good morning. dangerous and deadly. at least two deaths blamed on a powerful line of storms that raced across the eastern half of the country producing at least nine tornadoes, heavy rains and widespread flooding. we are live with the latest. libya at war. they pus back gadhafi forces in a fierce battle overnight just 30 miles from tripoli as the navy repositioned ships in the region. is the obama administration about to take a larger role in the conflict? and round two -- charlie sheen speaks out about why his publicist quit and the two women in his life, his so-called goddesses. >> they don't judge me, lead with opinion, lead with their own needs all the time.

>> we'll hear from charlie and his new girl friends today, tuesday, his new girl friends today, tuesday, march 1, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television welcome to "today" on this tuesday morning. i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm matt lauer. we've got people in 14 states doing a lot of cleaning up after the deadly storms on monday. >> that's right. there were reports of tornadoes in indiana, kentucky and tennessee where one man was killed when he was pinned under a trailer. torrential rains triggered flooding in ohio, pennsylvania and tennessee. we'll have the latest in a live report and al's forecast just ahead. >> on a much different note she's one of america's most beloved tv moms. we're talking about meredith baxter, she plays elise keaton on "family ties."

she announced she was a lesbian she actually did it on this show in 2009. now she's written a memoir about coming to terms with that as well as her career. she'll be here to share part of that story in a live interview. >> and a new interview with charlie sheen and his so-called goddesses. what's it like to live with the actor? they will fill us in. coming up. >> let us begin with the bad wild weather that spawned deadly tornadoes in the midwest and the south. mike seidel is in tennessee this morning. he's got the latest this morning. mike, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. it was the second tornado outbreak in less than a week. nine twisters touched down, five confirmed. one was an ef-2 which ripped right through where i'm standing here in southern tennessee, and let to the first tornado fatality of the year. deadly tornadoes and a line of severe thunderstorms produced wind damage in 14 states monday. the storms also dumped heavy rain across the area. here in franklin county,

tennessee, a 79-year-old grandfather was killed when he was pinned under a trailer when the twister roared through. >> it sounded like a ton of gravel hit the side of my house. man, i thought the world had come to an end. to be honest with you, i did. >> reporter: at least five mobile homes were demolished here. in dubois county, indiana, a tornado with winds of at least 120 miles an hour took out two more homes. >> everything came down and everything was gone. >> reporter: another tornado destroyed three homes in kentucky's henry county early monday. greg williams and his wife survived by hiding under their bed. >> next thing i knew, it felt like we were outside. i started shaking. she said, are you cold? i said, yeah. i didn't want to tell her i was scared to death. >> reporter: farther north in pennsylvania and ohio heavy rain combined with melting snow to cause flooding.

we have been lucky so far. 20% fewer tornadoes than average so far this year. that's because all the cold weather put a lid on thunderstorm formation. but with warmer temperatures, we are expecting another round of severe weather, as he head into the peak of the tornado season which is march, april and may. >> thank you so much. al will talk about that string of storms and give us his forecast in a couple of minutes. for now it's four minutes after the hour. here's meredith. >> now to the fierce battle between antigovernment rebels and pro-gadhafi fighters there. jim maceda is in tripoli for us. jim, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. as colonel gadhafi likes to remind us, lib qula is not tunisia or egypt. both sides are armed to the teeth and digging in. this could be a bloodbath.

the youtube video is grainy but it captures history. rebels in the government-controlled town of, rebels seen here tearing down a symbol of moammar gadhafi's rules, a monument to his green book of political teachings. le the message was unmistakable. life is unbearable for us, and it's time to get rid of gadhafi, said this rebel. but voices loyal to the leader are gearing up for battle. thousands of soldiers and militia men have virtually sealed off tripoli, now gadhafi's only stronghold. opposition holds two key towns, repelling attacks east of tripoli and in zawiya, 30 miles away where overnight a second attempt by gadhafi forces to overtake the town had failed. gadhafi seemed unfazed, often laughing in an interview he said he can't step down.

in libya, all the power is with the people. >> they love me, all my people with me. they love me all. they will die to protect me, my people. >> reporter: but not these rebels who now effectively control the whole eastern half of the country. increasingly the u.s. and nato seem more comfortable doing business with this man, mustafa abdul jaleel, a former justice minister, now tasked with forming a government. he said he needs one favor from the west -- a no-fly zone. we want an airstays embargo to keep gadhafi from bringing in mercenaries from africa. we'll do the rest, he said. ratcheting up pressure on gadhafi, secretary of state clinton said a no-fly zone is on the table. >> the people of libya made themselves clear. it is time for gadhafi to go. now without further violence or delay.

>> reporter: gadhafi is not listening. civil war seems imminent and the exodus of thousands of refugees along libya's borders every day will likely only grow. still, it doesn't have to be bloody. libya experts say if several of gadhafi's inner circle -- and they're all relatives -- decide to bolt, the game is all over. so far, meredith, that hasn't happened. back to you. >> jim maceda, thank you very much. susan wright is the ambassador to the united nations. good morning, ambassador. >> good morning, meredith. >> you have called gadhafi delusional and disconnected from reality. plain and simple, are we dealing with a madman? >> meredith, any time you have somebody who laughs with american and international journalists while slaughtering his own people, i think they're not only delusional, one has to question their grip on reality. i think we have to assume we are dealing with somebody who is no longer -- if ever was -- fit to lead

his nation and whose behavior is unpredictable and irrational. >> we have levelled these sanctions against libya, but if this man, as he said yesterday, has no intention of stepping down, what good are the sanctions? what can they accomplish? >> well, sanctions will take time to bite but for example the united states which on friday froze assets that gadhafi and his family hold in the united states, on monday we seized an unprecedented $30 billion of gadhafi-related assets at the same time he's telling international journalists that he has no assets abroad, that he's never been corrupt, has never stolen money from his people. we are going to squeeze him economically in conjunction with the rest of the economic community. we're going to squeeze him milita militarily. the sanctions passed on saturday night included a comprehensive arms embargo. the european union added to that yesterday. we are looking at every way to limit gadhafi's ability to rearm

and supply himself with military means as well as financially. we have reduced his ability to continue to attack his people. >> we have repositioned u.s. naval ships in the region. for what purpose? >> meredith, we are taking prudent steps to prepare for potential humanitarian contingencies. that includes, as was announced yesterday, the movement of naval assets in the mediterranean area so that if and when we and others are called upon to assist the libyan people in a humanitarian way we are able to do so quickly. >> this man, the so-called face of the revolution, how much credibility do you give him, does the government give him is it >> well, at this stage we are in communication with leaders of civil society, all aspects of libyan life. we are not interested in any one individual. we are interested in the libyan people having the opportunity

for freedom, for a new life, for economic opportunity, a government that represents the will of the libyan people. we are not going to be in the business of picking leaders or dictating how the transition ought to evolve. so we're going to be, as we have throughout the region supportive of the people's aspirations. >> so we are not directly dealing with him? >> we are not directly dealing with any individual leader of the opposition. we are in broad contact with a wide range and we are not anointing anybody a leadership position. we are simply interested in enabling the people of libya to form the sort of organizations, political parties, entities they feel are justified and warranted in the circumstances so they can create a new political life in a post-gadhafi libya. >> ambassador rice, thank you for your time this morning. >> good to be with you. >> let us check on the top stories. we have ann standing by at the news desk. good morning to you. >> good morning to you this morning. we begin with protests in the

middle east. this morning oman was hit with a fourth straight day of demonstrations. this time the military fired in the air and wounded a protester. on saturday, one protester was killed. they have offered to create 50,000 jobs but it has not quelled demonstrations there. another earthquake struck new zealand this morning. the tremor was 16 miles southeast of christchurch. officials say the final death toll could reach 240 people, as hope of finding survivors diminishes. for what might be the first time pirates seized a danish sailboat carrying children aged 12 to 16 and their parents. the ship sent a distress signal from the indian ocean last week, but officials only confirmed the hijacking. a suspected gun smuggling ring has been nabbed outside dallas after federal investigators traced the gun used in last week's killing of a u.s. agent in mexico to a texas suburb. wildfires scorched more than

13,000 acres in central florida forcing areas of major highways, i-95 and u.s. route 1 to shut down. a state of emergency was declared as residents were evacuated and camps and mobile homes were burned. a woman who operated a houston daycare center that burned down last week, killing four children, has fled to her home country of nigeria. the 22-year-old woman is suspected of leaving the children unattended when a taupe top with oil caught fire. the united states wants to bring her back to face charges. trish regan has good news today. we could use it. bring it on. >> i promised you, ann. here it is. the income of american workers grew by 1%, much more than expected in the month of february. good news there. also good news in that the markets ended the month up almost 3%. all the indices ended higher despite all the concerns about oil we have seen as of late. as for today, ben bernanke is

going to be testifying on capitol hill. it's his semiannual testimony. a lot of critics will be watching very carefully to see what his response is to those who believe he's contributing to inflation by pumping lots of dollars into the u.s. economy. >> trish regan this morning, trish, thanks for that. one of hollywood's biggest stars of the '40s and '50s, jane russell, died from respiratory illness. russell shot to fame in the scandalous western "the outlaw ". she was 89. at a demonstration over the weekend to encourage biking in brazil, a car plowed through a street packed with cyclists. the car then sped into the pack, injuring at least 16 people. the driver is in police custody and claiming self-defense. as dramatic as the video looks, no one was critically injured and everyone has been released from the hospital. it is now 13 minutes past the hour. let's go back to matt, meredith and al.

>> i guess he was claiming there were people pounding on his car and he felt he was about to be attacked or something. it's bizarre. a mismatch there. >> absolutely. >> rough day around the country. >> it was. the good news is things are calming down. that's particularly good news. first of all, let's go out west, show you what's happening. you can see there is a big low pressure system coming on shore. a lot of pacific moisture. that will bring rain and mountain snows. we have from central california, an inch or so. heavier snow, mount shasta into the northwest. a front just about to move through orlando bringing showers and thunderstorms. rainfall amounts generally a quarter to half inch of rain. grab a jacket. we've got a really cold start up in the north bay, in particular. 34 degrees in santa rosa. 33 in fairfield. down in the south bay you are at 38 degrees right now in gilroy. later on today we'll see a mix of sun and clouds. showers are on the way as we

head throughout this evening. by about 7:00 p.m. they will start to make their way onshore in the north bay. wave lot of rain on the way, maybe upwards of two inches in the north and east bay. heading through tomorrow we are looking to clearing on thursday. cool sunshine by friday. have a great day. matt? >> al, thank you very much. now to politics and the president's meeting with the nation's governors on monday. some in that room could run against him next year. chuck todd is nbc's chief white house correspondent. good morning to you. when the president was desperate for bipartisan support he could turn to some republican governors but a lot of the moderates are gone among the group. there is a new conservative force in the states that's turning into a political force. >> feel free to make yourselves at home. for those of you with a particular interest in the next election, i don't mean that literally. >> reporter: speaking to the nation's governors on monday,

president obama opened with a joke underscoring the stakes going into the 2012 presidential campaign. early in the term he leaned on governors like charlie crist and arnold schwarzenegger but many of them are gone replaced by conservative warriors like wisconsin's scott walker who is locked in a stand-off with a key democratic constituent, state employee unions, over collective bargaining rights. the president said bashing unions is counterproductive. >> i don't think it does any good when public employees are denigrated orvil le villified o their rights are infringed on. >> reporter: his signature health care law faces legal challenges in 27 states. the president told governors starting in three years their states could opt out of portions of the law including the so-called individual mandate

which requires people to purchase health insurance. to get that waiver a state must prove it meets specific standards on coverage and costs. initial republican reaction was somewhat positive. >> this offers flexibility which i think is a positive thing. but it doesn't change the overall objection to the bill. >> reporter: despite the new rules it doesn't mean health care will be less of a political wedge issue in 2012. from gop senators worried about being tea partied. >> it's good to work out their own problems rather than uh a one size fits all federal government stupid dumb ass program. >> reporter: to the presidential campaigns, mitt romney. >> in fact, i agree with mitt romney. he recently said he's proud of what he accomplished in health care in massachusetts and supports giving states the power to determine their own health care solutions. he's right. >> reporter: all of the energy

inside the republican party is state-based these days. so much so, for the first time in over a hundred years, matt, not a single sitting u.s. senator here in washington is going to run for president. >> all right. chuck todd at the house. thank you very much. frank luntz is a republican pollster and author of "win." welcome back. >> pleasure. >> let's talk about the health care issue chuck talked about. the president extending an olive branch to governors in states saying they can opt out of certain requirements of the health care law under certain conditions. if you are a fan of the president you say he's being presidential, unifying people. le if you are not a fan you say he's retreating out of weakness. how are they controlling the message? >> there is a phrase. let's get to work. one of the reasons why the president said that to the governors. the governors are appreciated and held accountable and responsible. i choose the terms specifically. you look and the approval

ratings are down after the election. if you are using language that says i'm going to get the job done, i get it. those three words "i get it" are powerful because it says i understand how you feel. >> let's stick on your subject of language and how important it is. the president waded further into the situation in wisconsin and told governors not to villify public workers. a poll shows 60% of americans oppose states' efforts to weaken the collective bargaining rights for union workers. i know you were in madison, wisconsin, last week. what words are key out there. >> i have the scars to prove i. you used the phrase public workers. if you call them that a majority of americans respect them. call them government workers and americans don't. >> how about collective bargaining rights? >> 61%. if it is called the right of people to join or not to join a

union the whole side flips. the whole reason why i wrote "win" is to focus on words that cause people to change their mind, their behavior, their attitudes. >> we are less than a year away from the iowa caucuses. in an unusual turn of events not one member of the gop has actually come out at this stage and said, i am running for president in 2012. different from three and a half, four years ago. why? >> based on the mood, how the public feels toward politicians, would you want to enter the fray? you want to push it off as far as you can. the american people are paying more attention to what's said and how it is said. any word, any slip-up causes damage. they want to push it into the future. you can do 95% of what you want to by not being a candidate. once you are a candidate you are held to a higher standard. >> there was a focus group recently surveying possible

contenders. newt gingrich, sarah palin, mitt romney, mike huckabee. what resonated with them? >> gingrich walked in there in fourth and came out first for a reason. they can imagine what it would look like to see obama and gingrich in a debate a year from now. that's what they are looking for among republicans -- the best debater. >> you talk about words and phrases for 2011 to make messages effective including imagine, no excuses, uncompromising integrity, and the simple truth. why those words? >> they are the words the american people respond best to whether you are in a day to day situation. i'll give you one, matt. if you remember only one thing, when you go up for the next contract negotiation and give them the ratings and how well the show does, end it if, if you remember only one thing and whatever you say next, the

people you're negotiating with you won't forget it. set the right context, the right communication, you can get a raise, get the job, get elected, create amazing things. that's what "win" is about. >> those words more effective than tiger blood and adonis dna. >> i could not elect charlie sheen, not that i would want to. >> frank luntz, good to have you here. >> a pleasure. >> just ahead, a new interview with charlie sheen and his li-in girlfriends. >> is this normal? speck temperatures of the kids on the fridge? >> we'll hear from him in a moment. first this is "today" on nbc. one minute you feel fine. the next, you start feeling bit off. the moment you feel run down or achy, nip flu-like symptoms in the bud, with oscillococcinum.

