reporter: but, this morning, police still don't have the shooter or his motive. >> whether this is random act of violence or a personal act of violence, we don't know. we are going to still follow up every lead we can. >> reporter: the 35-year-old meteorologist was shot repeatedly as he got into his car wednesday morning in the parking lot of kcen-tv near waco, texas. >> he said, i've been shot. please help me. >> reporter: he drove his car far enough to flag down a good samaritan who went to work. >> i went and got some paper towels out of my truck and we held them on his wounds. five, six minutes later state troopers showed up. >> reporter: crawford is recovering in this texas hospital. at his side, his wife, heather, who is also a meteorologist at the same station. >> heat index not playing a big role right now.

>> reporter: crawford met with the police, and even provided that sketch. he insists he does not know the man who shot him. neither, it seems, does anyone else at the station. >> we're going to do everything we can to help the police find this person. someone out there knows who this american is. >> for him to be out there, nobody knows where he went. it's frustrating. >> reporter: and frustrating for police, too. who offered a $5,000 reward for information relating to the gunman. this morning, it's doubled to $10,000, after an anonymous donation. perhaps money will help solve the mystery of who wanted the weatherman dead. and why. for "good morning america," ryan owens, abc news, dallas. >> a real mystery. thank you, ryan. and now to a heart-stopping moment caught on camera. watch this video. a 3-year-old boy nearly choking to death on a piece of candy as hi mother desperately tries to get him help. there's a happy ending. thanks to a police officer who arrived just in the nick of time. abc's david wright is with us with the story.

good morning, david. >> good morning. there's been so much talk about police body cameras these past few months. these are the little cameras that police wear on their chests. this amazing scene was captured on one of them. the amazing thing is the officer didn't even hit the record button. a 3-year-old boy upside down on a police officer's knee and choking to death -- >> you okay? >> reporter: -- accidentally turns on the officer's body camera as the officer struggles to save him. >> 911, what is the emergency? >> this is ray calling -- green valley groceries 24, i need an ambulance. >> yes, what's going on? >> reporter: it was the cashier, ray sanchez, who first called 911 after two panicked parents rushed into the story in nevada with their son. >> lady came in with a child. is he choking? yes, he's choking. >> it was just scary. >> reporter: little damian was semiconscious, choking on a candy. a jaw breaker the size of a quarter like this one that he

got at a birthday party. quinn averett, an off-duty officer, was a block away when he got the call. >> i took him from his father. put him on my knee. did a reverse heimlich maneuver. come on, buddy. you okay? you okay? >> reporter: the body camera footage captures the moment the offer saves him. >> you okay? >> reporter: you may not be able to see the jawbreaker pop out. you can hear the relief. >> is he breathing? >> is he -- he's breathing. >> reporter: days later, at the police station, an emotional reunion. >> when i saw him, i just started crying. >> reporter: damian's family got to thank the man who saved his life. >> she cried. i cried a little bit. it really touched me because i have children of my own. >> reporter: another reunion is set next month. that's when the police department and city council wit

honor the officer with a lifesaving award. damian, his brother, and their parents will be there. >> it was a good ending. happy ending. that my son is still with me. >> reporter: after the police officer stabilized the boy, the paramedics arrived. they determined the boy didn't have to be hospitalized. the police department there only got the body cameras a few weeks ago, like so many other police departments, in response to ferguson. little did they know it would capture a scene like this. capturing a scene of just great thinking. what a nice story. great ending. thank you, david. i want to get to rob for the weather. because there's so much going on. >> we start you off not far from the spot where a lightning strike sent several people to the hospital. in tallahassee, a lot of rain expected in that system and another system after that bringing more rain. a flash flood watch in effect. thunderstorms off the gulf. riding this warm front. another system behind that will get strengthening. tomorrow, a flood threat and a severe weather day as well. from new orleans to mobile. down i-10 to tallahassee. that's for your tuesday. we've been talking about rain. let's talk about snow.

back through the rockies, a white christmas. but, to rapid city, up through minneapolis, maybe chicago down to st. louis. going to have to be the back side of the system in order to get significant snow there. but you have to head north to >> good morning, i am meteorologist mike nicco. mild with fog in the morning and now we will turn it over to sunshine and record highs this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. as far as the seven-day forecast, a slight chance of rain on wednesday morning and dry and >> this weather report brought to you by sprint. i'm sorry. that was lame. i'm going to go -- >> you're mean. >> more of a slide, rob. thank you. coming up, a big health alert for parents this morning. how fast food could impact how your kids do in school? "gma" on the lookout. as you do your holiday shopping. so many people getting gift cards as last-minute options but

