r her or the bike. she said yes, by the way. it's now 7:12. let's go back to matt and al. >> that would have been a bummer. thank you very much.

mr. roker, we have a photo that showed you had a crepe-y time at the white house. >> kelly ripa made a crepe. so we shared it. mrs. obama looked on saying i don't want any part of this. we had 30,000 people, perfect weather. it was fantastic. weather not so fantastic for the other big event -- the royal wedding. today, partly cloudy. cool, 64. friday, not so nice. 7:00 a.m., partly cloudy, chance of a shower. by noon, cloudy a 60% chance of showers continuing with breezy east-northeasterly winds and the forecast for today in the states, we are looking at a risk of strong storms from western new york back to texas. clouds in the pacific northwest. breezy and sunny down through southern california. sunshine and warm through the gulf coast. sunny and warm along the southeastern atlantic states. we have a cool, clear start

out there. good morning to you. making way to a warm, sunny, afternoon. high pressure is the reason why it is moved in. it is driving the winds in. no marine layer and fog to worry about. it is cool and clear. the temperatures on the cold side. 42 in livermore and 44 in santa cruz. make sure you grab a jacket. we are headed to the 70s. warmer as we head into the middle of the week. ♪ al, thank you. now to our countdown to the royal wedding. just three more days to go. as you can imagine, the planning is down to the final details, but things are changing by the minute. "today" national correspondent natalie morales is at westminster abbey with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. they are putting up the finishing touches on the scaffolding where the media will camp out friday. there are decorations throughout london. the city is looking beautiful.

as you mentioned the one thing that's changing is the forecast. there is a threat of rain for friday. so everyone here is talking about will the first glimpse of kate's wedding dress be covered by an umbrella. after days of sunny skies in london, the weather could soon take a turn for the worse. cloudy skies are in the forecast with showers predicted for the day of the royal wedding. after they are married william and kate are supposed to take an open carriage from westminster abbey to buckingham palace but there is a backup plan. if it rains they will take a glass coach. >> rides lady diana. >> reporter: the same one used by princess diana when she was married. all over london, security sweeps have begun. on the day of the wedding, 5,000 police officers will take to the streets on foot and on horseback. they will also patrol along the thames and watch from above in helicopters, with live pictures fed to central command.

>> we'll make sure the security is in place, providinging basically for the reassurance of those in charge of the event on the ground. >> reporter: new details are emerging about the ceremony. we learned prince william and kate middleton will enjoy one private moment with their families during this very public event. after their vows the newlyweds will pass through the chapel behind the altar out of the public's view to sign to marriage register in complete privacy. billions are expected to watch the royal wedding on television. and the wedding is getting the x factor, the hip british tv show is lending a top stage manager to oversee the coverage. one fan couldn't wait for the big day. john loffery of south london is already camping out at westminster abbey. >> diana will be proud of her son, prince william, and catherine's marriage. prince harry as best man. she'll be with them in spirit in

westminster abbey on their special day and always. >> reporter: there are now others joining as well, camping out here. we have a lady here who brought her sleeping bag, tent and everything. she's been knitting. she'll need that sweater. the conditions have changed dramatically. officials in london want all to feel they are wedding guests for the day on friday. they are encouraging everyone here to dress for the occasion, hats and all, meredith. i hope >> i do. they are making it. that lady better knit fast. it's getting colder by the moment. >> reporter: it is. >> thank you very much. tom bradley is the only person to interview william and kate together after their engagement. tom, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> what do you make of the poll that suggests most people in britain aren't interested or excited about this wedding? do you take it with a grain of salt? >> it was always like this. it was like it with the golden jubilee. everyone says it's not a big

deal. we like to be cynical about it and then come the big day -- i mean on the golden jubilee, everybody was cynical and it was millions and millions of people. everyone got teary singing "god save the queen." we are conflicted. we think they do a good job. we don't like politicians. i don't think anyone is much keen on a change, but we have the attitude like those overseas, that's for sure. >> most see william and kate as a modern couple. what makes them the right couple to take the monarchy into the next century? >> i think in history, reluctant monarchs tended to do the job quite well. it's often billed as the middle class meets the monarchy. i think that's true. not just from her point of view, but from his. they are both quite middle class in terms of sensibilities. they don't grow up on a count's estate or worry about where the next meal would come from. but they have had a quiet, relatively main stream upbringing and come across as

relatively normal. >> thanks in large part to princess diana for prince william. >> she was good with smacking him around, telling him he was no big deal and to be polite and everything else. to understand william you have to understand he thinks the paparazzi killed his mother. he saw that for a long time. it used to make him boil with rage. you know, it's taken him a long time to get used to dealing with media. he's always been determined to preserve domestic happiness. >> he really wants a normal life. he's tried live that. what's his best bet of getting that? what does he need to do? >> i think his best bet is to try to stay in the military for as long as possible. there is a possibility of extending it. he's desperate to serve in afghanistan. >> is that realistic? would they let him go to afghanistan? >> i think it's talked about. it is realistic as a prospect to discuss. there are jobs he could do that

wouldn't be flying in the air. they might be operations-based. he's desperate to do it. they live in a small cottage and it's remote up there. their best chance is to try and keep away from the madness as long as possible, i think. >> is he really able to do that? to keep the paparazzi at bay? >> well, the british press is better behaved and his relationship with them is better these days. i'm told a shot of them on honeymoon is millions and millions of pounds. so they will get hounded, but don't forget there used to be an enormous amount of hacking into their phones, their every move. that doesn't happen anymore. the chances are better than they have ever been and they live a remote life. i think their best chance is to keep it that way as long as possible. >> and you are going to the wedding. lucky you. >> i am. yes. well, it will be -- you know, it will rain obviously because it is the uk. i don't know why we ever thought it would be sunny.

but i'm sure it will be a nice day. i'm fairly certain that there will be millions of people in central london. there always are on these occasions. >> thank you so much. for a special insider's look r" hosted by matt and me tomorrow at 8 p.m., 7:00 central time right here on nbc. remember to set your alarm early on friday. our live coverage begins at 4:00 a.m. eastern, 1:00 a.m. pacific. just ahead from here, the royal family's secret side. what you don't know about the house of windsor. first this is "today" on nbc.

girls took their own lives at a sleepover. their mothers share a cautionary tale in an exclusive live interview. meredith? on a much different note, matt, an exclusive interview with someone who knows prince williams, his godfather, after your local weather. god father the king of greece after your

local news and weather. [train whistle blowing]

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that's a recipe i'm keeping. ( announcer ) turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. unitedhealthcare. good morning, it is now 7:26, i'm marla tellez. if you drive-through oakland's busiest streets, you will feel a smoother ride. the agency kicked off the four-week long pothole glitz this week. the crews will fix 2,000 potholes in oakland. twice as many work crews will be patching the roadways with a limited budget the city can only fix streets instead of repave them. cal trans crews will be repaving eight miles of mission boulevard and fremont from

stephenson to fremont at the union city hayward border. it's expected to cause delays. it will run from 9:00 in the morning to 4:00. two weekend closures next month. tuesday brings us gorgeous conditions outside. christina loren is here where the forecast. >> good morning to you. if you are someone who works outside, this week is perfect for you. high pressure is the reason why. clear skies right now. a mostly sunny afternoon. the temperatures will be able to climb into the 70 nz some cities. chilly in fairfield. 36 degrees in oakland. turning over to the 70s in the south bay. 70 degrees in san jose. 70 in santa cruz and 71 in santa rosa. sunset at 7:54 p.m. the warm up continues for thursday, the warmest day of the week, 78 degrees. leveling off for the weekend but

not too bad. mike, over to you. >> thank you. a 28 minute drive off the carquinez bridge. the earlier debris has cleared. it's slow out of richmond to the berkeley curve. it's the only major in the maze. we have a 580 showing slowing. south bay shows northbound 101. >> thank you very much, mike. we'll be back with the next news and weather update in 30 minutes. see you at 7:56.

it is 7:30 on tuesday morning, april 26, 2011. it took a while but spring has arrived in new york city. al says it will go up into the 80s. we're looking forward to going outside saying hello to the big crowd on the plaza. meanwhile, meredith has assembled an impressive group outside buckingham palace in london. some of them may have been there for the changing of the guard. others with ms. meredith vieira. we'll check in with her in a little while. meanwhile, coming up from here, the latest on a heartbreaking

story. two 14-year-old girls who were best friends committed suicide together at a sleepover. this morning their parents will share a cautionary tale in an exclusive live interview. meredith? >> also ahead, matt, on a much lighter note from london, take a closer look at the royal family. they are one of the most famous families in the world and yet we know surprisingly little about them. we'll have more on that ahead. >> plus, former "american idol" judge kara dioguardi has written a new book about her life and she doesn't hold back when it comes to her time on the show. she called part of it, quote, torture. coming up, why she thinks she was brought in and forced out after just a couple of seasons. we'll get to that in a moment. let's begin with the search for answers following the tragic suicides of two 8th graders in minnesota. we'll talk to their mothers in a moment. first "today" national correspondent amy robach has the latest on this. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this tragic story gripped the

rural area where the girls lived and went to middle school. the family of one of the victims said she complained she was bullied. there are still even more questions. fast friends, best friends, paige and hailey, both 14 years old, both found following a sleepover where they hanged themselves. for their families, indescribable heartbreak. >> she's gone. she's not coming back. >> reporter: paige's mom said her daughter was being treated for depression, though paige never talked to her about being bullied. >> there is no do-over. kids need to know that. suicide is not the answer. it is not the answer. >> reporter: the girls became close when hailey moved to minnesota from indiana a year ago. they attended marshall middle school and hailey's family said she had been expelled for defending paige in a fight. in an interview with meredith last week hailey's cousin said

the girls may have carried out a preplanned suicide pact. >> i have to believe myself that they thought this out, you know, pretty thoroughly. seems to me they were going out of their way to keep this to themselves. >> reporter: hailey complained to family members that she was rids ku ridiculed by students about her weight and red hair. she said, i'm so done with people here, they are so mean and two-faced to me it's not even funny. both girls left behind suicide notes telli ining their familie they loved them but offering no clues. >> the toughest part is just understanding reality. realizingi inthat i can't go ho and see her or say hi to her. >> reporter: relatives want to get the message out about suicide prevention and the consequences of bullying. >> there is texting, facebook

and other mediums of communication. nobody's safe. >> reporter: we should note tragically suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens. matt? >> amy, thank you very much. amy robach reporting. the girls' mothers are with us now exclusively. good morning. my condolences to you both. >> thank you. >> i know you want to be here to share the story as a cautionary tale for other parents and teens out there. i also know you must have both asked this question a thousand times over the last several days. that is, what did i miss? was there a sign? was there some indication that this could have been in the offing? how do you answer that question? >> no. i think we were doing everything in our power as mothers to help the girls. but i question it every day, ten times a day. >> tricia you have asked the question. was there a sign? did you notice something

different in your daughter in the days leading up to this? >> i have played it over probably a million times. there is nothing that she even slightly did different. there was nothing. >> both of these girls talked about some form of bullying. was it bullying in the traditional sense of being picked on at school? was it cyber bullying? how would you describe it? >> it was more of the facebook, texting and -- i mean, that's what i got from it. >> yeah, i think so, too. bullying in the traditional sense is different to me than what it is nowadays. kids are so mean and cruel to each other. the things they say to each other is horrible. >> when they came to you individually and said, look, people are saying awful things. as we heard on hailey's facebook or saw on the facebook page "i'm over this."

how did you talk about this with her? how did you try to get her through it? >> you know, i told her that she needs to be the bigger person and turn the other cheek and not let those people get to her. you know, i tried helping her through it as much as i could. >> with paige? >> paige never came to me so much about bullying issues. it was just her regular issues she had with school. i just gave her the best advice i could. i tried to teach her to see past tomorrow. >> i was reading some of the notes this morning and both of your daughters had some issues with depression. i think both were being treated, counseled at least. i think haylee was on medication for depression. >> correct. >> were you experiencing mood swings you just attributed to depression? >> yeah, i think so. she had ups and downs. i think so. >> paige as well. >> was paige? >> yep. >> this is the hardest part to talk about.