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let them speak now or forever hold their... [ bleats ] [ male announcer ] get the venture card from capital one. money magazine's best rewards card if you aim to rack up airline miles. what's in your wallet? cannonball!! [ clang ] good morning to you. it is 7:26 right now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. well, hearings into the san bruin know deadly pipeline explosion are underway in washington, d.c. we expect hundreds of documents to finally be made public. pg&e engineers and managers are the first to testify before the national transportation safety board. the ntsb chairman says they want to know whether the explosion in san bruin know could happen elsewhere. we are closely following the hearing with updates throughout the morning. now we'll take a look at your tuesday forecast with meteorologist christina loren. >> good morning to you. laura. we are looking pretty chilly

still, but our temperatures will be able to come up now that the sun is out there in full force. 39 degrees in san mateo. 35 in sunnyvale. you still need the jacket until around noon when our temperatures will be in the mid to upper 50s. we'll round out the day in the 60s. a repeat performance for the first part of the day with showers moving in by 7:00 p.m. our first shower is pushing ashore into the south bay. it will be windy as well. but this is not going to be a long extended period of rain. we are talking about a quick moving system that moves out by the second half of tomorrow. however, we could see inches of rain in the north bay. maybe upwards of two inches. so we are definitely watching out for possible flooding. by thursday, cloudy and clearing. we'll check the commute now with mike inouye. so far it is dry, but you show the rain coming in the future. we have two accidents, one on westbound highway 4 jamming up near willow pass road. an earlier accident clearing, and the second happened. two accident scenes there from

pittsburgh to bay point. concord is slow into 680, but the altamont pass is a 27-minute drive through livermore to the dublin interchange. approaching the maze the clock slowdowns are kicking off for 880 past the coliseum and down the east shore freeway. a live look at the toll plaza shows a backup there. all lanes are staggering back to west grand avenue. laura, the sunlight will be an issue, bring the sunglasses. >> that's a tough one. thank you so much, mike. another local news update in a half hour and every half hour after that. the "today" show returns in less than two minutes. have a great tuesday morning.

did they expect it to be a normal interview? conventional, boring and whatever else? no, man. we're shaking the tree. we're shaking all the trees. >> 7:30 now on a tuesday morning. first day of march, 2011. that's charlie sheen speaking out in a new interview with jeff rossen about how people are reacting to what he had to say monday on the program. we'll hear more from mr. sheen in a moment. inside studio 1a i'm matt lauer alongside meredith vieira. charlie had a surprising message to family members who have tried to tell him it's time to clean things up. we also talked to his two new live-in girlfriends. we'll hear from charlie and the

so-called goddesses straight ahead. >> and meredith baxter opens up about coming to terms with being gay. >> and we are going to show you on a lighter note the historic work under way to save a baby dolphin found floating alongside her mother's body. the dolphin is getting help from another special orphan. details coming up. we want to begin with our new interview with charlie sheen. jeff rossen is in los angeles with details. jeff, what are we going to get this morning? >> reporter: oh, a lot more. charlie sheen called us and said, come back to the house. i have more to say. we went and got a glimpse into his life behind closed doors, including a rare interview with the new women in his life, women helping to raise his children every day. charlie calls them his goddesses. >> how long have we owned this? >> reporter: it's charlie sheen's version of domestic

bliss at home with the new loves of his life. one, a self-described porn star he calls rach, the other a modelle he calls natty. >> we run errands, eat, play with the kids. >> we have fun. >> we watch movies. i watch a lot of "two and a half me men". >> do you love his kids? >> are you kidding? >> i wish i was with them now. i didn't want to put them down. bob was like, they're calling you. he's saying bye! >> if you say dad's busy he says, okay, dada busy. he knows. he's fine with it. >> is this normal? >> aside from the days we sit around with the gold pom-pons and everything. >> don't run with that. >> i'm joking. >> charlie said you can put him in his place. when he's wrong you put him in his place -- >> i don't --

>> let her answer. >> i don't generally have to. i respect charlie as a man and as head of the household and trust him completely. if there is something i think is a bad idea i might say, hey, babe, let's think about it this way and, you know, it works. the system works for us. >> reporter: the goddesses now live with charlie, almost always around at his los angeles mansion. >> it's a good day at the silver valley lodge -- >> reporter: his nickname for in-home rehab. we took him outside for a candid conversation about his history with women. what do these women do for you other women haven't? >> these women don'tle jud judg lead with opinions, lead with their own needs all the time. they are honest to say, park your nonsense. help me solve this and we solve it. what i tell them is don't live in the middle. get away from your ego and

emotions. therein lies the solution. >> reporter: are these women allowed to say, charlie, you're being a jerk. can they talk back? >> oh, yeah. those are the best jokes of the day. we have an open dialogue. >> reporter: do they put you in your place? >> everybody's vote has equal importance. when we are approaching crisis, i remind them, look, i'm 22 years further down the road. trust me. most of the time -- well in the last few days, all the time my plan is the best. everybody will win and everybody's needs will be taken care of. >> reporter: including, he says, his young children. charlie's twin boys spend a lot of time at his house. there are nannies but charlie's angels play a role, too. >> reporter: are the goddesses with your kids? >> if i'm not there, everybody helps out. i don't know. there's nothing broken here. >> reporter: some would say everything is broken. >> wait. i'm still in pain. >> hang in there.

>> reporter: his hit sit-com "two and a half men" has been shut down for the rest of the season based, according to cbs and warner brothers on sheen's statement, conduct and condition. your lawyers wrote a letter to warner brothers saying you want to be paid for eight episodes. >> of course. >> reporter: why? >> that's what i agreed to do. >> reporter: you want to move forward? >> god yeah. there is work to do, shows to be delivers. the clock is ticking. >> reporter: warner brothers agreed to pay the crew for four episodes. >> that's a start. i want eight. i will worry about the cast and myself last. >> reporter: you think because of the pressure you're applying they are getting paid? >> well, yeah. who else is applying pressure? jon cryer? no. just sitting around. >> reporter: warner brothers denies sheen's pressure had anything to do with paying the

crew. sheen's publicist quit after years on the job saying he's unable to work effectively as his publicist. what happened? >> i don't know. maybe he felt he wasn't respected. again, i'm just guessing. there is something epic about that that it got so gnarly that stan said, okay, i'm out. that's how i roll. bye-bye. there's the door. same one you came in. >> reporter: in the first interview that aired monday, charlie promised he's clean now. >> look at me, duh. drug tests don't lie. >> reporter: when was the last time you did drugs? >> i don't know. i don't care. >> reporter: in the new interview he brought the proof. these are results of the drug test you just took. >> the word negative is printed like 18 trillion times. >> reporter: his family isn't convinced. in a rare interview his father

martin spoke about it. >> he's an extraordinary man. if he had cancer, how would we treat him? the disease of addiction is a form of cancer. you have to have an equal measure of concern and love and lift them up. so that's what we do for him. >> reporter: has your father or brothers came to you and said, time to get back on track? >> i said, i'm not ready. i'm not interested in your rhetoric now. i appreciate your love and compassion if that's what you call it. but i'm 45 years old. i'm not interested in people treating me like a 12-year-old. >> reporter: even your own father? >> yeah. my own dad. come on captain bullard, greatest film ever made. he's entitled. but i have evolved beyond it.

>> reporter: devolving some say into a dangerous spiral for our viewers who saw this monday morning. duh, winning. tiger blood. adonis dna. i'm tired of pretending i'm not a total rock star from mars. he's saying war lock, tiger's blood. what do you say when you see it? >> i'm entertained as hell. i'm laughing with my goddesses, with my friends. everyone's like, did they expect a normal, conventional, boring interview? no, man. we're shaking the tree. we're shaking all the trees. >> reporter: someone asked me is he delusional, crazy, a nars cyst, a nice guy, how would you describe yourself? >> i am grandiose because i live a grandiose life. i'm tired of being aw shucks. that's not me.

b.s., that is me. thanks for recognizing it. i support it. what's wrong with that? for years there were actors i thought were so arrogant. i look back and go, wow, they were just uber confident. they were just projecting the image they believed to be true. now i get it. >> reporter: what do you want to say to the fans? there are a lot of fans worried about you. >> don't be worried. celebrate this movement. i love and i'm so grateful that you have supported me and the show for so long. i will not let you down. trust me. >> reporter: charlie sheen didn't hold back at all. as soon as the interview aired on "today" people started tweeting me. charlie seems manic, i'm sad for his kids. wow, i couldn't sit there like you did. i'd have to pop that ego of his. >> wow. i don't come from a place of ego. >> reporter: somebody said, what did charlie smell like? he sounds like he smokes a carton a day.

>> whatever. >> reporter: does that hurt you? >> no. it's sad for them. get a job. charlie seems manic, i'm sad for his kids. i'm sad you have time to write about this and you may not ever have kids because you're obviously -- i don't want to get into it. one woman wrote, i agree with him. >> well, she's awake. the others -- [ snoring ] >> reporter: charlie says he's happy and feeling better than ever. >> that's nice. >> reporter: playing basketball with friends, working out and spending more time with the goddesses. >> our life is awesome. >> reporter: confident all the free time is temporary saying he'll return to the show soon as the star. do you support charlie and his master plan to go back to work? do you agree with everything he's done? >> completely. i'm behind charlie 100% in whatever he would like to do. >> i told charlie i'm on the bus. i don't care where the bus is going. that's how we live. what do you want to do today?

done. let's do it. >> i keep pressing the truth. that will flush everybody into the light and we'll have a dialogue and fix it. it's going to be good. everybody's going to win. because they followed guess who's plan. mine. >> reporter: for the second straight day we called cbs for reaction. they had no comment. today would have been the first day back at work for the crew of "two and a half men" on the warner brothers lot just a couple of blocks from here. instead they are home waiti ini see what happens like charlie sheen. i spent a lot of time with him. no question he's not normal, but he likes it that way. the question is what's next. he assured me drugs and alcohol are out of his life for now and for good but addiction experts say it's not that easy to go cold turkey, matt and to stay in it. that's the challenge for charlie sheen. maybe not even he realizes how difficult it is to sustain going forward. >> i guess a lot of us will stay tuned. jeff, thank you very much.

let's check on the morning's weather with al. good morning, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] >> whoa! where are you guys from? >> south carolina! >> south carolina. manning, south carolina. good-looking group of kids here. let's check your weather, see what's happening. hey, look at the temperatures for march. the outlook is in. above normal gulf coast to the southwest. below normal on the plains. precipitationwise, snowy and wet for the northwest. snowier in the great lakes and mississippi river valley. norle mall in the east and the mid plains. well, we've got rain on the way tonight, but the first part of the day is looking pretty

good. we actually have a lot of sunshine overhead right now. 4 degrees in napa. 34 degrees in napa. we'll end up in the 60s. probably something to peel off, dress in layers today. 62 in san jose. take a look at what is to come, a lot of rain arriving by 7:00 p.m. we'll see showers all throughout the night. windy conditions as well. flooding is possible tomorrow morning when the bulk of the moisture comes through. have a great tuesday. >> don't forget. you can check your weather any time day or night on the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. matt? >> up next, the young dolphin being nursed back to help with the help of a fellow orphan with a prosthetic tale. their remarkable story after this. [ female announcer ] we asked coffee lovers to come and try coffee-mate's new cafe collection flavors. then we asked them to show us how the taste inspired them. ♪ express yourself

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are you eating quaker for breakfast? ♪ [ breathes deeply, wind blows ] something wrong with your squeegee, kid? uh, i'm a little sick. sick?! you gonna let a sore throat beat you? you're fearless! ahhhhhhhhh! atta boy! [ male announcer ] halls. a pep talk in every drop. and then a 3:15, with my guilt. [ female announcer ] new special k cracker chips. 27 crispy chips. 110 delicious calories. mmmmmmm...good meeting.

same time tomorrow? [ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle. i see a bag and think... i could have a chip. yeah right. that's why they're called chips? [ female announcer ] new special k cracker chips. 27 crispy chips. 110 delicious calories. another cracker chip? don't mind if i do! [ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle. we are back at 7:46 with a history-making effort to save young dolphins. nbc's kerry sanders is at the clearwater marina in florida where a young one has beaten the odds. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. by all accounts this young girl should not be alive but she's doing great. at times she's extremely energetic. what you will discover is the reason she's doing so well is because of another orphaned dolphin and a little hollywood magic. >> good. okay. call back.

great! >> reporter: she's still unnamed but at 76 pounds and gaining a third of a pound a day this orphaned bottle-nosed dolphin is beating the odds. last december teams discovered her floating by her dead mother's body in florida. the calf was hungry, nosing her mother's lifeless body, trying to suckle milk. >> she's trying. >> reporter: today the trainer feeds her 20 times a day. why her mother died remains a mystery. >> because of her age when stranded she was only about two months old. she was still dependent upon mom for everything. she has none of the skills a dolphin needs to survive on her own. >> reporter: if you had not brought her in and brought her here -- >> there is no way she would survive. >> reporter: you're very lucky then. lucky also becausele biologists knew while saving a baby dolphin is rare it could be done because they had done it before.

you may remember winter. she'll eventually become the newly arrived dolphin's life mate. winter was found on the atlantic coast, also as a baby, also as an orphan and winter was in even worse shape. a fisherman's line had severed her tail. teams nursed her to health. >> she puts a huge amount of force on it. >> reporter: engineers created a never before invented prosthetic tail. the gel used in the device is now routinely used by soldiers. if it sounds like a movie, it is. a 3-d movie called "a dolphin tale" starring morgan freeman, harry connick, jr., is set for release this year. >> kind of like baby formula for animals and dolphins. >> reporter: is that a tongue? >> it is. >> reporter: is why this hungry new orphan has a place to live.

to film the movie about winter, producers built this new tank and it so happens they finished filming just one day before this baby dolphin was rescued. >> it's like being in your bathroom versus your bedroom. it's more open, a lot more swimming area. >> she likes that. a little feeding here. now the unnamedle dolphin won't be unnamed for long. they will hold a naming contest here and then eventually she's going to join winter in this large tank. i think because they share so much of a similar background, or fans and everything else, they are likely to be fast friends. >> great story. kerry, thank you so much. still ahead, the startling amount of fat in your favorite restaurant dishes including one equal to six glazed doughnuts. we'll show you how to make smarter and healthier choices after these messages.

