we're back now with more of "today" on a friday morning. it's the 19th of october, 2012. a wet start to the weekend here in new york city. hopefully it's nicer where you're waking up this morning. a nice crowd of people outside. and these people are cheering the kitchen skills of savannah guthrie in cooking school all week long with bobby flay who absolutely came and delivered on this friday morning. the meal you prepared for us, i'm not kidding, it was fantastic. >> so glad. >> cheers. >> thank you so much. >> i had fun and actually learned something. >> to bianca and the staff. >> well, they did a great job helping me. you know what, that's the secret

weapon having the experts next to you. saying is my chicken burning. >> you could do this by yourself. >> especially now that i've practiced. >> my gift to you, matt, diswashing gloves. >> thank you. great. >> here, al. >> not quite sure where she was going with that. >> a little turn your head and cough moment. not sure what that was. >> suddenly the show took an ugly turn. >> give him a little wine, things go crazy meanwhile coming up, a great story to tell you about. it's a great fish tale. some guys out trying to catch a 600-pound marlin. look what happens there. >> the marlin is not happy about it. >> yeah. >> so we're going to show you a little bit more of that. >> wow. >> talk about animal house, got animal house around here, everything from porcupines to owls in our call of the wild. >> oh. >> very cute. >> don't pet it though. >> kind of like the matt lauer of porcupines. >> but right now as we continue

to scarf down our food, let's go downstairs to natalie morales at the news desk. natalie. >> good morning, savannah and al. good morning, everyone. a large explosion in central beirut where a car bomb detonated in a christian neighborhood. at least two people have been killed. 15 others were wounded. the blast set several cars in a multi-story building on fire. comic relief on the campaign trail in new york city as president obama and republican challenger mitt romney traded quips at the al smith charity dinner, but this morning it's back to the battleground states. the president delivers a speech at george mason university in virginia while romney rallies with running mate paul ryan in florida. on monday the two will face off for their third and final debate focusing on foreign policy. the boy scouts of america have released thousands of pages from the organization's so-called perversion files. the documents date from 1959 to 1985 and show how time after time local officials covered up allegations of child sexual abuse, protecting scout masters from accusations and

molestation. today the boy scouts are required to report accusations of abuse and volunteers are given background checks. convicted child sex abuser jerry sandusky is seeking a new trial, filing documents thursday attacking the evidence presented against him and how quickly his case proceeded from arrest to trial. sandusky is currently behind bars awaiting transfer to state prison where he'll begin serving a 30 to 60-year sentence. the fda has confirmed that a fungus behind the nationwide meningitis outbreak has been found in unopened viles of steroid medication. made in august by the new england compounding center in framingham, massachusetts, more than 250 fungal meningitis cases, including at least 20 deaths, have been linked to the drug. after the largest survey of its kind, gallup estimates that 3.4% of american adults identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. the study was based on more than 120,000 interviews.

the report's lead author says he hopes the findings will fight stereotypes and show the diversity of the lgbt community. cutest doctor's visit ever. this has to be a contender. take a look. the san diego zoo's 11-week-old panda cub got another checkup and now he's taking clumsy baby steps just like any toddler. the little guy is sprouting his first teeth and making some adorable baby squeals. so cute. a massachusetts man who recently lost in love has found a way to get over his broken heart. he won the lottery. 22-year-old sandi singh won $3 million in a mega millions drawing this week and took the $16 million lump sum payout. >> do you have a lucky girlfriend? >> no lucky girlfriend so just broke up with her. thank god. she broke up with me, but right now i'm not really worried about it, yeah. i was heartbroken at first, but

now i'm -- i'm getting over it. >> her loss, but his gain. he's been working two jobs, plans to pay off his mother's house and go to college. good for him. five minutes after the hour right now. let's go over to al with a check of the weather. >> like that joke, pack your bags. >> buh-bye. >> natalie, thanks so much. it's raining quite a bit here in the northeast. let's take a look and see what we've got. a big low pressure system over the great lakes and another one forming along the mid-atlantic states that. one over the mid-atlantic is going to be really generating a lot of rain as it makes its way to the north. heavy showers and thunderstorms from washington all the way up into new england. rainfall amounts anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain from the interior of new york all the way down to the delmarva peninsula, and out in the pacific northwest, another system coming onshore. that's bringing rain as well, and that rain will last about through the weekend. for them look for heavier amounts. 1 to 2 inches in interior sections of the pacific >> good morning.

big storm spinning over the great lakes is pushing a cool front through the area. we're hoping for some sunbreaks. >> al, thanks. time now for today's "take 3" where the three of us give our take on three stories catching our attention and yours and adding his two cents is a comedian on the shaquille o'neal comedy tour kicking off in new york city today. also the author of a new book, right? >> "your girlfriends only know so much," a relationship, dating book. >> what do we not know? >> exactly. read it.