i'm a parent of three and i know your daughters left behind notes. >> yeah. >> is it too personal to ask what you have learned from the notes that were left behind? can you share any of the contents of the notes? >> haylee's was pretty short and sweet. you know, it was thank you for giving me an amazing life. i'm sorry for doing this to you. i love you. >> thank you for giving me -- she described her life as amazing. >> yeah. >> parents at home will say, how can young lady who thinks her life is amazing -- >> as i thought. you know, you try to give your kids everything within your means that you can. you know, maybe it's never enough. i don't know. i hope that the school will implement a program to teach kids about this stuff. the harassment between girls at this age is horrible. >> it is. >> in paige's note she wrote to you? >> she wanted us all to know she was very sorry and she never meant to hurt anybody. she wanted us to know she loved

us and never to forget her. >> so for the parents of teenagers and younger children at home today who, like you, may not see any signs, what's the message? what's the lesson you would like to share? >> never, never let a day go by where you don't tell your children that you love them and give them a hug. >> yeah. that's the hardest part is seeing other kids their age. >> tracy and tricia, my sincere condolences. it's brave of you to share the story. >> we want to thank the community for the support they have shown us. >> it was unbelievable. >> amazing. >> thank you for sharing the stories. my condolences. l let's get a check of the weather with al. >> we have been telling you about the severe outbreak of the weather. knoxville, tennessee, took the brunt of it. we'll show you the afternoon temperatures. 80s and 90s through the gulf coast. 100s in southern texas. 50s and 60s as you move into the

pacific northwest. it's a clash of cold and warmle air that has the risk of strong storms. the strongest risk of missouri into arkansas or southern missouri, i should say. the risk extends into western new york and much of pennsylvania today. out west, windy with sunshine through the south. the gulf coast rather warm and sunny as well. good morning to you. already a gorgeous start across the bay area. the high pressure is building in and going to amplify in the next few days. the temperatures will climb from the 40s to the 70s. we are talking the upper 70s by thursday. 47 in hayward. 44 in sunnyvale. turning to 71 at 4:00 p.m. 71 degrees in livermore and 70 in san jose. take a look at the warmer weather headed our way. on day like today, yo >> you want to keep track of your weather all day long. go to weather channel on cable

or weather channel.com on-line. >> thank you, al. still ahead from london, we'll be live with what you don't know about the royal family. kate middleton is now marrying into. we'll have that ahead on a tuesday morning after this. ♪ wh ♪ ♪ lola gets ♪ and, little man, little lola wants you ♪ [ cellphone dings ] [ cellphones ringing ] [ women screaming ] ♪ make up your mind to have one diet pepsi, please. ♪ no regrets ahh. ♪ what's going on over there? ♪ and i wondered what it was. i found out that connected to our muscles are nerves that send messages through the body. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia, thought to be the result of overactive nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves.

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back now with more of our countdown to the royal wedding. back now with more on the countdown of the royal wedding. kate middleton becomes princess katherine on friday. how well does she know the royal family she's about to join? >> nice to see you. welcome to london. william and kate have known each other about a decade, but she's really still getting to know her future in-laws, and there are a lot of them to try to keep track of. kate's parents just met the queen, you may have heard, for the first time last week, but in just three days they're all going to be family. >> give me some love. >> reporter: so it's not exactly "meet the fockers," but kate middleton will meet her own challenges blending in with another set of in-laws, the windsors. they may be the world's most famous family, but it's

remarkable how much we know about britain's royals. >> the thing about the queen is that all that time in public office she's never given an interview. once she meets people, it's as if she's just going through the motions, but she's got -- she gives nothing away. they don't really know her. >> reporter: while kate will marry the future king, she can rule out any he unscheduled visits with his 85-year-old grandmother. >> can i drop in for a cup of coffee or tea? no, that doesn't happen. she has to write a note, and her footmen will take it the queen's page, and the queen will say yes. >> as seen in the movie "the queen" elizabeth loves quiet nights at home where insiders say she prefers her supper served on a tray while watching soap operas, shows, and anything starring clint eastwood. >> go ahead. make my day. >> reporter: if elizabeth wears the crown, it's said her

90-year-old prince william wears the pants. he is required to walk two steps behind her in public. >> in private he is very much head of the windsor family. he makes most of the decisions and what katherine needs to do is go very slowly, very quietly and also ask his advice. >> reporter: kate's soon to be father-in-law prince charles has been the heir apparent since thç age perform three. he employs 149 staff members, including 25 butlers, dressers, chefs and valets, one of whom reportedly squeezes the toothpaste on to his toothbrush. >> he lives in such an ahs entashs style that it almost embarrasses the queen. >> reporter: then there's his wife, camilla, the steely duchess of cornwall. many blame her for breaking up charles and diana. >> she was blamed by diana personally for babying braeking up their marriage. >> reporter: add on all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. prince andrew, known as the party prince, still dealing with the fall-out of sarah ferguson's

scandal. their daughters princess's beatrice and eugenie are well known for their partying ways. sometimes a little too much like dad. >> they may be sweet, but they have dull, ordinary boyfriends. they're just falling out of nightclubs. >> reporter: princess ann who famously hasn't changed her hairstyle in decades is said to be her father's favorite child. >> have we met? >> reporter: her stunning daughter zara phillips is set to be married herself to a rugby star who has broken his nose eight times, and son peter and his canadian wife just gave the queen her first great grandchild, little baby savannah, and then there's prince edward, a would-be tv producer. the queen's only child still in his first marriage to the beautiful countess of wessex, who, like kate, was once a commoner. their 7-year-old daughter will be one of kate's bridesmaids. as the queen prepares to enter buckingham palace, this time as a member of the unique windsor

family. >> for now the royal family has to worry about getting will and kate a wedding gift. i'm assuming flat ware is not going to cut it. the gift for dignitaries is, get this, a signed photo of herself and prince phillip. meredith, if you are really high on the list, it comes in a silver frame. if you are lower down, it comes in leather. i fear if i got one, it would likely be in plastic. >> that's like a napkin as a gift. a picture. exactly. i'm teasing. meanwhile, talking about pictures, we're learning about the thousands of pictures taken by ian kellam-turner just discovered in his agent's old office putting 5-month-old william there. what do you know about these photos? >> these were taken in november of 1982, just 5 months old, a beautiful shot with his mom, diana. they were taken at kensington palace. the former agent left roughly 100,000 photographs behind in this building. it was in east london. they are not all of the royals. here's just a sampling.

that's an adorable one of william with his parents. >> how do you lee behind 100,000 photos? that's a lot. >> the timing is suspect. i have a feeling we'll see more of these coming up. >> william. well, beautiful pictures to say the very least. meanwhile, that biographer whol called am prince andrew's daughter's boyfriends dull. that is nasty. >> tough cookies around here. watch what you say, and look over your shoulder in this place. >> exactly. all right, peter. thank you so much. you have the british suit on assist well. looking dapper. >> kind of you to say. >> nice to see you. much more on the royal family, be sure to down road nbc's free royal wedding app for both the ipad and iphone, and the android as well. coming up, we're going to have much more from here in london, but, up next lindsay lohan speaks out to jay leno about her recent legal troubles. she'll preview what she had to say right after this. say after this. is a big deal... thanks... so i'm glad it's with fidelity. they offer me one-on-one guidance to help me choose my investments. not just with my savings plan here at work. they help me with all of my financial goals.

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days in jail for probation violation. monday she taped an interview for "the tonight show with jay leno". >> at what point did you realize, oh, my god, i could lose this, it could slip away from me? >> i think being young and being in the position i was in you don't take the time to appreciate, you know, what you have. it all kind of -- i'm not a kid anymore. i'm 24. i have made a lot of mistakes. i recognize that. but i'm in the clear now and i feel like as long as i stay focused i will be able to achieve what i want to achieve. >> 120 days in jail, community service including time at a women's center and janitorial work at the l.a. county morgue. >> that's an interesting choice. >> i think especially as a dui involved they try to show people the fragility of life. that's something that happens. >> it's hard to think of her -- when she said she was 24 i was thinking, 24.

how much you have already -- >> experienced. >> and, gosh, i hope the next 24 are more calm. >> i agree. you can see jay's full interview with lindsay tonight on nbc. just ahead, former "american idol" judge kara dioguardi after your local news. with chili's new $6 lunch break combos. choose from a house salad or hot, tasty soup. then pair it with a massive texas toast half sandwich, like our delicious classic turkey or our gigantic new southwestern blt, smothered in cilantro lime mayo and jam-packed

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good morning, everyone. it's 7:56. the fine for texting and driving may get higher. they passed a bill to increase fines. the base fine could increase $50 for first time offender. repeat offenders fined more than $420. the texting while driving ban took effect back in january, 2009. a new app for android phones called dog wars. you feed, train and fight virtual dogs. activists say it could train would be dog fighters. they want it banned. the game produced by cage games features a pit bull with a

bloody muzzle. they say it's a game and there are video games out there much more violent than that. let's check in with christina. >> good morning to you. we are looking good. high pressure is going to make for a beautiful day today. as we have mostly sunny conditions to look forward to. temps in the 70s. a gorgeous, gorgeous afternoon. you might need a jacket in fairfield, we are holding on to the 30s. something you can take off later. our temperatures are headed up. 71 up in santa rosa and 67 degrees in oakland. 4:00 p.m. is the warmest time of the day as the sunsets at 8:00 p.m. at night. up to near 80 degrees by thursday. really comfortable conditions last through the weekend. the temperatures come down a little bit, leveling off to the low 70s. still, warm, dry weather in the forecast for at least the next

seven days. >> we are looking all right. slowing down the east shore freeway causing a big deal now. we have over a half hour. 39 minutes off the carquinez bridge off the toll plaza. the rest of the maze looks all right. 880 not too bad. show you on the map what's happening. hayward and accident at 92. debris in lanes, it's causing a slowdown from fremont and union city. slowing for 101 and 280 areas. >> all right. more local news in a half hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute.

8:00 on this tuesday morning, april 26, 2011. a cloudy day in londontown as big ben counts down the minutes to friday's royal wedding. as we pull out you will take a look at trafalgar square. tomorrow i will report live from there. we are at buckingham palace today which will host not one but two receptions for william and kate. i'm meredith vieira live in london. matt and al back on the plaza in new york where the weather is nicer. just ahead, what's in a name? there have been a number of queens named catherine. things didn't end up well for many of them. we'll explain.

plus, someone who knows prince william best, our exclusive interview with his godfather coming up, matt. >> thank you very much. you know who's in studio now? kara dioguardi. she's best known to people as the judge of "american idol" for two seasons. she's written a new book about her life, revealing stories about her childhood and career. yes, she talks about "american idol" as well. it wasn't always the easiest time for her. she admits to being crucified by viewers. she'll talk about why it was so difficult when we join her in a few minutes. >> we have been telling you about the problems the play "spider-man: turn off the dark" has been having. there is a new creative team trying to rework the show. they will speak out in an exclusive live interview. >> okay. a lot to get to. let's head inside. ann curry has the headlines of the morning. hi, ann. >> good morning again. in the news a relentless rain is pounding southern missouri

leaving levees ready to burst and residents fleeing to higher ground. severe storms began monday. they have ravaged half a dozen states including arkansas where at least seven people were killed and 100,000 left without power. the governor declared a state of emergency. italy says it will now take part in strategic bombing raids over libya as premiere silvio berlusconi announces that he wants to do more to protect civilians. meantime, the u.s. state department is telling americans to leave syria. on monday, at least 11 people were killed as the army cracked down on prodemocracy demonstrators in a southern city at the centerer of the uprising against president asad. new hampshire police are seeking answers after a young single motherer disappeared over the weekend. her car found in a parking lot with her baby daughter sleeping alone inside. nbc's ron allen has the latest now from conway, new hampshire.

good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the parking lot of the ski resort is where the mom's car was found, the engine running. it was 6:30 a.m. saturday morning. her 14-month-old daughter is doing just fine. police are convinced someone forced the mother to leave her child alone. krista ditmire vanished without a trace. those who know her say she's a devoted, loving mother who never would have abandoned her child. little aliyah is healthy and well, staying with her grandmother. the family says she's missing her mother. ditmire, a waitress who lives in portland, maine spoke to her family by phone friday night. nothing unusual. her car was found an hour and a half away in conway, new hampshire, where she has friends. police say that isn't particularly suspicious, but they believe there is no doubt she's the victim of a crime. >> nothing to indicate in her background that she was

suicidal. >> reporter: her family said she's a strong, bold woman who they think convinced an attacker to spare her child and left the car with flashers on in a place where someone would find it. >> regardless of whether or not she knew her say say lant assai likely she convinced the person to leave the child there and the reality is the child would never be a witness in the case. >> reporter: all they can do is help and pray for help. >> i'm waiting for her to show up. i feel like it's not real. if anyone remembers seeing her at any point at all, just please let us know any details. >> reporter: at this point authorities are operating under the assumption that the mom is still alive. the best news of all is that her child is doing fine healthy and unharmed. ann? >> a story that's still developing. ron allen, thank you. a dare devil stunt before a live

audience in england took a tragic turn when a human can bonnball plunged 40 feet to his death as spectators and young children looked on. an investigation is under way. it is believed the 23-year-old man died when his safety net failed. on a different night keko, the shebaemu became a world wide internet sensation when her owners put the live feed of her first litter online. since the third litter was born two weeks ago, more than 27 million people have visited upstream.com to watch the live video of the pups. many viewers enjoying their furry antics for hours at a time. what better way to relieve stress? it's 8:05. let's get a check of the weather outside with al. >> thanks, ann. we have a young lady here who survived the st. louis airport tornado. >> i did. >> that must have been frightening.

