good morning. it's getting ugly. overnight, north korea lashing out with a racial slur against president obama over his response to the sony hacking scandal. while issuing new threats. but could it be back firing? we will tell you how "the interview" is doing at the box office. brawl at the mall. multiple areas forced to close to fighting after nearly 1,000 teens show up at the scene. "saved by the bell" shocker. the actor best known for playing screech is arrested for stabbing a man with a switch blade on christmas night. and gift of a lifetime. we will show the reaction as the

son surprises his parents with a christmas present never imagined. today, saturday, december 27th, 2014. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," with lester holt and erica hill. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> good morning. welcome to "today" on a saturday morning. i'm lester holt. >> i'm sheinelle jones alongside betty nguyen. >> i think they rearranged the furnitu furniture. >> i promised lester i would shop in november. i should have taken your advice. >> wait until you see the one we will talk about in the orange room. this is a gift of a lifetime. >> that note that says that son gave his parents.

we don't want to say what's on it. let's start with our top story. the rhetoric from north korea this morning in response to the widespread internet outage earlier this week. it comes as tensions are running high between pyongyang and washington over the comedy film that has turned into an international incident. nbc hallie jackson has more. >> reporter: good morning, lester. north korea is blaming the united states for the suspected cyber attack earlier this week. u.s. officials denied any involvement, but this is getting nasty. now the north koreans are slamming the president with an ugly slur. the war of words overnight and taking a nasty turn with the north kore north kore north korean spokesman saying, bahamas goes all with monkey like words and gangster like.

"the interview" was released. and then another suspected hack. this one blocking gamers from logging on to the playstation network. the group taking credit appears to be separate from the cyber attack from the studio arm from sony. >> we got the interview. >> i think this is all coincidental. i would be really hard pressed to say any connection between the two is taking place. >> reporter: multiple platforms are letting people buy or let people rent "the interview" online. box office numbers are up. comedy played at 331 theaters grossed more than $1 million on opening day. >> the currency of the movie is awareness. >> reporter: it is almost unprecedented a big movie is made available online and on the

big screen at the same time since that could eat into profits at theaters, but independent cinema owners don't mind. >> given the interest in the film, i'm seeing an online mix. >> reporter: this still successful experiment born of necessity may be short lived. >> i don't know it is setting a new standard. this is a unique situation we have ever seen and unique to "the interview." >> reporter: something that is not unique to the movie, the number of illegal downloads online. something analysts say is a problem industry wide. one tracking site said the movie has been pirated more than 1.5 million times. >> hallie jackson, thank you. police officers this morning are attending the funeral of the new york city police officer shot and killed a week ago by a gunman who had hatred for

police. this comes among mounting tensions among communities and the law enforcement. we have nbc's ron mott outside with the latest. >> reporter: good morning, sheinelle. nationwide community officers will bid farewell to rafael ramos today. an emotional day ahead with vice president biden on his way to pay final respects. the funeral for slain police officer rafael ramos today is expected to attract a show of force as many as 25,000 cops from around the country and vice president biden. long lines of mourners filing in yesterday at the officer's wake. >> a little part we can do. be there for the family and department. it shows the comradery. >> he was a man of great faith and his faith formed his world view not just as a police officer, but as a husband and father. >> reporter: ramos and his partner, wenjian liu were ambushed by a lone gunman while

sitting in their patrol car. the suspect, ismaaiyl brinsley, killed himself shortly after police closed in. police involved killings of black men has tightened tensions appeared to bring issues up with the mayor after bill de blasio got to the hospital after the shooting. friday, a group of retired officers flew a banner over the city to which the mayor's office stopped, this is the time to think about the families and honor our fallen officers. meantime, police are stepping up their protection here amid dozens of threats resulted in six arrests. weapons found at the home of one suspect. emotions are raw on many fronts. >> he was loved. he was loved. just like losing your brother. >> reporter: as friends and families of officer ramos and liu prepare to say good-bye today. mayor bill de blasio is expected to speak at today's funeral.

services are still pending for offic officer liu. his family making arrangements in china. >> ron mott, thanks. president obama continues his vacation in hawaii and now some of the issues of the people who drive in his motorcade. we have nbc's kristen welker traveling with the president in honolulu. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, lester. the practice goes back three decades. secret service bringing in volunteers to drive white house staffers in the presidential motorcade. questions over if that is putting the president in jeopardy. the presidential motorcade. known for its flashy lights and high levels of speed and as the report details volunteer drivers with no special training.

while the practice dates back to the 1980s, it is coming under scrutiny after a graduate student showing her standing next to the president's limousine. she was among the volunteers on the president's trip to san francisco this past fall. natalie told the new york times she received little training from the secret service. but the agency spokesman defends the practice. saying the vehicles driven are nowhere near the president and the volunteers are briefed by the agent responsible for the motorcade prior to any movement. there is no other traffic on the road at the time the presidential motorcade is moving. still some critics worry the untrained volunteers could put everyone at risk. >> frankly, no one should be behind the wheel of a vehicle other than secret service agents or sworn law enforcement officers. >> reporter: this comes as the

secret service tries to regroup following a major embarrassment for the agency when a man made it across the north lawn and all the way inside the white house. the white house had no comment. we tried to reach ms. tyson for comment, but were unsuccessful. the white house hired a company of professional drivers they used in the past to shuttle the motor cade in hawaii. >> kristen, have you ever witnessed issues with the drivers? >> reporter: i have been in a handful and have never been unsafe. if you pool the press corps, may get different answers. secret service officials say in an emergency, they are absolutely prepared. law enforcement officials note there have been motorcade accidents in recent history, few, if any, can be blamed on the volunteer drivers. >> kristen welker with the president this morning.

thank you. friday marked the ten-year anniversary of the worst modern disaster in times. the tsunami led to a decade of rebuilding and recovery. nbc's katy tur is in one of the hardest hit areas. >> reporter: good morning, sheinelle. it has been ten years since the indian ocean tsunami, the memory is still fresh. it was a day in many in this part of the world would like to forget. on friday, the horror of december 26th, 2004 was remembered. in ceremonies across the region, prayers were offered. lanterns released and loved ones missed. the indian ocean tsunami hit 14 countries leveling entire towns and villages. and killing more than 230,000.

