from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hello, everybody. welcome to booze day tuesday, april 29th. and we have a wonderful story about the giving of life, the actual gift of giving bone marrow for someone who changed, literally saved their life and changed it forever. >> going to be great. we have two-time tony winner sutton foster is here. she was booked on our show and lo and behold today she gets nominated for her tony. >> she's already won twice.

>> we planned that. >> yes, we knew it might happen. >> happy for her. so happy for her. affordable mother's day gifts coming up soon. >> and drop a dress size by memorial day. the summer concert series list came out. i always wait for this, because even though we work here, we don't know who is coming. but now we do. the list is crazy awesome. we have -- >> very excited. >> mariah carey. we happen to have tim mcgraw, rascal flats, among many. pharrell, train. ♪ because i'm happy >> he's going to sing that. you know he is. and ed sheeren is here. jennifer hudson, one republic. we have lil' mix. >> i love lil' mix. who is lil' mix. >> you'll love him. neon trees, the list is so long. maroon 5. they're all going to be awesome. get ready in may. may 16th starting with mariah. get on down here.

>> what happens right after that is the tonys on another network, but always happy to celebrate broadway, june 8th, incredible hugh jackman will host the tony awards. he put aside a ticket for me personally. >> what? >> exactly right. >> you didn't tell me that. >> mm-hmm. i'm going to be going. >> did you mean two tickets or just one? >> i'll see if he can put aside two? frank said the same thing. i said, as far as i know it's just me. >> good for you. anyway -- >> a show you and i adore, a little sleeper show, a gentleman's guide to love and murder with ten nominations. cody and his girlfriend, cody doesn't like musicals. he pretended to like mine, but we -- i sent him last week, cody, one of the funniest things you'll ever see in your life. we had jefferson mays on. he totally agreed. those are 24-year-olds. and it is an old-fashioned musical in the best sense. but it is funny as all get out.

>> and the other thing that just made me so excited today -- >> this is great. >> beautiful, the musical that carole king won, only have seen it five times, it got seven nominations. >> including jessie mueller who plays carole king who is lovely and wonderful. >> there were a lot of surprises because they were missing from the list of nominees. a lot of things that surprised people. >> some really did expect -- neil patrick harris was nominated for -- >> but denzel washington was not nominated for "raisin in the sun" and everyone thought that was a lock. >> james franco of "mice and men" was not. and daniel radcliffe who they say gives the performance of a lifetime. >> and also michelle williams was not nominated for her leading role in "cabaret," which, again, was surprising. >> but we have tony nominee sutton foster, just nominated

for "violet". >> good for her. we had a busy day yesterday. we hosted -- remember we told you the big awards called the matrix awards, celebrate women in communication, gloria steinem was there, queen latifah was there, we had our wine. mary j. blige was there. >> we made a few wine jokes, however it was not a big drinking day for you and i, at all, because when you're hosting that, you're up on the dais at the waldorf astoria and we are literally in between the -- whoever is speaking, huge speakers, so any little bite of lunch you take or any sip you take, the whole world is going to see it. >> you can't eat. you're starving because you're in the -- on the jumbo tron the whole thing. and you sit there like this looking at your food wishing you could eat it and you can't. >> and your wine. and would you like a sip. >> i want to drink it. >> okay, so anyway, hoda brought a little rap and congratulations to everybody that won. >> amazing, amazing ladies. >> and everybody deserving.

and it was so freaking freezing there. i'm menopausal. i'm post menopausal. i'm post, post menopausal. i'm half dead. but i am always hot. right? i'm like this, in a little -- it is so -- and there is a vent, so i already have a severe herniated disc, going to physical therapy for a month now, three times a week. i'm like this, when it is finally over, these things take -- two and a half hours. i say good-bye, bye, hodi, they give you a gift bag, right? heavy. full of books. and i go to the ladies room, say hello to liz smith, let her go first, i got to go to connecticut. hodi says, i don't need a pit stop, i live up the street. >> get to it. >> i get to the steps that hoda has just gone down a few minutes before, and i go to grab the bannister, i already paralyzed in my neck because of the cold on it --

