good morning. civil war. the gop presidential candidates keep things cordial for the most part in the final debate of the year but with the polls showing the race is fluid, will the good feelings last until the iowa caucuses? taking the stand, a key witness in the penn state child sex abuse scandal expected to testify in the perjury hearing tied to the case today, as nbc news looks for answers in the 5-year-old mysterious disappearance of the district attorney who first investigated jerry sandusky. and what a year. we'll look back at all the big moments and fun times we've had in 2011 "today," friday, december 16th, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

>> and good morning. welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> and i'm ann curry. happy friday, everybody. this debate in sioux city was the last before the iowa caucuses, january 3rd. >> while newt gingrich did face some criticism, surprisingly, none of it came from mitt romney. he saved his harshest words for president obama. we'll have much more on the debate and where the republican race stands right now, straight ahead. an encouraging sign for one of the smallest babies ever born, delivered at 24 weeks and weighed 9.5 ounces and doctors gave her a 1% chance of surviving. now four months later doctors have wonderful news for this family. we'll talk to the parents coming up in just a few moments. and we're going to be hearing a lot from how warde

stern on the new season of "mark's got talent." the outspoken shock jock as some call him, decided to join the judge's table and already promising "feelings are going to be hurt." we'll have more on that story as well. >> uh-oh. more on the political debate, chuck todd is our political director and chief white house correspondent. good morning. >> good morning. the candidates attacked each other and turned into most negative week of the campaign. final debate lacked that same negative energy. instead the front-runners played iowa nice. >> today i think it is a big step forward and i think governor romney deserves some of the credit. >> governor romney, you want to respond to that compliment? >> yes, thank you. >> reporter: so went the final debate. the two leading candidates, mitt romney and newt gingrich, choosing to avoid any clashes.

the only veiled reference to their feud, gingrich poking fun at himself for being zany. >> zany is great. >> reporter: a word used by romney at "the new york times." >> i get accused of using language too strong so i've been standing here editing. i'm very concerned about not appearing to be zany, and -- >> reporter: each time romney and gingrich got a question designed to get them to spar with each other, they shifted the focus often to president obama. >> this president doesn't know how the economy works. to create jobs it helps to have created jobs. >> i think in seven debates barack obama will not have a leg to stand on. >> reporter: the positive debate is a marked contrast from most of the tv ads airing in iowa. >> -- beginning witch was fined $300,000 for ethics violations. >> it's about serial hypocrisy.

>> $10,000 bet? >> not too many of us in iowa place $10,000 bets. >> reporter: the latest ads stay most mostly positive. >> others seem to be focused on attacks rather than move the country forward. that's up to them. >> reporter: they got hit rep t repeatedly by the other candidates. >> he personally as governor issued gay marriage licenses. >> i want to make it very clear, i have been a champion of protecting traditional marriage. >> reporter: michele bachmann and the former speaker questions about freddie mac. >> he was taking out $1.6 million to influence senior republicans to keep the scams going. >> sometimes people ought to have facts before they make wild allegations. >> reporter: bachmann one time iowa front-runner now trailing badly was the most aggressive, even tangling with ron paul over the issue of nuclear weapons in

iran. >> we ought to sit back and not jump the gun and believe we aren't going to be attacked. >> i believe i've never heard a more dangerous answer for american security than the one we just heard. >> i think this wild goal to have another war in the name of defense is the dangerous thing. >> reporter: but for the most part the debate was more kumbaya than contentious w a focus on president obama. >> it's president obama we've got to talk about. he's unveiled himself as the president, not the right person to lead this country. >> our only opponent is barack obama and we need to come out of this process beating him is collectively what we have to do. >> the romney campaign is trying to show they have momentum again. they've nabbed a pretty big endorsement, south carolina governor nicki hayley, and they

hope that momentum campaigns to him in the season. >> david gregory, moderator of "meet the press" good morning to you. >> good morning to you, matt. >> it was creating a lasting impression for people in iowa to talk over for the last 18 days. are you with some who say this was a good night for mitt romney? >> i am. all of the candidates touched on issues for iowa, conservative voters, romney made the calculation he was not going to attach gingrich because gingrich is a good counter-puncher. he learned that in the last debate, kept his fire trained on president obama, talked about himself. we to fend off tough questions from moderators but all in all it was a good night. >> as chuck pointed out in his piece, on the one hand they're being civil and friendly but all running ads in iowa and elsewhere that are anything but. >> absolutely. they don't always engage each other as hard on the stage as they do with the tv ads.

make no mistake, mitt romney is relying now on some of his rivals like a michele bachmann, rick santorum, ron paul, to take the fight to newt gingrich. there's a lot of folks in the republican establishment taking on newt gingrich and it's giving room for romney to step back and knock take him on frontily, where he doesn't necessarily have all of the goods on the debate stage. >> you talk about seeming to come to the rescue of mitt romney, are they taking on gingrich on ideological grounds or electability grounds? >> it's an important point. it's actually both. you see some conservatives actually making the point that gingrich is a much bigger government conservative than people may think, and the glenn becks, the ann coulteres, they'er this they're taking him on from that point of view, something a lot of tea party folks do not

like to hear, and the electability argument, who can best debate barack obama, the president, on the economy but also electability, high negatives for gingrich and a certain ceiling talking about independent voters. >> we put a couple of recent polls up on the screen, we're noticing that lead that newt gingrich had developed over the last several weeks in iowa seems to be shrinking in this poll right here, the rasmussen poll, it's actually gone and mitt romney is in the lead and as we talked about earlier in the week, david, the guy who was there in the middle of these polls continually and has been for a long time, ron paul. >> and he took it to gingrich again over the freddie mac issue. it goes to the point that gingrich has really high negatives. people disliking gingrich, sometimes voters forgotten why they dislike him. they can be reminded through television ads. paul is running the most negative ads against gingrich in iowa. he'll continue to do that, the super packs, outside groups will

continue to do that on behalf of mitt romney as well. it's driving up the negatives and look at what's happening in the vacuum. there are no big republicans around the country who are stepping up for newt gingrich, and everybody knows him. nicky hayley from south carolina, being endorsement for romney today. gingrich, he has a tough time standing behind him, yes, he's the guy. >> who do you have? >> michele bachmann and the near government shutdown with the member offed the amrgs. >> david gregory, see you sunday on "meet the press." >> thanks. a check of the top stories with natalie morales at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. russian officialness have seized radioactive material bound for iran. the custom service at moscow's international airport said that radioactive sodium 22 was found in a tehran-bound passenger's luggage and tests showed that material could only have been

