baseball to bay to breakers. we hope you have a great one. we'll see you for the news at 11:00. good morning. traveling with baggage. president trump leaving on his first overseas trip today dogged by mounting controversies at home. the president taking on many of them during a news conference. russia's interference in the election. >> believe me, there's no collusion. >> the special prosecutor now running that investigation. >> i respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hospital. >> even talk of impeachment. >> i think it's totally ridiculous. >> as the white house moves closer to naming a new fbi director as early as today. surveillance video shows the moment a car smashes into a crowd killing one person, injuring more than 20 others. >> multiple people injured. >> the 26-year-old driver

charged with murder, telling police he was hoping they would shoot him. force of nature, former fox news star bill o'reilly pays tribute to the network's founder and claims public hatred killed his friend. thisrau roger ailes' sudden death will affect the against the network. pippa middleton famously a bridesmaid going to be a bride. today, friday, may 19, 2017. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> and good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on a friday. let's go back out there for a second. we have a great crowd outside because we have a great concert coming up in our 8:30 half hour.

>> mary j. blige is up there. and we are going to hear from her in just a few moments. but, let us start with our top story on this friday morning. president trump set to embark on his first international trip. the nine-day, five-stop store will serve as a crucial test abroad for the commander in chief. it comes as his administration deals with controversies here at home. let's start with peter alaxen alaxeneder who is at the white house this morning. good morning. >> good morning, good friday. president trump take off for that first foreign trip including high-stakes meetings with key u.s. allies in the middle east and europe. the president hoping to leave all the domestic turmoil in his wake, even as a top senator says the investigation into alleged ties between trump campaign aides and russian operatives appears to have gone from a counterintelligence one to a criminal investigation. ahead of his first foreign trip,

the president huddling here at home with his lawyers following the appointment of a special to investigate between the trump campaign and russia. >> the entire thing has been a witch-hunt and no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign. but i can only speak for myself and the russians. zero. >> reporter: challenged if he ever asked james comey to shut down the investigation into fired national security adviser, michael flynn. >> no, no. next question. >> reporter: and this morning, signs of a rift between the vice president and the white house. after officials here tonight a "new york times" report as flat wrong that flynn and his lawyers told trump transition officials weeks before entering the white house that flynn was under investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for turkey. the vice president in early march. >> hearing that story today was the first i heard of it. >> reporter: pence maintains he was unaware of flynn's ties to turkey. this morning a source close to

the administration telling nbc news if the white house knew and didn't tell pence it is either malpractice or intentional and either is unacceptable. flynn's lawyers have yet to honor a senate intelligence committee subpoena for documents related to russia's interference in the 2016 campaign. mr. trump is standing by his former aide. according to yahoo! news late last month flynn told loyalists i got a message from the president to stay strong. trump thursdayaering an evolving explanation for why he fired the fbi director leading an investigation into his campaign. >> director comey was very unpopular with most people. i actually thought when i made that decision and i also got a very, very strong recommendation, as you know, from the deputy attorney general rod rosenstein. >> reporter: one week after telling nbc's lester holt -- >> i was going to fire regardless of recommendation. >> reporter: deputy attorney general rob rosenstein on capitol hill thursday for a

closed door briefing with all 100 senators. >> he knew that comey was going to be removed prior to him writing his memo. >> reporter: back here at the white house, president trump says he is very close to choosing the next fbi director and named former senator joe lieberman as a finalist. this morning still unclear whether mr. trump will make that pick announcement before he leaves for that foreign trip today. several lawmakers have already said that the job should not go to a politician. back to you, matt and savannah. >> peter alexander at the white house. thank you. nicole wallace host 4:00 p.m. eastern hour and she is with us along with national political correspondent steve kornaki. happy friday. six months of news stashed into a week, as matt likes to say. >> maybe ten days. >> yesterday we were talking, nicole, and the appointment of this special prosecutor could be seen as an opportunity for the white house because it could be a page turner. look, the special prosecutor is doing his work.

we won't get involved in that now. now we're going about the people's business. but that's not what happened yesterday. >> that's not what happened because that is not what the president seems capable of doing. it is what the advisors want him to do and marco rubio on the hill when he was asked about a special counsel. sort of textbook politics. but this president seems incapable of letting things go. >> let's stay on that subject. appointing a special counsel. good news/bad news for democrats. on one hand ramps up the pressure on the white house and the other hand, if you're a democrat on the house intelligence committee or senate intelligence committee, you wanted a lot of key witnesses to come in and raise their right hand in public hearings and you wanted to drive headlines with that. less of an ability to do that. >> yii think they were having se of the public hearings and a lot play out behind the scenes right now. at the same time if you're a democrat you have two dates circled on your calendar.

in georgia a few weeks later. both republicans see traditionally if the democrats can pick off one of those, they'll feel things are working very much in their favor politically. >> yesterday when the president said at his news conference there was no collusion and then he added, i can speak for myself. was that an ominous line if you're someone like a paul m manifort or other names potentially in connection with this investigation. >> it was a trumpian line. i think donald trump walks into every setting thinking about how things affect him. loyalty keeps him connected to michael flynn. he is not known to be loyal. he let rudy giuliani and they ended up, not that they were owed anything, but he didn't feel any loyalty to bring them into the administration. >> you know the expression, no place like home. donald trump taking off now on a nine-day, five-stop trip. is he thinking there is no place like the road to get away from

something else? >> i think we have seen this with presidents in the past when they hit real turmoil domestically. that is a good time to have some sort of overseas, international trip. certainly with donald trump, it raises the possibility of changing the subject. on the other hand, donald trump we have seen violated a lot of conventions at the white house. let's see what he does overseas right now. >> another headline of the week was that roger ailes the founder of fox guys and who turned it into a force not only in news, but politics. died at the age of 77 yesterday. >> if you were a victim of his alleged sexual harassment, nothing redeeming about the man. if you worked in republican politics over the last two decades no one with more influence. the advice i once heard him give to a politician for the presidency, you either hunt or you're hunted. he was just a cut throat sort of relic of an era that defined republican politics for two decades. >> wow. former president bush actually

tweeted about him, too. said he wouldn't have won election without roger ailes. that's a complicated story. good tahave yo good to have your thoughts. the driver now charged in thursday's horrific scene in time square. chilling surveillance video showing that car slamming into a crowd of pedestrians killing a young tourist injuring 22 others. thomas roberts is in times square for us. thomas, good morning to you. >> matt, good morning to you. 26-year-old richard rojas is the man charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated vehicular homicide. he spent the night in bellevue after telling police he heard voices to cause this strike. a warning to our viewers, some of the video you are about to see is graphic. at noon thursday, times square erupted with fear. >> we have a car running people over. >> we have multiple people injured.

notify everyone. >> reporter: in one of the country's busiest areas. a speeding car seen in this surveillance video jumping the curb. plowing down a sea of pedestrians for three and a half blocks until crashing, finally, into a traffic pole seen in this slowed down >> whatever it was, it wasn't slowing down. >> people were yelling, people were stuck on the car as he was driving up. >> reporter: witnesses captured the scene from the ground. >> two victims right now. >> reporter: and from the rooftops. >> oh, my god. >> 18-year-old alyssa elsman from michigan, killed. news of her death hitting home. >> she was really thoughtful, really bright, very pleasant young lady. that every interaction i had with her was positive. >> reporter: her 13-year-old sister alongside here, wounded, along with nearly two dozen others. the driver fleeing into a panicked crowd was quickly taken into custody. identified as 26-year-old

richard rojas. sources telling nbc news, he had a dishonorable discharge from the navy and history of dwis. law enforcement officials say rojas has a possible history of psychiatric problems and told police he heard voices. >> what were you thinking today? >> reporter: testing negative for alcohol, he admitted to smoking marijuana before the incident and did test positive for drugs. police say there's no link to international terrorism in this case but are looking into whether it was deliberate. after recent attacks using vehicles in berlin, nice and london, police are on high alert. >> obviously, we know the times we're living in. and we know it's a dangerous moment in history. now, thank god, based on what we know now, there is no indication that this was an act of terror. >> reporter: so, we can also report that police are saying that rojas wanted to be shot by police. so, some would say he was

suicidal, wanting to commit this crime and be killed by the officers, once captured or in capture. one thing we can report, matt and savannah, that times square is slowly getting back to normal. this is the time of day, heavy traffic of folks going to work. this investigation is still ongoing. they were able to move that vehicle and other parts of that vehicle overnight here in times square. but people still remain on edge. back to you. >> thomas roberts for us in times square. thanks. now the big story breaking overnight. a major legal victory for controversial wikileaks founder julian assange. swedish prosecutors have announced that they have dropped the sexual assault case that kept him holed up in a london embassy for the last five years. but he is still not a free man. nbc's chief global correspondent bill neely in london with the latest on this. bill, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. it's been a seven-year standoff between sweden and julian assange. five of the years he spent resisting extradition. holed up in an embassy in london.

but now the case has crumbled. sweden's prosecutor saying he's dropping the case against the wikileaks founder, who was wanted in sweden over rape allegations that he has always denied. she's said he's not been proven innocent or guilty, but his evasion of the law had been a factor in her decision to drop the case. assange tweeted a picture of himself after the news looking pretty happy. his swedish lawyer says this is a total victory for him. we've won. he's happy and relieved. so was he free now? well no, not quite. he is in ecuador's embassy in london. but british police say they're still duty-bound to arrest him on a lesser charge of jumping bail. now behind all of this, of course, is assange's fear of extradition to the u.s., where he could face trial over the leaking in 2010 of hundreds of thousands of secret military and diplomatic documents. the u.s. attorney general, jeff sessions, said previously that arresting mr. assange would be a priority. and of course many in the u.s.

want him finished harshly. but it's not clear the british can extradite him to the u.s., certainly not on a minor charge, or even that u.s. officials are, in fact, seeking his arrest because of a possible sealed indictment. well, assange's swedish lawyer said last month assange would fly to ecuador if he could, to enjoy his political asylum. and ironically, earlier this week, chelsea manning the army private who actually leaked the secrets to wikileaks was released from prison. but there's no sign yet this morning that assange will follow her to freedom by leaving his rooms at the embassy here in london. savannah? >> bill neely, a lot of pieces to that puzzle. thank you very much. there's a new controversy this morning surrounding the sudden and unexpected death of rock star chris cornell. sheinelle is here with that story. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the 52-year-old's death has been ruled a suicide by medical examiner in michigan. overnight, cornell's family pushed back at that finding. this morning, shock and sadness over the death of soundgarden front man, chris cornell.

