good morning. trying everything. special fire trucks blast water good morning. trying everything. special fire trucks blast water onto one damaged reactor as crews race to restore power to the fukushima power plant. now engineers are looking at another option, varying the parts of that plant in sand and soil as japanese officials raise the severity level of the accident from a 4 to a 5. all necessary measures. with u.s. support, the u.n. security council authorized a no-fly zone over libya and the use of military actions against moammar gadhafi's forces. air strikes could begin as soon as today.

live from london, meredith vieira gets a special tour of westminster abbey from the man who will officiate at the royal wedding as the countdown to the big event hits 42 days today, friday, march 18, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television " on a friday morning. good morning. welcome to a special edition of "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer in new york. meredith is in london. buckingham palace. good morning to you. >> hey, matt. good morning to you as well. we'll get the latest on the royal wedding and my tour of westminster abbey in a bit. there are new developments on the crisis in japan, matt. >> there certainly are. japanese officials who have been criticized for downplaying the severity of the nuclear crisis raised their rating of the

situation to a 5 on the scale of 1 to 7. that means they expected wider consequences beyond the local area surrounding that troubled plant. for the first time they are admitting they may have been slow to react to the situation and are now asking the united states for help. meredith? >> yeah, matt. there is a bit of news on the royal wedding tied to the situation in japan. just this morning japan's crown prince notified the royal family that he will not be attending the wedding as he deals with the disaster in his own country. meanwhile, as we mentioned on thursday prince william is on a trip to new zealand and today gave a moving speech to the victims of the earthquake there. we will hear what we had to say and we'll talk to someone who spent a lot of time with the prince in recent jeers ayears as him very well. then our private tour of the site of the wedding, westminster abbey, by dr. john paul. >> thank you. we will check back with you. meanwhile, let's begin with the latest on the crisis in japan.

ann curry is in akita with the latest. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. that's right. japanese officials, according to nbc news, now confirmed, are now considering burying the nuclear rods with special materials as that may be the only way to prevent a catastrophic release of radiation. >> translator: the military is being discharged and according to the plan -- >> reporter: a new kind of assault to get control of reactor 3 and avert a catastrophe. military fire trucks, usually used for airplane fires, nuclear reactors >> translator: nuclear reactors. >> translator: 50 tons of water will be shot at nuclear reactor number 3. >> reporter: the government abandoning the use of helicopters unsure how effective they were. experts say in a reactor three isses herbally dangerous because it has recycled fuel that contains plutonium and greater

health threats than the uranium in the other reactors. today smoke billowed from reactor 2, cause unknown. as emergency workers restored a crucial power line in hopes of restoring the generators and the damaged reactors. earlier, japanese authorities told the iaea engineers laid an external grid power cable to reactor 2. today, for the first time, the nation's top government spokesman acknowledged japan is willing to accept technical help from the u.s. in dealing with the nation's nuclear crisis. on thursday, president obama visited the japanese embassy in washington to sign a condolence book, calm u.s. fears and pledge to help the japanese people. >> we feel a great urgency to provide assistance to those who have been displaced from their homes, who are suffering enormously at this moment.

>> reporter: japan is a nation on edge. passport centers are full, train stations mobbed. airlines are scrambling to fly thousands of people out of tokyo. at the airport u.s. embassy staffers set up a help desk for americans who want to leave. >> nuclear fallout refugees. >> crowds flocked aboard buses out of sendai, a city hard hit by the earthquake and tsunami now low on basic necessities confusion, anger and distrust are spreading despite the government's reassurance. about the risks of radiation. this woman is frightened. we are worried about our health, she said. i came to buy masks to protect ourselves. today, marking one week since the quake, many in the nation paused to pay tribute as the number of dead and missing mounts. survivors now struggle without heat against the bitter cold and snow. 15-degree temperatures with the wind chill. relief workers soldier on, hampered by a shortage of fuel for trucks and ambulances.

with time running out, 73-year-old ito fears the worst. [ speaking in a foreign language ] >> reporter: i don't know what's happened to my daughter or son, she says. i don't know if they are alive or not. about the fukushima 50, the brave workers risking their lives to prevent a meltdown, we are getting an idea of who they are. a japanese news service is reporting that one was to retire in six months and decided to volunteer for the job. he worked at another plant for 40 years. on march 13, according to this report, he told his family he felt compelled to go to fukushima to do something. his family quotes him as saying, the future of the nuclear power generation depends on how we'll cope with this. i go with a sense of mission. he left his home three days ago, matt. >> ann curry in akita, japan, for us. thank you so much.

nbc's chief science correspondent robert bazell has been monitoring events from tokyo. bob, good morning. as i say good-bye, i would like you to explain a little more of the new option that's on the table which is moving in massive amounts of sand and soil to contain the radiation and ash sosh it. absorb it. where would they put it? on the reactor, on the pools with the spent fuel rods? where? >> reporter: good morning. it would go on the pools with the spent fuel rods. this is a procedure that is laid out in a u.s. nuclear regulatory document called responding to nondesign based accidents in spent fuel ponds. this certainly is a nondesigned base accident. nuclear power plant pools are never supposed to lose their water. they did in the earthquake. what they would do is gather up sand, dirt, and other materials and put in pieces of lead and element boron. these absorb neutrons and they

would bury it with huge amounts of it, several feet high above the fuel rods. that would take care of the fuel rod problems and they could go on to circulating water inside the reactors. that would put an end to the problem. getting all the material in there is a massive logistics problem. it's not clear when it would happen. it certainly is a very attractive option. it would make the fuel rod problem, which is requiring all the water spraying, to go away. >> let's talk about the other issue. they are trying to restore power. ann's report. an external power grid to reactor 2. are officials confident that even after they get power to the reactors that the cooling systems have not been so damaged by the earthquake and tsunami that they will work? >> reporter: i think they are. they were mostly damaged by the tsunami. it was the electrical generating system damaged by the tsunami and the batteries that were

supposed to back up the electrical generating system. for 45 minutes after the earthquake they knew these circulating systems were continuing to work. it was just after the tsunami they didn't have electricity to keep going. once they get it they are confident they'll work. >> robert bazell following this from tokyo. thank you very much for your help. dan ponman is the deputy secretary of energy. good morning. >> good morning. >> there is so much information. some confusing, some conflicting. i'm trying to keep track of each reactor on a piece of paper. when you look at everything happening, what's the most pressing concern in your mind at this moment? >> of course the most pressing concern is the fate of the japanese people and as they struggle with the horrible tragedy, they have taken the lead. the reactors are in their country. they are leading the effort. our most important concern is

that we are doing everything we can to support them in that effort. that's taken two forms. we are helping with monitoring the situation right now. we are also helping with emergency response. >> all right. i understand obviously the concern is with the japanese people. but specifically with the plant, from what you're hearing when you look at reactor number 1 where operators believe 70% of the fuel rods are damaged, reactor 2, 30% of the fuel rods. 3 and 4 where they have problems with the spent fuel pools, what do they need to get their hands around first? >> the first thing we've got to do isle cool down both the reactors you mentioned and we also have to cool down the spent fuel ponds. those are two significant areas of vulnerability and the focus of the japanese planners and people who are doing the emergency response on that. we are strongly supporting them in terms of getting the fire trucks and anything to get water into the core and into the spent fuel ponds.

>> i asked robert bazell about the power. they are trying to restore power to the plant. is there anything indication that it has not gone too far already? when you look at the damage to the buildings and we are looking at this superficial but severe damage. when you look at radiation levels we have been able to read, is it possible that once they restore power this plant has created too much damage already? they can never get it back under control? >> well, the critical thing now is to get the cores cooled and keep the spent fuel cool. i don't think anybody now is thinking about anything beyond the immediate task at hand. it's something we have to focus on first and foremost. until we get the rods cooled down, that will be the primary focus of all the efforts. >> we have been seeing the power of mother nature with the earthquake and the tsunami in japan. there is a troubling article in the new york times that says perhaps part of the situation is worse than it needs to be because the people at tokyo power procrastinated for years

in disposing of the spent fuel rods. i know the investigation will go on for months. do you fear we'll find this was perhaps only partly due to mother nature and partly also due to human procrastination? >> look, we have -- all of us who have nuclear power plants and there are hundreds of these around the world. everybody had an issue of what to do with the spent fuel that comes out of the reactors. japan has had a long-standing program to deal with that. we are working on that issue, too. the critical thing isn't having to do with the spent fuel, per se, but the critical factors of the tsunami, the earthquake, the damage that's done and the focus really is on that and in supporting the japanese efforts to get that under control. >> deputy secretary of energy dan ponman. mr. ponman, thank you for your time this morning. i appreciate it. >> thank you. >> let's check on the top stories with savannah guthrie at

the news desk while ann is on assignment. good morning. >> good morning. in the news moammar gadhafi is defiant, vowing violence in response to the united nations decision to authorize a no-fly zone over libya. nbc's jim maceda joins us from tripoli with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: hi, savannah. it's been a day since the u.n. vote and so there there is no sign of any enforcement. no air strikes on libyan positions or a push by gadhafi forces into the rebel cabtal of benghazi. in tripoli people are worried about the no-fly zone, what it means and they are afraid of air strikes by nato planes. many believe gadhafi is fighting terrorists and don't understand why the world is ganging up on him. meanwhile, in the east it's a different feel. there is joy and jubilation in the streets. people feel even if the u.n. resolution came late it will at least give some protection

and a fighting chance against gadhafi's better-armed forces. >> thank you, jim. the japanese nuclear crisis has world markets on edge. for more on this and the outlook for today we go to mandy drury at the new york stock exchange. >> that's right. to calm nervousness in the markets, japanese authorities kicked off joint action overnight with other global central banks to try to prevent the japanese yen from rising. the strong yen really hurt exporting japanese companies already reeling from the disaster. keep in mind today there is no major economic news or corporate results here at home. investors will keep a firm eye on developments in japan. back to you. >> thank you. the u.s. government will be up and running through april 8 $6 billion in spending cuts. the legislation buys time for negotiations over a longer-term budgets with republicans asking for deeper cuts.

the former haitian president returns to haiti from exile today despite u.s. protests that his arrival in port-au-prince could disrupt an already rocky presidential election. a run-off vote is slated for sunday. he's lived in exile in south africa since his ouster in 2004. he says his homecoming is not politically motivated. an elementary school student who brought cocaine to school was charged with possession of a controlled substance. the student shared the drug with several classmates. their ages haven't been released. the grammar school only runs to fifth grade. all students were hospitalized, several of them inhaled and ingested the substance. no word yet on how that child obtained the cocaine. it took almost $5 billion miles and six years to get there but for the first time a nasa spacecraft is orbiting mercury. scientists say the messenger had a perfect arrival at the planet

closest to the sun and the images will arrive back here on earth next month. it's now 7:15. back to matt and al. >> continue to amaze. that's incredible stuff. thank you very much. we'll hit 70 degrees in the northeast today. >> above 70 in new york. >> really? >> oh, yeah. nice and warm. take a look at these temperatures. we're talking temperatures anywhere from 10 to 25 degrees above normal. washington, d.c. will see a high today getting up to about 75 degrees. new york, 73. columbia, 83. 81 in huntsville. out west, another big storm system coming on shore bringing rain. in fact, heavy rain to central and southern california over the weekend. mountain snows mounting up to 12 inches or more in the sierra and as you move up into the cascades. good morning to you. it's finally a friday, but we have heavy rain coming down in portions of the bay area and

more on the way throughout the day. we are expecting a strong front to create heavy rain and steady rain biabout 9:00 a.m. that will push to the south and bring steady rain down through the peninsula. as you head throughout the day, you want to travel cautiously. 53 tomorrow and showers continue and another strong storm for sunday. and that's your latest weather. matt? >> thank you very much. to chernobyl, site of the world's worst nuclear stent nearly 25 years ago. myle which he will kosinski reported from chernobyl this week. now she's made her way to the reactor itself. good morning. >> reporter: hi, matt. this is a hulking sarcophogus and this is the sounds you hear. the normal radiation is roughly 10 to 20 per hour. here it's 200, so ten times what's normal. you drive around and it will

spike up to 1,000 or more. a hundred feet later it's normal. that's how the radiation remains spread a quarter of a century later. it is a truly nightmarish place to see up close. if the signs don't turn you around, a long drive-thru a desolate forest, lonely villages, two checkpoints and one waiver. >> shall not be reliable for further deterioration of my health. >> reporter: lands you at the heart of the no man's land remains of chernobyl. what was the gleaming new company town full of good jobs, new schools and modern apartments. today, it's something that can be full of emptiness, this is it. radioactive moss flourishes while the buildings and their soviet trappings very slowly weather.

a lairly seen testament to the accident that sent hundreds of thousands of people away. through the woods the amouzment park that never had a chance to open. and we saw for good reason. [ beeping ] >> reporter: it never will. >> how much? >> 7,000. >> 7,000? should we be standing here? >> for a few minutes it's nothing. i do it every day almost. >> now 700. but here will be 7,000. you can see the difference. one meter. >> reporter: somehow the silence here feels just as distressing. this was a school. there is a mess of dpgas maskse toed aside by looters who stole the metal parts. you see the children's names,

grades, careful penmanship. a stuffed bear holds its flowers. a pickled pepper waits on a shelf. >> time stood still here. it hasn't moved. >> reporter: there is a monument but don't step on the grass around it. >> it's contaminated. >> itle would not be possible to live normally or have economic development. >> reporter: this group is mainly tourists. ryan and sarah flew from england just to see it. >> curiosity, i think, is the main thing. >> reporter: we were checked for radiation -- all clear -- before lunch in view of reactor 4. the plant had only been in operation two years before design issues and human error led to the catastrophic blast. marina was a mile away then, 19 years old, living with her parents. today she cannot speak about it without crying. >> translator: you saw a cloud

like a mushroom. we were like kittens. no one told us what was going on or what to do. >> reporter: left behind now, a child's picture of a bird and butterfly, remarkably well preserved and what humanity soured 25 years ago, onlile wild nature embraces today in bittersweet solitude. about 4,000 people work here on strictly controlled shifts and about 1,500 others have illegally resettled this area. now that it's wide open for tourism on a daily basis you can come here. it costs about $150 for a tour. but i fwes you also have to break it to the family somehow that your vacation is not to the beach but to chernobyl. matt? >> michelle kosinski in chernobyl, thank you very much. just ahead, meredith vieira is live in london with her tour of westminster abbey given by the man who will officiate prince

william and kate's wedding. first this is "today" on nbc.