>> that's what i love. just read it. read it. >> 30 seconds, read it. >> read it. >> that's what you need to do. >> when i think comedy, i think shaquille o'neal. >> great brand, going all over the country. >> we're excited for you. that's great. >> absolutely. >> let's do our takes here. take one, disney's first latina princess, princess sophia getting ready to make her tv debut and then in a television series geared to the 2 to 7-year-old kids, and it's drumming up some controversy, ruffling some feathers in the latina community saying she doesn't look latina enough. you see she has blue eyes, sort of that strawberry blond or reddish hair. >> is there a latina look? >> that's the thing. the disney defenders are saying there is no such thing as a latina look. in my opinion as a latina, this is something, i have many people say you're puerto rican, you don't look puerto rican, and what does a puerto rican look like. >> you're puerto rican. >> there you go.

>> there you go. >> you didn't know. >> wow. >> there is no playing into the stereotype. >> is there an hispanic look. i would expect dark eyes and dark hair and just to kind of make it obvious. >> christina would organize with you. >> there are so many different kinds of hispanic. you go to venezuela, argentina and you've got very european looking hispanic latinas. >> if you're going to roll it out. >> blond, green, blue eyes, come in all colors and type. >> go with the majority of what hispanic women look like, the majority. >> disney is not calling it out that she's latina and some people have actually said that that's what they are a little bit upset with. if she's a latina say it and be proud of it and let us identify. >> her mother is queen of enchancia. >> that's nowhere near puerto rico. >> that's puerto rico. >> here we go. let's take two. i love this video. this is amazing.

it's a fishing trip in australia. do you like fishing? >> i love it. >> okay. then you'll love this. 600-pound blackmar lynn gets reeled in. well, he's not happy about it. >> he reeled himself in. >> gosh. >> boom. >> we've got several different angles here. >> wow. >> this is pretty incredible stuff. they are trying to get him in, and then, you know, i'm not getting him that easy. >> catch and release. >> well, he jumped up there and said who is bothering me? what is this? >> glad you had me. >> one angle that we'll get to, actually the ladder goes flying and knocks one of the fishermen down. >> i'm saying they are really lucky somebody didn't get hurt there. >> i can't tell. did they actually hook him. >> they had speared him. >> okay. >> and see that long -- the long snout part. >> yeah. >> you don't want to get near that. >> that one -- that one guy gets clocked with the ladder. >> that -- that would actually be my last fishing trip. >> look at that. >> the marlin actually had a camera. that was amazing.

>> an iflip. >> iphone 5. >> got back down to the marlin bar and said, you know, i showed them. >> it's tough out there fishes jumping on the boat. >> pumpkin portraits. portraits carved into fruits and vegetables. we can show you avocado, acorn squash, a darth vader pumpkin. >> whoa. >> wow. >> look at that. >> this is art. >> sunflower in a pumpkin and watermelon santa claus, ten-foot dragon. the work of sean feeney, artist and master carver from long island. he's here and we gave him a challenge. can you take three pumpkins and sculpt our faces in them, and here is the result. >> let's take a look at what we have here. >> wow. >> easy to tell which one is al. >> yeah. >> me or cee lo green. >> yes. >> it's the first latina pumpkin. >> all right. >> who is this? >> that's you.

>> like looking in the mirror. >> that's larry king. >> how long did these take for you to do? >> portrait pumpkins take at least about five hours each. >> wow. >> in addition to doing a lot of web search of your faces. >> al is pretty distinguishable. >> the 3-d part of the glasses. >> i made time lapses of the carving. >> very cool. >> how long does it take? >> about five hours. >> that's amazing. >> how did you learn to do this? >> i have a background -- >> tell the truth. >> actually was a forensic artist for the southern county police out in long island for two years and worked in the art department at industrialite magic for two years. >> bringing the pumpkins to life. i kind of look a little like an eskimo. >> where's mine? >> sorry. >> this one is yours. >> oh, there you go. >> there you go. >> took him two hours to do the glasses, and you just took it

off. >> go to today.com and vote on which pumpkin, savannah, al or natalie is the most realistic. >> they got to see the close-ups. here's savannah. put the image next to your pumpkin. >> al. do your pumpkin face. >> okay. >> and who does it look more like? >> and then here? >> okay. >> that's amazing. >> okay. >> good job. very impressive. >> you're very bus they time of year, huh? >> very busy month for me. >> but your art doesn't last. >> i take video and photographs. >> best thick about it it's an appetizer after this. >> exactly. >> i can fry that up now that i have my cooking skills. thank you so much. good luck with the book. we want to know what we don't know. >> all right. >> and we want to leave you with a bonus take, the political comedy roundup. >> folks, follow your instincts on this one. >> my instincts say that paul ryan is getting his [ bleep ]

