starting to stack up. heading north from the coliseum. nice to at least see some sunshine out there. the today show is moments away, but for more local ns, be sure to stay with us for today in the bay, streaming now on roku, pluto and other platforms. live at 8 a.m. are you preparing a spring break getaway? we're driving into the top destinations and the simple ways you can save on your flight and hotel bookings. amit staycation. yeah, save a lot of money. yeah. that's right. so we're all going to your place. why not? good monday morning. a rare and dangerous situation playing out in the carolinas this morning. >> dozens of wildfires erupting, entire communities under siege today. it is march 3rd, this is "today." state of emergency. crews racing to get the upper hand, after dangerous wildfires suddenly explode in size in the

carolinas. the largest near myrtle beach, fueled by windy, dry conditions, prompting evacuations and panic. al is there with the forecast and tracking a massive storm taking aim at millions this week. fallout. >> you're gambling with world war iii. >> the oval office showdown heard round the world. >> during the war, everybody has problems. even you, but you have nice ocean and don't feel now. >> this morning, what happens next as ukraine's president heads to europe. democrats pounce. >> the white house has become an arm of the kremlin. >> and republicans circle the wagons. >> i've never seen anything like president zelenskyy's behavior there. he berated and interrupted his host instead of expressing gratitude. >> we are live at the white house straight ahead. round two. elon musk sets a new deadline

for federal employees to report to his doge team, with protests across the country. and pore planned today. we're going to have the very latest. deepening mystery. questions grow in the deaths of gene hackman and his wife. the autopsy finding no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. just ahead, what investigators hope data from hackman's pacemaker could reveal. all that, plus paying tribute. the stars of figure skating come together to honor the victims of that devastating plane crash, including this poignant performance from a skater who lost both parents. >> it's a big part of our identity, we fall down, we get up. we get injured, we get up. >> inside this weekend's legacy on ice. and the oscar goes to "anora," dominating the academy awards with five wins, including best picture, director and best actress in a surprise of

the night. while the stars of "wicked" hit all the right notes. ♪ >> the big winners, moments and fashions that have people talking today, monday, march 3rd, 2025. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and craig melvin, from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hi, everybody. good morning. welcome to "today." good to have you with us. it's mon-yay, as craig might say. it's catching on, and what a night, sunday night, hollywood's biggest night delivering some big moments. >> yes, a lot of big moments last night. the independent film "anora" making history with surprise wins. we had ariana grande and cynthia erivo opening with the spectacular tribute to "wicked." then there was morgan freeman delivering a touching tribute to

his late friend, gene hackman. we'll get to the highlights in just a moment. let's get to our top story, breaking news, dangerous and fast-moving wildfires in the carolinas. south carolina has declared a state of emergency, that happened over the weekend, with strong winds and dry conditions fueling those flames. al has the full forecast just ahead, including a severe storm that is headed to this region this week. but, first, emilie ikeda is in myrtle beach this morning. good morning. >> reporter: you can see and certainly smell the smoke from the wildfires in the region. officials urging people to be careful on the roadways because of just how much visibility has been impacted. we're here near myrtle beach, south carolina, where the largest wildfire is currently burning. fortunately, overnight, firefighters making important headway. it's torched some 1,600 acres, according to officials, and now it's 30% contained.

this morning, residents in the southeast waking up after a weekend of wildfires, red flag warnings and frightening evacuations. >> hurry! >> reporter: in south carolina, first responders battling more than 170 wildfires, as the governor here declared a state of emergency. this view of the blazes captured during a plane landing in myrtle beach, after powerful wind gusts approaching 30 miles an hour over the weekend spread flames that reached several dozen feet into the sky. and we witnessed just how easily this kind of dry brush can fuel the fire. we watched these flames multiply in just the last couple of minutes. the south carolina forestry commission says the fires have been worsened by a perfect storm of windy and dry conditions. >> talk to me about the conditions that fifirefighte are up against. >> it's very erratic. you saw the flames were low and all of a sudden they jumped up, right? so wind changes can do that in this kind of a fuel type, as we call it. so it can be a little scary.

>> reporter: towers of smoke from wildfires can be seen from miles in north carolina as well as the region hopes the most dangerous fire conditions are under control. and while firefighters will get some relief from those powerful wind gusts we saw over the weekend, there still is a burn ban in place across the entire state of south carolina because of the wildfire risk. this region is short some 4 inches of its typical rainfall, savannah. >> emmilie ikeda leading us off thank you. let's bring in al now. he is tracking the wildfire dangers, also tracking the threat of severe storms this week. it sounds like the lack of rainfall really played a role here. >> a big, big problem. good morning to you. as you look up and down the eastern seaboard we have drought not quite as bad along the coast, but still dry fuels as the winds, vegetation and low humidity, and that continues the fire threat. the winds not quite so bad, but we're going to continue to watch that. then out west the storm system that's gathering, it's bringer

winter weather advisories and storm watches and blizzard warnings through the rockies, and ahead of that system today we are looking at a risk of severe weather from oklahoma city, wichita falls, dallas, wind gusts, tornadoes possible from oklahoma city, wichita a falls onnto dallas, damaging hail as well. this system starts moving tomorrow, bringing snow from oklahoma all the way to the u.p. of michigan, a destructive line of storms stretching from chicago all the way down to new orleans. look at this. we're looking at a risk, enhanced risk of severe weather, damaging winds. the greatest threat, strong tornadoes from little rock, lake charles, new orleans. but we've got a really hard risk as you make your way for ef-2 tornadoes through the south and then wednesday the system reaches the east, bringing heavy rain, snow across the great lakes. but a risk of severe weather stretching from charleston all the way up to just south of new

york city, guys. big story, an ongoing fallout here and abroad from the unprecedented and heated oval office clash between president trump and ukraine's president. negotiations between the two countries are on hold, european leaders are looking to contain the damage. senior white house correspondent garrett haake with the latest now. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. and that stunning showdown friday between leaders of two allied countries re-setting a peace process that had seemed like it might have been on the fast track. president trump spent the weekend at mar-a-lago while zelenskyy jetted to london for an emergency meeting with european leaders. this morning the ukrainian president posting on social media that it's russia that wants to drag out this war, attacking with drones and bombs in the last week and asking for greater collective strength from the world. >> what do you think stands between you and zelenskyy, sir? >> reporter: president trump not responding sunday night as he returned to the white house after his oval office clash with ukraine's president zelenskyy

echoed around the world. negotiations with ukraine on a deal to share the embattled country's mineral wealth as a first step toward a peace deal now stalled, white house sources say, after friday's meeting devolved into a diplomatic disaster. >> you don't have the cards now. with us you start having cards. >> have you said thank you once this entire meeting? >> multiple times. >> reporter: trump's team asking zelenskyy to leave the white house, spending the weekend in london at an emergency summit with european leaders. they're working to patch up ukraine's frayed alliance with the u.s. >> nobody wanted to see what happened last friday, but i do not accept that the u.s. is an unreliable ally. >> reporter: while king charles invited zelenskyy for a rare meeting at his country home. trump's team casting blame on zelenskyy. >> he found everybody opportunity to try to ukraine explain on every issue and all

