from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hello, everybody. know what it is today? >> what is it? >> it's thirsty thursday, june 20th. we're happy, happy you're with us. >> what surprising and just sad news yesterday to hear about -- i know you guys have heard about james gandolfini by now. 51 years old. star of "the sopranos." >> and so many other things. >> yeah. and died just so suddenly. he was in italy with his son. >> it's one thing if we know that somebody has been sick for quite a while.

you sort of gird yourself for -- you say a prayer for somebody and wonder if they'll make it through, you know. but this i guess -- who knew of any health problems he had. >> right. >> or any concerns. >> and he was -- i guess one of the most beautiful cities in the world, rome. with his son and his sister. i guess he was there for some sort of film festival but was on vacation as well. >> i think what's interesting, too, is he played one of those characters who was an awful character if you looked at him on his face. like his character on "the sopranos," he murdered people, he cheated on his wife -- >> i know. he has issues. >> and you loved him. he had this way that -- >> that's called great acting. >> this clip -- watch this clip. >> next to you. those nights when you were actually in the bed. and you would ring the doorbell. i felt like my heart would come out of my chest. you would smile and we'd talk. and then you would come down the stairs. and i felt probably like someone

who was terminally ill and somehow they managed to forget it for a minute. and then it all comes back. >> he talked to you. oh, poor you. >> he made me feel like i mattered! >> oh, my god. >> yeah. that was an interesting clip to show because you think that edie falco's doing all the acting there, but you watch his face when she is just -- >> and edie did just release this statement. she says, "my heart goes out to his family as those of us in his pretend one hold on to the memories of our intense and beautiful time together. the love between tony and carmela was one of the greatest i've ever known." >> that's beautiful. i don't remember meeting him. i think i would have remembered meeting him. we went to see "the god of carnage." >> oh, my gosh. >> which was four people and jeff daniels was one. i can't remember who else. hope -- it was a brilliant ensemble cast. and -- >> uh-huh.

>> and i was so surprised to see him so funny. he was hysterically funny in that as well, wasn't he? >> his timing was perfect. that seemed to be what he had. and he was always so understated. people said -- matt said when he interviewed him that he actually came off as shy. which is interesting because he has such a big personality on screen. >> i hope his last meal together with his family like that was just wonderful. wouldn't you like to know that that -- that he was in a joyful place? >> yes. absolutely. >> he is survived by his wife who was not with him at the time. his wife of almost five years and his teenage son. and he has an 8-month-old baby daughter. >> a daughter. so here's an interesting piece of videotape. okay. so rihanna was at a -- >> i was young. i needed the money. just kidding. >> rihanna was -- rihanna was at a concert in the uk, all right? and i guess she was in the crowd and the throngs and all that stuff. fans were grabbing at her. this is what she did. let's just watch this little piece of tape.

♪ >> so what -- she clocked somebody 37 >> it's kind of hard to tell. okay. watch as -- okay. somebody's pulling her there. >> pulling her hand. >> and won't get off. >> bang. >> she's trying to get freed. now why isn't the security guard -- that's his job. >> it is his job. >> is something going on here? >> something's moving. >> finally. >> we'll start again. it's thirsty thursday. and now we're getting it in order. anyway. yeah. so she -- i guess it must be one of those things. you perform and you've performed in crowds before. you go out in a crowd and you interact and people are going to tug and pull. >> i've done almost all my shows out in the crowd. a lot of people don't do it anymore because the world has changed and it can be a scary place. i never thought about it once in my life when i was performing like that. i'm trying to think if anybody -- no, i never had an

incident. i almost died once, but it was in some city arizona because regis and i were doing our show there. of course sun city is a retirement area. and our fans loved us. and really loved us. and they were in walkers with -- and chairs and canes and -- this was the most terrified i've ever been in my life. because they couldn't get to you enough. and when they hug you, they get you in a clinch and they won't let go. and regis and i laughed about that. who would have ever thought our lives would have been in danger from our fans in sun city? but people, you know, if they've spent a lot -- if they love you and you pray you're going to have fans like that, they are so excited. sometimes they don't know their own strength. >> they're hanging on. she looked like she was being held and couldn't get away. >> you could see she was -- >> but i don't know about the clocking with the microphone. i don't know if that's the option.

