good morning. feeling the heat. two-thirds of the country dealing with the hottest temperatures of the year. records from new york to kansas city, while out west the race is on to save several towns threatened by the wildfire raging in arizona. will he step down? calls for anthony weiner's immediate resignation intensify on capitol hill as startling new details emerge about his secret life online. and five fantastic years, she's delivered the news, brought us stories that touched us and made us laugh. sometimes at her. sometimes at ourselves.

>> can i just share a funny story with you? >> no, sorry. >> what a ride it's been. join us for a fond farewell to meredith today, wednesday, june 8, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television deep breath, count to ten. welcome to "today" on a bittersweet wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> i'm meredith vieira. looks like i'm leaving, doesn't it? >> i lost a bet. i said you would call in sick today. >> it's tough. it's a hard one. >> mixed emotions? >> very mixed emotions. i'm looking at everybody right here and wishing i -- well, no, i know it's right. but it's hard. especially for this guy right here. >> we'll pay tribute to meredith throughout the morning. we have a number of surprises as

well. you won't want to miss it. we have other news to cover as well. talk about the brutal heat. >> unbelievable. >> expected from the midwest to new england. al will have details coming up straight ahead. >> and stunning developments at the casey anthony murder trial. an expert for the prosecution raised doubt about what could be a vital piece of evidence. we'll have the latest from court. >> sioux city, 99, 96 in st. louis, and today not much better. we're looking at temperatures that will be well over 90 degrees, washington, d.c., getting up to 98. 94 in albany.

montpelier, vermont, 93, chicago, 95. factor in the heat and humidity, over 100 everywhere else. thursday it moves to the east. philadelphia, 100 degrees. we have heat advisories, excessive heat warnings from the carolinas to new england, 95 in bos tn. but some good news in sight. high pressure right now. this is what's been firing this up. big upper level high. a deep trough out west where it's been cooler. as we move into the weekend, things get better. sunday a trough in the northeast. this high shrinks down and we'll see normal conditions for the weekend. matt? >> we'll get your forecast in a couple of minutes. now we move to arizona where firefighters are desperate to control the second largest wildfire in that state's history. george lewis is in springerville, arizona, with the latest on that. hi, george. good morning. >> good morning, matt. behind me is a huge sky crane elevator used to drop water on the fire.

overnight on the ground, crews worked to create a barrier to protect eager, arizona. the southern half of eager now under an evacuation order. as the fire continued to spread driven by high winds, people in its path headed to safe ground. the south half of the town of eager, arizona, the latest place to come under an evacuation order. >> we've got to get out of here. >> reporter: the carillos are lifelong residents. >> real hard. >> we just built this house two years ago. >> reporter: they rounded up their children, dogs and cats and left. others were wrangling larger animals. david boyd, a rodeo clown, uses these bulls in his performance. he and his wife were headed north to a friend's place. >> we've got friends in st. johns. we'll take the bulls there and try to stay safe. >> reporter: all the while praying that somehow their

property will be spared. overhead the huge pall of smoke almost blotted out the sun. bad air advisories are up in neighboring new mexico and colorado. meanwhile, firefighters are busy setting backfires to protect homes and businesses in eager. norman was shutting down a ranch owned by the hopi tribe. this place, at one time the property of the late actor john wayne, is considered a local historical landmark. >> this is the john wayne room. this is where john wayne slept. >> reporter: now the firefighters are trying to protect john wayne's old place and the rest of the town as the fire continues to roar ever closer. the head of the u.s. forest service issued a warning for several difficult days of firefighting ahead, as the forecast calls for more high winds today in arizona. matt? >> george lewis, thank you very much. it's five after the hour. here's meredith. >> thank you.

anthony weiner is feeling growing pressure to resign in the wake of his sexting scandal. this as fellow democrats distance themselves from the new york congressman. luke russert has been following the story. luke, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. after holding a press conference monday where he admitted he sent a lewd photograph over twit, congressman weiner could not catch a break. >> i have engaged in several inappropriate conversations. >> reporter: it's not getting easier for anthony weiner. republicans say he should step down. >> i don't condone his activity. i think he should resign. >> reporter: democrats aren't helping him either. >> i know congressman weiner. i wish there was some way i could defend him, but i can't. >> reporter: even fellow new yorker donald trump took a shot. >> anthony weiner is a bad guy. he's a psycho. >> my name is ginger lee. i'm 23 from nashville, tennessee. >> reporter: on tuesday tmz reported weiner traded scores of e-mails with this former adult

film star who spoke about her computer habits in this 2006 interview. >> i'm one of those people that i'm, like, has anybody messaged me? somebody might have messaged me. half the time if they don't i'm like, crap, i'm a dork! >> reporter: according to tmz when the scandal first broke weiner offered to coach lee on how to handle the media. >> she's complaining about how the media is bombarding her. calling, going by her house-cameras are showing up, calling her family members, stuff like that. she is upset about it and asking him. he basically says, look, do you need pr advice? he says, i can have someone from my team call you. >> reporter: when asked to comment, weiner's office said this to nbc news. quote, he's fully cooperating with the house ethics inquiry. that's the appropriate place for questions to be addressed. legal experts say he could be in trouble for violating house rules. >> if house resources were used in this sexual contact he could

face concerns or problems under the code of conduct of the house which directs members to behave in a manner which shall reflect credibly on the house. >> reporter: but a new york one marist poll conducted monday night after weiner revealed he had inappropriate contact with six women shows 51% of new yorkers think he should keep his job, while only 30% believe he should resign. >> i don't see anything that really affects his job performance. >> does it offend you as a voter? >> a little bit. >> he does a good job. let him do his job. >> reporter: meredith, weiner's wife, huma abedin, who said she would be by hid size throughout this ordeal, well, she won't be. she left with secretary of state hillary clinton on a trip to the middle east and africa. as a point of personal privilege, god speed. i will miss you personally. >> luke, thank you so much.

republican national committee chairman rance priebus is calling on weiner to resign. >> good morning. first off, all of god's blessings to you moving forward. >> thank you so much. at least you didn't call on me to resign. thank you very much. so you were one of the first to call on the congressman to step down, saying we do not need an investigation to know he lied and acted inappropriately. we need a resignation. nancy pelosi asked the ethics committee to look into this. why not let them do their job and let the chips fall where they may? >> i think part of their job is nancy pelosi needs to be a leader of her caucus and tell anthony weiner to hit the bricks and go home. here's the problem. i don't think we need to spend taxpayer dollars investigating whether or not weiner is a creep or not. nancy pelosi, debbie wasserman-schultz, obama's handpicked leader of the democratic party, ought to sit

down and tell him he needs to leave. that's what the american people expect. >> my understanding is they can't force him to resign. he said he has not broken rules, has no intention of resigning, it's up to his constituents to decide if he should leave. if you look at that poll that came out, more than half believe he should stay in office, at least for now. shouldn't they decide his fate? >> i think the leaders of the democratic party, the caucus, ought to talk to anthony weiner and tell him he needs to go. here's the problem. like i said before, an ethics committee investigation on whether this guy was right or wrong or, you know, sending pictures of his private parts around the world is not fitting of a united states congressman. i think leaders of the democratic party, nancy pelosi and debbie wasserman-schultz, should ask him to resign. it seems the only job these guys are willing to fight for is anthony weiner's job. why are they defending this guy?

>> if you look at some of the democrats, it certainly appears that they have turned on him. >> turned on him by opening up a house ethics investigation? i mean, we know what happened. it's all over the internet. you reported on more information that came out last night. this is just -- here's what's going to happen. this is going to be a slow drip, drip, drip type story and within a couple weeks, my guess is he's going to have to resign because it's going to be such a distraction to the folks here and especially even the leaders of the democratic party that he's going to have to resign. they should do the right thing, speak up and say, look, this guy should resign. he should leave. we have a lot of work to do. we've got record unemployment, an economy in the ditch. we've got a president and leaders of the democratic party that would rather whistle past the graveyard here. >> if you look at your own party

fairly, there have been -- republicans have been involved in sex scandals who have not gone quietly into that night, people like louisiana senator david vitter tied to a prostitution ring several years ago. he still serves to this day. senator john ensign waited years to resign after admitting an affair with a staffer and larry craig served out his term after soliciting an undercover police officer. they didn't go quickly, so why should congressman weiner? >> two wrongs don't make a right. i'm not defending those folks. i'm the chairman of the republican national committee now, not years ago. i think nancy pelosi should go. it took chris lee about 30 seconds to resign a couple months ago. i think nancy pelosi and debbie wasserman-schultz ought to do the right thing and ask this fellow to leave office and put someone else that there that's more fitting to serve this country. >> congressman weiner has a sharp tongue. he has certainly criticized republicans, gone on the attack against republicans on the other

side of the aisle in the past. is there any level of satisfaction among those in the party that he's finally getting his comeuppance? >> no. i mean, certainly not from me, meredith. i don't operate that way. i'm not -- this has nothing to do with vindication or payback. this has to do with leadership in a democratic party that's silent on what i think is a very important leadership aspect from a leader like nancy pelosi who said she was going to drain the swamp. this was the promise she made to the american people. and she's been silent on anthony weiner's resignation. i think it's outrageous. >> thanks for joining us this morning. >> thank you, meredith. >> it is 7:13. here's matt. >> thanks, meredith. now the phrase "it's the economy, stupid," was coined during bill clinton's administration. now it's the big theme for the 2012 race as well. chuck todd is nbc's political director and chief white house

correspondent. hi, chuck. good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. the white house will say they don't need a poll to tell them the sagging economy is taking a political toll on the president, but this latest slowdown combined with the start of the republican presidential race is a stark reminder of just how lethal the issue is for the president's re-election chances. president obama may have thought hosting the german chancellor angela merkel for a state dinner would give him a temporary break from the groommy economic news. he had no such luck as he tried to calm nervous americans with upbeat talk. >> prior to this month we saw three months of robust job growth in the private sector. we were very encouraged by that. this month, you still saw job growth, but it slowed down. we don't know whether this is a one-month episode or a longer trend. >> reporter: this pessimistic one-month episode is reflected in a new "washington post"/abc

poll showing nearly two-thirds of political depindependents disapproving of the president's handling of the economy. and the 2012 candidates are teeing off as well. tim pawlenty had a speech in chicago. >> how are you enjoying the recovery summer? that's what the president said we were having, but that was last year. >> reporter: pawlenty, trying to woo conservatives in the primary, wants to cut the corporate tax rate, increase american exports and freeze federal spending to balance the budget. president obama is getting friendly advice on how to talk about the economy, including from old president clinton aides who have been more critical. >> i never thought what they were saying about the economy reflected people's pain. >> reporter: even from his old advisers. >> he'll continue to make the case that we are putting in place policies that are moving the country in the right direction. >> reporter: white house aides believe their toughest opponent

is not any republican but the economy itself. at least that's how they explain away privately the results in the new poll showing republican mitt romney leading the president. >> good to see you. >> reporter: for lom knee, it's one piece of good news he hopes can calm down conservatives like the club for growth, still skeptical of his credentials. >> it's up to the voters to decide if they want someone who will defend mistakes in the past or someone who says, i have learned from those mistakes, let's move on. >> reporter: speaking of candidates we have made a deal about the fact that newt gingrich took nearly two weeks off the campaign trail to go on vacation after announcing. today he finally returns from vacation with an appearance in new hampshire, matt. >> chuck todd at the white house this morning. thank you very much. >> reporter: bye, meredith. >> bye, chuck. now a check on the top stories at the news desk. >> i will miss hearing you say that, meredith. thanks so much. good morning, once again.

at least ten explosions rocked libya's capital city as nato presses on with air strikes. on tuesday the most intense barrage destroyed much of moammar gadhafi's compound. a defiant gadhafi gave a radio address vowing never to surrender. meantime, in brussels, nato ministers will lobby for more countries to participate in the libyan operation. the e. coli outbreak in europe may be growing less severe. germany he is health minister told an eu crisis meeting that the number of new infections is quickly falling, but it's too early to give an all-clear on the issue. a massive fire in rhode island destroyed what was once the largest rubber mill. the vacant 19th century plant near the massachusetts state line was on the national register of historic places. it was purchased last year by a company that planned to use it to generate green energy. now to wall street and courtney reagan. she's at the new york stock exchange. good morning. >> good morning to you, ann. opec officials are meeting

in vienna to discuss production to rein in the high prices. fitting timing. ben bernanke actually blames higher gas prices for the continued strain on consumers' wallets. meantime, investors hope for a positive catalyst to turn around the five-day losing streak. wall street stocks erased all their gains going into the closing bell on bernanke's comments on the sluggish economy. ann? >> thank you very much. another stunning comeback for the dallas mavericks who tied at finals against the miami heat. dirk nowitzkinowitski scored in final minutes to lead to the victory and he was battling a 101-degree fever. nbc beat out espn and fox to

carry the olympics. a lot of cheering around here about that. of it's 7:18. now back to matt, meredith and al. >> i can't wait to see you then. you can come back and join us. >> i love the olympics. >> we can do the three-man luge. >> no. i'll do the skeleton. >> darn. >> mr. roker? >> bad weather. >> the heat continues. we have to deal with wildfires in arizona. now the second largest wildfire in arizona history. the bad news is the winds will continue. very low humidity. we may get sporadic lightning strikes which could cause more fires. then we move into the midwest. the missouri river causing big problems. there are parts along the river where we have had levee breaches

and it looks like the flooding will last through the summer. on the map we have a risk of strong storms in new england, through the rockies, the central great lakes. clouds, sunshine in the pacific northwest. sunny skies in los angeles. 68 and sunshine. the record-breaking heat continues. ohio river valley to new england. good morning to you. live picture of the golden gate bridge. you can actually see the clouds starting to thin out a little bit. they're breaking apart, that's the marine layer. it's going to kind of keep us a little overcast the next couple of hours but by about noon those clouds will break apart and we'll see mostly sunny conditions and by 4:00 p.m. completely clear sky over the city. 70 degrees today, a little breezy. elsewhere i'm going 75 in san jose today, 76 in gilroy and the warmup continues. 80 degrees for your thursday. a little cooler for the weekend. weather. matt? >> coming up, a critical piece

of evidence called into question at the casey anthony murder trial by one of the prosecution's own expert witnesses. we'll have details on that. first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪

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that's our girl doing her thing along the world famous rockettes. we are celebrating meredith's journey on "today" all morning long. our special farewell is ahead. >> first your local news and weather. run! >> congratulations, meredith vieira. i'm going to miss you. i composed a song for your triumphant farewell. ♪ well, it seems to me ♪ you lived your life ♪ like a candle in the wind that's all i've got. okay. i didn't write that. but i love ya. ciao, bella.