>> get to it. >> stop it. then the gift bag weighing me down. >> what happened? >> i'm going to take my time if you don't stop. i go to grab it, i miss, as my first step goes down, i tumbled end over end. like a stunt girl, unbelievable. i was three or four ladies. one named karen i worked with, thank god for her. i land, i literally could not believe it. >> look at the pictures. we have proof. >> yeah. >> anyway -- >> that's me at home. i had -- i was icing everything that i could talk about. and then get home and poor bambino apparently need to go and have that gland in his bottom popped, so he was in the cone of shame. so i said to cody, cody, you got to take a picture. we're the most pathetic creatures on the earth. he goes, ma, you look 90. >> her knee is totally -- we took a picture earlier, but it is banged up and swollen and not great. >> you're so shook, shaken up,

but at the same time, you're so grateful. i said, thank you, god, i didn't break my neck, i didn't break a nail. then i'm thinking i always thought the only thing i've never done in this business is porn, but i've not done stunts and i think now i'm ready because i -- not only did i stand up, i realized one of jen miller's earrings were missing. i got down to look for the earring. >> i'm glad you're okay. that's always scary. >> the picture of the knee somebody wanted to see. you were kind. you called me in the car. >> i called and you were very upset. >> i cried. >> she did cry. >> you know what will make you cry? little house on the prairie reunion tomorrow. >> the eight cast members are all going to be here, including melissa gilbert and remember evil nelly, evil nelly is coming too. >> michael landon not, of course, because he passed away, but it is going to be fun.

>> we have got something very important to discuss. yesterday on "the voice," blake shelton was being sneaky and maybe a little unkind and he tweeted adam levine's phone number. >> blake might be not perfect? >> so he took adam's home -- personal cell phone number, the one that all of his friends have and tweeted it out to the world. okay. and, you know, i remember that is not a great thing -- what is your password, brit? okay. that's loud. she'll change it. i'm not using my phone because the last thing i used my phone on the air, it happened to me. britney doesn't mind. we'll call adam. i think we can do it. his number is 310-493 -- let's put it on speaker. here we go. so excited.

[ busy signal ] >> oh. >> that's called a busy call. >> i guess everyone tried to call, but it became a thing. he has to change his number. he has to change all the times his number is used on credit card stuff. his friends are going to be upset. >> i'm not going to hold up britney's phone. that's not nice. >> don't do it. >> i didn't do it. >> mother's day is quickly approaching. we have personalized gifts that your mom is going to love. >> a stranger gives a gift of life to a woman battling leukemia. we'll share her story with us right after this. huh, 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. everybody knows that. well, did you know that game show hosts should only host game shows? samantha, do you take kevin as your lawfully wedded husband... or would you rather have a new caaaaaar!!!!

say hello to the season's hottest convertible... ohhh....and say goodbye to samantha. [ male announcer ] geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more. ♪ ding ♪ do you have something for pain? i have bayer aspirin. i'm not having a heart attack, it's my back. i mean bayer back & body. it works great for pain. bayer back & body provides effective relief for your tough pain. better? yeah, thanks for the tip! athis is paul's office. for those who believe a serious job doesn't have to feel so serious. one a day men's vitacraves with key nutrients like b-vitamins. all the fun of a gummy that's a complete multivitamin.

hey kevin...still eating chalk for hearburn? yea. try alka seltzer fruit chews. they work fast on heart burn and taste awesome. these are good. told ya! i'm feeling better already. alka-seltzer fruit chews. enjoy the relief! back now with a remarkable story about how one stranger's kindness saved a woman's life. dana was one of 12,000 people every year who needed a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. >> she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008 and after