most on the northern tip of indonesia in a town called banda aca. shore, he lost his home, his wife, son and daughter. he still rebuilds. >> translator: there is danger wherever you go. you should be the place that you love. >> reporter: in jakarta, the tsunami warning and they hope next time will be different. >> we hope to have the system like this and it will be half of the citizens. >> reporter: petra was vacationing in thailand with her boyfriend when the tsunami hit. she was badly hurt, but survived. her boyfriend did not. >> his quote was a day without

laughter is a day wasted. the best way to make him happy is to be happy myself. >> reporter: from indonesia, sri lanka, india and thailand, towns have been rebuilt and scars are healing, but no one will ever forget. although banda achea was hardest hit, the towns are back up and the economy is working again and the people say that yes, now, they have hope. back to you. >> katy, thanks. not a lot of cheer the day after christmas. >> betty is here with that. >> the day after christmas was violent across the country at malls. this was the wild scene at monroeville mall near pittsburgh when fights started to break out. damage was limited, but no one arrested. fights at malls in sacramento,

memphis, independence, missouri and a shot fired in ottawa, canada. a tweeted bomb threat was enough to cause a jetblue plane held on the ground and searched overnight. the flight from seattle landed as scheduled in long beach, california, but met by police with bomb-sniffing dogs. a message on the twitter feed claimed there was a bomb on the flight and detonated soon. all passengers had to get off while the plane and luggage was cleared. authorities say the whole thing was a hoax. despite a desperate search, tragedy. the body of a 4-year-old boy found in a pond not far from his grandmother's house. jayden morrison was found in a pond on friday morning. george h.w. bush is said to be in high spirits and making

progress, but still in the hospital. nbc's jacob rascon is live with the latest on mr. bush's condition. how is he doing? >> reporter: good morning, betty. we are told he is doing well. not well enough to leave the hospital. he is going on the fifth day at houston methodist after he was rushed here by ambulance on tuesday after he had trouble breathing. he is the oldest living former president. he suffers from a form of parkinson's disease that makes it difficult for him to speak or walk. in recent months, he has been active and sky diving on his 90th birthday and several other public appearances as well. we are told he spent christmas day with family at the hospital. he did the same thing two christmases ago when we were told the condition was more serious. the person we spoke with says he is in good spirits, but not well enough to leave the hospital. betty. >> thank you, jacob. so far, so good for a lab

technician possibly exposed to ebola. the cdc says he is doing well and will be monitored for 21 days. he is troubled by the latest incident. the cdc does insist the risk is low. if you are wondering what to do with all of the cardboard boxes piled up around the place since christmas morning, how about decorating the house with them. we are not joking. a woman in washington state made a car board chair strong enough to hold herself and daughter. she also made a lamp, table and not to mention earrings and picture frames. you can now think of all those boxes as home decor. >> i like it. >> exactly. >> she did that all since christmas? yeah, probably. >> i will send you a bunch of cardboard boxes. >> shabby chic.

>> mike bettes is filling in for dylan. >> we have a bit of rain and snow out there. if you look back behind the cold front, you will notice snow there. that includes around oklahoma city and wichita falls. heavy rain on the front side as it pushes east. the mild air across the east. with the heavy rain comes the risk of flooding. that will include louisiana and through mississippi as well as alabama with heavy rain in alabama and including mobile and montgomery and birmingham later on today. let's put it all in motion. the snow ends quickly, but a lot of rain with a good surge from the gulf of mexico. that means for many of us, including later today and tonight, it could include showers for you in a place like new york. a lot going on. heavy rain as much as 2 to 3 inches in spots. maybe as much as 5 in isolated flooding could be an

good morning. 5:16 this morning. waking up to widespread frost. many locations near freezing. that's where we have the most widespread frost. campbell at 32. los gatos 34. alamo clocking in cold once more near freezing. could be black ice out there a little frost, as well. send your pictures into us. later this afternoon temperature only in the 50s. get ready. big cooldown coming up. >> say it ain't so. >> wrong answer. mike, thanks. millions of americans will be on the lookout for deep discounts and post holiday shopping. this weekend is crunch time for retailers. another crunch time. this year, one of them is trying something different. nbc's gabe gutierrez joins us from outside one of the busy

malls outside atlanta. >> reporter: lester, good morning. in a few hours, this parking lot will be packed. shoppers looking for deals and hopefully easy returns. it is estimated 4 in 10 americans will return something during the holidays. this morning, the post holiday rush is in full swing. >> trying to get a few bargains. >> reporter: a crucial weekend for retailers. >> shopping for clothes because we got gift cards for christmas. >> reporter: hoping to make up for disappointing sales on black friday and super saturday. >> i'm not returning anything. i'm wearing and i'm buying. >> reporter: one early tally from mastercard estimates holiday sales increase 5.5% this year. that is higher than 4.1% the retail federation predicted. final numbers aren't in. >> people should look for accessories and gold and silver jewelry. >> reporter: new this year, the world's largest retailer walmart is testing a gift card swap.

yes, on its web site, you can exchange gift cards for 200 stores for a walmart card. a $100 gift card from target gets you $97 from walmart. >> it is something unique and could be a driver of walmart sales. it drives traffic to walmart. it helps boost sales in a low month typically. in the month of january, up to 70% of gift cards are redeemed. >> reporter: in lenox square mall, reginald got here early. >> 60% off is 60% off. >> reporter: robin fox wasn't impressed. >> i have not seen a lot of great deals. >> reporter: on friday, many national retailers open as early as 6:00 a.m. today, here, some stores are waiting until 9:00. others until 10:00. apparently some people get to sleep in this morning.

not me. sleep is overrated, right lester? >> that's my slogan. gabe gutierrez, thanks. if you are going to the store to return gifts that may have missed the mark, we will have tips on how to do it the right way later this morning. you taking anything back? anything you would admit on tv? >> i waited one year to do the crazy holiday shopping. people were tearing down christmas trees trying to get the 70% off deals. it was a mad house. >> the point the other day, i opened my wallet and receipts fall out. it is a little jankie. i made that word up. i have receipts. >> good luck if you are out there. >> coming up what to do. and he is in the running for son of the year. the incredible christmas gift that one young man gave his parents and they won't be giving this one back. we will tell you more about it but first this is "today" on nbc.

you may think you got one of the best christmas gifts ever, but after seeing the next video, you may change your mind. >> a developer gave his parents a gift of a lifetime. he caught their reaction on camera. it is no surprise it has gone viral. betty has more in the orange room. >> if this story doesn't warm your heart, i don't know what will. this is known as joey trumbone. he is a founder of a video shop. now he is in running for son of the year. why? he gave his parents the christmas surprise of a lifetime. inside an envelope, this is what he wrote, raising his check. college loan, check. mortgage check. what? he says your house is paid off. merry christmas, joe. can you imagine? watch his parents priceless

reaction. >> i love you. thank you. >> i don't have kids yet, but don't we all want a son like this? this is the video we love. joey up loaded this on christmas day. it has been viewed by more than 1.5 million viewers. lester, sheinelle, i don't know what you got your parents for the holidays, but this gift makes mine seem pretty lame. >> i got my mom a scarf. >> a pendant. >> can't pay off the house yet. coming up, he is known as

screech played on "saved by the bell," but this actor is in real trouble. and how

good morning. it is 5:26. it is a very cold morning out there i'm kira klapper. thank you for joining us along with anthony slaughter with a look at your microclimate forecast. >> we have a 5-year-old and told her santa came to town and brought the cold air. >> if only he brought snow, too. that would be really cold. >> let's look how cold it is up there. 9 degrees. you are going to be freezing your butt off. 36 degrees. even in san jose this morning. campbell has attempt of 32. stanford 32.

