republican side. >> donald trump is a jerk. procrastinators' delight. millions of shoppers packing the stores with five days until christmas. this morning, why those of you who like to wait until the last minute might be in luck. double trouble. >> hillary from 2008. >> hillary, hi. >> hello, hillary. hello. through time and space again. >> tina fey and amy poehler teaming up on "saturday night live" with some musical help from the boss. santa claus is coming to town santa claus is coming to >> all the highlights from a special holiday edition of "snl," today, sunday, december 20th, 2015. this is "today" live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> we welcome you to "today" on this sunday morning with one of our favorite songs. i'm erica hill. >> i'm harry smith, along with

jones. good morning. >> i stayed up the first half hour, but i missed the rest. >> and this is the finale, bruce springsteen, sir paul mccartney -- gets you in the holiday spirit. >> yes, one of my favorites. let's get to the top story. that bomb, or suspected bomb, on an air france flight overnight. nbc's kelly cobiella is in london with more. >> good morning. we still don't know if, in fact, this device was a bomb, but they're saying no explosives have been found yet. a kenyan official says six passengers are being questioned in connection with this threat. the air france 777 was flying

mauritius to paris overnight, when the device was found. the pilots requested an emergency landing in kenya, and the flight was diverted to mombasa. the emergency slides were used to evacuate more than 400 passengers and crew on to the tarmac. the passengers and crew were bused to local hotels. some questioned by the kenyans. one passenger said everyone was calm during all of this. people on board, he said, thought it was a technical problem. >> the plane just went down, slowly, slowly, slowly, so realized something was probably problem. but the person of air france, which was wonderful, kept everybody calm and quiet. we didn't know what was happening, actually. >> this, of course, comes after the downing of the russian passenger jet full of tourists over egypt october 31st. moscow said a bomb brought that plane down. islamic state claimed responsibility. this is the fourth air france

little over a month. harry and erica, the other three cases all turned out to be hoaxes. >> kelly cobiella, thank you so much. the democratic debate was last night. it started with an apology and moved on to the issues of the campaign season. we have full coverage this morning. we begin with nbc's kristen welker covering the democrats in new hampshire. good morning. >> good morning to you. it was a night largely dominated by foreign policy and the fight against isis, but the controversy over the sanders' campaign accessing the clinton campaign's voters files loomed large. we learned late last night in addition to firing one staffer, the campaign now suspended two more. >> i apologize. >> reporter: eager to put the

bernie sanders quickly apologized. >> not only -- not only do i apologize to secretary clinton, i want to apologize to my supporters. >> reporter: clinton agreeing, it was time to move on. >> i don't think the american people are all that interested in this. >> reporter: the debate pivoted to an issue many voters are interested in. foreign policy. with clinton slamming trump's rhetoric. >> he is becoming isis' best recruiter. they are going to people, showing videos of donald trump insulting islam and muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists. >> reporter: but clinton came under fire for sounding an optimistic note on isis. >> we now finally are where we need to be. >> reporter: republicans pounced. jeb bush said, we're not where we need to do. >> secretary clinton is too much into regime change and a little

knowing what the unintended consequences might be. >> reporter: sanders and clinton clashing at almost every turn. >> should corporate america love hillary clinton? >> everybody should. >> will corporate america love a president sanders? >> no, i think they won't. >> reporter: there were heated moments. martin o'malley hitting his opponents on guns. >> the flip-flopping, political approach of washington, we need common sense. >> let's calm down, martin. >> let's tell the truth, martin. >> reporter: and some levity. clinton, at one point, a few seconds late, after a commercial break. >> sorry. >> reporter: the democratic front runner surging in the polls, showing swagger with a memorable closing line. >> thank you, good night and may the force be with you. >> secretary clinton went into the debate with a 31 point lead nationally over bernie sanders. by all accounts, there was no major shakeup last night. >> kristen, thank you.