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your jaw drop. more than $44 million in gift cards have gone totally unspent in the last six years. the card just sitting at home. just one of the facts this morning as "gma" goes "on the lookout." waited until the last minute for the holiday shopping? you may be tempted by gift cards, those perfect stocking stuffers. an estimated $32 billion in gift cards are being bought right now. the average person, spending 174 bucks on these plastic gifts. this morning, what you might not know is that these convenient gifts could end up costing you, and even the person you're giving it to. >> gift cards have all of the disadvantages of money and none of the advantages. >> reporter: the thing not on your list wish? purchase fees. paying money for money. gift cards affiliated with credit card companies instead of stores usually have an upfront fee of up to $5 just to buy it. the people are in business to make money. >> reporter: next, dormancy fees

on some of those cards. if the recipient doesn't use it after a certain amount of time, the fees chip away at the value. >> a card company starts to charge a fee, a monthly fee, for basically doing nothing except for keeping track of the fact that you have this card out there. >> reporter: and in many cases no fraud protection. remember, these are like cash, not credit. so, if someone steals the card number, you're out of luck. add-your-own-value gift cards are a perfect target for thieves. recording the numbers on blank card, then as soon as you activate it with a cashier, they could drain its value before you even get home. still, the national retail federation telling abc news, gift cards are the perfect practical gift. six in ten of those celebrating the holidays say they want a gift card. so, here are some big tips. know your card's fees. make sure you keep the receipt. and when you're buying these gift card, try going for the ones that are a little hidden, not out in the open because

those are less likely to be hidden. so i go for the ones in the back. >> that's how i do all my shopping. go for the one three, four back. >> he goes for the ones in the back for his 12-year-old sister. >> gio still believes in santa claus. >> i have a 12-year-old sister. >> everybody does. >> santa's busy right now. the elves are working hard. >> yes, and we move on. could the secret to sleeping better be on youtube? please say yes. the surprising thing for so many. we're going to need the sleep whisperer. and the real life "up." lawn chair balloons, 8,000 feet up. this guy's amazing journey. that's why, whenever the need arises... walgreens is always right around the corner, so you can get in and out in no time.

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♪ i'm on top of the world, hey we're back with the daredevil incredible stunt, straight out of the movie "up." carried by 100 colorful balloons. >> i think there's more than 100. and his landing was out of this world. t.j. holmes has it all in the social square. >> we've done a lot of these videos of stunts. this is the first one i feel compelled to give this disclaimer to viewers. don't try this at home. because this guy actually used ready available items. the lawn chair, the balloons to lift himself up. to get back down, that's where the shotgun comes in. one rickety old lawn chair.

>> all: three, two, one. >> reporter: 90 helium balloons. >> i'm doing it. this is crazy. >> reporter: and one heck of a view. >> nice up here. >> reporter: that's renowned daredevil erik roner soaring to new heights with a jaw-dropping stunt, soaring over the utah mountains with nothing but the lift power of those balloons. >> it's like that childhood dream. >> reporter: it might look like a scene from the movie "up." roner has a long way down. 8,000 feet. >> it was scary. >> reporter: just about the last sound you want to hear up there -- so what now? he pulls out a shotgun to speed up the plummeting process. and then -- >> three, two, one, later. >> reporter: pretty cool for a guy free-falling like a rocket to earth. just when you think he's about to go splat -- he pulls his parachute and pulls off what he calls one of his favorite stunts yet. >> that was big! >> kind of like the dream of flying. can that actually happen?

the reality of it, pulling it off was surreal for me. >> reporter: high praise when you consider some of his greatest hits. from b.a.s.e. jumping in switzerland -- these are the andes. >> reporter: -- to skiing in child. he can't seem to keep his head out of the clouds and his feet on the ground. you all ask the strangest question. the lawn chair? who cares. the balloons aren't the regular latex. >> don't you have to yell, fore! heads-up! your chair is falling. >> you all missed the whole point. >> the b.b. gun. >> yes, those are the things that we -- >> don't run with scissors. don't fly with b.b. guns. >> we're not paying the guy the proper respect. it was amazing stunt. >> it was amazing. could fast food affect how your children are performing in school? some health news every parent needs to know.

here's a great tip from lowe's. with all the presents you have to wrap, how are you going to get organized? use a hanger for all of your ribbons. just tack in a nail, load up your ribbon, and you're ready to wrap. to see more, go to goodmorningamerica.com on yahoo!. this season with instabo, now only $79 at lowe's.