we're trying to do is figure out whether peace is possible. >> reporter: little hope for restarting talks. >> look, i don't know that we can get both sides to the table at this point. >> reporter: a kremlin spokesman saying this morning that the oval office showdown proved zelenskyy doesn't want peace. democrats blasting both trump and vice president vance, saying they escalated the exchange. >> the white house has become an arm of the kremlin. >> reporter: vance in vermont this weekend greeted by protesters while on a ski trip with his family. this morning, zelenskyy sharing a video, saying we understand the importance of america, and, quote, there hasn't been a single day when we haven't felt grateful for the u.s.'s support. after saying yesterday that he's ready to sign a minerals deal and believes the relationship can be salvaged. >> reporter: we also learned sunday at some point in late february before that friday meeting, defense secretary pete hegseth ordered u.s. cyber command to stand down on offensive cyber and information operations against russia, according to a u.s. official. the pentagon declined to comment, citing operational

security concerns, but senate democratic leader chuck schumer overnight ripping that move as a giveaway to putin and a critical strategic mistake. >> garrett haake at the white house, thank you. let us turn to president trump's ongoing efforts to reduce the side of the federal government. this morning agencies are bracing for more job cuts and a second email from elonusk's doge team once again demanding a list of accomplishments, creating new confusion this morning. nbc's chief capitol hill correspondent ryan nobles continues to follow this. good morning to you. >> reporter: craig, good morning. and many federal workers were unsure how to respond to the first email they received demanding to know what they had accomplished at work. now they're getting a second version with a warning that this request may become a regular requirement. over the weekend, millions of federal workers received a second email demanding five things they accomplished in the last week or risk being fired. the emails have been created by

the elon musk-led department of government efficiency and endorsed by president donald trump. >> there was a lot of genius in sending it. >> reporter: but many agencies have been giving their employees conflicting guidance on how to respond, guidance that has still not been cleared up. while this weekend democrats warning that musk may turn to cutting benefits for americans after he criticized social security last week. >> social security is the biggest ponzi scheme of all time. >> reporter: senators quickly responding. >> i think what musk, the e wort said, is totally outrageous. >> reporter: the changes by musk's team are still being felt, including at usaid, the agency that handles america's foreign aid. a memo was written saying the cuts will, quote, no doubt result in preventable death, destabilization and threats to national security on a massive scale. he was later placed on administrative leave. musk's next target, the department of defense. the initial review of the pentagon's massive budget is

expected today, as protests in response to the cuts across government continue. thousands gathering at national parks across the country to express their outrage. and in red states nationwide, republicans continue to face the heat from their constituents. in kansas, senator roger marshall ended a town hall early to avoid a hostile crowd. >> i'm going to say this one time. if you all keep cutting me off, if you're rude, which you're being, i'm going to leave. >> a lot to happening, ryan. let's talk about this deadly measles outbreak that continues to rage, especially inexas. we're hearing more about that from house secretary rfk jr. what's he saying abo that? >> reporter: craig, those case numbers keep growing, it's now over 150 across the u.s. rfk jr. is calling the outbreak a call to action in a new fox news op-ed. he's asking families to consult their health care providers

about the options to get their kids vaccinated, but notably, kennedy, who is, of course, a vaccine skeptic, does not explicitly recommend the shot. instead calling the decision a personal one to make, craig. >> ryan nobles on the hill, thank you. again, we're going to hear from president trump himself on his agenda here and abroad during tomorrow night's joint address to congress. of course, nbc news will bring you special live coverage starting at 9:00 p.m. eastern. breaking overnight, a 70-year-old man was killed, four other people were wounded in a stabbing attack that happened in northern israel at a bus station. officials say the man who carried out the attack was also killed and that he was an israeli citizen. his motive still unknown at this hour. the attack, of course, coming at a time when tensions are high in that region surrounding the fate of the cease-fire in gaza. lots more to get to on a monday morning, including hollywood's biggest night of the year, the oscars. the stars were out in force for

ththe 97th ademy awards. an evening that was filled with suspense, songs, even some surprises. nbc's kaylee hartung is in los angeles for us, up early with the highlights. hey, kaylee. >> reporter: good morning, craig. hollywood's biggest night started at 4:00 in the afternoon here in l.a. as first-time oscars host conan o'brien joked opening the show. the night belonged to "anora," taking home five of the six awards it was nominated for, making it one of the most dominant films in oscars history. overnight, "anora" shimmering in oscar gold, the independent film dancing its way to five wins, including best picture, best director, and a surprise best actress statue for 25-year-old mikey madison. >> i grew up in los angeles, but hollywood always felt so far away from me. so to be here standing in this room today is really incredible. >> reporter: the film's

director, sean baker, tying walt disney for most oscar wins in a night. >> this film was made on the blood, sweat and tears of incredible indy artists. >> reporter: for the second time in his career, adrien brody won best actor honors. this time for his role as a holocaust survivor in "the brutalist." >> i believe if the past can teach us anything, it's a reminder to not let hate go unchecked. >> reporter: but the supporting actor categories saw two first-time winners. >> kiernan culkin. >> he won for "a real pain," teasing his wife about a promise to have another child if he won an oscar. >> love of my life, ye of little faith. no pressure. i love you. >> reporter: zoe saldana clinching oscar gold for "emilia perez," in an additional speech,

saldana dedicating the award to her family. >> i am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hard-working hands. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> reporter: the night kicking off with a magically "wicked" duet, featuring ariana grande and cynthia erivo. ♪♪ >> reporter: the high notes kept coming with a tribute to the james bond franchise. ♪♪ >> reporter: and queen latifah celebrating the legacy of late music giant quincy jones. ♪♪ >> reporter: first-time oscars host conan o'brien honoring l.a.'s firefighters, and in a history-making win, "wicked" costume designer paul tazewell bringing the audience to their feet.

>> i'm the first black man to receive a costume design award. >> reporter: such a special moment there. one of the most talked about moments of the night came before the show even began. during an interview on the red carpet, halle berry finally getting back at adrien brody, planting a shocking kiss just like he did after he won his first oscar for best actor back in 2003. maybe there's some luck in that lip lock. >> man, adrien brody had a heck of a night. kiss from halle, oscar. last night was the annual reminder for me, how old and uncool i've gotten. >> because you haven't seen any of the movies? >> i saw maybe three of them. >> that's two more than i did. i saw "wicked." >> "wicked," "conclave" and "sing sing." >> that's pretty good. >> by the way, conan o'brien did a spectacular job as host. >> i agree with you. >> it reminded me of how whacky he is and he brought sensibility.

