this morning on "early today," new warnings. north korea threatens to take it to the next level ahead of joint exercises with the south and u.s. weekend. shopping spree. retailers usher in the holiday season with deep discounts and expanded hours. and, miracle on the sea. three teenagers found alive after drifting for nearly two months in open waters. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning. welcome to our viewers including those in the pacific time zone.

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with the brink of war. the u.s. and south korea move ahead with plans to hold joint military drills this weekend. the "uss george washington" has arrived in the yellow sea for preplanned maneuvers which now ar also a show of support after the north's artillery attacks this week. brian moore is in washington with the latest. brian, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, lynn. south koreans were shaken this morning by the unmistakable thunder of artillery. u.s. officials saying this appears to be a north korean drill, but it is also a clear message coming just three days after that deadly attack on a south korean island. u.s. officials have moved the "uss george washington," its 75 warplanes and four other battleships into that region for the pre-planned drill with the south korean. u.s. officials hope this will have a calming influence, but the north koreans are saying

today that the united states is pushing the korean peninsula to the brink of war. lynn? >> brian mooar in washington. thanks so much. back here at home on a much lighter note, americans are emerging from their turkey comas to prepare for long lines and what they hope will be big discounts on this busiest shopping day of the year. but in these tough economic time, you may be a day late, as many retailers broke with tradition to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season. nbc's kristen dahlgren has more from oak brook,brook, illinois. >> reporter: good morning. 6 degrees with the windchill. might think that would keep people from voluntarily standing outside, but it didn't. they were lined up early this morning to be the first into some of these stores. traditionally the day when retailers move into the positive, and they know in these tough economic times, not only do they have to go above and

beyond to get shoppers in, but going earlier than in years' past. in chicago, shoppers spent thanksgiving stuffing their carts, the rush for bargains under way before the dishes were even cleared. >> the stores are packed, but trying to get it done early. >> the variety for me, it's christmas. >> reporter: for some, black friday shopping is now as much a tradition as the thanksgiving turkey, and in many places this year it started well before friday. >> you don't have to start your holiday shopping the day after thanksgiving or your online shopping on that cyber monday. >> the idea of cyber monday doesn't really fly anymore with most people not having to wait to return to work for online access. so cyber deals have been out there for days. retailers report so far this year, shoppers seem more in the mood to spend. still looking for bargain, but a little more willing to part with their cash. >> there's a 40-inch samsung tv.

that's for my wife. she wants that for the bedroom. my grandbaby wants xbox kinect, whatever that is. i know it's $300. i didn't know that. so i'll come back and get that for the grandbaby. >> reporter: forecasters predict americans will spend 2% or 3% more than last year leaving retailers across the country looking for any way to draw them in. but while americans may be a little more willing to spend this year, a new survey says they're actually behind in shopping than yaft year. only a quarter of it done going into the thanksgiving holiday, so expect today to be a busy one out there, lynn. >> driften dahlgren in illinois. thank you. making other news in america -- california police looking for a pair of suspects who robbed a marijuana observatory.

they weren't in it for the money, because police say no cash was taken. one colorado family is having a tougher holiday than most after coming home to find someone mistakenly removed their roof. police investigated the incident, and it turns out a local company was supposed to work on a house one block over. however, that contractor isn't able to fix the problem until monday. meaning the next three days will be a little challenging, to say the least. in kansas city, missouri, thousands of people braved cold temperatures for a thanksgiving day tradition. the 81st annual plaza lighting ceremony with more than a quarter million lights, the city's upscale shopping and dining distribute got decked out for the holidays. and in wisconsin, you know it's forgiving when folks take a quick dip in freezing waters all in the name of charity. around 20 people took part in the so-called polar plunge yesterday, raising an impressive $5,000, and all of that money

goes to replenish a local food bank. now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc meteorologist bill karins. excuse me, bill. >> funny. >> choked up when i see you. >> a little rosy in the cheeks. >> a little blushed. >> right. lynn, probably the first of many artic plunge stories that we usually show during the cold winter season. certainly feels like winter out there still in areas of the west. a new storm to talk about that is moving in off the pacific. thankfully, it's coming in. this one's coming off the water instead of down from british columbia meaning a little warmer of a storm. the last one came straight down the coast in canada. that's why the last storm was so cold. this one brings in mild air. more actually warm temperatures up in areas like seattle and in portland. we are still seeing a lot of snow in the high elevations, and still pockets of cold air. could be minor areas of freezing rain. now, as we ge throughout the