>> i think the person she should have been most upset about was the man who wasn't doing his job. he's the one who should have -- >> been watching and paying attention. all right. so we have a special guest with us later on in the show today. donald sutherland. >> he's such a great actor. >> is with us. oh, he's terrific. he was recently -- a lot of young people know him from "the hunger games." but he's been in hundreds of films. >> don't you love new generations thinking they discovered somebody? >> a lot of times when you are watching commercials you hear voices. there are -- >> and you know you know it but you can't sort of put the person with it. >> donald sutherland has done a lot of these commercials. anyway, let's take a listen to his. >> how sure are we that our juice, simply orange, has no added sugar, water or preservatives? tastes as fresh as biting into a juicy orange? if you don't agree that it does, we'll give you a package of our competition. >> i want an orange. >> that's not to be confused with anita bryant with orange juice. >> can i tell you something? it makes you want it. it made me want it.

>> at first even though i knew it was donald i didn't put him with it until he said a certain word. then there's a certain inflection the way people -- >> let's play a game. sometimes you hear commercials and you go, who is that? we're going to play the game with you. so here's a nationwide commercial. >> in the nation we don't do things halfway. >> julia roberts. julia roberts. julia roberts! >> we don't just give partial value of -- >> you're right. >> did you guys hear me say it? >> i was waiting for a man's voice, so i wasn't even paying attention. how sexist of me. >> okay. here. american airlines. >> there's a change in the air. >> can't hear, you guys. >> things feel different. new. better. and tomorrow they'll be better still. inspired by our past, a dream that future will be coming a new american. >> popping. >> you didn't know anyway. you didn't know. >> i didn't, but i was waiting for the inflection that was -- >> jon hamm.

you wouldn't have known. >> but see, i don't watch "mad men." so i don't know his voice very well. i'm 0 for 2. >> okay. hyundai. >> i want to hear "in the morning." >> what do you want to pass on to your kids? good taste in music? check. a sense of adventure? check. how about table manners? >> who is that? >> well, we can always wait on that one. >> i have no idea. >> introducing the 2013 santa fe. from hyundai. >> who is it? >> who are you? roll it up. >> jeff bridges. >> jeff bridges! >> and i love him but it doesn't sound like that to me. >> last commercial is yoplait. >> can we please have a morgan freeman so i'll know? >> okay. let's go. >> ismail tweets, "okay, yoplait blackberry is so yummy i think i have a new favorite. thank you. but pina colada is kind of

jealous right now and key lime pie is just staying out of it. yoplait, it is so good. >> i don't know. i'm 0 for 4. >> lisa kudrow. >> you know, i almost said her because i know she does -- but it doesn't sound like her, so i didn't say it. honestly. hoda, i don't lie about stuff like that. i was going to say don't make an idiot of yourself, kathie. but i heard she did some commercials. don't give me that face. i will tell you if it's not the truth. it's the truth. [ buzzer ] know it's wrong, thank you very much. >> so, anyway, we have these are oreos. a new kind of oreo. >> who cares? you put me in a very bad mood -- >> just from being silent? >> no, just to insinuate that i wasn't telling the truth. >> i just sat here. and you insinuated whatever you thought. >> because of your face going -- >> no, i wasn't. i was doing that. >> yes, all right. okay. anyway, i'm so glad that in my mind i was right even though i didn't say it. you won is what i'm saying. >> i only got 1 out of 4. that's nothing to be proud of. >> one more than i got, baby.

