good morning. open season. gop presidential hopefuls rip into frontrunner mitt romney during the final debate before tuesday's primary in new hampshire. >> can we drop a little bit of the pious baloney. >> will in-fighting haunt them in the general election? we'll ask newt gingrich. death sentence. that's the sentence for a former marine convicted of spying to the cia. we are live in tehran. miracle at mile high. tim tebow leads the broncos to a stunning overtime win knocking the steelers out of the playoffs and pushing the denver faithful one step closer to the sup bowl today, monday, january 9, one step closer to the sup bowl today, monday, january 9, 2012. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

and good morning. welcome to "today" on a monday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> i'm ann curry. they are really celebrating in denver. >> after a mediocre finish to the regular season tim tebow and the broncos got off in on the right foot on n the playoffs. and in politics newt gingrich is pulling out all the stops. has he gone too negative or is he just counterpunching after being attacked in iowa. we'll talk with newt gingrich in a few minutes. >> bungee jumping is terrifying, exhilarating. there is a 22-year-old woman who may think twice before trying it again. [ cheers ]

>> the cord snapped near the end of the jump sending the woman head first into a crocodi crocodile-infested river. she survived with minor injuries. matt, you had a chance to jump off that bridge. >> about ten years ago during "where in the world" at victoria falls we ended on the bridge and said would i end the show by going off. i declined but people on our staff did jump. >> craig white, our cameraman. >> also two milestones. kate middleton turns 30 today. how is she celebrating the big day? we have details on that. and we're turning 60. we have a week-long celebration lined up. we'll get the party started later in the morning. >> the show is turning 60. >> not us. >> we begin with the gop presidential race and tomorrow's key primary in new hampshire.

nbc's savannah guthrie is in manchester. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. the candidates are definitely in the final stretch and feeling the heat. romney is leading by double digits in most polls. this is really a race for second or third and the right to continue on in the campaign. >> on this special edition of "meet the press" the final debate -- >> reporter: with time running out to stop a mitt romney cruise to the nomination the frontrunner's opponents piled on in sunday's nbc facebook debate. >> there is a huge difference between a reagan conservative and somebody who comes out of the massachusetts culture with an essentially moderate record who will have a hard time in a debate with president obama. >> if the record was so great in massachusetts why did you bail out? >> reporter: romney fired back calling both men career politicians. >> i went thomas mass to make a difference. i didn't go to run time and

again. >> reporter: which gingrich called phoney. >> can we drop the pious baloney? you have been running for years and years. the idea that suddenly sit sh citizenship showed up in your mind, you have been running since the 1990s. >> reporter: john huntsman joined the fray after he was criticized for serving in president obama's administration. >> -- the person who should represent our country who called him an incredible leader and went to represent him in china. >> this stanl is divided, david, because of attitudes like that. >> reporter: on gay rights the candidates were united against same-sex marriage. >> when is the last time you stood up and spoke out on increasing gay rights. >> right now. >> reporter: later gingrich and

romney sparred again over the barrage of super pac attack ads. >> i wish you would calmly and directly state it is your former staff running the pac. it is your millionaire friends giving to the pac. just say it. straightforward. [ applause ] >> well, of course it's former staff of mine. of course they are people who support me. with regard to the ads i haven't seen them. under the law i can't direct their ads. if there is anything that's wrong i hope they take it out. >> reporter: romney went point by point saying the charges in one anti-gingrich ad. >> you know, this ain't the bean bag. >> reporter: john huntsman with momentum is third place, but the trend is upward. many candidates are already looking ahead to south carolina where romney's conservative opponents hope to make one last stand to try to stop him.

matt? >> savannah guthrie in new hampshire already this morning. thank you very much. newt gingrich is in concord this morning. good morning. >> good to be with you. by the way, i was going to say happy birthday. i remember as a child watching the "today" show in black and white television. congratulations on 60 years. that's remarkable. >> i thought you were going to say as a child you remembered watching me on "today." let me say governor romney has a chance to do something no other nonincumbent republican candidate has done -- win iowa and new hampshire. if he pulls it off tomorrow is he the favorite for the nomination? >> this is his third best state after utah and massachusetts. if he were not to win here however if it's close which it could be because he's been sliding now for four days, it is a defeat for him. this is a state he's bought a house in, he's lived in.

he was governor next door. it's a state where he's been buying advertising since 1994 as a candidate in boston television which reaches most of the state. he was the prohibitive favorite going in. his position is precarious this morning based on the suffolk poll. he may be moving toward a surprisingly weak finish. >> in the weeks before iowa you surged to the lead and then got a target on your back. you became the center of a lot of negative ads. face it, they worked. did they work because your support was soft? it seems it would be hard to shake firm support with negative ads. did they work because your support is soft? >> well, they worked because my support had been based on positive ideas, positive solutions for creating jobs, heading economic growth, getting to a balanced budget. those are all positive ideas. 45% of the ads run in iowa were attack ads against me.

i have to say with a fairly long career in politics that was a breathtaking achievement. when you would get up to eight or nine ads an hour attacking. six pieces of mail a day, four or five robo calls a day. i was thrilled we did as well as we did because we didn't go negative, we didn't try to respond. >> right. >> but it was clear you had to run a much more decisive contrast ad and contrast campaign with romney because you couldn't allow him to run false ads and get away with it and claim you didn't know. as you noted n the debate he first said he didn't know what was in the ads and then cited one of them. >> there is a 30-minute film or super ad that's extremely negative about governor romney in his time as ceo. it calls him a greedy ruthless

corporate raider. you can't have a direct contact with the super pac. are you in favor of the running of the film and do you agree with everything it says? >> i have no idea. i haven't seen the film yet. >> you've read about it. >> i have, but what i have read said it's based upon historical facts. at some point governor romney has to hold a press conference and walk through in detail some of the companies that bane took over where they apparently looted the companies, left people unemployed and walked off with millions of dollars. look, i'm for capitalism. i'm for people who go in to save a company. i'm for people who take risk, grow jobs. sometimes you fail. i have run four small businesses in the last decade. it gets tough out there. it doesn't always work. i get that. if somebody comes in, takes all the money out of your company and leaves you bankrupt while they go off with millions,

that's not traditional capitalism. in fact -- >> considering the fact that g v governor romney may eventually be the head of the party can't you hear president obama's team saying this is a guy whose own party members called him a corporate raider, predator and ruthless? >> any republican who gets the nomination is going to have axelrod and obama figuring out every way. they will raise $1 billion. as the governor said, this ain't bean bag. they aren't going to raise a billion dollars for fun. they are going to come after any republican. that's why a reagan conservative who is articulate who can debate effectively is much more likely to beat obama than somebody who can't defend their record. governor romney will have to defend what he did at bane. that's his record. he's proud that he wasn't in public office while i was, fine. he can take on my public record

but he owns us a report on his stewardship of the private record. whatever happens this spring, it will be worse in september and october. we don't want to go into a campaign not knowing what's at risk. >> nice to see you. thanks for your time. >> good to be with you. thank you. >> 11 minutes after the hour. here's ann. >> for more on the presidential race now to dylan ratigan, host of a show on msnbc and author of "greedy bastards: corporate communists, banksters and vampires who suck america dry." good morning. >> good morning. >> given the anti-wall street occupy climate we're in. >> mitt romney's liabilities as an american businessman are among the highest of any businessman in this country. there are two types of businesses in america now. there are businesses that are people investing and

collaborating to solve america's problems, working on energy efficiency, health efficiency, infrastructure, problem-solving. there is a second class of business person that was invented in the past 30 years of this country who exploits their ability to borrow money at the risk to this nation, the very same risk we bailed out in 2008 and borrows the money to do much as newt gingrich is describing to purchase a company and take the money for themselves. that's a reasonable undertaking maybe. borrowing other people's money to do so and then taking other people's jobs away to do so is not capitalism. it is exploitation. >> this could hurt mitt romney. that said as we look at the debates, what do you think americans' are not hearing from the candidates that they should be hearing despite all of these debates?