just 42 days before the royal wedding. meredith is in london, making sure the details are in place. did you get a hat yet, meredith? >> reporter: well, you know, mister, i had my head measured for a hat and despite what you say, i do not have a big head. i have a normal-sized head and the hat is being made by the queen's milliner herself. we will reveal it april 29th. we have narrowed it down to three or four. we'll make the final selection in a couple of weeks. she makes the hats by herself with two other women in a tiny hat shop and her work is beautiful. i look forward to that. coming up, a tour of westminster abbey where the wedding is taking place. our tour guide is the dean

himself of the abbey. he will be officiating. and to new zealand for the latest on the prince's trip there. he's taking a more public profile.ha k you. >> thank you. we'll get to that after your local news and weather. ♪ too hot to trot, now, baby some say i'm bold. i say i'm free. i wear what i love, because expression means everything. i wear the pants. and the tops. and the jewels. i grab life by the accessories.

some say i've done it all. i say i'm just getting started. ♪ too hot to trot ♪ baby i'm so chico's. >> good friday morning. it's 7:26 and a powerful storm is britneying big gusty winds and heavy rain and lightning. let's check in with christie smith live in marin count we a electric at the conditions right now. >> good morning. you said it. we have it all out here. a dark sky, wind, rain, and high surf we have been keeping an eye on 101, one of the usual suspects for major putsds and ponding creating the giant splashes. they seem to be taking it easy

this morning i spoke with the chp about their plans for when storms like this hit. they won't be bringing in extra officers, but they are keeping an eye on things and may pull officers out from behind the desk if necessary and have them patrolling out on the freeways. live in marin, today in the bay. >> let's check the forecast with christina. >> we are watching steady rain over the bay area and now the leading edge of the front pushing in. this will produce heavy rain through the 9:00 hour. moderate to heavy rain between novato and santa rosa. it will slide to the south and potential flooding another round of rain on the way for sunday. the two combined are going to create area was ponding and localized flooding. you want to take it easy. someone who will help us navigate, mike inouye.

>> you are showing us the roadways are calmer, but the metering lights are on and the east shore speeds close to 30. san francisco southbound through caesar chavez, no major issues. oakland shows us what you are talk about. the rain and the wind, there the camera shake. back to you >> we will keep you posted on the storm with another local news update in a half hour. the "today" show is back in less than two minutes.

7:30 now on this friday morning, march 18, 2011. it is raining here in london. you couldn't ask for nicer weather in new york city. all of the folks in rockefeller plaza smiling just a little bit more. i'm meredith vieira outside buckingham palace. matt lauer in studio 1a. hi, matt. >> i was trying to catch a peak at westminster abbey. have they started preparations yet? do you see scaffolding or anything like that? >> i haven't seen that, matt, but they are starting to sassoon

as they say. they are putting up the union jacks in preparation for the wedding about a month away. just ahead the latest on prince william's trip to new zealand. he spoke at a memorial paying tribute to the earthquake in christchurch's victims. we'll speak to a man who's gotten to know the prince well in recent years. matt? >> also from here a wife and mother of four convicted of trying to hire someone she thought was a hit man to kill her husband, all caught on undercover video. the details on the story coming up. plus, celebrities fall victim to an alleged computer hacking ring. racy pictures stolen from the e-mail accounts and cell phones of stars like vanessa hud it je miles siers and scarlett johansson. back to you. >> we begin with sarah janes in

auckland. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. prince william continued to console and charm the people of christchurch today. he paid tribute to earthquake victims and to the spirit of new zealand ers at an emotional memorial service. >> my grandmother once said that grief is the price we pay for love. here today we love and we grieve. >> reporter: with a signature blend of compassion and resilience, prince william reached out to the people of christchurch. thousands fwatherred at this memorial service to remember the more than 180 people believed to have lost their lives in the quake here. >> i say it to you now -- [ speaking in a foreign language ] -- be strong. >> reporter: the prince spoke to those who lost loved ones, those

who lost their homes and those who lost their sense of safety and tranquility. earlier the prince showcased the same easy style in a visit to a coastal village not far from christchurch which was hard hit by last month's deadly earthquake. for a nation rocked to its core, this was the perfect visit at the perfect time by the perfect prince. articulate, attentive, accessible. shaking hands, sharing ale smile. half affidavit club for retired veterans is buried under tons of rock along with the club manager's car. a landslide claimed the life of a construction worker next door. the prince's visit just days after the town's most recent aftershock, a welcome show of royal solidarity. >> this is such a huge honor

that he's out here. >> reporter: ann and malcolm lost their home and nearly their lives. >> we have lost everything inside. >> reporter: gaining a royal audience was the boost they needed. >> it was so nice to see him in person. just lovely. it means a lot. >> princess diana was once called the people's princess. today, prince william proves he is the people's prince. >> reporter: if the people of this town had one regret it was that the prince hadn't brought along his fiance. >> we do wish kate were here. she must be getting ready, having a dress fitting. >> reporter: a relaxed prince william clearly enjoyed the attention. when asked about the upcoming wedding made this offer -- well, you're all invited. >> reporter: he may get more requests for invitations tomorrow when he travels to australia. he's going there to visit another hard hit disaster area.

back to you in london, meredith. >> sara james, thank you very much. now we want to introduce everyone to our new special correspondent. ben fogel spent time with prince william including a rare interview last year about the prince's work on behalf of africa. welcome to the nbc team. >> thank you. i'm happy to be here. i'm sorry about the rain in london. >> i won't hold you responsible for that. this is one of many appearances prince william has made as he takes on a more public role. this is a man who was kept out of the limelight growing up but he seems to be enjoying what he's doing now. >> i think he's embracing the opportunity he has in life that he can make a difference with his charity work, with visits to christchurch like we have just seen. he can make a difference to people. it's a role that he wants to increase as he gets older.

>> reporter: it was interesting that on thursday prince william and kate announced that in lieu of wedding presents they want charity gifts. they came up with a list of charities they care most about. you were with the prince and harry making a documentary about charity work in africa. he seems to really be embracing, again, the notion of giving back. how much of that is influenced by his late mom? >> i think a huge amount is influenced by her. he gets it. he understands how important his role is and what a difference he can make. so the fact that they have forfeited wedding gifts and will be making fantastic donations to all these charities, there is an amazing list. not just uk charities but charities around the world. that really shows what a compassionate young man he is and what an amazing wife he's going to have that she'll be able to share with him all of

this charity work. >> one of the charities is the first one he was introduced to by his mother. >> center point is one of the charities he's been connected with for years. there are iconic photographs of william and harry with their mother at center point. it helps disadvantaged kids in england who may be homeless, don't have work. i was with william and he invited some of the young kids to help build conservation areas for the wildlife out there. he's integrating his different facets of his life. what an amazing thing to do. >> you know him personally. you have traveled with him the past few years on various projects. we don't in the states. we saw him and his brother growing up. but we didn't know much about them. a lot of our knowledge comes from tabloids. what can you tell us about

prince william that might surprise us? >> his personality is starting to come across. we saw on the clip just now out in christchurch of him saying, you're all invited to the wedding, to the people. he's light-hearted, a joker. he doesn't take himself too seriously. he gets it. this is the word i keep using. he wants to be a people's prince like his mother really did inspire him and set lots of values that i think he wants to follow. i think we're going to see an amazing progression over the next few years as he increases his public duty. >> and settles into his role. i understand you are mistaken for him sometimes. >> occasionally. i don't see it anymore, but it happens every now and then. >> good to have you here, ben. we look forward to your reports in the future as well. >> thank you. >> now we'll check in with al for the weather.

>> we have some girl scouts here. where are you from? >> liverpool, new york! >> just outside of syracuse. let's check your weather. first of all as we look at japan we have more of an on shore variable wind, northererly wind to the north and south coming out of the south. the bad news is it's not on shore. if there are radiation problems saturday into sunday. as we look at the rest of the weather closer to home for today, we expect heavy rain northern california into the pacific northwest. sunny around the gulf with warm temperatures working their way into the midatlantic states and the northeast. we have flurries around the central great lakes. he put a ring on her! what's your name? >> amanda.

>> good morning to you. we had heavy rains over the course of the morning so far. if you are joining us, be aware of foot conditions on the local roadways amount of big time system by about 9:00 a.m. an hour and 20 machine away from heavy rain. the rain spreads south and heavy rain today. more rain for tomorrow and sunday another strong storm pounds the bay area. have a great safe weekend. don't forget. you can check your weather any time of the day or night. go to the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. matt? >> dozens of high profile celebrities may be in a compromising position. someone is attacking their phones and computers stealing photos, videos and personal information. now the fbi is investigating. here's nbc's miguel almaguer. >> reporter: they are some of hollywood's hottest names.

vanessa hudgens, scarlett johansson, jessica alba. these beauties are among the suspected victims of internet hackers. federal officials confirm to nbc news a-list celebrities like miley cyrus, christina aguilera and selena gomez may have had their personal accounts hijacked. dozens of high profile female entertainers filed criminal complaints. according to the website some of the e-mail accounts are said to contain compromising photos, nude pictures, even private videos, images that have been leaked. >> the hacker or hackers had access to e-mail accounts of the celebrities. they have access to all sorts of information. e-mails, friends' e-mails, photos or videos shared. >> reporter: this week, former "high school musical" star

vanessa hudgens met with the fbi. it wouldn't be the first time embarrassing nude photos of the starlet had been leaked online. in 2007, nude photos were stolen and posted. that same year fellow teen idol miley cyrus was hacked. provocative images from her e-mail account also surfaced online. hacking into a private e-mail account is a federal crime. in a case like this the fbi would be involved but they wouldn't comment for our story. if caught, the hacker responsible for the latest release of celebrity photos could face harsh penalties says a computer security expert and former federal prosecutor. >> if you just break into somebody's computer or e-mail system just to read e-mail, that's a minor crime. if you do it to make money off of it or you want to gain fame or neat rye otorietnotoriety, t

serious. >> reporter: public figures trying to protect private images. for "today," miguel almaguer, nbc news, hollywood. >> still to come, more from meredith vieira live at buckingham palace. up next, new details on the woman who tried to hire a hit man to kill her husband. it was all caught on tape. right after this. versus toyota. which is better? [ male announcer ] why do so many car companies compare themselves to toyota? maybe it's because toyota has more hybrids on the road than all other automakers combined. like the 50-mpg-rated prius, the best selling hybrid in america. and prius was also named a best overall value of the year. plus, every new toyota comes with toyotacare, a complimentary maintenance plan with roadside assistance. we're #1 for a reason. come see for yourself. hurry in for the best selection. ♪ happy birthday to you. happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

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get visine-a. no other allergy eye drop is more complete. i want you tonight! [ female announcer ] wish granted. lean cuisine has a fresh new bag. lean cuisine market creations steam meals. like new chicken poblano with tender white meat chicken, crisp veggies, in a savory cheddar sauce. new from lean cuisine. we are back now at 7:46 with a chilling crime that was caught on tape. a wife and mother turned to a hit man to kill her husband. the problem? that man was an undercover detective. "dateline's" chris hansen has details on this. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, matt. petite and attractive susan williams seemed to have it all. a beautiful home in an up scale home but the marriage soured and by early 2010 she was in a bitter divorce from peter, her husband of more than 20 years. susan williams worried that a divorce settlement could cost

her the lavish lifestyle she loved and sought a different way to get out of marriage. she asked private investigator joel labella to find her a hit man. >> she said, i need this over. i want him to disappear. i said, peter? she said, yeah, gone. >> reporter: instead, he went to the district attorney who sent a detective undercover posing as a hit man to meet with susan. and with a camera rolling, susan's anger at her husband peter boils over. >> it's a nightmare. he's scum. >> wow. >> he's scum. so, no, i'm not going to feel bad. >> reporter: how far was she willing to go. >> i want him more than hurt. >> you want him dead? >> i don't want to say it. you said it. i want it as simple as possible. if i could do it myself, i would. you know? >> reporter: susan even discusses the funeral. >> i have to show my remorse for the kids, make sure they go

through the grieving process. >> reporter: although she seems to realize the line she's crossing. >> you're -- you're taping me, i'm [ bleep ] if that's the c e case. >> he will be dead, not living anymore. i just want to be clear. i don't want you flipping out on me. >> reporter: susan hands over a $500 down payment and leaves thinking she'll soon get word her husband is dead. >> in reality she got the doorbell ringing with police officers saying, put your hands behind your back. her reaction tells you what you need to know. she was cold. there was no reaction. >> reporter: by the start of her trial last fall, susan's hair had turned gray, making her barely recognizable from her glamour mug shot. she was convicted and sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. even after her conviction, peter and susan were still married. they reached a divorce

settlement last month and after all that susan tried to keep that long island house it was peter who ended up with it. matt? >> stunning how matter of fact that conversation was. >> it blows me away. like, dead. >> i'll have to take my kids to the funeral because it's important. >> getting her hair done that day. >> you can see chris's report on "dateline" at 9:00/8:00 central time here on nbc. still ahead, what will kate middleton see as she walks down the aisle? the man who officiate the ceremony takes meredith on a tour of westminster abbey. first, these messages. lenge. they're so confident their miles are better, they'll match the miles you've earned on your airline credit card -- up to 100,000 -- on a new venture card. it's unbelievable. believe it. venture card miles are good on any airline, anytime. it's like an upgrade from this... to this. sign up for a venture card at capitalone.com today