another big day of campaigning today for the presidential candidates. on saturday, jeb bush had his harshest words yet for donald trump. >> donald trump and jeb bush spars on the last debate, donald trump brought his family here to iowa, but did not let up on his attacks less than a week before christmas. >> reporter: tis the season for family and good cheer. >> merry christmas, right? >> reporter: in iowa yesterday, donald trump offering praise for vladimir putin, who called trump brilliant and talented. >> actually, i am brilliant. >> reporter: trump didn't have kind words for some of his republican rivals. >> bush, no, it's just sad. he's tough, right, he's tough.

hampshire returning the favor. >> i have to get this off my chest. donald trump is a jerk. >> reporter: the rest of the republican field keeping in that same holiday spirit. chris christie taking marco rubio to task for missing another big vote. this time, on the bill that funds the government. >> senator rubio, listen, if you're going to say you're opposed to something, how about showing up to work and voting no? right? that's the minimum you should have to do. >> reporter: rubio in south carolina, again, defended his absence. >> i'm running for president and, unfortunately, that means that sometimes, i won't be able to get there in time to vote on things. >> reporter: even with all that feuding, the candidates still found a way to remind voters of what's really important. especially this time of year. >> thank you for supporting my grandpa, and thank you for being here on this beautiful day. have a very good christmas. >> the crowd loved trump's granddaughter, but don't expect

the holiday. chris christie is still on the trail this weekend, and donald trump campaigns in michigan on monday. harry? >> thank you so much. chuck today is moderator of "meet the press" and joins us this morning. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> last night, we heard a little bit of this in kristen's piece. who comments that stood out that hillary clinton made about isis, this one talking about video of donald trump's speaking being used and, also, we're getting where we need to be on isis. how much can those two comments haunt her moving forward? >> the first is, there's no proof of this yet. there have been plenty of security folks that have warned. there have been plenty of intelligence officials that have been concerned that donald trump's comments, that donald trump's proposal, would be used as propaganda. but the propaganda doesn't exist yet. it's not there. there's no -- so she said it so declaratively.

here's something that could have been an effective hit on him if she'd used the words "could be," and she didn't. it leads to the idea she's being untruthful or going over the top. i think what she's basically saying is, i support president obama's strategy on isis. what he's doing now is the strategy i support. okay. guess what? president obama's job approval rating on foreign policy is about the same place right now as george w. bush's was in december 2007. the public rejected george w. bush, largely because of the foreign policy. that has to be something she's concerned about. if she's attached to the hip on president obama with national security and people don't like where we're going, it's a problem. >> chuck, last night during the debate, bernie sanders is behind nationally to clinton. hampshire. was there a moment last night

he'll get traction, he's off like a rocket ship? >> i didn't see it. look, it goes back to the issue we were just talking about. bernie sanders' problem now is this is turning into a national security election. yes, the jobs and the economy are still number one but, boy, national security is a close number two. that is in hillary clinton's wheel house. she has been hugging him on domestic policy, not going as far to the left as bernie sanders proposed, but not trying to create as little space as possible. he was certainly comfortable on the anti-wall street rhetoric, but because of the national security change, i didn't see it. >> jeb bush said donald trump was a jerk. fought with him during the debate earlier this week. is there any oxygen in jeb bush's campaign? >> look, i think this is the last best hope he has. if i were him, i'd be doing

getting in fights with donald trump hasn't been good for other candidates, but you know, i think there's an odd bit of freedom. what did janice joplin once again? freedom is when you have nothing left to lose. cue a little janice. harry, we have lost the audience now. >> they'll be watching you in a little while. >> appreciate it. >> chuck todd, "meet the press," with an exclusive interview with house speaker paul ryan. sheinelle following a developing story. a plane vanishing off the radar in california. >> investigators are heading to california after the small plane disappeared overnight. the single engine plane was en route from san jose to las vegas was the pilot issued a may day call. no sign of survivors. in los angeles, one man is dead after a police shooting inside an emergency room.

