good morning. the wild west. homes buried by rock and mudslides as a brutal storm slams california. across los angeles, daring rescues from the flood waters and even a tornado miles from downtown. where is the storm heading next? march on washington. after weeks of demonstrations, thousands head to the capital today to protest what they call police brutality. we are live with the latest. angelina jolie's very bad week. first nasty e-mails about her surface in the sony hacking scandal, now the movie star forced to miss the premiere of her new film "unbroken." >> i found out last night that i have chickenpox.

so i will be home, itching and missing everyone and i can't believe it. >> and she's not the only one feeling sick today. a lot of sony executives are reeling as well as they wait for more e-mails to surface. and "girl of a country song" hits number one as they mock the guys. ♪ how in the world did it go wrong ♪ >> now the boys of country are fires back. today's saturday, december 13th, 2014. ♪ we used to get little respect ♪ >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," with lester holt and erica hill. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today" on a saturday morning. i'm lester holt. >> i'm erica holt alongside sheinelle jones and dylan

dreyer. there was debate. was he going to say december 13th, 2014 or 12-13-14. >> there it is. exciting. you get married on that day? >> lots of people get married today. tens of thousands of couples. it is not just memorable for you to attend the wedding, but tough to forget that anniversary. >> and a great day for a proposal. >> we will chat more about that later. >> looking forward to that. we want to start to the top story. the wild weather out west. miguel almaguer is in southern california with the latest for us this morning. miguel, good morning. >> reporter: erica, good morning. steady rain out here all day friday, but the damage came down in a matter of minutes. now the deinstruction could take weeks, if not months. this morning, much of como is

buried under rock and mud. nearly a city block full of destruction. >> i looked out the window and the street was like a river. >> reporter: it was just after 2:00 a.m. when this hillside gave way. first hours of rain, then the sudden slide. >> it was strange. it was almost surreal. like it is not really happening to me. >> reporter: windows blown out. rooms filled with mud. no time to think, just seconds to run. firefighters scramble to help the elderly. for most, this is all they have. >> it's terrible. >> reporter: first responders say it is a miracle no one died here. the boulders weigh over 1,000 pounds and stacked up to rooftops. across los angeles, friday was a day of rescues. in the river and on the roads, well over 100 accidents. rain pelted the city.

more during this storm than all of last year. it was the wild west. a tornado touched down not far from downtown. damage for blocks, an incredible sight. >> i just said, oh, lord, watch me. then boom. i got drenched. get in! >> reporter: now this weekend, a region drying up. for so many, the damage is just being tallied. >> horrible. really horrible. >> reporter: with the destruction in this community on this block at least in the tens of millions of dollars, we can expect to see more damage in the next couple of days as we see more rain next week. dylan. >> miguel, devastating pictures in the area and more rain is likely. especially as we go into sunday night for the bay area and that will push to the south.

right now, we are getting a bit of a break. you can see in the mountains and higher elevations still unsettled with scattered showers. the bulk of the storm has moved east. the rockies and down near phoenix is where we will see scattered showers. it is not too heavy. the storm weakened and it will have snow spreading across the rocky mountains. snow falling above 6,000 feet. we will see snow work into the northern plains, back through northern nebraska and south dakota. that into sunday evening. we will see rain on eastern side of it and stronger storms in monday. aspen with 6 to 9 inches. higher elevations. we could see stronger storms on sunday into monday, especially in the red area from parts of kansas right into central texas. this is where we could see not so much an outbreak, but isolated stronger storms with

tornadoes and wind gusts and large hail. that is what we will follow through sunday. lester. thank you, dylan. we want to turn to the looming deadline in washington where the republicans and sdem democrats are trying to hash out a deal to keep the government open. kristen welker has latest. >> reporter: lester, good morning. the arm wrestling continues on capitol hill. the senate not done considering the package to keep the government open after passing the bill late last night. the bill did pass in the house late thursday, but only after coalition of democrats revolted against the president refusing to back the bill. almost shutting down the government. democrats don't like this bill because it scales back big bank regulations and increases the amount of political contributions that wealthy donors can make. after arm twisting and officials and democrats, ultimately got on board to narrowly pass the bill

in the house. president obama on friday said the legislation represents compromise in the time of divided government. he noted this bill also funds health care and immigration. some many conservatives oppose. the best-case scenario is the senate hold the vote on sunday with the goal of passing the bill on monday, just in the nick of time to keep the government open. >> a busy weekend in washington. kristen, you are covering the protests planned in washington this weekend over the relation was the police and community. >> reporter: that is right. thousands of protesters are expected to descend on d.c. and new york and cities across the country. they are demanding in their words, justice for all. rallies organized by the action network. reverend al sharpton is hosting it. the naacp is also hosting. some are furious in the killings

of eric garner and michael brown. they are demanding the changes to the police departments across the country with the police disproportionately target men of color. protesters will gather in the plaza here and march to capitol hill. it will be an emotional day. families of eric garner and michael brown will be here. thank you. now erica. >> thank you. the issues continue at sony after the massive hacking scandal. leaked e-mails revealing thoughts they may wish to keep to them selves. no shortage of drama here. joe fryer has more. >> reporter: the cyber town. >> paralyzed hollywood. >> reporter: hack has exposed

social security numbers and movie star salaries. >> where do we go from here? >> reporter: 100 terabytes of stolen information. >> you would be reading that book from beginning to end for over a thousand years. >> reporter: the impact could be seen at "the interview" where no tv news cameras were allowed. but this scandal is spiralled into something larger than a film. >> the e-mail dumps from the hackers keep coming. when will it stop? >> reporter: the latest revelation published that george clooney wants to take on rupert murdock in the u.k. phone scandal. then the e-mail showing in "american hustle" jennifer lawrence was shown to make money on the back end of the movie's profit. >> it is hard on the studio because they are dealing with the universe of celebrities.

>> reporter: scott rudin and amy pascal have apologized for the insensitive e-mails in remarks over president obama. can't

believe it. >> senior film and media reporter is here with me. >> thanks for having me. >> if there is an upside to the chickenpox, she will not have to answer questions about the e-mail hacks. >> it is so much worse for the people at sony. >> this apology she put out, is that enough at this point? >> there are a lot of questions about that right now and, in hollywood. the question is what do you do to contain the damage here? because it's on so many different fronts. it deals with internal information leaking, internal information about budgets, salaries, and also the private correspondents of these top executives. it's almost as if they're playing a public relations wack a mole right now. >> can she keep her job through all of this? especially in today's culture?