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42 days. matt? >> very cool, meredith. from here, a spring survival guide. we'll talk about everything from your house to your garden. what needs to get done for the arrival of the new season? i think that comes in on sunday. but first your local news and weather. ♪

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>> good morning to you. it is 7:56 and i'm laura garcia cannon people are helping in whatever way they can. we will host a fund raising drive to raise moany for the japanese relief effort. live in japan town with details on how you can make a difference >> woe have already gotten a nice head start in under an hour in the telethen we have set up in northern california here in san francisco's japan town. can you match this dog? she donated $100 and we have people on the phones. they are all busy, but the phone number to help our friends

overseas in ja pang who are suffering the effects of this devastating earthquake is 4 zn 415-529-1422. we accept credit cards and whatever you can do. live here in japan town, today in the bay. >> put down the microphone and pick up a phone. check the forecast with christina. >> good morning. mike will be out there later as well. we have heavy rain coming into the bay area. santa rosa getting hit the leading edge and getting a break in places like san jose and san francisco. there is more rain on the way as we head throughout the morning hours. just an hour from now we are expecting the bulk to arrive in the north bay. this is heavy rape anticipated to slide south throughout the afternoon. by about 11:00, pretty heavy

steady rain across the bay area. dangerous conditions and more on the way for sunday. let's check the drive with mike. >> we are holding out for friday light. iffure heading south of carmel, highway 1 is closed. that's because of the mudslide earlier this week. you can access carmel and monterey from the south bay. keep that in mind. a slower drive throughout san jose. i will be at japan for the fund-raiser. >> 7:58 and the "today" show is back in a minu.mi

8:00 on a 8:00 now on a friday morning. it's the 18th day of march. 2011. it's a spectacular morning here in new york. spring doesn't arrive until sunday. right now we've got 51 degrees already this morning going up to about 70 in new york city, and that is awfully good news for these people you're looking at right now. out on the plaza i'm matt lauer along with al roker. our friend meredith vieira live in london this morning. meredith, good morning again. >> hey, matt and al. good morning to you guys. you know what?

some 2 billion people are expected to watch prince william marry his princess katherine in just six short weeks. the ceremony will take place at westminster abbey and i was given a special tour of the church and the bishop that will oh efficient at the wedding. he shared what we can expect on april 29th and shared some information about the couple. more on that coming up. matt, you asked about the scaffolding. whether they will be putting that up, the platforms th s tha people like you and i will be sitting on as we report on the wedding. they go up on monday. >> wait a minute. so when you were in westminster abbey you didn't, like, ribbon off a couple of seats for us? >> i tried so hard. when i mentioned my partner, they said, no way. >> yeah? >> failure. fairing. also coming up, spring comes sunday. we told you about that. we'll get you ready. we have a friday with everything you need to know to prepare for

spring from home to garden, even your wardrobe. >> and later on you know singer, actress, dancer bette midler. she's adding producer to her resumé. she's producing the new broadway musical, "priscilla queen of the desert." she's going to tell us all about the show, and the cast is going to perform a number. she's tickled pink about it. >> cool. first let's go inside. savannah gunkry at the newsdesk. good morning again. in the news this morning, arriving from japan, passengers stefted for aid ratio eed radia. we have more. >> reporter: if you're coming in from? pa japan you may get greeted with one of these. radiation detectors. in one case, dallas-ft. worth a

shipment of medical supplies triggered the detectors. passengers arriving from japan are getting extra scrutiny when they land in this country as radioactive waste spews out of that japanese power plant, authorities here are watching the air over the pacific. this "new york times" animation based on data from a united nations monitoring agency shows how the plume of radioactive pollution might spread to the west coast, although by the time it gets here it will be highly dispersed. >> it gets pulled apart and turns into a huge volume of air and essentially gets diluted. >> reporter: experts say it will be barely detectable on the network of air monitors run by the epa and other governmental agencies. from the white house, this assurance. >> we do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the west coast, hawaii, alaska or u.s. territories in the pacific. >> reporter: people on the west coast have been stocking up on

iodine pills that can ward off thyroid cancer in case of radiation exposure although doctors have been saying it's unnecessary and the pills can have harmful side effects. this as people continue to flee japan to get away from the threat of radiation there. now, authorities say the added radiation checks at the airport are being done out of an abundance of caution but there really is no concern right now. >> all right, george lewis at lax this morning. thank you. in the latest attempt to control the situation at the crippled nuclear plant japanese engineers may attempt to bury overheated fuel rods with tons of sand and other materials to block the release of radiation. they are also hoping that by this weekend they'll restore power to the plant's cooling system, which was knocked out by the earthquake and tsunami one week ago. meantime, president obama has ordered the nuclear

regulatory commission to review the safety of all 104 nuclear power plants here in the united states. a shortage of parts from japan is forcing general motors to temporarily close a truck assembly plant in shreveport, louisiana. bolivia's foreign minister says a cease-fire in the war against anti-government rebels. that announcement one day after the u.n. security council authorize add no-fly zone and other military action to protect civilians there. earlier today gadhafi's forces pounded western libya and tanks and artillery fire. the house voted wednesday to end federal funding. conserve terrys say npr has a liberal bias and enough revenue to have your vive on its own. the democratic controlled senate is not expected to go along with the house vote. finally what better way to toast the wedding than a pint of

kiss me kate. it's a beer being brewed in commemorate the wedding of prince william and kate middleton. it's 8:06. now back to matt and al on the plaza. >> thank you very much. you know what we've got back here? oklahoma. >> man, 175 strong. that's strong. wow. let's check your weather and see what's happening. we'll show you columbia, south carolina, our pick city. sunny and warm. 83 degrees today. we've got a big system getting ready to move onshore in the pacific northwest, bringing flooding to southern california. we have snow around denver. that's getting out of here eventually. we expect plenty of sunshine on the east coast with temperatures getting up into the 70s and the heat will continue in the southwest as well.

good morning to you. well, the rain keeps coming in. it looks like it will continue to push to the south as we head throughout the day today. make sure you get yourself plenty of time. 11:00 a.m., the entire area getting wet. the system will clear and cold air, looking for a cold and showery saturday and thun sunday another round of rain. this one another strong storm and possible flooding with the two back to back. hope you have a great weekend anyhow. and that's your latest weather. >> let's show off the size of the crowd here for a friday morning. beautiful weather. take a look at this. it goes all the way down to 48th street. we thank these people for coming out. when we come back, the man who will officiate the royal wedding takes meredith on a tour of westminster abbey. that's right after this. s ] you stay here hon'. i'm gonna go cook breakfast.

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we are back in london as we count down to the royal wedding. all eyes will be on westminster abbey on april 29th. we were taken on a private tour by the man who will conduct the ceremony. dr. john haul, westminster's dean. founded in 960 and steeped in over 1,000 years of history,

westminster abbey is known as the church of kings. 38 monarchs have been crowned here. the most recent, queen elizabeth in 1953. it has also been the site of many royal weddings. from queen elizabeth and prince philip to the recent wedding of prince andrew to sarah ferguson in 1986. but in just six weeks, prince william will greet his bride as she walks into this historic and sacred church. if you could set the scene for us, kate middleton will walk down this aisle. what will she see at this point? >> there will be guests, friends, facing inwards. she'll come through the choir screen into the choir area here where there will be some very important people, no doubt it shall -- government representatives. >> in the choir area? >> in the choir area. high commissioners, ambassadors. when you get to the middle of the choir, the choirs themselves will be sitting either side.

there will be a row of boys in front and the westminster boys choir in behind. she comes into this space when the abbey opens up. you have the north and south trancept with poets, musicians, and statesmen. >> they are names you may have heard of. newton, darwin and shakespeare, all buried or memorialized in the abbey. >> this is the place of the acclamation of coronation and this is the point at which she will encounter members of her family and friends, the royal family on the right. >> the royal family is here. >> and the middleton family on the left. >> where will the queen be? >> just here, nearest the steps with other members of the royal family. of course the prince of wales and duchess of cornwall.

catherine will come to this point. i expect william will meet her here and together they will walk up the steps to the kneelers, this extraordinary 16th century area. >> absolutely. >> and the marriage itself will begin here. >> now, the maid of honor, her sister pippa and the best man, prince harry, will they be here at the base of the steps? >> the normal convention is the best man is beside the bridegroom and maids of honor are behind. >> right. what is your role? >> i will be leading the bride and her father up through the church. then the bridesmaids and page boys. the usher of canterbury is marrying them quite rightly. the bishop of london will give an address. it will all happen in this space. >> they take their vows here and

they go behind to sign? >> and they will emerge from the other doors and on their way. >> this is your first royal wedding you have officiated. >> yes. >> you have been dean since 2006. what does it mean to row? >> of course it's tremendously exciting. it's going to be a wonderful occasion. we are delighted for prince william and for catherine. we wish them every blessing under god and for the whole of their life together. >> they are talking about possibly 2 billion people watching the wedding. >> alarming, isn't it? wonderful. there is a lot to depress us just at the moment. one of the things that i once heard prince william say is he hoped it would be uplifting for people, a moment of joy. i think people will be engaged with it. >> what advice do you give the couple? >> i hope they will really enjoy the occasion, that they will have a strong sense of making their vows to each other in the presence of god.

>> is there something in particular you will say to them before you walk kate down the aisle? >> when the moment comes, i will be there to greet her and her father when she arrives. i hope that she'll be able to steady herself. >> steady herself? >> yeah. >> westminster abbey also serves as the location of the funeral of princess diana. the dean told me that celebrating both happy and sad occasions is what creates a connection with your church. so william will definiteliy fee a deep connection to westminster abbey on the 29th of april. coming up, a small town in wales that prince william and kate call home. and from your home to your garden, everything you need to get ready for spring. mes tges. e grains. that's what's incredible about quaker oatmeal squares. a single serving has 46 grams of whole grains.

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tim: [ laughing ] you got it! male announcer: for five generations, with a name like smucker's, it has to be good. and this morning on "today's friday whip" we are talking about getting ready for spring. it arrives on sunday. we have assembled four experts to get you ready for the season. let's start with your home. alex, good morning. happy spring. so we have a grill here. it's been outside all winter hopefully covered but it can get spiders and all sorts of things. >> there are probably bugs. if you didn't clean it at the end of the season scrape it with a wire brush to get the top clean. recondition it with oil on the grill. then make sure your propane tank is full. >> and also the connections. >> check for leaks by putting soapy water on the seams and

hose. it will bubble up if there is a problem. >> if you try to light it the first day, could be that bugs clogged up the vents. >> the wire brush is great for that, too. >> you have a patio outside and through the temperature changes they get uneven. that can be dangerous. >> the ground freezes and pushes up pavers. you may want to pull them up and reset them. all of the shoveling you did may have cleaned out the grout lines, the joints. so sweep it on, wait a week and do another version of it. >> so power wash it? >> only if it really looks dirty or has mold or mildew on it. just sweep it. >> another common piece of machinery around the house, the lawn mower. in spring what are the main things to deal with? >> you should have done it when you put it away. just clean it up. make sure there is no gas in it. disconnect spark plugs. take off the blade, sharpen it.

change the spark plugs, air filter and oil. you're ready to go. >> then you have to cut the grass which is no fun. let's go to savannah. >> what better way to brighten your home than with flowers? can you bring the spring garden indoors? patty moreno is here from hgtv with beautiful flowers. you call this the vertical plant. is this how you start the planter? >> we want a nice vertical element in the middle. we have begonia around it as filler. these will bloom all year long. you can take these and plant them outside. >> this is a large container. how hard is it to put all the soil in there? >> it's not. we have a filler on the bottom. we haven't filled it completely with soil so we can bring it outside. >> a lot of people think of the mum for fall. >> and we have the sweet potato

vine. this is one of my favorites. you can grow this. it grows to be four to sixle feet long. >> how often do you have to water these? >> often. they are in containers so they dry out. >> and indoors to outdoors? >> as soon as it gets warmer you can move them out. we're getting there. >> and an herb garden for the kitchen. >> we have cilantro and parsley, rosemary and thyme. you can put in mint. i love growing mint for mojitos. >> can you clip them as often as you want or every couple of days? >> clip them often and they will grow in. >> now to al. >> thanks. springtime brings fresh vegetables, herbs and produce in the kitchen. taking a look at the grocery store is norm from country

living magazine. what's popping up now? >> you will find a lot of baby lettuces and asparagus. they are tender greens with a delicate flavor. simple dressing is the best way to go for both. >> when you buy it, how long before you need to use them? >> probably two days or so. asparagus can go four or five. i buy them the day i'm ready to use them. >> and herbs in the garden. >> yes. fresh herbs are coming in. you will find a lot of fresh mint, rosemary, thyme and parsley. >> you can buy it in pots and put it outside. >> a little bit of water, sunlight. you're all set with that. >> strawberries are cheap right now. >> they are and they're bursting at the seams from the store. we have had an interesting switch. we made a balsamic sauce with black pepper. pour it over the strawberries and top it -- >> right over the ice cream.