chemotherapy didn't work, her only hope was finding a matching donor. today's kyle michael miller found out how a decision by a man living hundreds of miles away changed her life forever. >> do you need your apron? >> my apron, my doggy apron. >> she's so energetic and full of life. she embodies everything i think life should be about. >> dana savors every moment with her husband keith and 6-year-old daughter genevieve. she is a military veteran who served in the army and completed two tours in korea and iraq. but six years ago, dana began experiencing headaches, which wouldn't go away. >> you realized something wasn't right here. >> just wasn't feeling well. >> reporter: so she went to see a doctor and the prognosis wasn't good. what was the moment when the doctor told you had cancer? >> i couldn't believe it was happening. i had just been delivered a death sentence. >> reporter: dana spent the next

six months in and out of the hospital. and had three doses of high intensity chemotherapy. >> it would go away but then immediately start coming back. it is like a roller coaster. to me, it didn't feel like it was the end. >> reporter: you knew you would come through the other side. >> somehow i did. >> reporter: but chemo wasn't enough. dana needed a bone marrow donor so she turned to the national registry. 750 miles away, keith anghome, an air force veteran and complete stranger, just happened to be the perfect match. when the doctor told you, we have a match, what did you think? >> i was thanking god. there was renewed hope. there are not words enough to express my gratitude. >> reporter: their names are kept secret because of privacy laws. through her doctor, dana and her family sent thank you letters to keith. finally, keith and his wife mary found dana on facebook but they still haven't met in person. with her new life, dana has taken up running and has even completed three half marathons.

>> you survived cancer, but, too, you're a survivor in the marathon, half marathon, whatever the race is. >> yes. >> absolutely. >> that's going to stick to my bowl. >> reporter: now the routine things have special meaning thanks to the kindness of a complete stranger. >> i'm just so grateful for every day. it is all thanks to him. >> oh, wow. >> what a great story, dana is here with her doctor, nicole from the new york presbyterian hospital columbia university medical center. hi. >> congratulations to both of you. >> how are you feeling today? >> i'm feeling extremely grateful and happy to be here. >> and your sister was first person you went to. and that was not a match, right? >> not a match. >> you know what i love to see, a doctor who tears up. we love this woman, cares so much about your patients. tell us about the whole experience. >> well, obviously dana went through this. >> but you went through it with her. >> the experience, having leukemia is a difficult,

obviously a difficult diagnosis with chemotherapy and clearly if chemotherapy isn't enough, going for a donor for a transplant is a life saving -- >> it is interesting how you found this stranger keith. tell us how you found him. >> well, i have written to him every year, the process is long to get letters between the recipient and the donor. and he got the letter at year five, and i actually got a friend request from his wife, mary. she says hi, i'm mary, i'm keith's wife. the next day i got an e-mail from him. >> you never met him but you exchanged letters. we have a letter he wrote, which we love, it is a beautiful love we want you to hear about. the few awards i received in my 22.5 years of service don't come close to helping you. i love that. >> i'm glad everything worked out.

some day, would you like to meet? >> good to see you. >> good to see you too. >> come sit next. now, keith, how beautiful? what is it like meeting for the first time? >> it is awesome. we have seen each other on facebook and stuff, and i knew what she looked like to a point, i've seen pictures of her with no hair, like me, and now beautiful hair. >> you're both beautiful bald. >> thank you. >> wow. and complete stranger, huh? >> yeah. i signed up for the bone marrow registry back in, like, '82, '83. and not everybody is a match, but it is the process is long. and it is very rewarding. >> yeah. >> what would you like to say to him today? >> there is a lot of things. what do you say to someone who saved your life? >> we wanted you to be able to spend a little more time

together, so our friends at gotham west market are furnishing a complementary dinner for the two of you and keith's wife mary. we hope you're going to enjoy that. >> and catch up and get to know each other. >> absolutely. >> thank you, all, so much. we're so glad you're here. all right. >> please donate. donate. >> exactly. >> two-time tony winner sutton foster joins us, just been nominated. >> congrats to her. and affordable gifts with a personal touch that will melt the heart of any mom coming up after this. we really wanted to take a relaxing trip to florida. you know? just to unwind. but we can only afford one trip this year, and his high school reunion is coming up in seattle. everyone's going. then we heard about hotwire... and realized we could actually afford to take both trips. [woman] see, when really nice hotels have unsold rooms, they use hotwire to fill them. so we got our 4-star hotels for half price. i should have been voted "most likely to travel." ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e ♪ hotwire.com save big on car rentals too, from $11.95 a day.