being evaluated after an earlier altercation with police. authorities say he was initially cooperative but turned violent when released to police. er staff said police tried to calm him but he was shot after reaching for an officer's gun. he's the 20th person killed by on duty lapd officers this year. a shooting sent shoppers running for their lives on saturday. a 19-year-old was injured in the leg as shots rang out. some shoppers were trampled and others hid under garment racks. police are looking for a suspect. the family of the gunmen in the san bernardino massacre returned to home, the first time they were seen in public since the attack. they removed baby gear that belonged to farook's daughter. the chair of the house judiciary committee said tashfeen malik's visa was sloppily approved.

tashfeen and farook met in person, which is mandatory. a school broke the guinness world record for the largest gathering of people wearing holiday sweaters. more than 3,400 fans showed up in holiday sweaters, beating the record just shy of 1,200 held by a university in england. they tell me, no surprise here, the holiday sweaters sold out in the town. >> amazing. >> couldn't find a holiday sweater.

dylan dreyer has a look at the weather. we're looking at snow in buffalo. you go just outside the city, we had 3 to 6 inches, enough to make the roads slippery, especially when you're not used to it. a lot of spinouts. we have a dip in the jet stream. snow in michigan and participants of northwestern pennsylvania. temperatures right now in the 20s and 30s. record heat is moving back in in time for christmas. a huge ridge in the jet stream will have temperatures near records. look at highs on thursday. 11 degrees above average. washington dc, 74. in new york, we should hit 72 by thursday, christmas day we will

that's a look at the weather esperamos una tendencia a >> that's your latest forecast. >> i couldn't help but notice in the video, buffalo, it snows a lot there, right? >> yes. >> this much snow and there is a car in the median. >> the first snowfall throws everybody offer, no matter where you live. i don't know where i'm going. >> good observation. if you are a procrastinator this is probably your favorite time of year. only five days left. get all the presidents --

who is thinking about debates? presents under the tree. if you've waited to get started, you're not alone. nbc's ron mott is down in herald square with tips for you last-minute shoppers. ron, good morning. >> hey, harry. good morning. the type as are long gone. it's time for the rest of us now. more elbow room. i should tell you, a lot of the top-selling gifts are probably gone by now, as well. keep that in mind as you go in so you get the most out of these frenzied final days. >> reporter: with super saturday in the rear view, the drive is on to get last-minute shoppers into stores. an estimated 17% of americans, nearly 1 in 5, hadn't even started to check off their lists a week before christmas. but don't fret. there's plenty of time left if you get going now, like these folks at new york's herald square in weekend. >> it's hectic, definitely hectic. lines are long. but the selection, there's a lot of selections. >> it's awesome. i love shopping.

didn't expect anything less than this. >> reporter: why wait so late? good deals, that's why. as much as 40% of the season's sales come ten days before christmas. retailers extending store hours, offering free shipping and discounting prices on less popular items. >> most of the steepest discounts can be on apparel. not just the winter coats and scarves and hats. electronics, of course. even some home goods. >> reporter: here are a few tips to relieve your crunch time shopping stress. order online and pick up at the store. you'll save time standing in lines. take advantage of free gift wrapping. let the pros handle that. be on the lookout for stackable coupons, allowing multiple discounts on a single purchase. if overwhelmed, stop and pamper yourself with a relaxing massage. shopping doesn't feel good unless you do. >> be patient and enjoy being here in new york city and shopping. is be kind. >> mind your manners. >> reporter: whatever your mood

in your bags, remember, it's the thought that counts. >> all right. now, here's another silver lining to all this madness going on now. it's the weather. dylan talked about it. it's spectacular in a lot of the country that's used to bitter cold and snow. even though you'll have to fight the crowds, you'll have a good time getting there. harry? >> ron mott in front of macy's, thank you very much. two of "snl"'s most successful and well-loved alums. tina fey and amy poehler returning to host "saturday night live." when you pair them with the boss, there's no way this cannot be a fantastic show. >> this was "snl"'s holiday show. it's now on break for a month. but it ended on a high note. >> reporter: amy poehler and tina fey have been getting laughs and making each other laugh for a long time.