okay. >> luke bryant -- >> what about morgan freeman? >> yeah. or james earl jones. >> sam elliott. >> too obvious. >> stop it. he does those dodge ram -- i love his voice. >> yeah, he's a good one. all right. so you guys, we have exclusive rights today -- >> yes. >> -- to a new video. all right. luke bryant has a brand new video out. it is called "crash my party." the only place you can see it is here. >> well, in its entirety on our -- >> well, right now we're going to show you a clip. this is the only time -- the first time you'll see it now. it's off his new single. ♪ if you want to call me call me you don't have to worry about it baby ♪ ♪ you can wake me up in the dead of the night break my plans baby, that's all right ♪ ♪ this is a drop everything kind of thing notes ♪ swing on by, i'll pour you a drink ♪ ♪ the door's unlocked ♪ i'll leave on the lights

♪ baby, you can crash my party anytime ♪ >> all right. >> he's cute. now if you want to see it in its entirety go to klgandhoda.com. >> he'll be here for our summer concert series on august 16th. i just ate one of those oreos. >> you know what? you got what you deserve. >> the oreos have watermelon inside. it's a new kind of oreo. >> mm-hmm. >> it's released for the summer. >> and apparently you're crazy about it. it's called karma. >> you know what's funny? i love anything sweet and i don't want to disparage. i like oreos. >> they're only here for the summer. so -- >> good. anyway. so you're going to like this one. >> i wouldn't assume anything, hoda, since you know me so little. >> there's a new song that's out. it's called "remix." and it's by new kids on the block. let's listen. ♪ ♪ baby i like the new you oh,

>> it's about somebody who got a makeover. like he changed. ♪ i like the remix baby ♪ oh ♪ i like the remix, remix that's the chorus. >> i can tell a chorus. ♪ i like the remix baby >> hold on. here comes the good part. >> okay. >> wait. ♪ i like >> i know. he likes the remix. >> i like the way you do it ♪ ♪ do what you're doing ♪ i like the way you do it. >> i like those guys. they're never going to be rogers and hammerstein to me. i'm sorry. but they're good. ♪ into >> all right, hoda. we've got to go to is it okay or not okay? >> okay. >> is it okay or not okay to make assistants do menial tasks? >> okay. let's listen. >> i don't think you should ask anyone to do something you're

not willing to do yourself unless at that particular moment it's not possible to do it. and in that case, thank god for assistants. >> i hear you. >> no, it's not okay. hold your own umbrella, carry your own bag. don't be lazy. >> wow, hoda. >> how about that? >> a little judgmental. >> mm-hmm. >> so apparently you could hear that at home because 20 people just told us that but we didn't. we couldn't hear it at all here but i bet it was awesome. okay. it's a beautiful day here in new york for two beautiful ladies who are just minutes away from revealing their ambush -- they're growing on you. >> and a true hollywood heavyweight, emmy and golden globe-winning actor donald sutherland is here. >> yes, he is. we're going to chat with him. you have some 'splaining to do. right after this.

170 exactly. donald sutherland says he's done very close to 170 films, but he is, as you can imagine, a true hollywood legend.

and he starred in everything from the 1971 mystery "klute," which was amazing where he played opposite jane fonda to "national lampoon's animal house." which means there's quite the spectrum here. for all you younger fans he's known as president snow from the blockbuster "hunger games." >> now donald can add another role to his list. he's starring in nbc's new series called "crossing lines" playing an inspector helping an elite team solve crimes across europe. it sounds pretty exciting, so let's take a look. >> i refuse to sanction your team. >> what? >> i've warned you. my hands are pretty much tied. very cautious, those men in there. they don't seek fame or money, ambition. they're incorruptible, which means it's very difficult to make a deal with them. >> they give a reason for refusal? >> yeah, they are concerned they would be or would appear to be usurping the power of sovereign states. >> i love how you take your time. >> you know something? you missed the best part of it.