whoops, sorry. >> somebody will get that. norman king, thank you very much. >> thank you very much. let's talk about the spring showers. robin morena has great looks and functional as well. nice to see you. >> the rain can be fun. so jen has a fancy version of the updated slicker. it's satin with animal print in the back. shelly is showing us that a trench doesn't have to be khaki. it can be bright and fun. everybody has umbrellas. the umbrella is a great investment. >> leave them in taxis in new york. >> totally. our little kids are wearing matching boots and jackets. when else can you wear matching than when you are a kid. sophia's is from carter's and nick's is from oshkosh b'gosh. rain boots for kids should be half a size bigger. you can use them in the snow as well. >> the higher the better. little boys love to splash in

puddles. >> exactly. >> function over fashion at that point. these are cute. >> these have both. >> robin, thank you very much. ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much as well. happy spring, everyone. just ahead, bette midler. we'll look forward to that after your local news. good morning to you, it is 8:26. i'm laura garcia-cannon. we've been talking about gusty winds and rain and even lightning. christie smith has a look at the conditions right now. how are you holding up? >> reporter: good morning, we're holding up pretty good. we're getting a break from the rain right now. it stopped maybe 20 or 30 minutes ago but i think we've seen it all, rain, high surf and wind. we're now 101 and marin this morning and cars are making their way through deep puddles out here. right now though, it's pretty calm and drivers seem to be

doing the right thing. the other thing we're dealing with though is the wind. the trees kind of stel the story, it is awfully cold and windy. when you're heading out, be sure to bundle up. back to you. take care. we're going to check the forecast coming up after this.

good morning to you. a powerful system is pushing onshore. we're seeing the leading edge come through the north bay and ahead of the front, very windy

conditions. you saw where kristi smith was located in san rafael. give it ten minutes and expect pretty heavy rain in that area. we also have pretty heavy cells near half moon bay. heavier rain on the way as we head throughout the day. temperatures only in the 60s and we could see potential flooding, be careful out there. >> 8:29, another local news update in a half hour. "today" show back in less than a minute. have a great morning.

8:30 on this friday morning, march 18, 2011. you're listening to a song from broadway's fun new musical "priscilla, queen of the desert." bette midler is one of the producers. she's mingling with the crowd in rockefeller plaza. matt, i understand you will be talking to her in a little bit.

>> this will be great. when you think of bette midler you think of incredible songs, great energy and wild costumes. that's what the show she's now producer of is all about. looking forward to talking to bette midler about it in a few minutes. >> and later on -- what do you have, meredith? >> oh, thanks, al. from here in london our new special correspondent ben fogle will take us on a walkabout of the small town in wales where prince william and kate live. back to you. >> in keeping with the royal theme we'll find out which one of our three finalists will get a chance to go to london for the royal treatment during prince william and kate middleton's wedding. >> we're going to talk about people with debilitating back pain. about 80% of us will experience it at some point. we'll have tips on that. >> before we go further i believe we are going to check on the weather, mr. roker. >> we're hearing meredith giggle

because she's thinking about how she's on your back all the time. let's check your weather looking ahead to the weekend. we have rain in the pacific northwest and central california. showers in the mid mississippi river valley. sunny and mild through the gulf coast. mild conditions. warm. on sunday, sunny but cool in the northeast. the warmth continues through the southwest. heavy rain moves into much of california with the potential for flooding. sunshine in the pacific northwest. good morning to you, we've been telling you about this spread pushing in from the east bay to the south bay along the peninsula as well. the showers are becoming more steady in the north bay. you can see heavy cells pushing onshore. thunderstorms a possibility, 62 degrees today. in san jose, 61 in fremont and 63 in gilroy with a few passing showers and more rain, a stronger system on the way for

sunday. don't forget. check your weather any time day of the night on weather channel on cable or weather.com on linebackline. let's say hello to big willy scott in new orleans. what are you doing there? >> i'm having fun with the american coffee association. we have coffee, coffee between the coffee beans and the smell of beignets, the world is happy. new orleans never looked better. the hotel new orleans is beautiful. i went to mother's yesterday and had a sandwich. they love you there. take a look at this. the convention will go for three days. over 5 million square feet of storage space for coffee in this town. think about that. good old william hoffman of west point, california, is 103 years old today. he loves to cook and garden. he just had his driver's license

renewed. i'm getting my lips renewed so i can speak. and we have forrest lunsway of capistrano beach, california. i guess the birds came back last week. 100 years old. loves to dance and will be married to his sweetheart this weekend. that's a beautiful thing. irving rosenthal of white plains, new york, is 100. enjoys crossword puzzles and watching baseball on tv. the secret to longevity is moderation. even in moderation, moderation. stella, beautiful stella baron of woodstock, vermont. that's a pretty part of the world. 100 years old today. enjoys making crafts and recreational products for people in the hospital. how about that?

does good deeds. thelma -- that was my mother's name. thelma delong of lynnwood, washington is 100 years old today. maintains her own apartment. takes care of herself and her friends adore her. and we have raylark from montgomery village in maryland. that's right outside of washington. 100 years old. he's been around a long time. world war ii veteran. his friends are proud of all the medals he won. finally, lizzie yoder, a good mennone name, of dalton, ohio. 107 years old today. loves to make quilts. that's it. we have our beautiful folger's coffee and all sorts of good things in new orleans. now back to new york. >> willard, thank you very much. when we come back. more with meredith in london

including a special tour of the island that kate and william will be calling home. but first on a friday morning, this is "today" on nbc. nn

and welcome back to london on this special split edition of "today." prince william and kate live on a tiny corner of wales where the prince is stationed with the royal air force. after their wedding they will spend at least two more years there. our new special correspondent ben fogle is back with what he discovered about the island. >> it's really a beautiful part of north wales. most people in the british isles rarely go to this remote corner. it's full of wild beaches, wild horses. there is so much to do there. it's not surprising that not

only is this the perfect place for two people to fall in love with each other, but with the landscape, too. ♪ >> reporter: with 124 miles of spectacular shoreline, rolling hills, and crisp breezes off the irish sea you might say it has almost a fairy tale quality about it. what better place for a prince and his beautiful new bride to call home? prince william who works around the shores as a search and rescue pilot has settled not far from a tiny village where they have been spotted shopping and visiting the local pub. the locals are pleased with the new neighbors. did you know there is quite a big wedding happening? >> yeah! >> reporter: who's getting married? >> kate and william. >> reporter: do you think it will put you on the map s? >> i think it will.

>> reporter: they are excited about their royal neighbors but it hasn't really affected the way of life here. it's fantastic. so what is there to do? for photographers like kate thisthis island is paradise. glin davis has been photographing for more than a decade. >> this is beautiful. a stunning spot. this landscape lends itself to photography. >> it's so varied. there are huge great cliffs, 300 feet high. then it tumbles down. >> reporter: let's have a look. >> that's pretty good. 7 of 10 for that. >> reporter: looking for the best view of thele island and the locals will tell you. to appreciate it, you have to get off the island. >> we'll just slide our way in. >> reporter: clare jones has

kayaked all over the world. but says no matter where she goes she'll always come back here. >> this is a very special island. you're in a relatively small, compact area, but you can see an awful lot of different things in one day. >> reporter: you can see quite a lot of wildlife as well. >> it's a great way to sneak up and watch wildlife quietly. you can see seals. >> reporter: if water sports aren't your thing, all you need to appreciate it is a pair of comfortable shoes. this island is covered relics f. if your travels should find you stuck in remote areas, you may have a prince come to your

rescue. no doubt with so much to see -- may i have a pint of welsh beer? you won'tle feel guilty rewarding yourself at the end of the day. oh, thank you very much. i have been dreaming of that. thank you. i think i deserve this now. not a bad place for a prince and his wife to live, is it? >> it's a beautiful place. ben, thank you so much for bringing it to us. we'll see more in the weeks ahead. >> sorry about the weather. >> that's okay. i'm sure it will get better. that's it for us in london. much more ahead in new york including bette midler and a special performance from the new broadway musical "priscilla queen of the desert." first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪

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there is a splashy new show opening on broadway this sunday. it's called "priscilla queen of the desert" and it's based on the 1994 academy award winning cult movie. it has divas, drag queens and also the backing of the one and only bette midler who is one of the show's producers. congratulations. >> thank you very much. >> a new hat for you to wear. how did you get involved in it? >> i met the lead producer at a robin williams show. i told him i was going to london. he said, see my new show which is "priscilla queen of the desert." i said, i heard about it, i'll go. so i went and it was one of the most extraordinary experiences i had in the theater. people were dancing in the aisles, screaming, carrying on. it was fantastic. i said, oh, my god. i loved it. afterward he said, we're bringing it to america. would you like to come on board? geez, yeah. >> it seems a natural fit. between the music, the costumes

and the energy, this is what i have seen at your shows throughout the years. >> yeah. but i have had clothes but never like this. i wish. if only. >> here are just a few of the songs. it's raining men, don't leave me this way, say a little prayer, shake your groove thing. they bring back memories for you? >> that's my era. disco music and soft rock & roll. everybody knows the songs and loves them. they jump out of their seats. fantastic. >> what about opening night jitters? it's sunday. >> no jitters. i have total confidence in this cast, in this organization, in the crew, everyone. they're top drawer. everyone is great. will is great, tony is great, nick adams. they are all great. but the little parts are sensational, too. a lot of the kids play threer four parts and they are all wonderful. it's great. >> it's opening sunday. you will be on in the fourth hour. let's get a performance from the cast of "priscilla queen of the desert." [ cheers and applause ]

♪ at first i was afraid ♪ i was petrified ♪ kept thinking i could never live without you by my side ♪ ♪ but then i spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong ♪ ♪ and i grew strong ♪ and i learned how to get along ♪ ♪ so now you're back ♪ from outer space ♪ i just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face i should have changed that stupid lock ♪ ♪ i should have made you leave your key ♪ ♪ if i had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me ♪ ♪ go on ♪ now go ♪ walk out the door ♪ just turn around now cause you're not welcome

anymore ♪ ♪ weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with good-bye ♪ ♪ you think i'd crumble ♪ you think i'd lay down and die ♪ ♪ oh, no, not i i will survive ♪ ♪ oh, as long as i know how to love ♪ ♪ i know i'll stay alive p.m. i've got all my life to live p.m. i've gotle all my love to give ♪ ♪ and i'll survive p.m. i will survive ♪ ♪ hey, hey ♪ ♪ i've got all my life to live ♪ i've got all my love to give ♪ and i'll survive ♪ i will survive ♪ hey, hey ♪ oh, no ♪ not i ♪ i will survive ♪ oh, as long as i know how to love ♪ ♪ i know i'll stay alive ♪ i've got all my life to live ♪ i've got all my love to give ♪ and i'll survive

♪ i will survive ♪ i will survive ♪ ♪ it took all the strength i had not to fall apart ♪ ♪ just trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart ♪ ♪ and i spent, oh, so many nights feeling sorry for myself ♪ ♪ i used to cry ♪ you think i'd lay down and die ♪ ♪ oh, no not i ♪ i will survive ♪ as long as i know how to love ♪ ♪ i know i'll stay alive ♪ i've got all my life to live ♪ i've got all my love to give ♪ and i'll survive ♪ i will survive ♪ i will survive [ cheers and applause ]

>> "priscilla queen of the desert." thank you so much. bette midler, thank you. the show opens sunday, march 20 at the palace theater. the folks will be back with another performance in our next hour. up next, a live performance on the rink by tara lipinski. first this is "today" on nbc. ♪ have a good daisy ♪ eat well, live long ♪ have a good daisy, work out, get strong ♪ ♪ when you need a lift, just sing a song ♪ ♪ and have a good daisy ♪ have a good daisy with a natural treat ♪ ♪ have a good daisy, healthy foods to eat ♪ ♪ when you want some joy, dance to the beat ♪ ♪ and have a good daisy [ female announcer ] enjoy the fresh, 100% natural choice in cottage cheese.

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♪ well, this morning on "today at the rink" tara lipinski, at the tender age of 15, won gold in japan, the youngest woman ever to do it. 13 years later the record still stands and tara is with us this morning. good morning. >> good morning. >> i know nagano holds a special place in your heart. you won olympic gold and i know you have fond memories and at this time with the earthquake you must be thinking of those people. >> i definitely am. all the time japan holds a special place in my heart. to hear that and know they hosted the olympic games and a special moment for me, everything that's going on is horrible.

>> the world skating championships were to be in japan next week. i assume that's on hold now. must be difficult for the athletes who trained so hard. >> i can't imagine you work all year for this one event. hopefully they will reschedule. >> tell us about a skate camp you are organizing for kids. >> i would love to give back and teach and help kids learn what i did from my coaches and have the whole camp together by this summer, hopefully. >> all right. we have a treat in store, tara. you're going to give us a performance. as you get ready, we know you will perform to ben harper's "forever." here's tara lipinski on the ice.

♪ ♪

a beautiful performance from tara lipinski, olympic gold medalist. we're back with more of "today" after your local news.

good friday morning to you. 8:56 right now. i want to check in with mike with a look at our morning commute. it was a soggy start. >> it was a soggy start but a friday lighter volume of traffic and the bulk of this didn't hit

as hard as folks had feared. but christina knew about that. we have slowing with a 22 minute drive off the car keen as bridge. the problems through elk creek have cleared so that's great news coming off the antioch bridge. in livermore, no problems on the altamont pass and using 580 or 680, a live shot from the sierra will show the snowy conditions we're dealing with as well. >> there's much more on the way to the sierra nevada and our neck of the woods today. [ female announcer ] for those who see the world as their playground... ♪ the sun's going down [ female announcer ] ...you need more than an ordinary diaper.