like -- 20 years. >> 6 years. >> plenty of new material. >> second life. >> say water. >> reporter: make sure to bring back some old favorites. >> tina fey glasses. >> reporter: in a dream sequence sequence, hillary clinton meets up with yourself from 2008. >> hello, hillary. >> in 2008, i got closer to the white house than this gal did. >> no, no, no. >> yes, i need to get back to 2008 and send a bunch of e-mails. >> no! >> reporter: therereas a return to the weekend update desk and musical numbers. let it know i really can't say >> reporter: including a video parody celebrating their friendship. with a guest appearance from amy schumer. >> is this not a charity thing? >> reporter: their appearance is

new movie "sisters." >> i like the story it tells with fringe. >> reporter: "sisters" is up against an unstoppable force. there were gags throughout the show. >> in our new movie, "star wars." >> reporter: "star wars" may rule the weekend, but the boss owns saturday night. springsteen sang two songs but came back to close out the show with santa claus is coming to town. with no hint or announcement, paul mccartney dashed on stage to join the celebration. santa claus is coming to town >> i think of all the guys who were sleeping outside, waiting. the other day, the line was wrapped around the buildings. what are you waiting for? tina fey! amy poehler! >> worth the wait. >> absolutely. >> so good. still to come, a special story for the holiday season.

was saved by a group of phil! oh no... (under his breath) hey man! hey peter. (unenthusiastic) oh... ha ha ha! joanne? is that you? it's me... you don't look a day over 70. am i right? jingle jingle. if you're peter pan, you stay young forever. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. you make me feel so young... it's what you do. you make me feel so spring has sprung. the snow is starting to fall and our loved ones are gathered all around, so share that extra joy in your heart and make this christmas even more special than the last. walmart. just about anywhere you use sugar, you can use splenda ... ...no calorie sweetener. splenda lets you experience... ...the joy of sugar... ...without all the calories.

there are some people you should give underwear to this holiday. and there are some people you shouldn't . people you should. shouldn't. janice! should. shouldn't. yes. no. should. no way. should. no. definitely not. ha ha, nay. you shouldn't give underwear to everybody. but for those you do, give them fruit of the loom. i got you something to keep you warm... on the inside. at jared, we only sell one piece of jewelry for the holidays... the one that melts her heart. and it's waiting for you...

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their best y jebra. >> that's not true. that's not my name. that's not my name. >> jebra,? >> what? >> say what? >> oh! >> amazing moments. >> the whole show. >> good stuff. >> losers say what?

>> no, no, no, no. we're back on this sunday morning, december 20th, 2015, with a look at some more funny moments from last night's "snl" with darrell hammond playing donald trump. meanwhile, we have an amazing crowd on the plaza. >> we do. i feel a lot of christmas spirit out here. >> who is undefeated? carolina panthers, right? wow. want to catch you up on the headlines at half past the hour. six people are being interrogated after a possible bomb was found on a air france flight headed to paris. it was diverted to kenya. investigators now trying to determine whether the device that was found on the plane does, in fact, contain explosives. bernie sanders extended an apology to clinton during the debate. clinton was trying to put the data breech issue to rest when

shots range out in a crowded ed mall. short time. one person was shot in the leg. we begin this half hour with a debate over freedom of speech, as a university professor faces possible termination for controversial comments he made about the sandy hook massacre and other shootings. we're hearing from the professor himself. here's kerry sanders. >> reporter: this morning, james tracy says he stands by his controversial claims, even though it may cost him his tenure. the florida university professor's theory is shocking. that the shooting deaths at sandy hook elementary school was a hoax. the family of one victim, 6-year-old know sa,noah, said the professor sent them a certified letter. the letter made public when

parents provide proof of their relationship to noah. at tracy's home, no apologizes. >> do you accept the fact that the little boy died at sandy hook? >> i don't. >> you do not? >> no. >> because? >> we have a whole book on it. nobody died at sandy hook. >> nobody died at sandy hook? >> that's the name of the book. >> reporter: on wednesday, administrators announced tracy faces termination but wouldn't comment on why. that coming a week after noah's parents wrote an op-ed, saying tracy personally sought to bring us anguish. >> you acknowledge this little boy never existed, did you not? >> i asked for verification of the party, the family, their relationship to the boy. >> and you don't think that was inconsiderate, obnoxious, uncalled for?