>> we didn't cut this. >> no, because this is -- this is about -- this is about women. and that gabriella tationi, the woman standing there, turns to me right now, right after that, and says, "i don't understand." and very pompously and pretentiously and paternalistically i say to her, "well, i thought you did." she says, "no, no, i understand that. i don't understand you." >> ooh. >> and i said, oh, i beg your pardon. and she says "because he's not an investigator, actually, he's the prosecutor of the international criminal court, and he was responsible for kosovo and for rwanda." for investigating. and she says to him, "you wrote a book and it said in that book the women from kosovo have lost everything and no one is hearing their weeping. the only place they can go for someone to hear their weeping is this criminal court." and she's there because four women have been murdered. and she says, what about their weeping?

>> hmm. sounds familiar. >> yeah. i know. it just causes him to go back and he gets permission from the court. >> wow. >> because that's what interpol has the problem with. they can't get permission to go study the crimes because it's like the united states in 1930. >> you can tell why you love this role. you are living it all over again. what was it specifically that made you fall in love with this role? >> besides the writing, which is awesome. >> oh, the writing is wonderful. ed branero. >> who's he? >> he's the writer. he's the creator. and laura bauer, who's the producer. the two of them. >> sometimes, when you were talking earlier about big stars, they used to do commercials overseas. they didn't want their star power, their box office power was seen as diminished if they somehow were associated with a product. a lot of great actors have felt that way about television. and that's slipping away a little bit now too, which is -- like al pacino starts doing hbo and you start doing an nbc series. things are changing. >> well, they changed a long time ago.

>> but i mean a lot of big stars didn't want to do it because it's television. >> oh, no. gosh. it gives you a wonderful opportunity to spend ten hours on a character if you've got smart people in. and we're lucky on this because we have one producer. we don't have 20 producers. >> so it's not a committee deciding everything. that's exhausting. >> how about "the hunger games." did that change -- i can imagine when you walk outside, young kids see you on the street you must have a whole different group -- >> instead of attacking my shoulder they're attacking my kneecaps. >> yeah. yeah, yeah. i guess things get pretty dicey -- >> you're not known as kiefer's father to them now. which is only right. >> and kiefer and i are going to do a film in two weeks. >> oh, tell us about that. >> it's a western in kansas in 1870. >> you're going to get on a horse? >> it will be a father and a son. >> wow. >> that sounds good. >> is this the first time this will happen? >> yeah. we did a film that we were both in called "a time to kill."

but we didn't have anything to do with each other. >> how is he doing? tell him hello for us. >> he's wonderful. >> he's going to do the film version of "24" we're reading. >> no. but he's going to do ten more episodes of "24." and that starts in september. >> all right. >> we read it was a film. >> we did. >> we do three episodes of "crossing lines." it's fantastic. >> it looks fantastic. >> it does look great. >> but see, it's not a procedural. it's an observational. it's about people whose main skill is their intelligence and their capacity to observe. and it's that -- >> imagine that in a television show. >> i know. >> well, it's great to see you. >> we need -- not because we make the decisions. >> stay here where it's a sauna. >> thank you so much. >> you can catch the two-hours season premiere of "crossing lines" sunday night at 9:00, 8:00 central right here on nbc. >> the clock is almost out of time for these lovely ladies who are about to get ambushed after these messages. we consume over two billion cups of coffee

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two women get ambushed and

are ready to show off their head to toe makeovers. >> and first your local news and weather. you're going to have to wait for us. that's the way it is.

we are back with more of "today" on this thirsty thursday. ready for our plaza ambush makeovers. it's when two ladies from the crowd get swept away by our makeover team. >> they were given hot new looks by our experts and we're going to bring them out. stylist to the stars -- ♪ louis licari la, la, la, la, la ♪ >> people at home are sick of it. i'll write a new one. >> "today" contributor and the contributing editor for "people" style watch and author jill martin. hey, kidos. how was it today outside? >> oh, great day. plenty of makeovers. the ambush candidates are coming out in droves. >> they are? >> well, let's meet the first one. gale pace is 53 years old from norman, oklahoma. after surviving the devastation in oklahoma, she's here in new