next two days we'll continue to watch the cascades getting the snow today. tomorrow down towards northern california and the sierras. so winter storm warnings at highest elevations and rain early this morning for the shoppers standing in line outside. it's getting a little wet and a little windy, too. temperatures, i mentioned, abov freezing in seattle, 41. very cold. vegas at 31 this morning. incredible. phoenix, 44. a very cold but sunny day. the sacramento, to tucson, temperatures considerably below average. weekend forecast coming right up, lynn. >> bill, thanks so much. also coming up, jitters over europe's debt. a deal that's the cat's meow and an auction falls to the dark

side. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead, plus, will harry bpotter work hs box office magic overed weekend?

good morning, and welcome back to "early today." i'm lynn berry. here are some of your top headlines this morning. "the washington post" reports u.s. embassies around the world are warning allies of possible fallout from an upcoming wikileaks disclosure. according to the state department, the release could negatively impact u.s. relations abroad by revealing sensitive assessments and exposing american officials as the source of embarrassing information. brazilian police are using armored tanks to penetrate one of the country's most notorious slums in an effort to crack down on drug violence there. a five-day assault by gang

leaders has been blamed for the deaths of nearly two dozen people. in italy, students protesting education cuts stormed two of the country's most famous tourist attractions, the leaning power of pisa and the coliseum. yesterday was the second day of demonstrations against the reforms, which would force schools that are losing money to close. and in what's being hailed as a miracle, three teenage boys who were presumed dead were rescued off the coast -- off a remote island in the pacific ocean after spending 50 days lost at sea. the samoan boys survived on rainwater, coconuts, crawfish and a sea gull they somehow managed to catch. they're being treated for severe sunburns but are otherwise well. and an early look how wall street kicks off the day after being closed for thanksgiving holiday. the dow opens at 11,187.

nasdaq upwent up 48. nikkei fell and the hang seng lost 177. u.s. investors took a break, traders elsewhere around the globe are coping with ongoing fears about europe's debt problem. trying to sue those concerned, german chanceler merkel vowed to get beyond this. some say it will tumble further because of heavily indebted countries such as ireland and spain. and nicolas sarkozy said the $1 trillion bailout fund will not be hiked through 2013 though a germany bank official had a conflicting take saying european nations would be willing to boost funds because ireland,

portugal, spain and greece. back here, invest verse a shortened trading session today that will perhaps give them time to join black friday which accounted for about 6% of holiday sales last year. this time around, analysts surveyed are expecting november sales to increase 3.5%. sharp uptick from 2009. del monte foods maker of meow mix cat food and kibbles and bits agreed to be bought for around $4 billion by a private equity group. we'll see how it impacts shares up 62% this year. in london, auctiongoers apparently not willing to go to the dark side. the original darth vader costume from the "star wars" series failed to meet the reserve price at auction. it had been expected to sell for up to $365,000. where are all the diehard fans? well in a turkey day triple header, one new york jet has the game of his life.

the saints rally against the cowboys and new england's tom brady in a giving mood against the lions. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. and your friday weather highlights, rain exiting the east coast and a new storm for the west. your weekend forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up this is "early today," and in sports in their traditional thanksgiving game, the dallas cowboys stage a huge comeback against the super bowl champs. we have your sports headlines. >> reporter: a tradition as american as apple pie. a healthy serving of nfl football on thanksgiving. we start in dallas. a 17-point lead when the cowboys come roaring back. taking a hand justioff and turn upfield. dallas down in the third. taking the lead in the fourth. punching it in. cowboys up 27-13, under five minutes to play. plenty time for the saints after a dallas turnover, drew brees still has more. 30-27. last chance for the cowboys. a 59 yard attempt. good, new career high. no good. saints pull out a wild one