alamo at 31. some of the temperatures you don't see on the map reflect temperatures below freezing. as you get outside this morning, yes, it is cold. you'll need to bundle up. we are talking about frigid polar air. temperatures this afternoon only going to top out late 50s. we'll see sunshine all day long. new year's eve looks even colder. >> we'll talk about that at 7:00. >> anthony, thanks. christmas day turned frightening where a sick coyote attacked a man and young boy. fremont police received several calls about a coyote biting people at these three locations near mission san jose thursday night. the first victim, a 5-year-old boy walking with his dad when a coyote bit his leg. soon after, a man walking walking also was bitten in the leg. the coyote chased that man's children. an hour later another man told

police he fought off the coyote by kicking it. none of the victims were seriously hurt. neighbors say they remain on alert. police found the coyote about 1 1/2 hours later and shot and killed it to prevent it from attacking again. the body is being tested for rabies and other diseases. you may remember a close call with a coyote a few months ago in san francisco. a man posted this video on youtube in august. he says he spotted the animal at land's end near the cliff house. the coyote was moving towards his 7-year-old daughter who was able to get away while riding her scooter. >> judge in hillsborough this morning, a mountain lion warning has neighbors on alert. the cat attacked a deer near brentwood road. a homeowner says he heard rustling in one of his trees and hurt the cat pounce on the deer in his yard. >> neighbors across the street heard the screech, as well. what worries me is there's a lot of people walking in the dark

right underneath the tree that hangs out over the streets. >> he is warning his neighbors to be especially cautious and remain vigilant because the attack happened near two schools. coming up this morning on "today in the bay," it's the end of an era for a south bay staple this weekend. a restaurant is closing its doors because of the tech boom. that and all your top stories at 7:00. back to the "today" show.

you've >> you've helped me. you made me realize there are a million fish in the sea. i'm just a worm to attract them. >> we're back on this saturday morning, december 27th, 2014. what was the character screech from the hit '90s sitcom "saved by the bell," but now the actor known for that role is in trouble after being arrested and accused of stabbing someone. we will have more later on. taking a look outside now on our studio, we have a great crowd on rockefeller plaza. spending the last saturday of 2014 with us.

that sounds so final. happy to have them with us. coming up, parents are always telling children to keep away from strangers, but what about older kids? jeff rossen has a shocking report on the dangers they face. and a few days left in 2014, but before the ball drops, we have five smart money moves you should make. it was the question on royal watchers mind this christmas. where was little prince george ? >> we will have the answer later on. and the latest twist in the life of dustin diamond. he is best known as screech in the classic sitcom "saved by the bell." he has now been charged in connection with a christmas night stabbing at a wisconsin bar. we have the report from nbc's john yang. >> reporter: for dustin diamond, screech from "saved by the bell" it's a lot more serious than being called into the principal's office. appearing in court by video conference to answer a felony charge of recklessly endangering safety. >> there was a plea of claim of self-defense and defense of other people. my understanding is his fiancee was injured. >> reporter: the charge stems from a christmas night incident

at the grand avenue saloon in port washington, wisconsin where diamond lives. the incident was first reported by tmz which posted this video of diamond in the bar. according to the criminal complaint, diamond and his fiancee had an altercation with another couple resulting in a half inch wound under the arm pitt of the victim who did not require hospital treatment. authorities found a stiletto folding knife in diamond's car. diamond was the nerdy screech on "saved by the bell" which was the 1980s and '90s sitcom and its spinoffs. while those shows launched the careers of mark paul gosselear and mario lopez, diamond's career took a different trajectory. >> i'm back. i'm dressed to kill. >> reporter: he appeared on "celebrity fit club" and "celebrity boxing" and released a fake sex tape and wrote a

sensational behind the scenes account of "saved by the bell" slammed by his co-stars. earlier this year, a lifetime cable movie sparked a resurgence for the series. if convicted, diamond's next role could be prison inmate for as long as ten years. for "today" john yang, nbc, chicago. we want to turn to the weather channel's mike bettis out on the plaza with another check of the weather. mike? >> we have a rambunctious crowd here. everybody is in a crazy, holiday spirit. it will be okay. >> i have a teenager. >> that will make you crazy. good to see you this morning. how is everybody doing? >> yes. >> where are you from? >> northern virginia. >> anyone you want to say hi to? >> hi to my grandmother and grandmother. >> let's update you on the forecast. let's look at the northwest. you'll see that we have showers rolling into the pacific northwest, seattle, this means you have rain coming in your

forecast. that big old low pressure works its way into interior west. we have a lot of snow coming our way. salt lake city, get ready to wax the skis and head to park city. beautiful snow for you here. you will enjoy the snow in colorado rockies. aspen, vale, steam boat, those are the places to be over the next couple of days. that means the weekend is fantastic for you. in the east, very mild conditions. 50s in much of the northeast. lots of sunshine across the south. severe weather across the gulf coast. that could mean coastal texas as well as coastal louisiana. that is the look at the weather good morning. 5:34 the time. waking up to temperatures below freezing. temperatures on the map, most reflect those airport temperatures or the airport national weather service temperatures. we have others below freezing. santa rosa, napa, as well. palo alto and down toward morgan hill at 29 degrees. it is very cold everywhere you go outside.

later this afternoon, temperatures are going to warm into the 50s. lots of sunshine expected all day long. and we have a special birthday this morning. you're how old? >> 17. >> it's sweet 16, but sweeter 17. happy birthday. back to you inside. >> smooth talker, mike. thanks. just ahead, every parent told their children to stay away from strangers, but what about college kids? jeff rossen has a shocking new report that you don't want to miss. and christmas may be over, but folks are still flocking to the malls for a time-honored tradition. time to return the unwanted gifts. we have the tips you need before you head out. but first, these messages. you can decorate with them, bake with them, even make holiday drinks, like our cranberry punch we call the "festive sparkler." mmm, festive! for all these reasons, we declare the ocean spray cranberry... the unofficial official fruit of the holidays! we'll probably get flak from the dates and figs... but no one can tell them apart, anyway.