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♪ good morning, i'm eric thomas. all lanes of highway 4 remain closed after a fatal accident. these pictures just came into the newsroom. witnesses say this white pickup truck drifted into oncoming traffic and sideswiped a work truck. the driver died when the truck flipped over. the lanes should be reopened around 8:30. no rain, plenty of fog. flight arrival delays 56 minutes into sfo and newark has 45 minutes. notice the sun is already starting to melt the fog over land but will take several more hours to do it over the water. near record highs in the

midtourp 60s. warm again tomorrow. slight chance of rain wednesday evening. take a look at this fog as it makes its way over to the san mateo bridge. it is really foggy there. be careful. also rock slide causing major delays

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good morning, america. it's 8:00 a.m. and a new warning for parents. could feeding your children fast food affect their performance in school? what you need to know right now. ♪ it's not about the money and santa-sized deal. the secret to saving big on all your last-minute holiday needs. how you can make every dollar ♪ you like me now and dr. evil is back. >> i'm about to take you to school. >> mike meyers' most memorable role. nothing is off limits. ♪ we are family and "gma" home for the holidays. we're making wishes come true. reuniting families against all odds. ♪ goodness and love and they're the group discovered by ariana grande, wowing us with their harmonies.

♪ the first noel the angels did say ♪ >> now, they're singing us into this monday, as we say -- ♪ good morning good morning good morning good morning america ♪ >> they're good. and everybody's getting into the christmas spirit out there in times square this morning. ♪ and heaven and nature sing heaven and nature sing and let heaven heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ sing ♪ sing >> wow. joy to the world from re-sound.

that's that a cappella group. so great. >> terrific. >> cannot step on that. ariana grande has a great ear. she introduced them to the world. we'll hear more from them in a bit. >> they're loving every minute of it. they were switching songs. they're naturals. they got this. also coming up, two incredible transformations. we'll introduce you to two people who lost half their size. this morning, they'll let you know how they did it and hopefully inspire you. >> that's coming up. first, paula faris has some news. >> good morning to both of you. we begin with police across the country on high alert this morning after the deadly ambush on two new york city police officers. officers in new york now patrolling the streets only in pairs. and police in other large cities being warned to wear bullet-proof vests. a memorial is growing in brooklyn where the officers were gunned down. as they sat in their squad car. the killer, ismaaiyl brinsley, taking his own life moments later.

today, police are expected to speak with his ex-girlfriend, who he shot just hours before the ambush. he posted warnings about attacking the police, invoking the names of eric garner and michael brown. over the weekend, officers physically turned their backs on new york's mayor, a sign of that widening rift after the mayor offered words of support to the protesters. and new fallout from the cyberattack against sony. the obama administration is now considering whether to put north korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. that follows new threats from north korea claiming it will strike the white house, pentagon, and the whole u.s. mainland unless president obama agrees to a joint investigation of the sony hacking. meantime, sony is promising to release the movie at the center of the controversy, "the interview," in some form.

they're not elaborating quite yet. and a father and his two young sons have survived 11 days lost in the brutal wilderness in the australian outbarack. outback. they took a wrong turn in their suv and got stuck with temperatures hitting 100 degrees. steven collected rain water to hydrate those boys, ages 5 and 7, until a local farmer stumbled upon them on sunday. cleanup getting under way after this dramatic implosion. down she goes. took down part of the stadium on the campus of texas a&m university. all it took was, you know, a few thousand pounds of explosives to clear the way for a $450 million expansion project. and finally, a very special birthday wish for colo, the gorilla born in 1956. she's lived longer than any

gorilla on record. known as the queen of ohio's columbus zoo, her birthday bash is shaping up to be a royal fete. the queen will nosh on a cake made of peanut butter. applesauce, honey, shredded carrots. does that sound good, rob? the average life span for a gorilla is 37. but colo is 58 today. that's about 116 in gorilla years. and you guys. she's got 16 grandkids, 10 greatgrandkids. maybe one to do great in there. she's got a lot. she's a matriarch. she doesn't look a day over 37. >> happy birthday, colo. >> thanks, paula. we have a health warning for parents now. a new study linking fast food to slow progress in school. dr. jen ashton is here with this. what's the connection? >> we have known for a long time that fast food is probably not great for the waistline. this is one of the first studies that tried to make a connection between kids who ate fast food and their intellectual development. they followed kids from

kindergarten to eighth grade. they found that the kids who ate the most fast food had the slowest academic development across all subjects, reading, math, and science. >> so what's the link? between the way you do and what's going in? >> this study was based on observation and evaluation. it didn't really get into the how and why. one of the theorys is fast food typically tends to be high in calories, added sugars, saturated fats. low in nutrients. nutrients that we need and a growing child's brain needs like iron. but they definitely need to study it more. >> we'll get a lot more on that. thank you for coming in, jen. >> you bet. pop news and weather coming up. sara, you're going to the social square? >> oh, i gotta move. where was my cue? yes, now here's a look at the morning menu in the social square spowered by samsung galaxy. dr. evil making a comeback. and last-minute holiday presents, tips and tricks you can use starting this morning. and the surprising secret to

sleeping better. it's on youtube. and millions are watching. bring on the cold. all coming up here live on "gma." as we're getting into the christmas spirit this morning. ♪ we bring to you i've had moderate to severe plaque psoriasis most my life. but that hasn't stopped me from modeling. my doctor told me about stelara®. it helps keep my skin clearer. with only 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses... ... stelara® helps me be in season. stelara® may lower your ability to fight infections and increase your risk of infections. some serious infections require hospitalization. before starting stelara®... ...your doctor should test for tuberculosis. stelara® may increase your risk of cancer. always tell your doctor if you have any sign of infection, have had cancer, or if you develop any new skin growths. do not take stelara® if you are allergic to stelara® or any of its ingredients. alert your doctor of new or worsening problems including headaches, seizures, confusion and vision problems- these may be signs of a rare, potentially fatal brain condition.

