? this morning on "take's take," natalie portman on her new movie getting oscar buzz. and find out why photos of selena gomez are the talk of the internet. and counting down to christmas with your must-have holiday checklist and a performance to put you in the spirit, coming up now. >> from nbc news, this is "today's take," live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today." thursday morning, december 1st, 2016. look at that tree. >> she's a beauty. >> everything about it, is curves, the lines. >> you know. you covered it. 94 feet. >> i saw it in the ground in

plaza. >> i don't think it needed augmentation. a lot of times they cut branches and fill it out. but it is just gorgeous. >> beautiful. with the rain, what a beautiful production. i dvr'd it. >> matt and savannah and hoda and myself. and matt and issavannah, at the home base area. mattnd was -- there's the countdown, as well. alec baldwin, kate mckinnon and helped hit the button. we're in a downpour. a deluge. i mean, it is coming down, cats and dogs. and the people around us are getting drenched. there's matt and savannah. they had a tent over them. they had a heater. had a butler and a masseuse. >> oh, my gosh. >> i have to admit.

notice it to this point. >> but the good thing is, it's not like matt and savannah rubbed it in. look at the picture they texted us. >> oh, my gosh. >> here they are, laughing at hoda and me. >> that's -- >> they had someone mopping up the floor. >> they had somebody squeegeeing the floor. and bringing them cucumber sandwiches. >> and we had hours-long conversation. it kept getting more beautiful. >> it changes and gets all curly. but, yeah. she was armed. with ahairspray. >> matt's jacket is open. >> it's like they were at a different location. >> on a different planet. it was like, the alternative earth. >> look at that. >> i said, i got to take the dodog out.

right now? >> i didn't notice this until now. >> always aware of your environment. >> gosh. >> what i love about you. >> what we're aware of, the countdown, it's december 1st. you have 24, 25 days. >> christmas is still the 25th. you can say, i didn't see you christmas day. here. you don't have to worry. we have the -- and i promise you -- biggest "steals & deals" tomorrow ever. tech. fashion. home decor. there's not a person on your list in your life that we will not provide something for. >> with a deal. >> jill martin going to be running this. >> if it's not a deal, we don't buy it. that's what i say. >> the reason you had to watch it back, the christmas tree lighting. at the christmas premiere.

>> this is a beautiful dress. >> i passed winter fashion. and i mistakenly wore a yellow spring ensemble. >> here's savannah guthrie. >> i heard my name taken in vain. is anyone going to eat this? >> you're eating for two. >> al just called you and matt out for being an easy street. do you want to come in and defend yourself? i were on easy street last night. i know. >> look at you. no gloves. >> the mic for you there. >> yes. there was -- we've never had it so good. and you and i have done the tree lighting, six years ago. never been so good. >> why were you in a tent this year? >> the rain. >> wow. >> meteorologist. >> they did put a tent up. but they had heaters, which we've never had before.

tundra, being whipped around like a tornado. >> were you concerned for al and hoda. >> let's put the picture up to show the concern. >> can you caption that? >> savannah is laughing so hard, she is about to deliver. >> i was like, makeup, there's some tears coming out of my eyes, not from the cold but laughing at al and hoda. we did feel bad. our tarp sprung a leak. and the squeegee guy came. >> can you recognize the side-by-side. >> that's terrible. i have no defense. >> and the folks who were around us, put up with it, as well. it is all worth it. >> looks like -- >> look at them. remember in "broadcast news" when they ship off the reporter, like a competitor. and they're like, let's put her in alaska.

>> the split-screen is devastating. >> there's matt and savannah. and now, hoda and al, one more time. >> can i get another hot cocoa. but i need marshmallows this time. >> but you're pregnant. if anybody deserved to be covered up -- >> thank you. >> you don't think that had anything to do with it? >> that was fun. >> hoda and al's credit, the happiest, greatest, professional. >> the lighting of the christmas tree. >> and it wasn't too cold. >> and you have fans with you. >> and also -- it was raining hard. >> you know what else? brian's 30th birthday, dylan's husband. >> i'm finally not married to someone in their 20s any longer. >> but you're still a cougar. >> i know. 5 1/2-years younger than me. he turns 30. he's been worried about it.

