from nbc news, this is "today" can kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. live from studio 1 a in rockefeller plaza. hello everybody. you have made it to thirsty thursday. we are delighted you are here with us today. today is billy graham's 95th birthday. i will be heading down to north carolina with frank later on to attend his party. we'll let you know about it next

monday. >> happy birthday. we have a great show. we have our ambush makeover. >> wait until you meet our everybody has a story winner. it is an inspirational story. we are exhausted. >> we were partying last night. we had our favorite things party. once a year we get together with our advertisers expecting us to party with them. >> we don't disappoint. >> this is some of our advertising crew. a bunch of good people. >> look at lewis. >> he has been working at his salon all day yesterday and he came over to say hello to us at our party. >> one of the favorite things was some vino. >> this is skinny vine slim chardonnay. it is $9.99. >> what's mine? >> from the sonoma coast. >> delicious wines, very smooth.

>> people were getting their brows plucked by sonya's brow bar. people were drinking wine and eating cupcakes. >> bobby is going to show us all of that stuff. we were busy because we went to matinee. >> we went to see a show getting a lot of buzz, "after midnight." >> it is jazz music, a lot of tap dancing. >> it is like an homage to the cotton club. >> it is a big cast. it has the duke ellington kind of orchestra on the stage. they give a vibrant show. >> yes they do. thanks to them. last night you may have been watching the country music awards. >> when you got home you turned that right on, didn't you? >> i want to go so bad. >> why are they on another

network? >> why did they have brad paisley and carrie underwood on there? >> i opened up usa today and they had a ballot section. so i filled out the ballot. we are going to see how you did, honey. >> here it was. >> i can't read. >> yes you can. >> just tell me -- female vocalest of the year. you said carrie underwood. >> it is miranda lambert. >> you said luke brian for male vocalist. >> you're right. i did. >> what did i say blake for? >> i don't know. what did you say blake for? go to the next one. >> entertainer of the year. you said blake shellton. and it was? >> and it was george strait. >> you are on a role. >> single of the year i said florida georgia line. and it was florida georgia line.

♪ popping out of the south georgia water ♪ ♪ had them tanned legs ♪ baby you're a song you make me want to roll my window down ♪ >> okay. i do like that one. >> and some other ones. >> new artist i picked lee bryce. i love lee bryce. >> buzz was it kasey? >> it was casey musgraves. what about album? >> taylor swift. >> and blake shellton >> you completely -- if i had been there i would have been better at picking. >> congratulations to all of the winners. carrie better get back to work learning her von trap role because she's going to be in

"the sound of music," live. that i'm staying up for. blake and miranda both won male and female country artist of the year for how many years? >> four years in a row. >> can you imagine what it is like to go home? >> they're like country music royalty. let's listen to their acceptance speech. >> male vocalist of the year goes to -- come on blake, come on over here. ♪ ♪ >> this is blake shelton's fourth win. >> not to completely echo the words of miranda but i swear i did not think this was going to happen this year. but it did. >> and he will accept it with gratitude. good for them. i didn't know it was bring your parent to work day.

>> still has no idea. after all of these years she still has no idea. i love you, mom. does your mom know what you do? >> my mom is the same way. >> your mother is not -- right in front of your mother's face, the wine. >> you know what is funny -- this is crazy. >> my mom is funny. she watches our show every day. she tvoes it. i used to call on the date line shoot. i would call her. she would say is it on tonight. no, no. because we're just shooting it. she is like you never know. she is like i am tevoing it. she would always tivo the time slot. >> she is a great mom. i love your relationship with your mom. beautiful family. my mom 84 in january. >> we can't read that. >> it's by linked in.