obtained through nuclear operations. an 11th hour deal has been reached to avoid a government shutdown ahead of today's midnight deadline. congressional negotiators reached a compromise on a $1 trillion spending bill and pushing to renew a payroll tax cut in unemployment benefits. just in case, senate majority leader harry reid says lawmakers are planning a plan b that supports a two-month extension. gary schultz and tim curley are fighting charges they didn't respond properly to reports that jerry sandusky was molesting young boys. they deny the charges against hem. one of sandusky's attorneys is offering an explanation why the disgraced coach was showering with disadvantaged young boys. he said sandusky may have been teaching them proper hygiene. the army private accused of releasing thousands of classified documents to

wikileaks makes his first public appearance today. the u.s. military is pushing for manning to be court-martialed and endangering national security. christopher hitchens died after a long bat well esophageal cancer. the passion and controversial critic and ardent atheist took on political figures in his vibrant essay. the best selling author of "god is not great" publicly scoffed his diagnosis would in the change his beliefs. mandy drury is at the new york stock exchange. >> today there is one stock in particular we are following. do you own a blackberry? research in motion delayed the use of a make or break overhaul

until next year and the market is not happy. back to you. >> mandy drury, thanks so much. in case snowboarding doesn't rev your engine enough, how about saltboarding? in utah there are some adventurous athletes in action, zooming along, up to 50 miles an hour. beautiful cinematography. it is 7:12, we turn it back over to matt, al and ann. >> let's do that, you guys, group project outing. >> i'm going pepper skiing this weekend. let's see what's happening, we've got a lot of wind to talk about down in southern california, santa anas, getting it herself together, high pressure to the north, low pressure to the south, in between the windy conditions. to the northeast and new england we're looking at wind i haveries as a powerful low pressure system up in canada causes problems and as we head across the pond, france, they're calling it hurricane joachim,

wind gusts of uphi >> and that's your latest weather. ann? now to washington state where the so-called barefoot bandit is said to appear in court today and as he prepares to face a judge we're learning new details about the man's troubling past.

nbc's miguel almaguer has more. >> reporter: colton harris moore has written a letter to a judge taking responsibility for his crimes and blames his upbringing for many of his mistakes. when his crime spree came to an end, true to form, the barefoot bandit was arrested without shoes. colton haar roycharris-moore expected of nearly 80 crimes. the 20-year-old writes of growing up in a broken home. "my thirst for knowledge cries for help and coming of age was met with inept parents suffering from drugs and alcohol." harris-moore's mother wouldn't talk to nbc news on camera but said she was never an alcoholic and raised her son with good values but in a psychiatric evaluation, paid for by the defense, dr. richard adler says colton was exposed to alcohol prenatally, suffered psychological harm while falling through the cracks.

>> those various agencies and institutions that were supposed to assist him simply didn't, time and time again. >> reporter: dubbed the barefoot bandit for leaving footprints behind eight brac-ins, he stole cars, boats, even airplanes after he taught himself to fly. he gained a cult following but adler writes "what was characterized by the media as the swashbuckling ran cures of a teenager were in fact the actions of a depressed, suicidal young man." >> he was living in ditches, culverts and port-a-potties from time to time so that's the other side of it. it wasn't a romantic adventure. >> reporter: marion rathbone was one of the earlest victims. for 25 years her family ran this restaurant near colton's home in washington state until one night changed everything. >> he just took the rug right out from under our feet.

>> reporter: authorities say harris-moore stole $18,000 from the restaurant's safe, then was captured on security video a year later trying to burglarize the restaurant a second time. >> when we had to file bankruptcy, we lost everything, not just the business. we lost our homes. >> reporter: for rathbone, the new details about harris' hard past mean nothing. >> i'm sorry he had a rough childhood but you know what? three-quarters of america would be in jail right now if that was a good excuse for everything. >> reporter: harris-moore has already pled guilty to federal charges. today the state begins to close their case. he could get nine years in prison. ann? >> miguel almaguer, thank you so much. it is 7:16. here's matt. the italian appeals court that overturned the murder conviction of amanda knox is explaining its ruling in a newly released report. stephanie gosk has details on

that. good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. judge claudio helmand blows holes in nearly every aspect of the prosecution's case at time accusing the prosecutor of ridiculous conclusions based on little fact. the judge's report does in writing what his decision last october did in the courtroom, completely exonerates knox in the murder of meredith kercher. amanda knox was overcome with emotion when her guilty verdict and 26-year prison sentence were overturned. she had spent nearly four years in prison. ushered out of the courtroom, out of italy and finally home to seattle, as quickly as her family could get her there. in a report released thursday the italian judge offered a blistering critique of the prosecution. he says there was no evidence that knox and her former boyfriend, raffaele sollecito, murdered meredith kercher in 2007. in a statement, knox's parents write that the report confirms

what they knew all along. "the prosecution's theory against her was only that, a theory that had no basis in fact." >> one could not hope for a more clear statement rendered by an appellate court. >> reporter: the pros kugs, the judge writes, could not prove that they were in the house at the time of the murder or that they even knew rudy guede, the third suspect who was found guilty of the crime. the judge continues, "the sudden choice of two young people, to commit evil for evil's sake, without any further reason, seems even more incomprehensible." the more than 140-page report repeatedly criticizes the prosecution, flimsy dna evidence, flawed by sloppy police work, no proof that the alleged murder weapon was ever in the house, knox's interrogation statements were made under duress and she wasn't offered a lawyer. the judge writes "the obsessive

interrogation by police went on for hours, both day and night on a young girl who at the time did not speak or understand italian." during the trial the prosecution accused both knox and sollecito of insensitive behavior, criticizing them for buying underwear and kissing in public. it was simple tenderness between two lovers and was also a way of relieving the climate of anxiety and fear that had enveloped them and not, the judge says, a reliable indication of guilt. what the judge doesn't do is provide a theory of what actually happened. the complete details of kercher's death still remain a mystery. the prosecution will appeal to italy's supreme court but only on the appellate process, not the evidence itself. knox and sollecito doesn't have to attend the hearings. >> thank you very much. it's 19 after the hour. here's ann. a california couple has a reason to be happy this holiday

season thanks to their tiny daughter who is defying great odds and savannah guthrie is here to explain. >> good morning, it's an amazing story. with the help of modern medicine a premature little girl, thought to be one of the smallest babies to have been born and survived has reached an more than milestone. the images are remarkable, a tiny baby no larger than the palm of one's hand, little melinda starr guido came into this world after only 24 weeks, weighing just 9 1/2 ounces. >> everybody thought she wouldn't make it at all. they doubted her. >> reporter: now 16 weeks later on what should be her due date the parents are marveling their daughter is believed to be the third smallest baby in the world to have lived this long. >> when i had her, they didn't want to help her. i said she was a fighter, to