♪ the medical examiner in detroit, said that cornell, considered one of the architects of the 1990s subgenre of alternative rock, also known as grunge, killed himself by hanging after performing at a concert thursday. cornell who was found dead in his detroit hotel room issued a statement through an attorney that chris knowingly and intentionally killed himself. the family saying that without toxicology tests completed, they can't be sure what led to his death or any substances were involved. overnight, tributes poring in. in seattle the space needle went dark for an hour. elton john shocked and saddened by the sudden death of chris cornell and billy idol writing sad to hear of chris cornell passing. another blow. rip. and from former band member tom

morello. i love you brother. thank you for your friendship and your humor and your intellect and singular and unmatched talent. your beautiful voice and beautiful self will always be in my heart. god bless you and your family. according to the cornell family's lawyer he had a prescription for an anti-anxiety drug which had various side effects. she spoke to his wife after the show and he may have taken an extra pill or two. guys? >> thank you very much. let's turn to the weather now and a lot of folks are facing the threat of some severe storms today. dylan is in for al, again. she has the forecast. >> in the same area as we saw yesterday. oklahoma, for example, where we did see really torrential downpours. look at these cars trying to drive through the flooded waters. again, something you shouldn't do. wind damage was a big issue with trees toppling down on to homes there and take a look at this lightning video. always so hard to capture. but the video managed to do it there and you can see that

certainly filled up the sky. we are going to see more of the same type of weather today. we had several reported tornadoes, although no reports of significant damage. today, though, we're looking at more tornadoes possible. we have a severe thunderstorm watch in and around st. louis. you can see these lines of storms moving through that area. we also have some storms training to the northwest of texas and that is producing heavy downpours and see some flooding, as well. from indianapolis to central texas, large hail and damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, although our best chance of tornadoes in this area in orange into north central texas where some of the tornadoes could be pretty intense. that's a look at the weather across the country and your local forecast is coming up in the next couple seconds. that's pretty. pretty sexy. it's all-wheel drive. look at that. it looks aggressive. but not overbearing. it's not too big. not too small. it looks like it can go off-roading. but at the same time, it looks like a car you can take to a nice event.

you can dress it up or dress it down. seems like the perfect car for anybody. i would take it anywhere. i want one. i love it. she's a bad mama jama. chevy stepped their game up. good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. we're in for a hot day, but it does start out nice and mild in the south bay, as you head out the tri-valley. 50 in the north bay. all of that sunshine quickly warming up our temperatures. giving us a several degrees boost over yesterday. up to 89 in the south bay, 88 in the peninsula, and the tri-valley up to 91 degrees. east, a high of 81, while 73 food in san francisco. >> and that's . and ta's your latest forecast. >> we've got news from overseas now. the u.s. military carried out an air strike on syria on friday in

what is believed to be the blirs confrontati confrontation. the air strike was launched was they pose a direct threat to u.s. and allied forces. no word yet on casualties. >> anthony weiner will appear in federal court today to face charges in a sexting investigation. the fbi is looking into whether he exchanged explicit messages with a 15-year-old girl. he will plead guilty. prosecutors are recommending two years in jail. weiner's attorneys asking for two years probation. >> how robert ailes death impacts the sexual assault allegations. >> and florida's very large python problem. the massive snakes taking over the everglades and the men being

charged with taking them down. next on nb

>> just ahead, one mom's creative way to rock her baby. >> and mary j. bliej brings her powerful and soulful voice to our plaza. that's a concert you won't want to miss. but first your local news.

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also try listerine® pocketpaks for fresh breath on the go. ==topvo== we )re following lots of breakig news this morning - good friday morning to you. 7:26. i'm laura garcia-cannon. we're following several breaking news stories, including a deadly shooting in san jose. happened about 10:00 p.m. outside a wienerschnitzel on south 1st street near washington elementary school. the male victim died at a nearby hospital. right now, there are no arrests. >> two people in critical condition after a car crashed into a tree in the oakland hills. this happened overnightñ.' on firefighters say two people in that car got out on their own. the other twoñ victims were trapped in the until rescue crews managed to pull them out. we are expecting a%/g very weekend. want to check in with kari for the latest. >> it will be nice and cool along the coastline, but very hot for the inland valleys.

let's take a live look outside at the golden gate bridge. a beautiful clear sunrise and temperatures in the upper 50s for much of the bay area. it quickly warms with our highs today for the south bay up to 89 degrees. 90 in los gatos. 92 in danville. hayward up to 83 degrees today. san mateo will see a high of 80 while san francisco will be up to 76 in the mission district and 90 degree in napa. we'll also see the temperatures only in the upper 60s for point reyes. let's head to mike for an update on the roads. >> this is the view that skier has. earlier this morning, not too long ago, this is why niles canyon road is still closed. a head-on crash on the bridge right over niles creek. we got word from chp that they hope to reopen this connector possibly within the next hour. that's much sooner than we originally thought. that's au7 problem, but 680 doe still offer an option to mission and the rest of the bay shows the lighter flow of traffic, but

the toll plaza does have the metering rights on. >> we'll be back with anotheridate in a half hour. hope to see you then. quin was crazy about curls.

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love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru. ♪ we're back. 7:30 on a friday morning, 19th of may, 2017. it's a warm day. and it's about to get hot on our plaza. we have the queen of hip-hop soul herself, mary j. blige hitting our concert stage. we're so excited. we got hoda back from her boone dog -- trip, with kathie lee. >> that was hard work. >> was it awesome? >> it was awesome. riding in a boat with michael douglas. >> not too slouchy. >> are you saying yes to the people out here? there's a sign that says him most is as with matt. >> yes. >> that's a yes. >> all right. let's get a check of headlines. things making news on a friday morning. president trump leaves

washington this afternoon for his first overseas trip since taking office. it's a nine-day agenda. it's packed with stops in the middle east and the vatican, with summits in belgium and sicily. thursday, the president used a joint news conference to address the controversies facing his administration. emergency personnel in san antonio, lining the street to pay tribute to a firefighter killed in the line of duty. scott dean was killed battling a fire at a strip mall. the cause of the fire is under investigation. a painting selling for $110.5 million. okay. southebuth by's tweeted that is highest for an artwork post-1980. it was purchased by a japanese collector after a ten-minute

bidding war. the spiegel family bought that painting for 19 grand and that's what it went for. >> originally. >> when did they buy that? >> when did they buy that? that's a pretty good return of the investment. >> what's the percentage? >> i don't know. >> back of the envelope, no? >> a whole lot of money. back to the president. he's getting set to leave on his first international trip as president. peter alexander joins us again from the white house. >> reporter: the president reacting to the appointment of a special counsel, blasting it as a witch hunt. saying even his enemies recognize his innocence. "the new york times" reporting that james comey told at least one friend about how he tried to steer clear of the president, including at a ceremony in the white house blue room, days after the inauguration, where mr. trump called him more famous than me, before shaking his hand. the half-hug there. "the times" said comey who is

6'8", he wore a dark blue suit, trying to blend in with the curtains in the room. so that trump couldn't spot him and call him out. comey told the president, if he wanted to know details about the entrepreneur's investigations, he shouldn't contact him but to follow the proper protocol, going through the white house counsel's office. the president leaving for the first foreign trip. first stop, saudi arabia, trying to leave behind all of the unse valved investigations in his wake. m matt and savannah, back to you. >> peter, thank you. going to talk about questions being raised in the wake of the death of former fox news chief roger ailes. how will that impact the sexual harassment cases against him and the network he founded? kate snow is here with the latest on that. >> reporter: good morning. new this morning, we know that roger ailes' death was accidental, linked to a fall last week. a sudden end to a storied but controversial career.

>> roger ailes was a true american original. >> reporter: overnight, the embattled founder of fox news remembered on the network he built. >> there's few people in this world who will ever have such a profound impact like roger did. >> reporter: defended by the talent he propelled to stardom. >> a lot of people hated him. and that hatred, ultimately brought him down. >> reporter: for better or worse, roger ailes changed the media and political landscape in this nation. >> he merged entertainment and politics into a hybrid. >> reporter: all that was overshadowed when allegations of sexual harassment forced ailes to resign last year, allegations he repeatedly denied. former anchor, gretchen carlson settled her suit for $20 million. but other harassment suits are still ongoing. and ailes' death may complicate those legal battles. >> the women who brought the suits are likely to win, simply because there's nobody there to say that they're lying. the fact that he's passed away

does not mean there's no case left. >> reporter: before fox news, ailes was a revered republican political operative. >> i predicted in 1968, that nobody would be elected to high office without learning to communicate effectively on television. >> reporter: ailes helped elect reagan, nixon and george w. bush. he wasn't perfect, but he was my friend. >> he's a very good person. >> reporter: he and the current president were close, too. trump coming to ailes' defense on "meet the press" last year. >> it's sad. i found him to be a very, very good person. and by the way, a very, very talented person. look what he's done. >> reporter: this morning, nbc news learned ailes' death thursday came after a fall in the bathroom at his mansion last week. the palm beach, florida, police department, said someone called 911 and said he hit his head and there's serious bleeding. the medical examiner in palm

beach said ailes died after complications from that head injury. >> we're going to be living with his legacy for years and decades to come. the world wrestling style of politics is a by-product of ailes' regularcy. >> reaction to ailes' death has been polarized. while some vilify him, in a statement, his wife called ailes, a patriot who was profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity. >> interesting to see how some of the newspapers are handling that. >> the coverage is very polarized. kate, thanks very much. let's turn to dylan, in for al, with a check of the fathwea. >> talked about the severe storms in the plains today. just want to point out how much rainfall we can see. heavy rain north of san angelo. and rain moving through st. louis with another round to move in shortly with lots of lightning. but flash flood watches for most of the eastern half of kansas, stretching into western missouri

and oklahoma and parts of arkansas, too, because we're going to see heavy pockets of rain that could last for a period time. three o four inches. higher amounts from missouri into oklahoma. we could see flash flooding. still dealing with snow across the eastern rockies, where it's continuing to pile up. the west coast looks good. and it's hot up and down the east coast. might not b good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. we've got some nice weather for san francisco over the next few days. warm temperatures into the low 70s. and then it does start to cool down as we head into next week, into the lower 60s. inland valleys hitting the 90s for the next four days with mostly sunny skies. inner bay in the 80s. then we'll start to see 80s on tuesday with the warmest temperatures inland by the end of next week. we will have a little cooldown bringing it back to more average temperatures for this time in may.