they said it is bring your parent to work day. we have news on -- >> let's keep them here the whole show. >> jennifer lawrence has done something dramatic. >> apparently she is so sick of wearing the braid she had to wear for all of the hunger games movies that she has joined the pixie cut club. >> reaction is mixed online. if you do some sort of a poll with most men, do you prefer long or short on women? >> long. >> short. >> raise your hand if you like short. one. okay, peter. everyone else likes long. it doesn't matter because it is your head and your hair so you wear it the way you like it. >> i have done it. the older you get you realize

what you regret in life. i have regretted cutting my hair every time i have cut it really short. >> when you cut it dramatically. >> my family has been told no matter how much i beg to get my hair cut don't let me. >> this i hoda is for you. it is called throwback thursday so i decided to do a throwback. this is my very first favorite song in the entire world. first one i can remember loving. ♪ ♪ love will keep us together ♪ think of these days whenever ♪ some sweet talking girl comes along ♪ ♪ singing a song

♪ don't mess around you got to be strong ♪ ♪ stop because i really love you ♪ ♪ stop i've been thinking of you ♪ ♪ look in your heart and let love keep us together ♪ ♪ whatever we are still angry. neil sedaka in the rock and roll hall of fame. is it okay or not okay to believe in aliens? >> here is what we had to say about it. >> last i looked it is a constitutional right to believe any crazy thing you want. >> whatever you want.

>> yes, it is okay. don't you think somewhere out there there are aliens asking if we really exist? >> i know there are aliens in your purse. >> that's rude. >> that was cute. we have a big announcement to make. there is a big thing on our website on klg.com. if you go there there is a button that says connect. you click on connect and it is an easy way to get into everything on our show. if you want to find out our favorite things or comment or submit questions or apply for johnson's baby of the week. >> everyone has story submissions. >> brittany made it her new home. please go to the connect button. >> we are looking for questions about holiday etiquette for our man panel. click on the connect button. hug your mother today. >> came to the plaza hoping to get hot new looks from lewis and jill. >> we will reveal our ambush makeovers. and the twilight scenes you didn't see and how you can watch them. peter facinelli doesn't let

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peter facinelli doesn't let grass grow under his feet.

the 39 year old can be found in two hit tv shows. he is writing a novel and producing a tv series and a movie. >> one of his most famous roles is a compassionate vegetarian among vampires. fans can get all five films in a new dvd, "twilight" the complete saga. >> he had to run about ten blocks. >> they are like your hair looks break. >> it is wind blown from running. >> five years, you had no idea,

did you? you knew the books were hugely successful. >> when we did the first film it wasn't huge. there was a cult following. we were thinking if we get the numbers maybe we could do a second movie. we had no idea it would grow to this. the fans have been so supportive. >> what do you think about the fans? >> they are amazing. you get to know a lot of them through the years because they show up at the events over and over and kids who were like 2 are now 7 and you recognize them. >> you kind of made news the other day through the actress that you are dating. jamie alexander was on the red carpet. we saw her photo. she was wearing kind of a revealing dress. >> she looks stunning. >> what did you think about the buzz that this dress created? >> i don't know. it is a dress. >> i don't think it is the dress so much getting the attention. >> it is elegant and beautiful and she wears it well.

if she is getting attention for it that is good. >> long or short hair? >> stunning with either. >> in general? >> i'm more of a personality person. i don't notice when you get the hair cut because i am so in love with the person. >> i got one once and frank said hi, butch. he noticed. >> you like shorter or longer? >> whatever looks best. >> i like your hair right now. >> it is working for me, baby. >> you are working on "nurse jackie." >> and i am working on "glee" and a movie in louisiana called "the last word." it is a true story about a man wrongfully convicted of murdering and raping a nun on halloween night. on his death bed he cursed people and he was never exonerated even though they

found evidence which proved he might not have done it. >> take a deep breath. >> it is better from here on out. bobby thomas is here. she will show you some of our favorite things this year. we can't wait to show you new looks. first these messages. ♪ this is my wish ♪ my wish for the world ♪ that peace will find its way ♪ fill the air with joyful noise ♪ ♪ ring the bells and raise your voice ♪ ♪ let there be peace on earth ♪ let there be peace on earth [ female announcer ] inspired by the best feelings of the season. glade. sc johnson. a family company. laura's being healthy and chewing her multivitamin. with one-a-day vitacraves for women! it's a great-tasting gummy multivitamin designed for women with more calcium and vitamin d.