help her to survive and that's what they did. >> reporter: it was difficult from the beginning. ibarra experienced pregnancy complications, forcing her to undergo an emergency caesarian section. >> chances of living was like 1%, so that 1%, we got t it's a miracle. >> reporter: the challenges continued. melinda had surge troy repair an artery and treated for an eye disorder common in preemies. >> she's a fighter, no doubt about that. she's a fighter. >> reporter: melinda is now four pounds and her doctor is encouraged by her progress. >> the smallest baby i've ever had to take care of and we are lucky that the baby is doing well. >> reporter: and as with all premature babies, she will need to be closely monitored. >> most premies have problems with heart, lungs or brain. in this case it looks like things are going well but doctors will warn parents who are taking a premie home,

they'll walk very carefully because in most cases there are going to be significant developmental hurdles. >> hello, little girl. >> reporter: for melinda's parents, their focus now is preparing their daughter's homecoming. >> hopefully in three weeks we can take her home. that's what i'm looking forward, spending my time with her, my life with her, just going to be great. >> babies born so prematurely certainly have the odds stacked against them but thankfully looks like melinda is doing very well. >> thanks very much to modern medicine. coming up, what happened to the first attorney who looked into the first allegations to jerry sandusky and then vanished six years ago. but first this is "today" on nbc.nb

wmg up, we'll take a look at some of the fun we've had this year. >> baton down the hatches, after your local news.

>> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. same-sex couples in baltimore county are celebrating a legal victory this morning. starting in 2012, a new provision will allow county employees who are legally married to a member of the same- sex to extend benefits to their same-sex partner. it comes as welcome news for same-sex couples who have been paying for a separate health-

care plans. here is sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> southbound interaction is jammed from general highway to 50. accident is taking up all the left lane. southbound 295 dealing with delays approaching 100 down to 32. 95 at a much better shape in howard county. 36 miles per hour on average. upperco, watch for an accident. rick live look at traffic. left lane is squeezing by at 50. live view of traffic in the area of 295. >> temperatures have been falling steadily through the morning. we will continue the trend it through the afternoon. 40s in most spots.

41 in emmitsburg. mixture of clouds and a little sunshine. temperatures falling in the 40's in the afternoon hours. chance for a light rain or snow tonight, a rbut it should clear up on saturday. high temperature of 39 on sunday. chance for rain by the middle of next week.

♪ uh-oh, 7:350 on this friday morning, the 16th of december, 2011, you're looking at a small sample of some of the good times we've had during the year on "today." we'll have the highlights, if you can call them that, lowlights maybe, later this morning. i've got three words for you, lava chugging fun, ahead. >> look out for that. >> inside studio 1a i'm ann curry alongside matt lauer. coming up, howard stern has a new job. >> also keeping his old job. he'll be joining the judges on "america's got talent." will he join his sometimes over the top behavior?

a lot of contestants will be surprised by the range of howard stern. we'll talk about that coming up. also, a lot of people when they hear the word cuba, the name of the country, a lot of emotions inspire, seemed so far away and yet it's very close. natalie is sharing her recent trip there to explore the big changes taking place in the once isolated nation. we begin this half hour with the penn state child sex abuse scandal. earl whier this week jerry sandusky waived the right to a preliminary hearing tied to that case. today two former penn state officials charged with lying to a grand jury and failing to report sex abuse allegations, face their own day in court and key witness mike mcqueary is expected to testify for the first time in public but there's another mystery in this case, nbc's lester holt has that side of the story. good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning. it's almost a mystery within a mystery, a story of ray gricar, a pennsylvania district attorney who we now know was the first

prosecutor to investigate the allegation of sex abuse with jerry sandusky in 199. we don't know why he chose not to prosecute the case but the bigger mystery and bigger question is why in 2005 did ray gricar suddenly disappear? ray gricar, the d.a. of center county, pennsylvania, had a stellar reputation. >> he was the most serious prosecutor i've ever met, and i've met hundreds of prosecutors. >> reporter: by early 2005, the d.a. was preparing to retire, stepping back from his duties. on april 15th, he decided to play hooky. >> and he said, "i don't think i'm going to go to work today. i think i'm going to take today off." i said fine, good for you. >> reporter: that night when his girlfriend, patty fournicola, got home, there was no sign of gricar. >> to me it was an emergency, this is not like him, it's unusual behavior. >> reporter: the d.a. was missing. the next day, his red mini

cooper was found abandoned 60 miles away in lewisburg, pennsylvania. it smelled of cigarette smoke, there were ash specs on the floor, but the d.a. didn't smoke. >> ray did not like people smoking around him really and he definitely would never let anybody smoke no his car. >> reporter: daryl zagani, now retired, was the lead investigator on the case. >> it would indicate to us somebody who has been in that car smoking or at least was leaning into the car, possibly talking to ray, holding a cigarette, with some of the ash falling to the floor and the smoke getting into the car. >> reporter: three months later, the d.a.'s work laptop was fished out of the river in lewisburg. its hard drive was hovered soon after, so damaged no data could be retrieved. when you found out that nothing could be recovered, tell me your reaction. >> very upset. i don't know why. it's like gee, it was like the big carrot hanging there and you

reach for it and just about have it, and it's gone. >> reporter: over time, investigators developed three working theories about the d.a.'s disappearance, that he committed suicide, or walked away, or was murdered. no one knows, and the case remains open. police chief sean weaver now oversees the case. does your department lean in any particular direction? >> no, actually, we wondon't, a it's hard because we all have our personal thoughts on the case. everyone who has ever looked at the case has their own theory, personal theory, how crazy it mighten. >> reporter: of course the question folks are asking now, could gricar's disappearance be linked to the sandusky case. close friends and colleagues tell me no way but acknowledged he never really talked about that investigation and matt in tonight's broadcast we'll hear from a prominent medical examiner in pennsylvania who offers his own theory as to how the two could in fact be linked.

>> lester, thank you very much. the broadcast lester is talking about is "dateline" at 10:00, 9:00 central time here on nbc. "america's got talent" named howard stern as a judge and nbc's craig melvin has details. craig, good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. the reality competition turning up the heat on competitors now, adding the so-called shock jock to the judge's table and stern is expected to bring some unexpected moments and some brutal honesty to the popular show. it's official, after weeks of speculation, howard stern made the announcement on his radio show thursday. he's the new judge on nbc's "america's got talented." >> you might think i'm out of my mind, you might think i'm crazy but i take judging very seriously. >> reporter: the man known for shocking stunts, foul language and outrageous behavior will

take the seat of former judge piers morgan. >> i'm going to be piers on steroids, trust me. >> reporter: he's already gifgs viewers a taste of what to come. >> don't call me [ bleep ] because i'm going to tell you the kid has no talent. i don't want to hurt anybody's feelings but i'm telling you feelings are going to be hurt. >> reporter: he called in to tv. >> whatever you think my goal is to find real talent. >> reporter: as for howie mandel and sharns on osbourne -- >> believe me my opinion is the one that counts on the show. >> the point of having howard stern on the show is that he's going to bring an edge. he's going to bring a brutality to it and that's what you want from him. "america's got talent" is one big circus. >> excuse me honey this is the united states of america -- >> nobody knows a big circus

better than howard stern. >> reporter: it allows contestants of all ages. some say he's a bad choice for family audience. >> synonymous with shock, profanity, obscenity. is he someone you want to hold out to american families as a person who should be a judge on what has been for many seasons a family show. >> am i spectacular attitude. >> reporter: stern's radio show is based in new york so "america's got talent" is now moving there from los angeles, a sign the newest judge carries a lot of weight with network brass. >> all of america is embracing this. they're excited, everyone is excited. >> the new season of "america's got talent" starts taping in february. howie mandel tweeted "welcome to the party." >> craig melvin, thank you so much. let's get a check of the weather from al. >> ann, thank you so much.