>> for your forecast anytime, check out the weather channel on cable. >> excellent dylan. coming up, cher gets personal. the surprising thing she is saying about her legendary career and her relationship with the late sonny bono. first, on the hunt for massive pythons that are are eating their way through ugh, no bars. oh no, looks like somebody needs a new network. when i got this unlimited plan they told me they were all the same. they're not. verizon has the largest, most-reliable 4g lte network in america. it's basically made for places like this. honey, what if it was just us out here? right. so, i ordered you a car. thank you. you don't want to be out here at night 'cause of the, uh, coyotes. ok, thanks, bud. bye. be nice to have your car for some shelter. bye. when it really, really matters, you need the best network and the best unlimited. just $45 per line for four lines. befi was active.gia, i was energetic. then the chronic, widespread pain drained my energy.

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where they do not belong. now, a big fight is under way to get that python population under control. there are government-sponsored hearts. and kerry sanders is in the thick of it in the everglades. kerry, roll that beautiful snake footage. >> reporter: this is a case of nature out of whack. biologists ne biologists theoryize that somebody imported a burmese python as a pet. well, the eggs hatched and there's an estimated 100,000 snakes out here. and some of them are huge. >> you can hear if a snake's moving. >> reporter: we're on the hunt for burmese pythons with dusty crowne. nicknamed the wild man, he captured the biggest buy thon in the everglades this year, 16'3". in slow-mo, it's man versus snake. the biggest danger, not the

bite, but if the snake wraps around the wild man. pythons kill by constricting. >> that's a big snake, boys. >> yeah, it is. >> that's how we indict in the everglades, son. wild man. woo. >> reporter: what was that like? >> the easiest way to equate it is like wrestlemania. andre the giant versus hulk hogan. a battle involving the heavyweights. >> reporter: 130 pounds with the power to kill an alligator, the south florida water main district pays a boundty for every captured. >> i can sell the skin for $300. and that's a pretty good day for a lot of people. >> 15. >> we made it. >> reporter: since python hunting season began about eight weeks ago, 109 snakes killed. >> we're getting close to three football fields of pythons in length. the weight estimate is 2.5 tons of python. >> reporter: here in the everglades, the all-out war on

pythons more urgent than ever. deer, raccoon, birds and other animals are disappearing into the bellies of snakes. dozens of hunters come from all wakes of life, even florida's lieutenant governor. and you noticed one of the hunters is barefoot. have you stepped on a snake barefoot? >> it's another hand. you feel them with your feet. >> reporte >> reporter: it makes sense to you to be out here barefoot? >> yeah. >> reporter: i think you're rare. pythons from southeast asia taking over the south florida everglades. 109 captured. 100,000 to go. i asked dusty crumb, what do you do when you're not out here chasing down snakes? he says he grows and sells or kids. a contdrtradiction to the guy i

met. >> kerry, look down at your feet. just kidding. thank you very much. just ahead, the college acceptance video being liked by people all around the world. sheinelle has that story from the orange room right after this. this salad? at panera, a good salad is so much more than a bowl of something green. more than an obligation to be good. more than just something you have on the side. more than just one flavor, or texture, or color. a good clean salad is so much more than green. and with panera catering, more for your event. panera. food as it should be.

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introducing brighthouse financial. a new company established by metlife to specialize in annuities & life insurance. talk to your advisor about a brighter financial future. [ cheers and applause ] welcome back. 7:50. everybody likes a great college acceptance video. sheinelle's in the orange room, in for carson. she has a special one. sheinelle? >> now, we know mark zuckerberg to be the billionaire tech titan who founded facebook. but there was a time when he was a vulnerable high schooler, awaiting his college acceptance letter. he talked about the moment he heard from harvard 15 years ago, captured by his proud father. >> does that sound like it? >> i don't know. what does it say? >> put it away for a second.

>> i can't see it. >> yay. i got accepted. st >> are you serious? >> yeah. >> yes. >> focusing on one of the newest members of harvard's class of 2006. >> that's not quite how things played out. zuckerberg dropped out of harvard in 2004, to develop a thing called facebook. i have a feeling his father is just as proud. zuckerberg commented, i think i still have those pajamas. but what i still have, that gray t-shirt. >> sal thi sam things will never change. and zuckerberg returns to harvard to give the commencement speech and receive his honorary degree. and he will stream the whole thing live on facebook. >> that's one way to get your degree. >> the lessons of life. just ahead, duchess kate's sister pippa middleton, the

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even a bird's-eye surround vision camera. wow, it shows the view from up above? how's it doing that? i really like the sunroof. what? woah! hello, world! i feel like i'm only saying good things. which is annoying. and all it takes to open the chevy equinox liftgate is the motion of your foot. easy peasy. i could definitely get a lot in there. i could put my entire band's equipment... snowboard. surfboards. mountain bike. even a sousaphone would fit in there. what's a sousaphone? (laughter) seems like the perfect car for anybody. i would take it anywhere. i want one. i love it. she's a bad mama-jama. (laughter) chevy stepped their game up. ♪

wx toss to traffic af good friday morning. 7:56, with a lot of sunshine starting out this friday morning. temperatures are getting milder, too. already at 63 degrees in the south bay. upper 50s for the peninsula and the tri-valley and also in the north bay, 55 as you head out the door in san francisco. it will be very hot for the inland areas, also for the inner bay, up to 88 degrees for the peninsula. 91 in the tri-valley and 90 in the north bay. san francisco expecting a high of 73 degrees this afternoon. and heading into the weekend, we have bay to breakers on sunday. we have great weather for that. starts out cooler in the lower 60s. as we go through the afternoon, it will be up to 74 degrees byx 1:00 in the afternoon and then as we go into next week, we'll start to see the cooler trend. until then, in for a very hot day. for the valleys for the next four days, highs in the low 90s.

>> i'll give the update and then the up to the update. a smooth flow of traffic. friday shows the lighter commute around the bay, and here i was going to tell you that7sñ we ha one-way traffic control through niles canyon, but i got the update from fremont pd saying it is open for both directions, no q%=9m anymore. that's better news betweenñãsunl and v&"fremont. easy but slower drive on the east shore freeway approaching ay bridge where the toll plaza metering lights are é@on. >> thank you very much, kari and mike. >> san jose police investigating a deadly shooting that happened outside a fast food restaurant. we covered it as breaking news all day long. you can link to details on our twitter feed. >> an earlyq morning high speed what the chp says sparked the chase and an update on the suspect's condition. prosecutors plan to recommend twos in prison for former lawmaker anthony weiner. on our facebook page, details on the guilty plea tied to his sexting scandal.

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. it's 8:00 on today. coming up, up in the air. president trump set to leave on his first foreign trip today. even as he deals with issues at home. slamming the investigation into his campaign's alleged ties with russia. >> the entire thing has been a witch-hunt. >> this as a new fbi director could be named within hours. we're live at the white house. plus, what happens in vegas. >> girlfriends guide to -- >> fantastic fun. >> natalie and jenna hit up sin city for a behind the scenes look at magic mike live. with a special tour from the magic man, himself, channing tatum. >> my name is a bit synonymous with stripping.

and the queen of hip hop soul, mary j.blige, brings her iconic voice to the plaza for a special concert today, friday may 19th, 2017. ♪ >> all right, guys who are you excited to hear? >> mary j. blige! >> i found some honey mooners who are y'all here to see? >> mary j. blige. ♪ ♪ >> who are you? >> mary j.'s number one fan. >> where would you ladies come from? >> charlotte, north carolina. >> what time did you get here? >> 11:00 p.m. >> fans, baby. what are y'all ready to do? >> ready to party. ♪ >> it is 8:00 on a friday morning, let me change that. it's 8:00 on a concert friday

morning. and the crowd is in full mary -- we got mary j. blige. the queen of hip hop soul. >> this crowd is pumped. >> this is what's happening. and again we had a few who were here overnight. they are jonesing for this to start. as we mentioned, natalie and jenna are back with their newest girlfriend's guide adventure. all you need to know, it involves las vegas, magic mike, and channing tatum. >> that looks like -- >> can you imagine those two? >> say no more. >> exactly. first we have to get you a check of the morning's top stories here's the news at 8:00. >> good morning, this afternoon, president trump who has no real experience on the world stage, leaves for his first foreign trip. visiting saudi arabia, israel, as well as some allies in europe. still the controversies at home surrounding russia, the appointment of a special counsel

and the abrupt firing of jams comey have put the white house on its heels. today, donald trump taking flight. his first foreign trip as president. but here at home, taking aim at the scandal surrounding possible collusion between his campaign aides and russia. the president huddling with his attorneys at the white house thursday, one day after the justice department appointed a special prosecutor robert mueller to oversea the fbi's russia investigation. mr. trump's team hoping to prevent anymore self-inflicted wounds. at a joint news conference with colombia's leader, the president pushing back. first dismissing the need for a special prosecutor. >> i respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch-hunt. >> denying reports he told james comey to let go of the inquiry into his former national security advisor's possible ties to russia. >> did you at any time urge former fbi director james comey in any way shape or form to close or back down the vision

into michael flynn -- >> no. no. next question. >> when it comes to the issue of michael flynn, a source close to the administration says they're concerned about a potential pattern of keeping vice president mike pence in the dark. claiming pence was not aware of any investigation relating to flynn's work as a foreign agent for turkey. calling it unacceptable and either malpractice or intentional. republicans are trying to press ahead. >> people in the country need to know that we are busy at work trying to solve their problems. >> house speaker paul ryan looking to move beyond the growing crisis and on to tax cuts. visibly relieved to address a policy related question. >> yeah, you want to ask about tax reform? all right. go ahead. >> the russia controversy now threatening to consume congress, its agenda and the trump presidency. president trump says he is very close to choosing the next fbi director, naming former senator

joe lieberman as a finalist. this morning, speculation swirling about a possible shakeup in the west wing. the spotlight on sean spicer, two aides tell nbc news the president is considering having his deputy play a larger role in those day-to-day press briefings. back to you. >> all right, peter, thanks very much. murder and attempted murder charges were filed overnight against the man accused offend driving his car into pedestrians in new york's times square. police say 26-year-old richard rojas hit two dozen people, it happened on thursday. a tourist from michigan, 18-year-old alyssa elsman was killed. he reportedly said he heard voices and wanted to be shot by the police. he has a history of dwi arrest and was arrested this month for menacing. officials say the incident was not relate today international terrorism. a dean at yale university

has been placed on leave because of offensive remarks she made on her personal yelp account. she had referred to customers at a local restaurant as quote, white trash, and labelled workers at a movie theater barely educated morons. the head of the college revealed on thursday he had discovered numerous other examples as well. she apologized last weekend in an e-mail to students. coming up next, a royal affair, the world's most famous bridesmaid getting married tomorrow. we're live with everything you need to know about the big day, from the guest, the dress and who could steal the spotlight. >> cher opens up about aging. >> mary j. blige is live in concert, but first these messages.