>> we have yet to have a single presidential candidate with the exception a little bit from ron paul, a little bit from john huntsman, but really it's happened, explain to the american people why our banking, trade and tax code all prevent money from being investeded into the innovations this country needs in energy, health, education and infrastructure. instead trade, tax and bank policies, all three of those things which control the flow of money to america or from america and those policies are basically removing the money and the jobs as a result. >> you're saying there are major breaks in the system. >> yes. >> john huntsman talked about the need for financial reform, essentially in dealing with lobbyists and all that. you actually basically had a huge outburst august on msnbc. let's look. >> i have been coming on tv for three years doing this and the

fact of the matter is that there is a refusal on both the democratic and the republican side of the aisle to acknowledge the mathematical problem which is that the united states of america is being extracted. it's being extracted through banking, through trade and it's being extracted through taxation. there is not a single politician that has stepped forward, susan, to deal with this. >> darn, how do you really feel? >> i'm not a morning person. that was in the afternoon a, think. >> i think it was. in the book you're essentially calling on americans to act. what is it you think americans can do to take back this country. >> we are already seeing americans do it. whether your issue is the environment, prison system and incarceration of young minorities, whether it's gun rights, asthma, the food supply, corn in the food that's creating diabetes. whatever it is you want to talk about, you are being prevented from having the natural redress of this democracy and the

government resolving that for you because of the dependency our politicians have on money. listen to the interview we listened to with newt gingrich and what he spoke about was all of the money being spent. matt was talking to newt about it, back and forth, one versus is other. the fact is as long as the money is coming in, the money comes in to prevent policy changes that could adapt us to a new world. people think money buys making something happen. what the money is buying is making something not happen at a time when we need a lot to happen. >> thank you so much. >> thank you, ann. >> to read an excerpt head to today.com. you can also a catch the dylan ratigan show weekdays at 4:00 p.m. eastern on msnbc. now a check of the other top stories from natalie morales at the news desk. >> good morning, everyone. an american man and former u.s. marine has been sentenced to death by iran this morning.

good morning. i'm an irani-american citizen and a former u.s. marine has been sentenced by the very powerful revolutionary accord to death. the charges are spying for the cia, working with a hostile country -- the united states -- waging war against god and finally trying to implicate iran in terrorist activities. he has 20 days to appeal the charges. they look like they will stick and they are serious charges. >> what's the latest on tehran's nuclear program? >> iran yesterday announced that it's enriching uranium at a second underground facility near the holy city. they are enriching uranium up to 20% which has worried the iaea. enriching uranium is a small step toin having the capabilityo

make a nuclear warhead. a lot of tension there as well. >> watching these stories in tehran. thank you very much. a poignant milestone for gabrielle giffords. exactly one year after the shooting that killed six people and wounded her and 12 others, in tucson sunday night she led a candlelight vigil and the pledge of allegiance giving a rare glimpse into her recovery. >> and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [ cheers and applause ] >> the memorial honored the other victims of the shootings including 9-year-old christina taylor. an adrenaline junkie seeking a thrill rush got more than she bargained for. 22-year-old erin was bungee jumping when her cord snapped.

her friends watched in horror as she slammed into the crocodile-infested raging waters but she managed to swim to safety even freeing her foot when the cord got stuck on river rocks. just minor bruising. unbelievable. speaking of remarkable, tim tebow has done it again. the broncos' golden boy stunned the steelers for an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass in overtime. he threw for a career-high 316 yards in the 29-23 win. next up, the broncos go head to head with the new england patriots next saturday. matt, ann and al converting many into tebow believers. >> dramatic stuff. >> it was amazing. >> mr. roker with a first check of the weather. >> we have snow not where you expected -- texas and new mexico. we have winter storm warnings,

watches from el paso, roswell into san angelo. we have snow anywhere from five to eight inches from midland to el paso. heavy rain in houston. anywhere from one to four inches of rain. >> good morning. a new storm forms down to the south. southern maryland may be the first to see the rain. and that's your latest weather. matt? >> al, thank you very much. the detroit auto show opens today. the big story isn't just the cars but the resurgence of the

big three and the motor city. phil le beau is in detroit to explain. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, matt. it's all about the muscle cars in detroit. [ revs engine ] >> reporter: like this mustang revving up for you on "today." this comeback for the big three is about more than muscles. it's fuel efficiency and new models. look at the buick burano. this is red hot for jeep. it's the new grand cherokee. these models are part of the renewed optimism here in the motor city. ♪ >> reporter: the buzz is back in the motor city. just ask ford workers seeing the latest redesign of the fusion. >> i'm very proud. i think the fusion looks good. >> it's grown from a spark to a flame. it will turn to an inferno. >> reporter: with new models and a new lease on life after bankruptcies at chrysler and gm

the big three are all profitable. together selling 800,000 more cars last year. >> we're competing. the fact that we are doing that, creating great jobs and careers, you can feel it everywhere. >> reporter: the turnaround comes three years after the industry collapsed prompting the government to blaail out gm and chrysler. >> once again we'll make the united states auto industry the best in the world. >> reporter: with sales slowing the big three had to cut costs and brands like pontiac and m e mercury and slashing jobs. >> we were at the edge of the cliff. it was a serious problem. >> reporter: forced to reinvent themselves the big three rolled out fuel efficient models including the chevy sonic built by gm workers like brad glendy who sees a new spirit on the line. >> the certainty of having a job is here. we know we are building a great

product for the customer. >> what does a town that's been to hell and back know about the finer things in life? >> reporter: nothing symbolized the comeback better than chrysler's commercial in the super bowl last year. >> this is the motor city. this is what we do. >> reporter: imported from detroit became a point of pride in the motor city. >> we felt pride throughout our community. i think it resonated throughout the country. >> reporter: for bill galling, the resurgence is a welcome turn after a bumpy ride for america's automakers. this comeback is about more than new cars. it's about new jobs. in fact, chrysler is adding 1,500 jobs at that time plant in town that builds the jeep grand cherokee. there is a sense of optimism we have not seen in detroit in a number of years. back to you. >> good news. phil lebeau in detroit. thank you very much. just ahead, what does michelle obama really think of her role

as first lady? we'll talk to the author of a controversial book on the first family. first, this is "today"ly

just ahead, a high school senior fighting back after a group of classmates rejected her yearbook photo. >> and kate middleton celebrates her # 30th birthday. our work truly fulfills america's promise to our veterans. (announcer) learn more about careers with today's va at vacareers.va.gov. [ female announcer ] dry, itchy skin. a long term struggle needs long term relief. eucerin calming creme. used every day, its triple ingredient formula is clinically proven to relieve dry, itchy skin, with 92% of people reporting improved overall skin condition over time. eucerin calming creme. and the gentle cleansing formula of calming body wash.