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where certain fungal infections are common. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. and help bridge the gap between the life you live... and the life you want to live. just ahead, how to conquer your fear of turning 40, 50 and beyond. >> and meredith baxter opens up about life behind the scenes, and her decision to reveal she's gay. we'll talk about that after your local news. i think it might be broken. or maybe it's trying to tell you something. yeah, but what could it be trying... oh, i left my 401(k) at my old job. and i left a jacket on the back of my door.

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good tuesday morning to you. it is 7:56 right now. laura garcia-cannon. this morning an incredible confession. the couple accused of kidnapping eye zee dugard and kidnapping her for 18 years is set in court for today. nancy garrido confessed to knowing phillip was raping jaycee. she will be in court on march 17th. muni dished out more than a half a million in legal settlements to passengers injured in the 2009 collision in san francisco. and today muni could owe a million more. the board will consider settling 12 remaining claims. 40 claims have already been settled. the payouts come out of muni's

budget. the ntsb has not determined the cause of the 2009 accident which resulted in dozens of injuries. let's check the forecast right now with christina. >> good morning to you, laura. we'll see a cold start and partly cloudy conditions for the most part today. we do have rain on the way. we'll take you through the next 12 hours. first, 38 degrees in sunnyvale. 38 degrees in san jose right now. our temperatures have come up by 3 degrees since sunrise. 62 later today in los gatos. and 60 degrees in san jose. temperatures will be a little on the warm side right around 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. when we hit the daytime highs. by 8:00 p.m. we could see showers arrive and pick up to two inches of rain in the north bay. we'll check the drive with mike now. we just heard a cherry picker went into a building. that's the accident report we have. san francisco city streets will see the impact on local streets, but it is sutter street closed near kearny and grant.

stay clear of the area if you can. also you'll see slowing into the city on the peninsula, 101 and 280 are bogged down out of daly city. more significantly down to redwood city we are seeing traffic. 880 is starting to slowdown past the coliseum. a typical pattern for the 8:00 slowdown near the bay bridge toll plaza backed up to the maze. a busy morning out there. we'll keep tabs on it all for you. another local update in a half hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great tuesday morning.

what you want to disclose is -- do you want me to say it or you? what's the appropriate etiquette here? >> i guess i would just say that i'm a lesbian and it was a later in life recognition of that fact. >> 8:00 now on this tuesday morning, march 1, 2011. that was meredith baxter during her last appearance on "today" in 2009 revealing that she is gay. i'm meredith vieira along with matt lauer and al roker. you will catch up with her this half hour. >> watching the tape there aren't many times on the show where you finish an interview with someone and their life changes. it didn't change personally for

her. the way she was living didn't change but the public perception of her life changed after that moment. now she's written a memoir about her personal life, her career, successful career over four decades. we'll talk to meredith again in a couple of minutes. >> also coming up, a number feared by many women -- the number 40. it's a milestone birthday that comes with a lot of doubt. do you have the life you dreamed of? are you married? do you have kids? how do you face the future and aging. coming up, how to face your fear. >> plus, how to make better choices when you eat out. you can sometimes end up ordering a restaurant meal that's the equivalent of 14 orders of cheesy nachos. >> that sounds good. >> by the time you get to 14, i think you're in a coma. >> it's not so good. we'll talk eat this, not that. clear! >> let's go inside. ann curry is at the news desk with the headlines this morning.

good morning. >> good morning once again. libyan leader moammar gadhafi may be digging in for his last stand with his forces sealing off the capitol of tripoli. rebel fighters controlled the eastern half of the country and fought off overnight assaults in two key cities. al he's refusing to step down a former justice minister is beginning to form an alternative government. at least two deaths are blameled on tornadoes that touched down in tennessee, indiana and seven other states. these were the first tornado fatalities of the year. storms caused flooding in ohio and other parts of the midwest. the house is expected to vote on a bill to keep the federal government running for two more weeks. cuts $4 million in spending. timothy geithner testifying on capitol hill asking for an overhaul of fannie mae and freddie mac within two years. the mortgage giants cost taxpayers $150 billion since 2008. china is trying to prevent small

anti-government protests from spreading by cracking down on foreign journalists. journalists were told to cooperate with police and declared parts of beijing off limits. villagers in ukraine claim a red dust is causing headaches and nausea. health officials say the dust is harmless fallout from an aluminum refinery. they have ordered fire trucks to spray it with water. researchers at the university of pennsylvania reported results from a new study to find a cure for aids. using genetic engineering in six patients they developed blood cells they say are resistent to hiv. it turns out we need extra closet space even in outer space. astronauts aboard "discovery" are making their second space walk to install an extra storage room delivered over the weekend to the international space station. it is now three minutes past the hour. now to al with a check of the

weather. >> good morning. where are you from? >> florida. >> arizona! >> that's general. >> tampa. >> we're honing in now. let's check your weather, see what's happening. bloomfield, west virginia. wvva tv. sunny and cool. 52 degrees today. we've got rain in the pacific northwest. mountain snows. windy along the california coast. plenty of sunshine to the southwest. sunny skies in the east as well. the good news is things have calmed down from yesterday. arctic air working into the plains. she's 40. >> 40, al. >> do you like him advertising it? very nice. she'll speak to you later. we're looking pretty good today.

we will see partly cloudy conditions. rain moves in through 7:00 p.m. clearing by tomorrow. there is a lot of rain on the way, upwards of two inches in the north bay. today, 60 degrees for tuesday. winds pick up by this evening. as we head through 8:00 p.m., that's when the first showers arrive. heavy periods of rain overnight. gusty winds in the hills. cloudy and clearing thursday. and that's your latest weather. meredith? >> thanks, al. up next, meredith baxter talks about struggleswa aomwafr y aht television cameras. that's after this. happy birthday to you. happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

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[ male announcer ] from jet engines that have fewer emissions, to new ways to charge electric cars, to renewable sources of clean energy, ecomagination from ge is advanced technology that's good for both the economy and the environment. ♪ it's technology that makes the world work. [ squawking ] ♪ we're back now with a look at the behind the scenes life of one of america's most beloved television moms. in a moment we'll talk to meredith baxter from the hit series "family ties." under the cheerful facade at times was a woman struggling to

hold on. ♪ >> reporter: as the down to earth actress on the long-running show "family ties," meredith baxter was known for her sunny disposition and tv mom to the young michael j. fox. >> finding someone and having a true loving relationship is so rare. >> reporter: the daughter of show biz parents whitney blake and tom baxter, meredith appeared to have it all. she first became a household name in 1972 when she starred on the show "bridget loves bernie" where she met and married her second husband david. things weren't as appeared. she struggled with alcoholism, low self-esteem, breast cancer and physical and emotional abuse by her ex-husband. bernie has denied the allegations. after three previous relationships rumors appeared that she was gay and she announced on "today" that the

rumors were true. >> i'm a lesbian. it was a later in life recognition of the fact. >> it's been a wild journey and she says at the age of 63 she's finally come to terms. meredith baxter has written "untied: a memoir of family, fame and floundering." welcome back. >> it all started here, it feels like. >>le well, it was announced here. what do you remember about that morning? you came. i remember it was nerve wracking. i think it was emotional. what do you remember about that interview? >> the intense feeling as i was leaving that i thought, i have just set myself on fire on national television. >> on fire or set myself free? >> well, freedom came later. i thought why should anyone have to do this. why should anyone have to make a big announcement about their personal life. >> let's remind people why you said you had to do it.

we didn't force you. you were afraid that the story was going to come out, not of your own free will. >> right t. tabloids take a grain of truth and blow it up into something wildly fictitious. and not flattering usually. >> there aren't many times where i sit down across from someone and do an interview and i know that when we go to commercial their life will never be the same. that was one of those moments. how has your life changed? >> you know, it's been fabulous. what i experienced was a sense of emotional well-being that i had not known to long for. but the freedom of not hiding anything. my life had really been very open at home. but there was always that circumspect feeling of not wanting anyone to know. to not be too close to my partner nancy. to not have anyone talking about me. it made me feel hideous. so this is done. i walked out of here and, yes, i

was afraid of what it was like politically for -- careerwise for myself, but it was like, everyone knows. i don't have any secrets anymore. >> was it a no-brainer to sit down and write a book about it or was that a decision that took time to come to? >> well, it took me a little time. i thought, i don't have anything to say really. if you googled me, the only thing i have done is to come out on national television. >> that's not true. >> but that's what's there. >> it dominates the google page. >> it does. it took me a while to understand, oh, i've got something to write. it was in the process of writing that it crystallized and i said, oh, i have something to say. i have lessons i have learned. >> you are a mother of five. >> yes, i am. >> and the process, i remember thinking that morning and asking you about the process of discussing this with them and how they have reacted, has anything changed in your relationship? >> reacted to the book, do you mean? >> to your announcement.

>> no. they're fine. i have great, loving children. what can i say? they are wonderful. >> you write in the book a good deal about your most important relationships in your life -- your mom, step-father. as i read this, i don't know, i started to get emotional. your mom wouldn't allow you to call her mom. she wanted you to call her by -- >> by whitney, her stage name. >> she didn't keep pictures of you around the house. >> there were none to keep. we had none. >> she never took pictures of you. that's a self-esteem bat rer for a child. how did you deal with it? >> it wasn't her intent but i didn't know it at the time. what came from my childhood which crystallized as i was writing the book was understanding that, you know, i had a deep sense of feeling -- in fact, i had no value, that i was unloved and unlovable. that was the belief system i developed which really became

the engine that dictated everything. every job, every decision, every relationship. >> to explain to the viewers, the reason she didn't want you to call her mom and have pictures around is she thought it dated her, made her seem older. >> it made her seem older, not as attractive, not as available. it's the posture that actresses took on at the time. >> you rebelled as a teenager. i think you had a relationship with a 35-year-old man. >> i didn't have a relationship with him. i really can't say that here how that happened. it was a -- [ snaps fingers ] -- but not a relationship. >> it was a fling? >> no. it was an oops, how did that happen? it was something i had not expected to have happen. i think i was a surrogate for him to show my step-father/agent how angry he was. >> let's talk about your

ex-husband david. on the outside -- and i remember watching that marriage and thinking it was pretty good. perfect. you guys looked very happy. yet you have said there was both emotional and physical abuse, something he's denied. what did you learn from that relationship? what did it teach you for better or worse? >> what i got out of it eventually was i had to change my thinking. because i had to look -- if i didn't want to be a victim and i have been committed to being a victim for a long time because it felt warm, comfortable and familiar. but it was a disastrous position to be in. i had to change my thinking. i had to look at what was my part. i had to look at what was in my thinking that told me it was okay to be in this relationship. >> how long were you married? >> 15 years. together two before that. >> and the question is if there was abuse, why stay in the marriage? >> that's what everyone would

want to know. i didn't know i had a choice. i didn't know i could go. he didn't say that. it wasn't an accident that we were together. he's not going to pick someone on top of themselves, confident and aggressive. no. he needs -- you know, for him to be who he needed to be, had to be someone mousey, quiet and retiring. that's who i was. >> if i had been interviewing you at the time i probably would have asked you one of the weird television questions. how did you find comfort in your work and the cast mates of "family ties." yet as i read the book i realized that wouldn't have been ridiculous because you did find comfort in the people you worked with and the relationships you developed on the show. >> you learn to compartmentalize. as soon as i got to the studio, my home life was just not happening. i never talked about it. no one knew anything. >> didn't socialize with the people on the show? >> how do you have a social

life? i didn't have a social life. i did my work. i went home. i had all these kids. i wanted to be there with the kids. >> come to terms with everything now? has the book been a way for you to say, okay, that's now the past? it's all about the future. >> only except i have to be informed by the past all the time. i have to remember lessons learned. i have to say, am i telling myself a story about what's going on, making something up? because that's what i would do. i was so unself-examined as a child. in my relationship with my marriages it was always trying to keep my head above water. i had no sense of who i was. you know, i was trying to save my life on a daily basis. people have said, you had to have known you were gay. i was so unself-examined i could have been a republican, but, no, thank goodness, i'm just gay. that's better, don't you think?

>> still in a relationship with nancy? >> absolutely. nancy's the best. >> you seem like you are in a good place. >> thank you. >> thanks for coming to talk with us. the book is titled "untied." up next, would you eat a tub and a half of cool whip for breakfast? david zinczenko is back to bum us out. thme re are challenging times. whoa! that leaves lots of pieces behind. that's why there's charmin ultra strong. than the ultra rippled brand, it's no wonder charmin ultra strong holds up better for a more dependable clean. fewer pieces left behind. business is looking better. it sure is. [ female announcer ] charmin ultra strong. enjoy the go. and for an extra-clean finish, try charmin freshmates. make sure you give it something that counts.

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but with zyrtec® liquid gels, i get fast, 24-hour allergy relief. so i feel better by the time we tee off. zyrtec® liquid gels work fast, so i can love the air®. back with this eat this, not that. if you love to eat out but are trying to cut calories you're in luck. david zinczenko is out with the latest book "the eat this, not that no diet diet." >> great to see you meredith. >> we have been doing these segments for quite a few years and you say there is a restaurant revolution going on. >> there is a trend toward what you can call nutritious delicious, lowle calorie menu options popping up that allow you to fill up without filling out. that's the whole point of the new book. it's to recognize these meals. we had a success story.

allison holden lost five pounds in a week and it's been continuous ever since. why? she never felt she was dieting. >> the no diet diet. first, the wrong choice at denny's for breakfast. >> this is the heartland scram ber bl-- scrambler. 1100 calle ories with 300 milligrams of sodium and 63 grams of fat. this would be the equivalent of having six krispy kreme glazed doughnuts t. great thing about denny's is they came up with a new better for you menu option where you can put togethering more than 200 combos for under 550. this is a grand slam with fruit, bacon, protein-rich eggs and -- >> that's only 320 calories.