kicked in did they bait. >> oh, yeah, what's that like? >> how many times a week does biden show up in a wet bathing suit to a meeting? just ballpark figure. >> i -- i had to put out a presidential directive on that. we had to stop that. >> you got to put towels down. got to say though he looks pretty good. >> lindsay lohan has at long last revealed which presidential candidate she backs. >> as of now i think it's mitt romney, as of now. >> as of now. as of now. she hits a car with an obama bumper sticker, that could change, but as of now, she's endorsing mitt romney. >> one of president obama's goals tonight is to win back female voters. yeah. yeah, which explains why obama is going to answer every question with a passage from "fifty shades of grey." >> personally i don't even know why they had a debate. as far as i'm concerned this race was over last night when honey boo boo child made her

official endorsement. who are you going to support for president, mitt romney or barack obama? >> barack obama? >> that's right. >> she's voting for moraco obama. >> i'm putting together a whole scrapbook of the 2012 campaign, and i don't -- i have these great pictures from the two debates. do you know which debate was which? >> cute, jon. >> all right. that does it for us for the moment. can you go to today.com and vote on which pumpkin is most realistic. we'll be right back. [ female announcer ] born from the naturally sweet monk fruit, something this delicious could only come from nature. now from the maker of splenda sweeteners, discover nectresse. the only 100% natural, no-calorie sweetener made from the goodness of fruit. the rich, sweet taste of sugar. nothing artificial. ♪ it's all that sweet ever needs to be.

new nectresse. sweetness naturally. new nectresse. we're spreading the word about honey bunches of oats fruit blends and their unique taste combinations. like peach/raspberry. with one flavor in the granola bunch and one on the flake. two flavors. in harmony. honey bunches of oats. make your day bunches better. delicious. but say i press a few out flat... add some beef sloppy joe sauce... and cheese fold it all up and boom! i just made an unbeatable unsloppy joe pillsbury grands biscuits. let the making begin. for their "destination wedding." double miles you can "actually" use. but with those single mile travel cards... [ bridesmaid ] blacked out... but i'm a bridesmaid.

oh! "x" marks the spot she'll never sit. but i bought a dress! a toast... ...to the capital one venture card. fly any airline, any flight, anytime. double miles you can actually use. what a coincidence? what's in your wallet? [ all screaming ] watch the elbows ladies. [ all screaming ] hgotta start the day off right. wardrobe. cute. then new activia breakfast blend. a great way to help start the day. mmm... creamy lowfat yogurt with grains in yummy breakfast flavors, like apple cinnamon. its hearty, with twice the protein of regular lowfat yogurt and helps regulate your digestive system. our morning routines are important, aren't they? new activia breakfast blend. the not so pretty truth about their body washes. i wouldn't change. [ female announcer ] this test paper was designed to react like your skin. if other body washes can strip this paper,

imagine how harsh they can be to your skin. oh my gosh. [ female announcer ] new dove is different. its new breakthrough formula changes everything with the blend of gentle cleansers and nourishing nutrium moisture. so what do you think now? definitely switching to dove. [ female announcer ] this is new. this is different. this is care. [ female announcer ] this is new. this is different. ho w do [ female announcer ] this is new. this is different. edelicious hershey's chocolate with 30% less fat? new hershey's simple pleasures chocolate. 30% less fat, 100% delicious. had. back now with road tested house hold and beauty product. the staff at "real simple" puts knew items to the test each month. sarah humphries is the executive director of "real simple." >> good morning, natalie. >> how are these items selected before we get to it? >> done over 250 road tests, everything from frozen waffles to dust fans. basically the staff is a guinea

pig, sometimes we call in the experts depending what we're testing. we do it so you don't need to do it. >> first up, dish soap. two different kinds. what do you like about these two brands? >> home department scrub dishes with 74 different dish soaps. the one that was the best in terms of most strength was the dawn power clean. this literally is a super soaker. it blew away the competition so it's really strong. >> okay. over here a more natural kind of -- >> seventh generation, we know it's great for the environment and really gentle on your skin. here's the key. it actually works so that was a good three-way. >> not gentle on the pots and pans, gets it right out. >> moving it on to the blenders. kitchen-aid five-speed blender the best all around. >> tested 52 of these. this was the best all-around. $130. really strong but also really quiet which is a nice bonus and 16 inches tall so it fits in a compact cabinet, too. >> now the oster 12-speed is your favorite budget blender. >> $40.