>> it was. >> how long did it take you to get home? >> we were supposed to be here friday night. we were supposed to switch planes in st. louis. then the tornado hit. the airport closed. >> wow, we're glad you're here. >> thank you. >> everybody's safe. let's check your weather. pick city of the day is jacksonville, florida. partly cloudy, isolated storms have strong storms grees today. unfortunately. that system that med through arkansas yesterday is slowly moving east. we're going to see more storms firing up again today from texas through much of arkansas into missouri. risk of strong storms into western new york. rain along the pacific northwest coast. sunny skies along the midatlantic coast with temperatures stretching down into the gulf. oh, it is going to be a gorgeous day around here. if you can, get outside. you will want to do so. 70 degree weather later on. low 70s today, mid 70s tomorrow. then talking upper 70s by thursday as high pressure fills

into the area. it cleared the skies this morning, pushed the marine layer back out to sea. you don't have to worry about low clouds or fog over the bridges. 49 in san jose. 70 later today. and the warmup continues as we head into thursday. and that's your latest weather. matt? >> al, thank you very much. kara dioguardi has written lots of hit songs. now she's written a new book about her life and, yes, her time on "american idol." we'll talk to her righafter these messages. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ introduciat pizza hut, beyond we know your tuesdays are busy. introducing purina one beyond [ male announcer ] on tuscani tuesdays,

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oh! ok. this is my mom and dad. robin, whatcha doin'? i'm dealing with a slight underwear malfunction. oh, you need hanes panties. they don't ride up. hanes panties. so cute. and they don't ride up. we are back at 8:10 with kara dioguardi, the grammy nominated songwriter took her seat at the "american idol" judges' table and instantly became a lightning rod for controversy. after two seasons she took her final bow. now she's opening up about her life and time on the show in her new book called "a helluva high note." nice to see you. welcome back. it's been a while. >> it has. >> you're young to write a memoir and the "american idol" stuff, some people may see as a little bit of score settling. is that the way you see it? >> no. i decided to write a book because i was doing shows at the

end of season 9 where i would go out, sing the songs i had cowritten and tell the stories behind the songs. it telt with challenges i have come through, things i faced and how difficult it was to attain dree your dreams. i thought it might help other people looking to pursue a career outside the norm. >> there are about 50 pages at the end dedicated to "american idol." they will get a lot of attention. one of the things you feel is your introduction was mishandled. they didn't announce your arrival in the right way and tell people why you deserved the seat at that table? >> i don't know that it was mishandled. i think they did a montage at the beginning to introduce me, but i think people were so confused by songwriter? record executive? what are these things. i don't think a lot of people know that's a job, that people write songs. so it took the viewers a while to understand why i was there.

it was like i broke up the beatles. >> you were interrupting the chemistry of the panel. you write, as far as i'm concerned "american idol" season 8 might have been called survivor. every moment was mentally, physically and emotionally challenging. every fear or insecurity about the way i looked, what i said ond who i was leaped to the front of my mind before each show. it was torture. >> i came from behind the scenes. i was used to sitting on the couch in the back of the studio. to be thrust into the homes of millions of people and live television and things i didn't know how to do was so challenging. but, you know, that's why the book talks to people who have to face their fears and tells them that, you know, you can come through this. you can do this. >> we reached out to fox and they declined comment. do you believe you were brought on to bring paula online so she wouldn't go crazy on contract

negotiations? they bring another hot chick and say, if you leave she'll take your place? >> i don't know that that was true. i think they wanted to mix it up. they wanted the chemistry to be fresh. it was really difficult to come into something so established. you know, i have to say i have nothing but love for "american idol." i came through it. i'm stronger for it. i got to face some really big fears. >> some of the other things you write about in the book. you talk about an episode where you are 11 years old and repeatedly molested by a family friend. used to play hide and seek and you write the game soon became hide, seek and touch. what's most disturbing is you went to your mother and said, this boy, this teenager is doing this to me. she did nothing. >> you know, it was at a time when there were no oprahs. i came from a conservative catholic family. i don't think i heard my motherer say "sex" until i was 22. it was hard for her to deal

with. but the good news is i have heard from a friend of hers that it did weigh on her and that she did reach out to friends and talk about it. before she died, we spoke about it. >> there is another incident in the book. i think it will prove controversial. you write about a music producer. fairly well known. who date raped you. you write in the book, he asked if i wanted to have dinner one evening. i was looking for a friend i could talk shop with, someone to give me career advice. i didn't get that. within a few hours he was on top of me. the thing about date rape is you don't know it's happening until it's too late. you don't name a name. why did you decide to include that? >> these are things that affected my songs. going through an experience like that was so difficult. when i went to choose men i didn't always choose the greatest guys. a lot of those experiences ended up in, like, angry songs. for me it was important to express why i got into these bad

relationships. but, again, following my dream is what saved me. >> by including the story and not naming names, which i understand why you don't name names, it will create a lot of speculation. are you worried at all that some innocent people might be wrapped up in the speculation? >> that's why i didn't name names. it's not about that person. i don't want it to become about that person. i want it to become about all the other people who have been through this experience and tell them that you can get through it. you can be stronger for it. >> one of the other things you write about in the book is your mom passing away after a battle with cancer. you write that on your resumé it's your proudest moment because you were 100% there for her when she needed you. you write that after you watched them take her body and remove it from her home nothing could ever touch you again. nothing anybody ever said about you or did to you could harm you again. >> in the moment it may have stung if they said something but

it could never hurt me the way losing a parent and watching them die from a terrible disease like that feels. >> i think it is nice that you were able to put everything else aside at that time. despite ups and downs in your life together, be there 100%. >> yeah. i don't know how i had that foresight, but i did. you know, i know that i spent years of time with her in those years. every moment i could. you know, it was the right thing to do and she was a great mom. none of us are perfect. we're all human. >> the book is called "a helluva high note." kara dioguardi, thanks for being here. good to see you again. >> thank you very much. >> speaking of "idol" coming up we'll catch up with the latest cast-off. but first from london how william and kate's will compare to other royal weddings. meredith will have that right after this. [ male announcer ] bell helmets,

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welcome back to buckingham palace where we are counting down to the royal wedding. on friday, kate middleton will walk out of westminster abbey as princess catherine, a name that has an interesting place in royal history. once married to prince william, catherine middleton will join a long line of british queens called catherine. and there is food for thought there. >> the problem is they have been unlucky, all of them. no love and no real luck. >> reporter: catherine who married henry v was a widow. >> completely unpopular in england because she was roman catholic, couldn't really speak english. >> reporter: and then there was henry viii whose love of feasting was matched by his attraction to women called catherine. catherine of aragon, the

marriage which ended in divorce and the hapless 15-year-old catherine howard, one of the first commoners to become queen. >> instead of having a mid-life crisis and buying a porsche he took a younger woman and beheaded her. she preferred to be with young, handsome men. >> reporter: her ghost still haunts the gallery of the palace. wife number six was catherine parr, a former lady in waiting. >> at least she didn't lose her head. >> reporter: in the past, princesses were political pawns in the marriage game, but this catherine is marrying for love and she may be a bit of a game-changer. you are the author of several novels including "the other boleyn girl" and "the red queen." good morning to you. >> thank you for having me. nice place you have here. >> great view here. let's talk about the abbey.

there is a tremendous amount of royal history there. the queen mother was married there, the queen herself was married there, william's uncle andrew and aunt ann as well. what does it mean to the family? why do you think this couple chose the abbey? >> i think what was important is when the queen mother married there it was after the first world war. it was trying to connect to windsor family who were of german descent with the english royals and the english royal history. >> it was a calculated move. >> of course. these are ace p.r. people. they have a title and have retained the title for, you know, a thousand years by making sure they captured the mood of the people and respond to it. i think after the first world war there was a sense of identifying this family with english history and with this very, very ancient church and the queen mother put her bouquet on the tomb of the unknown

soldier to connect the royal family with the people. >> does every bride do that? >> they do. >> catherine will? >> if she wants to. i imagine she will. >> how do you think this wedding will be different from others? >> it will be just the same, really. they will have the same service. it's quite interesting whether she promises to obey or not. >> i read that she's not going to. >> most brides don't anymore. it was always a lie. now people don't feel the need to do it. it will be a traditional wedding. i doubt there will be anything -- >> they are not going to tinker with it. >> i doubt that. >> prince william reportedly said he wants to follow in the example of his grandparents once he and catherine are married. they spent two years living as a royal navy couple in malta. the queen said it was one of the happiest times of her life and they will do the same thing. what do you make of that? >> it's an understandable ambition.

i'm sure he would like to delay the on set of the public attention they will get as a couple and particularly she'll get as a princess. it's never going to happen. unfortunately we live in an age now where everybody has a camera on their phone. everybody can join the internet in a second. everybody wants to know everything. there is no sense anymore that people should have a private life and that the media interest stops at any door. i'm afraid they will step onto the world stage on friday and they will never get off it. >> thank you so much. i could talk to you forever. thank you very much. just ahead an interview with prince william's godfather. now back to matt, ann and al in new york. >> thank you very much. we are here with stefano langone, the latest contestant voted off "american idol." nice to see you. are you okay with this? >> oh, man. how can i not be? i was on the biggest show in the world. i did a good job. i went out there every week doing the best i could do and it turned out great.

lucky number seven. >> jennifer lopez says speaking for the girls in the audience, your last performance, i thought was very, very good. you had your swag going on. >> i did something different with my last performance going with an up tempo song, really current. my last segment with jimmy he was like, you got to be sexy and i'm like, yeah, why haven't i been sexy yet? so i went out, showed my chops and it was a great performance. >> you haven't really been able to bust out musically. >> yeah. >> what would you have done differently? >> i saved my piano chops and that part of my artistry to myself. i wanted to hold that moment for after, you know? i wanted it shall that's really speciale to me. i think it will be special when people hear that. there is so much scrutiny on the show. i would rather have my music and do my music than a cover and be judged on that.

that's how i went about that one. >> a long way from washington. >> shout out to them. i love them so much. >> you did great and the ladies on the show said you could flirt with a piece of paper. good morning, it is 7: -- 8:26. oakland has the ball rolling on a gang crackdown. despite a fight after the last attempt to do so. they are trying to restrict movement of alleged gang members in oakland. they are paying a firm to work on the civil injunction. the injunction against alleged gang members in fruit veil is the subject of hearings for more than two months. there's also a preliminary injunction in north oakland that .as been in place almost a a look at the forecast and the morning commute after this.

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good morning to you. over the past hour, now that the sun is out, we jumped almost ten degrees. 51 in hayward, 51 in sunnyvale. we will continue to warm up today. headed towards the 70s. 68 for gilroy, 70 in san jose. warmer in the north way. 71 in livermore. warmer heading into tomorrow. we peak heat thursday, 78 degrees.

easing up a bit for the 80 between the bridges. downtown to oakland, the coliseum route. earlier accident on 92 that cleared. the other side of the water, 101 has slowing around 92 both directions as well as the lower peninsula southbound and northbound side coming out of mountain view into palo alto. typical spot for slowing, but lighter. a lot of spring breaks around the area. thank you. the next local news and weather update is at 8:56. the "today" show turns in a minute.