>> that has a lot of tongues wagging in hollywood now. she was already in something of a vulnerable position, because sony had just gone through a bruising fight with activist inverter daniel lobe, waves of layoffs, seen as an executive that was vulnerable. this increases her vulnerable. >> things leaks, shoots cancelled with sony because of issues with payroll. how damaging is this to the said to joe and sony pictures. >> this kind of cleanup, trying to contain this issue costs tens of millions of dollars, no say nothing about the legal costs associated with it, the cost and damage to a brand you then have to try to repair. so clearly, all kinds of issues

and at the same time running a multi-national studio. as you can see, this kind of digital disruption causing all kinds of other headaches. >> talk about shifting the focus. there's another part of the story we've been talking a lot at nbc news, that's the discussion of, what to actually put out there in terms of information, because at the end of the day, these e-mails, however insensitive or damaging they may be, were still hacked, and they were essentially stolen. so how did you come to that decision? how was that decision made about where the line is what should be published and what should remain private? >> it's an excellent question. this is really new ethical terrain for a lot of these news organizations. the fact remains as journalists we often get information that nobody wants us to see. that's part of our job, but in this case, we also don't want to be doing the work of the people who stole this information for them, embarrassing officials at sony unnecessarily. but the problem is that when

this information leaks, there's a broader public discussion that's taking place, and we really have an obligation to our readers and to the public to, you know, be a mirror for that kind of broader discussion, to engage with it, and to also provide a journalistic framework, in which case, providing accurate information that's fair and giving sewnony chance to comment on the leaks. breaking news overnight out of afghanistan to get to. >> reporter: good morning. u.s. official tells nbc news two american soldiers were killed overnight in afghanistan. it happened after their convey came under enemy attack, at time passing a road leading up to the bagram air base. and rare saturday session. late last night, postpone add vote on the spending bill until at least monday. republicans led by ted cruz of

texas are accused of holding the bill trying to force a vote on an immigration amendment he's pushing. today the senate is expected to pass a stop gap bill to temporarily stop funding through next wednesday averting a possible shutdown. in oregon, arrested a 22-year-old gunman who opened fire outside a high school friday. at least three students were hospitalized in the rampage believed to be gang relate d. a scene out of an action movie is what is looked like in atlanta after two police officers were shot during an apparent home invasion. the suspect captured along with an ak-47 rifle. the officers suffered non-life threatens injuries. and the death of a teen in north carolina.

too many unanswered questions, it looked like a suicide. pete williams has the story. >> reporter: the family of lenin lacy says he left home one friday night in late august for a high school football game and never came home. his body found hanging from a swing set frame in a predominantly white trailer park south of fayetteville. it was ruled a suicide but doesn't add up the 17-year-old, youngest of four brothers was not despondent, hanged with a dog leash, with a belt he did not own and shoes that did not fit him. local officials say their own investigation was thorough. >> the response that occurred in is this case and the investigation that followed nothing more than professional and i'm proud to be a part of this effort. >> reporter: with the urging of the naasp.

>> it takes a case to happen that is automatic in other cases. >> reporter: demonstrators planned a protest today in north carolina and will now celebrate over a new investigate of what they consider a very suspicious death. for "today," nbc's pete williams, nbc news, washington. to california a rocket launch went off without a hitch overnight delayed by a monster pick storm. lech trickses worked tirelessly through last night's extreme weather trying to make sure power was available for the u.s. defense satellite. the mission is classified. finally a baby orangutan born in the omaha zoo last month is on displace. the baby, believed to be a girl, seen for the first time friday. the arrival is so important to the population and zookeepers. the public will be invited to nominate names for this little baby here. we like babies, we like animals. today a two for one special.

>> a two-for. >> a baby orangutan, the mom plops him on her back, the baby's hanging out there. adorable. >> a face only a mother could love. no. it's a cute face. ashouldn't say that. >> we have the weather. enjoying a pretty nice saturday. even where the storm was in california has moved into the rockies and the snow above 6000 feet. high pressure in >>. >> good morning. 5:18 the time on this saturday morning. waking up to clear skies k. we still have a few showers down toward the monterey coast. otherwise, it will be a dry day. a little fog and very chilly this morning. in the 40s down in the south bay. 44, to be exact. north bay very chilly. you'll notice highs are not going to be warm today. topping out in the mid to upper 50s in the entire bay area.

we do have sunshine. and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thanks. millions are hitting the skies, there's a major hiring push under way for new air traffic controllers. here's nbc's tom costello. >> 67 for the -- >> runway right, clear to land. >> reporter: it happens more than 70,000 times each day. 14,000 air traffic controllers ensuring 2 million of us arrive safely. the number of controllers on duty is falling fast. 30 years ago president reagan fired striking air traffic controllers who walked off the job. >> they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated. >> reporter: now the 11,000 controllers hired to replace them are replacing a mandatory retirement age. >> there's going to be a large number of controllers leaving by their 56 birthday. >> reporter: that's got the faa in something of a hiry frenzy.

10,000 controllers over the next ten years. >> one 80, takeoff. >> reporter: the nations av nation colleges are in high demand with students hoping to get a leg up before applying to the faa academy. they can multitask, think fast and remain calm in a stressful situation. at this college in new york, this 25-year-old is hoping she makes the cut. >> able to talk and speak like controllers will give me has upper hand when i go go to class, that's what i've been deal wig the last few years of my education. >> reporter: the faa's graduation, applicants must be u.s. citizens, have a bachelor degree, experience and college, pass aptitude and background tests. depending whether there's military or college experience, they're in for 5 to 18 weeks of training here in oklahoma city then on to assignment for months

even years of on the job training. >> reporter: the money is good. starting ats $35,000 to $45,000 and climb to $100,000 or more, but the job is rarely 9:00 to 5:00 and the stakes in the air and on the runways are very high. for "today," tom costello, nbc news, washington. still to come, one website's very controversial post about what women should do to keep their marriages together. you'll want to hear it. first, this is "today" on nbc.

over a million californians have a gotten something that's beend. out of reach for far too long. health insurance. how? they enrolled through covered california. it's the health insurance marketplace where you'll find a range of plans from leading health insurance companies that offer you the best combination of quality, rates and benefits. you can compare plans side by side, choose the one that best fits your needs and enroll online. coveredca.com is also the place to find certified experts in your area who can answer your questions for free, and help you enroll. and, through covered california, you may get financial help to pay for coverage. it's based on income, and 4 out of 5 people who have enrolled qualified.

if you don't have a health plan, or you do, but you want to make sure it's the best plan for you, now's the time to visit coveredca.com. but to get covered, you gotta get going. to have health insurance starting january 1st, you need to enroll by december 15th. visit coveredca.com today. a controversial article posted on familyshare.com has been getting a lot of buzz with 5 million views. >> the title alone may raise eyebrows. it is "five ways you are unknowingly destroying your husband and killing your marriage." everybody has an opinion. sheinelle is in the original

room. >> the author katelyn car her has advice. here are the five ways we are destroying marriages. her words. number five, not speaking his language. speak plainly to him. on to number four, withholding physical affection. even though you might not always be in the mood, it is worth to give in when you can and spend that time bonding. mistake three, putting everything else first. the husband should be more important than career, talent, best friends and mom and children. now to number two. constant negativity. i love this picture. the number one reason women are destroying their husbands according to carmen, living outside what you can afford. no surprise. twitter users have responded in force. knock, knock, this is the 21st century. wake up women, you can live your

life to the fullest. tyler says this really goes both ways. five ways you are unknowingly destroying your husband and killing your marriage. what do you think about this? you can always talk to us. you can weigh in using the #orangeroom. lester and erica. >> i think that last one made sense. this goes both ways. a lot of outrage and things seem out of date, but there are little nuggets there that each part of the couple can take to heart. >> each one is important. >> i want to say absolutely nothing on this subject. that's how i stay married

good morning. this is a live look outside over a very foggy dublin. good saturday morning. i'm kira klapper with anthony slaughter with a look at your micro climate forecast. you have been very busy this week. >> from rain to fog we've got it all and the flooding this week. i've been this this business for ten years and haven't seen flooding like that. >> and you lived in the midwest. >> where we actually get floods every week. this morning the rain tapered off. we still have a few lingers showers across the monterey coast.