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this morning on "rossen reports" could your children fall prey to a possible predator. a parents greatest fear, but they assume this is a worry for young children, but nbc's correspondent jeff rossen is here to say that is not always the case. hey, jeff. >> good morning. it is a great reminder over the holidays when school is out. i have three kids at home and i tell them over and over keep away from strangers. never get into a stranger's car. by the time they are in college, we assume they get it. believe it or not, it is teenagers, not little kids, that are abducted by strangers. some of the teens are in college. what would happened if college kids approached by a stranger in

a van. this morning, we're on campus under cover. >> reporter: you want to sit in my van? this student made a potentially dangerous decision. so did this one. lured by a complete stranger. willingly climbing into this van. even handing over their lifelines. >> yeah. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: what they don't know, it's really me undercover. >> here is my crew and producer. >> wow! >> reporter: last year alone, 72 young adults, 18 to 25, were reported abducted by strangers. john walsh says they are easy targets. >> i think every college kid thinks their bulletproof and immortal. >> that is something every kid can use. >> absolutely. >> reporter: think your teenager could not be lured in. we set up a test on hofstra university. i'm posing as a reality show

casting director. easy ploy for a predator. >> we are casting a show for college students. >> reporter: i have a home video camera to film the auditions. right away the student walks up. >> i'm anthony. i go to hofstra. >> reporter: i get him to walk back to my van to fill out paper work. will he actually get in? >> i'm not getting in that car. >> you don't want to get in the car? okay. it will take two minutes. >> i'm sorry. >> reporter: this girl won't either. >> i don't feel comfortable. my mother taught me well. >> reporter: watch this next student. >> i'm nicole. >> can you fill out this form? it's right there. it's warm in there. >> okay. >> reporter: remember, i could be an attacker. she just met me. she's in my van without a care in the world. i think it is really cool. i see stars like kim kardashian. >> reporter: nicole fills out all of the information.

name, address, phone number. then i ask for something else. can i grab your phone real quick? >> yeah. >> reporter: now she would be trapped with no way to call for help. >> once a kidnapper has you in the van, what can happen? >> beat you, rape you, kill you, drop your body off. you are in his layer. >> reporter: it is just us, lucky for nicole. we are actually from nbc news. i'm jeff. nice to meet you. i was able to get in the van. you did not ask me for i.d. you handed your cell phone. >> crazy. >> reporter: she is not alone. >> i like to get out there and have fun. >> reporter: this student gets in and forks over his phone. i'll give it right back. >> promise? >> yes. >> reporter: all for the chance to be famous. >> we're roommates. >> reporter: these two girls don't flinch walking back to the van. they joke about being kidnapped. >> you can go to the far seat.

>> you don't drive off. i'll be upset. >> i'll cut you if you drove off. no offense. >> reporter: but they get in anyway. one giving me her social security number. >> you got sophisticated young people to do everything we tell them not to do. trust your gut. if it doesn't seem right, don't do it. >> reporter: in the end of the eight students i asked to get inside my van, half did. learning a valuable lesson. >> i would rather learn the hard way through this than the hard way through the real hard way. >> this will teach me a lot about security and be more aware. >> this is such a concern. many colleges now requiring safety training for students. experts say that is not enough. parents need to talk to their kids about stranger danger. not only when they are 5 or 6 or 7, but also at 13, 16 and 20. we saw today they need the reminder. we shredded all of their information. >> jeff rossen, thanks.

that is a report that will stick with us. >> i cringed. >> there is a difference between book smarts and street smarts. that is frightening. >> you say reality show and you are in college. for some students, that is candy to a dream. >> hopefully lessons learned here. up next, the five financial moves you should make before you ring in the new year, but first these messages ♪because i love you

♪[music continues] ♪ [announcer] this is my business. i started it. i believe in it. i know and grow it.

i live it and breathe it. i put my heart and soul... ...blood,sweat and tears into it. i run on quickbooks. that's how i own it.

new year's is just around the corner, before you start celebrating, jean chatsky says there are five moves to make before the ball drops. nice to see you. >> nice to see you. >> you need to write this down. this is a check list. >> absolutely. these have to be done quickly. >> you talk about maxing out contributions. >> retirement plan contributions like 401(k) and 529 plan contributions in some states. you have until the end of the year to get that max deduction in there. if you want to put more money in the 401(k) right now and if you are under 50, it is $17,500 for

the year. 50 and over, $23,000 is the max. call the benefits department and ask what do you have to do to get the check to the right place in time. >> and charitable contributions. if you have a favorite charity, they would love your check. >> absolutely. if you itemize, it can help you lower your tax bill. you can give away stuff. that counts as well. it has to be done before the end of the year. keep a paper trail. you want receipts from the organization that document what you gave and how much. >> let's talk about losing investments. if you had investments that did not do well in 2014. how would you write those off? >> if you sold investments that did well and looking at this year, chances are you have gains in your portfolio. selling some losers can offset those gains. plus, $3,000 in ordinary income.

it has to be done before the end of the year. the deal on this is you can't buy back those same investments inside of 31 days. you can buy similar ones. if we are talking about mutual funds, a lot of similar funds. you can replace that position in your portfolio. >> dump the losers. we're not talking about relationships here. financial. we can talk about that in another segment. make an early mortgage payment. if you write january's check now, what does that do for you? >> mortgage interest is deductible. if you accelerate that into 2014, that can help you on your overall tax bill. particularly if you're in the early years of the mortgage. because as we all know, interest tends to get front loaded. you are making more payments regarding interest over principal. think about that. a couple of days can make a difference. >> lastly, flexible spending

accounts. these are usually use it or lose it. >> that is sort of changing. there is a new change in the law that allows people to carryover $500 in flexible spending money until the next year. many companies did not pick that up. last year, it won't kick in until 2015. this is one that you check with the benefits department and see what the rules are for your plan. if you are at the end of the use it or lose it, i saw fsastore.com which will give you a list of the things you can buy that are flexible spending account acceptable. see how much you got. spend the money. >> jean, happy new year. we're back in a moment, but first this is "today" on nbc.

still to come on "today," if you are not in love with all of the holiday presents, you are not alone. what you need to know before you return. from the scandals to triumphs. what had you talking in 2014, but first these messages. ♪ you don't need to think about the energy that makes our lives possible. because we do. we're exxonmobil and powering the world responsibly is our job. because boiling an egg... isn't as simple as just boiling an egg. life takes energy. energy lives here. ♪ but the fire is so delightful ♪