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crashing the show in the most evil way possible. the star reprising his "austin powers" role. sharing his thoughts on the sony hacking scandal. >> why pick on sony? they haven't had a hit since the walkman. >> i loved that line. i might still have a walkman. nothing was off limits. taking on north korea, sony, and the hackers. one amazing appearance. one of the top trending videos on youtube overnight. >> yeah, baby. >> not surprising when you can get a little dr. evil. who had a walkman here guys? >> i still have mine. >> i think i still have mine, too. >> with the foam ear things. remember how bad the earphones were? >> but they were comfortable. >> that was your idea of comfort? >> he also has fanny pack. >> i forget who we're talking to. know your audience. can you feel the love tonight? sir elton john and his partner, david furnish certainly did on sunday. they tied the not on sunday,

inviting everyone on the internet to join in the fun. elton john sharing photos of the special day on his instagram account. like this snapshot of the happy couple signing their wedding papers. the moment they exchanged vows. this sweet photo of their son, elijah. their guests also shared on social media. brook lynne beckham posting this photo with his very posh mother. they just don't make moms like that. elizabeth hurley sharing this shot. all with the hashtag share the love. >> those were guests? >> yeah. >> all right. >> and we were debating on whether this was private or not. but when you do it on social media, you're choosing the moment and the angles. only skinny pictures posted. and finally, in case you hadn't heard, winter is coming. this kitty may have gotten the memo about the big christmas storm. check out the pictures of the cat experiencing snow for the first time. so far, a little surprised, like, it's a little chilly out here. now we move on. then it starts to realize what is actually happening.

and this is my favorite, the look of utter despair. as the kitty realizes she has to make the journey through the snow. that's how we look. that cat is for real. >> grumpy cat's cousin. >> the snow just blended in. >> i thought those were natural boots. i thought that fur was functional. she's acting like she's all shocked. you wear a fur coat every day. let the rest of us get crazy. >> and we are. thank you, sara. "heat index" coming up. let's go to rob for some weather. >> hey, good morning, guys. it's a chilly day out here. i assume you traveled in from somewhere. from where? >> texas. >> how was the ride? >> fantastic. >> they're here safely. we'll start you off with the travel forecast. wednesday especially. traveling by air, green on the map to the left, that's good. yellow, probably delays. atlanta, new york, we're hoping for no major delays. we threw it on there for color. for festivity. how about this graphic?

the choo-choo train, the snowman. yeah. [ cheers and applause ] they're loving this forecast. wind across the northeast. a little bit of rain. mountain snow. you want a white christmas, you have to head north toward the >> good monday morning. i am meteorologist mike nicco with the bay area forecast. check out the shallow layer of fog cloaking our neighborhoods this morning. that will be the case the next couple of mornings with near record highs in the afternoon. rain is becoming more possible on wednesday evening but not sold on it and trending dry. temperatures are mainly in the upper 60's and tonight, upper 40's to mid-50's. slightly cooler for the seven-day >> why? everybody's -- everybody's wearing them. everybody's wearing them. i just try to fit in. the story of my life. happy holidays. guys, back to you in the studio. >> all right, rob.

first up in the "heat index" new year's is right around the corner. a lot of us will make resolutions. a lot of them will involve getting into shape. in a moment, we'll introduce you to two people who took that challenge and ran with it. they're featured in "people" magazine's half their size issue. here's their story. for 25-year-old conner wrench, weight has been a life-long struggle. >> i knew i was overweight when i was 6 years old. >> reporter: a chronic overeater. she dieted for the first time in third grade. >> i would eat continuously. >> reporter: and in eighth grade, wrench weighed over 200 pounds. >> i would snack on chips, cookies, candy. anything that i could find. >> reporter: tipping the scales at 271 pounds after her freshman year of college, she knew she had to do something. >> i looked in the mirror and said, i'm done being overweight. >> reporter: for 40-year-old mark bryant, weight didn't become a problem until later in life. >> i graduated from high school, 185 pounds. over the next ten years, gained