we are not going to see rain today. it will slide down to the south southern california. they had a tornado. >> unbelievable. >> it is crazy, right? tornados in l.a.? yeah. it's much calmer weather headed our way today. we'll see sunshine all day long. it will be very chilly. i don't know if you were out yesterday, but a little nip in the air. >> yes. even this morning there was frost on my windshield. i had to turn on my seat warmer in my car for the first time. thanks. >> the storm has passed, but the damage lingers. some people have been forced out of their homes because of flooding that is causing a health concern. late last night redwood city officials red-tagged homes. firefighters have been helping those residents evacuate since flood waters rose high enough to reach their living spaces on thursday. residents have been waiting back

through potentially contaminated flood waters to get back to their homes and get their belongings. the residents tell us both mobile home parks have a history of drainage problems. the creek behind their neighborhood almost always floods during major storms spilling over to nearby homes and businesses. >> pg&e crews are still working to get power back to all its customers hoping to be done by today. last night crews were working to get about 1,000 people back online. the huge monterey pine had to be removed. the tree toppled over during the height of the storm thursday. >> people came out and settled this area in the '40s and '50s and these trees were planted for fast shade. unfortunately, they now have problems.

tree trimmers and crews are preparing for the next storm. >> we have more weather coverage on our nbc bay area app. click on the nbc logo to get to the weather page. you'll see the latest forecast. you'll find live radar and alerts about flooding and outages. coming up on "today if the bay" giving a thumb's down could get a thumb's up. mark zuckerberg gives a mixed message about adding a "dislike" button. back to the "today" show.

♪ we used to get little respect now we're lucky ♪ ♪ if we get to keep our girl in a country song ♪ catchy tune there back on a saturday morning, december 13th, 2014. that is the hit "girl in a country song" topping charts across the country. it comes with a little outcry from the boys of country. we will have more on that later. >> could it be because the boys of country are mocked in the song? >> perhaps, lester. >> cute song. a lot of friends out there for us to go meet in a bit outside on rockefeller plaza. nice to have them with us.

a little chilly. we'll focus on the positive here. we will hand out hand warmers. >> it is december. >> coming up in this half hour, if you are heading out for holiday shopping, don't head outdoors yet. mario armstrong is here to show you high tech ways to save you. and we will look at the hollywood blockbuster for reese witherspoon. and horse-drawn carriages. why is the mayor trying to get rid of them and what could replace them. we will get into that. we begin this half hour with a serious story on the search for a killer. in mississippi, a 19-year-old will be laid to rest after a horrific murder. a big murder mystery in a mall town. nbc's gabe gutierrez has the story. >> reporter: jessica chambers just graduated high school.

this morning, a shocked and grieving mississippi community is preparing for her funeral. >> she will not be at rest until her killer is caught. >> reporter: a week ago in panola county, police found the 19-year-old on fire near her burning car. the preliminary autopsy shows severe burns covered 98% of her body. her father said she was beaten and doused with lighter fluid. >> the only part wasn't burned was the bottom of her feet. >> reporter: police have not confirmed whether that message she whispered could lead them to the killer. so far, no arrests. >> this is a 19-year-old girl just beginning life. >> reporter: this horrific crime rocked the town and has residents wondering if the murderer is among them. police are trying to piece together her final hours searching for clues. in the nearby gas station, chambers is seen pumping bagas d

buying cigarettes. it is not clear what happened next. police are looking at her phone records and the man police are questioning is not a suspect. >> i was calling about the situation i did not know anything about. >> reporter: her sister who lives in texas is devastated. >> i have not seen her since july. and now i'll never see her again. >> reporter: she started a facebook page justice for jessica. begging any witnesses to come forward and also sharing memo memories of the young woman who loved cheerleading, but whose tragic death is as puzzling as it is disturbing. for "today," gabe gutierrez, nbc news. >> we have clint van zandt with us. a former fbi profiler. clint, good to see you. >> good morning, lester. >> this story is difficult to stomach. you have read about it. what is your hunch?

is this someone who knew her or a stranger? >> this is a small town, lester. 460 people. police department is going under the assumption that this was not a random crime. the victim had some way been targeted. so it looks like they got this small people and small town they have to go through and they out ought to be able to eliminate a group of people quickly. >> when you see this type of crime, you have to consider this is a person who has done something heinous before or is likely to do it again? >> it is the former, lester. this is somebody who committed a crime or who has a criminal background. the reason to burn a car, notwithstanding the victim, is to get rid of forensic evidence. everybody watches "csi" and they see fibers and hair and evidence and they realize from television, if you burn a car,

notwithstanding, if you burn a victim, you can get rid of that physical evidence. there was the terrible reason to do something like this, but it still takes a two-legged monster to do this to another human being. >> in fact, if it is someone who knew her, how easy or difficult would it be for police to piece together the crime? >> well, the forensic evidence will take a while. again, atf is working this. they are a great agency. they have the ability to recover linking physical evidence between this and especially tips from the community. this is a highly solvable crime. in a crime like this, lester, it has to be solved or the 460 people will never rest safely again. >> apparently, she uttered something to firefighters when they got there. how helpful might that be? >> this is not like the book or the movie where you hear the word "rose bud." in this case, i'm told that she

uttered the first name of a man, a male's first name. so what connection that has with the case, we don't know. surely, whatever name that is, those people in that community with that first name have already been identified. law enforcement can take their time and get the linking physical evidence and link that to a name and hopefully have their killer or killers because lester, there could have been two people even -- somebody to drive her to a location and perhaps somebody to drive another vehicle to take that killer away. so they may well be looking at not just one, but perhaps at least two people. >> clint van zandt, i appreciate your insight. thanks very much. >> thank you, lester. dylan is here with another check of the weather. >> thanks, lester. things are looking quiet across the country weather wise. this is the pattern you like to see. a nice ridge building in the jet stream. that will bring warmer