fantastic. let's show you what we've got as far as your weather is concerned. cold day in the northeast, sunny skies through the southeast, mild highs through the plains. fire risk will be getting up to speed in the southwest. we're going to look at that coming up in the next half hour. we're going to get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. . ♪ and have ♪ ♪ have a little fun ♪ today. it's a chilly start and will be a cool day. so we're back to sweaters and coats as our temperatures only make it

into the upper 50s. today we're down to 44 tonight, and seeing more clouds coming in tomorrow with a slight chance of rain. rain chances increase for wednesday as well ashursday, and then by the end of the week, we're seeing a slight warm up and we're back to the sun and that's your latest weather, guys. >> he looks different, doesn't he? >> he does, clean shaven. >> what the heck. >> movember is over? >> didn't shave it all off. >> thank you. still ahead, the touching tribute to gene hackman at last night's oscars as we learn more about the legendary actor's final days. nbc' liz cloits is on the story. >> reporter: good morning to you. morgan freeman took the stage to speak about his late friend, despite so many questions about how he and his wife died. we are getting new clues into when it may have happened. we'll have that coming up.

also ahead, the stars of figure skating gathering to honor the victims of that plane crash in washington. our inside look at the emotional legacy on ice tribute through the eyes of some of the sport's biggest icons. first, this is "today" on nbc.

just ahead, the show within the show, from bold gowns to bright suits. we will break down the winners from the red carpet at last night's oscars. >> i love that timothée chalamet suit. first, your local news and weather. . to calm inflammation. most people got 100% clear skin, some after the first dose. serious side effects, like suicidal thoughts and behavior, infections and lowered ability to fight them, liver problems, and inflammatory bowel disease have occurred.

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organizing on social media and are expected to gather around 230 this afternoon. but yesterday, a protest of a different kind as a caravan of people headed to the central valley, where a man is being detained by ice after he, his family says he was beaten by ice agents and ended up in the hospital. ice says that he was picked up in a targeted enforcement. i'm ginger conejero saab in san francisco with a potential new gut punch for those struggling to make it in the bay. congress is eyeing a march 14th deadline for a new spending bill that calls for about $2 trillion in spending cuts. that new bill has health advocates fearing drastic cuts to medicaid. medicaid is one of the largest sources of federal spending, costing about $600 billion per year. president trump last week said lawmakers would not touch medicaid funding, and our first full week of a new month brings some cooler weather. meteorologist kari hall. and we're starting

out with temperatures in the low 40s this morning in the east bay. upper 40s for the rest of the bay area. we're headed for the upper 50s by this afternoon with sunshine and rain is in the forecast starting tomorrow. kira kari. thanks. don't. you can watch our today in the bay live strereaming nscast. it's at 8 a.m. with spring break coming up, we can help you plan your getaway. we'll dive into top destinations and the simplest ways to save on your flights and your hotel bookings. watch on roku, amazon fire tv,

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♪ i want to keep on dancing ♪ ♪ ♪ i want to keep on dancing ♪ ♪ at the pink pony club ♪ we're back at 7:30 with a highlight from the oscars afterparties, one of the highlights there. elton john and chappell roan teaming up for a "pink pony club" duet. this was the annual oscars bash. carson is here. >> we didn't even see sir elton john's face, but you knew right away that was elton john. >> how cool is that? >> he's been throwing that oscars party for a long time. >> we'll have the latest on the parties and all the things coming up in a bit. we have a busy half hour. we start this morning with the ongoing search for answers in the mysterious deaths of legendary actor gene hackman and his wife. >> this morning investigators are trying to find out how they died after the initial autopsy ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. liz kreutz continues to follow this story for us. good morning. >> reporter: this is still very much a mystery.

there is no surveillance footage in or outside the home. adding to the challenge, the couple was very private. it is not known who they last had contact with. but hackman's pacemaker is offering concrete evidence about the timeline. tributes are continuing to pour in for the beloved actor, including at last night's academy awards. >> if we meet again, then we'll smile. >> reporter: this morning as hollywood honors the legendary career of gene hackman -- >> our community lost a giant. >> reporter: -- many questions remain about how the 95-year-old actor, his wife bets kae arakawa, and one of their dogs died in their santa fe home. an initial autopsy showed no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. the best clue into when he died was his pacemaker, which showed activity on february 17th, nearly ten days before the couple was found. >> according to the pathologist, i think that is a very good assumption, that that was his last day of life. >> reporter: according to an affidavit, investigators have

taken several items from the home, including heart and thyroid medications, medical records, a 2025 calendar and two cell phones, which officials hope may help determine who the couple last had contact with and when. based on what you know about the conditions of both the bodies, who do you believe died first? >> that's a very hard thing to determine. that's a question we want answered. >> reporter: authorities say the bodies were found in separate parts of the nearly 9,000 square foot home. hackman in a mud room and arakawa in a bathroom, where an open prescription pill bottle was on the counter along with scattered pills. the sheriff telling savannah that's a key part of the investigation. >> do you believe it's possible that that prescription could be related in any way to the deaths we have seen here? >> that's obviously very important evidence. we're looking at that specifically and other medications, of course, that were possibly in the residence. so that is something of concern. >> reporter: last night's academy awards featured a moving tribute to the beloved two-time oscar winner from his friend and "unforgiven" costar morgan

freeman. >> gene always said, i don't think about legacy. i just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work. so i think i speak for us all when i say, gene, you'll be remembered for that, and for so much more. >> it really was a fantastic tribute last night. liz, there really are so many questions here. what's the next step in the investigation? >> reporter: yeah. there really are. right now officials are saying they hope to get more answers from toxicology and other testing that is currently underway, but that could take several more weeks. another big outstanding question we should mention is about their dog. that hasn't been any explanation on how the couple's german shepherd died. so clearly a lot more to figure out in this case, craig. >> we know you will stay on it. thank you, liz. coming up, more highlights

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we are back, 7:39 now, with an inside look at an emotional weekend for the u.s. figure skating community. >> some of the sport's legendary names headlined a special event yesterday honoring the 28 members lost in that devastating plane crash in washington, d.c. just over a month ago. >> stephanie gosk was there and she sat down with five skating legends for a touching conversation. stef, good morning. >> hi, guys. good morning. legacy on ice took place at capital one arena, a few miles from the site of the crash. just before it began, as you mentioned, i sat down with u.s. figure skating royalty, five athletes who span the generations, to talk about why the event was so important and how u.s. figure skating can start to recover from a staggering loss. in the wake of tragedy, they came together to do what they do best. world champions and olympic gold medal winners. some simply the greatest of all

time. >> this event, i hope, will heal and give strength to our skaters. >> reporter: the two-hour benefit, legacy on ice, honoring 67 victims, including 28 members of the figure skating community who died in the mid-air collision on january 29th. 11 were skaters between the ages of 11 and 16. >> this one just felt so unfair and different because it's children. and it's coming from the development camp, which means that they're the promise. >> reporter: what impact does that have on u.s. figure skating? >> the loss is significant. but at the same time, the other kids in that training camp will remember these skaters forever. >> reporter: among those killed on the flight, husband and wife coaching team, who won the 1994 pairs world championship. on sunday, their only child, 23-year-old max, giving an

emotional performance in honor of his parents. max has taken over coaching his parents' athletes. >> it's something that's cathartic and helps him through it. >> reporter: for some of these skaters, this is not the first tragedy they have lived through n. 1961, a catastrophic plane crash in belgium claimed the lives of the entire u.s. figure skating team. >> the 1961 crash really affected me. my coach passed away in that plane crash. i was 12. >> reporter: did this immediately put you back to your 12-year-old self? >> yeah, absolutely. but we rose up. >> reporter: their sport, they say, is defined by that kind of grit, and it is what will help them now. >> i think this is a really important time for us to be together as a community. >> reporter: it is a big part of our identity, we fall down, we get up. get injured, we get up. you have to be tough to be a figure skater. >> and we help each other get up, you know.