constipated? .yea dulcolax tablets can cause cramps but not phillips. it has magnesium and works more naturally than stimulant laxatives. for gentle cramp free relief of occasional constipation that works! mmm mmm live the regular life.

in "today's style watch," mother's day is less than two weeks away. if you haven't found the perfect present for your mom, don't worry yet. >> here with your ultimate

mother's day gift guide, so happy she's home, "today" contributor and contributing editor for "people style watch" and author jill martin. >> i only have 3:30 so i'll whisk through everything. i want to start with a special family. i work with amar'e stoudemire at the knicks. his family came in. this is the entire family. they practice poses. they're in the chalkboard tee. they made these. they say mom rocks, i love mom, something for the kids to make. if you go to their shoes, there are matching shoes. >> of course, they are. >> love. >> we love that. we're happy they're here. >> welcome. >> now let's move on. they were dancing. let's start with jewelry. okay. everything here is -- represents your family. everybody can sort of relate

here. let's start up here. tracer rel, $50, you can make charms with your entire family on it. here we have cassidy, joan and cody and hannah, elle and mom. and laura in blue collection. and you can do all the charms. personalized. >> i love the little dog tag thing. so cute. >> starting at $35 if you want to add a charm. >> so cute. >> love it. >> custom gifts.com, $38 to $60. make pillows with all of your names on it. totes with all of your names on it and the model they use with swenson. i thought -- >> oh, my gosh, yeah. >> cutting boards, everything specific. pillows, totes, makeup bags. >> people love it. >> people like it when it is customized like that. >> wrapping paper, $15, mintit.com, do wrapping paper, notebooks. and look at these behind you.

look at these frames. >> that's cute. >> you can take, i don't know if you can see them, but anyway, you can make photos like that, and then the phone case is guildcity.com. look at the instagram pillows, stitchgram.com. take them right off of instagram. i asked hannah to make pictures when she was here. i made them into jewelry. >> oh, my gosh. what a good idea. >> she wouldn't tell me the secret. >> i said, you have a secret. all of her things that she made -- >> that shows character at a young age. kidzcandesign.com, kids with a z. how great is that. >> that's fantastic. >> that's fantastic. >> i made sam a copy and this is for joan. make sweaters, candles. stationarystudio.com, platters, vases with your mom's initials on them. love that. i want to bring the family back in.

you must try. >> hoda, don't do it. >> we're launching this, duct tape mix.com. tell me what you think. >> this is ice cream. >> no, it's not. >> cake in a jar, doesn't need to be refrigerated. do you want some? >> everybody wave. >> bye. >> birthday cake. >> drop a dress size by memorial day. >> isn't that amazing?

welcome back to more of "today" on this tuesday. and our special series "love your selfie," according to our "today" aol body image survey, 67% of adult women say they worry about their appearance regularly. more than money, health, relationships and professional success. >> wow. actress sutton foster is here encouraging all women to embrace who they are. very exciting day here, because the two-time tony winner wowed

critics and fans with glamorous role like reno sweeney in the revival of "anything goes". >> now she steps back from the glam to star in "violet" on broadway, a role for which she just landed her sixth tony nomination. >> wow. >> 1964, about a woman whose face is scarred from a childhood accident and dreams of being beautiful. ♪ when you see a brand-new face ♪ ♪ when you see a brand-new face ♪ ♪ when you see a brand-new face ♪ ♪ and it's mine won't you be surprised ♪ >> the woman has chops. and she's got great legs. >> oh. >> what a great day to have you on. >> thank you so much. >> when did you think when you heard -- >> you can never -- i'm thrilled. i'm so thrilled. this is -- we already feel like we have won. we never thought in a million years the show would be -- we would be doing it on broadway and for it to be --