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walgreens. at the corner of happy and healthy. 8:09 on a friday morning. there's a highly-anticipated event that's happening across the pond. and it's happening this weekend. >> we are talking about pippa middleton, who set hearts on fire when she served as maid of honor for big sister, kate's, wedding. she is getting married tomorrow. and as expected, there will be no shortage of royal guests in attendance. lucy is in bucklebury, england. >> reporter: we're just outside of the family's hometown pub in buck bucklebu bucklebury. but the party will be just down the road. we're hearing a scottish theme. last-minute preparations under way for the high society wedding of the year. the world first fell for her

when she strode down the aisle with that show-stealing silhouette. she was maid of honor then. now, it's her turn to be the bride. which dress gets the yes? the details, under wraps. but the leading contender, rumored to be giles deacon. >> give me an idea of what his style is like. >> reporter: known for his extravagant creations. >> he knows drama and glamour. pippa is likely to be traditional and elegant, there's a nice potential in there for a twist. >> reporter: james matthews is the hedge fund hunk who won pippa's heart. briefly dating in 2012, the fitness buffs share a passion for sports and the countryside. that's where the pair will tie the knot, just six miles away from the middleton family home. the reception back at the estate and guaranteed to dazzle after

dark. no expense spared. this glass party palace will allow the guests to dance the night away, rain or shine. throne rooms fit for a queen. it may not be a royal wedding, but there's no doubt this will be a royal affair. the duke and duchess of came brib bridge will attend. charlotte and prince george will join auntie down the aisle. seen at their uncle's wedding, kate, 9, and pippa 7, not a fan of her floral crown. and despite that no ring, no bring rule, american actress meghan markle will be there on prince harry's arm. everybody there is keen to meet meghan. >> reporter: do you expect to see meghan and harry on that balcony? >> fingers crossed.

it's definitely serious. >> reporter: when you're fifth in line to the throne, popping the question is no simple task. prince harry will have to ask the queen's permission. i'm getting carried away. it's pippa's big day, pippa's turn to shine. a lot of talk over that mystery dress. >> it will be big news over the weekend. a lot more on that event, tomorrow morning on "today." >> i want to live in bucklebury. i love the name. time for "trending," with extra estrogen. natalie, jenna, sheinelle, dylan, hoda and matt. >> carson? >> totally surrounded. >> i'm going to ask a question and go around the room quickly. when you're in the shower, do you face away from the shower or towards the shower? >> i do forward and turn for my hair. >> i'm a switcher. >> i do back. >> a spinner. >> i spin when i need to do when i need to do. and i turn back.

>> this comes up. we had a hotly-contested article on today.com. which way do you face in the >> nozzle facers. >> i'm not a nozzle facer. i turn my back to the shower. >> me, too. >> i'm called a back to the water person. we surveyed viewers. 45% say they are spinners. >> that's me. >> 44% face away from the water. that's me. only 12% -- >> that can't be right. >> that's so interesting. >> almost everyone here faces the nozzle. are we odd? >> we're spinners. why wouldn't you do both? >> i do sometimes. but i'm a nozzle facer. >> why are we getting so upset? >> what does this tell us about ourselves? >> i don't know. >> is there any insight into what this makes us? >> this is "trending." no insight in "trending." >> you'll learn nothing. you know the little cups at the registers, leave a penny, take a penny.

here's a super sized version that spiralled into a viral social experience. this man put a pile of 15,000 coins on the ground. let's see what happens. and he documented everything. the biker you're about to see. took a few coins and rode by. this group of kids played in the pile. took pictures. this guy made it rain. maybe making a wish. look at these guys. they spoil the whole thing. they took them in their bag. >> stole them? >> and rode off. >> i hope they got a sore back after lugging those around. >> probably did. >> where is the inspiration? okay. >> there is none. >> where's the insight in that? >> are we supposed to be learning lessons? learning lessons. >> nothing to learn here. let's go for the trifecta. as parents, we've had moments of desperation. you're willing to go anything to make the baby stop crying, make them get to sleep. check out one mom's hack.

it went viral on reddit. she's a genius. she uses the kitchen aide mixer and attaches it to the baby bouncer. puts it on high speed. that's got to be -- which setting is that? i don't know. and it rocks the baby to sleep. >> clever. >> that's kind of smart. >> i have this bouncer at home. this very one. it's the fisher-price. it has a motor on it. >> maybe it was out of batteries. >> the motor -- it's not as bouncing. >> does charlie like the big bounce or the little -- >> i don't know. he's only had that one. i never change the battery. so, actually, it's dead right now. but i'm going to try the mixer. >> if you could make muffins at the same time -- >> make muffins at all. >> that's true. sheinelle? "pop start." >> let's begin with cher. she is talking to "billboard" magazine. her career, life and legacy. opened up about her marriage to sonny. maybe we should never have been husband and wife.

he's the funniest, most adorable or not. the singer got candid about aging. telling the magazine, i don't like getting old. i'm shocked that i can still run across the stage at my age. i thought i would be dead. cher is celebrating her 71st birthday. >> she has a good sense of humor. now, to kate upton. the supermodel has graced the "sports illustrated" swimsuit cover three times. she has insecurities. in an interview -- >> what? >> well, she says, i'm still not confident in a bathing suit. that's why you eat healthy and work out to feel your best. you always have struggles. not like i always feel my best. everybody has moment where's they don't feel confident in a bikini. it's what we're striving for, self-love. she doesn't own a scale. she doesn't need a number. she just wants to be happy. >> i think my confidence is shot. >> exactly. finally, the beatles. listen to this. some of the band's memorabilia hit the auction block and bidders went wild for their hair. strands of their hair sold for more than $10,000.

>> wow. >> if you think that's a high price tag, check out what other fans have paid over the years. marilyn monroe's hair, went for $40,000. justin bieber, beating out marilyn. his locks were sold for $40,668. no one beats the king. but elvis presley's hair, $115,000. >> where do they get the hair from? >> a lock of hair. >> i don't know. >> what do you mean? what are you talking about? >> from the barber. >> does the -- does the artists sell it themselves? or do the hairdressers keep it. sell it? by the way, matt lauer's hair would go for a lot. >> it would. >> he has a hair cut today because i'm going to steal his hair. >> get a microscope. you the find the hair. sheinelle, thank you very much. dylan, by the way, the beatles, that's the group paul mccartney was in before wings. >> i know. let's look at the heat that's

still affecting the east coast. we have a huge bermuda high. pumps in the southwest winds. temperatures yesterday broke records up and down the east coast. and we're going to see that air today. washington, d.c., 90 degrees. norfolk, 91. new york getting up to 89 degrees. boston in the mid-80s. that's 17 degrees above average. we have a cold front that's going to move in for the weekend. canadian air is going to replace this subtropical air and we'll drop by 20 degrees going into the weekend. still very nice, 60s and 70s. but not the extreme heat we're seeing lately. speaking of the east coast and temperatures, we have the preakness stakes in baltimore on saturday. temperatures around 69 degrees. much better than running in that extreme heat for sure. we have severe storms likely back through the middle of the country. tornados are most likely across parts of oklahoma and stretching into north-central texas. that's a look at the weather across the country. >> good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall.

looking live at the golden gate bridge. we are going to feel some warming temperatures throughout the morning. we're already in the upper 50s to lower 60s as you head out the door and a high of 39s 93 in concord, 90 napa, santa rosa, and livermore, upper 80s for palo alto and san jose, san francisco today looking at a high of 73 degrees. >> and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you so much. now, the reason these crazy ladies are with us. natalie, jenna and the "girlfriends' guide to fun" series. >> today, we're taking you to las vegas, to check out a new show that's taking the strip by storm. >> i must say, guys. do not worry. we kept it p.g. this is not girls gone wild in vegas. magic mike is opening up in vegas.

and we got v.i.p. access from the man himself. flipping, spinning, leaping. the men of "magic mike live" do it all, including some not suitable for morning tv moves. this updated 21st century male review was based on the "magic mike" movies, about a group of exotic dancers that made $300 million at the box office. girlfriends guide to -- >> fantastic fun. >> reporter: channing tatum is the force behind the movies and now the live show. we're girlfriends on an adventure together. she's on the west coast. ♪ reunited and it feels so good ♪ >> you have a good voice. >> what is this show about? and how close is this to the movies? >> i wouldn't say it's close to the movies. you will get everything and things that you didn't even know you wanted. >> what do you hope it brings girlfriends? >> we've really worked hard on keeping it light and fun.

my name is a bit synonymous with stripping, for better or worse. i'm happy the way it's shaked out. i was asking myself, why do i want to do this? i want to empower women. i want to make something for women. so, channing turned to these women to empower this project. >> i love that it's three women to envision behind what this show is. the message of female empowerment, though. how important is that to the audience and what they get out of this? >> i think that's everything. we're hoping that when women come in this room, they leave feeling empowered, excited about their lives. >> women are seeking connection and deep connection. being understood. and so, this show has been created around that premise. >> with these guys, what can we expect to see? >> they're talented.

they have personality. they have charisma. >> before the show started, we were able to meet the dancers and comedienne lindsay haley, who serves as the master of ceremonies. >> this is for my dad. >> this one is for my dad. >> i'm crying. you are ruining my fake eyelashes. >> how many had your moms in the audience? >> my mom and my grandmother. >> what did they think? >> they loved it. >> channing is not in the show. but during our behind-the-scenes tour, we cajoled him into showing off the moves that made him famous. >> go. karate. >> drop mic. >> then, we impressed him with ours. >> golfing. >> or tried to. >> that's -- >> natalie, that is beautiful.