>> reporter: legal expert kendall coffey. >> even the amendments don'tesn't keep your job when someone goes too far. no immunity. >> because the school is on winter break, the decision on what happens next won't be official until january 4th. for "today," kerry sanders, nbc news, boekflorida. it finally started snowing places. it'll be 67 on christmas eve here? >> record breaking heat across the eastern half of the country for christmas. today, it's still snowing in the sierra mountains, also up through the olympics and the cascades. we're also looking for as much as another 5 to 7 inches along the coast. especially northwestern california. there, you see where we could end up with our highest rainfall totals. it's been day after day of the storms making their way off the

for mountain snow, could see another one to two feet of snow. for all you folks heading out on a ski vacation for your holiday, i mean, it is just ideal out near park city, utah. we're seeing the snow pile up. across the eastern half of the country, still chilly. below average for this time of yaer. the warmup moves back in wednesday. thursday and even christmas day itself. tomorrow, we will start to see temperatures ever so slightly

>> that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thanks. on to an up close and personal look at what is going to be a star attraction at the national zoo. summer. he's crucial to the species survival. there's only 1,600 left in the wild. >> reporter: bei bei has had a busy week. meeting some members of the washington press and to the whirling clicks of cameras. carried by the animal keeper to appearance. >> let's see how much you weigh. >> reporter: 17.5 pounds and eager to get out of the basket. he's got. no? >> reporter: it doesn't get much cuter than this. born last august to mom mei mei xiang, is now almost four

bei bei is new to walk skpging and a little wobbly. >> you'll see him doing splits, trying to get the muscles to work. >> reporter: big sister bao bao can easily scale a rock wall now at the zoo. bei bei has catching up to do. having played a lot before we saw him, he was tuckered out when we got a glimpse in person. >> he likes that position. >> reporter: with help, he did give us a pan that paw high-five, showing off his impressive claws. and with a flick of a pink tongue, a lazy yawn. >> bei bei is rough and tumble. all boy, a little tank. >> reporter: a final big yawn and a final stretch, and tanked or not, awfully sweet. >> and the good news is, as cute as that dose is, you can see bei bei pretty soon in person. he'll make his public debut on january 16th at the national zoo in washington. >> that would be fun.

>> it would be. i'm game. >> we'll do a weekend "today" field trip. >> done and done. >> to visit the panda. up next, our sunday stories from a bracelet changing the way people communicate to a group of doctors who helped save santa, and the story behind bells making spirits bright in minneapolis. every christmas is memorable. but a gift from kay jewelers... makes it unforgettable. save 25% on any citizen watch.

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one less thing hanging over your head, right? tell me about it. gary, you got to go. who's gary? a mistake from last year coming back around again. too much egg nog! yes! laaaaa... at discover we treat you like you'd treat you. redeem your cashback for any amount, any time. get it at discover.com. this morning, a special story for this season of kindness, about a santa in kansas who brings joy and laughter to children every holiday season. this year, almost proved too difficult for him to do so, for more reasons than one. >> with some help from a special group of doctors at the kansas hospital, santa kept the smiles on all the children's faces. rehema ellis has his story. >> reporter: for years, alan and lori young had a christmas tradition. he played santa, and she was his