calm, healthy skin starts with eucerin. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. here's a look at one of our top stories. a violent weekend in baltimore city leaves two men at dead, two more injured. first of the shootings happened at 7:00 friday night, the last early sunday morning. no arrests have been made in any of the cases. police are searching for clues on the the suspects. here is sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> a few problems with a tracking could southbound 795 on the ramp to the inner loop, that

is now clear. still some delays out of the owings mills area. 16 miles per hour on the west side outer loop. greenspring and cylburn, watch for an accident. traffic tied up on southbound 95 out of the northeast. 33 on the north side outer loop towards the harrisburg expressway. problem in bel air, 543 and thomas run road. delays in closures due to an accident. we will update you at the curtis creek drawbridge. inner loop closed due to construction. outer loop in the two-way traffic pattern. moving well through the construction is down. so far so good on franklin boulevard the ramp is now cleared to the inner loop. ava, over the of. >> keeping an eye on that storm out of the south. it will hold down the temperatures.

42 in baltimore most of the day will be spent in the 30's. dress accordingly. showers most the company towards the afternoon and maybe towards the evening hours. with the wet weather, maybe some of it comes in as a wintry mix. the roads could be slick this evening. strong funds on wednesday or thursday. we cool down into the weekend.

7:30 now on this monday morning. it's the 9th day of january, 2012. the rockefeller center christmas tree has gone bye-bye. but that's okay. we have a nice crowd lighting up the plaza on their own. i'm ann curry alongside matt lauer. ahead we'll talk about a controversial new book about the obama white house. >> this one's called "the obamas." it reveals difficult times between the first lady and members of her husband's inner circle. the administration is pushing back some on this book. the morning the author responds in an exclusive live interview. >> also this morning, we have jennifer hudson in the house. she's opening up in a book about her rise, her battles with

weight and also about motherhood. we'll talk about that coming up just ahead. also we'll head to buckingham palace to see how the duchess of cambridge plans to celebrate her birthday today. >> is this photo appropriate for a high school yearbook? the all-student editorial board at one colorado high school said "no" and rejected it. the 18-year-old who submitted the photo is upset about it. we'll talk to her and her mom coming up. >> let's begin with developments in the search for a maine toddler who vanished from her bed more than three weeks ago. we have more from waterville, maine, on the story. >> reporter: little ayla reynolds's father is keeping a low profile but over the weekend he was out, visible, trying to find his daughter and responding to tough questions. >> just trying to keep ayla's

face out there. >> reporter: justin dipietro was front and center passing out flyers hoping for a break in the disappearance. >> i would like her face on every street corner in north america. i'm going anywhere i need to. the focus is here. but once we're all done with around here, you know, we're going to go wherever it needs to go. >> reporter: by sunday, he was back to a low profile, not talking to reporters. this after weeks of taking heat. >> what happens when daddy gets the baby? >> reporter: some from headline news host nancy grace. >> she's with the daddy, she goes missing. she's with the daddy last time she gets a broken arm. >> reporter: he responded to grace telling maine's morning sentinel nancy grace, please come see me. do you want to spend a day with me? do you want to see what i'm going through? do you want to see the ins and outs of it? i invite you to.

he said he put ayla to bed and the next morning she was gone. the toddler was in her father's care while her mother trista reynolds was in drug and alcohol rehab. when her daughter disappeared she questioned dipietro's parenting skills. >> she's got a broken arm. she's missing. >> reporter: police said the injury was accidental. over the weekend the father told the morning sentinel saying he was carrying a bag of groceries in one arm, holding ayla on the other when he slipped and fell on top of his daughter. now he said he's doing all he can as the search enters week four. police say it's a missing persons case e though they suspect foul play. a mystery still waiting to be solved. nbc news did reach out to nancy grace regarding the inveigh tit. we also reached out to trista

reynolds. she remains hopeful and optimistic that whoever took her baby will be bringing her ayla back home safe and sound. police have no suspects nor people of interest in this case. ann? >> thank you so much. clint van zant is an nbc news analyst and former profiler. good morning. >> hi, ann. >> a number of new developments including first ayla's father who has been passing out flyers, doing interviews, explaining for the first time in more detail how ayla -- why she had a soft cast on her arm saying he fell while careying her and a bag of groceries. will this take the spotlight off of him? >> i think that's what he's trying to do. when you and i watch these things we measure people on how we would react. you and i would say, well, if it was my child missing i would be out front, in front of the

media. i would be showing videos, pictures, passing out flyers. when he didn't do what people expect they question the behavior. that doesn't make him guilty but it means the behavior is questionable and that something like his mother who was in the house the same night this little girl disappeared, she went on tv last week saying she was in the house. there wasn't any party going on. her son was there. he was a good father. now she's come back and said, well, wait a minute, i really wasn't in the house that night. when you get these things confused, i think all of us have reason to question what the true story is. >> meantime adding to this, police are saying in addition to ayla's father and grandmother other adults were in the house. does it set off any alarms for you? >> as an fbi agent you don't investigate your case through the media. you do it through investigation. the last thing the police or fbi want to do is get into a foot

race with the media trying to find potential people to interview who may have been in the house and have them be questioned all the time. so i don't fault the police at all for trying to keep the investigation close, but here we are three-plus weeks away. the last person who had contact with this little girl was the biological father. he says he didn't check on her for 13 hours. you know, some of us would say that's impossible. other people would say, well, that's just the way he lives his life. the bottom line is this little girl wasn't snatched up by martians. somebody carried her out of a very small house with a number of people inside, none of whom appear to know what happened. that gives law enforcement reason to question. >> we hope she's found. thank you so much. >> thanks, ann a. >> now a check of the weather from al. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by advil. make the switch to advil now.