temperatures from texas all the way up into the northern plains, including north dakota where temperatures will be 15 to nearly 30 degrees above average. rapid city, 52 degrees. kansas city, 57. that is 14 degrees above average. on the east coast, we are right around average. that's some improvement considering how chilly it has been. norfolk, virginia, 54 degrees. same for nashville, 51. a bit chilly through florida. orlando is 70 today. elsewhere across the country, foggy in spots in the great lakes and upper midwest. we could end up with a foot of snow and scatter showers in phoenix where good morning. 5:37 on this saturday morning. we are waking up to clear skies. a little thick fog in the tri-valley and north bay. radar is showing light showers off the coast of monterey, but

we are done with the rain across the bay area today. the fog will be with us this morning. everybody in the 40s. even san francisco. very chilly air in place as that cold core of low pressure moved off to our east. temperatures only going to top out in the mid to upper 50s. our latest forecast. >> dylan, thanks. up next, mario armstrong is here to tell us how we can find deep up next, mario armstrong is here to tell us how we can find deep discounts for not to be focusing, again, on my moderate my goal was to finally get in shape. to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. so i finally made a decision to talk to my dermatologist about humira. humira works inside my body to target and help block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to my symptoms. in clinical trials, most adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis saw 75% skin

clearance on humira. and the majority of people were clear or almost clear in just 4 months. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. set a new goal today. ask your dermatologist about humira. because with humira clearer skin is possible.

look, i love the way he controls abthe lightsbutler. and unlocks the door when i forget my keys... it's just that... i feel like he's always watching us. yes, that is why we should use wink. ...look, it can monitor and manage our house but it won't start to develop human emotions. hey buddy. control your entire home with one simple app introducing wink it's like a robot butler, but not as awkward.

you know, you still have 12 days or so, but who is counting, to get those gifts. if you are figuring out what you need, you are in luck. mario has great apps to make your shopping easier and cheaper. mario armstrong is the digital expert with us. good morning. >> good morning. >> it seems overwhelming. i feel like the only thing i see in my inbox are special offers. i cannot remember where they are. you have price blink to keep track of the offers on ourbrows. >> on your browser. you download this on your safari or chrome browser. while you are shopping online, it can show you if you can get it cheaper elsewhere while you are shopping. i was looking for a tv on

amazon, but i found it other places for less. >> you did not mention internet explorer. is it not for ie? >> it is really best on chrome and firefox. >> retailmenot which has been around for a while. it is a good sign. >> whenever you can still be around and still talked about, that means something is working. that is one of the things. coupon codes work. they have over 50,000 retailers in the system for online as well as in-store purchases. people will hear that cha-ching in the app that means a deal nearby. if you are shopping online, do not not use retailmenot. >> i love a good coupon. my mom raised me well. next up, we need help finding the gifts. it is called ps department. does that stand for personal shopper? >> it does. personal shopper department. it does the work for you. you type in, erica, a text

message or take a picture of the item. i was looking for an item for my wife. basically, they communicate with me and they show me pearls i can buy through the app. they do the hard work. i can get on with life. >> i hope we are not ruining the surprise this morning. >> i bought her something else. >> you should get her those, too. there is another site called fetch that is maybe for all of us for every day items? >> ps department is good in fashion, this is more like every day stuff. i was looking for a gopro hero camera. they can search and find the best deal. they found one with free shipping. you type in a text or take a picture of something that you are interested in and they do the hard work. >> i'm feeling less stressed by the minute. you have tools to help us organize and track. the first one i love. centrallo. you make a list, but make sure nobody else is checking it twice. >> this is not scripted.

this is good. people, this is wonderful. this is a great to-do list for productivity, but for the holiday season. it is great for the shopping list. you don't have to mess around and say i didn't get that one thing. or if you are planning dinner or travel or who is picking up the groceries. you can share these lists with family members privately. >> it is like a google doc. >> you don't have real-time collaboration on it, but you can mark things off. >> it is shareable and password protect it so no small people with access to your computer can look things up. the other thing is slice. >> this is the destressor of the holiday. slice is a free app that basically tracks your online purchases so your receipts and shipping confirmation. everything in one app. you are no longer digging in an

e-mail to return something. in this case, i was buying some pots and i was looking for pots. i could actually click on that pot to see the e-mail confirmation in the app. i can see where it is shipping to and when it will arrive on time. >> i love this. >> especially if you are shopping for a number of people. did i make it work? >> yes. >> buy me something, people. >> i see what the you wimotive . up next, the book turned hollywood

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♪ eye of the tiger talk about a movie that is getting a lot of oscar buzz for reese witherspoon. for hundreds of women, the story has inspired them to carve their path in western wilderness. nbc's kristen dahlgren has more. >> reporter: somewhere between the california desert and the mountains lies something many are now searching for. >> i guess it humbles you. when you are out there, you realize you are so small among something so big. >> reporter: what started with the book "wild" is now a reese witherspoon movie. the woman struggling with

divorce and heroin addiction and loss of her mother. searching along the trail. the 2,600 mile path from along the canada border. for las vegas black jack dealer, linda blaney, it was instant. within months, she took off. alone. >> i found out that i'm the one person that makes myself happy. >> reporter: it's being called the wild effect. women tracing the footsteps of cheryl. >> i found this tree. >> we have a lot of calls from people who have said i've read the book and i really want to do it. >> i came across this. >> we are really stressing that people be prepared. >> you get on this trail here and head 16 miles up to

cottonwood creek bridge. >> reporter: at the hiker town. >> last year, we had 700 hikers. >> reporter: that is more than twice the year before. and the movie means that number could soon double again. we are about 400 miles from the beginning of the trail. mexico is back that way and canada is 2200 miles in that direction over diverse and danger year terrain. >> mosquitoes everywhere. >> reporter: as many have now found out, there is nothing easy about it, but for jessica reynolds who plans to hike the trail next spring, that's the point. >> such an empowering story for women. it will encourage women to find themselves on the trail. >> reporter: for her, it comes down to the words her mom wrote inside her well worn copy of "wild." >> to jess, love mom.

may you find your journey. >> reporter: now inspiring many to find their own path. for "today," kristen dahlgren, nbc news, along the pacific trail in northern california. >> a natural for you to do that. >> it may not happen. actually, i love the idea of getting back in touch. you realize the only person who can make you happy is yourself. lessons need to be taken away that don't need me to be sleeping outside with bugs. >> sheinelle mentioned the beach. >> a girls trip to the beach. >> i'm with you on that. cheers. still to come, holiday classic movies you want to catch with your family, but first this is "today" on nbc.

still to come on "today,"