look at this beauty. who this? >> evangeline. >> how old? >> 5 1/2 months. >> where are you from? >> ohio. >> it's your 17th birthday? >> yes it is. >> what is your name? >> meghan. >> saturday, frigid conditions in new england, morning showers along the mid-atlantic coast, we'll see showers in the southwest, cold in the northern states. sunday, sunday! more frigid weather in new england, sunny and cold along the east coast. more rain, southern texas where they need it into the southwest, a few showers move into the coastal pacific northwest. that's what's going on in the country. here's what's

>> and courtney, my 25th birthday present to you is the fact that you can get your weather any time of the day or not if you go to the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. nbc sunday night is the best night of the week, baubs because it's sunday night football night in america, the ravens flying west to take on the chargers, it's going to be partly cloudy and cool, temperatures 53 to 58, and i don't know if ravens even molt. we'll check, but first it's sunday night, football night in america. ann? >> all right, ann, thank you so much. coming up next, signs of change, natalie takes us inside the new cuba, right after this. [ indistinct conversations ]

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trust most for comfort. ornyou're a miracle workerful sabrina soto.. [sfx: doorbell rings] and you can mix your seasonal pieces with your everyday china. [sfx: knocking on door] and now you need to hide. oh, i love the mercury glass pieces on the mantel, we could put some evergreen pieces... you know a simple touch like adding. oh, i think we should quickly decorate the hallway, wouldn't that be fun? maybe just put some...oh thank you so much, i'm going to bring you a snack later. wait, i still need to talk to you about led candles. happy holiday's. hey! hi! please come in. you know ornaments, they make a great centerpiece. we're back now at 7:43. the united states and cuba have had a complicated relationship for the last five day kads. it is a relationship that is

changing constantly. natalie recently took a trip to havana and i'm sure you were impressed what you saw. >> there were gradual differences. the regime remains in place under brother raul's leadership yet there are signs of change. cuba is often described as a country frozen in time. while u.s./cuba relations may also remain frozen, change is on the horizon. ♪ >> how much are they, five? >> reporter: americans once banned from visiting under the embargo are coming back. >> we're here for a festival. >> reporter: the latin american international film festival was a big draw for americans this year. also tour groups are back. >> cuba is at a time where it's

going to change significantly. once the door opens cuba will be a totally different place. ♪ >> reporter: this group is among the first to experience cuba, though under strict guidelines, on a full time cultural immersion program approved by the u.s. treasury department. the new rules have their criticings especially among cuban-americans who fled castro's revolution. >> president obama's gesture of friendship toward the castros, significantly increasing travel from the united states to cuba, has meant over $500 million a year to the land, in castro's bank accounts. >> reporter: for many cubans it's less about politics and more about family. today they can send money and goods without restriction. christina morales is on her way, third iz havity to bring her brother supplies for his new restaurant. >> he's happy because that was

something he couldn't have or do in cuba before, to have your own business. >> reporter: her brother, angel morales is now one of the 1 million private business owners. he reopened the restaurant his grandfather ran for 40 years until castro shut it down. what does it mean for you to have this? he says "it's allowed me to reach my dream," and miguel in turn is giving other cubans and culinary students a shot at the new cuban dream, which now includes buying a home. the new privatization law in effect this month allows cubans to buy and sell property again. real estate agencies don't exist here yet in cuba. instead people come here on saturday mornings, this place is bustling with people posting signs like this, looking to swap, barter and now sell their homes in what is known as the stock market of cuban real estate. ♪

while cuba has a long way to go by american standards, they are enjoying new freedoms including religion. for decades this country was officially atheist and today for thes first time in more than 5 years, the government has allowed this national religious procession, celebrating cuba's patron saints. but the opposition group, the ladies in white, are demanding more must be done to end human rights abuses, something pope benedict will most likely address when he visits next spring. when pope john paul ii made his historic visit in 1998, he called for cuba to open to the world, and the world to open to cuba. that's silvia wilhelm's hope, too. she was sent to the u.s. as a child after the revolution. >> i definitely did not want to have anything to do with cuba. >> reporter: today her view has changed. she's working to break down the

50-year-old walls between cuba and the united states. do you think family then will be the tie that binds these two countries together ultimately? >> without a doubt, what is going to continue to move this train in the direction of reconciliation, lingers on one word. it's called family. >> it is a fascinating place and on monday i'll take you on a tour of earnest hemingway's home in cuba with granddaughter mariel hemingway, probably the highlight of the whole thing. >> natalie thank you very much, appreciate it. still to come, daniel craig talks about his role in "the girl with the dragon tattoo," but first these messages. [ female announcer ] ornaments are not for decorating.

dad. did you know it's 22 days, 11 hours and 2 minutes to christmas? [ mumbling ] ...enny days, 8 hours, 9 minutes... 18 days, 17 hours... [ mom ] let's go, young lady. [ female announcer ] they're for building excitement for christmas. 12 days, 18 hours... come on. it's no days! [ female announcer ] the hallmark countdown to christmas ornament. 5 hours and 59 minutes and 41... 40...39... 38...37...36... the best approach to food 40...39... is to keep it whole for better nutrition. that's what they do with great grains cereal. they steam and bake the actual whole grain while the other guy's flake is more processed. mmm. great grains. the whole whole grain cereal.

when sugar plums appear, temptation's all around. donuts, cakes and pies, they've got a gift for me, i wish that i could take it back, but there is no receipt. oh jiggle bells, jiggle bells, jiggle all the way. oh how i wish i could resist, jiggling this holiday. oh joy oh natural joy! truvia®, box of bliss, zero calorie sweetness from a leaf, my sugar plum happiness. truvia®. honestly sweet. ♪ [ male announcer ] they've been tested, built and driven like no other. and now they're being offered like no other. come to the winter event and get an exceptional offer

on the mercedes-benz of your dreams. it's our way of showing a little holiday spirit. but hurry -- the offer ends january 3rd. ♪ it's a great hd tv... shhh. don't speak. i'll just leave you two alone. [ male announcer ] the big christmas event is here. 8 a.m. saturday. with our lowest prices of the season on select toys, electronics and more... the only stop for last minute gifts is walmart. okay, be afraid, be very rah frayed. we're going to show you the lighter moments we experienced in 2011. >> girs these messages and a check you have your local news and weather. yep!