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last night hoda and i had a great time hosting our annual favorite things party in a new hot spot in the city, refinery roof top. >> it is beautiful. >> it is spectacular. we know how much you love our favorite things we decided to bring them to our studio and bobby thomas will go through the list.

>> these are some of our very favorite personal things. this is the hair dresser stylist that works on celebrities but every industry hair stylist will tell you they use the products. the dry texture spray is the most amazing volumizer. the soft spray -- >> and your blow dry will last for days. >> maxnista will pump up the volume. >> mary is obsessed with hou glass cosmetics. so many tweets and facebook messages about your lip stick. you love the peach. it is a perfect natural color. there are lip treatment oils that you use. >> it plumps them up. >> let's move to the most important item.

>> kathie likes a little more support up the back while hoda likes it up the middle. >> oh, my gosh. >> that pretty much sums it up. that could not be more concise. >> i am so sorry. >> this is one of my favorites. >> she has been around forever. the best part about the brow pencil is that the tip is angled. instead of having to draw on eyebrows it looks like hair. >> it is the best brow bar in the world. >> this i really love. hoda has this eyn case meaning everything you need. >> i loved it so i got it for hoda woman. >> you open it up and you can

put your credit cards in. >> it is a vanity and wallet on one. >> a lot of questions about the nail polish. >> opi. >> you love over the taupe. >> and you love susie loves cowboys. >> hoda loves cowboys. >> opi is a really great collection. melissa cupcakes. i am personally obsessed with it. if you thought they couldn't get better now you can get this anywhere in the country. it is a great gift to send for the holidays. absolutely obsessed with this. and then we have the fantastic totes which you can customize. they are great for gifts. at the same time you can get the wine bag, perfect hostess gift for the holiday. these are things we really love here behind the scenes. >> we told you about the wine, of course. >> thank you. >> it was fun last night. >> all righty. >> what do we have coming up? makeovers ready for a close up.

>> everyone has a story. >> the story of this young man is going to blow you away. the athlete who defied his disability wants kids to do the same. first, your local news. ♪

we are back with more of "today." since it is thirsty a thursday it is time for ambush makeovers. >> two lucky women were plucked off the plaza and sent in for a makeover. >> editor for people style watch and author jill martin. >> nice warm day in new york. >> incredibly warm. >> it is raining now so you beat the rain. >> it's raining now? >> jill, always up on

everything. >> our first lucky lady is 39 years old from maryland. she is too busy taking care of her three kids to really focus on herself. she jumped at the opportunity to be pampered for a few hours. let's listen to her story. >> i asked you your beauty routine. you said you bathed. which thank you very much is a good thing. >> i try to bathe daily. with three kids it is hard to get that in sometimes. i am excited to have this happen. >> we are going to up that today. you said i'm the mom and she deserves it. why? >> she has three kids and she is the caretaker. she takes care of them constantly and neglects herself. she just turned 40 and the mother of a teenager in one week. >> one week we are going to make you 40 and fabulous in three hours. >> awesome. thank you. i'm really excited. >> erica is going to come out in

a second. dana, andy and kathie please ep your blind folds on. here is erica's before picture. let's see the new you. >> i love the dress. >> oh, my gosh. >> take off your blind folds. >> oh, my gosh. >> are you ready? turn right around. >> gorgeous, gorgeous. >> you do look like christina hendrics. >> she likes it. >> would you like to join us? >> tell us about the hair. >> this is a great haircut. it is gorgeous. it is a very believable red. it doesn't look like it is mine. the haircut, we left the curl and controlled it and flared it