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if you have painful, swollen joints, i've been in your shoes. one day i'm on p of the world... the next i'm saying... i have this thing called psoriatic arthritis. i had some intense pain. it progressively got worse. my rheumatologist told me about enbrel. i'm surprised how quickly my symptoms have been managed. [ male announcer ] because enbrel suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether you've been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure,

or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. get back to the things that matter most. good job girls. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. good wednesday morning to you. 7:26 right now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. the family of a missing east bay nursing student, not convinced she is dead. christie smith is live in hayward where michelle le's family is holding out hope that she will come home safely. the police are saying otherwise. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. michelle le's family says they're not giving up hope because they have no reason to. police think she was likely killed, but the family says they have no real evidence of that, as grim as it sounds, including a body. police say they can't talk about everything they know because it might give the killer a chance to come up with an alibi or

taint evidence. the family has put up new billboards of the nursing student who disappeared may twechb27th on a break from kaiser permanente medical center. they have several persons of interest, including a former roommate, but she has reportedly said she has nothing to do with it. the family is holding a vigil tomorrow. >> thank you very much. now for a look at the forecast, things going to clear up? >> yes. oh, it's going to be such a nice day, kind of like yesterday. we'll start out with the cloud cover. it will clear out of here i'm thinking by 11:00, 11:30 today because we have a thinner cloud deck overall. high pressure will warm us up into the 70s. as we continue throughout the morning, it will get sunnier and sunnier each and every hour and that breeze will start to build about noon. tomorrow the warmest day of the week. beach day tomorrow. 75 degrees in san jose, 76 in gilroy. up to 80 degrees tomorrow. a little cooler for the weekend.

let's check your drive with might be. we're looking at a 25-minute drive coming out of the altamont pass through livermore. good slowing past livermore avenue. things clear up by the dublin interchange. highway 4 really slow through antioch and really jamming up through pittsburg as well so this is very unusual, especially for a wednesday. we thought we would have lighter volume through this area, so unusual slowing heading into concord. the maze looks pretty good approaching the toll plaza, but look at the toll plaza, actually getting a little lighter there. we'll have another local news update in about half an hour. the "today" show back in a couple of minutes.

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with no slips or envelopes. take a step forward and chase what matters. ♪ do you remember ♪ do you remember 7:30 now on a wednesday morning, the 8th of june, 2011. you're looking at some of the fun moments we shared with meredith during her great five-year run here at "today." we will not let her forget a moment of it. inside studio 1a, i'm matt lauer alongside meredith. coming up, we're going to celebrate meredith's final morning with a look back at some of her most memorable moments. we have lined up a couple of surprises that we don't think will embarrass you. >> everything you showed is me looking like an idiot. >> no, no. it's you being yourself.

>> exactly. that's the problem. >> being fun and enjoying yourself. by the way, the noise there isn't meredith shaking her collar. that's jasper this morning, meredith's dog making his final appearance on the "today" show as well. >> and my husband richard is here making a rare appearance as well. >> over in the studio. that's not richard. >> same eyebrows. >> nice to have them with us. meanwhile, coming up in this half hour did your favorite make the list? the darth vader kid, kevin bacon's take on kevin bacon? the commercials that were crowned best of the year. >> but we begin on a serious note with what could be a major set-back for prosecutors at the casey anthony murder trial. two experts gave conflicting testimony on a key piece of evidence. nbc's kerry sanders is in orlando with the latest. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. prosecutors say they will ask for the death penalty if casey anthony's convicted of murdering her daughter because they allege

it was premeditateded. much of the case relies on showing that casey used chloroform on her daughter. but now that part of the case may be in jeopardy. prosecutors had one of the world's foremost experts on corpses and the odors they emit, bolstering their case. >> the point source of the odor was the trunk. >> reporter: dr. vass explained how he examined the trunk of casey's car and detected chloroform. >> because the chloroform was shockingly high, unusually high. >> reporter: on tuesday an fbi chemist turned that evidence inside out when he said the chloroform levels he found were not noteworthy at all. >> it's not what you would call shockingly high levels of chloroform? >> no. it's not. >> reporter: that contradiction is a critical conflict for prosecutors who are trying to build a case that casey anthony would use the chemical

chloroform to knock out her 2-year-old daughter caylee while she partied. investigators say they have examined the computer taken from casey's home and it shows searches for how to make chloroform. if the levels were high in the trunk of the car, prosecutors suggest casey was using the chemical on her daughter, a premeditated murder. if the levels were not high, then defense can argue that the chloroform was from a far more innocent source. >> these levels, i guess residue levels of chloroform that were found and tested are equal to what you might find in a common cleaning product. is it not, sir? >> yes. from my experience those levels have been detected in substances used for cleaning products, yes. >> reporter: the prosecution relied heavily on the expert to say the levels of chloroform were high. but the fbi chemist said they are low. it will be very hard to get a

jury to ignore the testimony of the fbi. >> reporter: also key to the prosecution's case, their claim that casey put caylee's lifeless body in the backyard. >> you went there with garris. >> reporter: that was the trained dog. the jury watched the canine finding dead bodies. in this case he hit on a scent in the backyard only once. >> i got an alert the first day and didn't get one the second day. >> reporter: for prosecutors, testimony that may have backfired. for the defense, not a huge victory, but a small step to suggest doubt. all they need to do to win the case is reasonable doubt. meredith? >> thank you, kerry. i will miss you, too. wendy murphy is a former federal prosecutor and child advocate. savannah guthrie is "today's" legal correspondent. good morning to you both. >> good morning. >> savannah, the prosecution has been trying to build a case

against casey anthony based on circumstantial evidence. based on what you saw in the courtroom tuesday, was the defense successful in punching holes in the case? >> yeah. the defense got a real opportunity because of an error by the prosecution on a key piece of evidence -- this air can that supposedly had air samples from the trunk of the car. prosecutors allege it will smell like death. that crucial piece of evidence was misidentified in court which made them call back their key witness the second day to clear up the mix-up. in some sense it's a clerical error but in a trial it was an opportunity for the defense. they were able to say, you know, you don't have any expertise in handling forensics, do you? it's another piece of reasonable doubt that kerry sanders mentioned. it's an opportunity the defense will make the most of. yesterday and i suspect in closing arguments. >> and you believe that casey anthony will be acquitted. >> i don't often say it, do i?

i was hopeful that there was evidence in this case we hadn't heard about over the past several years, that some of the evidence has come out. i figured there was stuff we hadn't heard yet. i was so distracted during the opening statement. i listened and i didn't hear any evidence at all they have that casey anthony actually killed her child. there's plenty that she lied, plenty that she was a bad mother, plenty she probably buried the body, covered up the crime, but i didn't hear one thing that puts casey anthony at the murder scene or anywhere near her daughter at the time she died. in fact, there is some evidence that she didn't have her car or her child during the three-day period prosecutors say she died. who had the car? who had the child? that's a mystery in the case. >> it seems the prosecution has successfully painted casey anthony as a liar, for sure. that, combined with scientific evidence that's been questioned

by the defense. is that enough to sway a jury? >> i would say especially in a death penalty case. this is tough for prosecutors. i think the jurors are thinking, casey anthony was up to something bad. she certainly wasn't the greatest parent. she wouldn't know the truth if it hit her in the face. will they be able to take the next leap? what they don't have now in the state of the evidence is a clear picture of how this child died. they know she lies, casey anthony. if she took the stand or anything she said, i don't think they would believe for one minute at this point. however, do they have enough to have a clear picture of how the crime unfolded? without that, will they be willing to convict her of first-degree murder under penalty of death? >> what's the most compelling piece of evidence the prosecution has? >> that's a good question. in terms of proving how the child dieded they have a piece of duct tape they claim indicates it was on her mouth prior to death. they don't have any indication who did it. i agree with savannah.

as much as it pains me to say this, if the prosecution's opening is all the evidence they have, i would vote to acquit her. i think there is doubt all over the place. this is a tough case for the prosecution. >> they said, well, caylee drowned in the pool and her grandfather, casey anthony's dad, helped cover it up and in fact molested casey anthony as a kid. you said the confidence is setting up a cross finger defense? >> a dog and olympipony show. if people feel bad for her and there is a two villain story where if george is potentially the guy who was involved and casey was the woman involved and they agree to be each other's reasonable doubt, it's a wash. the jury looks at them both and says, i can't figure out who does what. i have doubt. >> i call it the spaghetti

defense. throw everything at the wall to see what sticks. the defense has now provided a detailed narrative, rather than just poking a hole in the prosecutor's case. they have told a story and now the onus is on them to prove it in court. they don't have a legal burden but they have promised so much in the defense opening statement. >> very quickly, yes or no, she will take the stand casey anthony. >> i don't know how the defense puts her on. on the other hand, if they want to prove all the allegations they made in opening statements, they have to. >> yes or no? >> they will never. she would be destroyed. she will convict herself and that's why she'll never take the stand. >> thank you. >> thank you, meredith. >> good luck tomorrow. now a check of the weather from al. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by straight talk. cut your cell phone bill in half and feel richer. >> good morning. we have friends from laredo.

a shoutout to the police officers there. let's check your weather, see what's happening. we've got our first tropical storm in the pacific. this is adrian. 345 miles south of acapulco, mexico. moving nortest. doesn't appear now to be a danger to any land masses. but the land mass that is the uned states will be seeing heat. we have strong storms firing up back through the plains. we've got the risk of severe weather from the central plains to the central great lakes. also interior new england. clouds and sunshine in the pacific northwest with temperatures in the 60s. record highs midatlantic states to the ohio river valley moving into the northeast into texas. we have two sisters here. what's your name? >> lauren. >> where are you from? >> georgia. >> any city? [ inaudible ]

well, inland areas are starting to see that sun shine through. we're still socked in with low cloud cover but the marine layer is thinning out. you can see those layers breaking apart now from our live look over san francisco. tomorrow the warmest day of the week. today, though, not too shabby, mid-70s. 75 degrees in san jose. 76 in gilroy. and 70 degrees in the city by the bay. we'll be even warmer tomorrow. a little droffun for the weekend but nice and dry, a lot of sunshine. you can check your weather any time of the day or night. weather channel on cable. weather.com online. this young lady's birthday is on meredith's last day. what's your name? >> lexi. >> she's very shy about the fact that this is your last day, meredith. >> very cute. happy 7th. >> yeah. al, thank you very much. when we come back, the best of the best in tv commercials. plus, our special farewell to meredith on her final morning on

"today." >> what is good for meredith which is our priority here, does it have to be good for the rest of us? because that's why we're feeling sad today. we will miss you. i know you'll be back. wonwhat we ha ♪ have a better day [ male announcer ] only subway has a deal

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creme body wash with nutrium moisture. after 1 week we took their close-ups. when they saw how much more beautiful their skin looked they had only one question... ♪ new dove visible care creme body wash. that can go the distance. that's why we gave the chevy equinox an epa estimated 32 miles per gallon highway. but do passengers appreciate all of the comfort features we put in the equinox? hey. want me to drive? we'll take that as a yes. the count on chevy event is going on strong with a full selection of chevys to choose from. come claim yours today. visit your local chevy dealer. so we seeded that into something much bigger... the home farming movement. join us at homefarming.com.