>> all right. i'm with that. bowling. >> oh. >> come on. >> what is that? what is that? >> that's -- just getting the ball. >> she bowls in a very interesting way. >> with channing getting us in the spirit -- >> ladies, do we feel powerful? >> it was time to see "magic mike live" for ourselves. even becoming part of the show. >> let me borrow you for a second. >> that left us inspired. >> magic mike live" thank you. give it up for jenna and natalie of the "today" show. >> what a week. >> that's all we did. that's all we did. >> you need to clarify what was happening in that moment. >> i sat on the piano when they song. and jenna was serenaded. >> i blushed a lot. i'm not a pollyanna.

but there was a lot of blushing going on. >> this is my impersonation of you with channing tatum. >> why don't you spend a little time with him and see how you act. >> hubba, hubba. >> matt, you want to talk about anything? >> i know this is very perilous. but in the piece you talk about -- they talked about how they hope women will leave that feeling empowered. >> yes. >> do you think that if men were to go to a female review, where the women became sclantly clad that people would say the men leave empowered? >> it is a different kind of show. they have a female comedian who takes them on a journey. >> and it's created by women. >> the only reason i brought it up, is carson called me and asked me the question. >> i think you raise a fair

point. >> you do. >> you are like debbie downer, though. >>==topvo== we )re following several breakig . a very good friday morning to you. it is 8:26. i'm laura garcia cannon. we are following several breaking news stories this morning including a deadly shooting in san jose. it happened about 10:00 p.m. outside a wienerschnitzel on south first street near washington elementary school. police say the male victim died at a nearby hospital. right now there are no arrests. the chp says a routine traffic stop led to a high-speed chase that ended in this, a crash this morning along interstate 880. the driver lost control of the car and ended up on the other side of the alvarado exit. the chp says the suspect was taken to the hospital but will be placed under arrest. let's check that morning commute with mike. how's it looking. >> those two scenes were active this morning both cleared, but we're looking over here for another issue. the closure for niles canyon

which reopened last half hour and traffic flowing now, mild slowing over that niles creek over the bridge there. again that crash has cleared from the area. meanwhile, a smoother flow towards the bay bridge. a little slowing through oakland and the bay bridge metering lights still on. a live look past the coliseum where traffic over the last 15 minutes laura has started to move a little better so friday gets that lighter flow for the morning commute but will start to build in a few hours. back to you. >> all right. we'll take the light where we can get it. another local news update in half hour. hope you have a great friday morning and a great weekend too. it's going to be hot.

♪ it's friday morning, the 19th of may, 2017. and we are ready for some great music. >> mary j. blige. >> we're ready for you. >> mary, mary. >> thank you. >> is that just how it fwoez with you, honey? >> yes. that's how it goes. those are my fans. >> will you pan down to mary's shoes? mary brought her a-plus game today. those are smokin'. zbl >> by the way, before our concert, one more piece of business. let's get a check of the weather

from ms. dylan. >> "today's weather" is brought to you by walgreens. get your red nose today, only at walgreen's. >> nobody was cheering for the weather. let's look at what's going on this weekend. it will be nice across the northeast. we'll lose the heat and the humidity. it will drop back down to 70 degrees. still stormy through the middle of the country, though. it starts to spread eastward, a little on sunday. affecting if ining the ohio ane river valley. we are looking at . >> good morning i'm meteorologist kari hall. a hot day for the inland valleys and cool along the coast. san francisco up to 73 degrees. 70 at half moon bay and palo alto up to 88 and have 09 90 livermore and oakland 81 and 90 napa and santa rosa. we will see our temperatures really hot, so especially for

the valleys and then gradually starting to go down for next week. >> the "citi concert series" on "today" is brought to you by citi. >> we're almost ready for mary j. blige to get this plaza party started. but first, a little bit about the woman with the soulful voice. it's the voice that's earned mary j. blige the queen of hip-hop soul. she made her mark on the music industry with "real love." the first of 22 top ten r&b hits. ♪ i'm going down ♪ no more drama ♪ i like what i see when i'm looking at you ♪ >> reporter: she sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and is working with some of the biggest names like diddy, drake,

u2 and taylor swift. ♪ do like i do >> reporter: and now, mary is back on top of the charts with her 13th studio album, "strength of a woman." and her single "thick of it." >> reporter: when mary j. blige sings, her fans respond when she brings it all on the floor. now, she's bringing her soulful voice to our citi concert stage. we're so excited. now, here she is. mary j. blige, take it away. ♪ mm-mmm i learned my lesson ♪ ♪ yes, i did

♪ must have been crazy to think that you loved me ♪ ♪ i saw the signs but i couldn't say nothing ♪ ♪ i did the time i crossed the line for you ♪ ♪ 'cause i can see myself and nobody else but you ♪ ♪ tell me what you're thinking 'cause this is what you wanted ♪ ♪ should have been the one to hold me when i got lonely ♪ ♪ every time i think of the lies you told to me ♪ ♪ made it easy for me to leave ♪ you plus me was a love lesson in too deep without imperfection ♪ ♪ not always good but i stayed on my feet ♪ ♪ you had me should have never questioned ♪ ♪ you plus me was a love lesson in too deep without imperfection ♪ ♪ not always good but i stayed on my feet ♪ ♪ you had me should have never questioned ♪ ♪ you plus me

♪ you plus me ♪ i was riding wherever you're going ♪ ♪ at times i wanted to leave but didn't want to be lonely ♪ ♪ can't deny the fact you were my one and only ♪ ♪ love that i would do only love i knew ♪ ♪ and now i gotta turn my back 'cause you didn't realize that, boy, this was the real thing ♪ ♪ and i can't deny the fact that we don't belong together ♪ ♪ guess it ain't the real thing ♪ ♪ you plus me was a love lesson in too deep without imperfection ♪ ♪ not always good but i stayed on my feet ♪ ♪ you had me should have never questioned ♪ ♪ you plus me was a love lesson in too deep without imperfection ♪ ♪ not always good but i stayed on my feet ♪ ♪ you had me

should have never questioned ♪ ♪ you plus me, yeah you plus me ♪ ♪ oh, oh, oh you plus me ♪ ♪ i gotta keep on pushing and love myself through the hard times ♪ ♪ i gotta keep my patience still a long way to go now ♪ ♪ there's so much to learn when we trust the love that's deep in us ♪ ♪ then love will return yes, it will ♪ ♪ boy this was a love lesson ♪ you plus me was a love lesson ♪ ♪ in too deep without imperfection ♪ ♪ not always good but i stayed on my feet ♪ ♪ you had me should have never questioned ♪ ♪ you plus me was a love lesson ♪ ♪ in too deep without

imperfection ♪ ♪ not always good but i stayed on my feet ♪ ♪ you had me should have never questioned ♪ ♪ you plus me ♪ you plus me [ vocalizing ] ♪ you plus me ♪ you plus me ♪ plus me ♪ you weren't better than me you don't live here anymore ♪ ♪ we don't live here anymore [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you. thank you. >> mary j. blige is just getting

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[ cheers and applause ] jamming out this morning with the reigning queen of hip-hop soul, our friend, mary j. blige. >> you know, we love having her here. she just released her 13th studio album called "strength of a woman." and just announced, here is good news, going on tour this summer. and i understand tickets go on sale today. >> yes. >> what would you say to people who are going to line up and start buying tickets? what can they expect from an experience of come to see you on tour? >> we celebrate life because we come through so many trials. and life is hard as it is. but life is good. and we're coming to celebrate the good of life. we're going to have a good time.

>> a lot of this album, you would say, getting through personal stuff. "strength of a woman." tell us about that. >> it's a blessing that i can take all of my trials and tribulations and everybody knows what's going on. you know? it's awful. it's a bad thing. i don't want to keep talking about it so much. but it is what it is. i wouldn't be mary j. blige if i couldn't use my own music as therapy to get me through these things. so, right now, i'm healing, as well. thank you. >> we just saw you burst on to the scene 25 years ago. i don't know if it feels like 25 years. but when you sing a new song and you sing new songs in front of a crowd, is there a special emotion that you go through? >> it's a special emotion when my fans hear the new songs and they relate and they understand. we can relate to each other. so, the energy that's going back and forth, it's amazing. you can't understand what it feels like. >> you like mary's new songs?

yeah. obviously. what are you going to sing right now, mary? >> right now, i'm going to sing "the thick of it," because that's where i am right now, in the thick of it. >> ladies and gentlemen, mary j. blige. >> thank you, sweetie. thank you, y'all. ♪ love ain't just black and white ♪ ♪ ain't that simple it gets hard to tell ♪ ♪ whose wrong or right ♪ when it's dark with us ♪ i swear i barely see the light ♪ ♪ should i stick it out are you worth this fight ♪ ♪ are we worth this fight 'cause i ain't no quitter, babe ♪ ♪ and i be damned if all these years i let you dis me, babe ♪

♪ i was there when no one wanted to stay with you, baby ♪ ♪ you know i deserve more than this ♪ ♪ i do so, tell me who is gonna love you like i do ♪ ♪ who will you trust i gave you too much ♪ ♪ enough is enough now, we're in the thick of it ♪ ♪ so, tell me who's gonna love ♪ ♪ you like i do who will you trust ♪ ♪ i gave you too much enough is enough ♪ ♪ now we're in the thick of it ♪ what a hell of a year and i make it through hell ♪ ♪ and i come out alive and i got nothing to fear ♪ ♪ no more crying and trying ♪ and bring back this loving when nothing is here ♪ ♪ let me be clear i wasn't perfect but this ain't worth it ♪ ♪ i'm done with the mess i confess on the stress ♪ ♪ and i know i'm look back and

call it a blessing ♪ ♪ 'cause i ain't no quitter, babe ♪ ♪ but i be damned if all these years i let you dis me, babe ♪ ♪ i was there when no one wanted to stay with you, baby ♪ ♪ you know i deserve more than this ♪ ♪ i do ♪ so, tell me who who's gonna love ♪ ♪ you like i do who will you trust ♪ ♪ i gave you too much enough is enough ♪ ♪ now we're in the thick of it ♪ so tell me who who's gonna love ♪ ♪ you like i do who will you trust ♪ ♪ i gave you too much enough is enough ♪ ♪ now we're in the thick of it ♪ ♪ you had someone who really loved you ♪ ♪ should have held on held on real tight now ♪ ♪ and she placed you no other one above you ♪ ♪ should have let her go should have let her go ♪

♪ now, i'm letting go now i'm letting go ♪ ♪ oh, oh, oh ♪ so, tell me who who's gonna love ♪ ♪ you like i do who will you trust ♪ ♪ i gave you too much enough is enough ♪ ♪ now, we're in the thick of it ♪ ♪ so, tell me who who's gonna love ♪ ♪ you like i do who will you trust ♪ ♪ i gave you too much enough is enough ♪ ♪ now, we're in the thick of it ♪ ♪ yeah, yeah, yeah [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you. thank you so much. >> mary j. blige, back with more on a friday morning. but first, this is "today" on nbc. whoa!