>> and english muffin. you will save 840 calories. that's a quarter pound of body fat gone over breakfast. >> this is where i go -- starbucks. in fact i get the chai tea latte. >> it's delicious. the scone is great. the problem is it's a carb bomb. 700 calories in the morning, not nutritious. 58 grams of sugar. it's the sugar equivalent of over a tub of cool whip. >> geez. >> if you're at starbucks get the egg white feta cheese spinach wrap. pair it with a venti nonfat cappuccino. >> what are we saving? >> you are saving 310 calories. meredith, that means every 11 days you lose a pound. it doesn't even feel like dieting. >> that's a great meal. let's go to lunch and/or dinner.

romano's macaroni grill. this is mom's spaghetti. >> petition for adoption. get out while you can still fit through the door. 1,240 calories, 60 grams of fat. more than a day's worth of saturated fat. >> this is the equivalent? >> 14 orders of cheesy nachos from taco bell. >> so get this instead. >> 550 calories. it's the pollo caprese. chicken, pasta, broccoli. this is a nutritiousle meal. >> and at red lobster, the seaside shrimp trio. this is bad. >> it's a half day's calories and it's just shrimp. eat this and hibernate. it's over 1,000 calories, 55 grams of fat. 13 grams of saturated fat and

the sodium is like eating an entire box of ritz crackers. >> where is the sodium? >> in the alfredo sauce, the butter in the mashed potatoes. fried shrimp. it's everywhere. >> instead go to red lobster and order lobster. >> look how fantastic. you get the whole lobster, broccoli, a side salad, vinaigrette and it's 300 calories. by the way, the one ramekin of butter is 380 calories and 31 grams of fat. have cocktail sauce instead which is 40 calories. you will save 700, 800 calories there. >> all right. david zinczenko, thank you very much. we'll be right back after your local news.

good morning to you. it is 8:26. i'm laura garcia-cannon. a new tax on medical marijuana dispensers begins in san jose. the clinics aren't even legal in san jose yet, but the potential money they might bring is tempting for city leaders, too tempting for them to pass up. they'll start paying 7% tax on their gross starting today. there are about 100 dispensaries in san jose. the city hopes it will be a new source of revenue for the city budget. opponents say the city should figure out if medical marijuana is legal before taxing it.

7% tax is the highest marijuana tax of any city in the statste.t right now, we're going to break. we'll be right back.

good morning to you. well, you don't need me to tell you it is still cold out there. grab a jacket, might need an umbrella if getting off work after 7:00 p.m. that's when showers are expected to start falling, especially in the north bay. today the first half looks pretty good. temperatures end up in the 60s. partly cloudy skies. then the rain arrives this evening, intensifying.

we will see windy conditions. clearing by tomorrow afternoon. let's check the drive with mike inouye. >> slow, 680 to willow creek. the meter lights are onto the foot of the maez. sutter street is closed due to a cherry picker. northbound at silver, an accident there. here are travel times getting into or out of san francisco area. slow on the peninsula, 101. thank you for joining us. i will have another local news update in a half hour. see you then!

8:30 now on a tuesday morning, the first day of march 2011. we've got great weather for the people you're looking at right there and spring is less than three weeks away. >> that's right. >> after the winter we have been having and the winter many people in this country have been

having that's good. a beautiful day in the northeast. i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira, ann curry and al roker. coming up this half hour, making the most of your later years. >> don't look at me like that. >> wow. >> you know what? >> what's he talking about? >> did you hear me? >> i heard you. >> making the most of your later years. >> i'm turning it into something serious because you're mean. >> i'm not. >> when you turn 40, 50 or 60 -- >> you're not -- >> i'm getting toward 60. >> you're nowhere near. >> you get anxious, angry and you want to lash out. >> and you tend to wander. >> you don't have to be that way. coming up, sarah brokaw, tom's daughter, shares the five core values to make those years the best of your life. >> she's a smart woman. we need to listen to her. >> she is. >> also, speaking of being smart, remember how much you dreaded bringing home your

report card? well, those days could be coming back. just ahead we have a new plan to hold parents more accountable for their children's educations by giving parents report cards. >> all right. i like the sound of that. and we'll hear from lindsay lohan as she speaks out for the first time since leaving rehab in january. more of our new interview with actor charlie sheen and the two women he calls the goddesses in his life. >> oy vey. moving on. >> before we get to anything let's bring in matt boehmer. a former con artist who agrees to work with the fbi in his show. both my mother and sister are in love with this show. why do you think it has such wide appeal? that's two generations. >> i think with tv, it all comes down to the writing. we have smart, fun writers who create great stories for us.

i have a lot of fun castmates. we have a great time making the show together. >> that was humble. >> nothing to do with you, right? >> no, no. >> you play the con man and tim plays the fbi agent. you have a tight relationship, known as a bromance off and on screen. what's that about? >> he says yes to my crazy ideas. i say yes to his. that's the key. >> yeah. we don't want to go there. >> that can go a little too far. >> you got to impersonate your partner's character on an upcoming episode. >> we got to make fun of each other, impersonate each other's physical attributes. we have two episodes left this season bringing a lot of what we

have been building for two years to a close. anybody can tune in. >> you will find your girlfriend's murderer, won't you? >> oh! >> see, that's what a tease is. >> speaking of tease, the costumes -- i don't know who gets the award for that. but there is a rat pack nature to the look on the show. >> yeah. >> i'm grooving on it. >>we thought it was good for the character. goes with his personality and it's timeless. we have an amazing costume design. >> how cute is he? >> so cute! >> the show is great. we can remind people that they can see an episode tonight at 10:00/9:00 central on usa. thanks so much. >> nice to see you. >> mr. roker, how about a check of the weather? >> the good news is things have calmed down. we have strong storms in the pacific northwest with mountain snows, arctic air in the plains.

sunny skies in the northeast. windy conditions. tomorrow, flurries in northern new england. out west again another mess with more rain, high winds, mountain snows, mild through the southwest. cold and sunny through the great lakes. chilly in the midatlantic states. we are enjoying the calm before the storm. another round of rain on the way tonight. 43 degrees for now in san francisco. a relatively mild start to the day. we're going to see temperatures actually in the 60s. a lot of sunshine. we will see breaks of sun and clouds throughout the day and clouds will increase by this afternoon. we're talking about some light showers starting in the north bay. those showers will intensify overnight. bulk of the moisture coming between midnight and 12 noon tomorrow. have a great day! and don't forget you can get your forecast any time day or night on the weather channel on cable, weather.com online. now onto "the biggest loser." let's say hi to the latest two

to be voted off. good morning. >> good morning to you. >> the interesting thing is you both gained weight so your children could stay on the show. that's what being a parent is about. >> it is. >> it is. >> i'm going to take care of my cubs. >> did your children appreciate it? >> i would believe so. yes, sure, of course they did. they got to stay a little longer and sometimes you've got to do what you have to do. >> jesse, you look terrific. >> i feel -- >> you entered the ranch at 290? >> 293. >> look at you now. what are you at now? >> about 224. >> you started at 256 and you look amazing as well. what are you down to? >> 160. 94 pounds. >> are you still losing now that you're home? >> oh, yeah. >> do you have a shot at the in-home --

>> that's what we're working on. this is my competition. >> congratulations. >> you don't look too bad yourself, al. >> looking pretty fly, my friend. >> i know your kids appreciate the sacrifice. don't forget to catch "the biggest loser" tonight 8:00 eastern, 7:00 central here on nbc. up next, the best way to face the fears of turning 40. first this is "today" on nbc. never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. 60 miles compared to what a cancer patient goes through is a walk in the park. from the moment i registered, people started immediately

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back now at 8:39. this morning on "today's woman" turning 40. the aging process is inevitable and we all deal with it differently. sarah brokaw is daughter of

nbc's tom brokaw and she went on a quest to see the key to aging. she describes her journey into the next decade. >> reporter: personally, i was at the point in my life, being the age of 37, where i recognized that i was slowly but surely aging. i didn'tle feel like i had any idea as to what my 40s were going to look like. growing up in a family where my parents were not only married but they were blissfully wedded and then they had three daughters. we lived, i would say a pretty idyllic life. when i'm in my 20s i will have a job, meet my man. in my 30s i will have three kids. when i hit 40 i will go on to the next step in my career path. it didn't happen that way. i was 38. it was our 20th high school reunion. everyone was married.

mostly every person in my class had a child. i was not married nor was i a parent and i chose not to go. after that moment i was pretty mad at myself. i thought, that's not me. here i'm not going because i felt ashamed for not going because i was too embarrassed that i wasn't married or had a kid. that was a moment of what do i do now, but i realized at that moment in order for me to proceed through life i had to reframe my thinking. i defined that moment rather than a moment of crisis as the sparkling moment. if i could say that i'm completely enlightened and satisfied i'm lying. i think what i'm capable of doing now versus when i was 35 is recognizing that events are inevitable. things are going to happen that you can't control. what you can control is how you choose to respond to those events.

>> sarah's new book isle called 42, making the next decade the best of your life. >> good morning. >> this is about turning uh-oh moments into ah-ha moments. >> absolutely. >> it's tricky because women are afraid of aging. >> very much so. i wouldn't say all women are, but a majority of women are. i would honestly think that it's women who hit their mid 30s. >> what is it about the numbers whether it's 40, 50, 60? >> that causes fear? >> yeah. >> in our 20s i think we are given a lot of attention. that's the time where we are most relevant. we are at our prime. in our 30s is when we get attention because most of us are supposed to be married. most of us are supposed to have children. we're supposed to hit a certain point on our career path. then i think what happens is

when we hit like 35 to 40 we slowly but surely realize that we have become a little less relevant. that's what we think. that's because of how society has dictated what it's like to be relevant. >> how do you turn an uh-oh moment into an ah-ha moment. >> i call it a sparkling moment. >> okay then. >> it could be a moment of crisis and i think that's when our fortitude is tested. it's a moment when we can say, how am i going to face this? i'm going to keep my hands over my eyes and remain fearful or remove my hands from my eyes and face life with confidence and curiosity. i think what we need to do in order to do that is to really think about the words that we use in order to do it properly. so for example, if i have a client in my practice or if i personally am going through something where i know it could

be potentially anxiety-provoking, i have to think about i could either say i'm so scared i can't do this or i can say, huh, i wonder what the outcome will be. if you think about the language right there it automatically reframes my thinking. so i try to encourage other women in my practice as well as outside of practice to do the same thing. >> you talk about five core values that come into play. what are they? >> grace, connectedness, accomplishment without the monetary or material factor, adventure and spirituality. >> those are what you should focus on in. >> absolutely. that's the word. should. take the word "should" out. i would say you choose to incorporate those values in your everyday life. when you can do that by listening to your own voice and no one else's voice you have fortitude. >> there are a lot of viewers interested in the aging process or struggling with it.

first one from naomi. i was defined by my career in my 20s, my kids in my 30s. i still have a lot to offer. my kids need me less and less. how do i define the rest of my life. 40 is a launching pad, but where am i going? the opposite problem you had. she's got all that and she's struggling. >> exactly right. it's interesting because she says i was defined by my career in my 20s and i would say this is now her opportunity to get into the front seat. she's no longer in the back seat. she can define who she s. we are now given permission to take on the role when we hit 40. i would say naomi, look at the values. define those values in your own words and something will come. she's in control. no one else is in control. >> you have to be in control. next from denise in north carolina. she says, to me, 40 means i'm no

longer the young one in the bunch. i haven't done all the accomplished so i'm disappointed in myself. >> i'm curious what she feels she needs to accomplish. society makes us feel we need to accomplish things at a certain age. that's not true. >> is it important to keep a mental inventory of where you have been and where you are going? >> it depends. someone said to me if you compare yourself to others and what they have accomplished it's compare and despair. if you just focus on your life and listen to your own voice, then, of course, you will continue to be curious about what you can accomplish. >> okay. one more e-mail here. i have been dreading turning 40 since i turned 30. my god. it feels like it's the end of my youth. it's also a wake-up call to know half my life is over. now that i'm turning 40 though no one has given me great words of wisdom. mostly i get the jokes and puns

meant to be funny, but i'm not taking them well at all. i hope others are taking it better than i am. i just dread it totally. >> once again it's the external factors, the external voices that many women are hearing. turn down the volume, listen to your voice. i also believe that with loss of youth we do lose youth but with the loss of youth there is the gain of insight. it is a gain of wisdom. that's what is most important. i also think you can say, everyone has hit this age. i'm not the only person who ages. >> when you had the uh-oh moment how did you specifically turn it into a sparkling moment in your life? when you said, i'm not married, i don't have kids. >> that's a wonderful question. i had to remove my hands from my

eyes and take a look and say, one, no one cares whether i'm married or have kids. that's just in my own head. i had to think about what i do have which is a wonderful support system that includes my family and my friends. i clearly have my sense of humor. i also have, i would believe, the smarts. i'm in fantastic shape. i also have curiosity. if i can take those five factors, i'm in wonderful shape. that's how i look at it. i think by using those five factors, including those five values that's what helped me create a sparkling moment out of an uh-oh moment. >> thank you so much. up next, the new push for teachers to give parents report cards. first this is "today" on nbc.

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we are back at 8:50. this morning on "education nation today" we are talking report cards for you. some florida parents could soon find out if they are making the grade under a lawmaker's new plan. here's rahema ellis. >> reporter: we all remember moments like this. >> how do you expect to get into college with grades like this? >> no problem. >> huh? >> see, i'm not going to college. >> damn right. >> now imagine if the tables were turned. >> raise your hand if you think your parents should get a report card. [ cheers ] >> reporter: the vote is unanimous in this 3rd grade class at a school near tampa, but a quick survey of parents netted mixed reviews. >> i think we need to, as parents, be vigilant. >> i think a lot of people may not pass though. >> for some parents it could be a turn off. the way you approach it would be

so important. would some parents feel intimidated? yes. >> reporter: while so much of the discussion about improving america's schools centers on teachers one lawmaker says it is critical to go beyond that. and she filed a bill to give florida parents grades. >> regardless of your economic level, your education, if you are involved with your studented and your child the child will be more successful. >> reporter: parents will be evaluated on whether the child completes homework, misses too much school, gets a good night's rest and if the parent answers communication from the teacher. the idea of grading parents is controversial. some say teachers already have enough to do. others call it government intrusion. 2nd grade teacher ginger summers supports the tool. >> any tool you can put in the

teacher's tool box will bridge the communication gap between schools and parents. it is a tool that i want to have available to me. >> reporter: would you worry about getting a report card from the school? >> i guess so. yeah, i guess. >> reporter: laughable, yet some people are giving it serious thought. for "today," rahema ellis, nbc news, plant city, florida. >> still ahead, answers to your most pressing diet questions. but first, this is "today" on nbc. [ male announcer ] 95% of all americans aren't getting enough whole grain.