great because it's also pretty strong but comes with a three-cup food processor attachment, two in one for $40. >> fantastic. love that. now to slow cookers which are really making a huge comeback. >> they are. >> best choice for all around. >> this slow cooker is the ultimate "real simple" appliance because it makes your dinner while you're at work. this is the hamilton beach six-quart and the warming setting comes on after it finishes your meal so it keeps your dinner hot. >> love it. best for entertaining and smaller is this one. >> a proctor silex, 1.5 quart, $15, first of all, super, super cheap and good for entertaining, keeping dips warm and fondues warm at your party. >> and for your party you're looking for portable speakers. >> called in an expert to help us gauge what's great sound quality. the bbl had impeccable sound quality and best of the bunch and works with blue tooth wire sgles and this un,one. >> a good portable.

>> ihoan ihome speaker. both compatible with iphone 5. >> this one is great for travel. super compact. >> i love this one. stadler, use any old water bott. screw it in. great for in ski season when it's super dry. >> and this wins here for the top. >> if you want a sleek and sophisticated one that's smart, this is good for your home. easy to clean the tank and remove it, and it has a warm and cool mist cycle, $120. >> beauty parts. two fix for facial moisturizers. >> out of 100, burt's bees, intensely hydrating, it ingredient to really hydrate and lock in moisture. >> aveeno wins i guess for an all-around sunscreen, spf 30. >> also lightweight which is a really hard combo to master and has light refracting particles which make you glow which is

key. >> lip back. >> victoria's secret around acwarphor, and spf 30, really really great. >> hair color. >> avon is great for coloring grays, three-step process, works, and l'oreal is the best temporary. 28 washes it will come out and there's 21 shades. >> fantastic. sarah humphries from "real simple," thank you very much, making our little real simple. coming up, putting the blackberry away this weekend. we'll help you unplug, but, first, these messages. go! go out tonight - be social! then stay in tomorrow. make a date with your flat screen. olive garden's new dinner today, dinner tomorrow. two dinners for two nights, just $12.95.

choose one of five entrees tonight, like new mezzaluna ravioli. served with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. then choose a second entrée to take home for tomorrow all for just $12.95. this has "movie night" written all over it. new dinner today, dinner tomorrow go before it's gone! go olive garden. as part of a heart healthy diet. that's true. ...but you still have to go to the gym. ♪ the one and only, cheerios you've got to be kidding me. sweetie, help us settle this. i say this and this is called southern hospitality. well, i call it the clean getaway. [ scoffs ] you're both wrong. it's the freshy fresh. everyone knows that. i didn't know that. oh yeah, that's what they're saying now. [ female announcer ] nothing leaves you feeling cleaner and fresher

than the cottonelle care routine. try them together. then name it on facebook. wears off. [ female announcer ] stop searching and start repairing. eucerin professional repair moisturizes while actually repairing very dry skin. the end of trial and error has arrived. try a free sample at eucerinus.com. the end of trial and error has arrived. ho w do the end of trial and error has arrived. edelicious hershey's chocolate with 30% less fat? new hershey's simple pleasures chocolate. 30% less fat, 100% delicious. [ male announcer ] every time you say no to a cigarette you celebrate a little win.

nicorette gum helps calm your cravings and makes you less irritable. quit one cigarette at a time. a great clean doesn't have to take long. i'm done. are you thinking what i'm thinking? ♪ give me just a little more time ♪ okay. all right. oh! [ female announcer ] the 2-in-1 swiffer sweeper uses electrostatic dry cloths to clean better than a broom. and its wet mopping cloths can clean better than a mop in half the time so you don't miss a thing. mom, have you seen my -- hey! hey! he did it. [ female announcer ] swiffer. better clean in half the time. or your money back. this reduced sodium soup says it may help lower cholesterol, how does it work? you just have to eat it as part of your heart healthy diet. step 1. eat the soup. all those veggies and beans, that's what may help lower your cholesterol and -- well that's easy [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. still to come, amazing animals from around the world in our call of the wild. and then we're heading into

the kitchen to turn dinner on its head. vegetables as the main course >> i love it. >> dogs and cats living together. mass hysteria. >> after your local news and weather. ♪ ooh, yeah, ooh-ooh, yeah ♪ i love ya ♪ ooh, yeah, ooh-ooh, yeah [ female announcer ] introducing new special k popcorn chips. with 28 buttery chips for 120 calories, you can bring the flavor of the movies home and still stay on track. freedom to enjoy. what will you gain when you lose? find them in the cracker aisle. can your moisturizer do that? [ female announcer ] dermatologist recommended aveeno has an oat formula, now proven to build a moisture reserve, so skin can replenish itself. that's healthy skin for life. only from aveeno. here's a better idea. pillsbury grands! flaky layers biscuits in just 15 minutes the light delicate layers

add a layer of warmth to your next dinner. pillsbury grands biscuits let the making begin.