♪ we are back at 8:30 on a tuesday morning. it's the 26th day of april, 2011. it is pretty in the northeast. finally got warm temperatures. we are going near 80 today. that's nothing but good news for people wearing crowns out on the plaza in honor of friday's royal wedding. or burger king's giving them out. i'm not sure.

out on the plaza i'm matt lauer along with ann curry and al roker. miss meredith in london where she's outside buckingham palace. i understand coming up you will get to talk to someone who will be an attendant at friday's wedding. >> yes, i am. i got to talk to a cousin to prince charles and godfather to the groom. he'll tell us why he thinks william will make a great king and who william should rely on most for advice. al, matt? >> all right. also, coming up, we have been documenting all the problems with the broadway play "spider-man." it's now on hiatus. can it be saved? we'll talk exclusively to the new creative team in charge of fixing the troubled show. >> all right. also, you have tried yoga? >> yes. >> have you ever tried vikram yoga. >> is that the one where it's like 100 degrees? >> that's the one. general i canjennal is checking.

>> can we say hello to mr. carson daly the host of "the voice" premiering tonight. carson, good morning. >> good morning. thank you very much. good to see you. >> this show has a difference. why is it different from other singing competition shows? >> we start with just the voice. forget the quest to be a celebrity overnight. this is a search for a new talent driven by four people in their prime in the music business looking to discover and mentor and ultimately find the voice of america. >> the mentorship is key. in fact, as i understand it -- let's talk about the judges. you have serious judges. christina aguilera. >> the voice of the generation. she's fantastic. she's like mother hen on the show. adam levine from maroon 5, blake shelton and cee-lo green is having a heck of a year. they want to be a part of the

show to offer the same advice they got on their way up to other people about being judgmental. they have competition amongst themselves because the four judges want to be the ones to find the voice. >> how do they pick them? >> they don't know anything when people walk out on the floor. if they get goosebumps, get moved by the performance they can turn around and see them. those are the blind auditions which start tonight. >> and they get the power -- >> the power shifts to the kid who's star struck. then he interviews them. why should i be on your team? what can you do for me? it's different from the other shows. it's great. >> we want to remind people it premieres tonight at 9:00/8:00 central. >> we promote the things we like. two-hour premier tonight. check it out. >> thank you. always a pleasure.

>> mr. roker. >> that's what's going on good morning. we have a warmup in store. look at the seven day outlook. starting at 70 degrees today, wrapping up numbers to 74 for wednesday, and up to 78 degrees by thursday. so what's happening is we have a big strong ridge of high pressure in place. it is going to amplify through the next few days, but hey, we're talking about a warm, dry tend that isn't going anywhere for the next ten days at least. >> don't forget to check your weather any time day or night. weather channel on cable. weather.com online. >> thank you for that. when we come back, meredith talks royal wedding with prince william's godfather. that will be happening, but first this is "today" on nbc. ♪

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palace and our countdown to the royal wedding. in just three days now friday has been declared a public holiday but it is also a personal occasion. among the guests the former king of greece constantine. we caught up at his home here in london. constantine is a king in name only, and has been for more than 40 years. at age 23 he assumed the throne. he married shortly after. the young, handsome king was already a national hero for winning a gold medal in sailing in the 1960 olympics. just three years into his reign, things went terribly wrong. the young monarch and his queen anne-marie fled in the middle of the night after a military coup. king constantine has lived in exile since 1967. >> why are you not become a bitter man given what happened to you? >> life is way too short.

i remember when i was a child my mother told me once, if you hit your toe at the end of the bed when you walk around your room it doesn't help going back to that place and hitting it again and again. there is no point. you have to get on with life. >> constantine found a home in london near his relatives from the house of windsor. he is second cousin to prince charles and godfather to prince william. >> there is a wonderful picture of prince william directly behind you as a little boy. >> saluting. >> i turned around and he was saluting. i don't know. children do funny things. >> if you had to describe prince william how would you? >> they are lucky. they have a guy who's hard-working with a fantastic sense of humor. above all he has from his parents and grandparents the first thing that's important -- service to the people.

he will be a great king one day. >> have you spoken to william since the engagement? >> i spoke to him once. i really feel that why should he bother with me? >> you're his godfather. are you excited about the wedding? >> very. i think it's wonderful. it's nice to see a young couple happy like that. it think it will be a fantastic moment. >> do you think he will be nervous on his wedding day? >> william? yes, i'm sure he will. excited and nervous. she will be, too. so will the parents, grandparents and the godparents. >> constantine and his wife will attend the wedding along with their youngest son crown prince pablo and his wife. constantine said he and prince charles have learned to raise royals in a modern world. >> you knew princess diana well. did she talk about her dreams for her oldest son prince

william knowing that he was on that path to become at some point the king? >> of course as a mother she was concerned about what would be. you give them everything, all the love. at the end of the day they have to choose. i think both parents did that. they chose to do a job which is very important. it saves lives. he is not wasting his life. >> do you think he understands the burden of becoming king? >> i think he does. i'm sure he does. if he needs anything, all he's got to do is ring up his grandmother. she's the most unique human being you can find. vast experience. >> my grandmother once said that grief is the price we pay for love. >> as prince william and catherine make their way, embracing royal traditions thousands of years gone, they are redefining royalty for the modern age. the young glamorous couple

captured the world's attention and looks to be the future of the british monarchy. >> he's a good chap, very good boy. i think he's, of course, lucky. she's also lucky. she has a wonderful man who will be a fantastic husband, no question about it. >> don't forget. our coverage of the royal wedding begins on friday at 4:00 a.m. eastern, 1:00 a.m. pacific time here on nbc. we'll have much more live from london in a moment. up next, from new york, the new creative team in charge of fixing "spider-man: turn off the dark." we'll talk to them exclusively. first this is "today" on nbc. i'm a curious seeker.

i am a chemistry aficionado. diphenhydramine. magnesium hydroxide. atheletes foot. yes. i'm a people pleaser. if elected, i promise flu shots for all. i am a walking medical dictionary. congratulations virginia. inflamed uvula. i'm virginia. i'm a target pharmacist and i'm here to answer your questions.

we're back now at 8:43 with the web of problems for the broadway musical "spider-man: turn off the dark." you're laughing now. faced with bad reviews, on-stage accidents and an enormous budget it's on hiatus. the script is being reworked.

we'll talk to the creative team in a moment. first, anne thompson. >> here we go. spider-man 2.0 sprks this . >> reporter: this is the task of the biggest do-over in broadway history. after months of previews and $70 million, "spider-man: turn off the dark" is retooling. >> walk through, do your patterns so we know everyone is safe. >> reporter: from the beginning this high-flying musical pushed the edge of creativity and safety. five crew members injured including christopher tierney. then the critics weighed in. atrocious. horrendous. a national joke. undaunted, spider-man is trying again inspired by tierney's return. >> i love being on stage. i love my cast. >> reporter: out is the director julie tamor and in is a director

of the circus. >> you make the impossible possible. that's this company. >> reporter: even rehearsal is a spectacle. whe this looks like a nasa control room. it takes all this technology and 136 people to make the show fly. making it last is more basic. it needs a great story and great music. a task even a superhero can't guarantee. for today, anne thompson, nbc news, new york. >> three members of the new "spider-man: turn off the dark" creative team are with us. director philip mckinley, writer and glen burger. good morning. >> good morning. >> your shrinks are all asking you this question and your family. why would you sign up knowing the troubled history of the show? >> why not? it's stirring to be part of something with great integrity, great dedication.

that was my decision. i joined a company that i knew had the fortitude to do it. >> no fears that you wouldn't be able to turn it around and that the press would continue to haunt the show? >> if you are allowed a mulligan in golf you should be allowed a re-do of a broadway musical. >> i think everyone knew spider-man is one of the most beloved characters of all time in popular culture. people didn't want to let it go at just being okay. people wanted to make it as great as it could be. >> when you three first sat down and watched the show with your own eyes what was your first reaction? >> first time i saw it i was thrilled. i had a great time. i went to see it as a spectator, not a person from the business. it is visually incredible. julie's work is stellar. >> you didn't see any of the comments, the criticism from reviewers? those weren't evident to you on stage? >> wait, wait. we would be lying if we didn't see some of that. >> the problems. >> but, look, we're fortunate.

we have been able to take the critics and what they have said. that's free advice. that's great. we take that advice, turn it into taking in what they have said and now we'll work on it. >> audience members said in the past the tone was off. it was too dark. it didn't do justice to the legacy of spider-man. how do you change that? >> one of the things we all felt, i think, and the company and the producers felt was there wasn't enough emphasis on the love story between peter parker and mary jane, two high school kids who fall for each other and fall in love. we really made an effort to bring that story to the forefront and warm them up, give them a little bit of spunk and humor that wasn't there. really, just honor the characters in the marvel comics. uncle ben is there, aunt may. the characters we know and lo. >> what's the mood of the cast now? they have been beaten down for a long time. whose the morale level?

>> great. >> high. they can't wait. they see a new dawn in the future. >> one of the thingses that's interesting and we need to note is that at the box office, this show has done very well. is there a little piece of you that worries people were buying tickets for the morbid curiosity factor and that if you fix the show all of the sudden that factor will be gone? >> we'll push phil down the aisle every night if that's what people want. >> i don't think it will be gone because of the spectacular flying that's in it. there will be that element. >> not like a hockey game where they are going for the fight? >> i think that element may exist. we have guys that drop 30 feet off the top balcony of the theater and fly. we're not taking that away. >> and the all new spider-man makes its debut in three weeks? >> we open to previews june 12 with a new song.

"freak like me." have us back to do it on the plaza. turn us into freaks. >> the job has been done for you. good luck, guys. appreciate you coming in. up next, why yoga is hotter than ever. first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪ [ male announcer ] who's your car's best friend? gasoline that cleans. chevron with techron. care for your car. chevron with techron. we need to solve the problem. the state budget crisis threatens our economy... and our schools. loans to small businesses on hold. job creation at a standstill. 30,000 teachers already laid off. can we really afford billions more in cuts? $13 billion more devastates our schools, our safety, and the california we know. it's time for lawmakers to finally get the problem solved now. our kids and economy can't afford to wait.

from hollywood to middle america and dozens of countries

around the world bikram yoga has developed a cult-like following. "today" correspondent jenna wolfe caught up with the man behind the fom nanphenomenon. i didn't realize it was a man. >> it is a man. this is the hot yoga. people will try to convert you. the reason for that? a man with a big plan. he's been called many things, evangelical, egotistical, but with millions in the bank clearly bikram is doing something right. >> you don't look or sound like a typical yogi. so many people embrace you and this practice. why do you think it is? >> that's why i'm bikram. i'm the yogi. open your lungs and fill up. >> reporter: he's attracted quite a following with names

like michael jackson, lady gaga, richard nixon and a former pope. >> the pope came to learn from me. for one week i taught him all about india. >> reporter: bikram started practicing yoga at 4 in india. he was crowned yoga champion by 13. and at age 27 he moved to the united states to start his dynasty. >> it will be the best in the world. >> reporter: we caught up with the 65-year-old yoga guru turg a recent bikram teacher training program in los angeles. quite a speech you gave. >> oh, that's nothing. >> reporter: it's here people come to get certified in bikram. >> you won't recognize your face in the mirror at the end. >> reporter: jennifer lobo was a former graduate. she went on to teach and open her own studios in new york city. >> it's very healing yoga. it's a beginning series yoga so anybody can do it. >> reporter: with over 500

certified studios and a million people practicing around the world, almost anyone, anywhere can experience bikram. >> take a deep breath. >> reporter: what is bikram yoga? of the thousands of postures bikram chose 26 along with two breathing exercises. he took an ancient art form and copy righted it, branding the unbrandable. >> i'm the only person in the history of india to create a system in bikram yoga. >> reporter: then there is the heat. bikram calls it a torture chamber with class temperatures around 105 degrees and 40% humidity. he says the heat allows the muscles to loosen up and deeply stretch. >> when the room is more hot you never hurt, never injury, never any problems. >> reporter: ask him about the benefits of bikram and this is what you get. >> ruscoliosis, osteoporosis,

tendinitis. anything else? >> reporter: his claims of a miracle cure also come with criticism. >> the main medical risks with bikram yoga would be dehydration and heat stroke. as a physician i would be skeptical about trains that you can treat and cure all those disease states with one exercise regimen. >> reporter: from someone whose practice is pure, his own habits seem less than ideal. >> i work 24 hours a day, no food, no sleep? >> reporter: you really don't sleep much? >> hardly. not 30 hours a month. >> reporter: come on. you don't sleep 30 hours a month? do you drink coffee? >> never. you will never meet another human being in this earth more pure than me. >> reporter: some may argue that bikram is a contradiction to his own brand. he sells yoga, the purest, most ancient form of spirituality. its wealth comes from within. bikram's wealth -- and he doesn't hide it -- comes from

the outside. >> reporter: do you like money? >> yeah, i like money. why not? i'm 110% in what i do. i sell the truth. >> reporter: perhaps it is that very truth that fills up his classes year after year. >> every time you are in the room you learn something about yourself. >> reporter: people come to my class. they give up everything from their life. the mind is gone, spirit is gone. those people come to me. i bring hope to them and give them brand new life. >> reporter: we should mention bikram and his wife want to make yoga an olympic sport. they are trying hard to do it. i took this class. i take bikram regularly and have been for nine months now. i took the class from bikram. i don't have a problem with the heat. if you can stand it -- i know, ann, you take yoga. if you can stand the heat this pushes you to your edge and allows you to really stretch as deeply as you can.