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good morning. it's 5:56 on this saturday. you are getting a live look in san jose where temperatures are in the upper 30s, if you can believe it. good morning. i'm kira klapper along with anthony slaughter with a look at your microclimate forecast. it's near freezing. >> it's freezing in some places and below. overall, it's cold. >> it's very cold. we can all agree on that. >> 36 is our official reading at the airport in san jose. in campbell they are 32. even sunnyvale is low 30s. santa rosa at 33. here are our coldest. these cities you need extreme

caution because widespread frost is possible and black ice. dublin and menlo park all below freezing. sunshine, but temperatures mid to upper 50s's cross the bay. it will get colder for new year's. we'll talk about that at 7:00. >> stay tuned. thanks. peninsula law maker wants to crack down on repeat drunk drivers. jerry hillard is proposing legislation of all californians convicted of a dui to install an ignition lock that detects blood alcohol level. it is already in use in four california counties. the drivers would have to use the device for six months on a first offense and for a year on a second conviction. hill says repeat offenders make up 1/3 of all dui cases. he unveiled more details on his measure monday in redwood city. people wasted no time

packing malls to spend the gift cards they may have received over christmas. the day after christmas is widely considered the second busiest day of the shopping year from shopper track. about $54 billion are given in gift cards encouraging people who have been buying last-minute gifts to head back and shop for themselves. >> that's what i came here for. >> i just used $800 worth of gift cards. so yes, they are all used up. >> you might as well cash them in. cb tower group says about $1 billion in gift cards were left unused this year. santa's helpers seem to be getting their act together when it comes to on time delivery of packages. an early survey shows only 7% of items ordered for delivery before christmas didn't make it on time. that's down from 12% last year.

2 million express packages were undelivered on christmas eve in 2013. that spurred major investments by shipping companies to make improvements to get it right this year. coming up this morning on "today in the bay," it's the end of an era for a south bay staple. this weekend an restaurant that thrived with the help of the tech boom is closing its doors because of it. >> plus all your top stories at 7:00.

good morning. it's saturday, december 27th, 2014. here's a look at the top stories. war of words. new threats and insults from north korea in the wake of the sony hacking scan deal. we will look at what is behind the tough talk and another possible attack of sony targeting video games. brawl at the mall. multiple fights force the closure of the pittsburgh area shopping mall. some taken to the hospital after thousands of teens show up on the scene. and changing of the guard. prince william and duchess kate break with holiday tradition. what had royal watchers scratching their heads and where was little prince george?

coming up on this final saturday morning of 2014, i'm lester holt. >> i'm sheinelle jones. we have betty nguyen filling in along with mike bettes. >> the weather is not bad. not bad at all. still to come, if you did not like all of your presents under the tree, we have the tips for returning the gifts. and the controversy and news that had everyone talking this year. before we get to that 300

theaters. betty. >> thank you, hallie. and another american film is

being banned overseas now. both egypt and morocco refuse to show the pib lickal epic exodus gods and king. 21st century fox did not say why their film is being shut out. but they have other movies depicting biblical figures. thousands of police officers are expected to attend the funeral of a fallen comrade in new york city this morning. vice president joe biden at the service for rafael ramos. ron mott is live in queens. >> reporter: good morning to you. very somber day ahead here in queens as thousands of officers and the community at large here expected to pay their final respects to officer rafael ramos. as you mentioned, the vice president is on his way. yesterday there were thousands who filed into christ tabernacle here for a wake. the mayor was here as well as police commissioner bill bratton. a lot of this is taking place amid tensions between the

mayored on some members of the police department. the mayor has declared that now is not the time for politics. it is time to comfort the families who are grieve. in the meantime, police are investigating the number of threats that they had received since this shooting last saturday. at least 40 of these threats the, 6 arrests have been made in that time. we are stale waiting to get funeral details for the second officer who was slain, wenjian l liu. jetblue, the airline based in new york, said they would help get that family here. >> that's a kind gesture. now to houston, former president george h.b. bush is going to spend another day in the hospital. the 90-year-old suffers from a form of parkinson's disease and was admitted tuesday with shortness of breath. he spent christmas in the hospital surrounded by family. he's said to be in high spirits and making progress. we do wish him well. updating a truly joyous story this morning, a mom, a subway train, two transit

officers and a christmas baby. the happy group took this picture from a hospital bed. but christmas day, it was a whole different scene. the mom-to-be went into labor right on a subway train. the officers jumped in to help coach mom through the delivery, unwrap the umbilical cord from around the newborn's neck and deliver a christmas miracle into the arms of his mother. no word yet on what they're calling the baby. some saying maybe baby jesus. >> cepes septa is the name of t transit system there. >> another check of our weather. >> have you enjoyed the mild weather that you've had lately. the east has been fantastic. don't get used to it. we've got cold air that's coming from canada. one of those new year's that we rain in, very chilly. but things will be changing for us in the not too distant future. all that cold air goes south,

we're talking oklahoma city in dallas. we look for chilly air as we start to ring in the new year. look at some of these temperatures. 8 in minneapolis, 3 in denver. new york has been so mild but your temperatures just go back to average by the time tuesday rolls around. temperatures right around 36 degrees. sunny but cool across the heartland here. showers that extend into the ohio valley. still mild conditions from new york all the way down to beautiful south good morning. 6:06 the time. waking up to chilly air this morning. 30 in gilroy. dublin 31. menlo park 31. you will wake up to frost and even black ice on the road. take it easy if you're traveling before 9:00 this morning. otherwise temperatures will warm back into the 50s this afternoon. we are expecting to see fog-free conditions this morning. sunshine all day long into the

evening hours. it's going to get colder heading to new year's eve. > and that is a look at your weather. and now here's sheinelle. >> get ready for a lot of company. people are returning those gifts that just weren't what they were looking for. i recently sat down with the author of "black market billions" and i started by asking her if your gift was purchased online, can you still return it to an old-fashioned store at the mall? >> absolutely. if you have gifts that you need to return, you absolutely can do that. but what you have to remember is that you bought these items online. so paypal came out with a study that said about 30% of people that are out there shopping are doing their shopping on mobile devices, ipads, laptop computers. so the reason why is online stores are offering these very liberal return policies. people go out, buy online and they come back and go either return online nor the stores.

>> what's the best advice in that case if you are going? >> if you want to go back, make sure -- i always tell this to everyone. make sure you have a smile on your face. no one wants to go to a store and deal with somebody that's angry or annoyed. >> that makes a big difference. if people are cranky. >> absolutely. >> people underestimate the power of that person behind the counter. >> you also want to make sure you have your receipt and you have an i.d. because if you don't have the receipt, you probably won't get the full refund. but i have to emphasize, even if you don't have your receipt, if you're smiling, if you're nice, you may be able to get something back. >> should you wait? is it best to get it done immediately? >> i say get it done immediately. if you are returning technology items, in some cases you only have about 15 days. if you're returning apparel, you have two months. if you're returning housewares stuff for your home, you have about a month, but why wait?

procrastination, then all of a sudden you're running at the last minute. sometimes you'll forget. also, you want to make sure you're checking your receipt. during the holiday, sometimes they're a little bit more lax with their dates. they may let you return things a little bit later, but make sure you're checking those receipts. >> bottom line, i have to tell you, i'm surprised at how many people go out the next day ready to return things. >> to be honest, they don't want to go out and procrastinate. you can get a lot more discount if you go out in the next couple days. >> so now is the time. >> i think so. >> that was author of "black market billions." still to come before we ring in the new year, look back on the new stories that had you talking in 2014.