>> she had a long red coat with white fur around it, and she would read account"the night before christmas." >> reporter: last year, alan lost his beloved wife. she had cancer and passed away the 28th of december. >> i was thinking of not doing santa claus last year, and she said, no, don't upset the kids. to her, it was all about the kids. >> reporter: keeping it all about the kids wouldn't be easy. >> he neglected himself to take care of his wife, and his leg looked bad. that's when i told him, amputation is a real risk. >> reporter: a risk alan couldn't imagine. >> he said, i can do it with a pros,thesis prosthesis, but i want kids on my leg. >> santa claus can't have one leg. >> reporter: a sentiment that hit close to his doctor. >> he told me i'd get coal if i didn't save his leg, so it became personal.

it, the kansas city hospital on 39th street came up with a miracle of its own. a miracle on 39th street, they say. >> the doctor called me up and says, how would you like a knee for christmas? i said, it would make my day. >> reporter: so this month, alan got to suit up again. >> being santa claus is one of the most important things for me. to see the smiles on children's faces. >> do you drink water or hot chocolate more? >> probably hot chocolate. >> it's a tough journey, and wanted to do. >> really appreciated when you told me the first time we met, that you would do everything you could to keep my leg. >> are you ready for a visit? >> that >> reporter: that day, alan young walked to every child's room, honoring a promise he made to his wife, in keeping their family tradition alive.

>> reporter: for "today," rehema ellis, nbc news, new york. >> so sweet. >> nice story for the season. ahead, what's your word? how that question is shaping conversations and also creating meaningful jewelry, aft you forgot the milk! that's lactaid . right. 100% real milk, just without the lactose. so, no discomfort? exactly. try some... mmm, it is real milk. lactaid . 100% real milk.

we are back on a sunday morning with the story behind a bracelet that has a lot of people talking. >> i have three of them. i love them. the man who created these bracelets wanted to find a way meaningful way. he had no idea when he started his jewelry, it'd be snatched up so quickly and by so many celebrities. >> reporter: beyonce, surrender. larry king, why. these bracelets, a celebrity favorite. the man who invented them says he's not running a jewelry company. >> i don't want this to become a gimmick or a fad. >> reporter: he's talking about his project he started two years ago, with the sole mission of spreading positive energy into the world.

something deeper, meaningful, more positive than what you see. >> reporter: he started my intent as a side project to encourage people to think about the purpose of their life. it's simple. just a string and a circle choosing. whether it's your dream for the future or something special to you. >> for the first year, it was just a passion. it was just a gift i gave -- i've made and given away thousands of people. >> reporter: that all changed one night when he saw jay-z in the corner of a club and made him one with the word "education "education." >> i said, i have a gift for you. >> reporter: jay-z was so taken by the project, he invited him to a brunch. he made a bracelet for conkanye west. >> i open my instagram and see

photo of kanye wearing the brats bracelet on the cover. it. >> reporter: it was in that moment he realized it was more than a passion project. >> how has instagram and social media changed what you do? >> we wanted to encourage people to share their word. social media has been powerful for us. >> reporter: today, his bracelets have been sold in more than 50 countries, and that's without any advertising at all. >> i love it. >> reporter: i'm a proud owner of one, as well. my word? purpose. >> i feel like what i living is bigger than me. if the day is long, i miss taking my 5-year-old to school that one day, if i remind myself i'm living my purpose, they'll be better and i'll be better and it keeps me going. thank you so much. it is such an honor to meet you. >> i said it was an honor to meet you, and i really meant it. every once in a while, you'll do a story when you're touched by

he has a wonderful spirit. she was working on facebook, he was working on facebook, doing well, and felt fulfilled. i put my kids' initials on there. i picked grateful. i got carried away. >> i thought those were for us, but they're yours. >> what would your word be? >> grateful. >> harry? >> peace. >> i thought family. >> family. >> i would encourage you at home to think about your word. >> it's hard to come up with one word that encompasses everything you feel and believe. >> i tell kids, what you think about you bring about. if you're looking at a word, purpose or grateful or peace, i feel like you channel that. i think it's a win. >> say it again. >> what you think about you bring about. believe it. >> great. just ahead, you know where we're going? >> where? >> minneapolis. >> let's do it.

people you should. shouldn't. janice! should. shouldn't. yes. no. should. no way. should. no. definitely not. ha ha, nay. you shouldn't give underwear to everybody. but for those you do, give them fruit of the loom. i decided to tell the story of our life together... spoiler alert: we live happily ever after. at jared, we only sell one piece of jewelry... ...the pandora bracelet you had created just for her. and it's waiting for you... ...at jared. start the interview with a firm handshake. ay,no! don't do that! try head & shoulders instant relief. it cools on contact, and also keeps you 100% flake free. try head & shoulders instant relief.