20s. >> leaving them in a big way in two or three weeks. >> with her and the baby will be december babies. >> he will. yes. >> i'm going to go give birth. >> don't leave. wait until you hear what she did. >> what did you do? >> we couldn't celebrate his 30th birthday now. he wanted to celebrate it in vegas. for the last two years, he's been sending me random texts of what he would like for his ideal 30th he had no idea i saved them all. one of the odd requests is he wanted two cakes that tell a story. i found two cakes that tell a story. i called him fish. growing up, his friends called the house the fish tank. >> is that because of drinking? >> because of drinking? >> probably. >> i have been told to give you my seat. that's the chivalrous thing. >> isn't that enough after yesterday? >> stand in the rain. >> i didn't know she was going to stand.

partied in his room. >> after 30, this is now, the father in "finding nemo." >> where did you find that? the cake place in vegas. >> it's martin? melvin? >> marlin. >> marlin. yes. >> the dad fish. >> i'm going to swim around. it will be good. i will find dorrie. it will be fantastic. >> i called him the dad fish. i didn't know his with goldfish and star burst. >> he made that specific request? >> he was bored. texting me. here's what i would love. >> oh. >> that's how you -- >> slow-motion. >> this looks like -- >> is this in vegas? >> as the cosmopolitan in vegas. >> on the 65th floor. >> what can go wrong there?

where is zach galifianakis? >> it felt like "the hangover." it was the only stick i had. we went out to a nice dinner. and it was, yeah. we lost money gambling like we always do. it was a fun vegas trip about three or four months ago. that's his big birthday celebration. >> your last day is tomorrow. >> yes. >> december 10th, i think, if my last day. if i make it. >> i think i'm going early. i mean, look at me. >> vail was early. >> and t he's so huge. >> and nicki wasn't early. >> our due dates are two days apart. >> yes. >> how about the same day? >> that would be amazing. >> that's like a movie. >> imagine, we're like texting each other. >> i know. >> go to the same hospital. how great would that be? >> i know. we can be bestties. >> you're visualizing texting

>> you can? >> i don't think so. >> and al has a box you can put your phone in. and he tries to get me to put my phone in. >> you are having a baby, do whatever you want. >> i'm giving your seat back. >> this was fun. you were on for an hour. >> i love it. it's fun to be with you guys. and thanks for picking up all of the hard duty. she is. she's got to -- she's going to be filling in a lot. >> i thought you were changing diapers. >> we're also welcome. >> if that's the case, just feet him bananas. >> i don't like you right now. >> yogurt. >> we're neighbors. and i will be coming over. >> i hope so. >> and i will send you a little emoji. >> and i will come over with the baby say, what do i do? we're going to go walk off our pounds. >> we have to go to commercial. >> all right. up next, show her the money. >> i'll take it. check out the brain teaser photo.

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going into the baby thing? and i said i don't know anything. and i said brian doesn't know much, either. let him figure things out. i don't know more than he does. >> why don't you write a book, al's advice. roker rules. >> i love it. >> i mean, deborah and i wrote that book. >> we want life according to al. >> you don't want to go by me. >> this morning. before the break, we showed you the following puzzle and asked you to find the santa with a bag of casual. so, can you see -- >> i can't see that far. >> i can see. >> what's on the bottom left? >> this is from voucher cloud. >> that's the logo. >> okay. >> i can't find it. >> you ready to give up? reveal it. the third row, third from the

>> i still don't see it. what happens around this time of year. >> if you look, it's waldo. >> you're so mean. >> i wouldn't be able to find waldo, either. what color is the cash? i don't see the bag. >> he has green cash. >> is it in the bag? >> oh okay. everything else is a present. >> a green present. >> and that's cash. >> that's your brain teaser. hope you feel alive today. let's hav a mental cleanser and go to something a little classier. a little more -- >> classier? >> much classier. instagram celebrities. >> i love it. this is where i live. >> most-followed celebs of 2016. who is number five? >> kim kardashian. >> i thought she would be number one. >> because of everything going on in her life, including kanye being released from the hospital and that robbery, she's not been on instagram. she's been cold on instagram.