>> reporter: that is why these greats dropped everything to come to washington, d.c. what do you hope this event will do for the family and friends who are grieving in the wake of this unbelievable tragedy? >> you're not alone. >> yeah. really showing that there will be a legacy, that their memory continues on and will continue to be a part of our figure skating family. >> reporter: the benefit raised money for the families of the victims as well as the first responders who were also honored. guys, it is worth pointing out that the young skaters there are in the middle of their season. they dropped everything to be there. world championships are three weeks away. it was that important to gather together. >> it has been extremely heart warming on the heels of this tragedy to watch the figure skating community. they really are so close. >> yeah. so have your grief be seen and >> people rallied around them in a huge way this weekend. >> thanks. >> just to let them know they're

not alone. >> thank you, stef. good conversation. mr. roker, what are we looking at, sir? >> we know, of course, the wildfires in south carolina. but we also have some danger out west as well. right now high wind advisories from the southeast and parts of the gulf all the way into the rockies and parts of california. because it's been so dry, there are 12 million people at risk from texas on into the southwest for fire danger. intense wind gusts of over 60 miles an hour. the vegetable, really dry. in fact, there is extreme wild fire danger from parts of new mexico on into texas, oklahoma as well. and temperatures very warm. el paso, 73 degrees. dallas, 76. it is warmer than usual. st. louis, 61. tomorrow the warmth moves to the east. temperatures remain fairly seasonal as we head toward the weekend.

clouds rolling over the south bay. it will eventually clear out, and we're going from upper 40s now to upper 50s for the afternoon. it will be much cooler than the weather we've had recently, and as we go throughout the week, the cool temperatures continue. we'll see more clouds and a chance of rain starting by tomorrow, and better rain chances wednesday and thursday, but clearing out j weather. guys? >> all right, guys. how about a "popstart" sneak peek? ppsp. it worked for trl, so we'll try it. from the super bowl commercial we had "when harry met sally" co-stars meg ryan and billy crystal back together last night to present the award for best picture. billy dropping one of his most

iconic movie lines. take a listen. >> and it is great to be back because, you know, i used to work here. >> you did? when was the first time? >> nine tuxedos ago. >> okay. so let's just cut to the chase. >> you're right, because when you have a chance to be an oscar winner for the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. >> there you go. we'll have a full package from the oscars in just a little bit. jenna is here with a special morning boost to brighten your day. jenna, hi. happy monday. you got a big boost for us? >> yes. >> that's coming up. first, these messages. . you can't fill a stadium. so fill that stadium. you can't take credit. you can't speak up. you can't be ambitious. you can't have any fun. you can't be proud. you can't keep score. you can't standout. whatever you do, you can't win. so win. ♪♪

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♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ score that. ♪♪ people will be quick to tell you: “you need to learn your place.” so i did. ♪♪ it's first. ♪♪ we're back at 7:49. we have jenna's boost. >> we have a double baby boost this morning. let's start with this onone wom, going viral for sharing this sweet moment. she found an unexpected bond with another momma in a store

parking lot. >> can i speak at your baby? >> oh, sure. >> i miss my baby. >> she's 10 weeks. >> mine is 20 years old.d. >> oh, my gosh! >> everybody says it goes by fast. this is my second, and i feel like it's going by faster. >> how old is your other one? >> 10 weeks. >> what is your name? >> callie. >> mine is 20. i'm like, oh, look at the little precious thing. yeah, that's going to happen. >> what was that? >> there was a baby. >> oh, there's the baby. >> there's some body cam footage. >> how sweet this is, and we're both that mom and stops and looks at every baby. >> she didn't steal her, but that mom said, i can't help but think it will be me in 20 years just stopping and hoping someone

will let me look at their baby just to bring me back for a minute. >> i didn't know that the boost became a competition. okay. all right. here is your second boost. remember your baby's first steps, your first words, all those firsts? well, there is a trend taking over tiktok. it is parents sharing their baby's first time seeing hibachi. . >> you are redeemed, young lady. >> you finished strong. >> that is great. look at that. >> my baby girl saw hibachi for the first time. his eyes were like -- every time it went off. >> that's a great compilation. >> that's good. >> that was good. >> all right. still ahead, big, bold and

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good morning. it is 7:56 a.m. kira klapper and i'm marcus washington. happening now. disgraced former san jose city councilman omar torres is expected to enter a plea in court today. now he faces charges of sexual abuse and child molestation. police arrested him last november in the wake of those accusations. now, torres resigned from the city council a short time after an interim council member now fills his council seat until a special election is held on april 8th. torres is hearing is scheduled for 830 this morning. all right. we're going to turn to the forecast with meteorologis kari hall. and we saw that big drop in temperatures over the weekend. we felt those changes today. we're feeling some cool air with our morning starting out in the upper 40s and low 50s. it will be mostly sunny, but we only make it up to 59 degrees today and we will continue with some more well below normal

temperatures as we go throughout the week and showers coming back for tomorrow. continuing with some better rain chances on wednesday and thursday, but just in time for friday and saturday we're seeing things clearing out. we have sunshine and mild weather, which will also see in san francisco after a chilly week. back to you, kari. thanks! make sure to watch our today in the bay live streaming newscast. it starts in just about two minutes, starts at 8 a.m. you can plan your spring break getaway, will break down the top destinations and some simple ways to save on your travel. watch on roku, pluto and other streaming platforms,

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it's 8:00 on today td. coming up, state of emergency, the carolinas hit hard by raging

wildfires, strong winds and conditions wreaking havoc as crews race to contain the films. we're tracking it all, including a major storm taking shape. then, lights, camera, fashion, inside of one of hollywood's biggest nights and the oscar-worthy looks that stole the show. we'll introduce you to the stars of snl. >> what do you hope to capture? >> an inner spirit, joy. >> the photography capturing some of the show's most iconic moments. all of that, plus elton and chappelle hit the club.gweneth >> hairry styles hits the groun running.