back now at 7:44 with the top commercials of the past year. some rely on humor and celebrity. others a little bit of shock value. last night the association of independent commercial producers honored the best of the best. matt miller is the ceo and president. nice to have you here. welcome back. >> it's great. >> these commercials aired in 2010. that means the economy was in a difficult state. some people would say it still is. how did it affect what we saw on television? >> compared to 2009 the economy was back. one thing we did see in all the spots across the board was that advertisers are more confident in understanding what media was about. and they brought it. some of the ads that are in the show are far and above some of the past years we have seen. you will see it in production, style and in concept. >> let's look at a follow up ad named one of the best. it was honoreded in the humor

and performance categories. it's a sequel to the original old spice, the man your man can smell like, commercial. >> hello, ladies. how are you, fantastic. does your man look like me, no. can he smell like me, yes. does he use old spice? i don't know. do you like the smell of adventure? do you want a man who smells like he can bake you a cake in the dream kitchen he built? of course you do. swan dive into the best night of your life. so, ladies, should your man smell like an old spice man? you tell me. >> it's just beautifully staged. it's wonderful. how far can they go with this? >> it's got legs. between the two spots they went out and a lot of people were twooet tweeting about it. social media is a big part of the success of the pieces. they made 183 individual commercials with him answering tweets live which got hundreds

of millions of hits of fre ie impressions. >> advertiser's dream. the next one, most of us remember from the super bowl for volkswagen. take a look. ♪ [ engine revs ] ♪ >> 39 million hits online. i like it because it connects to

everyone. my kids love the commercial. i love it because my kids have done that kind of thing. it works for me. >> it does. and the online aspect was amazing. we proved it on "today" show the friday before the super bowl. had 900,000 hits as they released it the night before. within four hours after watching the show, 6 million hits. 10 million before the game. as you say, went up to 40 million. >> the next one is for ymca, honored in the low budget category. look at what the woman is actually eating. ♪ ♪ you made me love you ♪ i didn't want to do it ♪ i didn't want to do it >> maybe things did get a little out of hand over the holidays. >> see, this one is a little gross to me. we had some of the camera gu guys -- it takes a lot to gross

them out. >> it takes a lot to gross out the industry. last night when this screened the groans in the audience were -- oh! >> it's supposed to get you off your butt. >> it shows what you can do in low budget. it's a simple idea that can be effective, yet gross. >> the next is from allstate. it earned them the advertising excellence honor. keep in mind with this one they are making insurance seem funny. >> i'm a typical teenage girl. my bff becky said she kissed johnny. that's a problem. i like johnny. now, i'm emotionally compromised and -- whoopsie. i'm all, omg, becky's not even hot. if you have cut rate insurance you could be paying for this yourself. get allstate. save money and be better protected from mayhem like me. >> i like mayhem. he works for me. >> you know, this one's great. look, who's on the category in

commercials? geico. they have done it with humor, a lot of ways. this is an old staid company saying, we've got to bring it. marketers are saying, we have to entertain, get out there and compete in all ways across social media. we have to make people want to see our ads. >> fun to watch. nice of you to bring them to us. >> great to be here, matt. >> still ahead, a farewell for our queen on meredith's last morning here on "today." we're back after this. what is that? it's you! it's me? alright emma, i know it's not your favorite but it's time for your medicine, okay? you ready? one, two, three. [ both ] ♪ emma, emma bo-bemma ♪ banana-fana-fo-femma ♪ fee-fi-fo-femma ♪ em-ma very good sweety, how do you feel? good. yeah? you did a really good job, okay? let's go back to drawing.

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[ whacking piñata, grunting ] hello, meredith. i want to say good-bye. i'm still stuck here at nbc, but you're moving on. one thing i'm happy about is you are leaving nbc after a great career. it has nothing to do with the twitter photos you tweeted. it's great that women are doing them, too, but, look, i thought you looked fabulous. [ applause ] >> how did he get his hands on that -- so to speak? oh, my goodness. >> we have surprises coming up. any idea what they are? >> ooh, flashing. first your local news and weather. big day, huh? thank you. ♪ oh that mountain grown taste, ♪ ♪ just what you need ♪ for the big race. daughter: morning mom! are you excited? ♪ as you finish every mile...

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good morning to you. 7:56 right now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. police investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in san francisco this morning. they're trying to figure out if the man shot yesterday evening was a suspected southern california bank robber. police say the fbi told them a stolen vehicle was in the area. when officers tried to stop the car on buena vista avenue, they say the man inside the car tried to run them over, so police opened fire. the man died at the hospital. the corononer is trying to figu out if the man was responsible for two bank robberies and a vehicle theft in irvine. let's check the forecast with christina. >> good morning to you. we've got light fog especially in the coastal valleys but the cloud deck is thinning out nicely as we speak.

warm conditions this afternoon and the breeze will pick up just as it did yesterday. this is what we're looking at. tomorrow even warmer, warmest day of the week. these temperatures which are expected to be in the mid-70s will jump up into the 80s tomorrow. 75 in san jose, 76 in gilroy, 77 in santa rosa. seven-day outlook shows you we drop off just a little for the weekend. we'll see a few more clouds come through but overall nice and mild. downright pleasant is what i call it. let's see if it's a pleasant drive with mike. >> it was looking pretty good until a couple of minutes ago. down the east shore freeway i see slowing westbound, your commute direction, where the red is just before the merge with the bridge. eastbound just reported chp an accident around carlson. that should sort itself out over the next ten minutes. meanwhile also slow both directions into the caldecott tunnel but really overall things look pretty nice. walnut creek shows slowing getting out of the city.

lower deck there is a disabled vehicle and reports of a minor accident on the lower deck, so i'll watch for that and see if they can clear that quickly. we see slowing coming out towards treasure island. 12:45 for the giants will cause slowing around at&t park. there's a slowdown around 880 but a great shot at sunol. we'll have another update in half an hour. if you cannot wait until then, friend us on our facebook page. nbc bay area morning news. we like you. like us. laura garcia-cannon is my personal one, i'd love to hear from you. have a great day. see you in a bit. [ man ] i got this new citi thankyou card

and started earning loads of points. you got a weather balloon with points? yes i did. [ man ] points i could use for just about anything. ♪ ♪ there it is. [ man ] so i used mine to get a whole new perspective.

♪ [ male announcer ] the new citi thankyou premier card gives you more ways to earn points. what's your story? citi can help you write it. ♪ >> bonjour, cannes. or is it can? >> not at all! >> what took so long? >> hair. >> why do i feel like i should have worn a jog bra? >> jim carey has taken on -- ♪ a needle pulling thread ♪ >> 8:00 on a wednesday morning. it's meredith's final morning here on "today." over the past five years she's talked to all kinds of celebrities, traveled the world and most of all, she has let us know what a fantastic person she

is. she has attracted a massive crowd out on the plaza this morning to wish her a fond farewell. one of the biggest crowds we have had here in a very long time. i'm matt lauer along with al roker and the guest of honor -- >> my dog jasper. [ barking ] >> he will bite you if you get mean to him. >> i'm not going to get mean at all. one hour to go. >> i'm going to try to hold it together. [ barking ] >> i know, honey. >> what's that? meredith's going to fall in the well? [ laughter ] >> nothing bad. >> nothing bad. we are going to look at some of the great moments we have shared with you and we're going to check out some of the big news stories. all of the things that have made the last five years five of the greatest years of our lives. [ screaming ] >> we have a few surprises for you as well. we promise you will like them

all. i mean that. >> okay. like i have ever trusted you. >> we have a lot to get to. ann curry is at the news desk with a look at the headlines. hi, ann. >> thanks, matt. we begin with the new. smoke from the massive arizona wildfire is triggering health alerts in iowa and colorado. the fire burning for more than a week is threatening two arizona towns. thousands of homes have been evacuated. winds are expected to pick up over the next few days. republicans are pressuring democratic congressman anthony weiner to resign. on tuesday, key democrats including harry reid refused to defend him. weiner confessed to lying about inappropriate internet exchanges with several women. security officials in yemen say armed tribesmensesed part of the second largest city. president saleh is in saudi arabia for treatment of serious wounds suffered in a rocket attack last week. meantime, bahrain's crown prince met tuesday with

secretary of state hillary clinton and president obama who praised bahrain for lifting emergency rule imposed in march. german chancellor angela merckel received the presidential medal of freedom from president obama and was serenaded by james today lomplt sh -- taylor. the senate is expected to vote and scheduled to vote today on whether to stop the federal reserve from capping fees that stores pay banks when shoppers use debit cards. a russian soyuz spacecraft blasted off to the international space station including michael sossen who will be aboard when the shuttle "atlantis" arrives next month on the last space shuttle mission. nasa released amazing videotape of a solar flare erupting from the sun on tuesday. energy released could have a minor impact on the earth's magnetic field and

communications satellites. just because you like popcorn doesn't mean you have butter fingers. check out the fan who caught a foul at a kansas city royals game using his popcorn bucket. sure beats catching it in the beer cup. way to go. it's 8:04. now back outside to matt and meredith. >> that's something i can do at a ball game. >> popcorn? yeah, good. that's great. ann, thank you very much. mr. roker is here as part of the huge crowd. he's got a check of the weather. al? >> that's right. memphis will miss meredith. the whole country will miss meredith. we think that meredith will hang around for a little bit to do some other stuff. we love it. she's not going anywhere any time soon. let's check the weather for you. our pick city is los angeles. morning clouds and afternoon sun. only 68 degrees today. we have a risk of strong storms

interior new england and central great lakes back into the northern plains. wet weather there. record highs, ohio river valley which will continue tomorrow and the risk of strong storms iowa to new england. sizzling hot. 65% of the country will have above normal temperatures. hey, hot for most of the country. downright perfect for us. room temperature weather. that's the daytime high forecast today. 75 in los gatos. 72 in fremont. that means you don't need to run the heater. forget about the ac. open up the windows. let that beautiful air roll in. 80 degrees for thursday. 78 degrees by friday. we're going to drop off a little bit by the weekend and nice and sunny and make the outdoor plans with a clear conscience. have a great day. where are you from? >> south carolina. >> and they said it all

together. check your weather any time day or night. go to weather channel on cable or weather.com online. matt and meredith? >> all right, al. thank you very much. coming up, with a long, strange and wonderful trip, five years of memories with meredith. we'll show you those after these messages. [ male announcer ] who's feeling power hungry? who's ready to break through more barriers, from brick walls to budgets.

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the lack of energy. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor about pristiq -- a prescription medicine proven to treat depression. pristiq is thought to work by affecting the levels of two chemicals in the brain -- serotonin and norepinephrine. tell your doctor right away if your depression worsens or you have unusual changes in mood, behavior, or thoughts of suicide. anti-depressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. pristiq is not approved for children under 18. do not take pristiq with maois. taking pristiq with nset pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. tell your doctor about all your medications, including those for migraine, to avoid a potentially life threatening condition. pristiq may cause or worsen high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or glaucoma. tell your doctor if you have heart disease, or before you reduce or stop taking pristiq. side-effects may include nausea, dizziness and sweating. for me, pristiq is a key in helping me treat my depression. wonder where the durango's been for the last two years? well, it toured around europe,

getting handling and steering lessons on those sporty european roads. it went back to school, got an advanced degree in technology. it's been working out -- more muscle and less fat. it's only been two years, but it's done more in two years than most cars do in a lifetime. but it's done more in two years membership rewards points from american express. the social currency. [ cheers and applause ] we're back at 8:09 with the kick-off to our farewell to meredith. i can speak for all of us on the couch and our staff and crew when i say it's been a privilege working with you over the last

five years. i know the folks at home have enjoyed starting the day with you as well. it's been a great ride. sit back, relax and look at the highlights of your time on "today." ♪ >> this is the job i love. from the moment i came here, everybody embraced me. >> ten minutes to air. >> they made me feel part of the family. >> four, three -- >> it's hard to leave your other family. that's what i'm doing. ♪ ♪ it's a new day >> i don't think people realize how much pressure was on meredith in the early days. >> do you think you have the chops for the job? >> yes, i think i have the chops for the job. >> announcer: this is today -- >> welcome the woman next to me to our family, to our team. meredith vieira is here. >> announcer: meredith vieira. >> like the way it sounds?

>> yeah, but it's still matt lauer and meredith vieira. >> i don't think that will change. >> she made it look easy. she made it look effortless. it was as if she'd been here for ten years. >> matt! >> step hop. now make a circle. >> there are a lot of perks that come with the job. i knew if i lived long enough my dreams would come true -- and they have. >> she loves to laugh. she opens her arms to these moments. i think it shows in her interviews, especially with comedians like will farrell. >> get over here. >> hi, meredith. >> you brought your lunch? >> i brought my lunch. ♪ [ tarzan cry ] >> oh, no.