around the face. >> mom, what do you think? >> i think she is gorgeous. >> how about andy? >> that is amazing. she has always been beautiful. >> she is a natural. how are you 40? >> you do look gorgeous. >> i love the dress. flirty and sexy by maggie london. >> a big round of applause. >> you look great. jamie is 65. today is her birthday. she is from massachusetts. she recently lost 20 pounds so she asked us to give her a new look to go along with her new body. >> happy birthday. 65 today. everyone is already crying. why? >> because i'm excited about this. this is terrific. i couldn't ask for anything better. >> we are happy we can give you this gift. i know she tells me she is in a

rut. >> that's for sure. when it's her birthday she deserves the birthday more than anybody because she celebrates them and i don't celebrate them so i'm so happy for her. >> thank you very much. couldn't ask for anything better. >> she is here with that husband, steve, who loves her so much he couldn't take his eyes off of her a few minutes ago. let's look at jamie before and bring out the birthday girl. >> jamie's got a little cleavage, steve, i want to warn you. take off those blinders. >> wow! >> jamie, turn around, darling. >> who is that? >> wow. >> it's fantastic. are you going out tonight? >> we are going out tonight. >> tell us what you did. >> first of all, this is a great

haircut for her hair texture. she has finer hair so we cut it shorter. i created the illusion with hair color. to reboot her look at 65 to take off a few years. >> such soft makeup. she does a great job. >> you like it? >> absolutely. terrific. thank you so much. >> the dress is killer. >> she just lost 20 pounds. >> you look so good. >> thank you. >> she hasn't bought a dress since losing the weight. we got down to a size 4. >> so flattering.

>> let's bring erica out. big round of applause. thank you. >> you are going to be so inspired by our everybody has a story winner. please stick around for this. ♪ [ male announcer ] this is mike. mike's being healthy and chewing like a man. with one-a-day vitacraves for men! it's a gummy multivitamin... with more b vitamins, which help convert food to energy, and help mike do manly things, like wrestle bears and take out the garbage. get $2 off at oneaday.com.

our newest everyone has a story contest winner. bill lahe wrote in. let's listen to what bill has to say about his brother. >> in december of 1973 my brother pat was born prematurely. doctors were doubtful he would survive but he fought hard and made it. he was born with a rare genetic eye disease which causes limited vision which decreases overtime. because pat was legally blind

with only 4% of his vision doctors said he would not lead a normal life. pat defied the odds. at age 7 pat announced he would join the swim team. in middle school he placed second in gymnastics. he was a wrestler. at age 28 while living in washington, d.c. and pursuing a career in public policy he lost most of the remaining vision he had. true to his nature rather than accept defeat pat threw himself into life. he made contributions working for members of congress. an agency charged with insuring voting access for all eligible americans. pat and his guide dog had become regular fixtures at at washington sports club. with his vision gone pat was driven to work out more vigorously and started training to become an amateur body builder. pat competed against three men and won awards. it takes strength, courage and dedication to compete in body building. it takes an extraordinary person

to compete blind. now pat is producing a documentary about his life to inspire kids with disabilities to go after their dreams. >> bill and pat are here with their parents, bill and kay. what an extraordinary family you all are. it does take a family to bind together to meet the challenges in life. how important has your family been to you living the life you live now? >> that was the main thing i wanted to talk about here today. i am here because of my family and my friends. it extends further out. all of the people i have met over the years and coaches. people like at my gym, washington sports club. this family, my brother and my parents have always been there for me. >> and we love the pooch. >> and my guide dogs have been there. my family is the one showing up

at graduation. it has been a team effort. >> when you talk about your brother did it surprise you how accomplished he is or was it something you expected? >> it was something i expected. >> did it make you wonder what you are doing with your life? >> as a parent -- as parents it must have been difficult when he was younger. how did you overcome those difficulties as parents when it came to your son? >> i think mainly we thought here is what we need to deal with and let's go forward and make pat be able to be all he can be. >> there had to be fear involved on your end.

it is the natural parental instinct to protect your child. >> one of our themes in our household was we will always do our best and give it our best shot and that is all we can do. we never pushed him to do anything. often he led us and said i want to do this and that. >> were you afraid sometimes that maybe he shouldn't? >> mom was more afraid. i was like let's go for it. >> you knew it would bring him great joy to accomplish these things. >> time is coming up. we have a great song for your family here. >> a special song written just for you. it is going to be performed by broadway's jeremy hayes. i think you will like a it a whole lot, right after this. ♪

>> olot of the time the coast guard comes before the family. >> a lot of the time i do pray. >> i love you daddy. >> everything they throw at us we do. >> fall is finally here.