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we're back with more of "today" on a friday morning, the 18th day of march, 2011. you're looking at a massive crowd gathered in midtown manhattan on this last friday before spring rolls in across the country. sunday afternoon. >> yes, sunday evening. 7:21. >> on the plaza i'm matt lauer along with al roker. coming up, more on the developing situation. japan, a nuclear crisis now. officials in japan have raised the level of alert. they say this is now a 5 on the scale of 1 to 7. they are trying to pour water on

the troubled reactors using fire trucks. they are talking about other options on the table. we'll have more in a live report from ann in japan in just a couple of minutes. >> she's been doing a terrific job. >> all week long. >> we turn to our health. how many of you suffer from nagging back pain? this can be debilitating for folks. millions suffer from backache every day. believe it or not, a lot of it can be alleviated with simple changes from what you wear to putting down the smartphone and getting the right office chair. we'll tell you how to relieve your nagging back pain. coming up, the royal treatment. we have three finalists who want to go to london. we are flying them first class where we are going to narrow it down to the three finalists. left it up to you to vote. we'll introduce you to our winner out of the hundreds of people who applied. they are going to fly to london, england, during the wedding. >> heathrow and then --

>> oh, no. we're choppering them in. a lot to get to. sal sal savannah guthrie is standing by at the news desk with the headlines while ann is on assignment. >> good morning, matt and al. japan is weighing new, desperate options to control the crippled nuclear power plant. nbc's ann curry joins us from akita, japan, with the latest. good morning. >> good morning. nbc news has confirmed that japanese officials are now considering burying the nuclear rods with a massive amount of special materials as it may be the only way to prevent a catastrophic release of radiation. in another development japan upgraded the severity level of the nuclear crisis from 4 to 5 which would put it on par with three mile island. about the fukushima 50, the brave workers risking their lives to prevent a meltdown, a japanese news service is reporting that one was about to retire in just six months and

felt compelled to volunteer for this job. he worked in another plant for about 40 years and as he left his family, he said this, they say. "the future of the nuclear power generation depends on how we'll cope with this. i go with a sense of mission." savannah, back to you. >> ann curry in japan, thank you. the death toll is rising in yemen where security forces opened fire today on anti-government protesters in the capital city. medical sources said more than 30 were killed and dozens wounded. libya's foreign minister said today that moammar gadhafi's forces declared a cease-fire in the war against anti-government rebels. that announcement comes one day after the u.n. security council authorized a no-fly zone and other military actions to protect civilians there. earlier today gadhafi's forces pounded the last rebel stronghold in western libya with tank and artillery fire.

the u.s. government will be up and running through april 8 now that congress approved another short-term budget with $6 billion in spending cuts. the legislation will buy time for negotiation on a longer-term budget with republicans asking for still deeper cuts. former haitian president jean bertrand aristide returns to haiti today from exile despite u.s. protests that his arrival in port-au-prince could disrupt an already rocky presidential election. a run-off vote is slated for sunday. he's lived in exile in south africa since his ouster in 2004. he says his homecoming is not politically motivated. federal health officials have documented the first known case of hiv spread by a living organ donor. the kidney donor passed his initial screening, then had unprotected sex before the transplant. officials are now saying donors should be tested within one week of the surgery. finally, a miracle baby for

a 32-year-old gibbon. israeli zookeepers were shocked when they found she was pregnant. she last gave birth 11 years ago. a 32-year-old gibbon is comparable to a 60-year-old human, making the pregnancy an even happier surprise. it's 9:05. back to al with the weather. >> all right. thank you very much, savannah. let's see what's happening for today in the east. temperatures will be soaring anywhere from 15 to 25 degrees above normal. washington, d.c. today will get up to 75. 73 here in new york city. columbia, south carolina, 83. lexington, 68. out west, we have a mess coming. another big storm system bringing in heavy rain, especially later on this weekend and mountain snows along the coast. we expect anywhere from half an inch to an inch of rain. snowfall-wise from the cascades to sierra we are looking at 6 to 18 inches of snow.

that storm you are talking about, al, is really impacting north bay. we've seen 15 lightning strikes in the past six hours. look at the strong line of cells getting ready to push into petaluma and santa rosa. you can hear the thunder outside your house. that means you want to stay indoors. 62 in san jose with on and off showers throughout the day. as we head through this weekend, another strong weather maker moves in on sunday. time for "today's health." back pain, according to the national institute of health, 8 of 10 people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. sometimes it's debilitating enough to interfere with daily life. dr. raj is the medical editor to of "health" magazine and has help for us. good to see you.

>> nice to see you, al. >> so many people suffer from this because it can be just the littlest of things that throws your back out. >> it can be triggered by common daily activities. >> for example, one of the worst things -- or the big culprits, the chair you're sitting in. >> absolutely. we spend so much time sitting in chairs, especially people who work in offices. sitting is the worst thing you can do for your back. when you sit you put 30% more pressure on your spine than if you are standing or walking. you also don't have enough blood flow to disks that support and cushion the vertebrae. so you need to not sit too long, get up and get moving. >> so you should build in breaks to get up and walk around. >> do some stretches, take breaks. if you need to sit for a long period of time make sure your posture is correct, and leaning a little bit back is perfect. make sure your head is positioned properly. you don't want to look too far up or down at the computer. have it at eye level. >> next, your shoes. >> for women this is a big issue. we love our heels. but the higher and skinnier the heel, the pressure on the front

of the foot and the body is tilting forward which causes misalignment and strain on your back. the other problem is the backless shoe. even if it's a flat shoe it's not supporting your ankle. your back has to work hard to keep your body in alignment. that can cause injury as well. >> are flip-flops bad for you? >> they are not great because of the lack of back. you want a shoe to keep your whole foot stable and in place. if you are wearing heels keep it under three inches and limit the use. >> here's something interesting. smartphones and tablets. >> we're all technology, all addicted to our phones, our ipads, our laptops, but your position where you look downward really puts strain on uconn neck muscle and the spine as well. if you're using a smartphone, take breaks, of course. try to keep it at eye level. you can invest in a stand to keep your laptop at eye level. >> what about talking on the phone itself? anything you need to know about that? >> in general we talk about an

earpiece. as opposed to the actual phone. you don't want your neck going to one side at all. switch the sides. >> the other one which might be more difficult for folks is weight. >> right. we are talking specifically about abdominal fat. carrying pounds in the belly puts strain on your back. for obvious reasons. your body has to work backwards and tilt backwards or you pitch forward because of the weight. that puts strain on the back. you need to do something about it. of course losing weight overall helps. incorporate whole grains into your diet and specifically strengthen the core muscles. something as simple as clenching your abdomen five seconds every half hour will help. >> are there exercises that are better than others? >> sure, anything targeting the core. crunches, sit-ups, all help. >> for the well-endowed woman. >> in the breast area, correct. >> in that region. >> let's talk about a bra. >> the bra can be a problem? >> absolutely.

especially for large-chested women, that's a lot of weight pulling them down. a really good supportive bra can help. the racerback style can help bring the breasts up. most women wear the wrong size bra. >> really? >> yes. as we evolve and change throughout life our bra size dhangs. it's important to get the right-fitting bra. go to a specialist and get it checked out. >> our schedules and stress. >> absolutely. stress causes us to contract muscles and clench, especially in the neck and back. if you do it too much you can cause spasm. we want to reduce stress whether it's meditation or yoga. the best is exercise. >> when you talk about exercise, if you're having back problems already. >> right. >> are there certain things to avoid? >> we used to say people with back pain should rest as much as possible. the thinking has changed on that. exercise is important. we are talking low impact exercise and the best thing to do if you have back pain is to do it under the guidance of a physical therapist.

>> and weightlifting, you should be careful about. >> that could strain your back. we are talking about walking, swimming, things of that nature. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >> up next, the winner of the royal treatment contest. find out who's going to london for the week of the royal wedding. later, the best way to shop for plus-sized fashions that show off your assets to their best advantage. right after these messages. ntag. right after these messages. [ male announcer ] you have dreams... goals for the future... what if they were stolen from you? by alzheimer's. this cruel disease is the sixth leading cause of death, and affects more than 5 million americans. the alzheimer's association is taking action, and has been a part of every major advancement. but we won't rest until we have a cure. you have dreams... help the alzheimer's association protect them. act now, go to alz.org. ♪

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- to best serve your customers, you have to know them. personally. only a local agent can do that. [click, motor hums] - doug pierce. lives in tornado alley. - hobby? - collects stamps. - excellent. - annette thompson. small business owner. hates cantaloupe. - good. - the lee family: twins. with another on the way. - mazel tov. - that's meatloaf. - hmm. [click] that's still meatloaf. - very good. moving on. - we are insurance. - ♪ we are farmers ♪ bum di bum bum bum bum bum ♪ today marks less than 42 days until prince william and kate middleton march down the aisle of westminster abbey. we have been telling you about the today's royal treatment contest where we'll send a lucky

viewer plus a guest to england during the time of the royal wedding. >> we narrowed the entries down to three finalists and you picked the winner. we'll reveal who won in a minute. first let's recap. we had mary baker, a stay at home mom who's never traveled outside the u.s. except a trip to canada when she was 9. she wants to take a special trip with her husband adam who's in the military. >> finalist number two is megan redd who nominated her sister molly who works with ill children and is obsessed with all things british. molly wants to take the trip with her mom colleen who's been a schoolteacher for 25 years. >> our third finalist, pamela rail, has been fascinated with the royal family since she was a little girl. she named her cat after princess diana and wanted to give her son andrew the royal treatment. >> thousands of you logged on and voted. so the winner of the all expense paid trip to london is -- megan redd which means her sister

molly and mom are headed to london. >> the baby's just sleeping through the excitement. >> well, congratulations! >> what do you think? >> thank you! >> thank you. >> oh, my god. i'm in shock. we scared the baby. >> don't scare the baby. >> colleen, i know you thought it was an honor just to be nominated. what do you think now? >> i'd like to thank the academy at "today." thank you! >> we did love your video. >> thank you so much. >> molly, as i understand it, you are obsessed with all things british. "pride and prejudice" is your favorite book. you love hugh grant and colin firth. >> yep. >> have you been practicing your british accent? >> i have, but there is no way i'm going to practice it right now.

it would be extremely embarrassing. but i have a month to prepare. i'll work on it. >> in fact, molly, you were going to go to london for your graduation present from high school, but then because of finances you couldn't go -- >> from college. >> from college, i mean. here you are. what's the first thing you will do when you get to london? >> i think i'm going to try to do all the cheesy tourist things like ride a double decker bus, make fun of the guards at buckingham palace. just try to do it all. >> do it all. >> go to harrod's. take it all in. >> buy her sister a nice souvenir. >> you owe your sister one since she started all this by sending in the video. i know colleen, you have been a teacher for 25 years. what does it mean to take this trip with your daughter? >> well, it's wonderful. i am just so overwhelmed by the love and support from family and friends and strangers.

i mean, if we didn't win this has been a wonderful week. we have had so much fun. everybody has been just wonderful. i have to say hi to my wonderful school and my family. this trip is unbelievable. i wanted to take her on this trip when she graduated from college. i think molly represents a lot of college students that are bogged down with college debt and just trying to find a job and work. this is a dream come true. i think everybody deserves a vacation like this. what a wonderful sister. >> and daughter. megan, what's your son's name? >> this is max. he's 8 weeks old today. >> 8 weeks old, wow. >> he gets a little bit -- yeah when he gets bigger. >> he'll have to do without mom for just a little bit. because our friends at british airways heard your story so they

want to send all three of you to london together. >> no way! >> yes. megan, you get to go, too. >> max, you're staying home. the ladies are hitting london. >> that's right. >> oh, my gosh! >> thank you so much. >> my son-in-law is in shock. >> i bet. >> bring him on in. can he come in so we can see him? >> aaron, they want you to come in. >> we want everybody to see the babysitter. there he is. >> it's the father, not the babysitter. >> you know what i'm saying. >> all right. >> don't do that. >> moms, do a lot of heavylifting. we won't get into all that. three first class tickets to london during the wedding of kate middleton and prince william. >> megan, molly and colleen, max and aaron, thank you. congratulations. you guys have a wonderful time. we'll see you in london.

up next -- >> how to find the perfect fit and style for a plus-size figure and another song to put you in a dancing mood from "priscilla queen of the desert," the new broadway musical, right after this. early to talk about lunch? women: no! announcer: it's the unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks lunch. only at olive garden. featuring four homemade soups. enjoy all you want for just $6.95.

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i don't know, something. [ mom ] something... ♪ mexican. [ female announcer ] thinking mexican tonight? hamburger helper has five festive flavors like crunchy taco. hamburger helper. one pound. one pan. one happy family. many americans are not even aware of it. according to feeding america, 17 million children in the u.s. are at risk and it's the subject of a special report called child hunger ends here. al and natalie are hosting a special from al roker entertainment airing this saturday. we wanted to talk to you about it more. a lot of people think of the hungry and they think of some other place and yet you found, very much a problem right here in this country. >> 1 in 4 children will go to bed hungry tonight and most people when they think of child hunger in this country they

think homeless or kids in rural parts of america or inner city. it's all over now and it's a growing problem. more and more families are struggling with this economy. >> so many heartbreaking stories. i want to show a clip from the special, a little girl talking about what she went through. >> one thing i love is salad but we never have enough money for it. >> i do worry about whether or not they're eating healthy enough. they probably should get more fruits and vegetables. >> i'm luike hungry when it's bd time but i never ask because i always know we need food more the next day. >> and the suffering, the kids are suffering from food insecurity, they don't know when their next meal is coming from. >> she would love salad and things that are healthiest are often most expensive. >> we profile a group, feeding america, they're one of the preempt nent organizations that help food banks.