york celebrating her daughter's 18th birthday. so we wanted to surprise her with a brand new look. so let's take a listen to her story. >> we have a very excited bunch here. and, larry, let's start with you. i love that you are so touchy feely with your wife because you're so excited for this. >> i'm so tickled to have her as my wife. this is so much fun. >> so what do you think about seeing her with a whole new look after 20 years? >> i think it will be interesting. you know, we like new things. but i want to keep the same wife. okay? >> check out this hand right here. this hand has not stopped moving. okay. back to the pg part of this. happy birthday. what do you think about this for mom? >> a little scary. >> don't be scared. we're going to take care of her. you ready? all right. enough. enough. >> i'm ready. >> okay. gale is ready. and again, there's her group there. again, that's her husband, larry. and we promise that her daughter is 18. that's megan in the front. and that's megan's friend megan.

anyh anyhoo, this is complicated. guys, please keep on your blindfolds for just a couple seconds. here is gale before. all right, gale, let's see the new you. oh, my god. wow. oh, are you guys ready? take off your blindfolds. take them off. take them off. >> whoo! >> are you ready? >> that's beautiful, darling. >> spin right around. >> whoo! >> i'm ready. >> you look awesome. >> i don't even know who that is anymore. >> that's an uber model. >> beautiful. spin around there, look at camera 12. louis, tell us about the hair. >> okay. well, gale, of course, had beautiful hair, but it was so dark it was almost creating shadows around her face with the length and the depth of it. so arsene gave her this great haircut. >> look at her, she's working it. >> yeah, she's working it. it's sold. she loves it. i lightened it just to soften up her face. you look beautiful.

>> larry's crying. security. wlarks tell larry, tell us, wha you think, hon? >> she's wonderful. looks great. aw. what do you all think? >> i like it. >> jill, that dress is perfect. right? >> she didn't have a little black dress but of course with her hubby we had to give her a little lace as well which she promises to have matching lingerie, too, she told me. this is from maggie london. this is an alternative to the peplum look. it doesn't come out so much but it's just a little bit so you can get into it that way. >> big round of applause for gale. you can join your family, gale. >> our second lady is deanna slomzenski. she is 50 years old today. happy birthday to her. she's from columbia, south carolina. she's never worn makeup before. so we decided to give her a glam new look to celebrate her birthday. let's hear her story. >> amazing we noticed them in the crowd, huh? i love all of this because it's your 50th birthday. so we're so glad we can give this to you. ariel, why do you want this for mom?

>> i've never seen her like really do anything and i've always wanted to. so something different. >> something a little glam? >> yeah. >> and what do you think of this, frank? >> i think this is great. it's a great birthday. >> okay. nice hubby. so we're going to really groove you up. what do you think? >> great. excited. >> that's a family that knows how to have fun. okay. she is here with her husband frank, daughter ariel and sons jordan and justin. let's take one last look at her before and then -- bring out the new deanna! ♪ >> wow. wow, wow, wow. hey. >> all right, you guys. take your blindfolds off. >> whoa! >> i think that's good, deanna. you want to decide for yourself. turn right around and look in the mirror. >> oh, my goodness. that's different. >> yes, it is. it's beautiful. >> you look great. look right here at camera 12. >> very sexy.

>> it is. >> love it. louis, it looks adorable. i miss the hat, though. >> the hat did add a lot. but what we did here is -- what i did is i made her hair a little bit deeper. i got the clue from her daughter. because look how beautiful the coloring looks. and i said mother, daughter. it was just the obvious way to go. arsene again gave her this layered haircut. easy to care for. wash and wear. you'll love it as you wear it. and then enid put the whole look together with very minimal makeup. the lashes work, by the way. if you want to add instant glam okay, eyelashes are the way to go. >> you put her in a hot dress. >> 50th birthday, red. by ralph lauren. and just a little bit of a wrap dress. >> look at the hubby back there. >> hubby loves it but ariel is the one who said you've never seen your mom do anything. >> it's -- i don't really know what to say. >> she's beautiful, though, isn't she? >> yeah. >> you look awesome. >> great job, everyone. >> let's bring out our other lovely lady. big round of applause. >> the sweet life of lisa g.