>> and you relax. >> if you call that relaxing. good morning, it is 8:56. i'm scott mcgrew. san jose police are looking for an armed and dangerous bank robbery. he held up a bank near cam ben den and lee. the suspect fired a pistol into the ceiling before fleeing with a bag of cash.

police describe the robber as 20 to 30 years old with dark complexion, standing six feet tall, weighing 130 pounds. the same bankt was rbe last november. we will have weather coming up after the break.

good morning. clear skies overhead. the sun is out and our temperatures are climbing. 51 degrees in hayward, 54 in sunnyvale. we are at 50 in concord. mild conditions. you probably don't need the jacket if you're just waking up. headed towards the 70s later today. 71 in livermore, 68 in concord, 65 in san rafael. the breeze will pick up during the afternoon and evening, gets better tomorrow. 74 degrees.

back to you, scott. >> thanks, christina. thanks for joining us. the "today" show continues next.

we're back with more of "today" on a tuesday morning, the 26th day of april, 2011. some of the people out on the plaza this morning joining us. maybe up to 80 today. that would be nice. >> let's hear it for the weather. >> been a long time coming. we deserve it. i'm matt lauer with ann curry and al roker. natalie morales is reporting from westminster abbey in london. good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning, guys. i know one thing we have been talk about is how gorgeous the weather has been here and how warm and amazing for london.

now things seem to be changing a little bit. there is some concern that there will be rain here on friday. i'm telling you guys so you are well prepared and pack accordingly. but here outside westminster abbey we have a tent city growing. people staking their claim, trying to find a good vantage point for the royal wedding on friday. it's getting exciting. we are ramping things up. media is here from all over the world. it's going to be great, guys. >> we'll check in with you in a little while. >> also, what else to see if you happen to be traveling to london for the wedding. meantime, kate's dress will fit her to a tee but for a lot of women the question is are you a 4, 10 or a 14? we could be all three depending on where we shop. for many women it's a big self-esteem issue when we measure by the dress size. we'll talk about why this is. is there something called vanity sizing? why is it inconsistent? we'll look at how different

brands measure up. >> and later on, some u.s. marines pay tribute to britney spears. that's right. dozens of marines are featured lip synching to her hit "hold it against me." now a viral hit online. ann will talk to two of the marines in the video. >> more than 2 million views. >> that's good. >> first a check of the top stories for the day. >> in fact, we want to talk about a deadly tornado that tore into a small town in central arkansas late last night threatening trees and power lines, tearing the roofs off home and leaving at least four people dead. three more died elsewhere in the state. emergency crews are racing to find dozens of missing people as more storms are expected to strike this afternoon. italy says it will take part in strategic bombing raids over libya. meantime the u.s. state department is telling americans to leave syria. at least 11 people were killed there on monday as the army cracked down on pro democracy

demonstrators in the south. two new developments in the 2012 race for the white house. ron paul is in. haley barbour is out. ron paul is forming an exploratory committee. the governor of mississippi is not running because he says he doesn't have the, quote, fire in the belly for the job. memorials are held in ukraine today marking the 25th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster at chernobyl. they need to raise $300 million to build a new shelter to contain the damaged reactor. this as japanese officials announced their own crisis is, quote, less serious than chernobyl. a third air traffic controller has been fired for sleeping on the job. the f.a.a. says the controller was caught napping twice this year while on duty at boeing field in seattle. five similar incidents nationwide have been revealed since march. and levi johnston is writing a tell-all to set the record

straight about his contentious relationship with the palin family. he said the book will be released in the fall and it is called "deer in the headlights: my life in sarah palin's crosshairs." enough said. it is now three minutes past the hour. you're up to date. >> that was a good choice. very good. >> smart. >> i don't know if i would have made that choice. glad you were doing that story. >> how about a check of the weather? >> sadly, we've got more severe weather to talk about. same areas that were hammered yesterday will get it again today. upper level energy. we have warm, moist air riding up in front of the cold front. cold air behind it. we have a risk of storms from texas to new york. but the strongest risk right now northeastern texas into western tennessee. memphis, little rock, texarkana all with the possibility of tornadoes today. it will be rough. we have tornadoes to worry about and heavy rain from three to five inches from texarkana into

louisleville. flood watches and warns from texas to ohio and parts of new england. 71 for liver for today, 64 in gilroy today. time now for our countdown to the royal wedding. just three days to go until prince william and kate middleton tie the knot. our own natalie morales is at westminster abbey with the latest on the wedding preparations. i guess it includes getting ready for rain, nat.

>> reporter: yes, unfortunately it looks like everybody is watching the skies here. the scaffolding is up. they are putting on the finishing touches. decorations are up throughout london. the city looks magnificent but everybody is watching for the possibility of rain on friday for the royal wedding. the big talk here, if that happens, the first glimpse of kate's wedding dress could be covered by an umbrella. >> reporter: after days of sunny skies in london the weather could soon take a turn for the worse. cloudy skies are in the forecast with showers predicted for the day of the royal wedding. after they are married william and kate are supposed to take an open carriage from westminster abbey to buckingham palace but there is a backup plan. if it rains they will take a glass coach. >> rides lady diana. >> reporter: the same one used by princess diana when she was married. all over london, security sweeps have begun. on the day of the wedding, 5,000 police officers will take to the streets on foot and on horseback.

they will also patrol along the thames and watch from above in helicopters, with live pictures fed to central command. >> we'll make sure the security is in place, providing basically for the reassurance of those in charge of the event on the ground. >> reporter: new details are emerging about the ceremony. we learned prince william and kate middleton will enjoy one private moment with their families during this very public event. after their vows the newlyweds will pass through the chapel of st. edward the concessor behind the altar out of the public's view to sign to marriage register in complete privacy. billions are expected to watch the royal wedding on television. and the wedding is getting "the x factor." the hip british tv show is lending out a top stage manager to oversee the coverage. one fan couldn't wait for the big day. john loffery of south london is already camping out at westminster abbey.

>> diana will be proud of her son, prince william, and catherine's marriage. prince harry as best man. she'll be with them in spirit in westminster abbey on their special day and always. >> reporter: that guy now has company here. more and more people are starting to camp out here, staking their claim to a good viewing spot here. meantime, officials in london are encouraging all who will be here for the royal weddinging t dress for the occasion, hats and all. al, morning suit for you and a top hat. got that? >> okay. i guess i have to get to a rental place when i land. okay. natalie, thanks. we'll see you tomorrow. >> sure. >> if you are headed to london for the big day, what else is there to see and do? kate maxwell is outside buckingham palace along with british airways' simon smith joining us in studio. we should also mention british airways is sponsoring ourle royal treatment contest. good morning to you both.

>> good morning. >> good morning. >> first of all, the atmosphere right now, what's it like in london at this point? >> it's getting exciting. as you know the weather has been amazing the last few days. that puts a smile on londoners' faces. the union jacks are flying, there's bunting everywhere, memorabilia for sale. people are looking forward to a big party friday. >> first of all, you say one of the places you should stop at is where they are going to get married -- westminster abbey. >> exactly. >> are they still doing tours? >> we have just seen westminster abbey on natalie's piece. if you didn't get an invite to the wedding on friday, it re-opens to the public on saturday. it's an immensely important historic building. 17 monarchs are buried there. it is where coronations have taken place since 1066. wonderful stained glass, beautiful architecture. definitely have a look around.

it's also just opposite the houses of parliament and big ben. you can do three sites for the price of one, if you like. >> is it closed to the public now until the wedding? >> it is closed at that time moment, yes. >> all righty. >> you have to wait until the weekend. >> another place i know you like and simon likes as well is the london eye. i have ridden this. it's amazing. >> not many people know it but it is the number one tourist attraction. we were one of the founding partners when it was built. >> how long does it take to go around? >> 30 minutes all around. i would recommend it as a key thing to do. if you can't see everything on foot, go see them from a bird's eye view. >> your next place on the list, kate, the tower of london. that's iconic. >> absolutely. it was founded in 1080 by william the conquerer. it's been a royal residence and also a prison. ann boylyn was beheaded there.

it also has the crown jewels. this is a serious amount of priceless bling. everything from diamond and ruby-encrusted crowns to swords, sceptors and rings. get a tour from a beefeater, the official tower guards. they have fantastic stories and watch for the raven. legend has it that if the e.r.a..e.r.a ravens escape the tower the kingdom will fall. there are seven at the moment. >> that's not good. and joe michaels our producer enjoys the beefeaters' gin. >> very good. >> and simon, you say you've got to tour down the river thames. >> you must do that. london is a city built around a river. there is fantastic tour boats and also buses on the river. you could go down river to greenwich, up river to the fantastic and beautiful hampton

court palace, the home of henry viii. it's there all summer long. it's a beautiful time to be in london. if you can't go to the wedding go next week or the week after. british airways has ale sale for people who want to go enjoy the english sunshine. >> speaking of enjoying something british, kate, you say to visit the royal parks. >> absolutely. there are several royal parks in central london. green park is in front of me here. there's hiyde park where the wedding will be broadcast on large screens. if your name is kate or will you get in free this weekend. and it has primrose hill one of my favorite spots and go to royal roaster for a picnic, food and put your blanket down in the park to watch the world go by for a couple of hours in the sun. >> weather permitting. thank you so much. don't forget, you can watch the royal wedding live with

matt, meredith and natalie and yours truly starting at 4:00 a.m. eastern, 1:00 a.m. pacific friday morning on "today." coming up next, when is a size 8 not a size 8? when it's a size 4 in one store and a 12 in another. how some are trying to get the fit just right. and how do you maintain your athletic body after the playing days are over? i will never know. and what to do with the oil on top of natural peanut butter. we'll get the answer to those and other nutrition questions. first these messages. ♪ make me say la la la la la la ♪ [ woman ] now with a little magic from mom, there's an easy way to get kids the nutrition they need. mott's medleys has two total fruit and veggie servings in every glass but magically looks and tastes just like the fruit juice kids already love. mott's medleys. ♪ la la la [ woman ] invisible vegetables. magical taste. [ female announcer ] smooth. like you've never felt before.