>> one of the most shocking things about the special is a lot of parents are working, but the kids are still hungry. >> child hung ends here airs on nbc, check your local listings. our clients a better mortgage. maybe that's why j.d. power and associates ranked us "highest in customer satisfaction in the united states." so, we thought we'd take a little time to celebrate. ♪ all right, then, back to work helping clients. individual attention from our highly-trained mortgage professionals. one more way quicken loans is engineered to amaze. but sometimes i wonder... what's left behind? [ female announcer ] introducing purifying facial cleanser from neutrogena® naturals. developed with dermatologists... it's clinically proven to remove 99% of dirt and toxins and purify pores. and with natural willowbark it contains no dyes, parabens or harsh sulfates. dirt and toxins do a vanishing act

and my skin feels pure and healthy. [ female announcer ] new purifying facial cleanser from the new line of neutrogena naturals. good morning, everybody, i'm brent cannon. people all around the bay area are pitching in to help victims in japan. nbc bay area is hosting a fundraiser today and bob is live in san francisco with what's going on and how you can help. >> reporter: since we started this telethon from the japanese cultural center in japantown we're already approaching close to $6,000 guaranteed in cash. we had hannah the dog, her owner donating 100, as a result other

people do natured on behalf of their pets. we're asking you to do the same to get the volunteers to pick up the phone. call 415-529-1322. these phones will be manned until mid night tonight if you can help out the people suffering from the earthquake in japan. 415-529-1322. we're live here in japantown, san francisco. weather and traffic coming up in just a minute.

good friday morning, we have strong storms pushing onshore in the north bay. 15 reported strikes between petaluma and novato. it looks like there's more action on the way as the front is trying to push into northern portions of the bay area. take a look at san bruno, heavy rainfall in the next five to ten minutes and another system will move in for sunday. that will bring about even more

rain. so overall rainfall totals are looking to end up very high, possibly up to 4 inches before we hit sunday afternoon. receip let's see how this is impacting your drive with mike inouye. >> we were talking about the rain coming through, very bad signal because the rain is affecting our signal. look at the wet roads from 101 to the north bay. the south bay 101 moves smoothly. i'm also helping out with the earthquake relief fund doing the fund in san jose in japantown. come by if you can. more local news in a half hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great friday. see you back here in a bit.

♪ and that's the cast of the new musical "priscilla queen of the desert," based on the 1994 movie opening on broadway this sunday. songs already a big hit. one-hit wonders of the '70s and '80s that will have you wanting to put on your platform shoes. we'll get to another song many a few minutes. meantime, on a different topic, lester holt is back from an intense week of fine coverage

over in japan. it was a great job, liester. that had to be frightening. >> it was. first of all the suffering of people from the tsunami and continuing aftershocks. then the radiation thing. most of us who were there had covered war zones and most of those things. you get it. you know what the danger is. this one, you look outside. looks fine. you don't know. >> what's coming up on "weekend today"? >> we're talking about a race against the clock. special fire trucks blasting water onto a reactor. now talk about burying parts of the plant in sand and soil as japan asks for help. we'll have the latest. plus, we are following events unfolding in libya as the u.n. security council authorized a no-fly zone and the use of military action against moammar gadhafi's forces. then we'll lighten things up. 22 number one hits and 20 platinum albums. we'll catch up with kenny rogers this weekend on "today." >> it's the wood that makes it

good. >> okay. >> kenny rogers roasters. it's a line from "seinfeld." >> we weren't sure where you were going with that. >> sometimes you just stop. >> lester, good to see you. coming up, a guide for plus-sized shoppers. if you're on the curvy side sometimes it's hard to find the right fit. this morning the secrets to the right fashions for your form online and at the mall. >> we'll con careen a meeting of al's book club for kids as the kids talk to the author of "the search for wondla" following the heroine on a search. >> first a look at the weather. >> we have rain in the mid mississippi river valley. the pacific northwest into northern california gets more rain. sunny and cool through the

plains. on sunday, heavy rains throughout california. could be flooding. sunshine in the pacific northwest and in the northeast. a little bit on the chilly side. warm with sunshine through the gulf coast into the mid plains. good morning to you. we've got severe weather pushing into the north bay, novato starting to get hit by pretty strong storms then the storms will continue throughout the day. we have a strong cell that purked onto the peninsula. dangerous driving conditions for the next 15 to 20 minutes. we'll see more in terms of rainfall, probably about an inch. 2 inches in the north bay. another storm arrives bringing more rain on sunday. and that's the latest weather. >> coming up next, the best way to shop for the most flattering plus-sized fashions. coming up right after this. male announcer ] it's simple physics... a body at rest tends to stay at rest... while a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

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this morning on "today's style" how to shop for plus-sized clothing. it's become easier for women of all shapes and sizes to find clothes that fit well, but it's challenging to find essential wardrobe staples. we tagged along with lucky magazine here in new york to learn how to find the best plus-sized apparel. >> i'm at lord & taylor in new york which has one of the best selections of full figure women's clothing in the city. if you don't have a lord & taylor in your backyard, go online. there are lots of other designers who also do plus sizes. you wouldn't know it from the sales floor. things like forever 21. one stop plus aggregates plus sized labels from everywhere. you can shop in one place. when you start shopping, look beyond the number in the tag.

most of us are not the same size top to bottom. if you are a 14 in the pant and an 8 up top don't squeeze into a size 12 dress. go with the biggest part of the body and spend $3 to have it tailored in. money well spent. resist the urge to conceal your body. anything to tenty or drapy will make you look bigger. focus on the part of the body you love and play it up. play up the upper body with a v-neck shirt or maybe a blouse with a collar. if you love your legs go for a slimmer cut pant and balance it with something looser up top. >> elise from lucky magazine joins us. good morning. >> good morning. >> before we bring out the models we see the plus-sized fashions getting cuter. do you feel like designers are finally paying attention to the market? >> yes and no. there are great new arrivals.

it's a $30 billion industry and there are 60 million women in the u.s. alone at least a size 14. there is a huge opportunity and more designers need to get into the game. >> we have three looks. one for work, one for casual and one for evening. this is tisha in a very cute pencil skirt which i think a lot of plus-sized women think this is a look i can't pull off, but she is. >> find somethinger in structured. this is by michael kors and gives her that beautiful shape. we balance it with a colorful top and then the belt. at lucky we believe a belt is a woman es ooh best friend regardless of size. it gives you the hourglass shape. >> you think a lot of women think they need to hide. >> right. if you go for something too voluminous it glances off your curves and makes you look bigger. play up your womanly curves. go for your best shape. >> looks great. our next model thea is in a

great casual outfit. a lot of folks think jeans are something i just can't wear if i'm plus size. this is an argument against that. >> exactly. these jeans are by miracle body which is the same company that brought us miracle suit which promises to take ten pounds off immediately. they are doing amazing jeans. these are actually leggings. the thing about plus-sized women is if they can't find something that fits in the thighs that doesn't gap in the waist. these contour and provide support. they are incredibly comfortable. >> a lot of people feel the skinny jeans are hard to pull off. what's the trick? >> the trick is to balance something fitted below with something looser up top. this is a tunic from kohl's which hits at that time top of the thigh creating one long flattering line. >> thank you. now our last model is kim with an evening outfit. >> this is another element that a lot of plus sized women have

trouble finding, the little black dress. this is well priced at $59.99 from one stop plus.com. it has all the pleating which draws the eye in and down. has the jewelled neckline. will totally flattering and very comfortable. >> that's a great trick. i love the waist. it elongates her figure. >> for a lot of plus sized women you need things with the built-in shape. >> let's bring our modells out. ladies, you look great. thank you so much for giving us this look. appreciate it. up next, al convenes his book club for kids. and one more rousing performance from the cast of the new broadway show "priscilla queen of the desert." ♪ yummy, yummy, yummy, i got love in my tummy ♪

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this morning on al's book club for kids, "the search for wondla." it is about 12-year-old ava who is raised under ground by a robot named mother. when her sanctuary is attacked she flees to the surface onlile to discover it is inhabited by strange creatures and dangerous aliens and soon realizes she may be the only human left. >> ooh! >> the author of the fabulous "spider wick chronicles" is the author and our book club kids are michael, shamoya and bridget. via skype our special guest is from washington. good to see everybody. all right. nice to see you guys. good to see you. >> thanks for having me. >> this book has been optioned already as a major motion picture. what was your inspiration? >> when i was a kid, i loved the classics like peter pan & wendy,

alice in wonderland, the wonderful wizard of oz. those stories revolve around a girl who leaves home, goes to a fantastic world. in the journey comes to understand what family and home is about. so i thought it would be cool to do a 21st century version of that. instead of pirates and a tin man it's aliens, robots and stuff like this. >> in this you use something called augmented reality. >> augmented reality. >> something from the '70s. >> from caffeine. >> what is that? >> it's a neat bit of technology. i didn't know a lot about it. the way it works is you take the book and it has a few illustrations in it. you hold the book up to your web cam on the computer and it a 3-d map pops out of the book. you can zoom in and out and follow eva on the journey. >> we want to get to the book club for kids.

first, 10-year-old mike vasquez. how are you? >> good. >> what's your question? >> why did you have so many bizarre characters throughout the book? >> i think because i have always -- i was always an i imaginative kid. i sat in the back of the classroom that was like making up crazy scenes with made-up characters. i feel like imagination is so important in stories. i wanted to imbue that in every book that i do. >> all righty. shamoya richards, what's your question? >> my question is what is different in writing this book compared to other books like the spiderwick chronicles? >> that's a great question. the difference is i'm donning both hats as the author and illustrator. in the spiderwick books i worked with my writing partner holly black. it makes the process longer, and each one has their own challenges. i have to figure out a lot of problems on my own, but it's coming out of the same brain space. >> if you don't like the pictures you can only get upset

with yourself. >> tony, you've done it again! >> 11-year-old bridget, what's your question? >> i was wondering, i like how you have futuristic objects such as the omni-pod and gold fist. do you imagine something like that actually existing in the future? >> i hope it exists in the future. a lot of it was a huge imagination journey of things that i longed for. i wish we had hover cars. i wish we had the omni-pod that's like a crazy iphone. it's a long daydream going back to the 10-year-old version of me. what would the 10-year-old tony want that old 40-year-old tony can make. >> now to 11-year-old ryan in washington. hey, ryan. how are you? >> hey, good. my question was i really liked your book. when i was reading it at the end you could tell there was going

to be a sequel. so i want to know when the sequel will come out. >> oh, the sequel. i'm glad you like it. thank you so much. the sequel working on right now. it'll take me a better part of the year to do it. i'm doing the writing and i will start is it illustrations. it will be out probably in early 2012. sorry for the long wait. it takes a while to do it all. eva will continue on her journey and find like-minded people and including another person born in the same sanctuary as her. >> in the future, see, you can clone yourself and work on pictures and words at the same time. >> i need a lot of clones. >> let's find out how the kids rated the book on a scale of 1 to 5 stars it gets 5 stars. >> wow! >> very impressive. >> whoo hoo! yes! >> thank you so much. if you are between the ages of 9 and 12 and want a chance to be

selected as our next guest kid, head to today.com. our next book is words in the dust by trent reedy. that's right. thank you. >> thank you, al. thanks, guys. >> up next, a live performance from the new broadway show, "priscilla queen of the desert." first, this is "today" on nbc.

coming up, we'll talk more with bette midler and see the amazing results of the ambush makeovers. >> first, another number from the broadway play bette is producing, "priscilla queen of the desert." that will take us to your local news and weather. have a great day. ♪ many times i've tried to tell you ♪ ♪ many times i cried alone

♪ always i'm surprised how well you cut my feelings to the bone ♪ ♪ don't want to leave you really ♪ ♪ i've invested too much time to give you up that easy to the doubt that is complicate your mind ♪ ♪ we belong to the light ♪ we belong to the thunder ♪ we belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under ♪ ♪ whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better ♪ ♪ we belong ♪ we belong ♪ we belong together ♪ maybe it's a sign of weakness ♪ ♪ when i don't know what to say ♪ ♪ maybe i just wouldn't know what to do with my strength

anyway ♪ ♪ have we become a habit ♪ do we distort the facts ♪ now there's no looking forward ♪ ♪ now there's no turning back ♪ when we say ♪ we belong to the light ♪ we belong to the thunder ♪ we belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under ♪ ♪ whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better ♪ ♪ we belong ♪ we belong ♪ we belong together ♪ we belong ♪ we belong ♪ we belong together ♪ we belong

good morning, everybody. 9:56, i'm brent cannon. people all around are pitching in to help the victims of japan

this morning. we want to check in with today in the bay's bob reredle. we have volunteers standing by the phone in the japanese cultural center. this is the number we're asking you to dial, 415-529-1322. anything that you can donate to help the people seen in these images right here, we know there are thousands of people who need your help who are suffering over there in japan. within the past half hour, we've seen this number jump to close to $8600. that's an increase of $3,000 within the past hour. you if can make a phone call, we're hoping you can get that up to over 10,000. i want to put the number up for you. 415-529-1322. and we'll be here until midnight tonight. 415-529-1322, anything can help. lines are open until midnight

tonight. reporting live in japantown, san francisco, "today in the bay". $3,000 more dollars will keep it going. christina has more on the rain moving through. >> we've got strong cells pushing through. take a look at this strong line of showers and storms. it extends all the way down. you can see heavy rain embedded within that line. we saw some really heavy rain go past the bay bridge about five minutes ago. let's find out if it's impact your travel. mike, how is it looking? >> looking really bad as far as san rafael as far as conditions but the speeds are okay. we might see some reports of flooding off highway 37 as well. i'll update you. with do see slowing through berkeley and you can see the dip here and oakland, camera shaking because of the wind. >> another local news update in a half hour. keep the phone lines ringing in

san francisco. we'll be back. my second diagnosis-- i was told to go home, retire, and enjoy the time i had left. to say it was a shock is just a complete understatement. i mean, i don't think there are words. she had put up a really good fight, but it was her time. you... don't have a choice of getting breast cancer. i had no choice. i wanted to do something bigger than myself. that 3-day gave me that opportunity. and i can actually do something to help. i think it's a very bold thing to do. 60 miles in 3 days-- i can do that. i'm sure if it was 100 miles, we'd still walk it. it was a big statement for me of... (voice breaks) i'm alive. we can do this. we can do this. we can rid the world of this terrible disease... so that no mother... granddaughter... sister... daughter... mother... go through what my wife had to go through.