about 250. >> reporter: bryant didn't exercise any discipline when it came to eating. his weight climbing to 442. >> lunch would be a couple of hamburgers, a large fry. a milk shake. dinner would be an extra large pizza. >> reporter: his turning point was when he went to the hospital with chest pains. >> the doctors said you're having an anxiety attack. they said, if you don't change your way you won't live to see your daughters get married. >> reporter: that motivated bryant to change his life and get moving. okay, so you just saw conner. she weighed 271 pounds. now she weighs 141. a weight loss of 130 pounds. so here she is. conner, come on out. [ cheers and applause ] i mean -- i'm going to talk to you more in a minute. tell everybody, when you look at the old you. look at the monitors, see new you, what goes through your mind? >> i'm happier. i can be myself without this

covering me up. i think that's the best thing about it. >> love your smile. can't wait to hear more. now we're going to meet mark. he was 442. now 181. that's 261 pounds lost. i can't even say it. when you see him, you won't believe it. get on out here, mark. [ cheers and applause ] you look fantastic. >> thank you, thank you. >> what do your kids say when they see you now? >> when i was younger, when they were younger, they didn't really know me as this guy. they see these pictures and are like, who is that? >> a distant memory. first, zoey, i want to talk to you. the features director for "people" magazine. zoey, come on over here. what was it about mark and conner's story that appeals to you guys? >> it's that they lost so much weight in a healthy way. no gimmicks, no surgery. just hard work. clearly, it paid off. >> obviously, exercise is

critical. i just want to say, i can't believe, conner, you're okay with saying, yeah, this was an old meal for me. you would eat three plates of this. >> i would indulge. i loved it. it was my go-to. it was my go-to. >> and now, you can feel satisfied with just broccoli, pasta, a little bit of cream in there? >> it's whole wheat pasta. and actually, i grind cottage cheese and use it as my sauce. it acts as the alfredo sauce. >> do you have a mantra? that our viewers can take away. because boy, do you look fantastic. >> one day at a time. the small victories lead to the big results. >> great mantra. love it. love your smile. >> thank you. >> mark? the whole pizza and that ice cream? >> yes. that looks tempting. >> no. just say no. what do you say to yourself when you're now eating this? it's grilled and clean. how do you get the gratification? i think that's what people can

take away from this. >> it didn't go from this to this overnight. it was gradual. that went from half a pizza over to this. over a course of a lot of time. it's delicious. it's something i crave. >> i'm sure you're still tempted. that's life. the stories are incredible. check out "people" magazine. zoey, thank you. >> thank you. >> "people" magazine is on stands right now. half their size. and they really, really are, george. >> we're amazed. you guys look fantastic. thank you, guys. we move on to the "heat index" now. christmas just days away. so many people scrambling to get the last-minute needs. becky worley on how you can get one-stop shopping at the dollar store. >> reporter: it seems like money just flying away during the holidays. to keep the cash in your wallet, how about some hacks from the dollar store? hack number one. holiday basics. way cheaper here. 20 christmas cards for a dollar?

yes. and then the decorations. wow, there is a lot of holiday stuff in these stores. lisa quinn, design genius, offers hack number two. >> what you're looking for is a color scheme. >> reporter: combine metallics and then add accents. for a buck. >> for a buck. >> reporter: this is a parmesan shaker. with metallic balls and the l.e.d. bulb cut out of the candle, boom. a table decoration. i found that idea on pinterest. that's hack number three. hack number four, combine items. in a creative way. mason jar, plus nail items equals pedicure in a jar. there's a healthy snack stash. for a colleague. compared to the grocery store, a dollar for these nuts? that's a steal. baking pan, three pairs of socks, pom-pom. sock cupcakes. the spa basket.

a container. and a loofah. the thing about the spa basket, you want to get treats. not things that are too personal. no deyoed rant. final hacks, combining dollar store items with things from home. >> seventh grade summer camp. and i did some string art. >> reporter: dollar store nails and string with some wood pieces lisa had at home. so as you try to keep the greenbacks from flying away, the dollar store may be your best holiday hope. for "good morning america," becky worley, abc news, oakland, california. >> hey, when you're desperate. anything in a pinch. >> or creative. your strong point. not so much over here. >> there's no creativity from the bookends at this table. >> oh, come on. an unusual story to share. next up on "the gma heat index." the youtube star who has made a name for herself because of, get this, her whisper. her voice helps her fans sleep. curbs depression. and loneliness. and abc's bazi kanani explains.

>> hello. this is maria again with you. >> reporter: a youtube sensation. millions watching maria fold towels. flip pages. or tap her wooden brush. her fans hanging on her every quiet word. >> unique soft voices. >> reporter: a whisper feels very intimate. >> it is. it almost sounds like you're part of something secret. >> reporter: so what is the secret? why in the world would anyone want to watch this? >> it puts you in this euphoric, like bubbly in your head. >> reporter: she's describing a condition called asmr -- autonomous sensory meridian response. she says for people who are asmr sensitive, like her, there are certain sounds or images that trigger a sublime sensation. do you explain this to people at a cocktail party? and how do you do that?