>> there was talk that because of the instagraming certain situations, it could have led to -- >> and comeback to instagram and social media. and this thing happened with kanye. >> of course, anybody. >> beyonce, at 88.9 million. love her. love her. ariana grande. 88.6 million. taylor swift, 93.6 million followers. she is number one last year. now, here's- number one. >> this is a stunning, stunning revelation. selena gomez 103 million followers. and my nephew is going to get mad at me saying this, isaiah mitchell hall, in college, his dream girl. >> do you think, i'm back to number one? >> they may not. but the managers and all the people who make money off of the instagram accounts. show a leg or something to get

>> a lot of the pictures that get the most likes. even on our accounts. do you look at the ones -- >> the ones that you show leg? >> in my case, a little chicken leg. >> a little al roker hair, thousands of likes. we like selena gomez. adorab adorable. what about the weather? is it a adorable? >> not so adorable. but not horrible. show you what we have going on for today. wet weather moving in the pacific northwest and snow clouds around the rockies. we are going to see colder air through the rockies and the intermountain region, with temperatures in the 20s, 30s, 40s. 80s in florida. 70s in southern texas. we look for a beautiful day in the east with mild weather. developing santa ana wins in southern california. could be breezy there. but the sunshine continues in >> wren: we've seen some showers early this morning, but as we

even in the on 7 forecast, temperatures well above average energetic the 50s. and it's going to be cooler as well. as we head to tonight, we couldn't hope for a better forecast for the boston tree lighting. dry skies, and to start, temperatures above our average highs for this time of year. get outside and enjoy the weather because of what we're seeing for next week. >> up next, how overspend on your secret santa gift. >> al roker, these are the pictures you like from al roquer. show the superman. when he shows chest hair. >> that's a microphone. >> that's like a chest hair neck loss. >> i keep them numbered for an emergency. find out if we're in (vo) what if the sweet stevia leaf was discovered before the sugar cane?

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we're testing our holiday habits and see if we're on the naughty or nice list. >> i haven't bought a single present yet. >> here's your holiday questions. question number one, how bad is it to store frosted cookies at room temperature? on your kitchen counter instead of in the fridge? >> i think that's fine. >> is that bad? not bad? >> not bad. most cookies are fine keeping in a container. the only exception i icing. sometimes they're made with raw egg whites. >> i don't know what royal icing is. >> don't worry about it. keep your cookies on the counter. okay. next one. how bad is it to use the oven's self-cleaning feature right before a holiday party? >> that's bad. >> bad or not bad? >> naughty? >> bad. not a good idea. >> too many risks.

900 degrees. it starts to smell in your house. might break down. >> you might even get your fire alarm, smoke detector coming off. >> good luck to get a repairman. >> i didn't know it worked. >> it's a big thing. >> they never clean their ovens. >> i don't. i use spray stuff. >> if you're embarrassed of your oven gunk, use baking soda and water, cover it in the oven and wipe it down. the safe way to do suggested on a secret santa gift? >> i think that's bad. i think it makes it -- it makes everyone else feel bad. >> yeah. but we did one last year like $10. it was hard. >> dylan's right. >> yeah. >> you can't do -- you should not spend more. it sends the wrong message. you're trying to one-up your friends. your co-workers. you might look like a brown-noser at work. >> it's a secret santa.

it's not really $10. >> dylan, you're up one. >> you want to be a rule-follower. if you spend more, you kind of look like a jerk. >> i will save my money. it's the holidays. how bad is it to cook savory and sweet dishes at the same time in the oven? >> i think that's okay. >> i think that's okay. >> the turkey. i'm going to give you a hint, what if your meat has onions, garlic, spaces? smelly stuff. very savory stuff. it's not bad. it is bad. the flavors of your desserts can take on the garlic. you don't want your cherry pie and tasting like garlic. how bad is it to vacuum christmas tree needles? >> can you do it? >> yeah. vacuum cleaner companies say,

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>> clearly costume change because my favorite is in the house. jeffrey dean morgan has been busy over the last several years appearing in dozens of movies and tv series. he captured our hearts as john winchester, the father of sam and dean on the show "super natural." the doomed patient on the medical drama "grey's anatomy." >> now jeffrey is giving bad a whole new meaning on "the walking dead." he plays the undisputed villain of the show who rolls by his own set of rules. >> well, hello there.

you're early. i missed you. >> jeffrey dean morgan. okay. your character is so bad -- >> awful. the worst ever. the most frightening. >> misunderstood. >> misunderstood. a guy barbed wire on it. >> lucille. >> everybody was talking about the season premier, and they thought it might have gone too far. how did you feel about the premier? there was people that talked about some of the gore, really graphic violence. >> i don't know that the show was going to win either way on that. people were upset last year that i didn't bash someone's head in. the cliffhanger ending.