this is more than just three days. this is a lifetime. (man) register today for the... and receive $25 off your registration fee. because everyone deserves a lifetime. captions paid for by nbc-universal television it is friday, march the 18th, 2011. kathie lee on her final day off. we have "white collar" star, haughty, matt bomer is here to tep us out. >> i paid her to say that. >> a lot of girls on my website saying, they want to get their crush on. i'm just letting you on. >> you are looking particularly beautiful this morning. you always look beautiful, but this morning, i'm going to charm her right away so she takes it

easy on me for the following hour. >> it's all yours, baby. we have a great show that you're hosting today because we have the one, the only bette midler in the house. she is sitting over there. she is producing this great broadway show called "priscilla queen of the desert." it is great on so many levels. just listen, first of all. ♪ if i had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me ♪ >> just so you know, if you go see this broadway show, you will know the words to every single song. >> you will be dancing in the aisle. >> i felt bad for all the people sitting around me at the show because they were totally turned off to my singing, but i didn't care because the songs that they sing like "say a little prayer for you." all those great songs. >> all the classics. >> what i came to learn about you, mr. jack of all trades.

is that the guy sitting next to me who is on this terrific show called "white collar" i think you guys know it. he is the cuter one. >> not true. good-looking man. >> in addition to all the things you've done on tv, you are quite the singer. >> i try. i dabble from time to time. i don't know if i'm bold enough to call myself a singer, quite yet. >> really? >> but, yeah, it's fun to do every now and again. i got to sing at the kennedy center, which was fun. >> let's listen. ♪ and then your heart ♪ >> i want to hear you again. >>. ♪ never dream alone again

i have heard ♪ >> i can't believe you can sing like that. >> thank goodness for cortisone. i was sick but i had one of those cortisone shots. >> what do you sing in the shower? >> whatever is on the radio. >> what do you like? >> soul music. >> anything special? "say a little prayer for you." >> i even do some kanye from time to time. >> you do? >> i'm into that album, i have to say. >> you have any songs for us today? >> i don't know if i can say them on air. i'm not warmed up yet. >> you will be by the end. you may also know this guy from his very first role was in the soap opera called "all my children." and tell me about your role in this. >> i played ian kipling. i can't believe i remembered that off the top of my head. look at me, terrified. first tv gig ever. >> what did you do? >> i was bianca's ex-fiance --

that did not go ever well in springfield. >> how did your character exit the show? >> in that one? i think i disappear under to the so soap opera -- what else is there to do? all my clients were cougars and then i went crazy and killed several people and committed suicide in a log cabin in front of my girlfriend and before after i confessed i was molested in seventh grade by my teacher. >> wow, that's a year. >> people change. >> all right, so, "white collar" is starting up again because i know you had a long day of shooting yesterday. you were up at 5:00 a.m. and shot until 9:00. when does the new season start? >> june 7th. we are hard at work on season three. we also have the dvd of season two coming out the same day with really great extras on it. commentaries, bloopers and we

even have a white collar first burn notice featurette. very healthy competition going on. >> something we just learned e seconds before the kids started. you have three kids. what are their ages? >> 5 and the twins are 3. >> you are kidding. how is it possible? they're adorable these three, huh? how do you juggle? >> you know, i fly home and fly back and have a great support team and it's a beautiful thing. >> all right, so, we have some disappointing news for kathie lee and me. just a sad, sad day here at 30 rock. >> the people have spoken and the esquire.com poll and, as you know, there was a bracket competition almost like an ncaa march madness going on for the sexiest woman alive and you were painted against -- >> it is just rude. why did they put us against her,

do you think? >> you know, i'm not going to say anything because i don't want to get in trouble, but the results are in and it's 85% sofia, kathie lee and hoda, 15. >> this is how bad that is. >> let me tell you, that is a strong showing. that is a strong showing. don't you get down on this. >> she had 99% on the first day and we chatted about it on the show and the next day she was down to 90% and then we ended on 85, that's all we got. >> listen, it's strong. we're talking about sofia virgara. she's gorgeous. >> you know -- >> as a guy. >> yeah. >> i mean, pursefulersonally, i people voted wrong. i know who i voted for. i am one of that 15%. >> here's the funny thing, sofia was on our show, we did this no make-up show which was

humiliating enough. she came on in full and beautiful makeup and it just, just the contrast, this is probably the picture they should have used. i think we may have it. do we? >> what could you not leave the house without? >> all of it. i'm colombia. are you crazy. >> see, look how gorgeous you two look. i think for this to really be fair. she has to come back to the show without any makeup. >> yes. >> and then let's vote. >> i don't think she would ever in a million years do this. charlie sheen has sold out radio city music hall. he did it like 30 minutes. two showings. he has this, it's called "charlie sheen live my violet torpedo of truth tour." the tickets go from like 80 bucks to more than 500. what do you think of the fact that he's selling out all over the place? >> you know, i think the positive thing to take from this is that $1 of each ticket will

be donated to the japanese red cross earthquake fund. >> i can't believe people still want it go see it. i think we've seen everything. >> i'm not going to kick a fellow actor when he's doing his thing. good for you, charlie. all the best with your show. >> if there is someone getting more press than charlie sheen and i'm not sure if you heard of this young girl, but after today you will. >> you'll know who rebecca black is. >> this song, we want to apologize before we play it because it will get stuck in your head. since friday her youtube song has had 13 million hits. she is 13 years old. >> itunes chart above kesha, justin bieber. >> go. ♪ ♪ party and party and party

>> okay, the song, they criticize it for being stupid with the lyrics. i sort of like it. >> listen, it has a fun beat. it's fun for young girls to get down to and, you know, what's wrong with that. >> she says she's getting cyberbullied and she's upset, this 13-year-old and they say that somewhere in the video there's a guy with earrings driving a car. >> that is strange. it's almost like they drove the car to somebody who actually has a driver's license house and while you're driving can you do a rap solo in my song. >> that's exactly what happened. >> yeah, that's a little strange. but you know what, go on. don't worry about what those people say on the internet. you keep doing your thing, baby. >> 16 million hits is not curiosity. people like it. they're grooving on it. it's now that time in the program that we love, matt. it's called "bobby's bus." come on up, bobbie thomas.

>> i wanted it share some smart ideas i came across. have you ever needed an extra hand when you go shopping, especially here in new york? >> yes. >> this is called the yoke shopper. you just slip your bags, especially the little ones that can't go over your arm and then this string comes out and this can go -- >> you put it over the shoulder. perfect for your keys and the kids. >> let me ask you something. i go grocery shopping and i walk quite a ways home. i am always trying to figure out how to balance. can i carry a lot of bags? >> a lot of bags, especially plastic ones. do you like books? these hooks will keep the page you want and pull it right off the shelf. which is a really great thing. i love these cordies. but these are little organizers. you know when you disconnect the camera on your desk and this will organize it. last but not least, this mini plunger is called an iplunge. you pop this on the back of your phones or mp3 player and you can

watch -- what a smart idea. right? out of time. >> bobbie, you are amazing. one of the most popular people on the programs. >> i will have a lot of money to spend when i leave here today because i want to get all these things. coming up, an action-packed show. we are starting with the divine ms. m. we'll talk to the one and only bette midler. we'll take you out to the plaza to see the crazy things one guy and his team can do with ice. >> look at that. plus, we have our plaza ambush makeovers. we'll have those right after this. ambush makeovers. we're going to have those, after this. a groundbreaking 14-year study by purina... proves that puppy chow, then dog chow nutrition, fed properly over a lifetime, can help extend his lovable antics up to 1.8 healthy years. long live your buddy. [ laughs ] oh, max. long live your dog. purina dog chow.

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♪ let's give thanks. ♪ it doesn't get better than this ♪ a show business icon and now the legendary singer entertainer and actress and add producer to her resume because she's involved in a colorful, very colorful new show opening on broadway this sunday called "priscilla queen". >> as you can see the show is filled with outrageous costumes and over the top production numbers and songs from the '70s and '80s and best of all, it has bette midler behind it. >> hello, bette. this show, i went on wednesday and i sat, i wasn't sure what to expect. i have to tell you, it felt like a mini concert because everywhere you looked around the theater, everyone was singing full voice. what experience do you want people to walk away with? >> i want them to have a great evening in the theater. highly entertaining, and way

over the top, the clothes are fantastic and the performances are out of this world. everyone in the cast is sensational. very familiar songs. songs from i hate to say a certain generations but songs that are really lively and upbeat and you leave the theater feeling great. which is wonderful. it's touching, too. it has a very kind of wonderful story of a guy who is on his way to see the son that he doesn't really know to get to know his son. so, there's a lot of, kind of a wholesome quality to it even though it's about people basically on the outside. >> how is producer for you? >> i always produced my own show, so this is a little bit of a new thing for me. i really feel like i stepped in a pile of great big, you know, of flowers because this was a hit in sydney. it was a huge hit in london and when i saw it, i recognized immediately that the people were going to love it here. the only reason they asked me on, what would you trim or do? would you make it more american?

so, i gave notes and everything and i've seen it many, many times and i said what i had to say. but, i think, all in all, everyone working on it is so devoted to it and believes in it so much. >> a lot of people are familiar with the movie from back in the day. those people who know the movie very well, when they look at this, how will it compare? >> i think it's, well, first of all, much more music in it. secondly, it's not, it's not quite, it's got a little more heart than the other one. it's got, actually, considerable more heart because the broadway audience, the typical broadway audience want to be moved and have laughs and tears and a little of everything when they pay that high ticket price. i think they managed to do it all. >> when you're watching this, you've been watching it from the audience. do you want to pop up on stage. this is so you. >> all i can do to keep myself in my feet. i've seen it so many times, i know where i could put myself in. i know which costumes can fit me. >> speaking of costumes, the costume changes on this show

will blow your mind. i have to be honest, i'm not into that stuff. the things they get into and out of, extraordinary. >> it's extraordinary. hundreds of costumes. that's one of the charming things about this show is that the chorus, the small players play many, many parts and one of the joys after you've seen it 14, 15 parts is to see who is playing each part. they're all brilliant. the three leads are always supported by this tremendous cast. it's really great. i think it's a real tour de force. >> who is the diva? >> there is no attitude in this group. i think i'm the biggest diva. they like each other and seem to really get along great with etch to other. who knows what will happen once the reviews are in and it's either a hit or not a hit. i think it has a real shot. >> you are joyful. i have to say, at the end, this is how i always judge a show. the by the time the show was

over to the time it takes for people to stand up, it was instantaneous. let me tell you, like a little dance party. if you want to go and kick your heels up and enjoy yourself. >> i think so. >> bette, good luck and good luck on opening night. we wish you good reviews. >> thank you. baby, it's cold outside. we'll head out to the plaza and shoot a game of pool. oh, my gosh. look at that on the table. nice. >> oh, wow. >> okay. table. okay. >> okay. that's over thirty-six hundred times a year. who would do that? it's scrubbing bubbles toilet cleaning gel. just stamp it in. its formula is flush-activated to prevent buildup of lime scale and hard water that cause toilet rings. and it keeps working, flush after flush. scrubbing bubbles toilet cleaning gel. the freshest way to keep a toilet clean. [ toilet flushing ] flush -- after flush. [ female announcer ] sc johnson. a family company. of getting vitamins and minerals.

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for some people, spring break is in full gear, for us, we're in a deep freeze out here on the plaza. >> we have randy finch and his ice brigade. they have been sculpting all kind of amazing things. >> what have you been doing? >> are you thirsty? >> tell me what we got. what is going on here with this action? >> little san grea to get us started. >> is this ice here? >> yeah, of course. everything is ice. >> oh, my gosh, matt, you want a little. >> why not? >> how long did it take you? you have been up since 4:00 in the importanting gmorning getti together. how long does it take? >> this a week and a half, martini glasses, we did a whole ice lounge. three of these, indoor environment, chairs, couches, everything. last night we did a piano, working piano. every key played.