>> most of the time, i give them a video to watch. >> reporter: this video of her pretending to be a makeup artist. brushing the lens and the pi microphones. >> one cheek, it feels very, very realistic. >> for people who have experienced it, they claim some pretty powerful results. but, again, this is untested. it's unvalidated. and it's really largely unresearched. >> reporter: now yet there are more than 1 million videos on youtube designed to trigger the asmr response. >> thank you. >> reporter: maria says it's her turn to help others after the videos helped her destress and overcome depression. >> i'm trying to break the barriers of the camera. and really almost be with them there. for "good morning america." >> reporter: bazi kanani, abc news, washington. >> quit screaming, bazi. that was interesting. >> kind of relaxed. you guys are creeped out. i'm relaxed. >> the turning of the page sound, that was, i did find myself lulled.

>> water. i don't want a whispering voice, too. >> sara, you fall asleep when i talk usually, right? >> most of the time. we have a big holiday reunion. "gma" home for the holidays. do not want to miss this. two sisters are going to see each other again.

good morning, i'm eric thomas. traffic lanes on highway 4 will be reopening in just a few minutes following a fatal accident in brentwood. the driver of this white pickup truck died after witnesses say he drifted into oncoming traffic around 4:30 this morning. my apologies, we obviously don't have that truck. he sideswiped a work truck causing the pickup to flip over and ended up hanging over the railing. the lanes should be reopened by 8:30. here's leyla. actually that update has been extended 20 more minutes, so about ten to 9:00. here's a look at the san mateo bridge. it is pea soup as you pull away from hayward into foster city. the eastbound side of highway 4 at balfor road is where all

lanes continue to be shut down. a new crash the southbound side of 280 is gumming the up commute there. heavy delays heading out of daly city. >> thanks for the update. when we come back, meteorologist

good morning. many of our bridges still look like this. a lot of fog over the water, but it is starting to lift just a little bit over land. it will do so maybe two, three hours faster than over the water. right now the thickest around

oakland, one mile hayward and quarter mile in santa rosa. hazy sunshine today and near ♪ sleigh bells ring are you listening in the lane snow is glistening a beautiful sight ♪ ♪ we're happy tonight walking in a winter wonderland ♪ a little darius rucker twist on "winter wonderland." great song for the season. we're gonna hear a lot more from him in a little bit. i love his voice. >> me, too. i was just singing. so glad none of you heard it. kicking off our "home for the holidays" series. this morning, it's an emotional surprise for two sisters coming together. you don't want to miss sara's story. and reese witherspoon getting so much buzz for her new movie "wild." why she grabbed that story before the book was even published.

and we'll hear from star of stage and screen christine baranski opening up about her role in the new movie, "into the woods." we're going to start with "home for the holidays." reuniting families facing challenges. and sara, you're starting us off with this lovely story of two sisters. >> two sisters who were not going see each other this year because of finances. so we got our hands in there in hopes of making holiday magic. for liz and adam welker, family is everything. liz's sister, samantha, not just a sibling, but her best friend. >> she just takes care of me. i take care of her. it's just a special relationship. where does it go? >> reporter: it was a painful decision to move across the country for adam's grad school when liz and her sister both realized they were both pregnant and due three months apart.

the video chatting took off. >> we did a lot of skyping. show me your belly, i'll show you mine. >> reporter: on march 19th, the day when liz was supposed to be induced, a call she never saw coming. samantha was in labor. her baby boy, three months early. >> i didn't know what else to do but drop to my knees on the floor and pray to god for her and for him. then i had to get up and go to the hospital and have my own baby. >> reporter: the babies born on the same day. in pennsylvania, willa, in perfect health. in utah, chance, samantha's son, in critical condition. >> i don't think it's a coincidence they came on the same day. he'll always have willa and willa will always have him. >> reporter: after months in intensive care, chance now home and thriving, just in time for his first christmas. but with two kids and stacks of tuition bills, aunt liz and uncle adam can't afford to fly home for the holidays. >> this will be the first christmas that i won't be home with my family. the only thing that makes christmas matter to me is to be with the people that i love. >> reporter: time for us to step in.