bashed some heads in, and suddenly it was too much. >> i don't know that there's not even a happy medium there. that being said, you he had to do what he had to do. >> you can't even -- it w >> it was pretty horrible. >> is it fun to play a bad character? >> this character in particular is -- he kind of takes such glee and the world is his stage, character to play, but, you know, bringing him to life, there's a certain amount of glee you have to bring to this guy, and i'm certainly having fun doing it. >> well, the anticipation of meeting meegan, the build-up for all of us on-line on the social media community for the -- >> no. >> what? i want this to work. and then to finally meet neegan. this character lives up to

most frightening non super natural villains of all time. >> thank you. >> you're going for it. >> you're welcome. >> now i'm solely watching for who is going to be killed. is that wrong? >> i think that's wishful thinking. i think the claim would be you don't want him to die yet, do you? sure, sure. >> the next question i have. dave chapelle, first time, and he channels neegan. did you see that? >> i sure did. how cool was that? for him to come back after, you know, taking a ten-year kind of break and to bring back his favorite characters that we love, i guess, and to do neegan was awesome. >> do we have the split screen of you and dave? just wanted to see if you see the resemblance? >> he nailed it. he nailed it. i mean -- >> no pun intended.

yeah. it's great. >> is it true that you get into this -- you actually hurt yourself? >> well, andy lincoln took particular glee in the fact that i was having a lot of fun in kind of doing a neegan -- had a neegan moment on set, and i was kind of yelling and making fun of rick, andy's character, and i was having too much fun, and i pulled a muscle -- ripped a muscle in my ribs where. >> from laughter? >> from >> and he was, like, serves you right, you know? >> nice. >> i know we're short on time, but i love through all this you have a candy store. >> i do. >> which i just think is so -- >> up in -- >> -- amazing where. >> with paul rudd. >> yeah, with paul rudd. a friend of ours had owned it for 25 years, and he passed away, and we decided we wanted to kind of keep his legacy alive. >> that's beautiful. >> can you do, like, candy

>> yeah. sure, sure. come on over. >> thank you so much. >> thank you for having me. >> i'm never changing. >> the walking dead airs sunday night on amc. coming up, oscar winner natalie portman dlirg another performance, getting rave reviews in the new movie "jackie." we'll talk to her about bringing camelot to the big screen. after these messages. >> i just want to lean back like -- the roses are blooming in herbal essences hair is delightfully fragranced with notes of moroccan rose and the freshness of springtime

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and providing local support to those living with the disease and their caregivers. but we won't get there without you. visit alz.org to join the fight. well, it's been nearly the oscar for her role in "black swan." and now, more oscar buzz for her portrayal of jackie kennedy in "jackie." >> we had the pleasure to sit down with the actress and director to talk about the film. >> you ready? >> of course.

>> you remember governor and mrs. connolly. >> welcome to dallas, darling. >> thank you so much. >> i was telling you, i grew up in texas. and i remember moving to the northeast for the first time in philadelphia. and people said, you're from the place that killed of all of it, still so fresh. what pressure were you under to capture jackie kennedy? >> she does represent so much to the american people. her and jfk. and of course, you want to do them justice. but also, you're trying to portray human beings. i think that was nice about the approach. that it was trying to look at them as people, not as icons.

english-speeching film that you're directing. and you picked a topic that is so iconic to us in the country. did that add extra pressure to it? >> well, yeah. it's a lot of pressure. but it's an opportunity to focus on a woman and our first lady, on a mother and someone who is so iconic for the rest of the world. >> and that was humanizing, natalie, the scene. i don't want to give everything away here. but there was a shower scene. and i told you, crying. it was the humanizing portrayal of this woman we are convinced we know so well. >> i think there was something that was so interesting about the approach of the movie that it takes place in short, condensed period, right after the assassination because we know the assassination so well. but we don't think of those moments of like, she had to wash the blood off her after. and pablo, we were making it

hospital. >> 6:30. >> must have felt like an eternity. >> from the moment of the bullet until they got to the hospital, was more than six minutes. it's a life. you know? >> this is a special movie for us, besides the fact that, you've done such a great job, both of you. but our executive producer wrote the script, noah oppenheim. this is a woman so famous. and we know so little about her. t to be so much. including, probably one of the first people that was cognizant of her brand. and branding, camelot and all that went with it. >> absolutely. and it's really impressive to see someone then, who was thinking so much about their image, even in a moment when they're -- impressive because she knew how much the image meant to the entire nation and how much it meant symbolically