>> off broadway, first. >> originally done in 1997 off broadway. i'll have a sip. >> you have to. >> it has taken 17 years for it to come to broadway and the most beautiful story. and i'm just so thrilled that audiences and people are embracing it. >> it seemed to me because it is in 1964, it -- but it has a theme that is so present now to which it is about image. you go on a journey and tell us why you do. >> i do. my character has a childhood accident and has a facial scar and she truly believes she's ugly and she believes that a face healer in oklahoma, a preacher, will heal her. if she's healed and the scar is gone, she will be happy, she will be loved. >> and she'll be beautiful. >> and she will be beautiful. >> we look at you, you don't have a physical scar. is that something that is left up to the audience? >> it is. >> you also don't have makeup on. >> don't wear a stitch of makeup. and the creators, they decided that people's imaginations are stronger than anything we could ever depict.

we decided not to show the scar. the scar is also a metaphor, because we all have scars. >> we all have them. >> we all have things we don't love about ourselves, we wish would change or emotional scars or things that we deal with every day. so the show is really about learning to accept, to embrace, to let go, to love yourself, warts, scars and all. >> have you been able to do that? we have been doing this "love your selfie" week. we don't look at ourselves so critically. >> we all have things we look in the mirror, and i look in the mirror and say, i wish i had a stronger chin or whatever. but i'm lucky, i feel like my mom -- my mom really instilled in me inner beauty. especially wanting people to accept and love me for who i was on the inside as opposed to what i looked on the outside. that's my mom, yeah. >> beautiful picture. >> i know you went through a terrible loss.

this, you feel like, is for your mom who you lost last fall. >> my mom passed away in september and in so many ways i feel like this show is a gift from her. she's everywhere. you know, when i do the show and so it's very cathartic and very beautiful. >> wanted to be a model, huh? >> she did. she wanted to be a model and she felt like her father never encouraged her. >> you look so much like her. >> you really do. >> my brother and i showed interest in the arts, she supported us. i would never be where i am without her. >> congratulations. >> god bless you. she's seeing everything. >> i know. >> and "violet" is now playing at the american airlines theater here in new york. and for more on our love your selfie series, check out klgandhoda.com and press the button. >> we'll help you keep your portions under control and drop a dress size by memorial day. >> wow. the best products to make your dreaded spring cleaning a breeze after this.

beautiful day in baltimore where most people probably know that geico could save them money on car insurance, right? you see the thing is geico, well, could help them save on boat insurance too. hey! okay...i'm ready to come in now. hello? i'm trying my best. seriously, i'm...i'm serious. request to come ashore. geico. saving people money on more than just car insurance. for digestive health? yes and did you know that trubiotics is a daily probiotic that helps in two ways? it supports digestive and immune health by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives.

try trubiotics today.

if you've been putting off that spring cleaning, you're now out of excuses. we have the products to help make the process as painless as possible. >> the people at all you magazine tested products that work the best. and we have the winning picks for every room. we love when you come on. >> thank you so much. so, yeah, at all you, we're helping you shop smarter. you don't want to just save money, you want to save time. you want products that are going to work. >> they have to work. enough of the promises and not working.

stains. >> we'll start in the laundry room. 100 products, talking about eight today. all are $6 and under and get them at all retailers. they're everywhere. we went to town on this shirt. ketchup, mustard, chocolate, grass, dirt, and one wash with whisk in the laundry and this is what happened. >> are you kidding? >> did not make this up. so great. >> good. smells good too. you got your white jeans -- >> no. oh, no. >> coffee. now here you go, you have your shout wipes. these work better than a pen. you have coffee. put them and just go -- look what is happening here. it is coming right out. >> oh, my gosh. you have to do it immediately, though. have them in your purse. >> will it work if you didn't have those little scrubby things that you use shout at home -- >> if you want to do that, go with this oxiclean versatile. chlorine free, throw it in the

wash. in the kitchen, with the dishwasher, the cascade -- >> always cascade. >> pans gunked up for two days, put it through the wash one time, the pods took the cake. they went through. >> yea. >> so convenient. >> they're awesome. >> okay. >> here we go. we have got our dawn with grease. this is the one that gets it all off. two days worth of grease and grime in the sink, one wash, you're good to go. now -- >> this is new, right? >> this is a new product. >> okay. so when it comes to cleaning the toilet, who wants to actually do that? >> nobody. >> seriously. with this product, what -- first of all, what we love about this, this is lysol, but the angle makes it easy to get in close. we tested this in our bathrooms and in bowling alley bathrooms. >> you'll learn the meaning of easy clean. >> seriously.