>> and good morning, everybody. we've got friends here. you guys honeymooned in new york city 35 years ago today. >> yes, we did. dinner and dancing at the rainbow room. i wish it was still open. >> happy anniversary. >> thank you, thank you. >> thank you very much. >> let's check your weather. fabulous stuff for their 35th anniversary. much of the country above normal. down through the south, snow in texas. as we get into the mid-week period, above normal temperatures out west. warmer than usual along the coast. we are looking at rain in the east coast. below normal temperatures in the plains to the gulf. in the latter part of the week, below normal temperatures in the northeast. above normal in the plains. into the central mississippi river valley. warmer than usual in california. it's your 50th birthday! happy birthday. >> good morning.

there's a big change in the weather pattern. a better chance for rain. showers don't forget. you can check your weather day or night on the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. ann? >> thank you, al. up next, an intimate and controversial look inside the obamas' marriage and white house. we'll talk to the author of "the obamas" right after this. ugh, my sinus congestion,

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we're back now at 7:42 with a rare look inside one of the world's most famous marriages. a book that comes out tomorrow reveals details about the president and first lady's relationship and their time in the white house. it's called "the obamas." the author, new york times correspondent jodi kantor joins us now. who did you talk to? how much access were you given? did you talk to the president and first lady while researching the book? >> the book is mostly reported through top aides and close friends of the president and first lady. i'm one of the only people to get access to the east wing and

the first lady's staff there. what i found is that aides and friends were able to tell stories that the obamas don't talk about like what happened the first time they tried to go home to chicago. >> largely speaking it's a positive look. it talks about the relationship between these people in extraordinary circumstances. as you know when you write a book like this certain things make headlines. one of the things that's being talked about is what you describe as a tension between the first lady and the president's inner circle. in particular people like rahm emanuel. do you think there was tension that was so thick you could cut it with a knife or was it run of the mill tension that takes place between a first family and advisers? >> the tension was not the kind of spectacular tension we see, you know, on tv shows and in television. it was very muffled. they had a distance relationship. the truth about them is they were philosophical foils. they had two different visions of the presidency.

you know, a wife and a chief of staff are in some sense the president's two spouses. >> did mrs. obama ever communicate her displeasure or dissatisfaction directly with rahm emanuel or were these things spoken in back corridors? >> my impression from my reporting is much more back corridors. >> he offered his resignation in 2010. he stayed on until he left to go to chicago and run for mayor. was offering his resignation in any way related to the tension between him and mrs. obama? >> i think it's a mistake to take the president out of the equation. the main relationship was between the president and rahm emanuel. one of my goals for the book was to write a presidential book that really tells the first lady's story as well, but that doesn't mean we want to make the first lady responsible for everything that happened in the white house. >> while the white house is not jumping up and down saying, no, it's untrue, we disagree, they are pushing back slightly.

they said, the book is an over dram tization of old news. it's about a relationship between two people whom the author has not spoken to in years. the emotions, thoughts and private moments described in the book seem to reflect little more than the author's own thoughts. >> the white house has not pushed back on the specific writing in the book. they have not disputed any of the facts. the book is clear that it's based on interviews with people close to the obamas. >> they dispute the nuance in certain stories. the party thrown at halloween back in 2009, an alice in wonderland party. you said it was a secret, on the down low. and the white house has pushed back saying, no, we had members of the press there. we weren't trying to hide anything. >> if you look at the text of

the book, the outside trick or treating was public with press. the inside, lavish party was kept quiet. but the point was not reported over the weekend which is this is about michelle obama's learning and transformation as first lady. she, at this point in the narrative, is moving away from an emphasis on fashion and style toward much more substantive work. she wanted to fill her first ladyhood with meaning. >> and how much involved in the policy discussion on a day-to-day basis is michelle obama? >> she is not in the west wing on a day to day basis. she's not getting involved in policy details. she cares about the larger mission of the presidency. she's a lot like democrats on the outside. she had high expectations for this presidency and wants to see them fulfilled. >> is she disappointed with what's happened so far? >> according to my reporting there were times she was really

frustrated. but things have turned around for her since then. she is all in. in 2012 we are going to see her making the case for her husband again and again. she can be an internal critic. she's also his biggest advocate. >> the book is called "the obamas" and it comes out tomorrow. >> thank you. >> up next, the duchess of cambridge shined a at a movie premiere ahead of her 30th birthday today. when my asthma symptoms returned, my doctor prescribed dulera to help prevent them. [ male announcer ] dulera is for patients 12 and older whose asthma is not well controlled on a long-term asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. dulera will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. dulera helps significantly improve lung function. this was shown over a 6 month clinical study. dulera contains formoterol, which increases the risk of death from asthma problems and may increase the risk of hospitalization

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when it comes to home insurance, surprises can be a little scary. and a little costly. that's why the best agents present their clients with a lot of options. because when it comes to what's covered and what's not, nobody likes surprises. [ click ] [ chuckles ] we totally thought -- [ all scream ] obscure space junk falling from the sky? we cover that. moving on. aah, aah, aah, aah. [ male announcer ] we are insurance. ♪ we are farmers ♪ bum, ba-da-bum, bum, bum, bum ♪ it's a special day for the duchess of cambridge. kate middleton turns 30 today. what is she doing to mark the milestone? michelle kosinski has details from buckingham palace. good morning. >> reporter: hi, ann. it's been a life-changing year for the woman formerly known as kate middleton. now here comes 30. how do you ring it in as a princess? in glittering style, of course.

a huge smile, gorgeous gown. now that's how to tell 30 who's boss. on the last night of her 20s, catherine and her friends walked the red carpet. no matter a little london rain for the premiere of "war horse." nor could anything up stage them. not the horse or director steven spielberg. >> i'm excited to see them. i never met kate. i met william when he was very, very young. >> reporter: william and kate met with soldiers and veterans just as they and prince harry are starting a new initiative to help those returning from war. it has been quite a year for catherine. becoming a princess. the most photographed woman in the world, fashion icon, future queen. but she began her 29th year as kate middleton, the girl next door engaged to prince william. >> i hope to have a happy family

ourselves. >> reporter: when the fairy tale wedding. her first appearances, charities, christmas with the queen, winning hearts around the globe. [ cheers and applause ] >> it's been the biggest year of her life, frankly. >> reporter: and now the big 3-0. >> the year ahead in her 30th year is going to be as big as last year really for kate. 2012 mark's kate's inauguration, if you like, as a solo working royal. >> reporter: how to celebrate? the tabloids say fun-loving sibling style. that pippa and harry have planned an 80s themed bash for her inner circle. though she was born that decade, she's dressed the part before. a chance to party like it's 1989 or any time before the public eye. >> i would imagine as well there will be a beautiful gift from william. who knows? perhaps the queen may lend or give her crown jewels. we'll have to wait and see. >> reporter: that takes the

sting out of 30, doesn't it? her year will include the queen's jubilee, an asian tour, the olympics and all eyes on her belly. ann? >> oh, dear. no pressure there. michelle kosinski, thank you so much. >> just ahead, the colorado high school senior who had her yearbook photo rejected by a group of her peers. >> we'll talk to her after your local news. i'd never ride without one now. and since my doctor prescribed lipitor, i won't go without it for my high cholesterol and my risk of heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. it's backed by over 19 years of research. [ female announcer ] lipitor is not for everyone, including people with liver problems and women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant. you need simple blood tests to check for liver problems. tell your doctor if you are taking other medications, or if you have any muscle pain or weakness.