really terrible moment for her. >> do you think, what would she think of your portrayal? >> i would be terrified. i have reverence for her. and we're not presenting this as a history book. it's not a documentary. it's a lot of imagination involved. >> that's amazing film. >> wren: we've seen some showers early this morning, but as we head into the mid-morning hours, we're looking a this morning, but as we head into the hours, dry skies, and even in the on 7 forecast, temperatures well above average in the 50s. and it's going to be cooler as well. as we head to tonight, we couldn't hope for a better forecast for the boston tree lighting. upper 40s, dry skies, and to start, temperatures above our average highs for this time of year. get outside and enjoy the

coming up, it's feeling like christmas, thanks to the hitman a cappella group, straight, no chaser. they have a performance to get all of ? happy holidays from crayola. so when do i start? um, shouldn't it be "spokes-crayon?" can somebody turn on the a/c? i'm melting here. ?air marker spraayer!!!? chemistry, baby! i'm okay. the holidays just got more surprising. you can find these great gifts and more in the crayola aisle. aaaaaah! each sold separately. does your child need help with digestive balance? try align junior probiotic. so she can have a fraction dominating... status updating... hello-yellow-belt kind of day. get 24/7 digestive support with align junior.

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mace achr chrishmas album. >> i think we finally got it right after touring the country. >> what are you going to play for us? >> "feels like christmas" off the new album. >> okay. >> straight no chaser. ? snow outside the neighbors didn't run up lights ? ? nobody's making cookies ? ? making a list buying toys ? ? or wrapping gifts it's only november ? ? but it might as well be december ? ? 'cause when i'm with you it feels like christmas ?

? now that i got you the nights don't feel so cold ? ? it will be to hold on to you out of my sleep ? ? feels like it will feel like christmas ? ? it will feel like christmas it will feel like ? ? it will feel like we'll light a fire ? ? and we'll heat things up ? ? let me pour some cocoa in your cup ? ? go ahead and hang that mistletoe ? to get real close ? ? only november but it might as well be december ? ? 'cause when i'm with you it feels like christmas ? ? it must have been good because, baby, you're just what i wanted ? ? and now that i got you the night's gonna feel so ? ? cold you got me to hold on to ?

? and it feels like when i'm with you ? ? it feels like christmas must have been good because ? ? baby, you're all that i want ? ? and now that i got you ? ? the nights don't feel so cold yeah, you're there for me to hold on to ? ? and it's only november but might as well be december ? ? 'cause when i'm with you it feels like christmas ? ? it must have been good because baby, you're just wt wanted ? ? and now that i got you the nights don't feel so cold ? ? yeah, you're there for me to hold on to ? ? and i don't mind sleeping because i know when i wake up ? ? you'll be beside me i'll never let you go ? ? even if i wake up from the best dream ever ? ? it feels like it will feel like christmas ? ? it will feel like christmas

? yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah ? [ applause ] >> straight no chaser. that was awesome, guys. you can see the video for "feels like christmas" on today.com. we're back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

the holidays are a time of giving. and we're getting into the spirit with our 23rd annual "today" toy drive. and with us is morgan, director of boys toys, to tell us about this year's donation. morgan, good to see you. >> thank you for having us. >> why is it a pleasure, honor, to participate in this? >> we're lucky, we do a great drive. we give joy to kids. smile to kids. and that should be to all kids,

especially around time of christmas. some kids are not as fortunate as others. and we should be there for them. >> what are you donating this year? >> we're donating all of our 8,000 toys, worth over $150,000. and that's across several brands, including pokemon. you're clutching one of the hottest toys around. >> he's okay. you know him. my friend, pikachu. >> and it lights up. >> it lights up. he talks and laughs and reacts when you press his >> thanks for your generosity. thanks to tome, as well. and by the way, we hope you will stop by the plaza and donate a toy for a child up to age 18. you can donate online,

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from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rke >> hello, everybody, welcome to thsty thursday. we're so glad you chose to join us. it's the first day of december, hoda woman. >> it's already here. >> yesterday's song by hunter hayes. my daughter loves him, thinks he's great. >> adorable. >> we have a good show. >> two british beauties are here, elizabeth hurley and her son damian. she's back in the series called "the royals" on e! and her sonic