you're not taking these. hey, hey, hey! you're not taking those. whoa, whoa! you're not taking that. come with me. you're not taking that. you're not taking that. you're not taking that. mom, i'm taking the subaru. don't be late. even when we're not there to keep them safe, our subaru outback will be. (vo) love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru.

welcome back to "today." and our citi concert stage. we're so thrilled that mary j. blige is here and making our stage her home this morning. she's going to do a classic. mary, take it away. >> so, good morning, family. we'll do this real quick. before we go to work. ♪ come on everybody mary j. is in the spot tonight ♪ ♪ gonna make you feel all right party with me ♪ ♪ let loose and be free ♪ when you step inside let's get it on the floor up in

this dancery ♪ ♪ now ya floatin' so ya gots ta dance for me ♪ ♪ don't need no hater-ration holla-ration in this dancery ♪ ♪ let's get it percolating while ya waiting so just dance for me ♪ ♪ come on, everybody get on up ♪ ♪ 'cause you know we gotta get it ♪ ♪ mary j. is in the spot tonight and i'm a make ya ♪ ♪ feel all right make ya feel all right ♪ ♪ come on, baby just party with me ♪ ♪ let loose and set your body free ♪ ♪ leave your situations at the door ♪ ♪ so when you step inside jump on the floor ♪ ♪ let's get it drunk upon the fun ♪ ♪ upon up in this dancery we got ya open ♪ ♪ now ya floatin' so ya gots ta dance for me ♪ ♪ don't need no hater-ration holla-ration in this dancery ♪ ♪ let's get it percolating while ya waiting so just dance for me ♪ ♪ it's only going to be about a matter of time before ya get loose ♪ ♪ and start to lose your mind ♪ ♪ cop you a drink, go ahead and rock ya ice ♪ ♪ 'cause we're celebrating no more drama in our life ♪ ♪ with the great track pumping everybody jumping ♪ ♪ go ahead and twist ya back and get ya body bumping ♪ ♪ i told ya leave your situations at the door ♪ ♪ so grab somebody and get your ass on the dance floor ♪ ♪ let's get it drunk upon the fun ♪ ♪ upon up in this dancery we got ya open ♪ ♪ now ya floatin' so ya gots ta dance for me ♪ ♪ don't need no hater-ration holla-ration in this dancery ♪ ♪ let's get it percolating while ya waiting so just dance for me ♪ ♪ we don't need no haters

yeah, we don't need no ♪ ♪ we're just trying to love one another ♪ ♪ trying to love one another we just want y'all ♪ ♪ to have a good time mm-mm ♪ ♪ no more drama in ya life work will harmonate the dime ♪ ♪ if ya got beat ya problem not mine ♪ ♪ we gonna be at south side we gonna celebrate all night ♪ ♪ let's have fun tonight no vibes ♪ ♪ turn that -- back way up high turn it up ♪ ♪ making you dance all night and i got some real heat for you this time ♪ ♪ doesn't matter if ya white or black ♪ ♪ let's get drunk 'cause mary's back ♪ ♪ let's get it drunk upon the fun upon up in this dancery ♪ ♪ we got ya open now ya floatin' so ya gots ta dance for me ♪ ♪ don't need no hater-ration holla-ration in this dancery ♪ ♪ dance for me ♪ let's get it percolating while ya waiting so just dance for me ♪ ♪ see, we don't need no haters

[ cheers and applause ] >> thank you so much. [ cheers and applause ] >> hear more from mary j. blige and all our summer concert artists at applemusic.com/today. we're back with much more on a friday morning. but first, this is "today", a mary day on nbc.

we cannot get enough mary. that was an awesome concert. thank you so much. >> thank you so much. i mean -- >> can we embarrass you for a second? >> please. why not? >> i want to say, we get a lot of big stars here. but very few are as kind and sweet and appreciative as mary j. blige is when she comes here. it's always please and thank you. and you have no idea how nice that is for us. >> that is awesome. >> thank you so much. >> here you go again. >> i got to say thank you, though, because what if you didn't want me here? what if nobody was here? thank you. thank you. >> the song we've been talking about, one of the songs is "family affair." we love that. >> thank you. >> would you give us a little taste.

>> another taste? >> come on, everybody, get on down. >> come on. ♪ come on, everybody get on up ♪ ♪ 'cause you know we gotta get it ♪ ♪ mary j. is in the spot tonight and i'm a make ya ♪ ♪ feel all right make ya feel all right ♪ ♪ come on, baby just party with me ♪ ♪ let loose and set your body free ♪ ♪ leave your situations at the door ♪ ♪ so when you step inside jump on the floor ♪ ♪ let's get it drunk upon the fun ♪ ♪ upon up in this dancery we got ya open ♪ ♪ now ya floatin' so ya gots ta dance for me ♪ ♪ don't need no hater-ration holla-ration in this dancery ♪ ♪ let's get it percolating while ya waiting so just dance for me ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> that's the perfect introduction for willie geist, here to tell us what's coming up on sunday. >> thanks. i get to follow that. mary j. was on every mix tape i ever made a girl in high school.

[ cheers and applause ] "real love," "sweet thing." and those mix tapes went to my future wife. thanks for making that happen for me. >> my first slow dance in middle school, mary j. >> no one cares at this point. but i have a show on sunday. >> i'll be with you, willie. >> laura linney, tony nominated, oscar nominated. charming, funny. a great lineup on sunday. >> that does it for us. mary j. blige. thank you so much. we're back with much more right after your local news. >> thank you. ♪ ♪ good morning, it )s 8 - -...

i )m ... ==topvo== we continue to track several bre a good friday morning. 8:56. i'm sam brock. we track several breaking news stories around the bay that includes this deadly shooting in san jose. it happened about 10:00 last night outside of a wienerschnitzel restaurant on south first street not far away from washington elementary school. police say the male victim there did die at a nearby hospital. right now police have not made any arrests in that case. two people are in critical condition after a car they were in crashed into a tree in the

oakland hills. this accident happened overnight on redwood road at crest month drive about 3:00 in the morning. firefighters say the two passengers were able to get out on their own but the other two victims were trapped inside of the car until rescue crews could come and pull them out. bob riddle is talking with police trying to find out what led up to the crash and will bring us a live report for our midday newscast and link to details on our home page. niles canyon road is back open again after a crash that injured two people. both directions were closed about two hours. more information in our twitter feed. the next time you drive past at&t park you might notice more traffic barriers. on our facebook page why new barriers are going up and link to the video. we'll see you with more news in 30 minutes.

this morning on "today's take," ellie kemper is our co-host. she's dishing on the new season and life as a new mom. and our freebie friday giveaway could be yours. and it doesn't get sweeter than this. two delicious desserts. one ultimate cookoff, starting right now. >> from nbc news, this is "today's take." live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> look at that crowd. good morning. welcome to "today" on this freebie friday morning, may 19th, 2017. you know this theme song, from "unbreakable kimmy schmidt." and our co-host, ellie kemper. >> i wake up to that song. >> you bounce side-to-side.

>> jefferson wrote that song. it's such an ear worm. >> i haven't seen you in so long. >> congratulations in person on your beautiful baby boy. >> babies all over the place. >> that's what everybody is doing. >> literally, figuratively. this is a big day. "unbreakable kimmy schmidt," begins streaming on netflix today. >> we have aically, right? >> yes. >> let's show a clip. >> it's kimmy schmidt. can i come in? i'm unarmed, except for the arms i was born with. and i'm not wearing a wire, except in my bra, because i need the support. but that's my business. >> okay. don't try anything funny. >> i wish she didn't say there. now, all i want to do is funny stuff. like go down these stairs. >> ma'am, that bit doesn't work without some kind of partition.

>> so happy it's back. >> thank you. i am happy it's back, too. it's an uplifting show. it's a weird uplifting show. >> everybody here, we're all laughing. >> yeah. >> that's a good sign. >> that's always a good sign. robert and tina fey wrote and created the show. it's a funny show. i hope it is what fulfills what we all need right now. >> just to laugh. >> a cheerfulness. >> do you read the script and chuckle to yourself? we were talking about script reads yesterday. >> and the thing about that script or that show, there's so many layers to the jokes. you peel off one layer. and it's an onion. >> another and another and another. >> do you chime in with your own stuff from time to time? knowing you, you're so quick-fitted and funny. >> no, that is kind of you. i hope it appears that way. but absolutely not. there's no improv on that show.

i appreciate. those guys are writing it. such finely-honed jokes. if i got in there, i would muck it up. >> this is a good time. you have the show. a beautiful baby. tell us everything. >> everything. >> how old is he? >> motherhood is crazy. >> it's crazy. >> did you know anything going in it? >> you have to. sink or swim. i felt like i was -- that's him. >> have you shown pictures? >> i haven't shown a picture. >> he's so cute. >> thank you. you have the right reaction. now, that i'm a mom, when i see a photo of any baby, even if i think the baby cease just so-so, you have to react like, that's the cutest thing i've ever seen. if anybody didn't have that response when they see james. >> it would cut. >> he is the cutest baby in the world. >> he has hair?

>> that's awesome. >> are those the little sock shoes? >> it's part of his onesie. >> that's my wallet. >> where? >> that he's stealing. >> i thought he was playing. >> that's mommy's wallet. he's cute. again, he's -- i think he's the -- >> he looks like adam. >> the best toys are free. wallet, keys. >> my baby is not into actual toys. they just want to tear paper. >> did you need that? >> i don't know. >> you had a cool shoot yesterday. have you gone back to your high school since -- >> in st. louis. >> yeah. i haven't been -- no. >> and as i'm walking back into the school, i realize -- i went back for a shoot, going back to high school. as i'm walking there, i had no reason to go back to my high school, unless we're doing a story. and i've never taken a selfie at my high school because i had a

beeper. i had the cool clear/teal beeper. >> you had one of those? >> no one beeped me. people would beep me boobless. >> you were only friend with gagsters. >> you could do certain numbers and it would look like words. >> 143 meant i love you. >> i didn't have a beeper. >> and look at the bruises on her knees. have you seen dylan's knees? >> i got to -- i played softball. yeah. i'm like -- >> keep your legs closed. >> here we go. >> my softball jersey. i wasn't 28. but i had a similar jersey to this. i got to play with the current high school softball team, the varsity team. i got to play catch. when i go into softball mode, i

drop down on my knees. >> that's why your knees are purple this morning? >> i went into practice mode. it's muscle memory. >> you don't mess around. are you -- in addition to the bruises, are your muscles sore? >> tomorrow, i'm going to be sore. we stopped shooting and went back out. i tripped over my own foot. and i face-planted in the dirt. and the girls are probably like, who is this? >> this was yesterday? >> it was 90 degrees. >> that's the whole team. my gosh. it was so much fun. we'll have that story coming up. >> we'll have to do a tight shot of dylan's knees. we didn't want to go up here skirt. >> thank you for that. we're also doing a shoot on people we admire. i've admired saveon glover.

he's a top dancer. i never thought he would answer a call to tap dance with me. but he did. and my tap skills are fifth grade level. at the apollo theater. >> can you capture this moment and realize what you're doing. >> what are you talking about fifth grade level? >> sheinelle. >> i haven't seen this. >> running out. >> one, two. >> what? >> that's amazing. >> it was crazy. >> that's unbelievable. >> it was -- >> sheinelle said to me earlier this morning, i didn't take a single picture from yesterday. you don't need to take a picture. look at what you were doing. >> what do you mean fifth grade level? that's juilliard. >> to be on stage with him, they tapped with gregory hines and all the greats. on the apollo stage. it was out of body.