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>> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. time for a check of the morning commute. here is sarah caldwell. >> we are seeing delays out there. tavis spot on 95 out of the northeast. you are going to fight delays possibly around rolling mill and eastern ave. detective traffic light. be careful. belair, 543 it and thomas irwin road, we have an accident being worked on. harrisburg expressed with looking at delays from the inner loop from greenspring towards the j.f.x. greenspring and cylburn, watch for an accident. 27 miles per hour on the outer

loop west side at beginning at liberty. i-70 is looking good towards the beltway. dulaney valley, not a major delay there. intermittent, slow going towards the harrisburg expressway. live view of traffic in the white marsh area, things are heavy there. just starting to thin out from white marsh towards the 95 split. a vva has a check under forecas. >> 31 at b.w.i. marshall, 20's and 30's as you look out across the rest of the state. newsgroups to bring to the south is going to pass south of us -- new storm system brewing to the south is going to pass out the bus. anywhere south of baltimore, rain chances increase but it might be a cold and of that snow flakes mixed in towards the evening hours.

more what weather on wednesday to thursday.

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"today" show, you're 60. >> you're old. >> aw. >> okay. oldish. >> you're seasoned. >> mature. >> you look wonderful. >> i just can't believe the "today" show is 60 years old. stay away from the botox. >> 8:00 now on a monday morning, the 9th day of january, 2012. justin timberlake, mila kunis, ben stiller wishing us as we turn 60 years old. we'll kick things up including friday a reunion with many of the people who have helped you wake up over the past 60 years. >> should be a lot of fun. we're going to have a big party. >> lots to get to this half hour. >> what's coming up is how

photos can be controversial. here's the photograph one colorado teenager wanted to use as her senior portrait but the yearbook's editorial board pulled the plug. she has a lot to say about it and she's in studio to say it. >> later on, jennifer hudson. she's got a new book out that chronicles her rise to fame, her struggles with weight, and how she has handled very difficult times in her life. what a great lady. we'll chat with her in a little bit. >> we love jennifer hudson. >> we do. a lot to get to. now let's go inside, get headlines from natalie morales. >> good morning, everyone. former massachusetts governor mitt romney has a double-digit lead in most polls ahead of tomorrow's new hampshire primary. during sunday's nbc facebook debate newt gingrich and rick santorum attacked romney's credentials. polls are showing upward momentum for john huntsman.

arizona congresswoman gabrielle giffords led the pledge of allegiance last night at a candlelight vigil one year after she survived an assassination attempt. the shooting rampage left six people dead and 13 people, including giffords, wounded. now to an update on the murder mystery on the royal grounds. british police identified the body as 17-year-old alyssa dmitrieva. she was last seen getting into a car with two male friends. her cause of death is still unknown. pharmaceutical company novartis is recalling a number of popular over-the-counter medications. nodoz, gas-x and excedrin because of complaints of broken pills and expired bottles. operation migration has been temporarily grounded. the program uses ultra light planes to escort orphaned

whooping cranes from michigan to florida. after receiving two complaints, the f.a.a. is deciding if the ultra light pilots are flying higher which would require commercial licenses unavailable for the aircraft. now let's look at what's trending today. a quick round-up of what's got you talking online. tim tebow's miracle finish in last night's nfl wild card game is a hot topic on google, twitter and yahoo. 11 seconds of overtime to defeat the steelers. tebow is praising the lord on twitter while denver fans are singing their quarterback's praises. a story we brought you earlier has kate middleton trending as well. the duchess of cambridge turns 13 30 today. she attended the premiere in london of "war horse." she'll celebrate with a party tonight planned by pippa and

harry. celebrity pals are tweeting best wishes to jay-z and beyonce whose baby girl blue ivy carter was born saturday. rihanna tweeted, welcome to the world princess carter! p diddy said, got bless and many more. 8:04. now outside to al for a check of the weather. >> what's your name, sir? >> we just want to say thank you to the town of new york city for letting us be part of the his pa a nick games over the weekend. thank you. >> you had great weather for it. >> we did. thank you. >> thanks for your service. let's check your weather, see what's happening. pick city today, miami beach. miami.com. we have nbc 6. it will be partly sunny and warm, near 80 degrees. that will be nice. we have a lot of wet weather through texas. back behind it, we're looking at snow. rain in the pacific northwest.

sunny skies in the northeast. record high temperatures continue in the planins. in texas they have flash flood watches now up for parts of eastern texas today. >> good morning. a new storm forms down to the south. southern maryland may be the first to see the rain. and that's your latest weather. ann? >> thank you so much. coming up next, the high school senior who was upset because a group of her peers rejected her yearbook photo. what do you think? coming up right after this. ence calls the "nightly stuffy nose thing":

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♪ oh, yeah ♪ 'cause i believe in you and me ♪ ♪ oh, boy ♪ i believe in miracles ♪ and i believe in you and me ♪ ♪ see, i was lost ♪ now i'm free ♪ 'cause i believe in you and me ♪ we're back with a controversy brewing at a colorado high school over one student's yearbook picture. we'll talk to her exclusively in a moment. first tamron hall has her story. >> choosing a senior yearbook photo is an opportunity for kids to show individuality. when acid sydney spies submitte photo the all student editorial

board were going to use it but changed their mind. >> as students we have the right to express what we want to be. there are students who like sports. if i like modeling i should show that. >> reporter:. >> for other magazines and stuff it's a really good photo. for a high school yearbook it's not appropriate. >> reporter: an aspiring model, spies subjemitted a second picture. that, too, was rejected. >> her mother understands her daughter's self-expression could bring on a painful backlash. >> i knew people would react this way. she was adamant. looking at the picture, i see it the way sydney sees it. it's artistic. it's stunning. >> reporter: the school administration insists they played no part in the all-student editorial board's decision. >> there was absolutely no influence or any kind of

coercion whatsoever. >> that's a pretty one. >> reporter: over the past few year it is yearbook has won several awards. that legacy contributed to the rejection of sydney's photo. >> we don't want this picture to make it seem unprofessional and inappropriate and for people to discount our hard work we spend weeks and months working on. >> reporter: in a twist, sydney can use the picture of her choice if she pays to put it in as an ad. >> i'm spending $300 of my own money to have that picture in the yearbook. >> reporter: with her high school career winding down, sydney is learning that just trying to be yourself isn't as easy as it sounds. >> i just didn't want to be boring. i'm not a person who's going to stand against a wall and smile. >> reporter: this is an interesting question of self-expression. sydney can submit the picture of her choice but the editorial board has the right to choose what it feels is appropriate for the yearbook. matt? >> thank you very much, tamron.