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we're just days away from ringing in a new year and of course, we can barely imagine what headlines 2015 will bring, but before this year is out, let's look back on the people

and events that made news in 2014. >> the new year arrived with a bang. the ball in times square dropping. >> three, two, one! >> a new era launches. president obama's signature health care law finally taking effect on january 1st after a disastrous rollout. another first, colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. washington state followed suit in july. there were stunning apologapolo. governor christie caught in the jam over the george washington bridge jam. >> i'm embarrassed. >> he was exonerated however. the head of general motors promised to do better after the recalls of 30 million vehicles for faulty ignition switches. >> we will make changes and hold people accountable. >> the director of secret

service julia pearson stepped down after a man made it into the executive mansion. and oscar pistorius on trial for shooting his girlfriend, reeva steenkamp to death. it was a year that saw new fears and challenges on the international stage. ebola claimed more than 6,000 lives. >> bring back our girls. >> the world outraged in april when insurgents kidnapped 200 school girls and isis militants beheading westerners and compelling the united states and allies to start a new military campaign in the middle east. the biggest mystery of the year? what happened to malaysia airlines flight 370 which disappeared over southeast asia in march. >> it could be sitting in very deep water.

>> four months later, the airline lost another plane when what are believed to be a russian separatist brought down a plane over ukraine. back at home, one town in washington state virtually wiped off the map by a mudslide. and scandals with the biggest names. comic bill cosby came under fire with more than 20 women accused him of sexually assaulting him. actor stephen collins admitted he molested girls decades ago. >> i'm absolutely not attracted to children. >> while los angeles clippers owner donald sterling forced to sell the team after comments made on tape. >> you are associated with black people. >> good morning, vietnam!

>> as america mourned the loss of robin williams who took his own life. while the racial divide in the country grew after grand juries failed to indict in the case of two unarmed african-american men killed with confrontations with white police officers. activists taking to the streets. and in washington, a republican rout in the mid terms. >> obviously, republicans had a good night. >> the gop poised to takeover congress in the new year and bombshell move to close out the year. president obama acting solo to normalize relations with cuba. >> you had done the same thing for 50 years, and nothing changed. >> time is running out for the president as the next race for the white house gets ready to begin for real in the new year. for "today," kristen welker, nbc news. >> we finish the year on the sony hacking scandal which is a

huge story in and of itself. >> i was thinking, here's to 2015. >> right. >> and george clooney got married this year. >> that was good news. >> and it is interesting. i look at the headlines and as we covered those things. it has been such a year. i forgot about donald sterling. >> we move from one thing to the next. we have to look at the calendar. >> and now selfie at the oscars and now selfie is the word of the year. >> was that ellen? >> it was. >> i don't remember. >> so there you go. good luck for 2015. and there's more. tomorrow, we take a look at the year in entertainment, the year in sports and all the fun we had in 2014. still ahead, a royal no show. where was little prince george this christmas? we will tell you. and a look back at the tweetable moments and famous faces of 2014, but first this is

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we'll be talking movies coming up with the holiday releases. >> i am looking forward to seeing "unbroken." >> did you see it? >> i saw a preview of it. it makes you think if i had a bad day, it is nothing compared. >> what about you? >> i saw "the interview" online. i felt compelled. >> i want to see that. >> a lot of attention. >> i want to see "fox catcher." you cannot recognize steve carell. >> and "bird man" is getting

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it is 6:26 on this saturday. we are getting a live look over beautiful san francisco this morning. trans america pyramid twinkling christmas lights and near freezing temperatures. good morning to you. i'm kira klapper. anthony slaughter has a look at your microclimate forecast. >> freezing temperatures in the bay area. we don't often have freezing temperatures. we do this morning. >> right. my car definitely did not know what to do. the defroster was not quite working. it had trouble. >> that is funny. this morning you see some of our coldest readings from the south bay. 30 is one of our coldest.

campbell at 34. walnut creek 31. dublin up to 33 now. you were at 31 a few minutes ago. it is cold everywhere you go this morning whether freezing or not freezing. it's chilly out there. later on, temperatures back into the 50s. we'll break the freezing mark but will be cold with that north wind in place. it's going to get colder next week, believe it or not. i'll be back at 7:00 to talk about that. >> stay tuned. thanks. >> christmas day turned frightening in one south bay neighborhood where a potentially sick coyote attacked a man and young boy. fremont police received several calls about a coyote biting people at these three locations. the first victim was a 5-year-old boy who was walking with his dad when the coyote bit his leg. soon after a man walking on star street also was bit in the leg.

the coyote chased that man's children. they were able to get away. an hour later, another man told police he fought off the coyote by kicking it. none of the victims were seriously hurt. neighbors say they remain on alert. police found the coyote about 1 1/2 hours later. they shot and killed it to prevent it from attacking again. the body is being tested for rabies and other diseases. >> you may remember a close call with a coyote a few months ago in san francisco. a man posted this video to youtube. he spotted the animal at land's end. the coyote was moving towards his 7-year-old daughter. she was able to get away while riding her scooter. >> in hillsborough this morning, a mountain lion warning has neighbors on alert. police say the cat attacked a deer near brentwood road. a homeowner says he heard rustling in one of his trees and heard the cat pounce on a deer in his yard. >> neighbors heard the screech

as well as a scream. what worries me is there is a lot of people that walk in the dark right underneath the tree that hangs out over the street. >> he is warning his neighbors to be cautious and remain vigilant. the attack happened near two schools. >> coming up this morning on "today in the bay" it's the end of an era for a restaurant that once thrived with the help of the tech boom is closing its doors because of it. that plus all your top stories coming up at 7:00.

♪ i want the world to know ♪ got to let it show >> all she got for christmas was three days in the hospital. but now we're here. >> hello from michigan. >> happy holidays from austin. >> today's my 13th birthday. >> we are. >> penn state. >> we are back on a saturday morning, december 27th, 2014. nice crowd on the plaza spending their weekend with us. thanks to them for coming out and thanks to you at home for inviting us into your homes.

still to come -- >> it is not too windy. not too bad. a lot of excitement here this morning. >> this is december? mike says it will be warm the rest of the winter. >> we will hold him to that. >> that's right. i'm paraphrasing. still to come in "today," a big weekend for the box office. what are the must-see movies? then the dance moves made him a star attraction at nets games. when you learn what got him there, you will be amazed. we are looking at the tweetable moments, the famous faces and trends of 2014. including one that has us wondering how did he do it. before we get to all that, let's get a final check of the weather, the accurate check with mike. as opposed to my forecast. >> let's talk to folks. we would be amiss if we didn't. tell us your name. >> alvernia.