liz thinks she's just a finalist doing an interview with one of our producers. no idea i'm right outside her door. "good morning america" is sending them home for the holidays to be with their family. come on. she's going to be so surprised. hi. are you liz welker? >> hi, sara. >> i want to make it official. yes, we're sending you guys home for the holidays. >> wow. >> give me a hug! oh. oh, gosh, you're going to make me cry. so do you mind if i come in? >> oh, my gosh. >> reporter: we've enlisted the help of liz's brother-in-law in utah to help with the surprise. >> i got this under control. >> it's time for me to hit the road. we need reinforcements on the ground. so cameron elf on the shelf

mathison, you got this? >> i got it. i'm elf on the ground. in utah. right outside liz's sister's house. ready to give her the biggest christmas present ever. come on. ♪ samantha? >> what the heck is happening? >> my name is cameron mathison. i'm with "good morning america." >> yes, hi. >> we have a huge christmas surprise for you. all of you. get your jackets on. come out and join us here. you ready for the big surprise? >> yeah. >> your big christmas present, are you sure? >> yes. >> all right. they are ready. bring it in. bring it in! merry christmas. >> oh, my god! [ crying ] >> what does it mean to have the chance to introduce chance to

willa? >> it's everything. we know that they must have some kind of special connection to have come on the same day, because -- what are the chances of that? a week late and three months early. >> reporter: so from liz, samantha, chance, willa and this whole wonderful family to yours -- >> all: merry christmas, america! >> that was great. >> the last time they had seen chance he had been in intensive care. that's the first time they're seeing him out of an incubator and machine and getting to hold him. >> this -- thriving. >> he looked so happy, too. >> i loved the looks on their faces. you saw the camera in the background. the brother was in on it, right? he's part of a tv production company. he said, oh, i'm doing something. >> he's doing a holiday "b" roll. they were all -- >> the reaction. you could tell. >> we get inspired by this by robin's special on december 25th. it's "a disney frozen christmas

celebration." christmas night on abc. we'll bring you inspiring holiday reunions all week long. fantastic stuff. let's go to rob for a final check of the weather. >> hey, george. do kids get any cuter than at christmas time? these kids looking great. we have claire, celebrating 16 years old. what are you doing besides this? >> going to the rockettes. >> you're not learning how to drive here, are you? >> no. >> start somewhere else, for sure. wet weather across the south. hydroplaning possible. throughout the next couple of day sporadic rain and then heavy rain across the northeast, especially on christmas eve. snow on the holiday. maybe chicago through st. louis. mips minneapolis, you'll see a white christmas. thunderstorms across the south >> good morning, i am

meteorologist mike nicco. mild with fog in the morning and now we will turn it over to sunshine and record highs this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. as far as the seven-day forecast, a slight chance of rain on wednesday morning and dry and cooler >> this weather report sponsored by walmart. i spent time in louisiana. this is how we say -- >> ho, ho, ho. >> h-e-a-u-x. cajun style. lara, back to you. >> i love it. cajun style. thank you, rob. and emmy, two-time tony winner christine baranski is lighting up the big screen right now in the adaptation of "into the woods." deborah roberts sat down with the star who plays one of the fairytale's most evil characters. >> ladies, our carriage awaits. ♪ now may i go to the festival >> the festival? ♪ with the nails and the clothes you would make us the fools of is the festival and mortify the

prince ♪ >> the festival lasts three nights. surely you can let me be there for one of them. >> the king is trying to find his son a wife, not a skullerry maid. we must be gone. >> oh. >> sit. >> come. go. >> christine. crazy, crazy. you're so mean. where did you find the wickedness? >> i don't know where that comes from. i'm such a nice person. it's so odd. i play these deliciously mean characters with great clothes, lots of attitude. great one-liners. this has been my career. it's been a pretty great ride. and cinderella's wicked stepmother, you got the blonde wig, it's a little too big. the clothes are a little too much. but they're fabulous. the attitude. the horses. the carriage. the whole thing. it was fun. >> what do you think of the finished product? >> i adore rob marshall.

i think he was the perfect director for this. i have worked many times with stephen sondheim in various full productions. so like, to get to do now a movie version of one of his great -- greatest muse kaicalsm. that's just kisi incing on the for me. i watched it just with -- just with awe. i think it's such an incredible rendering of a great stage musical on to the screen. visually so stunning. >> the film is brilliant. >> it will be great christmas opening. >> you bring so much to it. >> thank you so much. >> ale really looking forward to it. >> go to the woods. >> "into the woods" opens nationwide on christmas day. coming up, reese witherspoon as you have never seen her before. opening up about her new role that's generating lot

you can't have a disney frozen christmas celebration without a parade.