>> and for every season there is a reason to watch. >> wake up with al. >> it's just right. >> all of your local weather, travel updates and the day's top story. >> that's going to change the temperature. >> you just can't beat this kind of weather. >> everything you need to know, first thing. >> we're like a killer app in the morning. >> wake up with al with stephanie abrams and al roeker. only on the weather channel. of his insurance agent. maxwell is not. he's on geico.com setting up an appointment with an adjuster. ted is now on hold with his insurance company. maxwell is not and just confirmed a 5:30 time for tuesday. ted, is still waiting. yes! maxwell is out and about... with ted's now ex-girlfriend. wheeeee! whoo! later ted! online claims appointments. just a click away on geico.com. laura's being healthy and chewing her multivitamin.

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we are back with pat our everyone has a story winner. the song just for you is called "an extraordinary life". >> and here to perform it is broadway performer jeremy hayes. ♪ ♪ sometimes when a child is born

long before it's due the doctors tell the parents there's little hope for you ♪ ♪ your child will never live an ordinary life ♪ ♪ in my case they were right ♪ so i went on to live an extraordinary life ♪ ♪ something about the will to live the experts can't explain ♪ ♪ something about the human heart defies all reason and pain ♪ ♪ something about the will to survive surpasses all the science ♪ ♪ something about a miracle ♪ i am one of those miracles ♪ who refused to give up the

fight ♪ ♪ i stood my ground until they came around and had to admit i was right ♪ ♪ i am one of those special ones regardless of struggle or strife ♪ ♪ still standing tall in spite of it all ♪ ♪ an extraordinary life ♪ there's something about the need to share that you've been blessed to know ♪ ♪ that each of us can conquer the world if we are determined to grow ♪ ♪ tell them all to never give

up ♪ ♪ for there is no goal you can't reach ♪ ♪ i am one of those miracles ♪ who refuse to give up the fight ♪ ♪ i stood my ground until i came around and had to admit i was right ♪ ♪ i am one of those special ones ♪ ♪ regardless of struggle still standing tall in spite of it all ♪ ♪ an extraordinary life [ applause ] >> good job. >> beautiful, jeremy. beautiful. >> we'll be back in just a minute with a very special gift for pat. first this is "today" on nbc. we are honoring such a

we are honoring such a special man. pat, here with his brother and parent. also broadway excellent performer jeremy hayes. you would never know this man almost had to cancel because he is seriously sick. he is awesome. >> we have bill's wife and their two kids emily and brendan. >> emily we will see on broadway. >> the song was great. the words were perfect. i am working on a documentary. and i totally get it. you have to keep pushing. >> the name of it? >> "blind lifter." i have a great team. >> sounds like you are planning your acceptance speech. >> save it. >> no question you are going to get it.

>> hoping to help a lot of kids with disabilities. >> we want to give you a little something. >> in honor of your accomplishments your brother mentioned it is difficult for you to vacation. so the radison resort has donated a get away weekend in aruba including air fare, breakfasts, spa treatments, water sports. >> i think your brother wants to go. it is up to you, really. >> you are a beautiful family. you inspire us all. it is a great, great story. what are we going to do tomorrow? >> tomorrow we are going to milk a goat. >> for god's sake. >> one of hoda's ex-boyfriends is going to be here. >> find out what pranking your kids could be doing. and we are spicing up

dinner with chef daisy martinez. have a great thursday. >> i'm here to help. you and i will get through this together. ♪ ♪ ♪