>> you are from new jersey. >> it is your 50th birthday. that is a big one. she shares a birthday with a "today" show anchor. >> and beautiful savannah guthrie. >> she is going to the top of the rock to check out the view. a beautiful day in new york city with blue skies. let's show you. all the rain is really in the middle of the country. severe weather could be possible, including new orleans. mild conditions across much of the east. windy and still very comfortable in the west. we are looking for high pressure to dominant the four corners. take a look at the forecast for tomorrow. windy across the northwest with the storm system rolling in there. showers across the gulf coast. spreading through the mid-atlantic. that could impact philadelphia, washington, d.c. and baltimore and atlanta, georgia. that is a look at

and we're all about making wishes come true on the "today" show. the wish of rockefeller tree and be on the "today" show. check, lester. we did it. >> two of three. mike, thanks very much. prince william and duchess kate have been known to break with tradition. one of the questions on everyone's mind is where was little prince george? nbc's kelly cobiella is live at buckingham palace with the story. >> reporter: good morning, lester. playing with christmas toys is most likely the answer.

the royal tradition has been the same for decades, but this year, the queen made a few changes for will and kate to do things their way. ♪ >> reporter: it's a christmas tradition. crowds lining the route to the church hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal family. prince harry and william, but the little prince was a no show. duchess kate six months pregnant with her second child, apologized for not bringing prince george. they released pictures, but told the well wisher you would have heard him in the church so he stayed home with the nanny. kate's parents michael middleton and pippa all invited by the queen for the first time. james took william's place in the christmas eve soccer match. another first, no turkey dinner

at sandringham for will and kate. it was at the mansion a couple of miles down the road. a gift from the queen. will and kate played host to kate's family this year. some traditions didn't change. the queen gave her annual speech. the theme? reconciliation. >> peace and goodwill have lasting power in the hearts of men and women. >> reporter: and just like every year, presents were handed out christmas eve. according to the queen's rule. no one spends more than $30. >> maybe a pen or maybe a scarf. they don't tend to be very expensive plush gifts. >> reporter: for prince george, a wooden train set from santa. for will and kate, the first christmas with all the family. there were practical considerations. the queen's family is so big they don't fit in the queen's country home anymore. last year, lester, some of the royal family had to stay in the

servants quarters. >> wow. kelly cobiella, thanks very much. it is one of the biggest weekends of the year for movies. what should you see and what should you skip? we will let you know, but first these messages. understand? of course not. and that's the point. making credit confusing has made me boatloads. ahoy, money! but credit karma is ruining my dealio. they've given over 30 million people their credit scores. ...for free. so don't go to creditkarma.com... go to my site: "do not go to credit karma dot com dot com" golden phones... fiscal? apr index?! money for me! are used in hospitals across america. st. jude helps save kids close to you. real close to you. go to st. jude dot org or shop wherever you see the st. jude logo. and quit a lot,ot but ended up nowhere.

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when it comes to oscar contenders and box office buzz, the stretch between christmas and new year's is an important time for the studios. >> it is hard to narrow down what to see. we will help you out a bit. first a look at what is in theaters from joelle. >> reporter: it is movies galore for people tired of sitting home over the holidays. one of the expected big winners "the hobbit." >> i came to reclaim something of mine. >> the final installment to date has earned more than $115 million domestically and more than $269 million abroad. >> you fight harder than the other guys and you win. >> reporter: real life stories are front and center this weekend. including "unbroken."

about an olympic sprinter turned world war ii p.o.w. >> what have i do know? >> reporter: then "wild" stars reese witherspoon recalling a long trek through the wilderness. "selma" looks back at the struggle for civil rights. >> you have the green light. >> reporter: "american sniper" looks at the deadliest marksman in history. >> the eyes are the windows of the soul. >> reporter: also, "big eyes" about love, betrayal and popular art. >> you wish to have the curse reversed? >> reporter: musicals are making box office waves as well. including "into the woods." >> annie will never find her family. >> reporter: and the remake of "annie." and the movie that is making everyone talk. "the interview."

showing at specific theaters and at home as well. will this bring cheer to the big movie studios? we will soon find out. for today, joello gargulo, nbc news, new york. >> we are joined by eric davis. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> we are going to call out a movie and you tell us if we should see it. >> let's do it. >> let's start with "annie" and "into the woods." >> i like "annie" for kids under 7. my daughter is a fan of the original and obsessed with the movie. she liked the way they reinvent the song was a bit of a modern flair. and "opportunity" is nominated for a golden globe and the girl is really adorable in the film. "into the kidswoods," i like it kids over 7. it reminds me of "wicked" the

way it expands on the story. what happened to jack after he chopped down the beanstalk. one of the best opening sequences and meryl streep is very good. >> let's talk about movies based on real-life stories. "unbroken." >> it is a terrific film. if you like gutsy war stories, survival stories. real life world war ii stories. this guy lived one heck of a life. nice to see angelina jolie blossoming into a filmmaker. this kid will be one to match. he will be the next big thing. >> what about "american sniper?" >> it is a bit of a different war film. based on a true story. chris kyle. navy s.e.a.l. if you liked "the hurt locker"

movies that depicted combat. you are on the edge of our seat and you are trying to catch your breath. you are grabbing on to the person next to you. >> i went to a screening of that. a lot of us were reduced to tears in the end. emotional ride. let's turn to another true story. "wild." >> yes. speaking of tears, if you want a good cry on. not a bad cry. i have seen this film three times now. every time i'm not going to cry and i always cry at the end of it. it is a soulful story about the real woman who went on this 1,100 mile hike. take mom with you. it honors mothers in the presence physically and spiritually help us through our lives. i'm a guy and that is how powerful i think it is. >> "selma" also coming out. another emotional ride. >> this is a brilliant film about a brilliant man. what audiences will like is how much we learn about martin

luther king. aside from the holiday and "i have a dream" speech. who is he as a man and father and husband and friend. this is a side we have never seen before. incredibly powerful movie. one you want to talk about. >> we can't have you here without talking about the two movies with buzz. "the hobbit" and "the interview." >> we have been with the hobbits for years now. it is time to bid farewell to middle earth. this is epic action fantasy. it is good. it is called the battle of the five armies for a reason. a lot of battling going on in the movie. if you are in the mood for that, strap in. "the interview." what hasn't been said about "the interview." i think seth rogen and james franco are good together. if you like your comedy a little dangerous and dirty and button

pushing, "the interview" is your cup of tea. >> it is not for my 6-year-old. >> no. >> thank you, eric davis. let's go over to betty in the orange room with the fan of the day. >> i want you to meet heather and john from winton salem, north carolina. they are here on their babymoon. take it away. >> still to come on "today," his dance moves are wowing crowds at brooklyn nets games. >> when you see the obstacles he has overcome, you will be impressed, but first this is "today" on nbc.