>> the howard stern radio personality known for being buttoned up opens up and talks about everything from booties to baking. don't ask. >> and how they all mix together. who knew? right after this. ♪ ♪ chances are, you're not made of money, so don't overpay for boat insurance. geico, see how much you could save. >> with hotwire's low prices, i can cross even more places off my travel wish list. this year alone, i hit new york and texas. see, hotwire checks the competition's rates every day so they can guarantee their low hotel prices. >> men: ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e, hotwire.com. ♪ hey kevin...still eating chalk for heartburn? yeah...

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♪ wouldn't it be sweet all righty. howard stern has worked with a lot of people over the years including this woman. take a listen. >> i told you gentlemen i was a 32c. i have been for years. that it's been a struggle for me to find a 32c just until recently. >> and so when she went into the bra store, the same store you went to, robin, where this woman looks at you and she can size you up so that you get the proper-fitting bra. >> so what happened? >> she looks at lisa g. and says -- >> lisa, you are a 30d. >> d? >> and if not, a 30dd. >> that of course is lisa g., who first made a name for herself in the '90s as part of

america's first morning urban radio show on hot 97. she won a gracie award and was named billboard's on-air personality of the year. fancy. >> yeah. lisa has another talent, one that she's actually talking about. baking. and it seems her cookies have helped her sex life as well. >> okay. >> she writes all about that in her new memoir, "sex, lies and cookies." darn, that was going to be my next title. and you took it. >> you can take the title "cookie ho" if you like. >> that's hoda's. >> tell us about the title and how it applies to your life. >> the thing is i used to bake for guys for all the wrong reasons. i would have sex with them. i know. don't judge. rush home, bake them cookies instead of thinking, wait a second, do i even like them? are they cookie-worthy? are they worthy of my time baking cookies? >> but you already had sex with them? >> yeah. >> where did that lack of self-esteem emanate from? >> really. i had zero self-esteem. i say i had the self-esteem of raw cookie dough. i just didn't believe in myself.

i was always running, running, running on the treadmill of getting more work. doing more work. being more popular. similar to, you know, a stand-up mixer and just seeing it whirr around. >> somehow you'd be loved if only -- >> yeah, so it takes a lot of work to stop and say, wait a second. i need to love myself first and then bake for people to show appreciation. >> let's talk about some of the things you've baked. you have something called the booty call cheesecake square. >> yes. >> did that help you land a man? >> oh, my gosh. i mean, i brought them here for the crew today. >> what happened? >> you'll have a guy in the palm of your hands. >> really? >> now it's up to you what you want to do with them, right? >> we want to be in control of that anyway, right? is that that one? >> yes. so it's basically a chocolate chip cookie with cheesecake. and it's so delicious and easy to make. and the subtitle is a booty call cheesecake square. because you can really just -- after a night of sex you can come home and dump everything in a bowl. it's very easy to make. >> here's the difference. you want this again but not him.

>> well, see, now it's about empowerment, so -- >> those are good. >> what about the chocolate snowball? what is that? >> well, i lived in chicago and i did radio there. and it is freezing. so i decided that i needed to get a boyfriend by december 1st or else, you know, no one ever goes out. >> you're home all winter long. >> right. so i came up with chocolate snowball cookies. >> and who is the guy you dressed and put your fur coat on and nothing else and showed up at the door? it didn't work out so well. >> for a little time it did. but, you know, he loved my cookies more than me. what can i say? the fur coat can only go so far and the naked body. you need to have a lot of stuff underneath. >> and how are you doing now? >> things are great. i'm in a great place. i work on the howard stern show. he took the cover of the book. amazing. his wife helped style me and put the little cookie in my bra. >> of course. i'm surprised that's all he put there. >> no. he was great. >> it's nice to see you. >> thank you. >> i wish you all the best. it's a jungle out there, hoda. >> but we are ready. the animals you might run into this summer and how to handle them. but first these messages.