30-27. to new york. elton john's favorite matchup the bbbbbbengals and the jets. the touchdown, jets up. put it away in the forth. a couple nice moves, then finds daylight and off to the races. makes one more great move at midfield. that's it. thankful for brad smith on thanksgiving rallying to beat the bengals 26-10 and are now 9-2. to motown, a turkey hangover. two three quarters to wake up against the lions. brady to branch. what can he do to alphonso smith? turns him around and in for a 79-yard touchdown. brady on smith all day. finds him again. two touchdowns. patriots beat the lions 45-24. they're also 9-2. that's your look at sports on "early today."

i'm mario soliz. your early morning headlines are straight ahead, entertainment headlines. and wait until you meet this family. you're watching "early today."

welcomes back. here's a look at your forecast. a very cold thanksgiving period here. 50 in vegas. temperatures below freezing this

morning. doesn't happen often in november in vegas. 66 in l.a. san francisco, chilly, too. clouds increasing later today. that storm system today, from seattle to portland, tomorrow we begin to spread some of the precipitation further south. winter storm warning in the mountains of the cascades of oregon and washington state. and winter storm warnings around mount shasta in northern california and eventually the northern sierras in california get more snow. the ski resorts, can't tell you how incredible the start of the ski season is every wre out west. things looked a little less wet. watching on khrl, marching bands aaron the mainland at the annual waikiki event. >> thanks, bill. and looking to curse the boy

who lives in the entertainment headlines. mandy moore lends her voice to disney's 3d animated venture "tangled." the family friendly fantasy stars chuck's zachary levi and is expected to make around $25 million. christina aguilera makes her big screen debut alongside cher in the show-stopping musical "burlesque." it should earn somewhere in the low- to mid-teen million. the romantic comedy "love and other drugs" is expected to take in at least $13 million. jake gyllenhaal and anne hathaway. move over tooth fairy. dwayne "the rock" johnson has a score to settle in the action thriller "faster." it should speed toward the low teen millions. and last week's "harry potter and the deathly hallows"

is still working towards the top spot. it earned $110 million last weekend and it could do just as well this weekend. this is record breaking expected to go way out of the ballparks. >> one book, cut the movie in half because of so much context. >> we don't want to reveal how they end it, but-doctor. >> you don't want me to do that? >> you can hold off. thanks. >> and this comes to us from nbc 13 in hartford, connecticut, where one family takes pride in preparing a massive thanksgiving feast and not eating a single bite of it. that's because the risotto family cooks up 800 meals for those in the family community who need it. it's a tradition that has grown bigger every year. i'm lynn berry and this is "early today"," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

ginnerbread village. an elaborate spread of masterpieces completely edible food, office buildings and an oil rig a common sight off the coast of norway. most kids got a sneak peek ahead of the opening. a childhood friend and now a day to celebrate him. in poland, kids honored their fluffy favorites on world teddy bear day. at the winnie the pooh nursery, children dressed up as their favorite characters. a childhood blanket for 180 years. even the big kids got in on the celebration.

if you are naughty, expect a lump of coal. what if you're nice? one company in paris says minibars of gold. with cold at an all-time high, they say it's the perfect recession proof gift. it has been a long, popular tradition with the older generation. the hope is to draw in the younger market. don't be fooled. this stocking stuffer will set you back about 2,000 bucks. i'm used to getting, like, chapstick and hand sanitizer in my stocking. >> lynn, would you rather have a tiny piece of gold or a long nap with wnnie the pooh? >> i think i'd just like a nap. that sounds fantastic. time now for an early look at some of the stories we'll follow throughout the day here on nbc. the white house starts gearing up for christmas. today first lady michelle obama will be presented with the official white house christmas tree. an 18 foot douglas fir from a pennsylvania tree farm. and speaking of the holidays,

we're not done with thanksgiving quite yet. the turkey holiday was officially established on this date in 1941. then president franklin delano roosevelt signed a bill establishing thanksgiving as the fourth thursday in november. and congratulations to tina turner celebrates her 71st birthday. all day long, you can stay on top of the very latest developments in those stories and others as they break on msnbc. and tonight be sure to watch brian williams with nbc "nightly news." and, finally, here's a look at what's coming up later this morning on the "today" show. everything you need to know about getting the best black friday deals. and teen sensation justin bieber stops by to talk about his new book, his new cd and his new 3d movie. now keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com