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just ahead, we are going to hear from lindsay lohan for the first time since she left rehab in january. >> plus, more of the new conversation with charlie sheen and the so-called goddesses who live with him. >> that's all coming up, but first we have your local news and weather. >> nice tie. and i like this, too.

good tuesday morning. 8:56 now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. hearings into the deadly pipeline explosion are happening in washington. thousands of pages of documents are expected to be made public. some have been examined in the last half hour. it is day one of a three-day

hearing. engineers are testifying before the national transportation safety board. they want to know whether the explosion in san bruno could happen elsewhere. we are following it closely, will have updates through the morning. 8:57. weather after this quick break.

good tuesday morning to you. it is going to be a pretty nice day, at least for the first part of the day with temperatures approaching the 60 degree mark. 62 in santa rosa. 62 in san rafael. showers arrive this evening, pushing to the north bay coast. through the rest of the day, showers will continue to spread to the south. we will see heavy periods at times, and possibly, possibly up

to three inches of rain up in the north bay. now i am going to send it back to laura garcia-cannon. >> thank you very much. and thank you for joining us. the "today" show up next.

back now with more of "today" on a tuesday morning, the 1st of march 2011. cooler than it was in the city yesterday morning. but as you can see, bright sunshine compared to yesterday's rain. we'll take today. >> yep. >> not bad and spring is coming. we love that as well. inside studio 1a i'm matt lauer along with al roker and natalie morales. we can't complain about the weather. boy, people in 14 states had it very tough on monday. powerful storms tore through those states. we had at least nine tornadoes, widespread flooding. we'll have the latest on the terrible weather coming up in a little while.

>> okay. also ahead, more of the interview with charlie sheen. our jeff rossen was invited back to sheen's home where he was able to meet sheen's two live-in girlfriends whom sheen calls his goddesses. we'll hear what it's like to live with the actor and see the results of a recent drug test and what sheen has to say about people who think he's crazy, mentally unstable. >> the comments that have been received based on this interview over the course of the last 24 hours have run the gamut. >> yes. that's an under statement. another troubled star, lindsay lohan is facing possible jail time on charges she stole a necklace. she's now speaking about her battle with addiction for the first time since leaving rehab in january. we'll hear from her. plus, answers to your diet and nutrition questions from joy bauer. you want to eat organic but think you can't afford it. she'll sort out which items are worth the splurge and items to

keep you in shape if you sit in front of a computer all day. >> that's a problem. now to ann at the news desk with the headlines. >> hi, guys. good morning, everybody. moammar gadhafi appeared to be -- appears to be digging in for his last stand. his forces sealed off the capitol of tripoli. rebel fighters control the eastern half of the country and fought off assaults on key cities overnight. the u.s. is moving closer to libya saying all options including the establishment of a no-fly zone are on the table to protect the people of libya from gadhafi. he refuses to step down but a former minister is already forming an alternative government. the nation of oman was hit with a fourth day of demonstrations this morning. the military fired in the air, wounding a protester. saturday, a protester was killed. the sultan's offer to create 50,000 jobs has not quelled

demonstrations there. storms sweeping the country turned deadly. we have mike seidel in tennessee with the latest on the story. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. this was the second tornado outbreak in less than a week. nine twisters yesterday, five confirmed. one was an ef-2 which ripped through southern tennessee and was responsible for the first tornado fatality of the year. deadly tornadoes and a line of severe thunderstorms produced wind damage in 14 states monday. the storms also dumped heavy rain across the area. here in franklin county, tennessee, a grandfather was killed when he was pinned under a trailer when the twister roared through. >> it sounded like a ton of gravel hit the side of my house. man, i thought the world had come to an end. to be honest with you, i did. >> reporter: at least five mobile homes were demolished here. in indiana, a tornado with at least 120 miles per hour winds

took out ten more homes. >> came down stairs and everything was gone. >> reporter: another tornado destroyed three homes in kentucky's henry county early monday. greg williams and his wife survived by hiding under their bed. >> next thing i knew, it felt like we were outside. i started shaking. she said, are you cold? i said, yeah. i didn't want to tell her i was scared to death. >> reporter: farther north in pennsylvania and ohio heavy rain combined with melting snow to cause flooding. we have been lucky so far. 20% fewer tornadoes than average so far this weir because the cold weather put the cap on thunderstorms. we will see more severe weather this week as we head into the peak of the season for severe weather and twisters -- march, april and may. back to you. >> mike seidel in tennessee. the california couple charged

with kidnapping 11-year-old jaycee duggard and holding her for 18 years supposedly confessed to prosecutors. monday the attorney for nancy garados said she and her husband confessed when they were reinterviewed last month. the woman that owned the day care that burned down killing four children has fled to nigeria. she's accused of leaving the children unattended when a stovetop caught fire. she's expected to be brought back to the u.s. to face charges. a car plowed through a street packed with cyclists injuring at least 16 people. the driver claims self-defense. as dramatic as it looks no one was critically injured and everyone has been released from the hospital. in 1991 a glacier in the italian

alps revealed a 5,000-year-old man preserved almost perfectly in ice. using the latest research, two artists have given him a face. they call him otse and scientists believe he died around 3,300 b.c. at the age of 47. since his discovery he's given archaeologists a look at diet, tool use and the clothing style of the period. it is now six minutes past the hour. back to matt, natalie and al. not often you get to peer 5,000 years back. >> very cool. >> wonder if he had freezer burn. sorry. >> okay. >> count to two. one, two. now a check of the weather from al. >> oh, you could hear me? >> you said that out loud. >> thank you so much. let's see what's happening. we have a low pressure system coming off the pacific. going to bring another period of storminess to the pacific

northwest. heavy rain and mountain snows. mount shasta with ten inches of snow. half an inch to an inch of rain in northern california. then a frontal system pushes through florida. that will bring heavy rain and showers and thunderstorms to orlando. some areas picking up as much as an inch of rain along the east coast of florida. good morning to you. our temperatures right now are in the upper 30s, low 40s. you want a jacket, but something you can peel ovulater. we will see temperatures climb to 60 degree mark in most cities across the bay. 62 in loss gad owes. we have a potent storm arriving by about 7:00 p.m., bringing first showers to the north bay. heavy rain and wind overnight may be picking up upwards of two inches in the north bay. clearing by thursday. and that's your latest weather. natalie? >> now to our new interview with charlie sheen who is stirring up

more controversy and has a message for critics and fans. jeff rossen has the details. jeff, good morning. >> reporter: hi, natalie. good morning. charlie sheen called us up on monday and said come back to the house. i have more to say. we went and got a real glimpse into life behind closed doors, what we don't normally see, including a rare interview with the new women in his life -- two of them who are helping to raise his children. charlie calls them his goddesses. >> how long have we owned this? >> reporter: it's charlie sheen's version of domestic bliss at home with the new loves of his life. one, a self-described porn star he calls rach, the other a model he calls natty. >> we run errands, eat, play with the kids. >> we have fun. >> we watch movies. i watch a lot of "two and a half men." >> do you love his kids? >> are you kidding? >> i wish i was with them now. bob was like, i didn't want to put them down.

they're calling you. i don't want to put them down. can i come? he's like, bye. >> if you say dad's busy he says, okay, dada busy. he knows. he's fine with it. >> is this normal? pictures of the kids on the fridge. >> aside from the days we sit around with the gold palm fronds and everything. >> they will run with that. >> i'm joking. >> charlie said you can put him in his place. when he's wrong you put him in his place -- >> i don't -- >> let her answer. >> i don't generally have to. i respect charlie as a man and as head of the household and trust him completely. if there is something i think is a bad idea i might say, hey, babe, let's think about it this way and, you know, it works. the system works for us. >> reporter: the goddesses now live with charlie, almost always around at his los angeles mansion. >> it's a good day at the silver

valley lodge -- >> reporter: his nickname for in-home rehab. we took him outside for a candid conversation about his history with women. what do these women do for you other women haven't? you have chosen women before you have loved -- denise richards, brooke mueller. >> these women don't judge me, lead with opinions, lead with their own needs all the time. they are honest to say, park your nonsense. help me solve this and we solve it. what i tell them is don't live in the middle. get away from your ego and emotions. therein lies the solution. >> reporter: are these women allowed to say, charlie, you're being a jerk. can they talk back? >> oh, yeah. those are the best jokes of the day. we have an open dialogue. >> reporter: do they put you in your place? >> everybody's vote has equal importance. when we are approaching crisis, i remind them, look, i'm 22 years further down the road. trust me. most of the time -- well in the last few days, all the time my plan is the best.

just trust me on that and everybody will win and everybody's needs will be taken care of. >> reporter: including, he says, his young children. charlie's twin boys spend a lot of time at his house. there are nannies but charlie's angels play a role, too. >> reporter: do the goddesses help raise your kids? are they with your kids? >> if i'm not there, everybody helps out. i don't know. there's nothing broken here. >> reporter: some would say everything is broken. >> wait. i'm still in pain. >> hang in there. >> reporter: his hit sit-com "two and a half men" has been shut down for the rest of the season based, according to cbs and warner brothers on sheen's statements, conduct and condition. warner brothers has agreed to pay the crew for four episodes. >> it's a start. >> reporter: in our first interview that aired monday on

"today" charlie promised he's clean now. >> look at me, duh. drug tests don't lie. >> reporter: when was the last time you did drugs? >> i don't know. i don't care. drug tests don't lie. the score board doesn't lie. >> reporter: in the new interview he brought the proof. these are results of the drug test you just took. >> the word negative is printed like 18 trillion times. >> reporter: a lot of people watched the interview and said, he's crazy. >> of course. >> reporter: he's saying warlock, tiger's blood. what do you say to yourself? >> i'm entertained as hell. i'm not saying it's not true, but i'm laughing with goddesses. i'm laughing with my friends. everybody's like, did they expect it to be like a normal interview, conventional, boring and whatever else? no, man. we're shaking the tree. we're shaking all the trees. >> reporter: what do you want to say to the fans? there are a lot of fans worried about you. >> don't be worried. celebrate this movement. i love and i'm so grateful that you have supported me and the show for so long.

i will not let you down. trust me. >> reporter: charlie says he's happy and feeling better than ever, playing basketball with friends, working out, and spending more time with the goddesses. >> our life is awesome. >> reporter: confident all the free time is temporary saying he'll return to the show soon as the star. >> i'm just going to keep pressing the truth. and the truth is going to flush everybody into the light and we'll have a dialogue and fix it. it's going to be good and everybody's going to win because they followed guess who's plan? mine. >> reporter: he speaks his mind. we called cbs for reaction. they had no comment again. by the way, today would have been the first day back at work for the crew of "two and a half men." instead, they are sitting home waiting, just like charlie sheen. i spent time with him over the past couple of days. probably eight hours total. no question about it, he's not

normal, but he likes it that way. the question is what's next for him, natalie? he assured me that drugs and alcohol are out of his life for good but addiction experts say it's not that easy to go cold turkey and sustain it. obviously our best thoughts go out to him. that's the challenge for him now. >> i don't think he wants the best thoughts. as he said, he's cured, fine and good with it. >> reporter: he said he flipped something in his brain and it helped him. >> he has his own reality show. >> reporter: he's fascinating, no question. >> you have given us so much to talk about it, jeff. you rock star, you. still to come, another star who battled drug addiction, lindsay lohan comes clean about her personal and legal troubles in a new interview. but up next, answers to your nutrition questions on joy's diet s.o.s., after these messages. ring ring ring ring

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♪ this morning on joy's diet s.o.s., answers to your daily diet dilemma. joy bauer is here with advice on everything from buying organic to whether hair and nail supplements work. >> good morning, al. >> let's go to newport, rhode island. good morning. what's your question? >> good morning, al. good morning, joy. my hair grows really slow and my nails chip. what do you think of hair, skin and nail pills? do they work and are they safe? >> so typically, these beauty supplements will contain a b vitamin, antioxidants and gelatin. most of the ingredients won't do anything, but for somal people biotin will strengthen your nails. they are expensive, but the most powerful way to work on these beauty spots is through your

diet. when it comes to your hair and nails, you want to eat ample amounts of iron-rich protein. my four top picks are skinless poultry, pork tenderloin, lentils and starchy beans. when it comes to enhancing skin think beta-carotene, bright orange and deep green vegetables like pumpkin, squash, spinach, kale, swiss chard, and berries. food is the first line of defense. >> i tried them, too. didn't help my hair. next up, from columbus, ohio we have alli. >> hi. i have a question about working at a computer all day. i work at a job that is computer-dependent and requires that i sit all day long. i work out three to four days a week but all of the sitting may be preventing membership fr ini

into shape. do you have any tips? >> i want to commend you for working out three to four times a week. that's awesome. if you can up it to five that would be a homerun. there are things you can do to sneak in more steps. first, capitalize on the commute. park further from your work location. so you get the steps in. if you're not on the ground floor, take the stairs instead of the elevator or if you are on a super high floor take the elevator but get off five floors prior to your office. so you trek up the steps a little bit. then don't communicate with your co-workers entirely through e-mail. when you want to discuss a project or ask a question, every now and then get up and walk over to their office or cubicle. that will get you move. i would also set an auto reminder on your cell phone, on your blackberry or on the computer that beeps every few hours and reminds you to get up,

stretch, shake out your legs. sneak in ten minutes every lunch hour. do a power walk. even five or ten minutes and drink a lot of water. water plays double duty. first you have to keep getting up to fill the cup for the water bottle at the cooler and then you have to go to the bathroom a lot. so it makes you walk to the bathroom. so you will burn more steps on both ends. >> all right. >> thanks. >> good luck. >> thank you, joy. good to see you. >> thanks, al. >> coming up, what to bring for any occasion. great ways to tell someone you're thinking of them. and lindsay lohan speaks out about her battles with addiction. it's comparable to toyota. [ male announcer ] why do so many car companies compare themselves to toyota? maybe it's because toyota is the #1 choice among consumers. and the most fuel-efficient full-line automotive manufacturer in the industry. or because 80% of toyotas sold in the last 20 years are still on the road today. plus, every new toyota comes with toyotacare,

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coming up, a hearty lamb stew. >> plus lindsay lohan t abouthe about the possibility of jail time. >> that's after your local news and weather. ♪ you know how i f i feel awesome. i'm a new mom and i lost 22 pounds. ♪ freedom is mine and i know how i feel ♪ weight watchers new pointsplus program gave me the edge to finally get out of my rut. ♪ it's a new dawn, a new day it's a new day for me because i have my body back. ♪ [ female announcer ] join now for free. hurry offer ends march 12th. weight watchers new pointsplus. because it works. just got more powerful. introducing precise pain relieving heat patch.

it blocks pain signals for deep relief precisely where you need it most. precise. only from the makers of tylenol. good morning. 9:26. i'm brent cannon. after three years, there is no salmon fishing off the california coast, fishermen may be back in business. they will have a meeting later this morning in santa rose a to talk about the outlook for the season. commercial fishermen are hopeful about the meeting and think they have a good chance to fish because there is a high number of fish in the california rivers. today's meeting at the so gnome a county water agency 11:00 this morning to 2:00 this afternoon.

san jose mayor will kickoff the film festival tonight. afterwards, he will bth presenti th sit i quest award. weather and traffic after the break. th

good morning. we have some big time changes on the way to the bay area. today looks pretty good. temperatures now are in the mid 40s. cold out there. it will turn windy for the second half of the day. showers arrive by about 7:00 p.m., and flooding is definitely possible between this evening and tomorrow morning. we are expecting heavy rain, upwards of three inches in some north bay cities. by thursday, cloudy conditions, a good amount of clearing. and this weekend, another round of rain. let's check and see how the commute looks. maybe you're leaving with mike inouye. >> wait until i finish. southbound 880 is slow.