good morning to you. i'm meteorologist chris warren with your weather channel seven-day forecast. this red area right here in the northern plains into the midwest, this is where there's the best chance for some severe weather. possibly damaging winds, large hail, very heavy rain, which could lead to flash flooding and can't rule out a tornado. so you do have to be careful if you live in this red shaded area. outside of that you can also see some thunderstorms. but the red, that's where there's the best chance for the severe weather. and this red now, the red on this map shows you where the heat is. and a lot of the heat here right in the plains, right in the bread basket, there are temperatures in the lower to mid 90s. triple digits, though, in the desert southwest, which is about what you'd expect this time of year. and it looks like things are warming up in the northeast, lower 80s. chance for some showers. still the northern tier. a few showers in new england and the southeast for tomorrow.

and also looking to see these temperatures back into the lower to mid 90s tomorrow throughout much of the plains. so the heat is going to be a big deal for you. also the nice weather in the northeast is going to be a big deal for you. so that's going to be pretty nice if you live in the northeast. finally getting a real nice stretch of weather. still some showers in the upper midwest. also by monday there's going to be some showers in the southeast. so the southeast really sunday and monarch that's when you're going to have the best chance for some showers. pacific northwest still cool on monday, tuesday. still some showers. temperatures in the 60s to lower 70s. so it's still going to be cloudy and at times wet. not a ton of rain. but it's going to be cloudy and a little bit gloomy. not as much sunshine as you would like this time of year. but that's the way it goes quite often this time of year in the pacific northwest. and then in the northeast starting to see a few more showers back into the picture. on wednesday you're going to see some showers also in the southeast. remember, weekdays on the weather channel you can wake up with al.

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time for today's "call of the wild." if you have a tent at home you might want to grab the kids and pitch it because this saturday is the great american back yard campout. >> and if you don't have to go very far to enjoy the great outdoors, national wildlife federation's david mesajeski is here with some animals you might find in your own back yard. >> yeah, exactly. one of the coolest things about participating in the great american backyard campout is to see some of the cool animals that actually live all around us. you don't have to go far into the wilderness to see something like this. it's the great horned owl. this is like the iconic nocturnal -- those eyes are so sharp they can see little a little mouse or a -- >> i don't like it. >> in pitch darkness. >> it's very menacing. >> it's looking at you. >> now it's looking at me. >> these talons down here, super sharp and powerful.

when they go after a prey, like a skunk because they don't have a very good sense of smell, so they can eat skunks. >> so how big an animal is -- >> about a skunk size. >> i'm thinking poundage. i'm thinking of bambino. >> right. >> you don't really have to worry about it. you're talking about your dog, right? >> yes, i am. >> do you let it run around in the middle of the night out in the woods by itself? no. i didn't think so. >> no. >> those talons are pretty powerful. they not only stab but they crush the prey. >> oh, great. >> okay. >> but if you're out on your campout this weekend what you want to do is listen because you're almost never going to see one of these guys. you want to listen for the hoots of owls. and that's something you can experience nature with all of your senses, not just your eyes. >> he's looking still at me. >> and he hasn't said a word. >> the next animal, my favorite. i'm sure you guys are going to be grossed out. but these guys down here are tree frogs. gray tree frogs. now, they're camouflaged. >> i like frogs. >> there's two of them. there's one right here and there's one right over here. >> they change their -- >> yeah, one of them's gray. one of them's green.