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>> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. here is sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> most of the major roadways are ok. if you travel northbound or southbound, you will find it delays. generals i went all the way down to 50, accident just prior to 450. right lane has just been reopened. all lanes are open, but they may have to shut down to clear the accident. northbound 97 on ramp to westbound 32, that is the other accident location. southbound 895 at sha road, watch for an accident out of the harbor tunnel.

caton avenue, crash off to the side. not bad on the outer loop. 10 minutes on inner loop from 795 to the 83's. 97 coming towards us in the southbound direction, really have the heading towards 50. 95 not seeing the delays we saw earlier. >> temperatures have been falling for most of the morning. we started out near 60 just after midnight. 47 at the airport. 43 in westminster. 38 in hagerstown. forecast for today, variable clouds or a mixture of clouds and sunshine. it will be breezy trade winds will gust up to 25. temperatures will hold steady or fall into the afternoon. could be light rain or snow tonight. try tomorrow. clipper storm comes in on sunday

morning. high-temperature only 39. then we get back into the mid- 40s early next week with a chancek

we're back now, k on a friday morning, the 16th day of december, 2011. we've got a big crowd of people out on the plaza this morning. a lot of these folks probably in town to wrap up their christmas shopping and we're just happy they decided to stop by and spend a little time with us here in rockefeller plaza. i'm matt lauer, with a big group today along with ann curry, al roker, savannah guthrie. >> a big group as in four of us. >> it went from there to there. >> a couple of chilly ones over there, hoda and kathie lee. >> we were told it was warmer than it is. >> oh!

you're going to shame me into this? >> no, i'll just snuggle in. >> the reason we have the big group out here is because we're going to take a look back at some of the fun we've had in 2011. >> brace ourselves because we're going to be showing you all of the clips they put together. we've not seen what they put together, this is the first glimpse of it. >> i've seen that. >> yes, but what i mean is the complete compendium we have not seen and we shall see the choreography. oh, boy. >> natalie has got a check of the headlines. let's get in and get warm. >> thank you, matt. good morning, everyone, once again. after one of the most negative weeks on the campaign the republican presidential candidates kept things civil last night abefore the iowa caucuses. newt gingrich and mitt romney directed their attacks at president obama instead.

president obama is standing by his decision to hand an award to dakota myer. it was reported he probably deserved the medal but portions of the citations were untrue, unsubstantiated or exaggerated. major league baseball's home run king barry bonds faced up to 21 months in prison, he was convictcon convicted of obstructing justice for purposely misleading a jury of an investigation into steroid abuse. a quick roundup of what has you talking online, christopher hitchens is a top search on google and a twitter trending topic as well as literary greats and celebrities alike, quote him and mourn his passing. he died thursday after a long bat well cancer. salman rushdie tweeted

"good-bye, my beloved friend. a great voice falls silent. a great heart stops." this is at a. rally, having locked with mystery kissers. the problem is the kissers were their own parents. the school's principal is apologizing. no more mr. nice judge, a top search on google, howard stern said to replace piers morgan on nbc's "america's got talent." stern tweeted morgan tweeted about throwing contestants into a vat of acid. >> announcer: "today's" weather is brought to you by jared, the galleria o

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i wonder what it could be?! what's in your wallet? back at 8:07, as "today" looks back at 2011. it was a memorable year on the show. >> that's right, and here are the highlights. ♪ you and me, we're running this town ♪ ♪ and it's me and we're shaking the ground ♪ ♪ this is our show ♪ everybody, whoa, oh, oh ♪ come on, oh, oh, oh ♪ let me hear you now ♪ oh, oh >> and good morning, welcome to "today" on a thursday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> and i'm ann curry in for i guess nobody this morning.

me, myself and i. oh your birthday wish to meet me. you have a sign. happy birthday. >> hi, i'm matt. >> i'm al roker. >> nice to meet you. >> natalie is going to be replacing ann at the news desk. >> yes. >> that means there is an opening in the 9:00 hour so if you would like to host the 9:00 hour, savannah guthrie is moving from the white house in washington to new york city to join us in the 9:00. >> ann curry this lady came from a thousand oaks just for a hug from you. >> you know what? i give a good hug, baby, come on! group hug. >> a woman after my own heart, matt i've purelld a cheek for to you kiss. >> you kissed the wrong cheek! ♪ i've had the time of my life and i never felt this way before ♪ ♪ and i swear this is true and i owe it all to you, you, you,

you ♪ >> after months of personal reflection and private conversations to my family and my friends, i've decided to leave "today" in june. >> all right, mr. roker. >> mr., ahhh -- already you're forgetting me? >> i swear i just saw a bat fly over. i got to get help. >> put some air in there and pour that into the hot pan. >> mama, we're in the house! ♪ saying good-bye, when words aren't enough ♪ ♪ keep away the cold, oh, no ♪ say good-bye, now where our story ends ♪ ♪ i know you can't be mine, not the way you've always been ♪ ♪ as long as we've got time, for saying good-bye ♪

♪ oh, no, it's saying good-bye ♪ where them girls at, girls at ♪ where dem girls at, girls at ♪ >> hey, every day is a good day with you hoda woman. >> getting drunk. >> you came to the right place! ♪ party rock >> matt get over here. >> i'm actually going out over the air? >> yes, we're on tv. ♪ hey, everybody, everybody, that will make you want to move it like they do it at south beach ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪ >> eh pa! this is what i came back to television to do. ♪ i will make it, believe >> it's an honor to meet you, your holiness, thank you so

much. >> i lift you up all the way to the heavens. >> thank you. >> a tsunami is coming right now, they're yelling at everybody to get out of the way. ♪ to conquer, to thrive, a chance to win ♪ >> all four -- what is the future you wish for iran, why? ♪ >> today and tomorrow, whoa! ♪ >> this is a play grouground. that's the mississippi river. >> you see what used to be freedom tower, now one world trade center. ♪ i will be right there from the ground like a skyscraper ♪ >> wow. >> it is our tenth anniversary of lend a hand today, and this year promises to be our biggest year ever. see you tomorrow in vegas.

we've got seven, count 'em seven trucks. open them up! let's open them up! here we go! open up that truck. i'm going to see you from birmingham. i got to get started now. ♪ you're my biggest "a" girl, you're my biggest cake girl ♪ ♪ let me play it now, let me play it now like ♪ ♪ whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh >> good-bye to you. >> she went into the abbey as kate middleton, came out a princess. >> standing by with my binocula binoculars. >> they'll share that kiss. >> i got to tell you, it was a huge party here. ♪ oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh >> where in the world is matt lauer? >> look out below, here in the southern hemisphere, that is

what we call spring skiing. i want to say pull up, pull up. and i like it here. i will tell you that. >> two big guys in a little car. >> we're going this way. i'm standing on this sky bridge connecting the petronis towers here in kuala lumpur, malaysia. ♪ written in the stars >> this is good times ten. i'm on a horse, in theçó beautil island nation of barbados. >> ooh the snowshoe. hit it. oh, did we forget to hook mine up? ♪ ♪ i get a good feeling, yeah