it's all here on march 3rd, 2025. >> >> albuquerque, new mexico. >> baton rouge, louisiana. >> virginia. >> and california. >> good morning to our kids back in indianapolis. >> today i turn 60. >> hi to my mom in tennessee. >> we love you, nana. >> sisters' trip to new york city! hi, mom! good morning, everybody. welcome back to "today." good to have you with us on a monday morning. excited to be here. >> some people ease into monday. not that crowd. >> no. >> jumping up and down. >> that's the spirit we need right now, too, on a monday. let's get right to your news at 8:00. we're going to start with the dangerous wildfires raging in the carolinas this morning. fire crews are battling dry

conditions and gusty winds, too. in south carolina, more than 175 fires are burning, forcing evacuations across the state. the governor there declaring a state of emergency. no word this morning on how these fires started, but let's check in with al, who is looking at the conditions there. good morning. >> good morning, guys. and good morning to you. the problem is it's been bone dry along the eastern seaboard. the winds were really gusting. they're dying down a little bit today, but that fire threat will continue for the next couple of days until we get some wet weather coming on in here. in the meantime, we've got 8 million people out west looking at winter storm watches, warnings and blizzard warnings. at the same time, just to the east of there t they've got 10 million people at risk for severe weather from wichita down to dallas, tornadoes possible. we've also got tomorrow, 19 million people at risk, a little further to the east, from little rock, new orleans, birmingham, but also a risk for tornadoes as well. and then by wednesday we are looking at that risk moving to

the east coast, from washington, d.c. down to savannah, tornadoes possible, wind gusts and damaging hail. guys? >> al, we'll come back to you in a few moments. meanwhile, to the ongoing fallout over that contentious meeting between president trump and ukraine's president zelenskyy. negotiations between the countries now on hold as european leaders are looking to contain the damage. international correspondent keir simmons is in moscow for us this morning. good morning. >> reporter: craig, good morning to you. those stunning scenes in the oval office have been playing here on russian tv all weekend. the kremlin declaring this morning the fragmentation of the west has begun. european leaders struggling to hold together the transatlantic coalition t. british prime minister embracing president zelenskyy yesterday and the ukrainian leader meeting with king charles. britain declaring a coalition of the willing with promises of security for kyiv. but inevitably that illuminates that were those even in europe

unwilling to support ukraine. without doubt, this is a crisis for europe and nato. the french president proposing a cease-fire plan, but it would need the agreement of the u.s. and, of course, russia. all this makes president trump's hoped-for cease-fire less likely. this morning the kremlin declaring ukraine doesn't want peace. ukraine pointing out russia fired thousands of bombs, drones and missiles at it just last week, craig. >> chief international correspondent, keir simmons, for us there in russia. back here a united express flight was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday. the flight was headed from springfield, missouri, to houston when it hit rough air. five people suffed non life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital after landing in waco. officials say it was actually just one of three flights that had to be diverted to waco because of that turbulence. tributes are pouring in this morning for singer-songwriter angie stone.

she died in a highway crash over the weekend at the age of 63. ♪ ♪ i can't eat, i can't sleep anymore ♪ ♪ waiting for you to walk through the door ♪ ♪ i wish i didn't miss you anymore ♪ >> the grammy-nominated r&b singer was a member of the all-female trio the sequence. later she was a member of vertical hole. angie stone went on to have a successful solo career with hits like "wish i didn't miss you" and singer jennifer hudson reacted to the news saying stone was a true pioneer, another one of our great soul singers gone too soon. same hometown. my mother actually taught her daughter. angie stone went to high school with my aunt and uncle. she was beloved. 63. way too young. what are we working on in "pop start"?

>> coming up, we have a lot to talk about with the oscars last night. all the fun moments during and after the show. first, we're going to shine a light on the night's fashions. which red carpet looks stole the show? anna roberts rossi up all night, just arrived to our studio to break it down right after this. . ♪control is everything to me♪ and now... ...i'm back in the picture. feel significant symptom relief at... ...4 weeks with skyrizi. skyrizi is proven to help deliver remission... ...and help visibly improve damage.... ...of the intestinal lining at 12 weeks and 1 year. don't use if allergic. serious allergic reactions,... ...increased infections or lower ability to fight them may occur. before treatment, get checked for infections... ...and tb. tell your doctor about any... ...flu-like symptoms,or vaccines. liver problems leading to hospitalization... ...may occur when treated for crohn's or uc.

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hollywood's biggest stars stepping out for the 97th awards. here to talk about it, took the red eye right here looking tan, rested and ready. >> it is amazing what hair and makeup can do downstairs. [ laughter ] >> let's just start with, on a macro level, how do you think the stars did last night? >> i think the stars were dazzling. >> okay. >> there was a great job, and there were some looks that will go down in history. >> i liked some of the architecture of these looks. cynthia erivo certainly fits into that category. i thought this was black. >> it looked so deep. it's forest green. obviously, nods to elphaba and defying gravity with those extreme hips and also the nails. these nails are more famous than cynthia at this point. they actually had a yellow brick road on them, emeralds and the clock. they take five hours to do these nails. >> her costar, arianna grande

brought the signature pink to the carpet as well. i read it was inspired by a household item? >> you did your homework. this is inspired by a lamp. they're known for their signature shape-shifting silhouettes. it is a lamp shade, and there are 199,000 crystals in this base. that is like an art piece. >> and she totally pulled it off. not everyone can wear that dress. i loved, loved, loved demi moore. i thought she looked absolutely dazzling. >> she is a winner in my book still. this is armani, covered in crystals. you see the slight peplum, a big trend of the night, big wide hips. he said, this is elizabeth sparkles final sparkle. >> again, talking about looks that only a few weeks can pull off. timothee chalamet in -- >> we got this one, craig.

no problem. no butter yellow for you? leather, double leather. >> oh, it was leather? >> crop double breasted jacket, leather pants, silk shirt and a cartier necklace instead of a tie. nailed it. >> it was a $100,000 outfit. >> completely. because of the song "yellow taxi cab", i suspect it was a reference to that. >> if taxis here in new york were buttery yellow as opposed to mustard yellow. okay, colman domingo. >> he always brings it. >> right? he is such a style icon. he told us he wore red because he's surrounded by love and red is the color of love. this is by valentino. and these incredible bracelets and broach from the 1950s. >> fancy red. >> fancy.

fancy jewelry. >> let's talk about zoe saldana fromast night. she wasn't just a big winner at the awards. i mean in terms of fashion, big winner as well. >> this is a triple tier burgundy dress. the burgundy is nodding to the infamous scene in the movie where she's dancing wearing a burgundy suit. she's wearing a cartier necklace that was designed to be versatile. you can wear it around your neck, the wrist. >> so it is a bargain, really. >> yes. you too can afford it. >> i thought selena gomez, basically the whole awards season she's been fantastic. and i loved this. this is hollywood glamour. >> absolutely. she was channelling, actually, hollywood's silver screens. she was going for sofia lauren. this is a ralph lauren dress. it is covered in crystals.