>> good morning. we've had some rain overnight. one half inch to over an inch in some cases. a cold front slowly moving east and pushing the right away. eventually we hope to get some sun into the picture. west of the day, the highest chance where temperatures probably will rise to the 70's the west of the bay. the west of the bay. the [ male announcer ] connoisseurs of flavor. experts in aroma. they're the world championship cheese judges. [ air horn blowing ] and while they might seem kind of odd to you -- like this guy -- we just love them. and at the 2012 championship,

they awarded cracker barrel gold for cheddar for its rich, full flavor. thanks cheese geniuses. cracker barrel. it's cheddar, perfected.

i'm definitely happy just being alone with deena right now, the same personality. we like to drink. we like to party, and it's just team meatball. >> that's "jersey shore's" star snooki doing what made her famous. snooki is a changed woman and she's mom. she will be here with her fiance and her first post-baby interview next week only on "today." i'm al roker along with savannah guthrie and natalie morales and lester holt joining us as well. >> we'll tell you what's coming up in this half hour. spectacular, sometimes scary looking animal like this one. this python from all over the world. they will be here in our studio. >> my skin is crawling. >> big snake there. >> i hate snakes.

>> don't like snakes. >> dangerous. >> you go first. >> didn't mean to get personal, mr. snake. all snakes. >> ear muffs. >> al doesn't like them much either. >> most of us are guilty of this. cannot put dunn our smartphones or turn off the tv over the weekend, but you know the weekends are a great time to give your mind and bod' much-needed break so we'll have some tips for adults and kids to unplug. >> all right. >> now, to mr. holt with a check of what's coming up on "weekend today." i'll read fast as that snake is looking at me again. >> why don't you stay for this segment. >> i'd love to. >> face your fears, lester. lester! lester! >> we did that segment once. >> a snake around your neck. do you have a problem with a snake around your neck? >> i'm like samuel jackson but i can't say what he said about snakes. this weekend, exciting or fun or over the line is this would you put your kid in a pool with tigers? go from snakes to tigers. pool parties where children can swim with baby tigers.

>> wow. >> and "law & order" seu known for its gritty crime stories and famous guest stars. we'll preview the she's 300th episode where jenna makes a special appearance. >> she's not a body, is she? >> you know, i didn't ask her. she had a line. >> oh, okay. >> or a line drawn around her. >> that was good, natalie. >> plus, with the last presidential debate on monday, i'll head to the battleground state of florida. we'll do the broadcast from there on sunday to look at why it is such a key swing state, and we'll hear from the all important undecided voters. all that and more when we see you this weekend san snake on "today." >> if you save this for the snake segment, may not make it to the weekend. >> exactly. >> might be a big bulge inside the snake. >> someone lock the studio doors. >> big concerts and left you are, you're a big musician. mill valley, california, to benefit the coming home project, a counseling project for wounded veterans to help them re-enter civilian life and find work. in addition to rocker sammi hager and the grateful dead's

bob weir, cnbc's senior economics reporter steve liesman will be playing with his band the moon cussers. who knew. >> where did he get that name, from the moon cussers? >> probably go out and cuss at the moon most likely. >> look at that. >> i didn't know that. >> steve has another side to him. >> see, who knew. >> all of us have different sides, including you being a good chef. >> yeah. >> you and lester need to jam. >> we do. >> what are you doing this weekend? >> you've got to work, sorry. >> i've got four shows i do, but other than that i'm wide open. >> we'll get a check of the weather. >> let's look at your weekend, starting off with tomorrow. fall foliage. it's past peak up through the upper great lakes, the new england area, and upstate new york and also through the rockies, but still plenty of color down through the south and central california. saturday, we've got wet weather in the pacific northwest, plenty of sunshine and warmth through the lower half of the country and then sunday we expect to see, again, some more showers in the eastern great lakes.

mountain snows in the cascades and rain in the pacific northwest. sunny and warm weather conditions, gulf coast into the southeast and mid-atlantic states. >> good morning. a cool front is trying to move through the area. we're hoping for some sunbreaks . >> and after weekends with lester it gets really good on sunday night "football night in america." that's right. we've got the pittsburgh steelers going into paul brown stadium as they take on the bengals.