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good morning. wow, that's beautiful. a live look in san jose on this saturday morning. it's a chilly morning out there, but will be a dry day, something we haven't seen in a while. good morning, i'm kira klapper. anthony slaughter has a look at your micro climate forecast. >> you are one good lady, let me tell you. before the cut-in started, she was sneezing nonstop and boom gets it together. >> i'm well trained. thank you. >> let's talk about this weather. when those sneezes come, you can't control them. i'll give you a break. let's talk about some rain this morning. you can see on the doppler radar we had showers sitting off the

coast. that will stay out across the open water. look at these numbers. in the 40s across the entire bay area. fog developing across the east bay and north bay. later this afternoon, everybody will see sunshine. it will be very chilly. we are talking temperatures only in the mid to upper 50s. jacket weather across the board. it will be breezy at times. keep those jackets handy. it will feel nice to get out and try to get the christmas tree up or put christmas lights up. we have been inundated with water. now we get a chance to dry out. our next storm system is expected to move in sunday night. >> enjoy the dryness. the storm has passed, but the damage lingers. some people have been forced out of their homes because of flooding that's causing a health concern. late last night redwood city officials red tagged homes at the lamar trailer park on

bayshore road. firefighters helped resident evacuate since flood water reached their living space on thursday. residents have been wading through potentially contaminated flood waters to get some of their belongings. both mobile home parks have a history of drainage problems like this the creek behind their neighborhood almost always floods during major storms spilling over to nearby homes and businesses. >> pg&e cruise are working to get power back to customers. take a look at this huge monterey pine. it had to be removed. the tree toppled over during the height of the storm on thursday. >> people came out and settled this area in the '40s and '50s. these trees were planted for fast shade. unfortunately, they now have a lot of problems. >> service has been restored.

our crews won't stop working until everyone has their lights back on. >> crews are preparing for the next storm to come. we have more weather coverage on the nbc bay area app. click on the nbc logo to get to the weather page. you'll see the latest forecast and live radar and alerts about flooding and outages. >> coming up this morning on "today in the bay," giving a thumb's down could get a thumb's up. a mixed message about adding a "dislike" button to your facebook page.

good morning. it's saturday, december 13th, 2014. here are some of the stories we are following today. direct hit. a brutal storm slams into california. this morning, homes are buried after rock and mudslides. dramatic rescues caught on camera and a tornado near downtown l.a. march on washington. thousands expected to converge on the nation's capitol. and show stopper. angelina jolie announces she will be forced to miss the premiere of the film "unbroken." >> i found out last night i have chickenpox. so, i will be home, itching and

missing everyone and i can't believe it. >> this just days after she came face-to-face with a sony executive who slammed here in a now leaked company e-mail. ♪ it's been one week since you looked at me ♪ >> good morning on a saturday morning out on the plaza. >> i think they are. i'm erica hill alongside dylan dreyer. we have nice ladies behind us who did not forget the "today" toy drive. thanks for thinking of them. this is a big day, by the way. >> you will never forget the day you were here. >> the date? >> 12-13-14. >> and a lot of people getting married today hoping that one half of their union doesn't forget the anniversary either. >> could be an easy one to remember. a lot of people using it to mark a lot of special days. >> let me show you quickly. bring the camera over here.

today, her birthday. 12-13-14. you turn 15. that's awesome. your name? >> marissa. >> happy birthday. >> thank you. >> making people's day. >> i did that. lots to get to in this half hour. let's begin by heading in to sheinelle jones with more on the major storm sweeping through california and other headlines. good morning. people in california are waking up to the mess after the monster pacific storm overnight. nbc's miguel almaguer is on the scene with the latest. >> reporter: sheinelle, good morning. it took minutes for the damage to happen here, but it will take months to clean up. take a look at the pictures. mud slid into homes at 2:00 a.m. on friday filling up homes and living rooms and forcing people to scramble for their lives. they had minutes to get out. in some places, rock and debris

is up to 20 feet deep. it could take several months to clean up the damage here believed to be in the tens of millions of dollars. take a look at what hit us here in los angeles yesterday. a tornado. an incredible and rare sight here. the destruction tallied across the region. there were river rescues all day long, traffic was a mess, accidents up and down the west coast. the better news is there is a lot of damage and destruction here at our location, but much of the city is cleaning up. we will have a couple of days of dry weather before the next storm rolls in on monday, tuesday and wednesday. sheinelle. >> miguel almaguer, thanks. to washington d.c. where a massive crowd is expected at the march against police brutality. nbc's kristen welker has more. >> reporter: sheinelle, good morning. that's right. thousands of protesters are expected to descend on d.c. today as well as new york and cities across the country. they are demanding in their words, justice for all. the rallies organized by the

national action network. al sharpton founded n.o.w. and is an msnbc host. naacp and urban league are participating. protesters are furious over the killings of the two unarmed black men of eric garner and michael brown. they are protesting across the country with many arguing police disproportionately target men of color. in d.c., they march a mile long stretch to capitol hill. this is going to be an emotional day as well. the families of eric garner and michael brown and trayvon martin will headline the event here. back to you. >> thank you, kristen. the u.s. senate will hold a rare saturday session. late last night, the senate postponed the vote on the $1.1 trillion bill until monday. ted cruz of texas is being

accused of holding the bill of forcing the vote on immigration. today, the senate is supposed to pass a stopgap bill. overnight, a violent scene. a massive brawl broke out at the end of the year dance. responding officers were called in for back up and forced to use pepper spray to break up the crowd. at least three people were arrested. one of the most powerful women in hollywood is now under fire from civil rights leaders following e-mails exposed in the sony hack attack. sony co- chair amy pascal will meet with al sharpton next week for racist remarks in her e-mails about the president. some suggesting the comments may force her to resign. another e-mail slamming angelina jolie who issued this home video after she was absent from the

premiere of her film "unbroken." >> i found out last night that i have chickenpox. so, i will be home itching and missing everyone and i can't believe it because this film means so much to me. >> jolie says she sends everyone her love and hopes everything goes well in the upcoming press junket. guys. >> she looks stunning. i had them when i was 5. they were everywhere. >> i would have been scratching. >> her skin is all dewing and lush. thanks. >> dylan is out on the plaza with the check on the weather. >> good morning. we have been talking about today is 12-13-14. we have a golden birthday. are you turning 13 on the 13th. how excited were you for today? >> very excited.

>> where are you from? >> michigan. >> you get to celebrate in new york city. >> everything is coming up golden today. let's look at the weather across the country. out west with the nasty storm this week. it has weakened a bit. california is drying out. we have heavy rain in phoenix. the mountain snow is above 6,000 feet. mostly rain, but from casper, wyoming to colorado, we could have higher elevation snow. in the mid range elevations, we will have 3 to 6 inches. up to flagstaff and we start to push this system east into tomorrow. today, though, foggy spots in the upper midwest and great lakes and chicago. most of the eastern half of the country enjoying high pressure. temperatures warming up. we should be good saturday morning. i'm meteorologist anthony slaughter. 6:07 your time now.

waking up to showers off the coast. you'll notice everywhere else dry conditions. looking at fog across the east bay and north bay. otherwise plenty of sunshine. temperatures back into the 40s. 45 south bay. a few isolated 30s in the inland valleys. this afternoon, temperatures not very warm. and that's your latest forecast. lester. >> dylan, thanks. later this afternoon, santa claus is coming to town. in fact, thousands are coming to town. a massive bar crawl known as santa-con. it has developed a reputation often for the wrong reasons. nbc's francis rivera has more. >> lester, they are getting ready. cities are bracing for a flood of santas despite the protests from the neighborhoods who say the st. nicks belong on the

naughty list. >> oh, no. >> reporter: you have seen one bad santa on the big screen made famous by billy bob thornton. how about thousands of them in the streets? that's right. 'tis the season for santa to take over around the world. >> ho, ho, ho. >> reporter: the biggest santa-con events happens today in the big apple. thousands dressed as santa, elves and reindeer will take part in events. >> it can be fun or a little sloppy. >> reporter: in the past, some of the santas have been jolly for all the wrong reasons. over indulging and vomiting in public and wandering from bar to bar and brawling on the streets. >> we said yesterday that we found out it is happening on saturday.