tens of thousands flock to barclays center to cheer on the nets, but added attraction for those who show up to the games. a young man winning fans on and

off the court. >> the brooklyn nets kids show off the dance moves every game. one had to step up in more ways than one. it's game day at barclays center in brooklyn. the crowds here to cheer on hometown heros, there is another star attraction. the brooklyn nets kids. the teens that dazzle on center court. >> i dance like nobody's watching. >> 14-year-old vako gvelesiani is in his second season on the team. impressive feat for anyone. for vako, bigger accomplishment. he suffers from severe hearing loss. >> when i was 2 years old, i had a bad high fever. 104 degrees. >> he started making the tv louder and louder. we took him to the doctor. she said he has a hearing loss. i said no. >> i was shocked because for me, i can hear the music and i'm

deaf. >> reporter: behind his long hair and smile, the brooklyn teen hides his hearing aids. he doesn't tell others he cannot hear. when the music goes on, he doesn't have to. >> i only feel the beat. i cannot hear the lyrics. to me, you are not supposed to hear the music. you are supposed to feel the music. >> reporter: it was this passion that landed him a spot on the team. >> a little cool guy who had some smooth cool moves. >> every time the music came on, he just lit up. i said we need this kid. >> reporter: in august, his coach held tryouts. 500 kids showed up to dance. only 15 made the cut. including vako. >> when they told me i made it, it was the biggest moment of my life. it proved no one is different from other people. >> reporter: he proved it by keeping his hearing impairment a secret from everyone.

he wasn't on the team for long when his coach noticed something was off. >> they kept saying i wasn't listening. i knew i had to tell them i had hearing loss. >> i was shocked. once i did find out, though, i realized certain things started to make sense. he always preferred to be at the back whenever we're going through the choreography without the music. >> it did not matter about his hearing. it mattered about the talent. >> it is crazy how he does it. >> it is amazing he can pick up choreography. >> i learn so much from vako. the trying and the love of dance. we are here for. >> every day, i'm on the stage, i'm crying. i'm a crying mom. he makes me proud. >> reporter: vako is a freshman at laguardia high school. dancing his way to the top. >> i hope he puts in everything he expects himself to be. a good example for kids.

>> that is great. >> fantastic. >> he wants to become the next great choreographer. he has michael jackson all over his wall. people didn't know he could not hear. he didn't tell anybody. >> i love what he said. you are not supposed to hear the music. you are supposed to feel it. that is what is wrong with a lot of people. >> he must have seen me dance before. you have to feel it. that's my problem. all right. still to come, a look back at what made 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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it's like a robot butler, but not as awkward. for many of the toughest childhood cancers. our discoveries are big. and getting bigger every day. go to st. jude dot org or shop wherever you see the st. jude logo. on wednesday night, new year's eve, kathie lee and hoda will host a toast to 2014. >> a look back on everything that made this past year so memorable. all the tweetable moments, riveting people and crazy trends including one that went supersized in 2014. take a look. >> just a second.

♪ >> oh, god, i look good. >> selfies have been huge this year. . and they come out well. everyone looks good in selfies for some reason. >> 2014 was a cold year in many ways. >> all due to the phrase we've all come to know and love. polar vortex. >> polar vortex. >> i still don't know what a polar vortex is. i love saying it, though. >> the polar vortex is real. it exists. it lives up in the north pole and every once in a while we get a little chunk that cools things down in the united states. >> there comes that point in the year where people start adding new words to the dictionary. generally they're also extremely annoying. >> adorbs. i don't like. frankly there's people that are 50 be like that's so adorbs. no, you're 50, just put that last syllable on there, adorable. >> amazeballs. wow. >> i feel like we're never in the right social setting to say

"amazeballs". >> yeah. >> this is my next beard. i'm up to the moment according to the oxford english dictionary. >> take some water and a goldfish. >> you want to talk about vines here, you have to talk about zach king. >> i don't know how he does it. he jumps into cars. >> this is how i hitchhike. >> i love easter candy. >> i have all these random ideas like what did i want to do as a kid? i always wanted to take the eiffel tower. i've always wanted to jump into a car when i lock my keys in a car. we take these relatable moments that maybe other people have had and make short stories about those. >> zach king, i got to tell you, i'm really, really not impressed. >> hey, lester. >> oh, hey. man, love your stuff.

whoa. dude. i am impressed. >> that's what i thought. happy new year. >> now, that was cool. >> how did you do that? >> it really happened. >> oh. >> aw. >> i'm supposed to mention, no goldfish were harmed in that magic editing. a toast to 2014. that's this wednesday at 8:00, 7:00 central right here on nbc. a fun morning. >> it was amazeballs, as they say, right? >> i can't say it, i'm over 50. coming up tomorrow, it's been a big year for us on "weekend today." we'll take a look back on all the fun we've had in 2014. i'll see you back here tonight for nbc "nightly news." look at this. have a great day, everybody.

good morning, i'm kira klapper. a not so silent night in one east bay neighborhood. a stunning series of coyote attacks on christmas. also, the day after christmas meant a mad dash to the mall. just how much money goes unused on forgotten gift cards? we'll let you know. >> fun to love, but a winter blast has the bay area in store for a chilly weekend. -how old are you kids? -four.

nine. seven. we're about the same age. the discoveries at st. jude children's research hospital

help kids like these across america. st. jude has the worlds best survival rates for the toughest childhood cancers, and no family ever pays. how old are you? guess! one...two...three... this will take a while. go to st. jude dot org or shop wherever you see the st. jude logo.

it is a beautiful saturday morning. look at this. clear view from oakland to san francisco. the twinkling lights of the bay bridge. you can see the tower there. it is a very cold morning though. thank you for joining us. i'm kira klapper. anthony slaughter has a look at your near-freezing microclimate forecast. >> my hands are still cold.

i'm trying to thaw out here this morning. >> i'll keep you warm. >> thank you. this morning is cold. look at this skycam. this is our palo alto camera. that is real live television. >> gorgeous. >> that frost is the big story this morning. it's widespread. not talking one or two locations. the entire bay area waking up to temperatures near freezing with the exception of course san francisco. it will be sunny. we'll see temperatures climb back to the 50s. it's even colder new year's eve. want to show you those temperatures. gilroy 30. cupertino 30. some of our coldest in. east bay. dublin 31.