>> i did a commercial for lysol 30 years ago. still remember it. >> from all you readers, some of our readers like to do a little bit of cleaning every single day. these cloth disinfecting wipes, not only do they clean up things like toothpaste, but they also get rid of germs, salmonella, flu virus. >> do you have trouble touching that, with real clorox -- >> exactly. if you're worried about that, use the green alternative, these are -- these are compostible and fully natural. >> okay, good. >> similarly, this all purpose, we have like yuckiness on your mirror. all around the house, this is also a green product. >> french lavender. smells great. >> that's fantastic. >> so yummy. >> cleaning products smell gross. >> that smells great. >> red wine? >> never happens.

>> spread red wine on your carpet, this resolve carpet cleaner, we did two bouts of it on here. this is the before. this is the after. it comes right up. >> nina, you are so good. >> thank you so much, sweetheart. >> thank you. >> coming up, we're going to check on our two ladies trying to drop a dress size by memorial day. >> and a key part of that is portion control.

jim's hair is perfect. so's his serve, and his mandarin [speaking mandarin] xieúxieú, hou chiú but like up to 90% of americans, jim falls short in getting important nutrients from food alone. making jim more like us. add one a day multivitamins, rich in key nutrients you may need.

♪ ding ♪ do you have something for pain? i have bayer aspirin. i'm not having a heart attack, it's my back. i mean bayer back & body. it works great for pain. bayer back & body provides effective relief for your tough pain. better? yeah, thanks for the tip! back now, ready to help you drop a dress size and get healthy by memorial day. last week we met 36-year-old mother of three beverly kelsey, who is ready to get out of her sweat pants and into her summer dress. >> and 53-year-old luanne yost is tired of the yo-yo dieting and wants to fit in the little black dress over there and one way to drop pounds is by cutting calories. >> how much should we be eating. our portion teller, our friend

madelyn fernstrom has some answers. hello. >> how are they doing? >> they're doing really well. they're off to a great start. luanne has lost four pounds in one week and beverly has lost two. >> you're going in the right direction. >> right. >> they're being healthy, cutting portions, exercising, doing all the right things in their toolbox approach. today, we're going to address what mostly is everyone's problem, which is we eat way too much, even of healthy foods. in our game today what we're going to do is have the ladies serve what they think is one serving and then we'll compare it to what is -- >> come over here. >> and i'll get on this side. >> okay. we're right here. >> what you think is one serving, what is one portion. >> that's not enough. >> that's not enough? >> okay. what you think is one portion. >> one serving. >> you think it is one. hold on. we're not done. okay. yeah.

yeah. >> and so, one serving is just one cup. it is about the size of a lightbulb. i think -- >> a light but be. >> keep a lightbulb handy. >> by the way, that looks so puny. i hate to say it, that's a portion? >> something you can do is use smaller dishes, bulk it up with vegetables. you don't feel like it is so tiny. >> who won? nobody. okay. >> now, rice. what size serving do you think is good if you have it? >> come on, beverly you know. >> this is cooked. it is cooked. cooked brown rice. >> the sauces you end up putting on the brown rice. >> there you go. >> that would be about what i would do. three scoops. >> okay. >> now, you really -- a little bit over, because a half cup is about that -- >> looks great on the table. >> by the way, when you see how

small that is, this is a half cup serving. >> not saying we both have too much, i think. >> let's get some -- >> go on to some protein. we'll look at some chicken breasts now. what do you think is one serving? we're talking about a four ounce chicken breast. >> four ounces. >> oh, my gosh. please let it be be bigger than that. get that one. that's the one i would pick too. this is what i would pick. >> i would too, but i think -- >> you're looking at everybody is done with their decision? it is about four ounces. about the size of a computer mouse. i think luanne got this one. >> this is what i would have put on my plate. >> me too. >> i would have eaten the whole thing. >> here is where hodi has the whole dish. >> this is hard. this is peanut butter.