we will hibernate. >> reporter: thousands of new york residents are saying just stay home. banning alcohol on the subway. organizers responded by hiring no norman siegel. he is fighting for santa's right to party. >> they have a right to party as long as you are not violating anyone's rights. >> reporter: santa-con is big business. >> if st. patrick's day is the number one business day for bars, santa-con is second. >> reporter: the twitter handle is reminding party goers to be responsible. know your limit, santa. in addition to telling santa-con participants to remind their behavior, organizers are asking them to stay in the bars and off the streets in light of the

protests planned for today. lester. >> thank you. >> nice to see in your office. still to come, horse-drawn carriages are an iconic part of new york, so why is the mayor trying to ban them and what new york, so why is the mayor trying to ban them and what would replace them right aft good morning everybody. new york, so why is the mayor we are about to make moreat would redeliveries right aft to more places than anybody on earth. we have the speed. we have the technology. and we have the team. we made over 15 billion successful deliveries last year. 15 billion! football has a season. baseball has a season. this is our season. so it seemed like a gwell, we make it pretty easy. in fact, your appraisal should be ready, let's pull it up. now, how long do i have to decide on this offer?

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visited new york city, you may have taken a picture of the horse-drawn carriages in central park. soon, they could become a thing of the past. new york's mayor is sticking to an election promise to have them outlawed. nbc's kerry sanders is following that story for us. kerry, good morning. >> reporter: erica, animal rights activists believe these horse-drawn carriages are cruel to the horses and new york mayor bill deblasio agrees. new york's horse-drawn carriages from jane fonda and robert redford to kermit and miss piggy. >> a frog and a pig. looks like they are in love. >> reporter: like the gondola is to italy, the horse-drawn carriage is to new york. the strong reaction to bill

deblasio's legislation calling for an end to horse-drawn carriages. >> a cold day in hell before any of you touch one of my horses or my colleagues horses. >> reporter: animal rights activists say the carriages are cruel. >> forced to work when they are sick and old and tired and they are denied everything that is natural to them on a daily basis. they deserve better. >> reporter: far from new york, hidden in south florida, animal rights activists quietly hired car day designer jason winick to build a prototype replacement. >> you are amazed at what you can create. >> reporter: it took more than a year and cost more than $500,000 to build this one-of-a-kind electric touring car. >> that is fun. >> hard to resist. >> reporter: we were there on the first test drive along ft.

lauderdale beach and when it took its maiden drive in new york. >> it doesn't feel new. >> authenticity maybe in the way it shakes. >> reporter: behind the wheel, a test team from "car and driver" magazine. >> we love cars. tons of technology in them. we are new york city. the car is a compromise device down here. the horse really does something great running through central park. >> reporter: teamsters like ian says the mayor is on the losing side. >> don't believe a horse should pull the carriage. that is their opinion. it's wrong. >> reporter: and those strong opinions come from a strong voting block. the teamsters. if you didn't know, now you do. the teamsters began as those driving teams of horses making deliveries. erica. >> all the things you learn. kerry sanders, thank you. a big point of contention in new york city. >> it is serious. we are used to it.

central park south. >> when i first moved to new york, we lived by the stables. >> nice. >> think of all the movies that have the scene in new york city on the carriage ride. kermit and miss piggy. still ahead this morning, speaking of romance. save the date. thousands of couples are rushing to the altar today for one specific reason. we will tell you why but first this is "today" on nbc.

over a million californians have a gotten something that's beend. out of reach for far too long. health insurance. how? they enrolled through covered california. it's the health insurance marketplace where you'll find a range of plans from leading health insurance companies that offer you the best combination of quality, rates and benefits. you can compare plans side by side, choose the one that best fits your needs and enroll online. coveredca.com is also the place to find certified experts in your area who can answer your questions for free, and help you enroll. and, through covered california, you may get financial help to pay for coverage. it's based on income, and 4 out of 5 people who have enrolled qualified.

if you don't have a health plan, or you do, but you want to make sure it's the best plan for you, now's the time to visit coveredca.com. but to get covered, you gotta get going. to have health insurance starting january 1st, you need to enroll by december 15th. visit coveredca.com today. traditionally this is not a big wedding month, but this saturday in december is different. couples are racing to tie the knot because this date offers something special. here is nbc's rehema ellis. >> reporter: every date is memorable to them, but ceremonies today, guests may find weddings unforget able.

getting hitched today, 12-13-14, is the last sequential date for 20 years. the next time it is 1-2-34. january 2nd, 2034. today is a must-have for this chicago couple. according to the knot.com, 21,000 couples are scheduled to say "i dos" today making it more popular this month. and couples are carrying the theme throughout the day. >> from having a 12-13-14 on the save the date through invites and program and getting married at 12:13 p.m. and having 13 tables and 14 types of favors. >> reporter: not surprising, most of the weddings today are in the southern part of the country. people want to start their lives together in the sunshine. south florida tops the list of hot spots. vegas is betting on this date

with chapels thereoveri offerin specials. for this couple, they might set their sights now on a delivery date. for "today, rehema ellis, nbc news." still to come, classic hollywood movies you want to watch before st. nick comes. and the country's biggest hits. >> lester loves it. >> not everybody feels like lester. we will tell you why after these messages. we all love it. is a really big deal.u with aches, fever and chills- there's no such thing as a little flu. so why treat it like it's a little cold? there's something that works differently than over-the-counter remedies.

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it is 6:26 on saturday morning. here's a live look over sfo, twinkling lights and a clear morning. shouldn't be any delays at least due to rain today. we have a dry saturday ahead of us. good morning, i'm kira klapper along with anthony slaughter with a look at your micro climate forecast. >> you said perfectly, there won't be delays because of rain. >> we can't promise no delays. >> there will be some fog developing across the tri-valley region. south bay clear. peninsula, no fog there. east shore looking good. we did have fog earlier. north bay and tri-valley is where the fog is centered. later this afternoon, it will be nice and winter-like really.