i think there are 16,000 droplets on this, rose crystals. the silhouette is so spectacular on her and obviously this amazing necklace, too. >> halle berry, first of all, whatever she wears, i'm here for it. >> oh, i love that. >> this was designed by one of your friends. >> she was with me last night. and watching his face when she walked out wearing this was so incredible. his jaw dropped because he didn't even know she was going to wear it. the designers don't know until they step out. so there's a mirrored crystal effect. there was apparently 7,000 elements. >> with the flashes going, this might be my favorite look of the whole night. incredible. mikey madison who had, of course, the surprise win, and this is a sweet dress. >> this is actually a dior dress and it's made in a recreation of an original dior dress from the 1950s. it was the pink with the bow and then this velvet bodice on it and the deep train. she was an absolute winner in

it. this took 400 hours to create. >> you are always good with the numbers here. do we know roughly how many perils were in this dress? >> 22,000 pearls, beads and crystals. look at that detail. she also had pearls in her hair taken from the dress and popped into her hair by the hair stylist. >> thank you so much. >> back to reality. >> take a nap. we will see you for the 4th hour. more fashion coming up. before we do anything else, let's head over to mr. roker. >> all right. we have a storm system getting itself back together in the rockies. that will be bringing blizzard warnings. heavy snow all the way up into the u.p. of michigan. showers and thunderstorms making its way to the gulf. 80s in texas. 70s in florida. teens and 20s up into new england. 60s out west.

we are looking for a fire risk continuing through the southwest today. mild highs throughout the plains with plenty of sunshine. sunny skies through the southeast. and that's your latest weather. best time of the morning. >> all right, guys. a lot to get to. we'll keep the oscar theme rolling here. let's take another look at that knock-out performance that started oscar night.

ariana grande with "sosomewhere" over the rainbow." ♪ ♪ somewhere over the rainbow ♪ ♪ way up high ♪ ♪ there's a land that i've heard of ♪ ♪ once in a lullaby. >> what a great way to start out the oscars last night. it was so good. viewers were quick to call out a pair of sweet nods to "the wizard of oz." down the back of the dress there was a red heel between the shoulder blades there as well. "wicked 2" only eight months away. while we're talking about oscar fashion highlights, conan calling out his buddy adam with his classic gym shorts look. >> what are you wearing? >> what are you doing right now? >> i'm asking you what you're

wearing. >> nobody even thought about what i was wearing until you brought it up! >> you're dressed like a guy playing video poker at 2:00 a.m., adam. >> you know what, conan, i like the way i look because i'm a good person. i don't care about what i wear or what i don't wear. my snazzy gym shorts and floppy sweatshirt offend you so much that you had to mock me in front of my peers? >> that's funny. the sandman walked out of the theater but, first, dropped a quick one of these. >> foror the roa one more winning look. i don't know if you saw ben stiller at the glam bot, but serving up some "blue steel" for the camera. some looks never go out of style. >> love it.

>> by the way, during the show ben must have been spending quite a bit of time on his phone. his knicks win tweet went viral. it went viral. somebody commenting, i'm crying, bro. you're at the oscars. >> you were watching it. >> yeah. we had the oscars on in the big tv in the family room. we had the knicks game on in the kitchen. >> he was really physical during that. >> yeah, during the -- >> during the oscars. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. of course, ben stiller having a blast presenting. you saw him sinking into the floor during the introduction of best production. >> that's what you were talking about? >> yeah. next up, elton john and chappell roan took to the stage elton's annual aids foundation viewing party that he performs every year. biggest hits, "pink pony club". ♪ ♪ pink pony club ♪

♪ i'm gonna keep on dancing ♪ ♪ pink pony club ♪ ♪ pink pony club ♪ >> well, obviously, a big thrill for chappell roan there, too. but on social media, elton writing that sharing the stage with chappell was, quote, nothing short of magical. >> a heck of a party, too. >> yeah. he throws a big party. a lot of the hollywood stars that don't go to the oscars all go to that. >> he had a busy night because he was at the oscars as well. >> did you see mick jaguar came out as well? >> that he is on "popstart." just an aside. next up is harry styles. a sign of a very good time. the grammy winner was spotted at this past weekend's marathon in tokyo. you're halfway through, harry styles is running alongside you. that's motivating. and i will tell you what, you would have landed a pretty good

time. he did great and came in with an impressive time. congratulations. >> geez! >> that's fast. >> we need one of our marathon runners, who is not here. >> it's the water megan sugar. next up is chris martin. happy birthday to the cold play frontman. his ex-wife helped celebrate with a sweet series of snaps, writing in the caption, happy birthday to the man that gave me these beautiful, wonderful human beings. we heart you, chris. proof that a decade later, everyone, conscious uncoupling, has absolutely worked out for them. >> she was ahead of her time. >> he was running sub nine-minute miles. >> less impressive than the 3:30, but that's amazing. >> impressive. >> finally, we will end on "crazy rich asians." this beloved story is coming

back to the screen. ♪ >> ever since i can remember, my family has been my whole life. rachel! rachel! >> if nick chose me, he would lose his family. and if he chose his family, he might spend the rest of his life resenting you. >> well, seven years after the box office hit won over rom-com lovers on the big screen, "crazy rich asians" is expected to make a return in the form of a new tv series. deadline reporting that the show will be based on the three best-selling books. the director of "wicked" expected to produce this project. last year there were reports that it was headed for a possible stint on broadway. so we will keep an eye on that. guys, that's your "popstart". >> something for everyone, thank you. straight ahead, we're going to help you get ready for spring break, folks. it is about to warm up. vicky is here with some tips to help you pack like a pro and

some game-changing products for traveling with the kids as well. i'm not exactly sure what that is. we'll find out what that is when we come back after your local news and weather. .

we are back at 8:30, monday morning. it is a chilly monday, but that is not stopping the crowd here on the plaza. no, no, no.

after a warmer weekend, so many folks out on the plaza. some folks came from new orleans. >> that's right. >> beads, very nice. >> hello. >> wow, nice. >> oh, cool. >> thank y'all. thanks for bringing it. >> we didn't even have to show them any body parts. >> we did not, not on day like today. >> oh, my gosh. this is our crew right here. >> i know. do you not love them? >> we're still talking about the oscars. it was fun. just ahead, we will reveal the results of usa today's first ever movie meter. so this lets the fans rate the best picture nominees, which i like. do they match up with the academy? >> i would say "wicked" has a chance to win this one. >> also ahead, the story behind one of the most iconic parts of "saturday night live." that's the awesome photographs you see during the hosts of the

musical guests. joe fryer will introduce us to the photographer that's behind those pictures. we're excited to hear more about that. coming up in the 3rd hour from food to rides, all the freebies we can grab this month. and speaking of great deals, not too late to grab one of our start today boost boxes. just scan the qr code and get yours while you can. the boost box packed with hand-picked products from our staffers to give yourself that winter pick-me-up. everything from a travel mug to skin care essentials, all the way to -- all of that for 99 bucks, and free shipping. >> oh! >> all you have to do is scan the qr code or head to today.com/boxes. >> i love that. you guys, we have a very special guest cohost today. >> who that? >> she's my real friend, and it is ms. savannah guthrie. yay! >> what a silly, fun show. >> we will have more oscar fashion moments. >> i have a lot to talk about.