♪ oh, sometimes, i get a good feeling ♪ >> i just shook a few hands outside, i'm not sure i should do that. >> you should have washed them. don't put those on our beautiful table. >> sorry. >> one, two, three, go. >> i'm not taking a dog biscuit, no way. i learned that trick from matt lauer. okay. >> let me tell you a great way to keep your potatoes hot while you're waiting. >> i know all about keeping my potatoes hot. >> i make you nervnervous, don'? >> yes you do. look, there's chocolate cake to serve with this. >> oh, no, you're not changing the subject. ♪ now, now, now, come on ♪ now, now, now, come on ♪ you know you make me feel like i'm the only girl in the world ♪

♪ today i don't want to do anything, i just want to lay in my bed ♪ ♪ you traveling around town with the girl i love and forget you ♪ ♪ just the change in my pocket wasn't enough, as i forget you and forget her, too ♪ ♪ tonight is the night, girl, tonight is the night ♪ ♪ oh, ooh, tonight is the night ♪ >> they closed off 49th street, our biggest concert crowd ever. >> this presented problems when ann pulled in this morning and her motorcade they had to move some of these people out of the way. ♪ i'll tell you if it's snowing ♪ oh it's definitely snowing ♪ ♪ or the wind is blowing

♪ if the wind is blowing ♪ all i want to do is have some fun ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, ann curry. ♪ they say brandi, such a novel round, she serves them whiskey and wine ♪ ♪ the sailors say brandi ♪ party on, say that it's september ♪ yes, sir, it's my baby now ♪ >> favorite tv daytime show, these guys right here! ♪ because i got a feeling ♪ whoa, ooh, yeah, i got a feeling ♪ oh ♪ ♪ you know i got a feeling ♪ oh, yeah, i got a feeling ♪ sit a spell, it will take about an hour ♪ ♪ i'll tell you all a story about me and matt lauer ♪

♪ you're the one that i think about all day ♪ >> put the mike closer to her mouth, right up against her mouth. can you speak louder, ma'am? can you speak louder? louder, yes. >> what soap opera did awe peer on in 1982? >> this is the soap opera i appear on every single day. ♪ oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ >> it is called the lauer. you no he that? >> it is? ♪ >> yeah! >> come on, let's go! ♪ >> let's show everybody where

dhee keeps her tweeter so to speak, right in the old spanxs-arooney. >> this is not preventing the snow from reaching my scalp. ♪ you make me >> looks like the girls are late again. ♪ >> hey, i'm drivin' here! ♪ all i do is win, win, win no matter what, what, what ♪ ♪ got money on my mind, can never get enough ♪ ♪ and every time i step in the field, everybody's hands go up ♪ ♪ all i do is win, win, win ♪ and if you gonna win put your hands in the air and say yeah ♪ ♪ you can count on me like one, two, three ♪ i'll be there and i know when

i need it i can count on you ♪ ♪ like four, three, two, and you'll be there ♪ ♪ cause that's what friends are supposed to do eoh, yeah ♪ ♪ ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ you can count on me cause i can count on you. >> u.s. -- sorry, a mosquito is in here. ♪ i was born this way, don't let yourself regret ♪ ♪ i'm on the right track baby, i was born this way ♪ ♪ born this way ♪ baby i was born this way >> contact lenses have been great for ann's career. >> which actually i don't wear them which is why i can't read the teleprompter half the time.

>> it's been a long time since i've had the power of the pool -- >> sorry, that was funny. >> guys, you didn't hear, they're lower in alcohol. you're not going to like them. >> still ahead we got kathie lee and hoda coming up. >> and it's going to be great. >> what's ann curry doing here? oh, you forgot your blackberry. ann curry forgot her blackberry. >> sarah va in a's iphone is under the table and playing music. >> please don't reveal. >> it's glee! >> no, no! oh, no! ♪ pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, oh ♪ ♪ pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, oh ♪ >> that was a bird. >> whoa! >> did you see that on tv? ♪ i'm on the edge of glory and

i'm hanging on by more than my shoes ♪ ♪ i'm on the edge, i'm the edge, the edge, the edge ♪ ♪ i'm on the edge of glory and i'm hanging on a moment with you ♪ >> i own the george washington bridge! i'm king of the bridge! ♪ i'm on the edge with you ♪ today's a day, everything's going your way ♪ ♪ today, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ today, today, yeah, today, today, yeah ♪ ♪ yeah, today, yeah, today ♪ today, yeah, mmm

>> wow! >> so many people did a great job. >> unbelievable. erica levins, lindsay grubbs, amanda avery, editors molly paul, drew candel and jay ashonovsky and graphics team, help me, millie. guy, well done. >> and also well done in 2011, a lucky time, a lucky staff. >> it's not over. >> a big year. oh, we got more. >> i want to take a nap after watching all that but we still have a show to do so don't. >> go anywhere. >> i like that magic box. >> that will be under your christmas tree, al. much more ahead including daniel craig coming up.

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way to protect your skin from the harsh weather, you want >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. let's get a final check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> still trying to recover from an earlier accident on southbound 97 in the area of 50. right lane" off to the side. delays stretch back to general's highway. little bit of a delay on the ramp to 32. accident still clearing there. schnell road, accident, not a problem eastbound i-70. disabled vehicle to report. delay-wise, not all that bad. you can see the accident off to

the side. we will switch to a live view of traffic in the area of 40 west. outer loop is a little bit back up. john collins joins us with a look at the forecast. >> we have the sunshine, a few scattered clouds. one weather system out of the way. looks like this is heading in our direction a. most of this is a brain. let's look at the current conditions. 47 degrees. humidity is down. northwest winds at 14, the best thing to 28. weather system goes through. there is a cold front passing through our south. this new batch of moisture will be coming our way. that means we could see a little snow tonight, or brain-snow mix. variably cloudy skies. daytime forecast won't get any more moderate temperatures will

be steady or falling. mid-to-upper-forties expected for temperatures during the day. >> we will have another update at 8:55.