237 heading towards sunniville also. 680 also slow. not bad coming in. 880 coming up, past the coliseum bogging down. a look at the overall view to the bay bridge toll plaza. highlighting that 880 slow down past the coliseum, smoots out about embark dare oh exit. a slow drive. more local news in a half hour. "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great morning. see you in a bit!

♪ ♪ just the way you look tonight ♪ >> does it sound any better or smoother than harry connick, jr.? he'll stop by studio 1a to fill us in on the new cd and dvd and all of his other plans tomorrow on "today." >> what a multi talent. he can sing, act, be funny. >> nice guy. >> and he's a good, good guy. >> he works for new orleans and

the heart and soul of the city. >> love him. meanwhile this half hour, lindsay lohan. we have seen her struggle with problems with the law and addictions unfold in front of the camera. now out of rehab she's speaking out about a brush with the law, the charges and whether she thinks her reputation is ruined. >> i can't get out of my mind the little girl from "parent trap". >> such talent. >>le also ahead when we visit a new neighbor or someone grieving a lot of times with the economy we may not have the money we need to do it. but what about making something and using the healing power of food to make connections? that, people, is a chicken pot pie. that's one heck of a pie. >> that's what our parents used to do. >> what better gift really than pouring your love into what you

make in the kitchen. >> no one makes things at home like they used to anymore. it's that somebody took the time. also speaking of comfort food from the perfect chicken pot pie we have an easy recipe for a spring lamb stew with asparagus from one of new york's premier chefs. >> sounds easy, too. >> one pot. >> right. >> and it's a great guy's name, too. >> i have known some great st stusme stusmestus. isn't that a place in the middle east, the studan? we have sunshine in the southwest and also windy conditions in new england. as we move into the northeast no horrible weather. on the west coast, rainy weather. mild through the gulf coast into texas. sunshine buttal chilly around the great lakes. flurries in the eastern flax and

sunshine. mild weather around the coast. good morning. we're seeing the calm before the storm. we have rain on the way and a lot of it as we head through tonight. 43 in san francisco, 41 in san mateo. grab a jacket, something you can take off later. the rain arrives between 7:00 and 8:00 in the north bay, intensifying overnight, possibly picking up two to three inches in some cities. look at how much rain we are expecting. clearing by late thursday. have a great day! that's your latest weather. >> we want to make sure you know about this. we have today's royal treatment. we are sending a lucky viewer and a guest to england all expenses paid during the week of the royal wedding. we have another entry. let's take a look. ♪

♪ my name is christina ♪ my name is danina ♪ sisters are we ♪ born in the mother land ♪ living on u.s. ground ♪ please bring us back to see ♪ will and kate marry >> the winner gets two first class tickets on british airways to london during the wedding of kate middleton and prince william. so get out the camera and create a video that's no more than two minutes long telling us why london is calling you. >> and please be creative. for details head to the website, todayshow.com. >> are we going surfing? ♪ >> the music doesn't sound like london, but we'll get by. >> up next, troubled actress lindsay lohan opening up publically for the first time since leaving rehab right after this.

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lindsay lohan has less than two weeks to decide if she'll face a plea deal. facing theft charges. now after keeping quiet throughout the legal drama. she's sharing her story. nbc's mara decampo has more. >> lohan is speaking out for the first time since leaving rehab this year. in the candid conversation, the actress says she misses working and acknowledges it will take a long time to repair her reputation. while the world has seen plenty of lindsay lohan lately, the only words she's spoken have been in front of a judge until now. for the first time since leaving rehab in january, the embattled actress is speaking out. in an exclusive interview with "extra" she said her primary focus is winning her battle with addiction. >> as long as i'm focusing on the one thing i know i need to

put first in my life, is recovering, i'm doing good and that's the most important for me. >> in the interview, lohan says she feels badly about past wrongs, but not specifically discuss her case. she face as felony grand theft charge for allegedly stealing a $2500 necklace and has until march 10 to decide whether to accept a plea deal, which the judge has said means jail time, or take her chances at trial. >> i advise her to plead guilty. let her be contrite and let her get some good feeling from the court. >> while lohan may be about to lose her freedom. she still has her sense of humor. making a surprise appearance on "jimmy kimmel live" after the oscars, poking fun at her own predicament. >> it's so affordable, it's practically a steal. >> allegedly. >> but in her conversation with "extra" she offers a more serious side. >> there's going to be a lot of steps i have to go through it kind of prove myself again and

get the trust from people that i respect to work with and things like that. but i'm willing to do what i have to do to get there. because that's my passion. >> lohan has pled not guilty to the theft and says she wants to rebuild her life and her career. some who have been following her for a while say she may finally be ready. >> when i see lindsay in the interview, i see she's got a long way to go but for the first time, i see there could be the seeds of a comeback. >> now, lohan's legal troubles may not end with this theft charge. prosecutors in riverside county, california are also considering whether do charge her with misdemeanor battery for alleged fight with a rehab worker at the betty ford center. allegations that lohan has denied. thanks so much. you can catch more of the exclusive interview on "extra" today, check your local listings. coming up next, the power of food, how to show someone you care with any occasion. move our families forward.

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try our new artisanal ravioli filled with asiago and fontina cheeses and served with pan-seared chicken. just $10.95. at olive garden. during cold and flu season. that's why we started a mission for health. by going beyond clean surfaces to healthy surfaces. by making a healthy way to wash hands. and even by working with a pediatrician to develop lysol healthy habits initiatives in schools. when you use lysol, you're a part of something bigger. for healthy tips and more, visit lysol.com/missionforhealth.

have you ever wanted to welcome a new neighbor, help out a new mom or comfort someone who was grieving? of course you have. if you wondered when you had that experience, what you could do to comfort them, how about a delicious meal? elizabeth mayhue is the editor of "women's day" magazine and has terrific ideas. this is really lovely idea. because it sort of seems like something that evokes something that happened a long time ago that i think is comforting now for us to experience. >> absolutely. >> your ideas are for what to do for a grieving friend, recuperating friend, new parent, to say thank you and a new neighbor. let's take it one by one. >> food, homemade food is like a lifeline in these situations. we can start with somebody who is grieving, having just been through it i know what it's like to need food. you have a lot of people around, you want to be as easy as possible. bring in the dish, let them keep the dish, whether you go to the grocery store and buy pyrex or

use foil. we did a sausage and vegetable and white bean bake. >> a one-dish meal. >> one-dish meal. you don't need a knife, it's fork-only food. go ahead, cook it, wrap it in foil. we like to make it nice, which is a dishtowel, you can get them at the grocery store also and nice serving pieces and put in how it reheat it. cook it, cool it and wrap it. >> what you've done with this one, you're basically creating basically a comfort food meal. >> it's all comfort food. that can feed a large number of people as they're coming by the house. >> someone who is recuperating after a long illness, you've created something very substantial. >> we did a roast beef with garlic and rosemary. a one dish meal because you've got the tomatoes and potatoes. you put it in a $35 roasting pan from kohl's. it's full of protein and iron,

it's got enough flavor for someone who is regaining their appetite. and you can do it either way, wrap it up, put it, put it with a spoon or serving piece. >> that's sweet to put a little extra ribbon, something. it seems to me you would want to cook it? >> you can do it either wi. if somebody is receiving a lot of food, it can serve a family of four, andless have leftovers for sandwiches, you cannot forget, when you're talking about someone who is grieving or recuperating, there are caregivers around and this is enough to serve everybody. >> it makes the house smell great, too. >> right. >> and for new parent, a chicken pot pie. >> it's a one-dish meal, carrots and peas and everything going on. you can speed it up by buying a store-bought pie crust and puff pastry and rotisserie chicken. >> yes, and we love these, these are vonni, containers from vonni, put it in there, zip it

up. what new parent isn't going to use this time and time again to bring brownies to school. >> you can just wrap it in foil to save money. >> of course. >> and i love your idea of giving them the pyrex or finding something not too expensive at the grocery store to serve in. >> the last thing you want is to have to worry about returning it. always include the reheat instructions. >> what are these about? >> these are recycled containers from a place called stationery studio,.com. if you're making cookies like we made these chocolate-peanut butter cookies, a lot of time you're doing these for teachers at the end of the year, they're offering a special discount right now to "today show" viewers, to customize your label, they'll send you the whole kit and it's good to go. cookies are easy because you can multiply and triple. >> you can use old ball jars and

things that you've collected, pretty little containers. >> absolutely. it's the idea of one-stop shopping. getting it done in bulk. >> new neighbor, what is better than a basket of blueberry muffins? >> i do this a lot. >> i like how you matched it with this little fabric. >> bringing the dish towel, the packaging saying you spent a little time doing this and go to google maps, print out your area and annotae for them, the best florist, the best cup of coffee. >> why have i not heard of this before. someone who has given me a list before and i've given people a list. >> well, google maps -- >> the idea that you would print it out. >> and label it. >> the point is, you're supposed to be taking care of people and what better way to do it than through food. >> you are awesome, these are great ideas and thank you so much for inspiring us to do this and be kinder and more generous to people in need. and we've got more coming up

this morning, including a meal you want to share with other people. a homemade lamb stew, a stew that is one-pot cooking in today's kitchen. but first, it california should be proud. we were the first to ban smoking on airplanes.

the first to have smoke-free bars and restaurants. all while saving over $86 billion in health care costs... and over a million lives. we've done a good job. but even if you were born today, you'd still grow up in a world where tobacco kills more people... than aids, drugs, alcohol, murder and car crashes... combined. we have a lot more work to do.

. . "today's kitchen" step by step, a seasonal favorite -- spring lamb stew. a signature dish for alex guarnaschelli. her latest restaurant is the darby here in new york city. she's also a judge on "chopped all stars" on the food network. thanks for being here. >> thank you. i have a straddle to the season between winter and spring. >> is lamb a key ingredient winter to spring? >> i think so. >> it feels easter, passover. >> we have the element of comfort. i'm browning the lamb. i take it out and take an absurd

amount of garlic because that says spring to me. hi, how are you, welcome. this is a great dish for a first date. >> yeah. >> we just mix together onions and garlic. if you would help me -- >> sure. carrots and parsnips. >> the first vegetables that pop up. put everything together withal wild abandon. then just to give it the elements of seasoning, a little bay leaf for the savory touch and a touch of brown sugar because, face it, we're americans. >> everything's better with sugar. >> we want the springtime sweetness in there. and a little mustard. >> dijon. >> that adds a little bit of spice like spiking the punch at a party. always a good idea. >> yes. >> once it cooks for a few minutes add in a cup of vermouth. >> do i have to add it in. >> i'm sorry. we'll have cocktails later on the lido deck.

>> so good. >> put it down and you canal smell the arema coming together. to me that really -- >> the mustard and the vermouth, ooh, that's a nice cook. >> it's a seduction dinner for spring. >> there you go. >> then pour in the stock and let it took right down. >> this was really just browning the meat, getting it ready. >> you get the wonderful browned flavor and -- >> that's in the pan already. >> then you put the meat back in and put in a few bones because they add the little -- it's inviting the smart person to the party to add that extra -- >> extra boneyness? >> yes. >> who knew? >> then you get this wonderful all stewed together. >> how long do you let it simmer down to get the stew to this point? >> i hate to say the chef code which is until it's ready. i would say an hour, hour and a half. then bring in the springtime

with the mustard greens and peas. it adds a vibrant green touch to this dish. >> healthy, too. >> yeah. i like the idea of wilting greens into a dish. it looks like we have other victims coming to taste. >> victims she called you. >> i love it. >> lucky people. >> very lucky. >> we're doing something that's >> we have the asparagus addition, too. >> how do the greens work? >> i stir them in. this is a last-minute move you would make on "chopped" by the way. >> what is it? >> "chopped" is a food network competition of all time. >> it really is. >> you don't want to be chopped on "chopped". >> my 12-year-old loves "chopped". >> great show. >> we're having an all-star series starting sunday at 9:00 p.m. every sunday thereafter. we'll see serious drama and serious delicious eats. >> looks good. >> i made garlic toast with this

and to go with it, something really fresh. i need you to dress this for me. >> hello, asparagus. >> pour it right over and just toss it in the bowl. ur hoda and kathie lee are ner o ig back after your local news. [ female announcer ] shopping with nutrition in mind

shouldn't be hard work or cost more money. now there's simple nutrition, only at safeway. green tags throughout the store call out what matters most to you. ♪ there are 22 different nutritional benefits highlighted. ♪ and with our low prices, now safeway makes bringing home the right choices easier than ever. that's simple nutrition. ♪ that's ingredients for life. safeway. good morning, everybody. time is 9:56. i'm brent cannon. an incredible confession. the couple accused of kidnapping

jaycee dugard admitted to the crime. nancy garrido saying she knew her husband repeatedly rape her, and she helped deliver the children jaycee bore him. >> kids are born, she delivered the kids. she fed them, took them places. >> the confession is not part of the plea deal. phillip garrido is set to appear in court march 17th. a big concern this morning in santa clara. burglaries and car break-ins are on the rise. break-ins are happening near el camino and lawrence expressway. they crashed through a jewelry store, stole wedding rings, earrings, necklaces. businesses say they have seen increase in car break-ins, and fear it will scare customers away. they want to add security cameras outside the stores and in parking lots. time to take a peek at the forecast. changes on the horizon. christine has that.