>> are you kidding? >> it rocks, man. that's what i said when i first got the order, right? >> who gets the idea? how as a young boy did you get the idea this is what you want to do? >> well as a chef, going through high school and culinary chef, we specialize in pastries and we decided to specialize in ice. >> let's walk over here. no. >> hold on. here you go, matt. >> you call it billiards. you're fancy. >> my best paul newman. we use it. one of these things. >> you want to go first? >> yeah. >> let me do it. >> want me to? >> ladies first. >> come on. >> very good.

very good. >> get in there. get in there. >> now, i have to remember which one of you -- >> oh, fancy stancy. oh! >> get out of town, baby. >> now, we should point out, first of all, how long did it take you to make this table. >> about a week. >> it took you a week. >> we had this in the full episode. we had the table with a whole lounge and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a pinball machine. >> now, just if people don't get to watch a lot of this, tell us where they can see all of your great stuff on tv. >> food network. thursday nights and we're going to be doing different things every week. mechanical things, you name it. >> come walk with us. what is happening over here on this side. come here. are we going to do something? >> yeah, okay. i'll have you stand back just for a second and i'll get some action going. >> get some action.

one of these things here. >> all right. what are you doing? randy, what are you doing? >> special treat for you. >> what? are you kidding? >> it's snowing. okay, that rocked. >> whoa! oh, you are kidding me. you're kidding me. >> incredible. >> you know, randy, you rock. >> you're unbelievable. thank you for coming to see us. all right, w bck ba be back with plaza ambush makeovers after this. we will be back with plaza ambush makeovers after this. let's get crackin'. [ male announcer ] but what mike rowe doesn't know is that his parents have armed themselves with unquilted viva® towels. place looks great. [ male announcer ] mike doesn't know that every concentrated viva roll

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than ordinary eggs. but there's one important ingredient that hasn't changed. -better taste. -better taste. -better taste. -mmmm... [ female announcer ] eggland's best. better taste and now even better nutrition make the erbeg. ett good morning, everybody, the time is 10:26. san mateo students with ties to a school in sendai have a difficult week awaiting them. students at odyssey school learn about japanese and host students from sendai and occasionally go to visit them in japan. they feared the worst for their friends until yesterday when they received an e-mail saying that all of their school friends had survived the massive earthquake. that was welcome news to their teacher who gets emotional still thinking about the difficult road ahead for his colleagues and friends. >> the teacher said -- it's a

miracle. and he's glad now he's standing on the -- >> teachers in sendai are asking for donations for uniforms and books so students can get back to school as soon as possible. odyssey students were supposed to visit sendai but they have canceled their trip and staying here and helping to raise money instead. weather and traffic coming up in just a minute. next meal is coming from. >> food insecurity is a growing problem in the united states. >> tune in march 19th at 7:30 p.m. on nbc to see child hunger ends here: a special report. a spec

welcome back. we've got a lot of rain coming down and it's really starting to

spread to the south right now. san francisco getting hit pretty hard and more rain on the way as we head throughout the day today, the potential for flooding will be a factor. you do want to take it easy on your lunch break. another system slides to the south bringing more heavy rain as we head into your sunday. 57 degrees and we're expecting chilly showers for saturday. let's see how the weather is the hampering your drive. >> we have advisories now, flooding to report through marin. the mud washed out highway 1 south of caramel, you can't get to big sur -- you can get there in monterey. but the weather is going to hit you for highway 1 and 17 over the mountains. the south bay is looking okay, i'll be in san jose for the earthquake relief raising funds and be happy to take the check from your hands. no problems here, we see the low clouds and even affecting our signal. i'll send it back to you. >> i wonder if they had a

lightning strike. thank you for joining us. the "today" show comes up next. have a great weekend. we're back on this post patty's day friday. the crowd is standing ready with two makeovers. "white collar" matt boemer is here with me while kathie lee is on vacation. >> it's nice to meet that team, you know, louis licari la la la

la la. you know the guy. >> everyone is so excited because it's our first great spring day. i guess it's going to get cold again, but right now, everybody is happy, screaming. it's an exciting day. >> we found the two friends, and the first of the two friends is carolyn thomas. she's 51 years old from orlando, florida. after butchering her own hair, she drove 1200 miles for one reason and one reason only. she wanted to get a plaza ambush makeover. let's take a listen. >> all right, they drove all the way from florida and not one fight because they both really want this. and why do you think carolyn deserves it? >> because she's hard-working and we just started a business together. >> and you did something to yourself you really shouldn't have? >> i went all edward scissorhands on my hair because i hadn't had a real cut in so

long. >> you cut it yourself? >> yeah. >> yikes. we have celebrity stylist louis vicari who will do a better job. are you ready? >> yes. >> carolyn thomas is joined by her niece bianca and bianca's friend jessica. it's a hodge podge group. keep your blindfolds on. we're going to look at carolyn before. carolyn, let's see the new you. >> oh, my gosh! guys, ready to take off your blindfolds? take off your blindfolds. are you ready to see yourself? >> look in the mirror. >> you look gorgeous! what do you think? >> this is amazing. >> look at you.

>> is that me? >> louis, tell us about that. >> you were saying she looked like sophia loren. >> gorgeous. >> we made her chic. we gave her style. absolutely a beautiful woman naturally. we just had to bring out the features. they did that with this great haircut. he emphasized her classic features with makeup. >> do you know it's a dress in the white house black market. she loved it. they're starting a business together. you see these bracelets they're wearing? they're matching friendship bracelets. we wanted to give them something new to wear as they started in endeavor. >> guys, what do you think? >> it's awesome. >> is it really crazy awesome? you're going to turn your backs, okay? put your blindfolds on again. >> this is dawn burnett. she's 41 from bridgewater, new

jersey. after a year of struggling heartache and after losing 40 pounds, dawn is ready for a new look to start this new phase of her life. let's hear what she had to say. >> all right. now, it's dawn's turn, and i know this is really emotional for her. tell us why she deserves it. >> i hope i don't tear up. she went through a terrible divorce. she lost her mom nine months later. she drove all the way from florida in a penske truck with her kids, fearlessly just, you know, trying to find her way. and she's here, and she actually paid for me to get here, too. so we're good friends. >> yes, we are. >> amazing friends, and we're so happy we can give you this gift. >> thank you. >> are you ready to go? >> i am. >> wow. that's beautiful. >> wow. gorgeous. >> here with her kids mariah and mason and carolyn's niece bianca and bianca's niece jessica -- let's take one last look at her before shot. >> come on out.

>> whoa! >> the new dawn! >> dawn step right over here. perfect. yeah, right there. great, all right. are you guys ready? you know what, stay there for now. you guys, take off your blindfolds. kiir lycarolyn -- you ladies ar going to see each other. one, two, three, turn. >> oh, my god! >> do you want to see yourself? >> yes. >> oh, my god! >> wow. >> don't you look awesome? it's beautiful. louis, that hair looks great. >> it does look great.

that just shows the power of color and cut working together. art gave her those bangs which gave her instant style. and her color just made her face come alive. you glow. >> i love the dress. >> the dress is from talbott's. they're going to start a business together and they look great. coming up next, what do you toy to people who make you feel how to tell your relatives to pull the plug on the personal comments. and when they're laughing... you're laughing. be kind to your eyes... with transitions lenses. transitions adapt to changing light so you see your whole day comfortably... and conveniently while protecting your eyes from the sun.

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we often deal with awkward situations to neighbors who still have their christmas lights up to that annoying skinny girlfriend who keeps complaining she's too fat. >> phyllis galanis writes the social q's column and hair yet

cole from the hair yet cole media. >> a friend is a size 2-4 and constantly seszays she has a bi butt. meanwhi meanwhile, i'm a size 8. when she makes comments like that, does she think i'm fat and have a bigger butt. it's annoying and makes me feel self-conscious. >> we all have things that make us feel self-conscious. even sofia vergara has something that makes her feel bad. it's no reflexes ction on you. she's not even seeing your butt, i promise you. but you can say, debbie, can we dial this stuff back? because your butt, which is much smaller than mine, is make meg feel bad. >> i agree with you, it has

nothing to do with her. i'm sure it has nothing to do with her. the small person is object asse -- obsessing about her. she's a size 2-4? maybe she has a body image problem as opposed to it being about her friend. usually people are obsessed about themselves. >> find someone in new york who doesn't have a body obsession problem. >> question number two, i'm a recently single guy in my late 30s so i joined match.com. i've chatted with some interesting and attractive women, but when we met in person, none of them have looked anything like their picture. they're older or heavier or the photos are seriously outdated. i didn't even recognize them. what is up with that? >> here's the thing. we all have that great picture of ourselves. usually when we were younger, styled. pick a new one, because if you're living in the real world, you're going to meet that person. now, you shouldn't just have a

snapshot. you should take a real picture so when the person sees you, oh, there he or she is. in this case, he should say something. why did you do that? >> let me do it practically from the other side, because sometimes people have got the picture from the clinton administration and think they really look like that, still. you can maybe, on the internet when you're trying to work this out, you can give a little information to get a little information. you can go, hey, my pictures were taken during my sister's wedding during bosnia this summer. where were yours from? so it doesn't feel like you're treating them like a suspect from "law and order" -- >> don't you sometimes find them more attractive? >> but the ten-year-old picture is more dramatic. >> the internet, too, makes a lot of volume. >> our neighbors next door still have their christmas lights up. it is march. i'd love to say something, but my wife thinks i should just

shut my mouth. >> it's their house. >> do you want them to come around to you and say, hey, it likes like it's time to paint your shutters. and i don't really like that car, either. >> decorate your own house and mind your own business. >> i had my lights on my balcony for two straight years. all right, kids, thanks a lot. we appreciate it. up next, the case boss buddy takes us to the for k for a little dinner before dessert. right after this.

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we're getting saucy with a baker and pasta maker, buddy laslow. >> buddy is also known as the cake boss where he builds cakes and pastries at his family-owned bakery.

>> but he also does some more traditional italian dishes. >> now we're going to show you my spin on the kitchen, and we're going to start with one of my favorites, okay? we're doing a pastala normale. it's a pasta that has eggplant in it. dip it in the egg and the butter. the whole concept of the show was simple cooking, so this is like old recipes my grandma used to make. just simple, easy, and nothing brings the family together like food. >> just toss that right in the frying pan? >> toss that in the frying pan. we have a little bit of garlic sauteing. >> okay. >> i've got some eggplant that i cubed up. we're going to throw that in. i actually salted it and put it

in a colander. it takes out the bitterness. we're going to put in some strained tomato. some garlic, add a little onion in there. >> the butter? that's what i like. >> it makes a difference. >> got to have it. >> we're going to let that cook down for about a half hour or so. >> should you cover it? >> no, just leave it. every once in a while, give it a stir and it will wind up looking like that. we're going to finish off with the fresh basil, because who doesn't like fresh basil. >> matt is cooking up there. how long are those pieces of eggplant supposed to cook in the frying pan? >> i would say about a minute on each side. we got this here, we're going to take this and put it back here. come on, matt. >> is this the good part? >> i've got some pasta here. >> a lot of people have learned this trick, but you're supposed

to pour the pasta into the sauce bowl, not the other way around. why is that? >> because you finish the pasta with the sauce. it cooks just a little more slightly and really picks up all the flavor. so we're going to put that on there. >> what do we do with that eggplant? >> we're going to just take it like this. we're going to cut it like that. >> it looks delicious. >> we're going to go like that. i want to give this a shot. we're going to put first our pasta, okay? we're going to take some of our eggplant that's fried, put that on top. we're going to finish it with a little more spice. >> oh, my gosh. genius. >> do you taste the fresh basil? down here you have a little

italian ice? we'll taste it as we go to break. thank you, sweetie. >> my pleasure. coming up next, sissy is in the kitchen with some special gadgets. this is straight from the housewares show right off the shelves, after this.

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we're back with a sneak peek of the hottest houseware items of the year. we love when you come see us! >> thank you. i didn't wear the shoes i'm wearing behind this table right now, believe me. i go to the show and i look for the things that are the real ahas of housewares. this is a silicone chip maker. it comes with a little easy slicer. you pop them on the disk and it goes in the microwave for three minutes. >> are they crunchy? >> they're warm and crunchy. it's like a party trick.

you can serve your guests some wine and give them unprocessed, natural chips. isn't that amazing? >> they are delicious. fancy blender. >> we love cuisinart. we know they're blending and chopping. this is the cuisinart soup maker. it blends, boils and cooks. it's nice and hot. it will blend right in there so no taking the ladle of hot soup to the pot. you get this perfect soup also great for baby food, to make all-natural baby food at home. >> is it expensive? >> it's probably in the high end, but it's what we call counter worthy, hoda. this is from hamilton beach. it's the two-way scoop, okay? you can get a whole pot of coffee for four hours at the "today" show, or if you're on the go, it will do a single

brew. no special coffee system, no plastic disks to drop in, so just ground coffee. less than $90. it will be out in may. >> i want that. >> the wine bag. it goes in the freezer and when you're ready to go to the party, hello, you arrive with chilled wine. it's less than $10. and then when you get to the party, no making mistakes about whose wine is who. it's the drink marker. you can write right on the glass. no more little wine charms or using your lipstick. it's $6.99. it's a great little hostess gift. you can find it at the drinkmarker.com. >> they're so stylish and functional. this is their bistro line new this year. it's an electric tabletop grill, and it comes with this wonderful little accessory for basting.

it's a silicone brush that goes in this durable glass. very stylish, again. finally, i looked for the gadget and this is it. it's a garlic slicer. it will slice it for you evenly and perfectly. >> love it. matt, thank you. we loved having you this week. come back and see us. don't forget, "white collar" is nco on usa soon. >> june 7. >> tune in. have a good weekend. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com on

>> right now in america, one out of four children doesn't know where their next meal is coming from. >> food insecurity is a growing problem in the united states. >> tune in march 19th at 7:30 p.m. on nbc to see child hunger ends here: a special report. a spec