are we going to talk about some of the skin that was shown on the red carpet? >> we can do that on our hour. >> it did not leave much to the imagination. >> i know what you are talking about. mr. roker, it's gotten a lot chillier than it was a couple days ago. >> it sure is. it's called winter. let's show you what we have for the week ahead. today lots of chilly conditions, great lakes, northeast rockies developing strong storms through the southern plains. then we get to mid-week, severe storms along the eastern seaboard. snowy through the western great lakes. toward the end of the week on friday as we get ready for the weekend, below average highs through the southwhwest and e rockies. sunny skies along the east coast and west coast. rain and snow showers through the great lakes and good. monday morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. today it's starting out a little cool, and we'll be a chilly day, so we're having to add back on the

layers. a sweater definitely for this afternoon. and we will see more clouds coming in tomorrow with a slight chance of rain. we'll have a better chance of rain wednesday and thursday and no warm up yet until about friday when we're looking at highs in the mid 60s and sunshine. and saturday will be pretty n and that is and that is your latest weather, sir. >> all right, mr. roker. thk you. when we come back, just in time for spring break, vicky nguyen found of game-changing products for traveling with the family. but, first, this is "today" on nbc. . i'm not happy with the way that pg&e handled the wildfires. yeah. yeah. i totally, totally understand. we're adding a ton of sensors. as soon as something comes in contact with the power line, it'll turn off so that there's not a risk that it's gonna fall to the ground and start a fire. okay. and i want you to be able

to feel the improvements. we've been able to reduce wildfire risk from our equipment by over 90%. that's something i want to believe. [skateboard sounds]

this morning on "today's consumer," simple ways to make

your next getaway a breeze. >> cording to travel app hopper more than half of the searches last week were for spring break travel deals. we brought in the ultimate packing expert, chief correspondent vicky nguyen. what's up? here's the thing. especially if you travel with kids -- >> oh, man. it's a whole other game. >> right. one of the biggest issues is just staying organized. >> totally. you hear the saying, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. but first let's talk about making that list in your everyday life. you're observing, my kid can't sleep without this blanket, or i need these medicines. i like to keep a running list of things we need day-to-day. en this is a game-changer. compression packing cubes. you may be familiar with packing cubes to help you stay organized. compression takes it to another level. there's one more zipper so you can squeeze things down and it gives you another 20% to 30%

space in your carry-on luggage. minimizing and multitasking, you want to pack things that take you to double duty. a pair of ballet flats can take you from day to night. there is a tiktoker that showed us 17 different looks she packed for one trip. but she's mixing and matching. she's not bringing 17 pairs of pants. it's four pairs of pants, four tops, and they all mix and match together. minimizing and multitasking. >> what about making the airport experience less stressful? >> the first thing, you have to download that airlines app. check where your seats are, make sure everybody is sitting together. then we're thinking about how much luggage with repacking? for 10 bucks you can get a luggage scale, super easy to use at home. so you know you're not overpacking. putting an air tag in your bag can really help. if it's lost, now 15 different airlines, including delta, united, jet blue, they will all accept that find my app as a way to locate your bags. 24 hours before the flight, you are checking in online so you can go straight through security.

you don't have to get a boarding pass. and finally, getting there two hours in advance when it's a domestic trip, or three hours international. one time we were trying to fly to mexico and there was a typo. it took us a half hour to resolve that. we barely made our flight. >> make sure your tsa thing is on the boarding pass. for some reason it wasn't there, had to go back to the gate, the whole thing. >> and take a screen shot of your boarding pass as well. on friday morning in new orleans, i couldn't get my boarding pass out of the app. >> you had a picture? >> i had a picture. >> good job, craig. i love that. this is huge. a car seat, this is a great and very portable alternative. it is called the safe rides for kids vest. it has been federally tested and it has passed all crash test safety ratings. especially if you have kids that sit three across, this can be a game changer as well. look at how secure. you can feel. this thing is heavy. >> it is approved as a safe alternative? >> yes.

you want to go to the website because it comes in different sizes based on your kid's height and weight. next up, this one is called the miamily luggage. you can put a baby -- our producer put her little baby on this. you see there is a safety strap. you pull this up. the beb sits here. look at her. she's enjoying her snacks, waiting for people. >> that's genius! >> turns it into a stroller. >> and for adults up to 220 pounds, you can use this as a seat. if you're waiting on something, in security, and there are no chairs, you can sit on it. not recommended to pull adults, nor is this recommended to pull adults. >> this is the jetkids pull ride-along luggage. your kid can sit on this and you pull them through the airport. i feel at some point they have toet their steps in, too, but it is really fun and rolls really well. this is a game changer, simple. as low as $30 online. it has that one extra strap, a weekender, but it keeps everything together. people swear by this. this is the turtle travel pillow.

it looks like a neck brace. you put it around your neck like this. wrap it, it's velcro. if you don't like the u-shaped pillows. it is $60, a little pricey. >> i don't like the neck pillow because it is so big. >> exactly. try it. let us know what you think. two more items. if you don't like dealing with wired headphones, plug this one with a jack right into the airplane and hook it up via bluetooth, to whatever your normal headphones are, so no wires needed. >> you can watch a movie or show with someone else, too. >> that's great. >> and finally, clutch. this is a portable charger. and the brand says this is the world's thinnest charger. you actually attach it to the back of the phone. when you are traveling, you are always running out of batteries and this will keep you juiced. >> thank you. by the way, you can find more travel ideas over on our website, today.com. just ahead, we know what the

academy picked. but what did the fans choose for best picture?

and the oscar and the oscar goes to -- are they playing us off? >> no. well, maybe. oh, "anora." >> this was a bimoment from the academy awards last night. "anora" winning the oscar for best picture. >> it was the most anticipated category, and, of course, the pinnacle of hollywood's award system. but how do they measure up to the film that fans were rooting for? >> usa today measus the voices of fans and what they think deserves film of the year. with us, exclusively to reveal the results, we have the host and producer of "usa today's" entertain this. good morning.

>> good morning. >> before we get to your results, what did you think of the oscars and what happened? were you surprised? >> i wasn't terribly surprised because "anora" was already pegged as an award season favorite. so i was very happy for sean baker and mikey madison and the rest of the cast. i thought conan did a great job, too, hosting. >> so did i. we will count down the fan favorites and start with number three. this is one of the few films i actually saw. i thoroughly enjoyed it. why do you think this resonated with fans as well? >> the drama and the twists and turns throughout every single part of this film. also, there is a fascination that we have with how the new pope is chosen. >> yes. >> regardless of your religious background. so i think that plays a role in this. and then the cast. stanley tucci there is fantastic. carlos diaz, this was his feature film debut. obviously, he has a pretty big role obviously in this film.

yeah, "conclave" checking in at number three on movie meeter. >> on number two was "a complete unknown." not a surprise this was a fan favorite and an oscars favorite as well. >> sadly didn't win any oscars last night. i was pulling for timothee chalamet. i loved his speech at the sag awards, too. but bio pics have done well at the box office and with the academy as well. this particular movie has grossed over $100 million already globally at the box office. yeah, timothy was great, but so was monica and, of course, ed norton, too. >> number one not much of a surprise here. we'll give you a clue. here's a clip. ♪ ♪ i know about popular ♪ ♪ there's nothing that can stop you from becoming popular ♪