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we are back this morning with sundays with harry, one of our favorite parts of the week. this time of year, it's easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. sometimes the season feels like it's going by in a blur. >> sometimes amidst the din, you hear a sound that gets your attention. reassuring, beautiful, a sound from above. >> reporter: a city can be a lonesome place. even one as minnesota nice as minneapolis. on a cold winter's night, some comfort and even maybe joy can be found in the sound of bells. [ bells tolling ]. >> that was one of the

>> reporter: she was on staff at central lutheran church ten years ago, when the church built a seven-story tower, a plan that had been abandoned during the depression. way up top, they put a keyboard that plays bells. 47 of them. as soon as the bells started ringing, so did rebecca's phone. >> people would call us and say, we love to hear the bells. i'm driving home from work and i hear the bells. >> reporter: it got rebecca to thinking. >> i realized there are these wonderful bell installations all over town, and some were silent. they needed repaired. i thought, if we organize and coordinate, we can do great things in our cities, with all these bells. >> reporter: so city of bells was formed. >> are there a lot of churches in town where the bells just weren't ringing anymore? >> absolutely. in fact, our first project was st. mark's cathedral. their bells were installed in

but they were dormant. >> reporter: until this fall when the bells began ringing again. [ applause ] >> for centuries, bells were the heralds of society. they announced the time of day and entertained with song. >> reporter: rebecca hopes that one day, all the bells in the city can ring in unison. to mark special holidays and days of remembrance. >> it's the wonderful tone and then the pause. the reminder that we are part of a community, that we are in this together. >> reporter: up in the tower -- >> the biggest one. it weighs as much as a toyota rav 5. >> reporter: we were shown how it is played. >> you're hired. >> reporter: the gorgeous bells cast in france, ringing out sounds of the season. sounds for all to hear.

deep in our heart. it's like god is saying, i am with you. you are not alone. >> beautiful. >> it was neat to go up there, right? >> so cool to be up there. there's something about the sound. >> all these churches now around the minneapolis area saying, we're going to get our bells fixed. we'll get them going again. >> was it loud up there, close to the bells? >> oh, yes! >> what? what'd you say? >> i used to hear in this ear. >> we were talking earlier about our favorite christmas songs. harry smith's favorite may surprise you. cue it up. >> we're all fans. >> i was so excited when you said that. >> so many dimensions to harry smith. this is the perfect sound track for a stroll to the orange room.

we love a good toast on the "today" show. >> i don't like being in front. >> you don't like being in front? >> how beautiful is this? >> oh, my goodness. >> this is gorgeous. >> a toast, as everybody is -- so many people heading off for their holidays. >> thank you. >> there you go. >> we can do it again in the new year. we have more to toast for. to a wonderful 2015. >> cheers. >> to our incredible staff. you see some of us but not all the hard working folks behind the scenes. thanks to our good friends who we are lucky to work with every weekend. >> tune into "meet the press" this morning for chuck's exclusive interview with house speaker paul ryan. they've been getting a lot done. thank you for joining us. have a wonderful, merry christmas, and we'll see you after your holiday. have a great day.

out. this sunday morning, donald trump dominating the national polls now more than ever. >> something is going on and it's beautiful to see. >> but no one has ever won without paying more attention to early states like iowa. trump is rewriting the rules. can he rewrite history? donald trump join me live. plus, last night's democratic debate. >> secretary clinton is too much into regime change and a little bit too aggressive without knowing what the unintended