[ screaming ] >> oh! >> ow, that hurt! >> hello, jerry. >> meredith, you have always wanted to do that. >> i always wanted to do that. >> special projects director. good morning to you. was that russell brand? >> first of all, cheers. good morning. >> i do it every morning. >> when you get the statue, i'll polish it for you. o wow, it's heavy. >> she's a movie fan. she loves them. >> i want a commitment that you won't mess around. >> you're hot. >> i remember her coming in and raving about this movie "slumdog millionaire". >> what movie do we love? >> "slumdog millionaire". >> she just championed this movie. >> one of the best movies i have ever seen. "slumdog millionaire" nominated for 200 oscars. well, ten actually. >> thanks for your help, meredith, in getting the movie out there. >> stick around long enough, you get to do very different

segments. people hear that, taxpayers and they are frustrated. >> presidents hear it and are frustrated. >> you are? >> you are now a convicted felon. do you take responsibility? >> we're going to appeal that. >> president obama's birth certificate. you don't seem convinced he has one. >> i'm not. >> the only thing donald trump is running is his mouth. >> we'll see if he runs. >> i don't care. >> meredith is an important player in providing americans a window to history. >> they are saying it's not policy. >> no, i disagree. >> you could have put dozens, maybe more than that in harm's way. >> she brings a piece of herself to every interview she does. >> this is such a nightmare for you. for four years you have been trying to get your son back. >> the abduction story with david goldman and his son. >> what will it mean for you the first time he calls you "dad". >> it means the world. >> she dove into the story as any parent would dive into that

story. >> thank you so much. you did so much for us. >> i felt very unattractive. >> where did that come from? >> it stems from my childhood. >> she asked me once, am i going to make it? >> what did you say? >> i said, yeah, sure, you'll make it. if you don't, i'll go with you. >> one person i will always remember from "today." >> how do you let go of the anger? or have you? >> i can't hold it. it's unhealthy. >> a woman who suffered such a terrible injury. >> you move at a good clip. i'll tell you that. >> you're kind of slow. >> what? i'm slow? >> yeah. >> i learned a lot from her that i will keep close to me. >> good morning. tragedy in blacksburg, virginia. the worst mass shooting in american history. >> the first big story i covered was the shooting at virginia

tech. the question that persists in everyone's mind, who would do something like this? >> it was difficult to cover the story. >> i feel like they could be my kids. it breaks my heart. >> a special edition of "today" as we remember michael jackson. >> michael jackson was an unparalleled showman. [ bell ringing ] >> crash of the titans. wall street in panic mode this morning. >> i was overcome by the sheer size of the destruction. >> you are so lucky. >> these people are proud and dignified. they want some answers, justice for their children. >> she brings the human touch to every single story she covers and has always done that here at "today." ♪ caught in a bad romance >> i will miss her spirit and sense of fun. >> let's rock, new york! >> you can't put a price on that. >> fire! fire! ♪ >> she pushed me.

[ screaming ] >> if she ever stops jumping. >> meredith blows off steam as well as anyone i have ever met. ♪ >> oh! [ screaming ] ♪ green acres ♪ we are here >> doo doo! ♪ >> there's nothing like halloween on the plaza. ♪ >> welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> oh, geez! oh, my god. ♪ >> you have been looking forward to this day. congratulations. >> finally here. ♪

>> cafe vieira. oh, whatever. >> i loved going to ireland with meredith. >> you were born in italy? >> can you understand a word this man is saying? >> baaah! >> she still talks to one of those sheeps. it keeps calling. ♪ >> when it came to the olympics she had a real childlike exuberance. >> evan lisocheck with the skate of his life. >> yeah! he's so great. >> michael phelps is arm's length away from me. [ screaming ] >> come on, ann! >> it's an olympic moment we'll never forget. ♪ >> you laughed so much.

we laugh before it starts, matt and i. you won't believe how easy it can be to obtain prescription drugs inside a doctor's office. >> my view was meredith fitting into the family. >> also had, more on that. the u.s. appears to be -- slipping! >> without a hitch. ♪ >> behind the scenes meredith is one of the best girlfriends you could have. >> meredith is completely a girl's girl. always wanting to share in a glass of chardonnay or two or three. >> remember when she was directing? >> she exec produced us. >> wrap. >> what do you mean? we're just getting into it. >> i came to wish you a happy birthday because it's my birthday, too. >> the best apple pie winner -- it's a toss-up. >> i got it! >> like anything we have dysfunction. that's good. it's crazy, but there is a real bond.

♪ >> after months of personal reflection, i have decided to leave "today." i'm just humbled by what a great experience this has been for me. >> i have never enjoyed working with anyone as much as i have enjoyed working with meredith. ♪ >> so beautiful. >> oh! ♪ >> what am i going to miss most? i think probably the sense of family. i'm looking at them right now. that's when i get sentimental. ♪ girl you're amazing ♪ just the way you are

>> bravo! [ applause ] >> that was really wonderful. thank you. that was wonderful. >> when you look back were there things you didn't remember doing? >> a lot. >> for a lot of reasons. >> we can explain to people when we were tossing the papers off, that's when we do the cross talk. >> that wasn't actually on air. >> you know, the virginia teche kids, it says something about "today" and why it is an important show. they did a candlelight vigil. the kids started coming up to me and they said, you know, this terrible massacre they said, can we please hug you? they watch the show every day and they didn't have their mothers or fathers. i realized in that moment, so humbling about the power of this show to really reach people. it's such a blessing to have had that ability. i am so honored to have sat with all of you.

most of you. >> i'm not sure they would have said that to everybody. i think it's you. i think it's that they saw you there and how warm you are and how much people connect with you. >> i think they connect with this broadcast. i do. >> can we do one more hands together? >> we have more surprises coming up for meredith in a few minutes. first, these messages. when you've lost interest in everything. when you've had one too many days feeling sad or anxious... aches and pains, fatigue. when it becomes hard to ignore that you need help. that's the day you do something. depression hurts. cymbalta can help with many symptoms of depression. tell your doctor right away if your depression worsens, you have unusual changes in behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults.

cymbalta is not approved for children under 18. people taking maois or thioridazine or with uncontrolled glaucoma should not take cymbalta. taking it with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. severe liver problems, some fatal, were reported. signs include abdominal pain and yellowing of the skin or eyes. talk with your doctor about your medicines, including those for migraine, or if you have high fever, confusion and stiff muscles, to address a possible life-threatening condition. tell your doctor about alcohol use, liver disease, and before you reduce or stop taking cymbalta. dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing. side effects include nausea, dry mouth, and constipation. is today your day? talk to your doctor... and go to cymbalta.com for a free 30-capsule trial offer. depression hurts. cymbalta can help. wonder where the durango's been for the last two years? well, it toured around europe, getting handling and steering lessons on those sporty european roads. it went back to school,

got an advanced degree in technology. it's been working out -- more muscle and less fat. it's only been two years, but it's done more in two years than most cars do in a lifetime. he hangs here. because you don't see this everyday. (child) because we read the books . (man) and watched the movies . and now we're living it. because i can fly with harry. follow me! because now i can turn my brother back into a human being. (narrator) from unforgettable adventures, to the wizarding world of harry potter, only at universal orlando resort.

i know how much you love the staff of this show. this is how much they love you. a lot of them on the plaza this morning to wave good-bye to you. our producers, researchers. >> they are the best in morning television, bar none. they are so great. i owe a lot of them money, too. i have to get out of here. >> many of them have been in tears. you have helped mother them. i hope you don't mind my saying that. >> not at all. >> they felt your love. >> a lot of them gathered yesterday at a party we threw for meredith. it was fun. some of the shots from that. we'll have more of the farewell coming up after your local news and weather.

good morning to you. 8:26 right now. police in san leandro are looking for two teenage girls who tried to lure two children into a van. investigators say it happened about 1:45 sunday afternoon at cary drive and san jose street. an 8-year-old girl and a 9-year-old say they were walking when the suspects walked up to them trying to lure them into the van with candy. police say the younger girls ignored the teens that followed w,em before leaving tgh net noig ri wt nogh we are going to take a quick break and be back with weather and traffic after this. ♪

[ male announcer ] spare toothbrush, just in case: $4. ♪ home cooked meal: $28. ♪ first date finest: $33. ♪ having time on your side: priceless. mastercard paypass.

bringing you the most convenient ways to pay. learn more at mastercard.com/paypass. good morning to you. well, it is kind of cloudy out there along the coastline but inland areas are clearing out nicely with the sun shining over fairfield and livermore. going about 73 degrees in san jose. and 70 degrees today even the city by the bay should be nice. through the week, we'll stay nice and mild. 80-degree weather by thursday. a few more clouds saturday and sunday and drops the temperatures a little bit but still low 70s, sunshine. not a super soak eer weekend li

last weekend. mike? >> there's an accident declared a motorcycle and that's one of the bigger motorcycles and that's going on there at carlson boulevard. no major injuries and reopened the lanes. there's the slowdown down the east shore freeway. a lighter volume because folks are held up out of richmond for the slowing and the san mateo bridge, haze on the peninsula. >> thank you very much. the "today" show back in a minute. check out our facebook page.

♪ do you remember [ cheers and applause ] 8:30 now on this wednesday morning, june 8, 2011. out on the plaza right now, all of these fine folks on rockefeller plaza. it's going to be mighty hot.

[ cheers and applause ] >> i'm meredith vieira along with matt lauer, ann curry and al roker. the video you just saw was so beautiful. i want to thank everybody who put it together along with katie buckley and mark evans. >> it was a labor of love. believe me. they loved putting it together. >> they had a lot to work with. >> i feel like i have been saying this all morning. wouldn't it be funny if the surprise is we have no surprises. we do and those are coming up for meredith in a little while. >> the crowd has been showing their love all morning. [ cheers and applause ] >> they are really going to miss you. >> i'm going to miss them. i really am. >> mr. roker, how about a check of the weather? >> looking ahead to the weekend, your first weekend without having to worry about coming in on monday. saturday, we have sunny and hot gulf coast states into the southwest. sunday, we're looking at showers

in the northeast. mild conditions and n the great lakes. lots of heat in the gulf coast to the southwest. more showers along the coastal pacific northwest. good morning to you. high pressure's going to warm us up nicely. we have a nice-looking day on tap. lots of sunshine. we'll add a few degrees. we have the cloud deck thinning out right now. a warm-building breeze later on today and tomorrow's the warmest of the week. tomorrow's going to be gorgeous for the beach. 75 degrees in san jose. 76 in gilroy. we'll continue to warm up through today and then slightly drop off through the weekend. no rain. [ male announcer ] everyday, your car does a lot for you.

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[ magical chime ] ♪ [ people cheering ] [ girl ] whoo hoo! ♪ 8:35 now. we're back with more of our special farewell to meredith. one way we like to celebrate around here is with a little music. there's one song that sums up the way we all feel about you. in fact, you mentioned one time that you played it 30 times in a row when you graduated from high school. the song will be played by none other than the legendary carole king. >> oh! [ applause ] >> hi, meredith. >> hi, carole.

>> we are going to miss you. it's been so amazing having you in our lives on a daily basis. thank you for so many great memories. you do have one of thosese. ♪ when you're down and troubled ♪ ♪ and you need some loving care ♪ and nothing ♪ ♪ oh, nothing is going right ♪ close your eyes and think of me ♪ ♪ and soon i will be there ♪ to brighten up even your darkest night ♪

♪ you just call out my name ♪ and you know wherever i am ♪ i'm come running to see you again ♪ ♪ winter, spring, summer or fall ♪ ♪ all you have to do is call ♪ and i'll be there ♪ yes, i will ♪ you've got a friend ♪ now, ain't it good to know ♪ that you've got a friend when people can be so cold ♪ ♪ they'll hurt you ♪ yes, and desert you ♪ and they'll take your soul if

you let them ♪ ♪ but don't you let them ♪ you just call out my name ♪ and you know wherever i am ♪ i'll come running to see you again ♪ ♪ winter, spring, summer or f l fall ♪ ♪ all you have to do is call ♪ and i'll be there ♪ yes, i will ♪ you've got a friend ♪ you've got a friend ♪ you've got a friend

[ applause ] >> thank you. >> carole, thank you so much. >> i really did play that, like, 30 times. >> i know. >> sat on my bed and cried. >> carole was so nice to arrange her schedule to be here. she has new music coming out, but she wanted to be here for you. >> i'm honored to be here. >> i'm honored to have you. your music is a theme in my life. >> you're performing in central park? >> i am. with the robin hood foundation. >> o wwow. >> wonderful. thanks for being here. we have more ahead. >> oh, no. >> another surprise for meredith. first, this is "today" on nbc.

back here with our pal on her final day on "today." i was looking at the tape we did in the last half hour. so many great memories over the last five years. we couldn't get everything in the tape. one thing that occurred to me that we had so much fun with, the series on viral videos. do you remember that? >> yeah. >> the day we used our voices to create the voices for dynamite. the other day we were in the plexiglas tubes covered in -- >> what are you doing? >> the one that was probably the most fun is when we did the viral video on the plaza with the single camera shot. >> yeah. >> remember? it was love to "i've got a feeling." come with me. we know how much you love it. we were thinking, how in the world could we ever top something like that? so we thought, well -- here. have a seat.

that was actually taped e. what if we tried to do it live. >> no. i wouldn't try that. >> wouldn't work? >> no. this group? no. >> ready? >> yeah. ♪ ♪ just a small town girl ♪ living in a lonely world ♪ she took the midnight train going anywhere ♪ ♪ just a city boy ♪ born and raised in south detroit ♪ he took the midnight train going anywhere ♪

♪ ♪ a singer in a smoky room ♪ a smell of wine and cheap perfume ♪ ♪ for a smile they can share the night ♪ it goes on and on and on and on ♪ ♪ strangers waiting ♪ up and down the boulevard ♪ their shadows searching in the night ♪ ♪ streetlights, people ♪ living just to find emotion ♪ hiding, somewhere in the night

♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ working hard to get my fill ♪ everybody wants a thrill ♪ paying anything to roll the dice ♪ ♪ just one more time ♪ some will win ♪ some will lose ♪ some were born to sing the blues ♪ oh, the movie never ends ♪ ♪ it goes on and on and on and on ♪ ♪ strangers, waiting ♪ up and down the boulevard ♪ their shadows ♪ searching in the night

♪ streetlights, people ♪ living just to find emotion ♪ hiding, somewhere in the night ♪ ♪ ♪ don't stop believing ♪ hold on to the feeling ♪ streetlights, people ♪ oh, whoa ♪ don't stop believing ♪ hold on ♪ street lights, people

♪ oh, oh ♪ don't stop [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you so much! thank you. i love you. >> love you. [ applause ] >> we're going to be back with more. we'll say some farewells but first, this is "today" on nbc. i work at the cable company, and i get to wear a hard hat...

a question already! my mom says cable can't bundle cell phones. you mean wireless voice service? nobody does that. mom says at&t does, so... uh...uh... [ female announcer ] get more bundle choices than cable. call to get u-verse tv and internet, plus your choice of home phone or wireless voice service starting at 89 a month -- our lowest price ever. switch today and get the hd-ready dvr included. i bring tv...to you... mr. roy, with u-verse tv, you can record up to four shows at once on a single dvr and play them back on any tv. ms. jones has u-verse! [ female announcer ] so call now to get three services starting at just 89 a month. switch today and get the hd-ready dvr included. and u-verse has more hd channels than cable, too. i want at&t.