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to food is to keep it whole for better nutrition. and that's what they do with great grains cereal. see the seam on the wheat grain? same as on the flake. because great grain steams and bakes the actual whole grain. now check out the other guy's flake. hello, no seam, because it's more processed. now, which do you suppose has better nutrition for you? mmm. great grains. the whole whole grain cereal. you might be surprised to learn that the most e-mailed article from monday's new york times didn't have anything to do with the royal wedding or unrest in the middle east but about the crazy system of women's clothing sizes. stephanie clifford reported the story called "one size fits nobody." leslie jane seymour had a ringside seat to the chaos as editor of more magazine. >> good morning. >> this is a crazy situation. you have struck a nerve in

reporting it. you wrote it based on your own experience. >> that's right. i'm 5'0" and i go between a 0 and an 8, sometimes a 10. everybody has that moment in the fitting room where you are trying to zip something up and it doesn't come close. it's frustrating. >> what size are you? >> 0, 2, 4, 6, 8. >> unbelievable. i could be a 0 to a 6. it depend ops where you go. depends on if you know the brand. the big problem is when you want to shop online. how do you know? i have friends who buy five at a time, send them all back. >> i buy at least three sizes when i shop online. >> sometimes they are even in the same store that they have different sizes. >> within the same brand you can't tell what you will wear. >> how much does it have to do with vanity sizing? >> men's sizing is standard because it's based off military uniforms from the civil war. when women started wearing ready

to wear clothing there was no standard sizing. some of the catalogers were pushing for standards. the government came up with a good system that took into account hip size, waist size, but nobody wanted to use it because they started realizing if they made sizes seem smaller you feel more petite. if you could fit into a 4 rather than a 6 or 8. >> you might be more likely to buy it. >> right. >> however you reported something staggering saying there is a 194 billion dollar price tag in terms of returns last year alone. and a lot of that, you think, is returns because of the wrong size. >> exactly. 1 in 10 purchases are returned. >> that's completely crazy. i know from being an editor at a magazine, i have to tell you, when we go to shoot it's all about ego. we cut out the size. if the celebrity says she's an 8 and we know she's not we cut out the sizes because she won't put it on if it's a 10.

>> so we're the problem. >> i think the retailers are the problem. women shouldn't feel bad trying on clothes. we just need to know what size it is. >> let's take an example here. these areal all supposed to be a size 6. >> look at the difference in how big they are. >> right. >> different torso, different waist sizes. >> look at this one. this looks huge on top. it will fit some people but not others. >> we have jeans as well. this is the worse thing to shop for. >> it is. >> this is actually a solution to the problem. these are jeans from levi's. each of the backs are a little bit timpdifferent for different shapes. these are for the fuller figured women and these are for the slimmer woman. it is a system based on shape rather than size. levi's tried to tackle the problem. >> there are now scanners to

help figure that out. >> that's the cool part. >> it is cool. >> aren't the scanners revealing though? they measure you as you step inside? >> they do but it's a wand that surrounds you and takes the measurements. it's like an airport scan. you're fully clothed. they will say you best match to a 6 in ann taylor khaki but a 4 in ann taylor blouse. >> we just had a huge scanner scandal, right? all about the airport scandal but in fashion it's okay. we need it. >> to be continued. obviously we need a new chapter on this story. >> get it done at the airport, right? scan for your size and get on the plane, right? >> thank you so much for writing the piece. it's gotten us talking. maybe you'll start a revolution of changing sizes. thank you so much. coming up on "today" the latest cast-off from "the biggest loser." we'll meet the fearless

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on "the biggest loser couples." good morning. >> good morning. >> i read here your starting weight was 377 pounds and on the show you lost 134 pounds. now where are you? >> just about down 145 pounds. >> remarkable. >> you got voted off. how tough was it leaving your son austin behind? >> it was really difficult. we had been together and the show helped to make our relationship really healthy. so it was tough leaving him behind. i know he'll do great. >> he looks terrific. >> meantime it's amazing that both of you, have you talked about how much better you feel? what's the common denominator in terms of the impact on your life? >> on "the biggest loser" there were dozens of things we did for the first time together on that show. being in a swimming pool with him, boxing with him. so many first time things we did as father and son, it was incredible. >> how touching. congratulations to you both and your boy.

and you're inspiring us this morning. thank you. >> thank you. >> "the biggest loser couples" airs tonight at 8:00 on n>> we'll talk to marines who are big hits on youtube of your local news and weather. 25% of the fat that you eat ck and keep it from being absorbed. that's got to be better for ya than something that is absorbed into the system. alli is not only just a pill but it is a total program. it's a way of teaching yourself to eat more healthy. it does force a lifestyle change. learn more mcoyalli.m. it does force a lifestyle change. these ladies have been exercising, watching their diets and enjoying activia light. well?

i'm managing my weight really well, and i've never felt so light. at 70 calories, delicious activia light helps you be light and feel light too. ♪ activia this is today in the bay. good morning to you, it is 9:26. i'm marla tellez. people have a way of keeping smart meters from their homes for awhile. pg&e has a delayed list that will allow them to postpone the installation until they work out details of the opt out program. it allows you to opt out of the wireless meter for a monthly fee. to join that delay list, call the number on the screen. 877-743-7378. the city of berkeley wants

to help low renting. it would require rental applicants receive a copy of california's tenant screening fee law when paying that fee. council members say some landlords have exploited that law as a way to generate extra money. they say it would educate tenants and landlords on existing rights while providing betternforcementf tlaw. a look at the weather and traffic after this. layou.

our skies are nice and clear overhead. the marine layer is pushed out to sea. you don't have to worry about fog or haze this morning. high pressure cleared the skies from the hawaiian islands to the coast. it will stay in place the next five to seven days at least. 47 degrees in livermore, 54 in sunnyvale. turning over to the 70s in some cities today.

a little bit of a breeze. that picks up this afternoon and into the evening. 70 in san jose. warmer heading into tomorrow. let's check the drive with mike inouye. stephenson, getting onto 880, an accident there. no major injuries, should be cleared. the ramp is open. southbound 80 at 8th street, approaching that toll plaza. reports of an incident. slow through oakland up to the bay bridge. toll plaza, the backup, fast track lanes are starting to get lighter. scott mcgrew will have the next update. we will be back at 9:56.

♪ lady diana spencer who married prince charles in 1981 becoming the people's princess and mother to two boys before her tragic death in 1997 won't be far from the minds of many people who will be watching the royal wedding on friday. tomorrow on "today," live from london we'll be talking about the influence of princess diana. i understand her son william is expected to perhaps refer to her

during the ceremony on friday. meantime, coming up in this next half hour, something closer to home. we'll talk to joy bauer about your diet and nutrition questions and what she's got to say about them. >> from revving up your weight loss plan for that special occasion to changing your diet or lifestyle, joy has answers you're looking for. also, phil rosenthal. the man behind "everybody loves raymond." now he's out with a documentary about what it was like to take the show and try to transplant it to russian tv. sometimes life is stranger than fiction. >> the mind reels. also, we'll hear from u.s. marines in afghanistan who wanted to put a smile on the faces of their worried loved ones back home so they posted a video on youtube that's gotten

more than 2 million hits featuring dozens of marines having fun lip synching to britney spears' song "hold it against me." i'm going to let this run. we'll talk to two of the marines in a few minutes. ♪ >> first a check of the weather from you. >> it's a great video. let's show you what's happening as far as today is concerned. risk of strong storms. much of arkansas, parts of missouri. the real risk is right there but extends as far north as western new york. we have rain in the pacific northwest. sunny and windy in the southwest. sunshine along the gulf of coast. tomorrow the strong risk moves into the lower mississippi river valley. the flight risk extends into new england. sunny and warm through the southwest. hot in southern texas. more rain in the pacific northwest with showers around the central and western great lakes. oh, we have a beautiful day shaping up out there.

good morning to you. clear skies over the bay area. high pressure moving in. it is going to amplify the next couple days. that brings daytime highs from the low 70s today into the upper 70s by thursday. 51 degrees in hayward. 46 in napa. 49 degrees in santa rosa, turning over to the 70s in some cities. 71 in livermore, 70 in fremont. warmup starts tomorrow, kicks into high gear thursday. have a great day. and that's your latest weather. >> all the good weather is inspiring people to want to get more healthy and from peanut butter to kick starting your diet plan, we have the answers from joy bauer to your diet and nutrition questions after this.

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♪ this morning on joy's diet s.o.s., answers to your daily diet dilemmas. joy bauer is here to answer everything from how to jump start a diet to the nutritional value of the oil on top of your peanut butter. good morning. >> good morning. >> our first question is from megan in virginia on the telephone. what's your question? >> caller: i'm a senior in college. last year i played soccer competitively. now that i have stopped i find myself gaining weight. how do i know what food to choose in the college cafeteria when i have no idea how they cook it or the nutritional value of the food? i want my soccer body back. >> it's a great question. it applies to buffet-style eating as well. first i will tell you, don't make yourself nuts worried about the uncontrollable. instead focus on what is controllable. avoid all things fried.

go heavy on the vegetables. salad is a terrific way to get a hearty dose of produce and the nice part is most campus dining halls will have an elaborate salad bar. go easy on the dressing. then take advantage of whatever hot vegetable they have as well. even if it has oil, butter, sauce it's still a great option. if the vegetables are drenched in a butter or oily sauce, you can blot it with a napkin to get rid of some of it or put some off to the side. you want to minimize your starch at meals. i would say one to two slices of bread or one serving scoop. instead of dessert, grab fresh fruit or fruit salad. if you want something more indulgent keep the portion it is size of your palm like a scoop of ice cream, a cookie or half a slice of pie or cake. those tips will get you back to your soccer bod.

>> we have nanne cy from new yo on the phone. what's your question? >> caller: hi, joy. hi ann. thanks for taking my call. i'm already dieting, eating mostly protein, lots of vegetables, fruit. and my daughter is getting married this summer. i hope you can give me tips for ramping up the weight loss in the home stretch. >> well, congratulations. i have a couple of tips. you're already doing a will the of things right. two things you can add. i would say one to two cups of green tea with each meal. research shows that green tea may be able to fill you up more than plain water. it also can slightly rev your metabolism but don't add sugar. >> okay. >> also when it comes to dinner, completely wipe out the starch. no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. instead have a great big piece of lean protein and lots of

nonstarchy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and salad. that will help you significantly trim calories off dinner and you're going to see a drop on the scale. you start those tips today and you will feel smashing by your daughter's wedding. >> by the way, green tea does have caffeine in it. so we have to warn people about that. >> you're right. >> nancy, good luck. best wedding wishes to your child. now we have a viewer e-mail from debbie in st. louis. she writes, should i pour off the oil at the top of the natural peanut butter jar? it seems like a lot of oil and fat, but i'm not sure if this is where the bulk of the nutrients are. what's the right thing to do -- pour it off or stir it in? >> stir it in. that peanut oil is heart healthy unsaturated fat. it helps to lower your cholesterol and it's rich in vitamin e which is great for sharp vision and radiant skin. most importantly, that oil helps to give peanut butter the

creamy, velvety, spreadable texture. if you pour off the oil you can trim off a lot of calories but you will lose some nutrition and you will affect the peanut butter texture. it will dry out and not be that spreadable. definitely keep the oil in. >> i worry that i can't stop eating peanut butter. i'm one of the jar-spoon girls. the problem with peanut butter is it is very, very fattening. >> just take a spoonful, put it aside, close the jar and put it back. >> i re-open it, honey. then i'm stuck. >> it is a problem. it's delicious. >> joy bauer, thank you so much. >> thanks, ann. >> up next, the creator of "everybody loves raymond" on recreating the comedy show in russia after this. kwoez.

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the highly acclaimed sit com "everybody loves raymond" wowed audiences for five seasons. ♪ >> i can't do this tonight. i can't keep going to work like this. >> what about me? >> what? you don't have to w -- [ laughter ] >> shortly after the show ended in 2005 its creator phil rosenthal was approached to recreate the show in russia, an offer that was hard to resist. >> when the studio said, wouldn't it be great to do "raymond" there? just make sure you have k & r insurance. i said, what's that? he said, kidnap and ransom but he said that never happens.

i said, that happens enough for an abbreviation. >> it shows the difficult journey navigating through mother russia. nice to see you. >> good to see you, my friend. >> was it tough to adapt an american sit com for russia? >> yes. i made "raymond." they wanted everybody loves kostya. i had a production meeting and i said, i think you want it to be relatable to russians and a beautifully dressed woman raised her hand and said, i think the show should be used to teach the population about fashion. she was the costume designer. so she dresses up the character in a cashmere character, fancy pants, high heels and jewelry to clean the house, just like your typical russian. i said, what are you doing? she's cleaning the house. yes, she said, but she's on television. yes, i said, but she doesn't know she's on television. she thinks she's cleaning.

see where i'm coming from, i like to find the humor in real life and put it on. when you get to russia they say, her life is terrible. why would we put that on television? >> you met interesting dark ters. -- characters. we have a clip when you meet the head of russian comedy. let's take a look. >> time to meet the made of comedy for the russian network. we meet him and he doesn't look like the head of comedy. he gets around to saying when i read "raymond" -- >> he does not find it -- >> i don't have to come to moscow to be told i'm not funny. i can hear that in my house. >> that's a rough start. >> it's a rough dinner to sit there. right? but that's how they are. listen, they like what they like. you learn, right? i guess the point of the movie is you raise your kids as well

as you can, nurture them, teach them and they have to be free to go off and disappoint you. >> so everybody loves kostya. was it funny? could you tell if it was funny or not? >> and -- okay. next question. when you shot the documentary -- >> not for me. not for you even. it's for them. it has to be for them. that's what i learned. >> you shot it with two cameras for a documentary. >> that was my big directorial decision. most are tone with one camera. you talk to me and later they come behind and film my fake reaction shot. then they make a movie. i didn't want to cheat. every moment in the movie is real. i thought if i'm in if movie, too, which i had no intention of doing, i just wanted to direct. they wanted me to go to russia and help the russians. so i had to be the subject of the thing. >> the show started airing in 2009. how did it do?