and lots of people are talking about reese witherspoon's latest movie, "wild." it's based on a true story of a woman who went on an epic 1,000-mile trek to find herself. cameron mathison sat down with reese, costar laura dern, and the woman who experienced this amazing journey. >> i only have another 300 miles to walk. >> reporter: it's the performance generating buzz. >> cheryl sent me her manuscript. right before it was published. i read it in 24 hours. i called her immediately. and i said this is exactly what i've been looking for. >> reporter: she plays cheryl strayed, the character at the center of "wild" a story of her journey on the pacific crest trail. it helped her recover from her mother's death, a heroin addiction, and the casual sex that followed. >> the way she writes is so

honest. sometimes unflinchingly truthful. she has a thing with honesty. >> reese is like, did you really have to write that? >> how did you know that reese sort of had this character in her? >> i didn't have to push her or guide her. she had it inside of her. even though she was scared. >> reporter: in the film, she carries the same 70-pound backpack that cheryl lugged when she hiked the trail. how heavy was it? i have to ask. >> it was heavy. she did it by herself. alone, completely alone. i would be so scared. >> what is it like hearing these three talk about your life? >> it's such an honor. every once in awhile, i'll stop and think about where it began and how far i have traveled. i moved into my life. i became the person my mother raised me to be. >> reporter: the film tells the story through flashbacks about cheryl's relationship with her mother, bobbi. >> cheryl, if there's one thing i can teach you, it's how to

find your best self. and when you do, how to hang on to it for dear life. >> it's about a love story between a mother and daughter. >> i hadn't read anything with this level of honesty and depth of love. and had not seen it in a movie. >> reporter: witherspoon was a producer of the film as well. she was drawn to the story because it tells the story of a complicated and not always likable woman. >> you can put yourself in the way of beauty. >> reporter: did you ever think, all of this? >> i never imagined. it's everything i intended. >> reporter: a couple of things you did learn? >> life lessons how you cope with grief and loss. and there's so much inside of you. and if you have one person who loves you so much in life, love can propel you forward in life. you're going to make it. you're going to be okay. >> reporter: for "good morning america," cameron mathison, abc news, hollywood. >> powerful stuff. i love that phrase. move into her life. "wild" is in theaters now. coming up, darius rucker.

♪ are you listening in the lane snow is glistening ♪ ♪ a beautiful sight we're happy tonight ♪ ♪ walking in a winter wonderland ♪ lifeand thankfully, of shaving stuff. being able to find backups.

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we're back now with grammy winner darius rucker. celebrating the launch of his first christmas album. it's called "home for the holidays." here he is with "what god wants for christmas." ♪ old man playing santa claus blew into town with old jack frost ♪ ♪ now he's handing out candy canes and smiles for free ♪ ♪ people scurry with their lists rushing around to buy those gifts ♪

♪ that will end up wrapped up underneath that tree ♪ ♪ now i'm sitting at this red light looking at a manger scene ♪ ♪ watching snowflakes kiss that baby and it makes me think ♪ ♪ i wonder what god wants for christmas ♪ ♪ something you can't find in a store ♪ ♪ maybe peace on earth no more empty seats in church ♪ ♪ might be what's on his wish list ♪ ♪ i wonder what god wants for christmas ♪

♪ ♪ what do you give someone who gave his only son ♪ ♪ what if we believed in him like he believes in us ♪ ♪ i wonder what god wants for christmas ♪ ♪ what might put a smile on his face ♪

♪ every bible with no dust the devil giving up might be what's on his wish list ♪ ♪ now i wonder what god wants for christmas what kind of gifts from you and me ♪ ♪ more sister more brother more loving one another i wonder i wonder what god wants ♪ ♪ by now we ought to know what god wants for christmas ♪ [ cheers and applause ]

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hey, we're rolling into christmas. the start of the holiday week. we want to enjoy it a little bit more. with the a cappella group resound.

a little christmas medley. see you tomorrow. ♪ oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh fall on your knees oh hear the angels' voices ♪ ♪ oh, night divine night divine oh, night when christ was born ♪ ♪ oh, night divine oh, night, oh, night divine ♪

♪ ooh ♪ ooh >> merry christmas. >> merry christmas. >> happy holidays. [ cheers and applause ] christmas. >> happy holidays.

mom? dad? big uncle wayne?nut. hot chocolate. green tea. uh, decaf, cuz. wow. i'm dying for an herbal tea. the all new keurig 2.0.

good morning, i'm eric thomas. what a difference a week makes. no rain and it's warmer. here's mike. >> yeah, check out this picture, eric. kind of looks like star wars. beautiful picture showing the fog that's still around. it will be the next couple of hours. here's the warm temperatures eric was talking about. good morning, by the way. 67 in san jose, record-setting 67 in oakland. most of us in the mid to upper 60s. accuweather seven-day forecast, same thing tomorrow. a slight cnc light rain wednesday evening. does it look like that in lucas valley by way chance? >> probably. >> we have a sig alert in the north bay. mill valley is where you're finding those backups all the

way into larkspur because of a announcer: it's "live with kelly and michael." today, she shows her wild side in her new movie, reese witherspoon. plus, the good wife heads into the woods with her new film, christine baranski. and we're giving away cash to an unsuspecting audience member in our year end look back challenge. then stay tuned for "live's" tune in to win question of the day for your chance to win a fabulous prize. all next on "live." [captioning made possible by isney-abc domestic television] announcer: now here are kelly ripa and michael strahan! [cheers and applause] ♪