sydney spies is here with her mother. good morning to you both. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> this was posted in your high school paper on friday. a classmate wrote that the senior portrait isn't about a first impression. it's about the last impression, the image of you that will be immortalized. do you agree? and why do you want that photo to be that image? >> i really honestly think that it describes who i am. people can take it however they want, that i'm an outgoing person and i really do think it's artistic. like i said, people have their sports pictures, pictures with their horses or guitars. that's my interest. >> i was reading this last night. i incorrectly assumed when i first heard the story i said, okay, this is a bunch of faculty members that got together in the administration and said, this isn't the image we want for our school. then i realized, no, these are your peers. this is an editorial board made up of other students.

it surprised me that they drew this hard line. did it surprise you? >> yeah, especially because they agreed to it in the first place. before any of this there was a 4-1 vote in my favor. >> what do you think changed their mind? >> i think it was the administration. they had a meeting with the principal and the next day their whole decision changed completely against me. they were completely against the picture. >> which is not supposed to happen. they are supposed to be independent of the school. isn't that correct? >> exactly. >> another thing that caught my attention is that they don't want this to be your official yearbook portrait. but as you mentioned in the piece that tamron showed us, they're okay ifou buy an ad page in the book and put that photo as part of that page. so $300 make it okay. >> yeah. >> what was your reaction when you learned that? >> if it's going to be in the yearbook anyway, why should i

not be able to have it as my senior picture? that's what i don't understand. >> as a mom, when i look at the picture it's provocative. you say it's beautiful and artistic and i guess it is artistic. it's also not the run of the mill yearbook photo. you say you knew it would cause a reaction. did you think it was entirely appropriate? >> oh, i asked her not to do it. i said, sydney, really, is this the one you want? >> what about the second photo? >> i didn't think that was nearly as provocative. >> yet you are supporting her on this. do you disagree with the editorial board's decision? >> when your child is spreading her wings, you just want to come alongside and support them. that's what i'm doing as a mother. >> do you plan to take this further, sydney? do you plan to file some kind of a suit which would draw more attention obviously to the situation? are you willing to take it that far? >> i don't know if i want to go that far with it. i'm still hoping that they might

let me have that picture in there. but it's illegal for the administration to get involved. so that's why we have considered that option. >> is this going to end up with a picture of you in the yearbook that's the classic standing against a wall smiling like every other photo? >> definitely not. i will find something. >> the principal asked when we had the meeting on friday, sydney, do you not want any picture in the yearbook? >> would that be an option you would consider? >> if i submit another one they think is a little bit provocative, i feel like -- that second picture, i feel they are censoring me because of the situation. if they're going to censor that picture i feel they have to censor everyone. there were people saying, if they censor that they should censor my picture. i have a strapless dress. >> it's a slippery slope. >> yeah. >> nice to have you here. we want to know what you think

about this. should sydney be allowed to use her picture, either picture as her senior class portrait? log onto today.com to share your thoughts well. eel fi up next, jennifer hudson opens up about her rise to fame and battle with weight after this. why do we have aflac... aflac... and major medical? major medical, boyyyy! [ beatboxing ] ♪ i help pay the doctor ♪ ain't that enough for you? ♪ there are things major medical doesn't do.

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well, since then she won a grammy, a golden globe and an oscar for "dream girls." she's opening up in a new book called "i got this: how i changed my ways and lost what weighed me down." tired of the compliments yet? look, you are so beautiful. >> thank you. thank you. >> how does losing 80 pounds feel? how healthy do you feel now? >> i feel amazing. i feel empowered. i really do. so many times we say, i want to do this or i want to change that and we never do it. to know i accomplished it and i did it, it's like, wow. for it to be so fresh in my mind when i started or even when i made up my mind on what i wanted to do and to look back and say, look how far i've come and look how much i achieved. >> in your book you write when people ask how i can lose weight, too, the first thing i

tell them is that they have to make up their mind that they really want to do it and do it for themselves. >> yeah. >> what made up your mind? >> that's so true. it is several things. one, being pregnant and wanting my body back. you're invaded. you're sharing your body. you lose control. so that let me know -- that experience let me know, this is my body and i can do what i want to do with it. it can be whatever i want it to be. also i wanted to set an example for my son. so that's how i made up my mind on what i wanted to do. that was the first thing i did. okay. all right. i want to do something with this. so i did. >> what you weren't prepared for was the pushback of people you call the doubters, haters and excuse makers out there. you write about the hostile reception you got. >> i know. >> how did you not let the hostility sabotage you? >> well, again, doing it for

myself. in a journey like a weight loss journey, one thing people don't realize is that part that comes with it. you think everybody will be happy for you. in the inside you're still the same. but the rest of the world does not see you that way. you're completely different. so it's like they perceive you completely differently. and they treat you differently. everything is not all good. yes, it's a lot of compliments, but there's a lot of other things that come with it as well. that's why you have to do it for you. you have to. >> this is also at the same time while you're feeling the pressures of being in hollywood and during "american idol" and "dream girls." how would you describe the pressures about weight in hollywood? >> well, they are there. because image is everything in hollywood although for myself i always felt as though it should be talent and it is talent. i have been blessed as far as to be able to make it off my talent alone but that was because i was

determined to be like, no, it should be about the talent. for me it is, but in the background there's that saying image is everything. image, image, image, but still being stubborn against that saying, no. talent, talent, talent. at least in my book. >> you definitely have that. people responded pretty much in a very similar voice when you suffered the tragic loss of your mother, brother and nephew in 2008. i know you don't talk a lot about that. >> mm-hmm. >> i do want to know how you might respond to people who are right now listening who are dealing with unfathomable loss. what you call how to persevere despite the darkest clouds. >> well, at the end of the day, we all have no choice but to keep on going. that i know and i feel like others should know. and also live in the moment. i was just thinking the other

day, like, wow. we never sit and stop to tell someone, i love you, or i appreciate you. and that quick you can blink your eye and it can be over and gone or you could be even gone. it's good to live in the moment and then when it is time to pick up and move on you have no choice but to. you have to. that's called life. it is. >> mm-hmm. you stand up picking up a boy who's now 2 every other minute i'm sure. >> my little david. >> and your little david, as i understand it, is a little performer. there is talk about him being maybe even following in your footsteps as a performer. as you think about your own future as you're trying to create his, after having won an oscar by 26, a grammy by 28 and now being 30 years old, what's your ahead? how do you see the future for yourself? >> oh, my goodness. i have been blessed to be able

to live everything that i imagined up until now. even searching for my home. i said, i don't want my mansion until i'm 30. now i'm looking for it. i have to create new goals and new dreams. overall i want to be healthy and happy and also i want to be around for many, many, many, many years to come. it's pretty much as simple as that. you know, i feel really blessed. i feel selfish like, ooh, okay, now let's do this and that. >> well, jennifer hudson. thank you. we are looking forward to enjoying your gifts for many years to come. the book is called "i got this." we're back after your local news.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. let's get a check on your morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> we are dealing with a new accident on southbound 83 at the ramp that takes you to york road. there is an overturned vehicle involved. there is a little activity blocking one lane of the ramp. we want to update you on some other things. 11 miles per hour on southbound 95. watch for a defective traffic light at rolling mill and eastern ave. southbound j.f.x., a little slowdown from approaching northern to 28. we have a pedestrian in of accident.