-me, too! -yeah! who wants to talk to a fireman? i do! [ female announcer ] choose the bundle that fits your life. at&t. kind of unfair of us to make you sprint around the plaza. >> i know. >> on your last day. we have just a couple of things we'd like to sigh to you. al? >> i have never in my entire career worked with anybody who's been more about a program and the people they work with than you. you have changed my life and changed all of these people's lives.

we will always hold a spot in our hearts. you are the best. i love you. [ applause ] >> if i can add, you know how much i love you. we all love you. i want to speak for a second on behalf of the viewers who want to thank you for getting up at 2:30 every morning to ask the hard questions, five days a week on weekdays, every morning to make us laugh and remind us to live our values. richard, gabe, ben and lily -- >> and jasper. >> v and jasper are lucky. our door is always open. we are always your family. >> thank you. >> meredith, al said how much you have changed his life. you have changed everybody's life. i think you touched everyone. you showed us from day one when you took over the job this is all about you being just the way you are. it's so appropriate they chose that song to open the show and close the show for you.

you are amazing just the way you are. so genuine. thank you. >> thank you. >> i sat down last night trying to figure out what i wanted to say and i kept coming up with jokes and sarcasm. i thought, why does that always happen when i talk about meredith in public do i always poke fun? i realized, a little psych analysis here. i'm afraid if i tell you how i feel i will be a blubbering idiot. but it's your last day. i adore you and i have since we had dinner five and a half years ago. i look at the tape. it speaks for yourself. talent, warmth, generosity. your sense of humor is what i will remember most. you have made me laugh every day here. the bottom line is this, as al said, i have marvelled over the fact that with someone who's got talent as large as yours how small your ego is. you have taught us all how to be great teammates. that's the gift i will take away. thank you so much. [ applause ]

>> i know you said just before we came back you don't want to leave. >> i don't want to go now. but i went up and they changed the lock on my dressing room door. >> you can change your mind. take it from me. >> i think life is about changing. you know, one door closes and another opens. i love you all. i meant it. you are the best. bar none. it's such a family. it's hard to leave a family so i'm not going to say good-bye at all. i do want to thank all of you guys. thank you for coming out today. [ cheers and applause ] >> i talked yesterday at our party about this bracelet that my husband richard gave me the day before i started this job five years ago. it's a little charm. i was so scared. it says "we are with you, love

richard, ben, gabe and lily." that's the reason i'm leaving. but, you know, this is about "today," so i'm taking this off after the show and i'm going to pawn it. no, i'm not. i'm going to put it in a safe place and all of you are in my heart. so i'll never lose you. i love you all very much. >> we love you, too. we're going to take a quick look because you didn't get to see the video as it was happening. let's look at a few moments of what we just produced here. ♪ she took the midnight train going anywhere ♪ ♪ just a city boy ♪ born and raised in south detroit ♪ ♪ he took the midnight train going anywhere ♪ ♪

♪ a singer in a smoky room ♪ a smell of wine and cheap perfume ♪ ♪ for a smile they can share the night ♪ ♪ it goes on and on and on and on ♪ ♪ strangers waiting ♪ up and down the boulevard ♪ their shadows searching in the night ♪ ♪ streetlights, people ♪ living just to find emotion ♪ hiding, somewhere in the night ♪

and that's available online. >> i have it back in my minivan. what do you get for the girl who's given us so much? >> oh! i love it. >> one of my favorite memories. >> thank you, guys. >> thank you. >> love you all very much. [ cheers and applause ] ♪

[ male announcer ] why is toyota the number-one choice among consumers? maybe it's because of trucks like tacoma, the best-selling compact pickup in america or the rugged tundra, named a 2011 best overall value of the year by intellichoice.com. and right now, get 0% apr financing on a new 2011 tundra. plus, every new toyota comes with toyotacare, a complimentary maintenance plan with roadside assistance. we have lots to choose from, so hurry in today. good morning to you. it's 8:56 right now. later this morning, top government leaders will be touring the san bruno pipeline explosion sight. the chairman of the national transportation safety board will give up a update on the investigation into the blast. they'll talk about issues of the

natural gas pipeline safety. ntsb is expected to finish the inquiry sometime this fall. the explosion took place last september. eight people were killed.omes w we'll have a look at the forecast right after this. so i sent him to camp. we'd earned lots of points with our new citi thankyou card... and i put them to good use. he told me about his bunkmates, and how he signs up for every activity. ♪ he even hangs out with the camp director. just like that. [ male announcer ] the new citi thankyou premier card gives you more ways to earn points. what's your story? citi can help you write it.

good morning to you. well, we still have that cloud deck overhead. only at the coast, though. inland areas are starting to see the sun shine through. an jose looking good and same for places to the west of livermore, just to the immediate west, though. warm conditions, building breeze today. warming day of week will be your thursday. low 70s, 70 in oakland. 73 in napa and warming up more towards your thursday. back to you. >> i'll take the 75 any day.

thank you very much. thank you so much for joining us. the "today" show continues next. i'll be back with an update in about half an hour. always sign up for our facebook page. nbcbayareamorni nbcbayareamorningnews.

♪ jimmy fallon leading the parade as part of our live viral video farewell for meredith just a couple minutes ago. the whole cast and crew of the "today" show taking part. and not stopping believing out on the plaza. we're back with more of "today" on this wednesday morning. meredith is still getting hugs and kisses from the people who work here. she's so popular. meanwhile out on the plaza i'm matt lauer along with natalie morales and al roker.

you know, we just want people to know that one of our great producers at the "today" show, jen long, is behind that video and the one earlier in the year. it takes a lot to pull it together. >> our camera crew, joe, john and rob did an amazing job keeping up with the cast. >> that's all one long shot. and we have to thank carole king and good old abe vigoda as well. always loves to make an appearance here. >> proving once again, he's not dead. >> more alive than ever. >> lots to get to. let's start this half hour at the news desk where ann curry is standing by with the headlines. ann? >> thanks a lot. they are fighting fire with fire in eastern arizona where the state's second largest wildfire ever is threatening several towns. firefighters are setting backfires in an attempt to keep flames away from eager and

springerville. thousands of residents have been evacuated. as the scandal surrounding congressman anthony weiner grows the democrat from new york is finding little support from either side of the aisle. luke russert joins us with the latest from washington on the story. good morning again. >> reporter: good morning, ann. after admitting monday in a press conference that he sent a lewd photograph of himself over twitter, congressman anthony weiner could not seem to catch a break. >> i have engaged in several inappropriate conversations. >> reporter: it's not getting easier for anthony weiner. republicans say he should step down. >> i don't condone his activity. i think he should resign. >> reporter: democrats aren't helping him either. >> i know congressman weiner. i wish there was some way i could defend him, but i can't. >> reporter: even fellow new yorker donald trump took a shot. >> anthony weiner is a bad guy. he's a psycho. >> my name is ginger lee. i'm 23 from nashville,

tennessee. >> reporter: tmz reported weiner traded scores of sexual e-mails over a long period of time with this former adult film star who spoke about her computer habits in this 2006 interview. >> i'm one of those people that i'm like, has anybody messaged me? let me see if anybody messaged me. somebody might have messaged me. half the time if they don't i'm like, crap, i'm a dork! >> reporter: according to tmz when the scandal broke weiner offered to coach lee on how to handle the media. >> she's complaining to him over e-mail about how the media is hounding her, bombarding her, cameras are showing up, calling her family members. she's upset and asking him. he says, look, do you need p.r. advice? he says, i can have someone from my team call you. >> reporter: when asked to comment weiner's office said this to nbc news. quote, he's fully cooperating with the house ethics inquiry. that will be the appropriate place for any further questions to be addressed. legal experts say he could be in trouble for violating house

rules. >> if house resources were used in this sexual contact he could face concerns or problems under the code of conduct of the house which directs members to behave in a manner which shall reflect creditably on the house. >> reporter: in a poll conducted monday night after weiner revealed he had inappropriate contact over the phone and internet with six women shows 51% of new yorkers think he should keep his job while 30% believe he should resign. >> i don't see anything that really affects his job performance in any way. >> does it offend you as a voter? >> a little bit. >> he does a good job. let him do his job. >> reporter: now, ann, his wife said she would stay by his side but she won't be there. last night she left on a mission to the middle east with her boss secretary of state hillary clinton and a high profile national democrat is now calling for weiner's resignation.

that would be tim kane who told a local tv station, anthony weiner has lied about this to the public and that's unforgiveable. he should resign. >> thank you for your reporting. in other news ten explosions rocked libya's capital city as nato presses on with air strikes. tuesday the most intense barrage destroyed much of leader moammar gadhafi's compound. ministers will lobly for more countries to participate. rampaging elephants in southern india this morning killed at least one person. the wild elephants entered a town from a nearby forest and chased buses, knocked over a motorcycle and tried to climb a fence. eventually the elephants were captured before being released into the wild. thunderstorms rumbling through toronto sparked an amazing light show when lightning struck the cn tower on tuesday. and 66 years after he led an

assault on german machine guns, shin ye "rocky" marciotti was honored with the highest award for valor. his father was held in a u.s. internment camp for japanese-americans during the war. it's six minutes past the hour. now to al with a check of the weather. >> thanks for sharing that story, ann. as we look at the record-setting heat. yesterday, temperatures well over 100 degrees in minneapolis. eau claire, wisconsin. up to 95 in detroit. today, dallas, 96. with the humidity it will be worse. tomorrow the heat settles into the northeast. richmond, washington, d.c., philadelphia. all flirting with 100 degrees. the good news is we'll get a break. this is the pattern today. big upper level high. a deep trough out west where it's cooler. by sunday, things change. we get a developing trough over the northeast.

a shrinking high. that means the back of the heat wave will be broken and we'll see cooler temperatures through much of the coun good morning to you. live picture san jose. speaking of broken, that cloud deck has broken up and take a look at this just gorgeous, gorgeous start this morning. only 9:00 and we have an almost completely clear sky over the south bay. still a little bit of that lingering cloud cover hugging the coast this morning but we are expecting it to burn off by about 11:30. as we head throughout the afternoon, temperatures will range from the mid to low 70s, 80 degrees tomorrow and then the upper 70s on friday. today's money 911 where we answer your big financial questions. david bach, the founder of finishrich.com is the author of debt free for life. car men ulrich is our personal

finance expert and author. she's got the book out, the real cost of living and alexa von tobel is here from learnvest.com. a personal finance site for women. this is a first. all of our questions have been generated by twitter. they all came in on tweets. hash tag # good-bye meredith is number two on twitter right now. this is a tweet. what's the best retirement savings plan to start today for people under 30? >> i love that question. if you are under 30 this is simple. you want to put your money in a 401-k plan. here's why. it's automatic. it comes right out of the paycheck and hopefully your company will match it. say you put in $5,000. hopefully you have a match. that gives you a couple thousand dollars of free money. if you don't have the 401-k plan

i want you to open up the roth ira. you won't get a tax deduction but the money comes out tax free at retirement. >> david, you have to limit your answer to 140 characters. >> oh! >> next, jt spencer. what is good to purchase now for little ones born into the family. i used to buy i bonds. >> you want to look at a 529 plan. of course it lets your money grow tax-free. here's the reason you want it in your name. there are a couple of reasons. the number one reason is if the child is very young and they don't go to college you can name a different beneficiary in the family. so this helps you keep the 529 in your name and change the family member if someone decides not to go to school. >> alexaalexa, this one's for y from dallas. is it best to pay off smaller

amounts first, credit cards and such or bigger loans first like car loans? >> when paying down debt, focus on the debt with the greatest interest rate. pay it down because it's costing you the most money. however, for all other debt payments you have, make sure to make the minimum payments as missing one can incur penalties and hurt your credit score. if you have debt across many cards, consider consolidating it onto one card with a lower interest rate and rates often reset after six months. >> now for the bonus round. this week from morris county, new jersey. if a high school student works during his or her senior year will it affect financial aid for college? >> it should not affect it. unless you make a ton of money. go to finaid.com. seniors, get a job! >> every parent recommends it. carmen, from california. is it better to buy a lower sta cuss home now and then a better

home flee years later or just wait? >> here's the thing. if you are talking about buy a home now, a smaller one and then selling it in three years and buying a bigger home, that's a no-no. the housing market won't go anywhere. you risk losing money and you will have to short sell. you could either buy a small home now that you can afford. be happy, live in it for years. hopefully ten years at least to guarantee you can earn some money. or wait three years and buy a bigger home after you have saved more and you're in better financial shape. >> that was 800 characters. >> okay. from alabama. high school grad, what to do with grad money. deposit into a traditional savings account or -- question mark. i have no clue what to do. >> congrats on graduating. do not spend the money. if you want to us yoo e it in t next few years, use a high interest savings constitution connecticut and don't touch it. if you can part with it for ten years or more, open a brokerage

account so you can understand the markets and investing. you can get your money starting to work for you. >> all right. alexa, carmen and david. fantastic. our first all tweet morning. >> we'll shrink it down next time. >> all right. still aed head, the secret to avoiding bug bites, heat rash and poison ivy and uncomfortable summer rashes. oh, my. later, if you enjoy the backyard from your deck maybe it you redo the old one or start from scratch? we'll help you decide after these messages. copd includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. spiriva helps control my copd symptoms... by keeping my airways open a full 24 hours. plus, it reduces copd flare-ups. spiriva is the only once-daily inhaled copd maintenance treatment that does both. and it's steroid-free.