even the official start of winter hasn't begun. it is going to be chilly later this afternoon. we will see sunshine finally. temperatures only in the 50s. we have another storm headed our way tomorrow night. we are going to talk about that in our 7:00 newscast. not only one storm, but three more storms. >> wow. enjoy this break while it lasts. >> yes. >> thanks. that storm has passed, but damage lingers. some people have been forced out of their homes because of flooding causing a health concern. late last night redwood city officials red-tagged homes at the lamar trailer park and rc mobile park on bayshore road. firefighters have been helping residents evacuate since flood waters rose high enough to reach their living spaces on thursday. residents have been wading through potentially contaminated flood waters to get back to their homes. residents tell us both mobile

home parks had a history of drainage problems. the creek behind their neighborhood almost always floods during major storms spilling over to nearby homes and businesses. >> pg&e crews are working to get power back to all its customers hopefully by the end of day today. last night crews were working to get about 1,000 people back online. this monterey pine had to be removed from the driveway. the tree toppled over during the height of the storm thursday. in the south way, a safeway store suffered extensive damage from the storm. two 50-foot holes in the roof caused by the storm. this is on east capital expressway. it's still too dangerous for anyone who enter the storm. the partial roof collapse could turn into something bigger. it's unclear when this store will reopen. >> more weather coverage on our nebs bay area app. click on the nbc logo to get to the weather page.

you'll see the latest forecast and find live radar and alerts about flooding and outages. coming up this morning on "today in the bay," giving a thumb's down could get a thumb's up. mark zuckerberg gives a mixed message about adding a "dislike button" to your facebook page. and your top stories coming up at 7:00.

♪ greetings from baltimore. >> it's my birthday on 12-13-14. >> i'm 40 and fabulous. >> happy birthday. >> we saw lester. >> i just turned 50. >> hey, west virginia, we made it. >> i'm on tv. merry christmas to me! ♪ back now here on december 13th, 2014. it is 12-13-14. how often will that happen? great morning out here on the

plaza. a chill cannot keep people away. they are helping us kickoff our weekend. still to come. >> like the pictures we put up there. >> always fun to see those shots. still to come, the song has the music world buzzing this week. poking fun at the men behind some of country's biggest hits and their take on the ladies. >> it makes me laugh. >> you are so cute, lester. then, it is hard to narrow down which holiday films to watch. this morning, we are looking at the ones you should have on your list. speaking of traditions, michael buble is a tradition for the season. we have a look at the special. we are cooking up favorite dishes and putting a >> i love it when there's breakfast on the show. first, though, a final check of the weather from dylan. >> yes, and you know it's chilly now but we're going to see

things get up to average. that feels nice. >> we like average. >> average is good. especially when it's been so below lately. high pressure dominating weather across the eastern half of the country keeping the sunshine out, too. a little foggy. got to burn off the fog back to the great lakes in the upper midwest and plains. ment snow in the rockies, could see um to a foot of snow in the highest elevations, that storm regenerates a little. seeing it turn through more snow essentially sunday. and all rain in the plains states and eastern texas and monday that starts to spread further east, most of the snow throug good saturday morning. i'm meteorologist anthony slaughter. there is fog out there especially across the east bay. the tri-valley and north bay looking at thick fog. elsewhere you can see clouds starting to clear out. we are going to see sunshine today.

it's chilly, only in the upper 50s across the south bay. >> we have two more storms for monday and tuesday. details at 7:00. and that's your latest forecast. >> all right, dylan, thanks. a hit country song is making headlines. though not just because it's skyrocketing to the top of the music charts, but because for some it's mocking other country music hits and this morning turns out not everyone is laughing. but you might get a chuckle. here's nbc's janet shamlian. ♪ well i wish i had some shoes on my two bare feet ♪ >> reporter: the duo hit the number one spot this week on country radio's most played list. not a bad debut for two 19-year-olds. but has the music buzzing. chart-topping mocks known at broke country. songs heavy on lyrics about women and wheels.

♪ talking about girls >> reporter: you know the kind. the women aren't wearing much and saying even less. >> the song is definitely tongue and cheek but there's also a true message behind it and basically, inspiration came from maddy and i kind of being annoyed how girls are portrayed in country music. the single girl in a country song turning the tables on the guys. >> a big feminist statement, no, i think therapy two young girls with talent and can sing great and got a catchy song that is hitting a nerve, because people know it's true. ♪ but you're going get slapped >> reporter: it might be in fun, not everyone's laughing. the "chicago tribune" all i'm going to say, i don't know one girl who doesn't want to be a girl in a country song. ♪ a little respect >> reporter: also support. country artist brad paisley and dierks bentley tweeted, when

they soared to the top of the charts. >> it did cause a little stir and i think the reason why, people just completely related to it and agreed with it. >> right. >> we're just surprised nobody said it before we did. >> reporter: they may be having the last laugh, not just a girl in a country song, now a number one country song. for "today," janet shamlian, nbc news, houston. >> can i put on some real clothes now? >> i love it. so catchy. >> doesn't hurt that it's catchy. >> it doesn't hurt it's catchy. silly, i thought, to get that upset about it t. is what it is. >> it is. >> that's what the songs are about a lot of times. >> it's fun. >> they're smart, talented and saw -- >> and so lester will play it l our holiday party. stand by. >> up next, did you say? >> 'tis the season. >> 'tis the season for holiday music. the ones that should be on your list for the next couple of weeks. but first, these messages. shut the shades? robotu

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the holiday season is a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones and share memories. >> and what say better way to do that than to watch a holiday classic movie together. with so many films out there, it is hard to narrow down which ones to watch every year. we assembled a panel to break it all down. but first, here is our own joelle gargulo. >> it is, it is. i know it is. >> reporter: the holiday movie, proof that miracles do come true. especially on 34th street.

>> mr. kringle. >> reporter: when the grinch gets a heart of gold and being home alone is an adventure. sitting down to watch the movies is a holiday tradition. from black and white classics "it's a wonderful life" to perennial favorites like "frosty the snow man" to "a christmas story." >> you'll shoot your eye out, kid. ho, ho, ho. >> reporter: charlie brown christmas and scrooge and elf. holiday movies are what the season is all about. you can learn a few things along the way. never try to stick your tongue to the metal pole in the winter and lighting your home with 25,000 bulbs is not a good idea. just ask clark griswald about that one. make sure to set aside some time

for movies. every time you hear that bell ring, remember, an angel has gotten his wings. for "today," joelle gargulo, nbc news. >> we are joined by editor of fandango.com is eric dyson. >> we broke this down to classics and rom-coms. you have yours picked out. >> we have them on snow flakes. show us your favorite christmas classic. >> "christmas story." >> "christmas vacation." >> i went with "kill bill." "a christmas story." who wants to start off. >> i like "a christmas story." it is the movie equivalent of

snuggling up under the blanket. i want the big leg lamp, but my wife won't let me put it in the window. my wife won't let me have the big one yet. i have one on my desk. >> christmas? >> this is a master piece. you can never remake it. it is perfect. who does and want to watch another family have a christmas meltdown. this is like every meltdown you ever had in one film. fantastic. >> chuck. >> "a christmas story." what better line than you'll put somebody's eye out with that. every kid heard that. every kid said we can't get you that. we don't have that kind of insurance. >> on christmas eve, you have your kid in front of the tv and they will be out all day long. speaking of. family movies. we watched "polar express" at

our house. >> we have "polar express." "elf." >> this is the 1970 dickens "scrooge" featuring albert finney. >> it is so -- so many great scenes in this movie. i hate musicals. i love it. people don't know about this movie. rent it. it's awesome. >> you know what is great about "polar express" they have a real train ride to ride on the polar express. you can read the book and experience it in a number of ways with your children. >> i remember reading the book. i don't remember seeing the movie. >> i love "elf." the elves have taken over the north pole. it is not about santa. it is behind the scenes. who doesn't love a 6-foot man in

an elf costume. >> he nailed that part. >> show us your favorite romance -- rom-com. >> "four christmass" and "love actually." >> i loved "the preacher's wife." it is a sweet telling christmas story and it's very family oriented. it is very romantic and i am dead inside. >> are you getting weepy? >> i don't know what came over me. >> i'll get you tissues for christmas. >> kerry, "love actually." i haven't thought about that. >> it is all about different stages of love you are in, whether a child or your husband is cheating on you. whatever it is. it's christmas. i love hugh grant. so dreamy.