they are both 3-3. who will break the tie? we'll find out on sunday night "football night in america." there you have it. >> you are scaring the wild anima animals. >> coming up next, things get a little prickly in our call of the wild right after this. >> lester joins us. ♪ [ female announcer ] at yoplait, we want you to feel even better about your favorite flavors. so when you call, tweet, and post, we listen. that's why yoplait light and yoplait original are now made with no high fructose corn syrup. and why we use only natural colors and natural flavors in yoplait original. so, anything else we can do for you, let us know. but you'll keep it to yogurt, right? 'cause we shouldn't really help with your love life. yoplait. it is so good!

aflac... and major medical? major medical, boyyy, yeah! [ beatboxing ] berr, der berrp... ♪ i help pay the doctor ♪ ain't that enough for you? ♪ there's things major medical doesn't do. aflac! pays cash so we don't have to fret. [ together ] ♪ something families should get ♪ ♪ like a safety net ♪ help with food, gas and rent, so cover your back, with... ♪

a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aflac! [ male announcer ] help protect your family at aflac.com. [ beatboxing ] [ male announcer ] help protect your family at aflac.com. we're spreading the word about honey bunches of oats fruit blends and their unique taste combinations. like peach/raspberry. with one flavor in the granola bunch and one on the flake. two flavors. in harmony. honey bunches of oats. make your day bunches better. bp has paid overthe people of bp twenty-threeitment to the gulf. billion dollars

to help those affected and to cover cleanup costs. today, the beaches and gulf are open, and many areas are reporting their best tourism seasons in years. and bp's also committed to america. we support nearly 250,000 jobs and invest more here than anywhere else. we're working to fuel america for generations to come. our commitment has never been stronger. >> we have our new wild theme song. >> we like that. on "today's call of the wild," amazing experts. we have here some creatures from

around the world that are greely great at adapting. >> i think mr. magoo was snuggling with you. a porcupine but a different kind of porcupine. >> you guys want to get closer. >> i hope he doesn't pocus. >> i want you guys to feel us. >> you won't make him angry. >> lake a monkey-like tail, and they use that, of course, for an arboreal lifestyle. >> you guys smell that, right? >> definitely smells a little there, mr. magoo. >> with porporcupines, they don shoot the quills out. >> they come out really, really easily. it's like when we get goose bumps, basically. when they get startled they will puff up and quills come out. do you want to touch him? >> okay. >> as long as you do the right direction. >> do it the right direction be careful. they have microscopic barbs at the end of each quill. >> now like i'm going to touch him. >> it's great. >> they will stop you.

if they get embedded in your skin they will expand due to the heat of our blood. >> embedded quills in my skin that will expand. what's so funny -- >> what's the best part about this, corbin? >> you guys -- >> the best part is i'm not touching that porcupine. >> okay. >> just for me. >> just for you. i barely know you. >> i know, right. >> just be careful. >> look at that. you're fine, you're fine, you're fine. >> isn't that great. >> all his quills are just modified hair made out of keratin. >> every one of those quills are numbered. >> is that a beautiful animal. >> the next animal. i was going to ask what he likes to eat. that's okay. we're fine. we can move on. >> savannah cut this for him. >> actually no wonder he doesn't want to eat it. >> this is great. this is great. this is actually one of africa's most voracious predators. >> trying to kiss you. >> that's actually. >> why do you keep bringing him closer? >> i'm sorry.

>> he wants to kiss you, al. >> having a moment. >> have such a habit, has a great sense of smell, excellent sense of smell. this eats almost every ant, everything. >> that's how he's able to get it with that forked tongue. >> that's how he finds. >> look at that. >> i think he really likes you. actually might smell mr. magoo which is not a good thing because mr. magoo is a rodent and junior eats rodents. >> this has danger written all over it. >> wait until you see what comes up. >> he lives by the water. >> lives by the water. excellent, excellent swimmer, take a look at the nostrils, right on top. right on top of the skull. they can hold their breath under water for up to an hour. >> and they are very smart. >> as smart as a 3 or 4-year-old child. he is potty trained. >> oh, wow. >> recognizes his owners. >> apparently loves you, too. >> you guys want to touch him? >> i'm good. >> i'm good, trust me. >> no microscopic barbs here. >> that embed in my skin. sounded so great.