>> that's fantastic. >> all my relatives in heaven were giggling and pointing and training. >> what training do you have? >> when i was a little girl, i used to take tap lessons. >> i remember groups of steps. that's all i can do. >> we can work with that. >> congratulations. >> kick ball change. >> kick ball change? >> i thought it was kick ball chain. >> that makes sense. >> yeah. >> kick ball change. >> we want to know, secrets from the set. >> ooh. >> we want to know all of the details. we're not going to ask you them. >> i thought i was supposed to produce them. i pick them. and it's not popcorn. it's a lie. >> your baby is almost 1 year old. true. this isn't truth or lie. which of your unbreakable cast mates would you have baby sit.

jane krakowski, or titus burg s burgess, or jon hamm. anybody but titus. you're the fun uncle. >> here you go. >> keep going? >> yeah. >> they have to be supervised. and jane has a baby. you are always -- should i keep going? >> yes. >> i just went back in. you're a pretty optimistic person. but what was the worst job you ever had? >> the worst job. i've been lucky i had many good jobs. but probably the worst job was, i worked at a bakery on the upper east side. and everyone was so angry. everyone coming in to order cupcakes. >> because it's new york? >> people were frustrated. you're buying cupcakes. why are you mad? >> that's like frowning eating an ice cream cone. >> maybe they were mad they gave

into the guilt. >> i love cupcakes. >> one more? one more, they say. >> what's the best piece of parenting advice you got from tina fey? >> she and i talked about the gritty details of poop and so forth. but the best parenting advice, i think when you don't have the baby, you don't realize that you -- might not be sleeping so much. i remember i came to work one day and i had had a sleepless night. she said, yeah, you don't realize, everyone was up in the night five times with their kids. and no one was complaining about it. and now you know. >> don't complain about it. >> basically, she said -- >> yeah. welcome to the club. get to work. >> exactly. coming up, did you sleep with a favorite stuffed animal or blankie when you were a kid? or blankie when you were a kid? don't answer we gave people cottonelle® to try and asked or blankie when you were a kid? don't "how clean do you feel after going to the bathroom?" (laughter)

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♪ seriously need a microphone for commercial breaks so we can stream it live on today.com or something. we're back with "today's take" and our guest co-hostelly ke el kemper. >> do you sleep with a stuffed animal? >> i sleep with my dog. she's an alive stuffed animal. >> an alive animal. and it provides just as much if not more comfort. >> what about you? >> i slept with my stuffed walr walrus, waldo, until about two months ago. >> starting when? >> when somebody saw the stuffed animal and put it in james' room. and i let it happen. and i left him there. it's time. you have a baby now. >> does he like it? >> i don't know. i don't have a picture of waldo. it's just a stuffed walrus. he's sort of ugly.

>> some kids don't like stuffed animals. and others are obsessed with them. the number of adults sleeping with comfort objects is growing. millennials, 16% sleep with sentimental objects. if you slept with a stuffed animal when you were a kid, it may lead to more tossing and turning as an adult. >> i like to hold something. my husband holds the pillow. >> yeah. >> do you sleep with something? >> no. but i used to hold my pillow. my husband's like, you're always holding the pillow. >> i say it to brian. and it's 1,000 degrees. and you can have a pillow. >> need my space. can you stop breathing? i can't sleep. >> can we talk about motherhood hacks? >> yes. why are you looking at me? >> oh. we haven't done this in a while.

kristen bell, had on an airplane. i didn't refresh up on this one. >> you didn't brush up on your kristen bell news? she was on an airplane and posted an airplane fix. a quick fix to tie up the diaper. that leads to the question, have you done any hacks? >> that is hilarious. >> i feel like my hacks are questionable. i mean, i don't know. in the heat of the moment, i'll find whatever might work. i do think -- james loves -- as i mentioned, toys do not appease him. he loves playing with this. >> the actual skin of your neck. >> you let him do it? >> why not? it quiets him down. take mommy's neck. it works. >> i don't know if that counts as a hack. if you invented something to go

around your neck. >> i should add extra skin and market it. >> a doughnut. you want to do the weather whul while i pull on ellie's neck. >> looking at the weather across the country, we have storms in the plains. heavy rain, might have to deal with tornados today. not as big of a threat as yesterday. but we're looking at the zone right through that dark orange through oklahoma and texas. otherwise, large hail, damaging winds. also, the danger is lying thing, too. this storm system will move to the east through the evening. and tomorrow, we're going to lose the threat of widespread storms. warming up a bit today. up to 73 degrees, 72 tomorrow

and 73 sunday. we'll see a cooldown. the cooldown will be much more grand inland, reaching 90s in the valleys with the hottest day on sunday, and then by the middle of next week, we'll be back in the upper 70s, which is closer to where we should be for this time of the year. >> thank you, dylan marie. up next, tgiff, thank goodness it's freebie friday. we have an amazing give real cheese people are ham and swiss people. some love opened faced. others as big as your face. they're hot and cold. big and bold. thick and ultra thin. but they would never make a sandwich with pasteurized process cheese food. it's only required to contain 51% real cheese. sargento slices are 100% real, natural cheese. they let sandwich lovers fly their muenster, cheddar and gouda flags high. sargento natural cheese slices,

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any room into your home into your very own movie theater. >> that's cool. >> let's head outside and see who wants one. >> let's do this. >> you can watch a movie. or watch your show. >> which comes out today, on netflix. >> and project your show, above your bed. >> perhaps in the bathroom. >> you can have ellie anywhere you go. >> these people would love to have it. >> look at this crowd. [ cheers and applause ] >> i'm sticking so close to you. >> good morning. >> yeah. tablet. wow. >> good morning. >> we have a tablet. would you like it? where are you from? >> wisconsin. >> you can project on the wall and watch anything you want. there you go. >> okay, i'm giving this to her. where are you from?

>> texas. >> oh, texas. >> my sister's -- my daughter is obsessed with you. >> you can watch elie and blast it on the wall with that thing. one more. one more. one more. where are you from? >> i'm from connecticut. good morning, connecticut. >> hi, connecticut. >> all right. dylan, what about our fans at home? >> we're giving three lucky fans at home the yoga tab 3 pro. visit facebook.com/todays take and don't forget to like us. coming up, ellie's co-star, titus burgess joins us to break out the pino noir. we're back after this. i love you so much, that's why i bought six of you for when you stretch out. i want you to stay this bright blue forever,

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♪i )m ... ==topvo== we continue to monitor several breaking news stories - inud good friday morning at 9:26. i'm sam brock. this morning we are continuing to follow several breaking news stories, including this, a deadly shooting in san jose. patrol officers were walking around last night and happened to hear gunshots and quickly responded to finding a man suffering from a gunshot wound on the street there. this happened about 10:00 last night outside a weinerschnitzel on south 1st street right outside an elementary school. the victim died at a hospital while receiving care. right now they are investigating for motives, but so far no suspects and no arrests. two people are in critical condition after a car they were in crashed into this tree from the oakland hills. it happened overnight at redwood road and crestmont drive. two people in the car were able

to get out on their own will. two other victims were trapped inside and a major rescue operation was needed to get them out. chp says a routine traffic stop is what ended up leading to this, a high-speed chase that ended with a crash early this morning along interstate 880 in fremont. this is what the car looked like afterwards. the driver lost control. the car ended up on the other side of the alvarado exit. the suspect was taken to a hospital, and once that person is okay, they'll be placed under arrest. thousands of runners and non-runners and everybody in san francisco this weekend getting ready for one of the world's wildest races. breakers taking place this saturday morning. they're expecting some 40,000 runners. that's just the people who officially register. traffic closures actually start on saturday. as for the race itself, that begins at the embarcadero at 8:00 in the morning and ends on ocean beach. we'll have a look at your weather and traffic right after this break.

good friday morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall.

temperatures are already warming up. we're seeing mostly some 60s, even some low 70s. it's going to be a very warm day in the south bay reaching near 90 degrees in loas gatos. we'll be cooler near the coast with san francisco at 90 degrees. >> mild slowing through san jose continuing, and we had a crash on the 101 just south of the university and cleared up quickly on the peninsula side there. we have slow moving through oakland approaching the bay bridge. i'll get you back to the "today" show.

unbreakable. "kimmy schmidt" reunion. and tituss burres in the house. he leaves his boyfriend, mikey is cheating on him. >> they were laughing and touching arms. worst of all, you're going to need to sit down for this. i know you're sitting. sit again. mikey was wearing the date night outfit he wore on our first date. >> are you sure the other guy is gay? >> everybody is gay, kimmy. it's the '90s. >> you have to talk to mikey and give him a chance to explain. >> i know what i saw. >> don't overreact.

>> i am doing what any reasonable person would do in this situation. i'm lemonading. >> yes. >> i love it. >> have you coined the phrase lemonading? >> it's a verb. >> this is the video i want america to see. >> this is what we need to be focused on as a nation. it's too much. >> you wear the outfit so well. >> thank you. one of the most comfortable things i've born worn in my lif. >> did you get to smash the window? >> it was fun. i would love to have a window smashing batting range in my backyard. would relieve so much stress. >> i heard you did underwater scenes, right? >> i do not swim and i didn't not like that. >> how hard is that? >> like almost drowning is hard. at first, i thought they were joking.

you're going to be submerged in the ocean. tina, do you like me or not? >> we have safety meetings when there's a loose tennis ball. but was there a safety meeting for this? >> we had a safety meeting. i had two gorgeous men to the side of me. i was okay with that. >> save me again. >> bring us up to tate. when we last saw tituss, he was following dionne warwick on a cruise ship. >> in true tituss fashion, nothing goes right. he leaves the ship prematurely and literally washes ashore. and he comes back to find that his relationship is in a different place than when he left it. he goes lemonading. and season three following him, in terms of how he deals with his pain and trying to put back the pieces together.