same species. they can kind of change their color. look at that awesome camouflage pattern. >> that's crazy. looks like the tree. >> you might see it when you are camping out this weekend. >> are they fully grown? >> they're fully grown. they're cute, right? >> why did you think we wouldn't like them? >> well, because you guys tend to not like -- especially -- >> i don't. she does. she likes all things. >> anything god created. >> they're nocturnal. when they breed, which they're just finishing their breeding season, you want to listen for this sound -- that's what they sound like. the males are calling for the females. >> that is good to know. >> our third animal in here, this is an animal that i want to emphasize is not a pet. this is a baby red fox. >> i know. i had one in my yard. >> you did? >> yes. >> let's get him calmed down here. >> just like that. walked right in front of me. and i went oh, my gosh. >> these animals are common in even urban areas. you might see them when camping out. the big thing with mammals is you never want to feed them. they're not pets. they are wild animals. let them be wild but don't --

again, if you're camping, don't leave your food lying around. because it just encourages these animals to come in. and then they lose their fear of people. and when that happens it usually doesn't end very well. >> what do they eat? >> these guys eat everything. insects, fruits, rodents. >> they're not going to tack your dog, they're p goinot goin attack your cat and they're not going to attack your children. >> let's play our game. >> in honor of the great american backyard campout, i had a challenge for you guys. we've got a tent. the message here is you don't have to go far away. it's easy to camp out. we have a tent. let's come on over here. you guys have one minute to set this tent up. i want to see if you can -- >> this is not a tent. >> it's a tent. just go ahead. start pulling it open. >> sorry. sorry. >> anybody can do this right in their own back yard. you don't want to rip it. >> no. i'm not trying to rip it. >> this is a coleman instant tent. you should be able to put it up in just one minute flat. so far so good. this is like the easiest tent to set up. it's waterproof and it just snaps together. >> how does it snap -- >> you did it. >> is that it? >> close.

close. >> is it supposed to be higher? >> yes. >> oh. you've got to make it higher. zbluft pull the post out. just like that. >> here. here. >> i think hoda is beating you. >> i can't make it snap. >> it won't snap. mine won't snap. >> there you go. so have you guys ever been -- >> this is easy. >> did we do it? >> i think i got it. yes. >> is that it? did we do it in a minute? >> i've got a prize for you guys. you're going to love it. it's a special water bag, but it's not filled with water. >> i'm having a few ladies over tonight. this will be -- this will come in handy. >> listen, camping out is about giving the kids a good outdoor experience but no sense in having moms not have fun, too. so if you want to fill your water bag way little wine -- >> thanks, dave. if you think teenagers can be annoying sometimes, wait until you see this. >> we promise it's webtastic. but first this is "today" on nbc.

♪ it is time for web tatastic when sara haines digs up the best web videos that are the next viral hit. >> check out the millard west choir's impressive lip-syncing band performance. a little reminiscent of last year's "call me maybe" parody. ♪

♪ ♪ it's the eye of the tiger >> the guy is driving. >> is he? >> no, no. ♪ rising up to the challenge of our rivals ♪ >> they must have practiced. >> this is why i love choirs and bands and creative kids. >> a lot of time on their hands. >> well, they can't sit in a van and not make up a routine. >> that was good. that took practice. >> that definitely did. >> the fact they're lip-syncing, not singing is also new to them. >> very good. sara, thank you, sweetie. >> hope you feel better, sweethea sweetheart. tomorrow what's up? >> grant boler from "defiance." >> hot for him. >> so do you. >> sort of. >> and we're hoping he'll stick around for our guys tell all panel to answer all your burning questions. >> plus a performance by harry connick jr. >> we have some stud muffins on tomorrow. >> we are so lucky. >> and the best all-inclusive resorts for your summer

vacation. show. you've gone through a lot. with big news from our first guest. kelly. you're sitting here with one of the biggest smiles. >> i feel like me, and it's so great. jeff: plus, after the ambush adventure, we couldn't resist ambushing her. >> i'm so happy. jeff: former ambushees are back. >> you better work! [ applause ] jeff: hello, hello! [ applause ] hello. roll it! all right. a little about me. i'm recently married. i worked with my wife on this show. and i'm learning how to be a dad to two amazing kids in a blended family. i'm hosting a talk show 'cause there's