>> let's bring out gabriel. this is beautiful. come over here. >> i'll come over here. >> this guy here -- >> he's stuck. >> magnificent. magnificent bids of prey, this is a great-horned owl. been an ambassador for over 19 years, you guys. >> gorgeous. >> they get the name from the ear tufts right there, and check out his swing span. look at this. check out the wingspan. beautiful. >> is it true he can eat a skunk? >> he can. you did your research. >> or a small al roker. >> birds really don't have a strong sense of smell so it allows them to eat things like skunk. one of the animals that does. eats over 200 prey species. >> they can turn all the heads around. >> that's on halloween. >> come over here, guys. the best part, natalie. >> i'm not doing this. >> come in here, mark. >> no, no, no. >> we have to be -- >> mark is going to hold my end of the bargain up here. >> mark gets to hold the tail

end. >> good. >> natalie. >> i have a snake thing. >> she is a -- >> you wear them, just don't touch them. >> are you serious. >> natalie, you better not. i'm going to come get you right now. this is a reticlated python, currently squeezing me, from southeast asia. >> hey, why don't you pet the porcupine while you're at it. >> and you wanted me to hold the snake? okay. >> the last time you'll ever see me on the "today" show. >> over 33 feet. >> can you really talk? >> why is this wet at the bottom. >> don't worry. >> she's just soaked. >> she just had a bath. >> they can get 33 feet long, so she's only 17.5. imagine, literally almost twice this. so insane. >> what do pythons eat? >> monkeys, pigs, even deer. >> deer, wow. >> do they eat a porcupine. >> i don't think so. i wouldn't want to touch mr. magoo. they have been known to eat humans in southeast asia, but --

>> that is fantastic. >> that is very, very rare. >> what a great thing. >> oh, she's just beautiful and going right towards you. >> yeah, great. they can smell. you have to be very careful with these snakes, do i have to say. >> as we're obviously being. >> corbin, you're never coming back. >> i know. >> we loved having you while you were here. >> thank you. >> the snake says i'd love having you, too. >> coming up next, how to unplug and thoroughly enjoy your weekend, but first these messages. so... [ gasps ]

these are sandra's "homemade" yummy, scrumptious bars. hmm? i just wanted you to eat more fiber. chewy, oatie, gooeyness... and fraudulence. i'm in deep, babe. you certainly are. [ male announcer ] fiber one. but what about your wrinkles? neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles in just one week. why wait if you don't have to. neutrogena®. . . well... inside the brewer are these green fields of coffee, and if you travel up this mountain, there's this huge coffee grinder. and then the coffee lands in this cup and water rushes through. actually, i just press this button.

brew what you love, simply. keurig. onof chocolate lovers from the thmelting point of chocolate. so when you take hershey's chocolate and add bubbles, it deliciously melts the moment you take a bite. hershey's air delight. it just might make you melt. it 's time to get real about and start talking about whawhat you really wanthroom. from your toilet paper. it's time to talk about clean. feeling clean is so important. i use quilted northern. quilted northern soft and strong is stronger than the leading value brand, for a confident clean. ancr: at jennie-o we think some things are worth getting up early for like a better breakfast so on august eighth we woke up a sleepy town to show that eating well can be easy and delicious with jennie-o turkey bacon and sausage cooked thoroughly to 165 definitely very good it's excellent this is delicious makes me want to eat breakfast more it's time for a better breakfast i can't stop eating this make the switch look for jennie-o at a store near you

body washes with paper that reacts like skin. if others can strip this paper, imagine how harsh they can be to your skin. oh my gosh. [ female announcer ] dove is different. its new breakthrough formula changes everything. new dove. this is care. now all general mills big g kid cereals have more whole grain than any other ingredient in cereals like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch, the delicious way to help them grow up strong.

well, it's friday. who isn't lacking forward to the weekend, but with blackberries and cell phones and e-mail do you ever really unplug. gail is a psychologist and "today" contributor. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> even though it's the weekend a lot of us don't actually take the weekend off. looking down at things. >> none of us take the weekend off. in fact, amazed how many families are sitting together in a room looking at only the tops of each other's heads because we're all doing this the whole time. >> no conversation. >> no conversation, plugged into our own device, and we're losing out. >> you say play is essential to give our bodies a break so what do you suggest we did to make it more of a hand in. >> first of all, really limit screen time. >> yeah. >> that's not just phone time, that's all device time. limit to yourself how many hours a weekend are you going to give yourself? how many hours a week are you going to give your kid? don't bring your devices.