8:30 now on this tgif, friday morning, the 16th of december, 2011, and you're looking at claire dane who just picked up a golden globe nomination in the showtime series "homeland" she's gathering gifts for our toy drive. "homeland" is one of president barack obama's favorite shows so that's an exciting thing.

i don't know who is more excited about that, or picking up the golden globe nomination. we'll talk about a very talented actor, another one in our studio. >> very talented and extremely versatile, daniel craig, one of the stars of the new movie "girl with the dragon tattoo." it is an extremely powerful movie. we'll talk to him about that, some other things as well. >> it's going to be a christmas to remember for one michigan family who suddenly found themselves homeless after a medical crisis. they'll share their story with us. >> okay, on another note we have jill martin back with another holiday steals and deals for you as well. >> first a check of the weather. >> let's look ahead to your weekend, tomorrow, sunshine in the northeast and new england, going to be cold. we got cold and frigid weather through the plains, mild through the gulf coast, showers in florida and texas. sunday, sunday, sunshine continues along the east coast, a few snow showers, rain in southern texas where they really need it and the southwest as well. that's what's going on in the country.

here's what's >> and that's your latest weather. >> when we come back we'll bring some holiday cheer to a family that can really use some, we'll explain that. first this is today on nbc. ♪ [ male announcer ] it's easy to see what subaru owners care about. ♪ that's why we created the share the love event. get a great deal on a new subaru and 250 dollars goes to your choice of five charities.

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back now at 8:34, more than 49 million americans now live

below the poverty line and a number of them like the family you're about to meet propelled into bankruptcy by a one-two punch of job loss and a catastrophic health crisis. "today" national correspondent jenna wolfe is here with more. >> good morning to you, ann. in michigan the families of former autoworkers were among those taking the biggest hit and this holiday season as part of our getting to the heart of christmas series we wanted to offer a little hope to one family in crisis. >> i miss being able to say that i have a home. that's the hardest part. >> reporter: meet finley klein, this high school junior and family of six represent the new face of america's homeless. >> i can see how this could rip families apart. >> reporter: since early october the klein family has been crashing at a friend's vacant home in suburban detroit. >> everything was going fine three years earlier. i could give them everything and now piece by piece, it was getting taken away from me.

>> reporter: a few short years ago the kleins lived a life full of promise, but then disaster struck. finley was diagnosed with a rare tumor. >> all around here. >> it's a bone-eating tumor that grows at a very, very fast rate. >> the first picture that my dad showed me, her face was like over here, and when we found out she had the second tumor, it was even more scary, because my dad said she might not be good. >> reporter: with their daughter fighting for her life and no insurance, the $100,000 surgery wiped out the klein's savings. facing bankruptcy, the kleins lost their home and were evicted. >> that broke my heart right there. it was the worst. i would take another tumor any day just to be back there and just for that to never happen again. >> any more swelling? >> yeah. that hurt worse than all of my surgeries put together.

yeah, my jaw. >> your whole sense of normalcy is gone, and trying to figure out what we're going to do to bring that back is when it's just like a neverending road that we're on right now. obviously it's going to be christmas celebrating, we're going to be surrounded by friends and family and that's the most important thing. >> reporter: the family expects another bare bones christmas. we follow michelle to the local walmart where she plans to pick up some lights for the tree, but we actually have quite a surprise in store. our team is giving them a christmas to remember, by giving michelle the run of the store. >> oh, wow. >> the wonderful people of walmart opened up their stores and their aisles and their hearts. the store is your oyster, michelle. >> oh, wow. what do i do? holy cow. serious

seriously. >> look at this face. would we lie to you? >> pick out what you need, what you think the kids will enjoy for christmas and we'll take care of it. >> oh! let's go shopping. where's my kleenex? >> can we can why you're crying? this should be happy. >> i'm overwhelmed. i don't know what to think. >> don't think and just lead with your heart. michelle makes up for all of the years of underwear and socks. >> they all need laptops, even darby. >> laptops for school, a kindle for finley, an xbox for garrett. >> oh, this is kind of cute. >> some new duds for darby. >> can i get my husband a tv? >> and the mother of all tvs for russ. >> wow, that is really big. oh my gosh. >> and the candy kanes should go this way. >> back at michelle's parents house our team is busy decorating and wrapping the presents so the family can celebrate when the kids get out of school. >> this is overwhelming. this is overwhelming.

>> why are you crying? >> it's a tough couple years for them. >> i'm sure. what's this going to mean for their children? >> incredible. >> what we decided to do when you went to school today was bring christmas to your house. are you okay? >> you got me a laptop? >> the coolest present i've had ever. >> ooh! >> awesome! >> pretty fantastic. >> holy! wow! >> reporter: we saved the best for last, telling the kleins the "today" show was flying them to new york, to be on the "today" show, to be on our set with matt lauer and ann curry, and finally take in new york city the way you guys should and spend a christmas like i'm sure you've wanted to.

>> i love you. ♪ joy to the world, the lord is come ♪ >> it is my great pleasure to introduce to you, ann, the klein family, russ, michelle, finley, garrett, darby, and kendall. welcome. >> good morning you guys and welcome. i feel like we're so far away from you. i'm going to step across and welcome you in person and michelle, we could tell you two it meant so much for to you give these things to your children. and to think you only wanted slippers for christmas. >> i love slippers. it's all i really wanted. >> but you really want a job. >> four years ago when i was in the ford factory, left because we were worried about it, but you know, i'm back in michigan now, that's right where i want to be again, it's the best job i've ever had. >> fingers crossed, things are getting better and better. finley watching this, you were particularly emotional. you say that losing your home hurt even more than even suffering through this tumor.

what do you want to say to people listening this morning about what it means to be one of the what, 60,000 children who are in america today who are homeless and who are enduring this kind of pain. what do you want to say on behalf of all these young people? >> well, even though like they don't have homes, they have, we have a strong family, so it is our home, our family is our home. >> you've come closer together as a family because of all this? >> um-hum. >> because you've had to, and i can see it's been emotional for all of you and your family. i want you to know that it's the best is yet to come, because we want to tell you that actually getting to the heart of christmas, wants to give you something else, the team at walmart wants to give you a monthly stipe to pay for food, clothing, and also fulfilling expensive medicines, anything

else you need for a year. >> oh, god. >> wow, thank you. thank you. thank you very much. >> walmart's been wonderful. they've just been fantastic and the "today" show. >> and everybody connected with the "today" show and walmart, you know, i love you guys. >> this has been great, i don't know if we deserve it. >> it is what you deserve, clearly you as parents are doing everything you can to help your family. have you learned what it takes, finley, watching your parents? do you think about what they have done for you, what they've done for your brothers and sisters? what have you learned about the heroism it takes to be a parent sometimes? >> i know that it's hard, and they're really courageous and i just, i love them for doing everything that they've done for us. >> i should mention having spent time with them this is the most

grateful, beautiful family you'll meet, they're grateful for every small thing. to spend a holiday like this, you can see it in their eyes as they're all shedding tears you can understand how much they appreciate this. >> thank you and good luck to your family, we pray for you and all families. >> thank you. >> thank you to everyone who is involved and clearly a message we all need to add community, involve more to help our homeless families. we're back with much more. this is "today" on nbc. >> thank you. ♪

♪ and we're back now at 8:45 with one of hollywood's most versatile actors, said to star in a spielberg animation, currently shooting his third james bond film and one of the most anticipated movieness of the year "the girl with the dragon tattoo." take a look. >> those are from her, the rest from her killer.