tapping the brakes from greenspring toward the j.f.x. here is pickwick live looked at traffic. north side of dulaney valley, coming towards us is outer loop traffic. live view of traffic on the harrisburg expressway. that you are seeing to the left, that takes you from york road to 83. intermittent delays as you make your exit at york road. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> we are keeping our eye on a series of storms. tail end of the front, another storm is back to west texas. that is the one that is likely to bring heavy rain wednesday to thursday. before that happens, chance for rain today. we could be on the northern fringe of some of these showers, especially into the afternoon. what these guys give me be a

snowflake falls as temperatures -- what be surprised if eight snowflake false. >> we will h

8:30 now on a monday morning, the 9th day of january 2011 as we say hello to everyone gathered with us here in rockefeller plaza. they are waving to the folks back home. just ahead, matt, you're going to be catching up with mark wahlberg. >> mark is an oscar-nominated actor with a new movie out called "contraband" and another project that could hurt a lot.

we'll ask him about that and other things. >> he doesn't know what you're talking about. >> we'll talk about it in a few minutes. >> plus, you want to eat better without getting bored? joy bauer is here with some of the new, latest, healthiest trends that you will be seeing a lot of in 2012. >> it involves cutting grass apparently. >> wheat grass. >> fantastic. >> we'll be kicking off the week-long celebration of our 60th anniversary. this morning we'll show you what life was like in 1952 as "today" came on the air for the first time. >> that was dave garoway. we saw him showing us a new way to eat a donut. fast-forward to today and let's move over here. we have our very own "today" at 60 donut. stan is here. i don't know where to thank you

or hate you. >> we really wanted to celebrate with you. we're excited to be here. we're 62 years old. >> happy birthday. >> we wanted to be sure we created something that was inspired by the "today" show colors. so we took our very well loved vanilla vanilla-frosted donut and created a decorating mix with your red, orange and yellow colors. we thought it would be a way to recognize how the "today" show and dunkin donuts have been part of people's mornings for a long time in our country. >> the best part is that they have no calories. >> no. >> zero. >> everybody can enjoy them. >> low fat. >> through when? >> they launch today in participating shores acrotores country. and they run until sunday. >> very nice. well done. >> congratulations. >> thank you.

>> good. >> who would like a donut? [ cheers ] >> help yourselves. there you go. doughnuts! have a good time. enjoy yourselves. arm yourselves with frosting. >> let's check your weather. see what's going on. how's the donut, ann? she can't talk. for today, we have showers and thunderstorms working through texas. snow also there. showers in the pacific northwest. we have also got tomorrow frigid weather. we get into new england. a lot of strong storms down through the southern gulf. snowshowers through the plains. mild conditions through the southwest. you want a donut? here you go. yay! donut! doughnuts for everybody!

>> good morning. there's a big change in the weather pattern. a better chance for rain. showers that's your latest weather. grab a donut. >> okay. al, thank you so much. coming up, we're kicking off our 60th birthday celebration. what life was like when it all began in 1952. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

♪ back now at 8:36 with "today" at 60. all this week, we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of "today." we are kicking it off with a look back. >> and the music of "sentimental journey." the show has become a morning staple but in 1952 it was all new, a broadcast aimed at a country going through tremendous change. ♪ remember ♪ remember >> most remember it as a simpler time. eddie fisher was on the radio. children were playing in the street. >> people felt the prosperity. they felt the middle class expanding. they felt good about their country. a good time to be a kid. a good time to grow up. >> world war ii was over and families were coming together again. it seemed like the whole country rallied around the war-time

hero. >> he presided over peace and prosperity. really beloved by the people. >> a baby boom was under way and a building boom to go with it. >> millions of people moved into suburbs created out of farmland. >> the average salary was $3,900. for just $9,000 families could buy their own piece of the american dream. >> what would you like to see in a refrigerator? >> i want one with all the new features. >> americans filled their homes with a slew of new gadgets. it was a golden era for ad men. >> i smoke king-sized chesterfields. >> more doctors smoke camels than any other cigarette. >> reporter: to toothpaste. frosted flakes were new on the breakfast table. >> grrreat! >> modern dishes for modern living. >> reporter: tupperware parties, the latest rage. >> chevrolet, the rainbow is yours. >> reporter: and families were

hitting the roads in another icon of the day -- the car. ♪ you'll never get a better thrill ♪ than driving a new oldsmobile ♪ >> reporter: perhaps stopping at the holiday inn. hemlines dropped thanks to a frenchman named dior. stilettos were in and women everywhere wanted to mimic curves of a hollywood starlet. men were men and mr. potato head was actually a potato. major medical breakthroughs topped headlines that year. jonas salk became a hero for the polio vaccine and doctors did the first open heart surgery and sex change. the yankees won the world series against their rivals, the dodgers. and across the pond elizabeth was crowned the queen of england. >> it may have begun our fascination with the royal family. >> reporter: at home people looked to the skies with

curiosity and fear. flying saucers popped up everywhere. and a fear of the atomic bomb loomed overhead. while films like "monkey business" and "the quiet man" offered distraction, more and more people were turning to another medium. >> say, this is for me. >> what's that? >> television. >> reporter: the number of televisions in homes jumped to 20 million that year. >> there were so many fewer programs that people watched the same thing which meant you had a common dialogue. >> hey, kids. what time is it? >> it's howdy doody time. >> reporter: another famous redhead charmed parents. and a new program in the morning had the lofty idea of summarizing all of it each day. >> nbc begins a new program called "today." >> reporter: offering reflection on the lives of those who tuned

in and have been doing so ever since. >> astonishing to look at all the things that were happening in that year. >> it is. wow. >> especially the sex is change operation. [ laughter ] >> all of that. >> i could have predicted you would say that. >> my parents had a high-fi and it was a dumont television. >> we all grew up watching black and white televisions. >> we're joined by savannah guthrie in new hampshire this morning. you were not born by a long shot. >> no, but i love that we started 60 years ago in a presidential year and here we are again. "today" being a constant all those decades it's amazing to be part of it. >> the bottom line is as we look at this week and every day that we are going to unfold the memory lane trip stories, i think we all feel like we're

part of something that is not just a part of the show and television at nbc but really about a conversation with america. we're just feeling so lucky we get to be a part of it. >> by the way, you immediately pick up the sex change. the thing that jumped out to me most was the cigarette commercials. more doctors smoke camels. >> it's kra ski. >> -- crazy. >> i'm by far the oldest person on this couch. thank you, god, for willard scott. i was born a year later and my dad was on ike's staff. >> look at this cast. in 1952 you would never see this grouping. >> exactly. >> no asian people. no hispanics on tv. >> fewer women. >> again, we'll celebrate "today" at 60 leading up to

friday's special celebration with a lot of people who have been part of the team throughout the years. just ahead this morning, mark wahlberg on his new thriller. we're going to talk to him in a second. first, this is "today" on nbc.

we're back at 8:45 with mark wahlberg. he's a dad, a producer, the owner of a burger joint and, oh, yeah, an oscar-nominated actor. in "contraband" he plays an ex-smuggler who needs to save his family by any means. >> i have to get on the ship and try to fix this. >> are you kidding? >> what am i going to do -- let him go alone? >> no, think of something else. >> there's nothing else. they don't get the money from him, they're coming after us. what do you want me to do? >> do you know what i don't want to do? visit you in jail and raise those kids on my own. >> i don't want to fight with you about this. okay? i know what i'm doing.