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is brought to you by aquafresh training toothpaste. a great start to a lifetime of healthy teeth. >> this morning on "today's health" from bed bugs to bizarre bumps, there are tricks and tips that can keep your skin safe just in time for summer. dr. raj is a contributing medical editor to health magazine and a "today" contributor. good morning. >> good morning. >> so skin irritations are common in the summer months. the hot humid weather. >> itchy months, absolutely. there is something we can do to prevent it. >> first is heat rash. a lot of people suffer with this. what are some things that bring it on? what can you do about it? >> prickly heat is another name for it. it happens in babies and adults. when you're in warm, moist conditions sometimes the sweat glands get blocked and your perspiration is trapped leading to a bumpy, itchy, red rash. normally it goes away within a

few days. it can be uncomfortable so wear cool fabrics, nothing too tight. if you get a rash, stay in the cool, indoors with a/c or a fan. make sure you put cold compresses on the air an wait it out. >> any creams or anything or does it just go away? >> it will go away, but you can use an anti-itch like calamine or a hydro cortisone cream. >> poison ivy rears its ugly head this time of year. the leaves of three, right? let's see a picture of it. >> exactly. it's important for kids and adults to recognize it. it's common. it can be in the backyard, for example. so be careful about avoiding it. what happens with poison ivy or okay is there is an oil that causes irritation in most people. make sure you wear long clothes, heavy gloves if you're gardening. >> pants, socks. >> recognize the plant.

if you are exposed, try to wash off the clothes or your skin very quickly, within 10, 15 minutes. if you wait an hour you can have a reaction. >> and a myth is it's contagious. >> once you have it, you can't give it to someone else. if you have oil on your clothing and someone touches that they could develop the rash. >> the not so pleasant yeast infections which can be a problem for women this time of year. >> we all have some amount of naturally occurring yeast in our body. but if something throws off the balance, especially a warm, moist environment which happens in the summer you get an overgrowth of yeast causing the uncomfortable, itchy yeast infection. first of all, make sure you know what it is. many people think they have a yeast infection and it's a different infection. get a diagnosis. they are easily treated with over-the-counter ointments or an oral medication. >> next is a huge problem. athlete's foot. not just for the athlete here, right? >> no. this is everyone this time of year. >> it's a common fungus that

occurs on the foot. this is something you can pass from person to person. if you are walking barefoot on a sauna or public pool area. >> a gym. locker rooms. >> yes. again, this fungus loves a warm, moist environment. have room in your shoes. plastic shoes aren't a good idea. use a powder to keep the area cool and dry. >> and heat rash -- well, hives actually. hives can look like heat rash but it's the blotchiness. >> it's like a raised welt. they can be large and cover your arm. this is a reaction to something else. it's often an allergic reaction to food, pollen. could be a reaction to medication. interestingly, some people get hives from stress or being in a cold temperature. if you get hives you want to see an allergist to see what's triggering it. certainly if there is a sign of trouble breathing or having swelling in the face or throat,

you need to go to the emergency room right away. >> last but not least, i hear bedbugs could be coming back. >> unfortunately they are predicting a resurgence. something about the winter being so cold and it's warm again, they are coming out of the woodwork. you have to be careful. make sure when you travel, inspect your luggage, the hotel rooms. if you have any suspicion, get a professional in to make sure the house is free of bedbugs. >> dr. raj, always great advice for us. thank you so much. >> thank you. >> still to come this morning in "today's kitchen" easy ways to make a summer meal. and highlights of our emotional morning as we said our farewells to meredith vieira. but first, these messages. ♪ [ male announcer ] did you know that your baby's adult teeth are already forming just below the surface? caring for your baby's teeth now, can impact the health of those adult teeth.

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still to come, a compelling question. should you renovate your deck or build a new one? it's been a big day here. talking about meredith's final day. >> we'll show you the highlights meredith.good-bye todith. >> first your local news and weather. we're here because we wanted to come as much as they did. (girl) it's really hogwarts! because i can fly with harry! because i love seeing him like this! (screaming) ahhhhh! (narrator) from unforgettable adventures

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good morning to you. 9:26 right now. hercules voters recalled the only two remaining members of the 2010 city council. they were ousted last night. voters upset over a deter yags of the city's finances. in other election news this morning, richmond voters shot down measure d, it was a proposed sales tax increase to help restore services for children and the poor. m d would have increased richmond sales tax to 10.25%. voters did approve the measure c, however.

it will direct some city sales tax revenue to the west contra costa unified school district. toll lane cheaters be warned. the roads will have an eye on you. operators of the first toll lane on interstate 680 are planning to install cameras. ththey want to catch solo drive driving on the 14-mile express lane without paying the toll. it would assist the chp quickly identifying the cheaters. at first violators will be sent notices and then interstate 680 joint powers agency will have a bigger fineo tli to penalize t cheat cheats. all right. we'll have a look at the morning commute. o

good morning to you. taking a live look at san jose. where we just have a couple clouds left over. that cloud deck is really breaking apart and clearing quickly this morning. take a look at what you can expect in your city.

70 degrees in oakland. 77 degrees in santa rosa. we do have some low clouds hugging the coast this morning but they're breaking apart and i think completely out of here by about 11:00. >> the clouds clearing more quicklier than the traffic in the south bay. we have the slowing. that was incorrect grammar. looking over here to the lower part of the screen, as well. 101 past the airport. so still slow spots in many places. the maze not so bad into the city. you have a game. the giants find it around the stadium. laura? >> children listen to the traffic reports but not the grammar. thanks a lot, mike. thank you for joining us. check out our facebook page. have a

i'm ann curry live from the bottom of the world in antarctica. >> this is a ceremonial south pole. okay. want to see how fast i can run around the earth? there you go. nbc news has been here. >> hello! >> our ann has gone to the ends of the earth. tomorrow her journey brings her to where this has all led, to the anchor desk on "today." we celebrate the changing roles as she sits in the anchor chair, much deserved. natalie takes over the news desk

and we'll welcome savannah guthrie to new york leaving behind her job as white house correspondent and straight man to chuck todd. she'll be the feature on the third hour of "today." we'll celebrate a new day tomorrow on "today." >> exciting. >> yes, the real day -- today is really -- [ applause ] >> oh, you guys. [ cheers and applause ] >> we are obviously still on fumes because we're so excited about meredith and her future. but today really is about meredith. earlier this morning we had a very, very, very emotional good-bye that just -- i can't believe we're able to produce this live. a live video that will hopefully go viral. i just found out she's a trending topic. # good-bye meredith is the number two topic and abe vigoda

is number four. obviously he's in the video. it's been a heart felt morning. very emotional. meredith has meant so much to us personally and professionally. >> she's still saying good-bye to crew members right now. >> exactly. we have a look back at what happened earlier this morning. >> we are all emotionally drained. i'm like, is it friday? >> okay. the show's off tomorrow. >> no, no. we're here in different roles. also ahead, switching gears here, summertime is about lounging on the deck, if you're lucky enough to have one. you can also have them build you one. if yours is made of wood you need to maintain it. there are other options out there, too. you can get a synthetic one. >> you don't mean a synthetic lou. >> he can look a little wooden sometimes. >> oh, man! >> we love lou. >> you okay over there? >> i'm fine. >> lou's done a number of

segments from under the bus before. >> we'll get some great summer dinner recipes from south of the border that are easy to make tonight or any night. >> all right. a man who would never be accused of being wooden. al roker has a check of the weather. >> thank you very much. let's check it out for you. our weather for today. we have a risk of strong storms from the great lakes back into the central plains. record heat in the northeast, midatlantic states into the ohio river valley. tomorrow, more of the same. record highs in the northeast. midatlantic states into the gulf coast. showers through the plains and strong storms from new england to iowa. good morning to you. our neck of the woods is looking good, especially the south bay and east bay. nice and clear. light fog and that cloud deck situated over the peninsula. and mostly hugging the coast. i think that cloud deck will

continue to thin out. by 11:00 should be completely out of here. warm conditions. a building breeze this afternoon and then tomorrow even warmer. 80s. today low 70s. 72 degrees in fremont. 75 in san jose. lots of sunshine all weekend long. should you go with rceda a oroofe d cedar or aif fentre doption? we'll help you decide after this. for celebrating dads. come on dad! [ female announcer ] it's for celebrating all our dads are. our fellow explorers... can i touch him? yeah. ow! [ female announcer ] ...personal doctors... and that's why we wear shoes. [ female announcer ] ...d our oldest, closest buds. ♪ father's day is for us to say, "i'm so glad you're mine." come here... oh. happy father's day, daddy. [ female announcer ] now, select cards come postage paid. i was just thinking about that. ♪

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his family knows what to expect. but what mike rowe doesn't know is that his parents have armed themselves with unquilted viva® towels. wow, for me? [ male announcer ] 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 morning on "today's home" new options for a great-looking deck. there is no better way to enjoy the backyard than to kick back and relax on the deck. what if the deck is looking old

and tired? should you rebuild or renew? we have the host of house smarts here to help us decide. hey, lou. >> good morning. >> with all your exuberance, let's talk about it. what's your thinking? >> you have to look at the deck. with deck it's like an old car. if the frame is solid, you can rebuild over the top. if you have an old deck that the framing, what supports the deck from underneath is rotten then you probably have to do the whole thing again. some of the options to consider are synthetic materials. >> why do you like synthetic materials? one reason might be recycling. >> well, yeah. i'm a wood fan. always have been. always will, but the advancements in synthetics really, to me, i don't know why you wouldn't use one. this one by trex is 95% recycled material. i was one of the first builders in chicago in the late 90s to use the product. get any color you want as long

as it was gray. they have come a long way. this is the transcends line. it's really a beautiful option. they have a beautiful in-grain that looks like wood. different colors. they have a neat feature. one option is a groove you can get on the board that actually allows you to hide the fasteners. so you don't see anything on top. it just kind of slides in there like a tongue in groove floor and it allows the water to flow through. it's beautiful. >> this is also not wood, but it's not recycled materials. why choose something like this? >> this is azek that makes a cellar pvc. it's foamed and extruded and the color is all the way through. 13 colors. very stain resistant. it's essentially plastic. when it started it was trim only. came in white. it was a terrific option when you built a home. they found a way to engineer it for decking to make it super

sturdy. and because of the way it's made, it cuts and shapes like pine. so if you look where the screws are, they are so close to the edge, but you won't split the material. if i tried to do it with a stad piece of wood i would have to predrill it and i would probably damage boards. the benefit of synthetics is little or no maintenance. you would have to keep them clean. you never have to restain them. so while there is a little bit more of an investment. >> how much more? >> probably 20 to 25% over a standard cedar deck. you will recoup that in less than five years and then you're off to the races. you have a beautiful deck that you literally go out with the hose and a brush and keep clean. organic material from outside. you know, leaves, dirt can get on top and get dirty. it's going to look like this. i have a set of steps on the back i put in ten years ago. they look fantastic. >> you have a number of colors you can finish this with. >> the azek comes in 13.

the trek has seven colors. there are a lot of choices. you can mix and match. the deck rails are also synthetic. you can match the color or accent. it's really pretty. >> even after all you have said people will say, look, i just like the look of having a real wood deck. if you are one of those people -- and i'm one to be honest with you. >> i know. >> there are things you can use that weren't available a few years ago. >> five years ago i would have said only oil-based semi transparent stains. there are water born finishes, $35 a gallon. benjamin moore has arborcoat. they have a system with a stain and a clear coating over the top to give you a little sheen. the advancement in the technology with the water-borns gets into the wood, bites in. wood sucks up water all day.

they could never figure out how to make it hang on. they have. if you're restaining the deck and want to avoid the constant restaining every few years look to these. you still have to maintain it. >> i can carve my initials in. >> i'll get you a knife. >> i'm telling you. i'll do it. coming up next in "today's kitchen" quick summer meals with a mexican flair. yum. first, these messages. meet beth, nursery school teacher. lights, camera, activia it's the best job in the world. my students are amazing. but to be there for them, you've gotta feel your best. kids can tell. that's why i love eating activia every day. so delicious

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this morning in "today's kitchen", easy as 1-2-3. quick summer meals with south of the border flavor. should have a big sombrero and a little mustache. ivy is here to tempt us with fantastic items including chicken al cabon as opposed to el cabong. good to see you. >> good to see you. >> this is a nice summer dish. >> it's a great summer seasonal recipe. simple, easy to do even for a weeknight grilling. >> nice. >> what i have done here is i have citrus juices. orange, lime, grapefruit. >> does it matter the mix? >> no, just citrus. i concentrate the flavors with a chipotle chili which is a smoked

jalapeno. delicious. we have a recipe on your website. >> can you use store bought to save time? >> absolutely. save a little time. little bit of olive oil. >> right. just a pinch of salt. we're going to blend it in the blender very quickly. oh, blender works. >> that's always good. >> it is good. >> you'd be surprised. >> no, i wouldn't. >> you have seen our show. >> not your show. >> how long will you marinate it? >> a minimum of four hours or overnight. you can put it together in the morning before work. come home and it's ready to grill. >> okay. >> throw it right on the grill. i have done it with chicken. it would work with pork, beef or really anything you want. >> you going to help me out? awesome. you have been working hard today. >> i know. >> that's great. we'll grill those five, six

minutes on each side until they're done and serve them with rice and beans. i made some corn relish with seasonal ingredients. summer corn from long island and some avocado from california. >> could you grill the corn first? >> absolutely. >> ooh. >> we put our chicken breast there. >> this is pretty healthy. >> very healthy. there is really nothing heavy or fattening about it. this is just made with vinegar, olive oil. like i said, the corn, avocados. some peppers. >> that's great. >> i'll garnish it. want to try that? >> yeah. garnish it with a piece of grilled avocado. people don't think of grilling avocado often. it's delicious that way. >> terrific. once we have the main dish, let's head back here. >> we can make some lemonade. >> you start with a base lemonade. >> right. this is a basic lemonade. lemon juice, sugar an water.