if you're going out to do something together, with everybody, have to worry about them, use it, it will be very tempting, and you have to instigate play. we've lost out on play. it breeds imagination, flexibility, perseverance, so many interest rates that you want to have as an adult and you want your kids to have. plus, it bonds you together. people are lonely. >> right. >> because they are existing but not together. >> yeah. >> and play creates that intimate bond, and we've lost out on all things we used to do when we were young. >> right. >> like hopscotch and build a tent. go in the backyard, i don't know, figure it out. it's the figuring it out that actually lends to the imagination. >> all that good bonding time, but then also, as you said, the imagination, the creativity as adults, i think we are so mentally dry when it comes to -- >> next, next, next. >> we're just always looking at something. >> important to play. if it's a fun sport for you to do, something fun to see

together, going to see a sport together, but also when you play with your kids, it's returning to lake adults really have fun playing charades, and they can have fun playing with their kids. >> haven't played charades. >> those old-fashioned games you used to play, the perfect ones for stimulating your mind and relaxing your body, and they bring great joy. >> right. >> if you do that with your kids, you'll laugh, and it really enhances your family bond. >> great advice, thank you so much. >> thank you. coming up next in the kitchen, putting the veggies front and center for dinner, but first this is "today" on nbc. [ harry umlaut ] that's one creamy muller. [ sally umlaut ] it's greek-style yogurt.

this greek style yogurt has style. you can say that again. why thank you. this greek style yogurt has style. okay. stop saying it now. you're sending me mixed messages. [ male announcer ] muller. the european for yummy.

good morning. in today's kitchen, what's on the menu. vegetables. our chef is here along with the vegetable farm manager, jack algiery.

>> and very good friend. >> like to call him farmer jack. big bounty up there. is all this stuff -- >> right now just a little sample of what we have for the next month coming, too. >> you grew all that. >> beautiful, right. >> i can see why he's your friend. >> yeah, right. >> i'm only as good as he is. >> tell us about the icc also. >> we're partnering, jack and i are partnering with the icc, the international culinary center to produce a one of its kind program to train the next generation of chefs about this kind of relationship, this kind of friendship. >> the vegetable, the farmer. >> also raising meats on the farm, too. you'll get a little meat today, too, but vegetable is the focus. >> i've never seen carrot under a brick. >> we roast the carrots for half an hour starting out with jack's big beautiful carrots. >> gorgeous. >> took from the ground yesterday. we roast it, and then we're going to weight it under a brick for a few minutes and open it up, what have you got, a stake. >> that's crazy.

>> carrot stick. you need to work with jack's carrots, because anything else falls apart. >> what are you dredging that in? >> just a little bit of flour. going to make a chicken cutlet, lack at this, and then a little bit of bread krumps, and then i would say fry it, but it's really like a very light saute, okay. >> are there other vegetables you can do that with. >> parsnips, want to grab one of these parsnips. anything from the farmer's market that has roots. we use parsley root, beets, bloody beet steak. >> i'll have mine rare. and how long do you cook it on each side? >> two, three minutes. >> but i have one i just did here. we'll run over here. i want you to take a taste of this. >> i do, i want to. >> all you talk about is bobby flay. but i want you to talk about me. >> you're feeling a little bitter today. what's going on here. >> this is -- this is apricot. we stewed some apricots and a

little bit of water, vinegar, a touch of sugar, just a tiny bit and made kind of like a mustard, right, and then this is -- hello. just in time. good to see you. >> this looks great. >> this is lamb from the farm, made a little usa. >> love this. >> the meat is the accompaniment. >> i'm going to try that. >> that is great. >> that is fantastic. >> sorry, didn't mean to reach over. >> you come on in. this is a party. >> so good. >> good to taste it with the apricot, together. >> delicious. >> and in a way you kind of -- in a sense you disguise the vegetables for kids. >> well, okay. yeah. carrot cutlet. >> that is amazing. >> just a nice way to eat a good hearty meal without having too much meet. >> and farmer jack. >> thank you. >> a pleasure. >> thanks, guys. >> coming up next, kathie lee and hoda right after your local news and weather.

hmmm, i don't think i took my pill today. there's birth control you don't have to think about taking every day or even every year. i'm painting my arms. i want another child, but not for a while. it's mirena, a small intrauterine contraceptive that's over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy for as long as you want, for up to five years. then again, i'm not sure i want to wait. don't use mirena if you have a pelvic infection, get infections easily or have certain cancers. less than 1% of users get a serious infection called pelvic inflammatory disease. if you have persistent pelvic or stomach pain, or if mirena comes out, tell your healthcare provider. if it comes out, use back-up birth control. mirena may attach to or go through the uterine wall and cause other problems. although uncommon, pregnancy while using mirena can be life threatening and may result in loss of pregnancy or fertility. ovarian cysts may occur, but usually disappear. bleeding and spotting may increase in the first few months

and continue to be irregular. periods over time may become shorter, lighter, or even stop. mirena does not protect against hiv or stds. oh, i can wait a little longer. ask about mirena. when you have time. did you know ? if you choose mirena to prevent pregnancy, it's also approved to treat heavy periods.