>> mark, welcome back. happy holidays. >> good to see you. how are you? >> i'm good. this is based on a little known icelandic movie. you weren't a fan of the original? >> somebody sent me a copy of the original. i thought, wow, the way they executed this heist thriller was different from anything i saw. so we were able to obtain the rights. >> he's trying to get out of the game. he's trying to do the right thing but he has to get back across the line. >> he started his own business and his brother-in-law ends up running something for dangerous people and has to dump it. therefore if they don't get the money from him they are coming after us. i have to go now onto a ship headed to panama and try to smuggle counterfeit and this whole thing happens. lots of twists and turns. >> what makes it interesting is you find as an audience member you're rooting for a guy trying to break the law. >> people have been caught off guard rooting for this guy. i say i'm a bad guy, but better

than the other guys in the movie. i have a heart and a family and people see that side. >> you talk about having a family. you mean the character. i want to talk about you a little bit. i was reading about you and one thing jumps out. there is this incredible dichotomy. on the one hand you're a bona fide movie star and everything that goes with it is part of your life. on the other side, you're a family man. you have four kids, right? >> mm-hmm. >> the oldest -- 8 and the youngest about to turn 2. what's a typical day like when you're away from the movie set? >> usually my youngest son wakes me up at 5:30, drag mess out of bed. he wears a pull-up but doesn't like to pea in e pee in it. we get up, have a snack, watch cartoons. then the two boys put their masks on and beat me up. all day with the kids. >> driving to soccer and all that. >> school. my son's playing basketball. school, karate, skateboarding.

>> much has been written about your youth. there were rough times, brushes with the law. do you think that changes the way you are as a dad -- having been there, done that? >> of course. i have always said if i succeed as a businessman and fail as a father it's all been for nothing. that's the most important role is being a parent and a husband. >> every kid has a heart of larceny a bit. you watch and know when they are not telling the truth. >> oh. >> as someone who's crossed the line how do you view it when they try to cross the line? >> when my son says, daddy, go out of the room, i want to watch this by myself. so i walk out one door, come in the other when he's grabbing the scissors or the knife. he got his antibiotics and ate three. i call the pediatrician on vacation. he said, don't worry. the worst he'll get is diarrhea. i said, what are you doing? he said, these taste good, dad. i have to watch my younger son.

>> long time since we had diarrhea and peeing in the same interview. thank you for that. >> that's my life. >> i want to talk about something that may be painful. you have decided to have your tattoos removed. >> yes. >> how many do you have? >> combined, six or seven. >> why the decision? >> they all have meaning to me, bah but it's personal and professional. i don't want my kids getting tattoos and i wanted them done by the time i did "the fighter" because covering them up is a pain. i'm taking my kids to the procedure so they see how painful it is. >> do you hope that means they won't come to you and say, dad, i want a tattoo. >> i hope not. >> what if they do? >> i don't want my kids in entertainment either. which is why i'm trying to build businesses outside. >> even if they feel passionate about being an actor? >> if that's the decision i will support them.

but i will do everything i can to point them in another direction. >> you have taken on a couple of hats. acting is a passion. producing is a passion. golden globes coming up and you're up for another. >> yes. we won last year for "boardwalk empire." we hope to repeat. >> do you like that side as much as acting? >> i love it. i'm trying to build a lot of businesses outside entertainment so i can be home. producing, i have more time with the family and more creative control. >> mark wahlberg, congratulations. the movie is called "contraband" and i think it opens friday. >> it's a good one. thank you. >> up next, the hottest foods of 2012 that are healthy for you. first, this is "today" on nbc.

>> announcer: take it off today brought to you by truvia. honestly sweet. >> this morning on take it off today, new foods for the new year. move over quinoa, put down the kale ships. new and healthy food will send the trend for 2012. joy bauer joins us now. here we go after i ate the big donut. let's talk about your list. number one, seeds. >> seeds have it all. you will hear a lot about pumpkin seeds and chia seeds in 2012. pumpkin seeds are loaded with

zinc which is great for your skin and it helps with wound healing and boosts immunity. you can buy them in the shell or the kernels called pepitas and you can sprinkle them on anything. chia seeds. >> like the pet. >> like chia pets, have a lot of plant-based omega-3 fats like ground flaxseed but they have more calcium and fiber. >> i have seen them in drinks i enjoyed. protein powder. >> it's easy enough to get your protein fix which is important from food. for anyone looking for a simple way to inject protein into their meal protein powders are terrific in smoothies. you can put them in starchy meals like pancake batter or oatmeal to jack up the protein. >> and they are not based in animal sources. >> there is whey protein but also vegan sources. 20 to 25 grams of protein for a

scoop. >> next. >> i love this. mini desserts. this is from applebee's. well over a thousand calories for the cookie sunday. they have a hot fudge sundae shooter for 350 calories. >> that's a big shrinkage. >> this is uno chicago grill, the bananas foster. 1280 calories. their mini version is 350. starbucks also takes the big donut from 420 to a small delicious one for 120. >> let's move on and talk cherries. >> the new super fruit. >> tart, sour dried cherries have special anti-inflammatory properties. evidence shows they can help reduce inflammation after a bout of exercise and help with muscle recovery. this is great for serious athletes. you only need a handful. >> not just canola and olive

oil. >> grapeseed. it's loaded with the type of fats that lower your cholesterol. truffle oil is unsaturated fat. very strong. it doesn't have real truffles, at least in the majority of brands but it has a truffle flavoring that adds class to your meal. >> we like class. also black lentils. >> all lentils are terrific for your body and your pocketbook. black lentils are the pope of all lentils because they get their color from anthocyanins which boosts memory and fights cancer. i whipped up this chili and it's delicious. check it out. >> brussels sprouts. >> i declare them the vegetable of 2012. people eat them at thanksgiving and forget them. thanks to celebrity chefs they are popping up and are featured in special yummy meals.

kids love them. >> they do not! >> they do! millimeter spm my k >> my kids hated them. >> try them! >> frozen greek yogurt. >> greek yogurt is all the rage this year. it has more protein. frozen nonfat greek yogurt and kafir as well. >> back after this. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. a search and rescue dog disappeared thursday is back home this morning. he ran off after a fox at white marsh park. his hand-picked him up sunday morning, a man who found him. he returns to

>> noticing a chill in the atmosphere compared to the mal weather we saw this weekend. we are spending most of the day at the 30's at best. showers move in from the south. maybe some stuff like this evening. >> we will have another weather update at 9:25.