>> scoop it up. what do you think is one serving of peanut butter? >> meaning a tablespoon or a serving? >> what do you think a serving is. it is a two tablespoon serving. well, not really. what should it look like? spoons are different sizes. >> let's see the reveal. >> okay. >> that's puny. >> that's puny. >> two tablespoons. >> we have to move a little teeny bit quicker. >> we have some nuts. what do you think is one serving of nuts? one serving? grab them out and plop them on the plate. >> like nothing. >> it is 27. 27. >> let's see. >> what is this going to be about. 22. the size of a post it note. >> that's about right. >> just a drop. >> we have to do the cheese.

>> never mind. >> it will be on our website. >> the chocolate, what is a serving of chocolate? >> oh, no. >> that's it? we're doing two. okay. >> and i would say that it is two. >> good job. >> you don't to eat the whole thing. have half a serving. >> reveal on the cheese, four dice and -- what is the reveal on the chips? >> on the chips. one serving is just a handful. >> nothing. don't eat. >> just quit eating. >> put all that stuff on your table and have a great night. two actresses who love to play. this show is hysterical. this is "today" on nbc.

real life best friends who have been making people laugh for more than a decade. >> so their new role is not a stretch at all. they're playing maggie and emma, best friends in the new usa network comedy that is actually really funny called "playing house". >> when maggie discovers her husband has been having an online affair, emma moves in to help her raise her baby. take a look. >> everything is always the same. >> planted plum trees. >> why is he waving at us. >> i'm going to tell you what i'm not interested in and that's -- i don't want to see any of these people. i didn't even tell my mom i was coming home. i feel look i can't breathe. i just can't --

>> we watched a lot of pilots around here. and we wish everybody the best. but when something actually comes along and it is drop dead funny, i -- congratulations. >> don't make us cry. >> we just had babies so we cry all the time. >> wait until menopause. >> oh, my gosh. >> such fun. you two write these episodes. you sit together and just -- >> we what we do is we usually in one of our living rooms we put on a pair of comfy pants, we improvise all the parts. so she plays all the men. so she says things i wish a man would say to me and we tape record ourselves and then transcribe it and that becomes the first draft. it takes forever. >> big fans of improv. that's where you hone your craft. that's what you feel like when you're watching this too. you were both pregnant when you were filming. >> how did that work? >> i was eight months pregnant,

which is exactly the amount i needed to be to play this role. >> and i'm man handling her in the pilot, throwing her around. she's, like, there is a human life inside of me. can you take it easy. >> fondling her breasts and everything. >> yes, and that was real. >> felt like a water bed. they did, like a -- look, i'm doing it now. is it too soon for that? >> when you dropped this pilot around, were people all clamoring for it or just usa the smart one who picked it up? >> usa was really the first place we went and the only place we went because -- >> do you love her? >> she is a dynamo. she is phenomenal looking. she's keeping it tight and right. and doing it 100%. >> doing it for themselves over there. >> it is like looking in the mirror. >> i know. >> she's a kathie lee, i'm a

hoda. >> got to keep the ships grounded. >> someone has to steer. >> someone needs the glass of wine. >> in that case, so how are you doing though managing this incredible hit. >> it is so funny. >> you're also new mothers. do you even remember your husbands' names? >> no, we see them at night. >> 2:00 a.m., i'll see him sleeping and i'll say, wake up, the baby's up. >> you're managing it because you're having so much fun. >> you're full of joy. we want to be on it. >> you guys mentioned me in one of your episodes. >> you did. >> season premiere of "playing house," watch it tonight, 10:00, 9:00 central on usa network. >> and tomorrow, a special little house on the prairie reunion with eight members including melissa gilbert. >> so we want to -- >> are you so excited? >> have a great booze day

tuesday. watch this show tonight. >> do it. >> i'm here to help. you and i will get through this together. ♪