>> we are seeing the calm before the storm. a big time winter storm, capable of producing up to three inches of rain. looks like the first showers are around 7:00 p.m., maybe 8:00. later this afternoon, temperatures climb towards 60 degrees. fairly nice day. showers by about 7:00 p.m. let's check the commute with mike inouye. >> typical pattern for tuesday. for a period of time, 20 minutes, all lanes were blocked. smooth through the area. light traffic traveling that connecter. on the east bay, a slow down through berkeley. 880 and interstate 80. a look at the toll plaza shows they may turn off the lights in the next hour. folks that are in the middle of the screen are waiting for the price to change. ill advice, don't stop on the freeway. it is an interstate. more local news in a half

hour. the "today" show returns in about a minute. have a great morning! year. feed me! saving you money -- now, that's progressive. call or click today.

from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hey, everybody. we're saying good-bye to meredith who doesn't want to come or and see us. she's too important. >> she's too important. >> that's fine. meredith, it's booth day, tuesday, did you know that? march 1st. >> i can't join you. >> why? get over here. >> i'll just say hello to your fans. >> are you feeling better? because we were concerned about you. >> we were worried about you. your throat. >> are we really concerned about

me? >> yes, we really were. i was, hoda, of course, wasn't. >> i just can't seem to lose the raspiness. >> you like that. >> it's kind of sexy. >> may i leave now? >> darn, she's cute. >> adorable. >> how cute is she? >> the best. >> it's national pancake day. >> yeah! >> she's heard about that. so the drill there is is that you can get free pancakes at ihop today. >> right. >> but they want you to give a little donation to charity when you do it. we're going to have a little face-off, you and me. >> you cheated. and we have it on tape. >> no. >> hoda, look at your feet! >> i have long legs. okay? they need room to spread out. anyway, we're going to redo that pancake toss. >> that's unbelievable! >> oh, please. over the line. you can't get so technical. who won? >> oh, himy gosh, hoda!

>> everyone's attention to detail. >> how about attention to detail in charlie's life. we know who we're talking about. >> we're going to talk about this today because jeff rossen is the guy who ran the interview with charlie sheen. >> he sure did. >> he's going to talk to us later in the show. i'm interested in his insight because he was with him for eight hours. >> yes, at his home. >> at his home. we saw what he looked like on camera. but as we both know, the cameras don't always tell the truth. lighting is a funny thing. i'm just curious, it would be interesting to see what he was really like, what he really looked like. >> because when he did ask him, are you on drugs now? "look at me." but he doesn't look good. i don't think he can even see himself clearly now. >> it would be curious how life sometimes is different. >> yeah. >> one of the things charlie sheen talked about in this brand-new interview with jeff is he talked about the women who live with them. there are two women who he calls the goddesses. what are they? >> one is a porn star, bree, and

the other is just their girlfriend. i guess they're both sort of his girlfriends, but one of them looks awfully young. awfully young. without the makeup on and everything, i'm thinking oh, my. >> let's listen to this. >> we run errands, we eat, we play with the kids. >> we think up fun plans. >> yeah. we watch movies. >> i watch a lot of "two and a half men." >> do you love his kids? >> are you kidding? i wish i was there with them right now. >> i didn't want to put them down. they're calling you. i don't want to put them down. can i tell him? okay. he's, like, bye. >> if you say "dad's busy," he goes, "okay, dada's busy." he's fine with it. >> is this normal? >> aside from the day we sat there with the girl with pom-poms. >> they'll run with that. they'll run with that. >> i'm joking. >> charlie told me you can put

him in his place. when he's wrong, you put him in his place. do you? >> reporter: no, let her answer. >> i don't generally have to. i respect charlie as a man, and i respect him as a head of household and trust him completely. if there's something i think is a little bad as an idea, i might say hey, babe, you know, let's think about it this way and, you know, it works. the system works for us. >> reporter: what do these two women do for you that other women in your life haven't? you've chosen women before that you have loved. brooke mueller. >> these women don't judge me. they don't judge me, they don't lead with an opinion, their own needs all the time. they're honest enough to say hey, park your nonsense. you're going to help me solve this and we solve it. i tell them, don't live in the middle. get away from your emotions, your ego, and therein lies the solution. >> reporter: are these women allowed to say to you, charlie, you're being a jerk? >> yes. >> do they talk back to you? >> those are the best jokes of the day. yes, we have an open dialogue. >> reporter: they put you in

your place? >> everybody vote has equal importance. but when there's -- when we're approaching crisis, i remind them, look, i'm 22 years further down the road. and trust me, most of the time -- well, in the last few days all the time -- my plan is going to be the best one in the world. so just trust me on that and everybody will win. everybody will win and everybody's needs will be taken care of. >> anyhoo. frank's 23 year es older than i am. he could still be wrong. you just respect the person. what do they talk about? >> i don't know. i can't believe that those 2-year-old twins are in the house. i just can -- >> you find it hard to believe that a mother would leave the children -- >> i don't care -- >> probably they have to legally because it's a custody situation. >> i guess. i wouldn't want -- i wouldn't want other people raising my children, you know. anyhoo. so here's something that really

got under my skin. i know i'm late on this train, but i'm sorry. "the bachelor" last night. nobody told me brad womack, this guy, was such a -- >> say what you said in the dressing room, hoda. >> i got to tell you, he got completely under my skin. this guy, brad womack, okay, he's down to two girls. this woman, the blonde, her fiance died several years ago. she now has a 5-year-old daughter. and watching him, like, talk about how much he cares and loves both of these -- all these different women is repulsive. >> it's a lot like charlie. >> but you know what it is? i bet for a lot of guys -- i bet a lot of guys do say the same thing to a lot of different women. >> they do. they say the same thing, the same lines. >> it grossed me out watching it on tv. i know why people watch it. i'm praying that he doesn't -- i don't want him to pick the girl with the baby. because --

>> i think her name's emily. >> emily, with the baby. and her daughter's name is rickie. >> i don't want anybody to end up with him. >> i mean, they have these overnight sleepovers or whatever they're called, the secret room you go in at nighttime. i mean, it is -- i mean, i do want to see the end. >> see? hoda, that's the point. don't watch this stuff. >> no, i have to know. >> what goes in comes out. i've never seen you -- >> i am in. >> -- as wound up as you were this morning. >> i'm upset he's going to pick one of these two women. >> it's all contrived, hoda. >> he was on a few seasons ago. he said he wasn't ready to fall in love. now he's ready to fall in love. >> he's already in love. he's in love with himself. there's no room for anybody else. >> why didn't anyone tell me about this show? i had no idea what was going on. anyway, it was good. i was totally and completely in. we are going to the royal wedding. we got an invitation. >> we're not going to the wedding. >> we are actually going april 29th, we're going to be live

from london on april 28th. >> yes. live from london. shocking. >> it's going to be an international incident, no question. it's interesting. they're selling all kinds of tchotchkes, you'll kinds of memorabilia. this ring, the replica of the one charles gave diana. the exact same one was given to kate by prince william. >> how much was this one? >> this one now sells for $50.28. at the ukgiftcompany.com. they make such great phony jewelry now, costume jewelry, it's actually very pretty. >> okay. >> we've talked before about would you want the ring that has such negative connotation in one way. we sort of got through that. now apparently they're inviting people to their wedding. >> yeah. >> past loves, past boyfriends and girlfriends. >> oh, i think that's weird. >> i mean, the idea of having, like, my fiance or the guy i'm

going to marry, his ex-girlfriend at the wedding? >> yeah. >> i think i might say -- >> even if i wanted to, frank could have kiboshed that in a second. >> but what is the point? >> i think a lot of people remain great friends with people. if it was like your first love or your first -- and i don't know. maybe you had children together. i don't know. there's all kinds of different reasons. i think it's very evolved of them. >> so he's inviting an old girlfriend and she's inviting an old boyfriend? >> we don't know the details. we wanted to know what you think about that on facebook. you can also get no more way to katie. that premieres today. that was her color. and the other one that's really pretty over there, both available on beglowing.com for 14 bucks. now, hoda was not feeling well last night. so i, along with sunny, had to go forge on and go to the very first preview of a brand-new musical that i've been hearing

an awful lot about, "priscilla queen of the desert." would you please, jerry. we have a gift for you. >> okay. we have manolo blahniks for you. >> they're not that big. >> princess style. thank you. >> jerry, show me some love. >> you look beautiful. >> the reason he has the boa on, it's sort of the theme of the show. >> it came from a movie. you can now get these -- they're $745 at the flagship store. >> oh, okay. >> a portion of the profits goes to bette midler's new york restoration project. she's one of the producers. all i can tell you is it's so outrageous -- >> drag queens. >> drag queens are people, too. >> look at you. >> they give amazing performances. the costumes won an oscar years ago in the movie. and it's the same people doing them there. i've never felt so underdressed in my life with this group of people. it's not for everybody. it's not the kind of thing my

mom would go to. it's not camelot. because of the subject matter, but it's brilliantly done. it goes from being quite vulgar one second to being very vulnerable the next second. and you care about these people and their road to discovery and love. it's mott music. >> "say a prayer for you." >> and "i will survive" and "i like the night life." >> and "true colors." it opens march 20th. next, we're going to take you behind charlie sheen's closed doors to hear more about what goes on and the women he calls his goddesses. and we'll talk to the women of the fbi drama. that is one sexy guy. [ male announcer ] when mike rowe heads home,

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now to the guy who keeps on going and going -- >> which can apply to our own jeff rossen, as well as charlie sheen. he spent the last two days talking to the "two and a half men" star. you've been busy the last couple of days. >> how are you doing, guys. >> good, how are you. >> you spent a lot of time with him, jeff. the camera can do funny things, we saw what charlie sheen looked like to us, but you had the

opportunity of being there in person with him. how did he look face to face? >> face to face, he is the same on camera as he is off camera when we're having private conversations around his house or on the phone. he definitely turns it up on the camera. i think he enjoys tweaking people. whenever i tell him, people think you're crazy, people think you're deranged when they see you on tv. >> he says, i think i'm a comedian. he says wow, maybe i should stop talking like that. maybe he should sound more normal. he relishes in it. i don't think that charlie sheen is watching this and saying to himself. i think i should come off more normal. that's not him. >> he really likes jeff rossen. he was on piers morgan last night. >> that's his biggest flaw. >> talking about how much he liked you. what was the connect you guys had? >> i think i told him from the very beginning, i'm not going to ask you softball questions, i'm going to ask you what people are thinking. i'm not going to step all over you. i'm just going to let you talk

and give you your platform and let you say what you want to say. but i'm never going to kowtow to him. it's about fairness at the end of the day. and i think we connected on that level. and he had good bagels at his house. >> you said he seems to have a real trust factor with some of the people in his inner circumstance many. even though we just read that stan rosenfield just left, his long-time high-powered pr guy. how did he react to that? >> how did he react to that? >> i think he and stan are close, they've been together for years, i think this is a falling out. charlie has what he calls his master plan about how to get his career back on track and some people close to him have a different master plan. and right now, charlie wants to call the shots in his own life. and i think as a publicist, when you feel like you can't control your client and stan has every right to say look, if you're not going to listen to me, then maybe we shouldn't be working together. i think they may come back together later. as far as his inner circle, it's very interesting when you're at the house, what really struck

me. i don't know it is at your house. kathie lee, people coming in and out, men without shirts, holding trays, i don't know what's going on there. but in most of our houses -- >> right. >> let's just let that go. people just walk in and out of his house. everyone from childhood friends, he has two assistants at least. he has a chef. people are walking in and out all day. it is a gated community. but these people who either live in the gated community or who he lets in. he can just walk in and out. i only met him a few days ago. i've been talking to him and testing with him a few months. but over a period of time. he says i'm going to run upstairs and shower before the interview. everyone was gone and my producer and i were sitting in his living room alone. >> one of the first questions out of the gate was is this guy on drugs. >> the first question america wants to know, are you clean right now. >> look at me, duh.

drug tests don't lie. >> when was the lafayette time you did drugs? >> don't remember, don't care, drug tests don't lie. the scoreboard doesn't lie. >> did he not seem like he was on anything, jeff? >> he actually seemed clean to me. he's just one of those -- he said people mistake my shaking, because another reporter asked him about that yesterday, billy bush asked him, you shake a lot. it seems like you're on drugs. he said look, that's just how i am. i'm amped up at home. rightout side the gated community, there are live reporter trucks everywhere. he feels like a hostage in there. the people closest to him say work really is the regiment that he needs. when he doesn't have work and is just sitting around obsessing about things like the rest of us, it's a problem. and i think he just feels caged up. and that's what you're seeing. >> and he had a lot to say about warner brothers, let's listen to

that, jeff. >> your lawyers wrote a letter to warner brothers, saying you want to get paid for eight episodes. >> yeah, of course, yeah. >> why? >> because that's what i was slated for and that's what i agreed to do. >> you want to move forward. >> well, god yeah. there's work to do. there's shows to be delivered. we're running out of time. the clock is ticking, you know. >> warner brothers has agreed to pay the crew of "two and a half men" for four episodes. >> as they should, good, good, it's a start. i won't sleep until they get eight. and then i'm going to worry about my cash and myself last. >> you think because of the pressure you're applying they're getting paid. >> well, yeah, who else is applying pressure? everybody else is just sitting at home, waiting for someone to happen. >> is he not aware that he's coming off like the only person in the worked he thinks about is himself. >> in charlie's mind, he thinks, look, i have a master plan. and everyone else has to sit back and listen to me. it may seem whatever, it may

seem what it seems to you. in the end, everyone is going to win, these are his words of the because i'm a winner. and when you're on board with a winner, everyone wins. he said follow my plan to the end, everyone will have their job back. he is confident. >> i think he would be sensitive about what fans thought. i liked what you did. you pulled out a twitter page and you had him read what people were saying. let's listen do that. >> some people ask me today, is he delusional, is he crazy? just a narcissist, a nice guy? how would you describe yourself of those choices? >> i am grandiose, because i live a grandiose life. and i'm tired of being aw shucks, no, that's not me. be it, that is me. thank you for recognizing it and i support it. what's wrong with that? for years there were actors that i thought were so arrogant and so completely full of themselves, now i look back and i go, wow, they were just uber-confident, just projecting an image that they believed to be true. now i get it. >> ha do you want to say to the

fans, there are a lot of fans who are worried about you. >> don't be worried. celebrate this movement. i love and i'm so grateful that you have supported me and the show for so long. and i, i will not let you down. trust me. >> you went, i'd like, you ended up showing him some twitter responses to messages and stuff. tell us his reaction to that? >> it was actually waawkward wh you're looking at somebody, charlie sheen, and say look, mary from ohio thinks you're a psycho. he handled it really well. he allows me to have that access and let him answer. he said look, this doesn't bother me. these people don't understand me. he's able to just compartmentalize that. he says people who don't get him are a bore. and people who get him, get him and if you don't get him, tough. >> and he thinks everybody is just jealous because they wish they lived the great life that he has. >> jeff, grate work. congratulations. still to come, more

celebrity news when we bring you today's buzz. first these messages. seriously smooth,undeniabl, and in excellent condition. those are your lips with new covergirl lip perfection. it doesn't just give you beautiful color now, it gives you more beautiful lips in 7 days. in a single stroke, rich color rocks your lips. in a single week, silk therapy moisturizers help smooth and soften them. how perfect! [ male announcer ] new lip perfection. in 44 lip perfecting shades. from easy, breezy, beautiful covergirl.