>> i think it's a big hit. >> not bad. >> not for me. for them. >> where can people see it "exporting raymond"? >> by the way, i want to thank "today" for saying three days until the big day, "exporting raymond". >> right. the royal wedding and "exporting raymond." >> one thing. i'll tell you what i tell my wife. we hardly know these people. i have to sit through the whole ceremony and they're not even feeding you? >> yes, you do, and you will like it. >> i don't think so. see the movie. >> "exporting raymond" opens april 29, the same day as another wedding. maria is in the middle east paying tribute to soldiers with a video gone viral. first this is "today" on nbc.

britney spears knows a thing or two about having a hit music video but some marines in afghanistan are proving to be tough competition. take a look. ♪ ♪ want to whisper in your ear >> earlier this morning via skype i spoke to two of the marines in the video. i started by asking them if they ever dreamed their video would get the attention of britney spears. >> we never thought it would be as big as it was. >> you had 488 hits within hours. then britney spears got word of it and she actually tweeted about it. let me tell you what she said. you probably heard about it. she said, "i'm in love with t s this. i always knew our soldiers were fierce. thanks for everything you do."

and then the video has now gone up to 2 million views. corporal adam, what's your response to that? >> we love it. like i said, we never expected it to get this big. it's a big morale boost. >> your families had a big reaction. how do you describe that? andrew? >> my family loves it. they just love to see i'm getting better. we're having a good time. >> no kidding. you really put the groove on. now, i need to get into logistics here. it is not easy to make a video like this. you guys are -- well, you're keeping the beat very well. how did you get so many people to sign on? and how did you get so many people talented at dancing to sign on? >> everyone just pretty much wanted to do the same thing as

me. put a smile on the faces back home. i said, hey, what do you think? we thought we'd keep what we liked and if we didn't, take it out. >> how long did it take? >> three months. >> three months to make it. once you shot the video you had to edit it all together. you did a good job. you definitely put a smile on our faces. if you can smile and have fun, so can the rest of us. thanks for the great gift, guys. >> thank you. >> all right. >> andrew and adam. they did a nice job. >> great morale booster. >> we love watching the video. i imagine it won't go above more than 2 million views as a result of the interview. still to come this morning, law & order svu's iced tea chats with kathie lee and hoda. >> don't miss that. first we have your local news and weather.

good morning, everyone. 9:56. i'm scott mcgrew. giants will try to right the ship in pittsburgh, they take on the pirates. they lost four games in a row,

including a sweep at the hands of the atlanta braves over the weekend. today's game begins with the pirates at 4:00. meanwhile, the a's playing the angels at 7:00. after a shutout. no help from the umpire, barton gets called out. he is so safe. the a's go on to lose 5-0. san francisco leaders trying to find a way to handle for all the people showing up for the america's cup. it will be at the ferry building with people that love in surrounding neighborhoods. they want to hear feedback on a plan to run special light rail and bus line to the waterfront and limiting traffic to some neighborhoods to residents only. america's cup starts in 2013, lasts over several weeks. and sharks tickets on sale as of five minutes from now. let's turn it over to weather and christina. >> good morning.

we will give you just enough time to get the tickets. clear conditions over the bay area. today will be absolutely gorgeous, tomorrow even better and warmer. as we head into thursday, might be too warm for some people thursday. upper 70s, maybe some 80s around the bay. high pressure is the reason. you can see this ridge from the coast of california to the hawaiian islands. not going anywhere the next five to six days. temperatures end up in the 70s. not quite as nice as the forecast. 101, an accident at 92 is causing additional slowing. 92 westbound, a car crossing to the right, saw one or two lanes further down the flat section blocked off minutes ago. nothing in the caltran blotter. we will follow it, see how long it is expected to last. slowing from hayward to the peninsula side heading into the south bay. >> thank you. 9:58. more local news in a half hour.

the "today" show returns in about one minute.

there is a new reality show hitting the air waves here that stars christina aguilera, blake shelton, ceelo green, adam lavine. >> it's "the voice." the host carson daley is here to tell us about it. >> i have that task. >> it is so buzzy, this show. >> it is everywhere. it's unbelievable. it's great. thank you. it's a fun show. we are excited it's finally airing tonight. >> you know what it remined me of? remember when christopher cross came out with that "sailing takes me away" great song. you fell so in love with his voice. >> shouldn't that be? that is how it is. that initial point of discovery for an artist, that should be it. back to the '50s.

before video killed the radio star. it doesn't matter what you look like that. comes onto play later. >> first time i heard barbra streisand sing "people." >> this kid is from the smallest town in texas. when he sings, it blew everybody away. they turned their chair around. christina is not sure yet. >> you don't see them. >> none of them saw him. the minute this kid opened his mouth. christina is saying, i'm in. i want him on my team. >> who is left? ceelo and blake. >> three turn their chairs around. now it's up to this kid. christina what can you do for me? >> the power switches to the artist. they get this creative control. >> given how crowded the field is with music shows and all these contests, there is room for this one? >> i do. "american idol" tells us that. it's a juggernaut on tv. there is a tremendous amount of passion and interest in the

musical competitixecompetition . this show is a much different, fresher take on it. i think there was "e.r.," "gray's anatomy." >> do the ages raeng? can there be a susan boyle? >> i don't know what the limit is. we have a couple of 16-year-olds and 50 plus. >> what's wrong with that? >> nothing. >> your point is? >> i should stop talking. i spend tonight's episode with the families watching their kids out there. >> and the love they have for them and the support is unbelievable. speaking of that, love and support, she is standing right over there, your mom. >> mom is here. >> how sweet. >> she took her glasses off. >> late night, rough landing, a lot of wine. >> in the show, do people at home get to vote? do we get to participate? >> we will get to that point. we'll have the blind audition and battle rounds where coaches have to narrow their own field

down. by the time we hit the live shows, america will chime in. the talent level is excellent. >> isn't it amazing, you think we are all out of it. it is so great. >> thank you. >> we wish you all the best. >> you this, guys. >> you can catch the two-hour premiere of "the voice" tonight at 9:00. up next, what really goes on in your man's mind. hopefully it's not what goes on with these guys. [ robin ] my name is robin. and i was a pack-a-day smoker for 25 years. i do remember sitting down with my boys, and i'm like, "oh, promise mommy you'll never ever pick up a cigarette." i had to quit. ♪ my doctor gave me a prescription for chantix, a medication i could take and still smoke, while it built up in my system. [ male announcer ] chantix is a non-nicotine pill proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation,

depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these symptoms or behaviors, stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop serious allergic or skin reactions, stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some of these can be life-threatening. dosing may be different if you have kidney problems. until you know how chantix affects you, use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. ♪ my benjamin, he helped me with the countdown. "5 days, mom. 10 days, mom." i think after 30 days he got tired of counting! [ male announcer ] talk to your doctor to find out if chantix is right for you. learn about the chantix challenge. chantix may not work for everyone. if you aren't quit after 12 weeks, we'll refund your cost of trying it. learnore at chantix.com.

constipated? phillips' caplets use magnesium, an ingredient that works more naturally with your colon than stimulant laxatives, for effective relief of constipation without cramps. thanks. good morning, students. today we're gonna continue...

♪ it's time to regroup with our "guys tell all" panel. they gathered to help us make rhyme or reason out of the men out there. first is david good, the author of "man code a woman's guide to cracking the tough guy. next is funny chuck nice who can be seen on trutv's "world's dumbest" saturday

morning is host of "the hot ten." has been married 13 years and has two kids. >> they are adorable. they couldn't be his. rick younger is married with a >> i know. >> comedian and actor rick younger and starred in "stole it memory glory." he is married with a son. and the only sane one, level-headed andrew trees, author of "decoding love and club rules." andrew is still married and has a beautiful toddler. your son has been a toddler for six years. that a boy. all righty. >> we'll see what the questions are. sarah? >> i'm here with patty from new hampshire. she has a question what guys are really looking for. >> yes. do you find looks or personality more important? >> oh! >> i'm greedy. i want it all. >> depends what you're looking for. >> really, seriously. what are you looking for? looks or personality? no. i want an ugly girl that makes me feel good. >> you know, we all have to admit we probably all spent time with a woman we didn't think we would like because we liked the

personality. you know? we may not have taken her around to show all our buddies. but we're like -- >> in the long run, you got to have personality, right? >> right. >> guys are more visual. ultimately, personalitywise will work or not work. >> psychologically speaking? >> yes. >> let's go to facebook. my husband seems to be on husband time. if i say we need to be somewhere at 5:00 p.m., he never seems to seems to not get ready to go. why does he want to do this? >> because he doesn't want to go! and he is hoping one of these days you'll just forget him totally. >> somebody is going to be late, they are saying it's their time is more upon than your time. time, you can't buy it. not something you can buy. >> never get it back. >> in a marriage you get used to -- if a certain thing happens all the time, you're like, i'm going to sit here and wait for her to tell me it's time to go.

>> isn't it usually the other way around? isn't the guy who is usually saying, let's go, let's go? and we're saying five more minutes. >> that is a passive/aggressive way of saying, i don't want to go. >> if it were a yankees game, he would be out there. >> with the hat on. >> yeah, yeah. >> our next question is on tape. let's listen. >> hi. my name is ginny from north carolina. i want to know why my boyfriend doesn't like to hold my hand in public? what is the problem with that? >> maybe he is royalty and not allowed to. right? >> what is the story? >> it is a very distinct possibility you have very clammy hands. >> come on! >> no, seriously. sometimes that is extremely uncomfortable to hold somebody's sweaty, clammy hands. if it's not sweaty or clammy, maybe he has a problem with public affection. >> or embarrassed? >> some guys have that. >> some people are uncomfortable. that is okay. no reason you to to do that. i think if he is uncomfortable we are then that is a serious

issue. >> pay attention to his eyes, where his eyes are. if is eyes or on you, check out where he is looking. then don't worry. if his eyes is on everywhere, he is checking out to see what he can find so pay attention to his eyes. >> as long as there are other parts of her he is touching? >> as long as he is grope free. >> she meant her heart. >> oh, is that what she is talking about? my nas is red! >> you can't tell. >> we will be back. we'll take a commercial break and come back with questions from across the street. they are waiting for you. your local news is next.

twizzlers. the twist you can't resist. ♪ just love me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just hold me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just kiss me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just want me ♪ l-o-v-e ♪ love, love, love his family knows what to expect. hun, mike's coming -- 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 is made of strong, fiber packed sheets, making it one tough towel. but his mom sure does. wow, for me? you shouldn't have. i insist.