>> right. >> we'll take summer fruits. in this case it's blackberry. we pureed them in the blender. you could also leave them whole. i will pour in a little bit and stir it up. look how beautiful it is. >> gorgeous. >> in this case we have prickly pear which is cactus fruit. >> great colors. >> also in season for the summer. isn't it beautiful? then of course strawberries. this is my favorite. >> ooh. >> take that, stir it up and we'll serve it like this with a little mint over it or anything you'd like to garnish it with. >> perfect. like vodka. >> i didn't say it. you said it. a little tequila, vodka, perhaps even rum. >> i knew i liked you, ivy. >> cheers to that. >> thanks so much. recipes on the website, today.com. coming up next, we have a look

back at meredith's last day. first, this is "today" on nbc.

how you holding up? >> tough day. i'm kind of drained. >> i think we all are. >> a celebration of five years of meredith in the anchor chair. >> then we have a three-card monte tomorrow. you're moving to the anchor chair. >> right. >> natalie to the news desk and savannah guthrie joins us from d.c. >> so we welcome here. >> it's exciting. >> favorite moments this morning, besides the obvious. >> the look on meredith's face when she realized how much we love her. at the very end of the dancing, singing, just the look on her face. >> and being serenaded by carole king. >> abe vigoda! >> he was a trending topic today. that's great. >> here's a farewell to meredith.

deep breath, count to ten. welcome to "today" on a bitter sweet wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> i'm meredith vieira. looks like i'm leaving, doesn't it? >> i lost a bet. i said you would call in sick today. >> always been a big fan. >> thank you. >> i got adam some tissues. he's been crying all morning. >> want to say something. >> meredith! >> i love you so much. lock him up. >> the guest of honor. [ barking ] >> i know, honey. >> what's that? meredith's going to fall in the well? >> i am so honored to have sat with all of you. ♪ winter, spring, summer or fall ♪ all you've got to do is call ♪ ♪ you've got a friend

♪ you've got a friend ♪ you've got a friend [ applause ] ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ working hard to get my fill ♪ everybody wants a thrill ♪ hiding somewhere in the night ♪ ♪ ♪ don't stop believing ♪ hold on

♪ streetlights, people ♪ oh, oh ♪ don't stop believing [ cheers and applause ]

good morning to you. it is 9:56 right now. prosecutors should decide today whether to file murder charges against a 17-year-old boy for a

shooting of infant in east palo alto. the d.a. is trying to decide whether to try that boy as an adult. the teen accused of shooting a 3-month-old. and his family on saturday night. that infant died and his parents were injured. officers say the teenager was retaliating for a gang beating and targeted the wrong family. the 16-year-old accomplice could be charged with weapons possession. this morning san mateo county sheriffs have a warning for san carlos residents. most of the 36 car burglaries happened in neighborhoods west of el camino royale. most of the cars targeted have been unlocked. sheriffs say it's a reminder to lock cars and remove or hide electronics. three dozen car break-ins have been reported since early may. let's check the forecast right now. >> good morning to you.

high pressure is building in and as a result we're warming up nicely. i talked to somebody that drove in from the city, cloud deck not as thick as yesterday. mostly sunny, almost clear conditions over the south and east bay. headed towards the 70s. warmer tomorrow. 80-degree weather on the way. let's check your drive with mike. >> we'll look at both sides of the map. bottom side here. we are looking northbound at 85. bottom of the screen where we have an accident heading up towards union. now it is still there. there's a very slow drive at the scene and then the light volume picking things up as you pass by 17. top of the screen there, slowing. speeds below 20 around 1 o 1 and the interchange there. san mateo, the clouds are burning off. we have to work on oakland. gray and a light volume. that's good. >> those microclimates, got to love them. the "today" show returns in about a minute. if you can not wait to see us,

log on to our facebook page. nbc bay area morning news. we'd love to be your friend.

from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotbe. live from institute owe 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hey everybody. it is a really bittersweet day for all of us. >> it's been a blubberfest. the entire crew came out for meredith in tons of ways. but there were a lot of moments. the reason we are wearing our t-shirts. i know you only see wine lovers

heart but at the bottom it says meredith. the entire crew -- >> we learned choreography. >> let's see a little bit of the good-bye video. ♪ ♪

>> got down a little bit. >> at the end of that song and this is from meredith's point of view. she could see all of us, she was really crying -- i don't know if she was hyper ventilating from the running or crying. >> she couldn't stop crying. >> really going to miss her. >> she didn't know any of that was going to happen. we were in position. we missed watching carol king sing to her. we heard it. we're going to look at a little bit of her singing "you've got a friend." ♪

>> meredith has an awful lot of friends. >> she has been outside since the morning. >> she is still saying good-bye to people. >> she is amazing. last night we had a party for meredith because we can't stop celebrating her. and this one was held at the hurricane club. it was such fun. apparently dancing -- >> i had to go to a book signing and you had a screening. but megan put that together. >> megan rocked it. these are some of the pictures from there. these are cool. do you remember the old throw back polaroids? we thought they were magic. the cameras are cool because you can point like so. >> okay now. >> and then shoot. >> that's going to be cute. >> and it comes out of the top

like the old fashioned ones. >> yours is broken. not working properly. >> we had a great time. >> we really did. >> there she is. how great was it to see abe? >> did this guy remind you of abe? >> i guess so. this is live. she is still there. still saying good-bye to people. she is going to sleep like a baby. you know what she is going to do at 2:30 in the morning? keep sleeping, which she has not done for five years. you can't imagine what that is like if you have not had that kind of lifestyle. >> you were busy yesterday. >> tonight is my last night. i was in princeton. the book is called the legend. looks just like messy.

looked like his sister. thanks everybody. tonight is my last one at the book review in long island from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. >> if you were tucked in last night and you turned on the tv and the voice was on -- i caught the second half. it was the first live one. that made a difference. so this was team christina versus team blame. >> they both have pretty strong teams right? >> let's watch a little bit of this in case you missed it. ♪ ♪ >> when they did this they had the groups singing together and

the individuals singing together. >> who won? >> the voting is happening now? >> you get a week to vote or something. >> the voting is confusing. >> ours is easy. >> we are doing our voice today. today we each have to pick one more. >> the trouble is you don't know what three are coming up so you don't know if you want to wait or pick or, you know? >> i am so excited. we're going to finalize our teams and both you and i are going to coach our teams in singing. everyone knows i am a terrible singer. what am i doing coaching? >> maybe we can get joe d. to stay and help coach. >> we have to go from her to the weiner. it is still big, big news.

>> once they start to unravel, someone pulls the thread. and it all falls apart. today if you are interested in exactly what anthony was sexting to one of the girls according to the paper -- >> a 40-year-old woman. the one in vegas? >> they lay out in graphic detail. it starts off with a conversation like most things. >> loved you on the bad guys. and then it turns into what are you wearing. >> it goes slower than that. you can watch the progression until it gets smutty. >> i felt dirty just reading it. i was not involved. i don't want to know what people say to one another. >> i wonder how prevalent that is. i think a lot of guys think this is harmless because you are not touching anyone.

in many cases you are not conversing just texting back and forth. we're going to name names and post on facebook. if you wonder the best day to say sex -- >> i wonder the best year. >> last year. the best day to have sex is on a wednesday. >> wednesday. it's today! >> who knew? >> we don't know why that is. ok ok okaycupid.com say that wednesday nights are the time to have a good time. doesn't make any sense to me. but that's the way it is. >> all right. so you heard carol king sing.

so we told everybody that today was best friends day. the number of photos that were sent to our facebook page blew up. people were sending pictures of themselves. this morning i pulled up a couple of pictures. i picked one of me and karen and one of -- that's jane. and then there is another one of me and karen. i have known karen for 15 years and i have known jane longer than that. so when you have people you can call, who would you call in the middle of the night if you only had one call and you didn't have a family member. who would be the one phone call. >> christine? she won't let me show you her picture but she is really cute. >> i think people have sent in family pictures. >> we're going to show also thursday and friday because so many of you sent them in. >> it's fun to see the stories. they talk about long time pals for many, many years. i like the stories that people

send with them. >> have you ever gone to an event and you get dressed up and you realize they are not serving alcohol, right? >> nobody wants to go to that. >> we have got the suggestion for you. you say to somebody oh, excuse me, i just need to go to ladies room to powder my nose. and you go to the ladies room and there is your -- and you just -- there is room for your lipstick and powder, too. so you can come back. and your keys with your freshly powdered nose. five minutes later, i seem to have stomach problems. i need to go to the ladies room. >> frank is hitting the road right?

>> frank doesn't come to everything with me. but he is going to be at the collector's showcase of america for all of you sports fans. >> and this time she is singing for a cause. >> and there is more talent in the house today. first these messages. now drink up! you're losing a lot of water out there!

if we're losing water, why don't we just drink water. [ female announcer ] one day it will hit you. nothing hydrates quite like water, with no artificial colors, no calories, no sugar. nestle pure life. embrace the pure life. tastes so luscious, i enjoy it with lobster... mmmm... shrimp... oh... and mussels. [ male announcer ] fresh butter taste with 70% less saturated fat than butter. [ kim ] you can have it all.

with 70% less saturated fat than butter. we're all out of toilet paper. can you toss me a roll? too rough. we're out of toilet paper. can you toss me a roll? too soft. can you toss me a roll? that's better. angel soft. an ideal balance of softness and strength. lights, camera, activia it's the best job in the world. to be there for them, you've gotta feel your best. that's why i love eating activia every day. activia help me feel good inside. which helps me be on top of things help regulate your digestive system. love how you feel or your money back. he hangs here. because you don't see this everyday. (child) because we read the books . (man) and watched the movies . and now we're living it. because i can fly with harry. follow me! because now i can turn my brother

back into a human being. (narrator) from unforgettable adventures, to the wizarding world of harry potter, only at universal orlando resort. joe d. was a nashville girl. >> she did. and with the record sales of

more than 5 million and nine number one hits, she has certainly done that. she is paying it forward and using her music to help others. >> welcome. you look good, by the way. >> we are comfortable today. >> so tell us about this cause of yours that you are excited about. >> it's called a million doors. it's a campaign to build a non-profit school in nashville. i had met -- it's going to make me cry. i met the head of the school just is so moved by an angel. >> the kids are getting a credible education. >> it's the lowest tuition in nashville. so when they -- when it came time to expand i went to a lot of the foundations and they said we are more apt to give it to

the college level not this young. >> you came up with a great idea. >> we launched a million doors.com, if you go there and donate a dollar you get a song until july 15, you get a song called carry me, for free. i figured would go to 2.3 million people and say can you give us a dollar. >> maybe if you sing for them, they will like it. >> we would love to hear it. >> here we go. >> louder? >> what is this now? >> this is your song. ♪ carry me down this road a little while ♪ ♪ carry me ♪ carry down this road a little while ♪ >> you're a real singer. >> just the way you touch me.

back several years ago, you came out as a surprise guest and i play a song over and over and over to get me through something and one of your songs is that my life. i will never forget the moment jo dee, when you came on the show and played that song. ♪ >> beautiful. >> like we needed more tears today. >> beautiful song. it is interesting how many people you touch. >> it's true. this is why i do this. music always touched me and for my music to make a difference is

sureal. >> and your life is so cool. >> she has got a 2-year-old. oh my gosh he is adorable. he looks like a little ralph lauren ad. >> tell us about him. >> he is 2 and he's a mess. >> he looks just like his dad. that child looks nothing like me. he is great. he is so much fun. he is at home with his dad right now. >> i want to wish you great luck with the school. a head hancho is with us. >> she is an angel and her dream is so selfless. that is why i wanted to be a part of raising money to build the school. that's her dream. >> you have another cd coming out soon? >> hopefully soon. i know that the song is available after july 15rks it will be available on itunes. we are working on a new project.