>> who knows about this? >> just me, the police, the killer. and now you. >> daniel craig, welcome back. good to see you >> nice to be here. >> how you been? >> good. i was thinking about your career, reading the notes. you are not afraid to take on roles that put you in the cross-hairs of passionate fans, the whole bond stuff which you have completely laid to rest and now this. people love this book. they love this story, and they have expectations. did you worry at all about it? >> i didn't really. i think that once i read the script which i thought was a true and accurate sort of adaptation of the book and i kind of was fulfilled with

confidence, i knew he would do a good job. >> as an actor when you read steve larson's book were you already thinking what it might be like to play this character? >> me and millions of others. >> you can dream about it, think it might come your way. how did it eventually come your way? >> a phone call, just andy pascal from sony and i went to see david in los angeles, had dinner with him and said let's do it. >> he looked at you and this is one of those stories i'm not sure how accurate it is, you can correct employee, you were in the best shape of your life and said you're playing a journalist, playing a guy who probably wouldn't be in that great a shape. i'm not sure if i should be insulted by that. >> you shouldn't be. you're in great shape. >> you had to put on some weight. >> it was as much to do with the fact i wanted to look at kind of normal a guy as possible and the fact of it is, is that this guy is, you know, a journalist and he works and works very hard and maybe drinks a little too much, and but when sort of the thriller aspect of this movie kicks in, i wanted him to be in

danger. i wanted him to look like -- >> you didn't want him to be bond. >> exactly what it is, yeah. >> and christopher plummer was here, one of your co-stars, and he talked about the location, earlier this week, and he said you shot a lot of this in sweden in the winter and wasn't sure if you'd ever been that cold. >> i don't know why he's complaining. he's wearing a fur coat and i've got like a t-shirt on. i don't know how that worked out. >> he said you shivered through most of the movie. >> that was real, that wasn't just acting. >> rooney mara, there was talk maybe scarlet johansson or natalie portman. rooney was not all that well-known. >> unknown. >> do you think that that was important? >> i do. i mean, the sort of story surrounding it was what was going on in the outside world.

we knew, once i met rooney and talked to david she was the right girl for the part and all of this sort of, you know, the brouhaha that was going on, it didn't make any sense once we started filming. once i saw how good an actress she is and what great person she is, i had every confidence in her. >> not only does she transform herself into this role but within the role, within the movie she goes from at times being androgenous to other times being anything but the androgenous. she's a kchameleon within the role. >> she's done a wonderful job. >> there are quite adult themes in this. >> in the whole movie. i wouldn't have done it if it hadn't have been. have anybody has read the books they know what the themes are, deals with sexual politics, deals with violence against women and all of those things are important to the story, so my kind of theory is i'm hoping babysitters are going to make a

lot of money out of the money. >> hire a babysitter, do not take the kids. you're in the middle of shooting your third bond. how is that going? >> going good. >> how long do you have ahead of you? >> we shot six weeks and shoot until the end of may so i can't work that out but a long time. >> staying true to the genre, what people expect? >> a little bit more this time. >> daniel indication, incredibly versatile in this movie "girl with the dragon tattoo" will wow people. it's very powerful. >> thank you so much. >> happy holidays. >> and to you. >> thank you very much. a new release date, moved up to a nationwide release on december 20th. check that out. up next, jenna bush hager on a young man making his mark on and off the playing field. we'll talk about that, but first this is "today" on

this morning on "tooled's extra yard," an nfl rookie with a tough upbringing making people around him better. jenna bush hager has the story. good morning. >> good morning, ann. baltimore ravens wide receiver torrey smith might be known for his skills on the field but it's his character off it that makes him truly stand out. determination. drive. resilience. all words rookie torrey smith lives and plays by. practices at the ravens facility, the 22-year-old already feels like a winner,

like a survivor. would you say that you fought for all of this? >> definitely. i feel like nothing's given to you. >> reporter: the odds were stacked against torrey from the beginning. his mother, monica jenkins was only 16 when torrey was born. >> i was a baby having a baby and he was born with jaundice, meningitis, so he stayed in the hospital for a few months. >> reporter: monica had more babies while she was a teenager. times were tough and she worked two jobs to feed her kids. >> she financially did everything, and i just stepped up and was trying to be a good role model for them. >> reporter: even as a little boy, torrey was a man of the house, playing the role of parent. >> he was 4 years old and i remember him getting up and fixing bowls of cereal for his siblings, because i've worked all night. >> i'd help take care of my brothers and sisters from microwave to putting everybody to bed to putting clothes on them. just taking a little stress off my mother. >> reporter: his brothers, minke and tevin say torrey raised them

and their four other siblings. if you could describe your brother what would you say about him? >> very humble, kind, just all-around good person. >> he was just like all-around good to me. >> reporter: being the father figure also meant trying to shield the family from violence. >> i saw him put a gun to her head before and he pulled the trigger, me and my brother in the back seat, went up through the roof and you have no control over it. ♪ when i get older >> reporter: torrey found control on the high school football field. he got a full score larship to the university of maryland, the first man in his family to attend college. he played for coach ralph prejean. >> he's honest, caring, loyal and good person. >> reporter: right when life seemed to be finally going his torrey's mother was sent to jail

for felony wounding. the coach served as a character witness for monica and wrote a letter explaining torrey is the best example of the good she could contribute to society. >> in my 41 years of coaching i have never met a better character player than torrey, an unselfish hard worker, he's a testimony to her hard work and destination. >> reporter: monica was able to see torrey graduate and from her he learned the importance of redemption. earlier this season, with seconds left in the game against the steeler, torrey dropped the game winning pass in the end zone but his team kept the faith in the man who has always beaten the odds, another ball was thrown his way, this time for the victory. >> a lot of people you know kind of look back on it like you were kind of built for that situation, my head wasn't down and the catch is up to him, it was big. >> and torrey is still taking care of his family. they say he makes sure they're okay financially before he spends any money on himself, and

they're all going to his house for christmas in baltimore. >> great story. jenna bush hager thank you so much. catch the ravens taking on the chargers sunday night on nbc, coverage at 7:00 p.m. eastern on "football night in america." just ahead, jill martin's holiday steals and deals, after your local news. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. here is it that one of our top stories. a high-speed chase through baltimore city leaders want men in hospital. police officers shot the suspect after he pointed a gun at them. the officers tried to pull the

19-year-old over in a

>> partly cloudy skies. temperatures in the 40's. the cold front as passed by. today it will be colder and breezy. temperatures falling by the afternoon. variably cloudy skies.