>> that was our favorite. >> totally. and i think more people saw this than any of these other ones. >> yeah, it was a huge box office hit. but it was more than that. i don't think a number could really quantify, qualify what this meant, this movie meant to so many people. when you talk about the cultural moment, you talk about the press tour, even, and how that went and the buzz that that generated, also. in the beginning, we were talking earlier about "a complete unknown" and bio pics. people, i think, resonate or relate more with music artists. they have been in their lives for a while. to see them on the screen performing like that the way they did resonated with the movie meter audience, too. >> to do a broadway adaptation, this is the most successful one probably ever done. it is very hard to pull off a broadway rendition and move it to the theater, right? >> and i think one of the reasons why they were able to do it, we saw last night when they performed, when they opened the show in the manner in which they did.

you know, i missed it because i was walking back from the red carpet to my hotel room. i'll be honest. i liked "wicked." when i watched this, i was moved to tears. >> me, too. >> it was incredible. >> yeah. carson said his wife was -- >> yeah. we all cried when we saw this. >> you mentioned "anora." what was it about that film that made you want it to win best picture? >> maybe it is a little new york city bias. it is a wild new york city film, though. i love the story of mikey madison as well. this movie was written for her by sean baker. she's in the spotlight because she won an oscar. doesn't really have social media, which is obviously a little different. i got to interview her before the film's theatrical release. it was interesting to hear her talk about her casting in "once upon a time in hollywood" reinvigorated her love for hollywood and eventually led to this oscar-winning role. >> this may not be a popular

opinion. but america's favorite movies, the meter you use, that's more in line with how i think the oscars should have gone last night. >> that's part of the reason why they expanded the best picture category to ten nominations as well, so we have a "dune: part 2" and a "wicked" as well. so it's not just the, quote, unquote, critically acclaimed, but we also get box office hits in there, too. >> now that you are done talking, you should try this popcorn. it is delicious. thank you very much. even at this time of day. it is never the wrong time. when we come back, we will take you behind the scenes with the hidden star of snl. the photographer who captures e show's iconic stars for more than two decades now. joe fryer has her remarkable story.

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>> estamos de vuelta con una we are back with a closer look at a small, but mighty part of "saturday night live." we continue to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary season. >> yeah. a new book is out featuring the iconic photos that you see when

you watch snl in and out of the commercial breaks. joe fryer spent time with the incredible photography behind those images. >> people love her. these moments when you see the portraits of the host or musical guests, they're called bumpers, sometimes quirky, sometimes nostalgic. they're only on your screen for a few seconds, but they are striking. one woman has taken every one of those photos, a few thousand of them since 1999. now many of them appear in her new book. >> live from new york -- >> live from new york -- >> it's saturday night! >> reporter: every episode of snl radiates a bucking bronco image. >> we are the wild and crazy guys! >> there's you there. >> surprise! >> 90 frenetic moments of live television sprinkled with a few seconds of stillness. spellbinding portraits of the

hosts and musical guests captured by mary ellen matthews. >> what is your goal with these photos? what do you hope to capture? >> an inner spirit, a joy. >> reporter: she started working at "saturday night live" in 1993, becoming the show's official resident photography in '99. >> when you get to walk through this hall, what goes through your mind? >> the amount of talent coming through here. >> reporter: her pictures line the hall outside studio 8h, from bad bunny -- >> this is the national flower of puerto rico. i wanted to celebrate his heritage. >> reporter: -- to aquaman in the sky dangling on top of 30 rock. >> he sat a little too close to the edge and security was like, excuse me. we need this guy the rest of the week. >> we've got the rock on a unicorn. >> i was thinking a romance cover, sort of a fabio character. great sport. >> reporter: she snaps hundreds of photos a week. but only eight or nine usually make the show. >> stick around.

we'll be right back! >> reporter: serving as bumpers, the bookends to each commercial break. >> those photos sometimes are only up for three seconds. is that okay with you? >> no, it is not. it is not. but thankful for social media. now they can live somewhere else and, of course, in a book now. >> reporter: the book titled "the art of the snl portrait," a 272-page album bursting with a quarter century of creativity. loren michaels writes, the bumpers are probably the most least appreciated part of the show, but anybody that knows the show knows how much they mean. some look like something you would see in a magazine cover. some are whimsical. what is it you are looking to do? >> i love whimsy. that lightning strike through the camera, you see somebody, really see them there. >> reporter: lightning generated

by a flashbulb. >> great. and then you are typing away. you are putting the phone down. don't ever call me again. yes. good, good, good. >> reporter: dressed as an old-fashioned news hound, i was lucky enough -- >> yes, good, good, good. >> reporter: -- to get the mary ellen treatment. >> are you pulling the piece of paper out? you will throw it and then look at me. throw, throw, throw. that's it. good, good, good, great. >> reporter: look at the final product. you can see why so many stars love working with her. that includes former snl writer john mulaney. a chapter in the book focuses on their collaborations. >> we will be texting weeks ahead. we're like, what are we doing, what are we doing? >> reporter: look closely at his legs in this photo, which served as inspiration for my shoot. >> so i thought we would recreate this as close as possible, but, also, why don't you bring some joe to it. >> all right. >> mary elleworked her magic,

and with a little help from photoshop, created this. keeping with tradition, we'll only leave it up a few seconds. after all, it is the artist who is our focus. >> great! >> very good. >> she does her photo shoots on thursday amid the chaos as everyone prepares for the show. this week, lady gaga, the musical guest. she can't even express how excited she is for the shoot. she's searching social media for inspiration figuring out what phase of gaga's career she's in right now. the book is out tomorrow. a great coffee table book. >> she's always just a lovely person. i think she puts everyone at ease. >> she does. completely, yes. >> that's why she gets such amazing stuff. >> it is consistently arguably the best part of the show every week. those photographs are incredible. >> thank you, joe. >> it's about time there's a book. i'm so happy. congrats, mary ellen. coming up in the 3rd hour of "today," three performers teaming up for a powerful performance. they will all be here live. >> and don't forget "jenna &

good morning. it is 856. i'm marcus washington. disgraced former san jose council member omar torres is expected to enter a plea in court today. he faces charges of sexual abuse and child molestation. police arrested him last november in the wake of those accusations. torres resigned from city council a short time after an interim council member now fills the council seat until a special election is held on april 8th. happening now. that hearing is scheduled to start or start about 20 minutes ago. our kris sanchez is at the courthouse. she'll have a live report in our midday newscast. you can also head over to our homepage right now for more of the back story. also on our homepage, that's a wrap for the 97th oscars. you can check out that

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addiction to drugs, including opioids and stimulants, can strip these away from you. recover your life. choose treatment for drug addiction and get back to what matters most. find a provider and proven treatment option thatat's rightor you. recover you at choosechangeca.org. this morning on the 3rd hour of "today," fire fight. wild fires erupting in the carolinas, burning thousands of acres, forcing entire communities to evacuate their