>> we just want to show this video one more time. >> and we were wondering, you and i talked about this, how is ti tituss hip enough to see the lemonade video. we're such rubes. >> we are broke and don't have cable. we get one channel. >> get like one channel. but i feel like you saw it at the library and only last week. right? >> right. right. i was sure it was a big thing. he has no clue. >> that's right. >> here's what i want to know. you went outside on the plaza. and people go crazy. they want you to be who you are on the show. you're not the same man. >> i should just do a blanket apolo apology. >> do people do that? >> it's not so much they orally admit to disappointment. but you can see the excitement level go down in their eyes. >> what do you think they want you to do?

>> i don't know. just be tituss. but that is too much work. >> you with walk around lemonading. that way, it's enough. and we love this tituss. >> this is the better tituss. >> i feel comfortable. but don't get any ideas. you belong to me. >> we will borrow her every now and again. season three of "unbreakable kimmy schmidt" from our sister universal is streaming when? >> today. >> i get it. >> "today." >> one incredible dessert -- our viewers are competing in the ultimate cookoff. candy bar cake versus upside down car what's going on here? our insurance company may not have a name your price tool [ shouting ] but we got disses for days! your mother is so lame, she never put any notes in your lunch bag.

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it's our final round of "today's ultimate cookoff." our viewers have been competing against each other, showing off their signature dishes. and today, it's all about the desserts, my friends. our two finalists, we didn't plan this. they're both from arkansas. and they're both moms of five. i don't know what it is about you people in arkansas having five kids and baking desserts, but you do. and upside-down, caramel

cupcakes. and diane is making a candy bar cake. good morning. >> good morning. >> you say the best way to eat a cupcake is upside down? >> i think it's upside down. you get the best part first. >> the ingredients are basic. you mix together your wet ingredients. and fold in your dry. scoop it into a greased or pi paper-lined muffin tin. i made a swiss meringue butter cream. >> when do you have time to do this? >> the nice thing is the frosting doesn't have to be pretty. >> is the frosting yummy. i have to. >> and this caramel. >> just give me a spoon. dip it in this. and you mash it on the plate. >> that's cute.

is that ice cream on the top? >> it is. and i usually make a homemade vanilla bean ice cream. >> move over martha stewart. >> i have a lot of kids to crank ice cream coolers. we're good. top it with this. drizzle on some caramel. >> how did you come up with this? >> i wanted to incorporate -- this is three different desserts in one. >> why not? >> and you can throw some banana slices on there. and there you go. >> all right, my friend. it doesn't get better. >> that looks amazing. i'm thrilled to show you y'all the super simple dessert. a chocolate cake mix. >> done. >> a sweetened condensed milk, and salted caramel. and then, my favorite candy bar. >> move along. >> once you bake it in the 9 by

13 dish, you just poke holes all over the cake. >> you want to try? >> your kids are older, right? >> yes. they love to cook. >> is that too many? >> that's really good. >> we're going the spread the sweetened condensed milk. >> what does that do? >> it drizzles in those holes and gets yummy. and spread it out good. >> then what? >> do the same thing with the caramel. and the salted caramel goes down into the holes. >> dylan and ellie, i don't know what you're going to do. >> we put the whipped topic own top. and my favorite is crushed butter fingers. >> this is -- is there a tie? >> this cake, my family will do a happy dance. and i hope the judges will, too.

>> she wants to do a happy dance. >> i don't know. this is really hard. we're torn. i'm loving the cake and i'm you're loving this. >> i love the texture of these. >> you're indecided. >> we're choosing between gold and gold. this is amazing. >> i eat this one and get that nice pop of texture. >> that wasn't an easy decision. >> thank you so much. >> here's the thing. >> first of all, congratulations to both of you guys. >> you want to hear what they're going to get? >> yes. >> thanks to william is a hosonr winner is going home with the ten-piece cookwear set. and you're going home with the william sonoma high-performance blender. >> that's the best desserts we've had. dylan, you do weather and we're going to eat.

>> we're topping this off with a glass of whole milk. >> we're going to see a decent weekend up and down the northeast. we're looking at a bigger cooldown. temperatures will drop by about 20 degrees. but pleasant, around 70. stormy in the middle of the country. looking for scattered showers and stronger storms. and heavy rain moves in on sunday, across the gulf coast. it starts to clear out in the good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. we're going to have a very warm weekend. looking at some low 70s in san francisco. still very nice there but look at these inland areas. in the valleys we're up to 91 today, 93 tomorrow and sunday will be the hottest day, up to 95 degrees. then the temperatures gradually start to come down, very gradually. we'll be up to 77 degrees on thursday, but we're in for a very hot weekend ahead with a lot of outdoor events. make sure you drink lots of water and don't forget the

sunglasses. together in "ocean's 11", brad pitt and topher grace team up for a movie called "war machine." topher is here to tell us about it. it. it. standby. hey katy, let me show you how behind schedule we are. yeah. are those the pyrotechnics that are gonna startle me from a distance? yep. and my impractical wardrobe changes, those all set? not even close. oh, this is probably going to shine in your eyes at the worst possible time. perfect. we're looking at a real train wreck here, am i right? wouldn't it be great if everyone said what they meant? the citi® double cash card does. it lets you earn double cash back with 1% when you buy, and 1% as you pay. the citi double cash card. double means double.

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we'll bring you desserts in a moment. get this, it was a school play that launched the career of topher grace, with no professional acting experience. he landed the role of eric foreman, one of the funny teens on "that 70s' show." >> he recently starred in "truth." now, he's playing wingman to brad pitt's character in "war machine." take a look. >> i'm sorry. i don't want to start a fight here. and please forgive me for speaking for you, sir. but the general didn't hire me to make things quiet, okay? look, you're so good at your job. but that job is basically writing press rerees. here's the thing about press releases, nobody reads them. >> that's kind of true,

actually. >> topher grace. good morning. nice to have you here. >> thank you for having me. >> tell us about your character. he has a sense of humor. >> he's really not in the military. he's a cpo. he's a civilian when it starts. and his lock of knowledge -- spoiler alert -- you know how it ends, right? it's about general stanley mcchrystal. he makes weird publicly choices for group. they wind up paying for that. >> and topher went through boot camp to prepare for that? >> you, topher. >> not real boot camp. actor boot camp. you get scared as an actor when you're -- it's so great you're doing this. it's great to see a friend on this thing, right? >> it's fun for us to watch, fyi. >> as an actor, you get scared when you're going a military thing because you have three

weeks to figure out all the stuff i should know. but my character is such an idiot. the first day i popped my collar, i thought it would look cool. and the military guy said, you wouldn't do that. and the director said, he would. >> so, you had an excuse for anything. >> yeah. it was my lack of knowing anything was great. >> perfect. >> was it "top gun" you got your information on the popped collar? >> just the volleyball scene. >> this film reunites you with brad pitt. >> yeah. we wanted to find something together, me and brad. this was -- i said, you take the lead in this one. i'll do the lead in the next one. >> you said he was intimidated because you're so good-looking. >> i felt that. he never said anything. >> you could see it in his eyes. >> yeah. he was -- it's like that poster. he's like our great leader every day. and we were out in the desert filming this. got to know each other. a great group. >> you were in abu dhabi?

>> abu dhabi, yes. ladies. all over me. >> abu dhabi? >> i want to say, it is fun to say. >> it is fun to say. >> it's funner to say before we had to spend months in a desert there. >> yeah. >> it wasn't afghanistan. so, that was good. there's a way, being an actor, when you're really in it, you have to do very little acting. we're jumping off blackhawk helicopters and running there tu desert. really fun. >> there probably was not so much to do on the downtime, expect to spend time with each other? that's a good thing. >> we were three hours outside of abdau dhabi. we would shoot. and it's juicy, interesting material. we would sit around this table,

cast and crew and talk about how fascinating the movie was and we shot that day. and it was inform the next day. >> you're sur rounded by it the whole time. >> yeah. >> thank you for being here. "war machine" on netflix and in theaters may 26th. back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

can we thank ellie kemper for being here? >> you can. >> thank you for being here. >> i love being here. >> we like a little reunion. >> i feel that way. >> here's the thing. i know you showed a picture of your son for the first time, that's kind of a moment. >> that's huge. i texted my husband, is this okay to show? and he never texted back. sorry, michael. >> oh. >> again. >> just because that one wasn't planned. >> he is the sweetest. >> see those cute, little cheeks. >> he's cute.

>> enjoy every second of it. >> you, too. >> coming up, kathie lee and hoda -- bermuda babes? fun in the son and a special visit from michael douglas. >> and team usa, ready to vie for america's cup. >> tap dance. >> i'll tap

=wx sot!!= oc: over to mike trt: 30 the south bay will see some hot temperatures with highs well above average, reaching into the upper 80s to lower 90s. morgan hill will be up to 88 degrees today. not much wind, either. 83 degrees in hayward, while antioch is up to 91 degrees. 88 degrees for the high today in

palo alto. the embarcadero at 73. the coastline will be nice and cool, but the inland valleys is where those temperatures will really be heating up today. up to 90 in napa and santa rosa. for an update on what's happening on the roads, let's head over to mike. >> what's happening is a friday. that's a good thing on the roadways. mild traffic flow, mild slowing. getting over toward the bay bridge, we even have a smooth flow of traffic and the most consistent slowing we have in oakland right by the coliseum. the traffic starting to lighten up in the last few minutes. we may have some slowing in both directions over the next couple hours. they have sweeper trucks through the area, but so far no major problems. back to you. happening now, san jose police investigating a deadly shooting that happened right outside a fast food restaurant. today in the bay covers it all day long.

a chase and a crash and what the chp says sparked the chase and the suspect's condition. up to two years in prison for former lawmaker anthony weiner. the details tied to his sexting scandal. i'll be back for an update in half an hour. see you then. how far should pure alpine spring water have to travel from its source to the bottle? ♪ how about less than a mile and a half? crystal geyser is the only major us spring water bottled

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. time for the show. we're supposed to get you going. >> i'm in heaven. >> hello. a swizzle to get us going. >> mustafa, thank you. >> shall we? >> kath, what's happening? >> i think we're going to have an adventure. i think this is what they call heaven. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb soaking up the sun on the beautiful island of bermuda. >> come on, look at us.