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five flavors of chex are gluten-free, including the honey nut flavor. and it's nice for me to be able to say "yes" to something that they want to eat. [ male announcer ] chex cereal. five flavors. gluten free. [ chanting ] do it! [ all cheering ] [ female announcer ] it's fun to get dirty when it's this easy to get clean. that's because clorox 2 stain fighter & color booster works better than detergent alone at removing the toughest stains. 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.

♪ >> and we are back with our segment appropriately called what the what. >> you sent in photos of anything you found funny or bizarre. >> this was sent in from linda. i'm sold. it's made with seven secret spices. it's a party in your mouth and everyone's invited. that might be an oversell. our next one is a well trained bird. >> oh my gosh. >> he doesn't just sit. it is like potty. >> is that a real sized toilet? >> that is a parrot stick. every morning he comes in when

linda is in the shower. >> look how big that bird is. i hate to say. the toilet needs a little scrubbing. >> linda. >> sorry. >> this one is from roy harrisson. i guess that's one way to inspire your graduates. note the last line or we're all going to be really pissed. make the world a better place. next up, donna from iowa. i can make it today but my time machine is in the shop so yesterday is out. in case you missed it, yesterday it was here as well. and finally from connecticut, during the beginning of our 13 hour car ride this license plate reminded us about klg and hoda.

>> don't forget to enter your photos on the website. >> we can't wait to show off your pictures. >> we will get one more shot to chose our team member for today's voice. >> the best beaches for your family this summer. >> who doesn't want to be there right now. >> after your local news. meet beth, nursery school teacher. lights, camera, activia it's the best job in the world. my students are amazing. but to be there for them, you've gotta feel your best. kids can tell. that's why i love eating activia every day. so delicious activia help me feel good inside which helps me be my best... positive, cheerful and on top of things. help regulate your digestive system. love how you feel or your money back. ♪ activia and, just like toddlers, puppies need food made for them.

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good morning to you. 10:26 right now. tonight, hundreds of faith leaders and community members are expected to meet with chris moore, they will ask moore to make public safety a top priority. san jose has already experienced 24 homicides this year compared to 20 in all of last year. the city stands to lose more than 100 officers to budget cuts. leaders will stress that community police trust would play a key role in reducing the city's murder rate and overall crime rate. after waiting more than 80 years san francisco gets a war memorial. the three design finalists are

on display at the war memorial building, a tribute part of the original 1920 plans for the complex and never moved forward because of a lack of funding. it will stand in the court between the opera house and the veterans building. the honor is long overdue they say. >> i had 33 months in vietnam and that's really a special time for me. i lost a lot of marines there and they'd love this. >> nearly $2 million is raised for the memorial and formally dedicated in november of 2012. very fittingly vet ons veteran it is 10:27. weather and traffic after this. r

good morning to you. well, we have jumped into the 60s. 60 degrees now in san jose. even into 70s in sunnyvale. we are headed towards a nice, warm day. 77 in santa rosa. 72 in fremont. by 4:00 p.m., mostly clear conditions and it's already pretty clear out there inland. low cloud cover hugging the coast. 80 degrees tomorrow. even warmer, mike. >> we have some red and yellow here because of the slowing. first to start, last to year usually. antioch over to bay point. a little blip there. speeds in the 50s for a half mile there. we have an easy drive with the toll plaza lights off. another bridge crossing, laura. oakland, sorry. back to you. >> thank you. >> i know the road. it is clear and fine.

>> it's time to go to bed. hey, check our facebook page. never know what you'll see there. nbc bay area morning news. stay up to date on what's happening in the bay area and mike's head irtn ar spaca. >> s >>cankfos for joining us. auditions. >> we each need a total of three singers on our team. we both have two and we each need one more. >> how exciting. >> it easterable. >> we will get a quick recap. >> i know you have the sound but this is week three. out of three con tes sents performing. you all need to end up whethree. turn the chairs around and we will bring out the first contestant this is so exciting. okay. you guys ready? >> remember the chair doesn't

turn without you moving. >> we know that. >> i forget sometimes. ♪ >> oh yeah. that's a ten. that's a home run. >> good job. >> tell us who you are, where you are from? >> we're from west virginia. this is my husband. >> b.j. roberts. >> cute. i saw a cute baby running around here. >> you picked them. >> i liked their voices blended beautifully together. i didn't know if they were brother and sister at first but apparently not. i love when you went up to the

higher notes you didn't force it. you were obviously enjoying what you were doing. i could see the smile on your faces in my mind. you guys were awesome. >> good job. that's great. >> hoda says turn. >> the rules say -- >> there we go. we will bring out number two. >> there is too much pressure now. >> i'm scared. >> you have got this. >> one more to go, hoda. ♪

♪ >> nice, nice! >> that was so beautiful. >> i wish i had you earlier. >> that was beautiful. that was really beautiful. it's a little scarey. you just performed in front of 2.5 million people and i thought you did beautifully. i'm not sure what's next and i loved you and i took a risk and i -- i think you are a ten. >> if you had been singing a boppy song she likes she would

have liked you. >> do not listen to her. >> the whole thing is very magical and bringing me back home. >> so happy that you are here. >> originally from philadelphia. >> tell us your name? >> rick jones. >> okay. one more. thank you so much. okay. >> thank you. >> bye. >> one more to go. let's turn around. >> hoda has to pick him. i mean yes you do. stay there. quit playing with the light. >> is it on? >> no. ♪

>> we have a southern belle in the house. >> i love my southerners. >> tell me your maim? >> ashton. >> i'm from seattle, but i live in dallas. >> i like the little country thing that you have going and i'm a huge country fan. i'm excited. >> sweet and beautiful quality to your voice. >> let's bring everyone out here. >> we got the little baby. >> oh my gosh. >> they harmonize with this little one. >> the baby is on my team as well. >> we are going to be back to play who knew to look at more friends on this national best friends day. depression is a serious medical condition. i feel like i have to wind myself up

to deal with the sadness, the loss of interest, the lack of energy. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor about pristiq -- a prescription medicine proven to treat depression. pristiq is thought to work by affecting the levels of two chemicals in the brain -- serotonin and norepinephrine. tell your doctor right away if your depression worsens or you have unusual changes in mood, behavior, or thoughts of suicide. anti-depressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. pristiq is not approved for children under 18. do not take pristiq with maois. taking pristiq with nset pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. tell your doctor about all your medications, including those for migraine, to avoid a potentially life threatening condition. pristiq may cause or worsen high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or glaucoma. tell your doctor if you have heart disease, or before you reduce or stop taking pristiq. side-effects may include nausea, dizziness and sweating. for me, pristiq is a key in helping me treat my depression.

kathy lee is ready to hand out one hundred bucks across to street to anybody who can answer the questions correctly. and to those who don't they get kathie lee's cd. here to help me is tim from

intentertainment weekly who didt put us on the cover. >> look what i found. >> oh my gosh. famous tv daughters. >> and a lovely couple from jacksonvil jacksonville, florida. >> i believe that's alan. >> you are right. >> yes, indeed. allen thicke. >> he is the father of robin thicke who is an a & b singer who has released four albums. he is married to another actress who was just in jumping the broom and they have children. and he is on tour this summer with jennifer hudson. >> i love him. >> look at all these gorgeous girls from canada. true or false. bob saget did not play the role of danny tanner in the original

pilot. >> that's false. >> it's true. i can't wait to see them fight over my cd. >> let's watch them fight. nobody's fighting. >> someone else actually played danny in the pilot. we almost -- we were this close to missing the glory that is saggett. >> he is something in person. he has got quite the mouth. >> yes. uh-huh. >> back to kathy. >> tell me where you are from. >> broomfield, illinois. >> i forgot. which tv dad was born on the same date as his co--star? >> i'm going to go with c. >> that's a good choice. >> totally guessed it right.

>> they both played the keatons on family ties. they actually have the same birthday. june 21. a lady never tells her real age. june 21. so we can wish them a happy early birthday. >> we're going to take a look at a clip. watch this. which of the following tv dads was almost cast as bar owner sam malone on the show cheers. was it tony danza? patrick duffy? >> tim duffy. >> no. it's perfectly fine. she's going to go to sleep so well for this. >> she almost got two of them. neither of those two. >> ed o'niel was almost cast. sam is like the bash lchelor or

playboy but ed went on to play al bundy. he is on modern family now. emmy nominated. >> we have one more. >> on which show starring tony danza did he play a character that was not named tony? >> family law? >> yeah. good girl. >> he always played tony. >> producers on tony zdanza tv shows have no krcreativity. >> are we ever getting on the cover of entertainment weekly? >> i'm going try. >> that means no. >> next up, pack up the shovel and camera. tune in after this. now drink up! you're losing a lot of water out there!

if we're losing water, why don't we just drink water. [ female announcer ] one day it will hit you. nothing hydrates quite like water, with no artificial colors, no calories, no sugar. nestle pure life. embrace the pure life. now?! [ female announcer ] crest whitestrips two hour express. in just two hours you can have a noticeably whiter smile that lasts for months. hi. hi.

[ female announcer ] two hour whitestrips from crest. life opens up when you do. you've been there. you pick out a makeup thinking it's your shade... until you actually try it out. now, i have a makeup that always gets it right. smart shade makeup instantly adjusts to match perfectly to your skin. almay smart shade makeup. only from almay. only for me. and, uh, wow! i really need to shop for a better rate. any thoughts? well, i can do two things. first, we'll show you our progressive direct rates and rates from our competitors. people who switch save an average of over $500 a year. very cool! oh, and the second thing? it's origami. you just blew my mind. making it easy to shop and save. now, that's progressive. call or click today. didn't taste so vegetably? well, v8 v-fusion juice gives you a full serving of vegetables, plus a full serving of fruit. but it just tastes like fruit. and try our deliciously refreshing v8 v-fusion + tea.

>> pack your bags people. it's time for today's travel and the best family beaches. >> so the folks did some digging to come up with places that will give you everything from clean picnic areas and clean surf. >> there is a beautiful place in californ california. >> we love you so much. >> we love love love you. >> this is dana points. it really is.

>> are you heading off to restore with the family? >> i really don't want to leave now so i am joining you. you just talk. >> you sit. >> dana is going to take us on some beaches. >> i'm not going to start hogging the chairs. >> if meredith was going to visit a great beach this summer, where would you go? >> indiana. >> who knew? >> get out. >> you would need a lot of wine. >> really? >> west beach. it's right on the southern tip of lake michigan. calm water. >> clean? >> all the beaches we chose were really chosen based on that. >> i am in love with western michigan. it is gloriously beautiful. >> okay. where else? >> fresh water? >> if you want ocean there is san diego. it's right over the bridge. t

the. >> if you want to take a long flight, hawaii is a nice place. >> yes. nice and calm water. you can see the fish standing there in the water. baby sharks sea turtles. it's really gorgeous. >> a good puffer fish. >> can i miss meredith for just a moment here. >> i don't know, meredith. who is meredith? >> we got to get -- >> tell us number one. >> we got to get to number one. north beach which is in florida outside of st. petersburg.

>> that is a home run. >> and number two is in south carolina. >> that is beautiful, too. >> maybe we can get meredith to stay. first this is "today" on nbc.

>> okay. what can we tell you about this man? he is a line backer for the bengals, now a free agent. >> but also an author. you took one, didn't you john. >> i brought you guys gifts.

last time you had me on, i didn't have a bow tie. >> a necklace? >> thank you. >> i want you guy s s. >> i'm the bow tie guy. i said just bing it. bing jones and see what comes up or the bow tie guy. >> you mean google? >> no. bing. my face came up as the bow tie guy. that's why i started wearing

them. >> we like a lot of lessons you learn in life apply to sports and life. i think a lot of sports people realize that. are. >> competition is something that is within us. if you don't compete how will you know where your heart is. >> what are some of the big lessons you learned through sports? >> competition, comradery. i learned hard work. >> discipline. >> big. >> a big one. sadly lacking in our world today. >> definitely. going brazil and ireland, brazil, spain, all the different areas taught me individual lessons. >> competition is important. >> hoda is a crazy woman. >> are we having a crazy woman

right now? >> she thinks we can beat your butt in tug of war but i know we can't. >> down on one knee. you want me down on one knee? want me to sing to you, too? >> you can do anything you want. >> what are we doing? are we doing tug of war against one another. >> you know what happened last time we competed? >> yes. it was not pretty. >> huh? hold on hold on. wait wait. i'm going to beat you guys with one hand. >> pull now. now! now! >> come on ladies. come on. oh wait. and with an iced drink. come on. unforgettable. >> no, no, no! >> yes! our crew. >> that's cheating. that's cheating. >> that's our crew.

>> and i had a drink all at the same time. >> great to have you, honey. tomorrow we're going to be cooking with a choir singing for us tomorrow. celebrate your best friend