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and replace your old mayo with the full flavor of kraft mayo with olive oil. ♪ made with half the fat and calories of hellmann's real mayo... ...kraft mayo with olive oil is the new standard in mayo. time is 10:26. i'm brent cannon. for the second time in the past month, police are investigating a near deadly hit-and-run in san jose. the latest sunday morning at the intersection of crucero and dubert. police say he was hit and dragged several feet before the person drove away. witnesses haven't been able to provide any details. he is in a medically induced coma this morning. there was another hit and run about two miles away three weeks ago. a woman was hit and dragged some 700 feet. she survived but may never walk again. no arrests have been made in

either case. a morning from police this morning about a possible con artist in one of the bay area's priceyest towns. officers say the man is posing as a caltran worker trying to get into homes in woodside. last friday, the suspect told the homeowner he was there to inspect for landslide danger. as he chatted with the homeowner, police think a second suspect went into the house and stole jewelry. weather and traffic in a minute. stay with us.

well, we're looking at

another pretty nice day at least the first half of the day. temperatures round out in the 60s. 61 in redwood city, 62 in loss gatos. rain arrives by 8:00 p.m. pushing on shore in the north bay. showers heavy at times. we could pick up up to two inches in the east and north bay. looking like an inch in the south bay and peninsula. clearing for thursday. right now, the day's commute. east shore freeway looking smooth. accident at cleveland. hello, cleveland, hello backup. slowing as the accident clears. the rest of the bay is clear. show you a toll plaza shot. the meter lights turned off. 880 northbound through the downtown area, things moving smoothly. not bad for the freeway. midway traffic starts in the southbound direction in a few minutes.

thank you for joining us. tomorrow morning, complete coverage of the new storm coming in. the "today" show continues coming up next. listen up, everybody. for the next hour and only the next hour, you will call mr. caffrey special agent peter burke. no questions, no laughing, just do it. and never speak of this again. >> who, me? you don't even need him. stay there. >> oh, we like these guys. we're back on this booze day tuesday with more of "today." and that's matt bomer, the stars of the usa network big hit. we take all the credit for, "white collar."

matt plays a con artist reporting to agent peter burke played by tim dekay. i like this bromance. a little chemistry going on. >> we based our research on you. >> good, good. the success of this show, i mean, when it first came out of the gate, it was an interesting concept. who knew? >> you never know. >> i can't believe how well the numbers have done. tell us what you think the secret is to that. >> the writing. >> and modesty. it is that you guys have a great chemistry. you sense that you really do like each other very much. that's important. >> we have a good time, i have to say that. jeff easton has written some amazing scripts. it was amaze. it was one of those where you saw the writing and thought, okay. this can work. >> there's potential here. >> the first we read together we were, like, oh, he said yes to my crazy ideas. and i say yes to his. >> and hilarity ensued. >> do you guys hang out after

the shooting, or do you guys just work together and then you go your separate ways? >> we're together pretty much all day every day. when we're working. >> yeah, we always take a hiatus and see each other. >> we do, we hang out and have some dinner. because we're working so many hours, once we're done shooting, we go home and fall down. >> you live in california. >> i do. >> you're married with children so you go back and forth all the time. that's tough. >> go back and forth about every other weekend. >> that's a rough one because your kids are playing sports and things. >> and you're coaching. >> you don't want to miss any of that. >> coaching them and my son has baseball. my daughter has gymnastics. it's busy, but it's, you know -- >> you're a working actor with a steady job. >> do they watch the show? >> yeah. and that's what's great about the show. >> kids can watch. >> my 8 and 11-year-old can watch it and preteens can watch it. >> uh-huh. >> with the parents and grandparents and everybody feels cool. >> he has the sweetest, most amazing kids on the planet.

>> somebody's done a good job. you know they don't come out that way. you make them that way. good for you. >> you did a lot of theater work. you did other things. this really catapulted you. >> you know, i don't really feel like it has. >> really? >> i just feel like, you know, go to work, do the best i can. >> people don't recognize you on the streets now? >> they do. >> girls giving you their numbers all the time sf. >> i bet you are mobbed. are you? >> not really. it's always good to have recognition for your work. i'm glad people are responding to the character and everything. >> that's not what they're responding to. i'm an old bag, but that's not what i'm responding to, believe me. let's be honest. >> you're not. you're gorgeous. >> oh, i love this guy. >> theater. i didn't know you had a theater background. we were kind of surprised to hear about that. tell us about that. >> do you have any time to do that sort of thing now? >> yeah, i like to do like a fun workshop. i do a lot of those little workshops in between that i have time for. hopefully in the future. >> the guy can sing. >> yeah.

>> what can you sing? anything? >> i don't know about anything. ♪ one enchanted evening >> it's not going to happen right now. >> no, i did it for you. >> thank you. and it sounded gorgeous. much better than i would do it. >> when do you start again for the new season? >> a couple weeks. >> a couple weeks. we start shooting march 14th. >> right here on the streets of new york. >> no more snow. >> you timed that one right. >> perfect. >> we wish you guys great luck with the next season. >> so fun to have you on. >> such nice gentlemen. all the best. >> check out "white collar" at 10:00 10:00 10:00/9:00 central on usa. 3 o'clock. my daily meeting with a salty snack and then a 3:15, with my guilt. [ female announcer ] new special k cracker chips. 27 crispy chips. 110 delicious calories. mmmmmmm...good meeting. same time tomorrow? [ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle.

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time for "today's buzz." there's so much to talk about from drinking to dancing. we've got it all. >> editor in chief of hollywoodlife.com. >> ladies, good morning. >> some breaking news just this morning about another person who hasn't been in the news a lot lately, christina aguilera. what happened? >> yes. i mean, this is really sad. she's been charged with public intoxication. she was with her boyfriend, matt rutler. he was a production assistant on her "burlesque" set. he's been charged with dui. and apparently she couldn't stand up.

it was very bad. >> like 2:45 in the morning in west hollywood. and apparently according to tmz, she could not take care of herself. she was that intoxicated. >> but this has been coming on now for a few months. i mean, it's been a slow digression, hasn't it? >> ever since her last album came out, it bombed, then the movie bombed. then there was the national anthem mistake, the super bowl. her marriage fell apart. the woman actually has been going through a hard time, both personally and professionally. >> she fell at the grammys. >> well, we talked a lot about charlie sheen this morning. i don't know, what's your take on what's going on? >> it seems to me that he's suffering from more than just drug abuse. i mean, either he's got some kind of mental illness or the drugs have done something to his mind. i mean, he's full of grandiosty. >> there

>> there's a part of me that believes him, that he can cure himself and maybe he can take charge of his life. >> why do you think that? >> because he is so passionate about it and because his tests have been clean. we heard jeff rossen's interview. he said when he was at the house with him, he appeared -- >> i mean, this is long term. >> but, of course, i think he can believe himself, but that doesn't mean that he's not completely out of his mind. >> his goddesses. >> it is not out of the question that a big celebrity can turn his life around. >> we hope he does. >> but listen, he's got these goddesses, they're helping take care of his children. it really worries me. >> he's an swelliintelligent ma. he may have convinced himself. it doesn't mean it will work. >> it doesn't mean that he's not thinking like a normal human being. i mean, he's got tiger dna. >> he's let everybody down who's concerned about him, called them

trolls, fools. everybody's wrong but him. >> that's because, i mean, i really think he's suffering from some kind of a complex. he thinks that he -- we said he's got the blood of adonis. he said, i'm superior. >> that's hard to watch, i've got to say. >> is anyone worried about his children? >> that's horrible, more than anything. >> lindsay lohan made an appearance. she popped back up. and i saw on "extra" i think she's doing an interview. then there was this jimmy kimmel thing where she was doing something called pilates. >> she didn't but a lot of the other stars about. >> jessica biel, jessica alba, sophia vergara. >> humpilates. it is such a good price. and the price is so low, it is a steal. so she pops out and says allegedly.

>> do you think that the way that she's going about her reentry is a smart way to do it? >> well, not really, but i think she has done a smart thing. she's given an interview to "extra" in which she acknowledges that she's got a long way to go to make people trust her again, to make the business trust her and to be insurable. and i think that is very smart for her to be contrite finally. >> i think the first thing out of her mouth, too, in that interview is that she says i have to become insurable again. not that i have to get my life together, but -- >> the same thing with charlie. he's got to be insurable again. they're not going to start production again. it's too expensive. what about the fact they're talking about john stamos, somebody like that coming in to take over for him? >> apparently he was approached by les moonves. there's a report. and they're looking around. i mean, i actually think john stamos would be fantastic. but lindsay, there's also a new tape apparently, a surveillance tape, offer in the store where she's talking to the owner for

45 minutes wearing the necklace. i think that sheds a whole new light on the case. >> she'd better go to trial and be acquitted because apparently that's the only way she's going to avoid jail. >> i can solve the whole thing. >> do it. >> i will go over to the set of the show, and i'll call it "one and a half men" and one po postmenopausal broad. done. we're done talking about it for a while. >> guys, thank you so much. >> thank you very much. coming up, we're going to fill you in on all things to look forward to after 40 and beyond. >> plus the pancake competition. look at hoda's feet! look at that! >> i have long legs. first these meo my gosh. first thagesmessages. es

if there's one thing we all have in common in every corner of the world, it is that we are all aging. >> one second at a time.

exactly right. and for many women it's the number 40 that can send them over the edge. while 40 may not be the new 20, but there's a new book to help you make the best of the aging process. it's called fortytude. it's by sarah brokaw. she's the beloved daughter of tom. your mother married a beautiful person. look how cute they are, by the way. >> and still in love. >> uh-huh. so why is it that we get freaked out over numbers like this, 40, 50? >> right. i think that's an excellent question. i think that it has a lot to do with internal and external factors. i think that the internal factor for women who are hitting their mid-30s has a lot to do with fertility. that the ability to get pregnant at 28 versus 35, if you can imagine, is a lot higher than it is when you're 35. >> and the risks as well. >> and the risk is much higher.

that's number one. i think number two, 35 is the age where we have our first mammogram. most likely we have all known someone who's been diagnosed with breast cancer. at that age. and i think that's just another reminder of our mortality. >> and when you think about being a life span of 70 years, that's mid life. sort of a midlife crisis. >> absolutely. there's also the external factors that occur. you know, a number of women, there's going to be the woman who develops a great career for herself. she reaches the corporate ladder, the top of the corporate ladder and realizes that the glass ceiling is that much thicker and she doesn't know how to get beyond that. she also looks at herself at 39 and 40 and thinks, i've carved this great path for myself but i'm not married. i don't have children. or you have a stay-at-home mom,

who feels accomplished, being a mother, but once the kids leave the home, feels irrelevant. who are they? >> the one thing about this book, it gives you sort of concrete takeaways. a lot of books make you feel crummy and blah. >> there are five essential blocks i like to use as my guiding principles, grace, connectedness, accomplishment without the monetary, materialistic factor, adventure and spirituality. >> let's bring out beth goodman. >> absolutely. >> she's one of these women -- >> come on out, beth. now, beth is a breast cancer survivor. >> i am. >> we bonded earlier. we did a chest bump. don't even ask about it. she made me do it. you're unique in this book. what was it? tell us your input for this book? >> well, i was introduced by sarah or introduced to sarah by sisters network. and as the three-year conqueror of breast cancer, she was looking for someone to share their story about being a

survivor. specifically an african-american. and i am one that has taken this journey and want to sprinkle it and share it with everyone. >> well, you don't see it as cancer like the way it's spelled, but you see it as can-cer. >> so many people think death when they hear cancer. and i chose to accept life in that it was predestined for me to be able to share with the world that it is not always a death sentence. and that you can live every day in some wonderful shade of pink. >> but don't you think you were a very strong person going into discovering that you had that diagnosis? >> yes. >> talk about -- >> i know. this is one of those. >> you've got to read the book. >> you have to read the book. it will lift you up. >> exactly. and i'm not here to tell people to buck up. i'm here to say that there are ways in which you can approach life with fortitude. and to do that, you really need to incorporate these five values. but most importantly is defining

those five values in your own words. the minute you hear someone else's voice other than your own, learn how to really redefine it. >> it's a terrific book. >> own my fortitude. >> sarah, good luck with the book. >> thanks so much. up next, hoda and i go head to head for the pancake toss. don't take your eyes off her feet. >> i don't cheat.

we all love a little friendly competition around here, but sometimes it can get downright ugly. if anyone knows, it's hoda. take a look at this pancake toss from last year where hoda clearly crossed the line in more ways than one. look at her feet. look at this. >> hey, i have longer legs than you. i need room. >> then start further back. >> i was trying. >> hoda, you didn't for one minute look down at the line. >> i wasn't pay attention to the

line, but let's play again. >> this year to avoid cheating, we have a special setup. bring it out, boys. this is going to be -- >> hoda, i told you. a little cheating. >> this will be the place you stand. >> no! >> we're going to see you try to do that toss from here. come on. because you're such a pro that we're going to put you in this. kathie lee -- >> i don't care. i'll still win. >> kathie, you step right over there. >> let's try this again. okay. go. >> i hate this pool. >> hoda, get back in your pool! >> okay. give me some more. >> not a one. get in there. >> i don't think you got one in.

>> hey, hey! >> whoops. >> did someone count? >> that was at the buzzer. >> i only got two that i know of. >> you did step out of the pool. >> oh, i got three. hoda -- >> one, two, three, four, five. even though i was put back in the pool -- >> hoda may have taken it this year. >> thank you very, very much. harry connick jr. tomorrow.