[ male announcer ] hey, if viva can handle mike rowe's mess, just think what it can do in your home. grab a roll for yourself and grasp the unquilted difference. this is the hp pavilion where tickets are on sale for the rest of the playoffs. new anti-smoking ads which graphically show the impact of secondhand smoke hit air waves in the south bay. you can see a man smoking next to his kids, seconds later the smoke comes out of the children's mouths. these are part of a prevention program. they are trying to bring together communities and schools and healthcare facilities to change policy on tobacco use. the ads run through july. santa clara county could also ban plastic bags from one

end of the county to the other. the board of supervisors is expected to approve that ban today. san jose already has the ban. so if this latest proposal is passed, retailers in unincorporated parts of the county have to get rid of plastic bags. that would take effect january 1st. 10:27. weather and traffic after this.

good morning to you. boy, it is beautiful out there already. high pressure is going to make the temperatures now in the low

60s, mid-50s, bring them into the 70s later today. a gorgeous day shaping up. 62 in sunnyvale. later today, temperatures reach the upper 60s, low 70s. 70 for fremont, 70 san jose. breezy conditions through the afternoon and evening, and take a look at where we're headed through tomorrow. even warmer. 74 degrees. 78 by thursday. you know what, mike, with all of the beautiful weather, i best there's going to be more foot traffic out there. how does it look on the roadways? >> no reports of pedestrians on the freeway. that's good we had some during rush hour. not a good thing to do. traffic is moving smoothly, including a disabled vehicle highway 4, person that was escorting that vehicle, they have all been escorted off the freeway. slow through berkeley and emeryville. approaching the toll plaza, light volume of traffic. fast track lanes are moving quickly. in the foreground, look at that gentleman, working on the new

structure, administration building. good time across the westbound direction. one left lane until 2:30 for the westbound side. the "today" show continues next. ell panel david good, chuck knight, rick unger and andrew trees. >> i'm with cheryl from new hampshire. she has a question about hooking a sister up. >> are you willing to play matchmaker for your single friends? >> i don't have a problem with that, but after a certain point you run out of single friends to hook people up with. i don't have any single friends. >> that's not first why in your mind. you don't think about that? >> i don't want anything to do with making two people miserable. that is not my business. you want to find somebody, go

find them on your own. >> as a token single guy, i like to hook my friends up. >> do you like to be hooked up? >> well, yeah. >> here is a facebook post. this is from stacey. why are some men lazy and indecisive about date planning? >> wow. >> where do you want to go? >> where do you want to go? >> that's what you say. >> i'm going to be very serious for a second. it's because he's not a man who's been trained how to take care of a woman. because here is what women want. they want a man to be decisive and want him to be very, you know, straight forward, but they also want him to be considerate. guys don't know how to do that. >> nice caveman. >> that's what they want. here is how you become a nice caveman. girl, what do you like? what kind of food do you like? what movies do you like? then you take all that information -- >> what if she doesn't like

being called girl. >> then you should be more than 17 because that it's last time i dated. >> a lot of this comes from the fear of messing up. you've got to get over that fear to move on to something serious in a relationship. it does come from a fear. and a desire to try to do the right thing. >> is it sometimes being lazy? >> if a date ends in one way, it's a good date no matter what else happens. long as it ends in the right place for them. >> where is that place? >> holding hands. >> i didn't know. >> let's move on. this one is on tape. let's take a listen. >> i'm diana from utah. what is your biggest fear about getting married? >> well, well, well. why don't we start down here at the end. >> the three of you weren't afraid. one has commitment issues. >> i don't have commitment

issues. you sound like my mother now. i think it's finding the right person. >> what are you afraid of? >> okay. i'm scared. >> are you afraid of not finding the person? >> as we get older, it's okay now to be 30 years old and single. >> are you afraid of the same person? >> afraid of the same person. my parents got divorced. it happen as lot. i want to wait until i make sure i find the right one. >> i'm still scared. it's 14 years and i'm scared to death. >> i do understand what fears i might have had before sometimes you're afraid that people make it seem like marriage is no fun. it's like they're afraid they are never going to have fun again. >> i wasn't afraid -- listen, i'm scared of a lot of things. scared. i'm scared of her. period. i live in fear. i live in fear is what i'm saying. >> yet you're a happily married man. >> you know how i know?

cause she told me. she told me i was happy. >> all the things associated with marriage, we make it seem like it's no fun. >> even when we talk about kids, it seems like it's awful. you find out what you get into it. i'm glad i'm here. >> i think that is a good point about not having fun any more. once you start sharing mortgages and baby poop, you stop having fun. >> long as you can find the fun, marriage is a great thing. don't married people live longer, andrew? >> happy marriages, you live longer, you're legalier. >> all the more reason. >> we try to go on dates. when we go on dates, we try to say, let's not talk about the stuff at home. when you do he out on a date with someone you just met you're talking about fun and exciting things. you marry, you talk about the same things that are weighing you down at home that you just left to have fun on a date. >> got you. thanks, guys. >> i don't like it when they are that serious.

>> all right, guys, we'll see you next month. >> up next, about life, before and after and during "american idol."

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>> kara wrote a biography called "hell of a high note, surviving life, love and american idol." >> you say that title so well. a hell of a high note. >> she wrote a book surviving war scenes, war zones, cancer and me. >> there are so many interesting things in the book. i didn't realize the back story. when you parachuted into "american idol" we didn't realize how uncomfortable that situation was. >> you're behind the scenes. i was used to being on the couch in a recording studio. all of a sudden i'm in front of millions of people being scrutinized. i didn't even know where the cameras were. the panel. it was a totally brand-new world. you're breaking up the beatles. they had this great chemistry. i had to find my groove. when i say it was torture, season eight was that. by season nine, i was feeling really good. i felt like i found a role, i

was giving constructive criticism. it felt more natural to me. >> how did they treat you, the group? >> they were good. >> simon was tough on you. >> i have this terrible habit of speaking more when i get nervous. he was like, are you done, kara? could you shut up, kara? then i just shut down. as i got used to it, it became much better. >> there are so many revelations in your book. >> where should we start? >> when you think far back. reading you were sexually molested as a young girl and happened as you were going through your career path. you talk openly and honestly about all that. >> i do because those experiences really, you can find them in my songs. unfortunately, i dated some men and it was the wrong kind of relationships. that translates into kelly clarkson's "walk away." then finally i got it right and i'm with my husband now and that's "ain't no other man." i thought uncovering the truth

would also help other people who found themselves in this position. i remember when i first heard with oprah what she had gone through, i remember thinking she went through that, so can i. >> you have a new show coming up. >> i do. >> that's premiering soon. >> finding the next big songwriter. if you think about these shows, imagine there were no songs to sing? you've got to have songs. it's bravo so there is a lot of drama. >> when will that air? >> may. >> little baby dioguardi? >> i want one. >> i'm sure your parents are asking but that. >> i've been trying. i've been through some ivf. then again, you look at someone like brooke shields and what she had to do to get there. i have hope. >> you're inspired by other stories. >> i am inspired. >> once you put everything down on paper and people are going to be picking up that book, reading it, is there anything you wish you didn't put in there?

it's very revealing. >> no. i feel like when you've gone through things like molestation or date rape, the way to get over it is speak openly. it's nothing i did. people have gone through this have nothing to be ashamed about. if they can openly speak about it, it's going to help them in their recovery. i used my music to help me. i want to inspire people in this book to really move past those things and to not let them hurt them from achieving their dreams. >> embrace the moment you have now. >> great luck with the book. >> you guys are great. you're so sweet. >> great to see you. >> ice-t is in the house. [ male announcer ] there's a place where everyone feels at home. where the company, the conversation, and the food make all who enter feel welcome. a place that feels as warm with a crowd... as it does with just a friend. it's a place you'll find town house crackers.

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>> he's out with a new book called "ice, a memoir of gangster life and redemption from south central to hollywood." >> quite the title. good to see you. >> what a road you were on. reading the beginning of the book it talks about how you were an orphan and had to fend for yourself. your life makes sense when you see the beginning. >> i think everybody's life makes sense when you get the whole story. my survival instincts kicked in early. i took advantage of what i thought were the opportunities that were available to me early in life. >> which were limited. >> like a lot of kids. >> wound up in a gang. >> doing a lot of things. i went in the military because i was a teen parent. and you know, i tried to figure my way out. then rap music came out and i changed my career by telling my story. and that created what they call gangster rap, hard core rap. then i got a chance to be in new jack city which got me into acting. >> your road. >> a lot of your lyrics did

cause controversy. anything you would take back or was it part of your journey? >> i wouldn't take it back. that's how i felt at the time. i think when you listen to the lyrics there's a lot of kids in the streets that feel the exact same way. so i didn't create anything in my lyrics. it was how i felt. you know. >> reflected what was there. >> in my heart at the time. >> you were becoming famous. i like the story, and you were stealing things. there was a point you realized while you were in mid -- about to grab something and kids recognized you as a famous guy. tell us that story. >> i was just getting started and i made my first album and i was kind of famous. i didn't know -- you know, and there was a piece for my car that i wanted. and the guys, the guys knew where the car was, and i didn't need it. i could have bought it but i wanted to prove i could still do it. so i went into this back parking lot and i was taking apart this car. all of a sudden these kids surrounded me looking at me. and i'm like i'm busted.

what's going on. autographs, ice-t. now i'm in front of this hot car taking pictures with their parents, and so then i finished, i mean, when i finished i left and called my friends like you got to move that car. now you know. but it was a moment where i realized dude, you're no longer just a non-descript person. you're becoming famous. i didn't have to do it. it's like a lot of things when you start to make it you still reach back for your old ways just as kind of show sometimes your friends you're cool. >> still tough. >> you don't need to do that so i don't do that. i'm an honest citizen. >> good for you. what would you say to a kid today who's got the same circumstances that you came out of? what bit of advice would you give? >> one thing is when you do have an opportunity take advantage of it. you know. when we come from bad neighborhoods we complain, but when you do have an opportunity, whatever it is, make it the best. if someone gives you a chance, make them so happy they gave you

that chance that they give you another chance. just like me, it's a doors opened up, who thought i could act. but when the door opened i was like i got to bust [ bleep ] it's not going to happen again. doors open. other thing is it's never too late to change. you know, it's never too late to say you know, i'm going so far in this direction i can't turn. >> right. >> i was 27 before i made my first record. so, you can change. and we'll always continue to change and to grow. >> you got a new reality series coming up called "ice loves cocoa." we'll talk to you about that next time. all the best to you. >> i'm going, today i'm going to be at barnes and nobles at -- >> what time? >> union square. 7:00 p.m. >> all right. get your book signed. >> see the ice man. will you have the fish, the chicken or the fillet? a royal wedding menu prediction. this is "today."

we are counting down to the royal wedding. with three days to go, we have the royal menu prediction. >> while an official royal menu hasn't been released, we are sure nothing but the best will reign at the banquet. >> i'm quite confident. i know the queen is inviting 600 people back to buckingham palace. i know they are going to serve canapes. usually it's stuffier. this time one bite only in case the queen comes by. >> you can't have a mouthful when that happens. >> you want to be there to greet. >> you do.

>> we have our royal subjects bringing them out. jerry. >> nothing less than a silver tray. >> hello, gentlemen. >> we've got sausage potato puffs. there are hot appetizers. >> can't beat a good sausage puff. >> this is supposed to be a wedding of the people. >> this is more than one bite. >> two bites and the queen can wait a second. the second one is a smoked salomon wrapped around salomon perfect for kate and william. they met at st. andrew's which is in scotland. >> that is quite the bite. >> you've got to do it. it's like a sushi bite. >> oh, my gosh. >> if i want something to wash it down because you might need help. we've got a lemonade here. the royal family serve as lemon refresher. the lemon refresher has epsom salts. >> what? the kind you soak in? >> the kind you put your feet

in. >> it is a digestive. the queen says the lemon refresher keeps her on her porcelain throne. we didn't do that today. this only has salt. >> i trust dana. it's a buffet. >> nice talking to you. >> this happens often. >> after the couple rests at clarens house, they come back. >> are you all right? >> fine. >> so sorry. >> heimlich over there. >> prince charles, he has high grove, this sustainable farm. he is going to bring the lamb in from the farm, we are sure. >> lamb chops, klg. giddyap. >> to have the great flavor of the lamb, it only has salt, garlic and rosemary. also we imagine from prince

charles' farm is some fresh asparagus perfectly in season. >> and some wild rice. >> you're going to cut into small bites. >> i found that out. >> hopefully the queen has better knives. >> the queen leaves the evening ceremony early so that people can have a good time. >> nobody wants to party around the queen. >> right. >> that's the answer. >> then we move on to dessert. dessert is a pudding. kate being sort of a modern girl, we thought something light like a rhubarb parfait with ginger and tapioca. >> i know something like the groom's cake will be served. those are biscuits with chocolate ganache. >> it all looks great.

dana, thank you. >> sorry i was choking. >> wedding live 4:00 a.m. eastern, 1:00 a.m. pacific. 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.

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