i watch it every christmas eve. >> the airport. >> yeah. >> quickly, you have "four christmas christmases." >> it is the most realistic. all this traveling around with your family and seeing the families, it brings you closer as a couple. that is what the movie is about. that is what the holidays are about. >> you made us think of a lot of films. eric, kerry, chuck, thank you. happy holidays. let's go over to diylan in the orange room. >> this is carol from ames, iowa. carol, you have been outside since 5:00 this morning. now you are in the orange room. go for it. >> still to come on "today," erica gets a behind the scenes look of michael buble's christmas special, but first this is "today" on nbc.

michael buble is part of the holiday tradition for millions of people. fourth annual christmas special airs this wednesday on nbc. an hour-long variety show. the canadian crooner put it together for months with ariana grande and barbra streisand. i recently sat down with him at radio city music hall. >> every christmas, i say i'm doing this again. i love it, but oh, my god. it is so hard. hard to get guests and get everybody together. >> how is it hard for michael buble to get christmas specials? >> the guests i'm getting are iconic. they are working. they are busy.

>> what was the reaction when you reached out to barbra streisand? >> i cannot tell you how good it was to get her. the fact we got her was great. the fact her and i had a blast doing it and were so connected and loved every minute of it is more special. the fact that you invite me into your home to spend such a special and personal tradition with you at a holiday, it means everything to me. >> do you have moments where you still pinch yourself? >> i do. i'm just a normal human being who never expected this to happen. >> you are really bringing the fans into the experience with social media. how has that changed? >> i thought people write in to facebook or twitter or instagram and request songs. >> were you surprised?

>> "grandma got run over by a reindeer." >> that is a classic. >> not for your special. >> i will play lightning round with you. favorite christmas song? >> i'll be home for christmas. >> favorite movie? >> there are so many. i love elf. >> santa's coming to town. >> santa! oh, my god! >> christmas treat? >> gingerbread cookies with the icing is soft. >> best christmas present? >> 8 years old. i open the door to my bedroom and everything was "star wars." water bed. >> only santa can make it happen. >> absolutely. >> what are you most excited about sharing with your son? >> santa claus coming to town. i cannot wait to see the wonder in my little guy's eyes. i hope one day for him when he has his own kids that he wants

to recreate what we gave him the same way i want to create my family christmas experience. ♪ christmas >> michael is tight with his family. you saw the shot of them on the stage. they are part of the special. you can catch the whole thing wednesday night at 8:00/7:00 central here on nbc. he is so talented and smart. really worked very closely on the special. he is so much fun. >> he seems like it. >> he is humble despite the success. he is able to laugh at himself. >> that is the connection he has with his family that keeps him grounded. >> i love his music. >> i love him. still to come, just in time

for hanukkah, we are cooking up holiday favorites thanks. ♪ [ male announcer ] fedex® has solutions to enable global commerce that can help your company grow steadily and quickly. great job. (mandarin) ♪ cut it out. >>see you tomorrow. ♪

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knock it out, fast. with abreva. tuesday marks the beginning of hanukkah and we are getting ready by cooking up classic dishes. we are joined by eli who is the contributor of saveur magazine. >> good morning. >> we will start with latkes today. we will see how to shred onion and potato. >> we will grate the potatoes in water so they don't oxidize. we have the potatoes grated and they are mixed with egg. put chive and garlic and flour in there. give it a good swirl and good mix. i'm not going to make you use your hands. >> that's the way you do it?

>> yeah. you would form them by hand and slide them in the oil here. >> picture me forming them. >> they are about the size of a golf ball. >> i have the latkes going here. you want to fry them until they are golden brown on one side. two minutes. flip them over. these latkes are frying. >> we are working on those. how long does it take to cook? >> five minutes. i have some done back here. i'll pull them out of the oven. >> excellent. >> these are the finished product here. >> i'll get the door. you get the latkes. >> these are the latkes. while i'm plating these here, i would love for you to make these sauces. >> which one? >> an apple sauce. it has ginger, cinnamon and brown sugar. >> the spices give it more umph. >> if you can mix that together.

i'll take these latkes and put a little bit of the toppings on. >> okay. these are nice bite size. >> if you are having a party, it is nice to serve as appetizers. >> the ones in front of us are not appetizers. >> these are double down. >> a fun sandwich. obviously super healthy. >> it has vegetables. >> hanukkah is all about oil. the miracle of the oil. everything should be deep fried. this is a non-traditional take on hanukkah. basically, it is a sandwich with horseradish and sour cream. down here we have cream cheese doughnuts. if anybody wants to take a bite of one, we can soon saupoon som. i like the most traditional hanukkah thing you could have.

>> i want a latke here. >> great to have you with us. >> thank you for having me. >> for the good morning, i'm kira klapper. up next on "today in the bay," flooded out of their home with no place to go. storm victims want some action taken to prevent flooding after years of broken promises. enjoy this calm before the next storm. anthony slaughter will let us know when the next round of rain will hit the bay area. and a tornado tears through southern california. we'll show you the unbelievable video.

it's just shy of 7:00 on this saturday morning. you're getting a live look outside in downtown san jose where it is a chilly morning. it feels like winter, even though it's not technically winter yet. good morning. thank you for joining us. i'm kira klapper. anthony slaughter has a look at your micro climate weather.

i've been a busy man this week. >> you can see it's so calm it almost looks like a post card. that is a live camera you are looking at. i want to bring your attention to the fog out there. in san francisco we have that typical fog. in the tri-valley, that fog is dense this morning. it will burn out of here and we'll see a dry and sunny weekend. temperatures will be chilly this weekend. has that deceptive sunshine. it will look nice but feel chilly. as we head towards this upcoming week, we have a rainy pattern headed our way. we are not only talking about one day of rain but possibly three to four days of rain coming our way monday through friday this upcoming week. you can see doppler radar is fired up. we don't have any rain to show you right now. that's good news. we'll continue to dry out. look at those numbers. in the 40s this morning. mid 40s for the south bay. this afternoon will stay chilly and temperatures only