>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. our show? >> oh, my gosh, it is boozeday tuesday on desemcember 22 pd. and look at what is happening there. it is is criminal. those two minute tiny people on boozeday tuesday are drinking water. >> how do you know iknow. do you want us to come over to

>> susan is in a new movie, and singing champs the melodores, and they are an a capella group. superand today is the first day of winter or the last day of spring? >> first day of winter. and so tonight is the shortest night and then the longer days, me we have something more to celebrate. and you guys a a huge thank you to all of you who helped to raise almost $1 million more the salv only needed to sell about 400 more books to make it. goodgiftsbook.org. i will never do more of them and you have let me know how much you lo pages in it with new res

it is a sweelet's get to $1 11 million mark. we can do it. >> by o we have good news if you are a procrastinator, the store s ares are open 24 hour, because some people a stu like that, and so now, kohls is now open 24 hours until 6:00 p.m. on the 24th, and the same for walmart open 24 hours, and jcpenny's and macy's until christmas eve. and a loftt of people, you work crazy shifts, and you need time to get redady. >> yes, but, hoda, how many days do you t christmas? >> 364, about. why do you wait for the end? >> it is the rush. >> part of the reason i got into the news is because there is a deadline and i have to have the to file the story by 10:00, and

>> frank said that i'm on to be ten minutes early or you are i think it is so rude when you think that your time is more valuable than somebody else's. >> and who is taller or do you both have on shoes? >> allegedly. >> big girl shoes. >> all right. ladies, cook something. >> and should we taub about the g >> oh, my. >> more breaking news on the show. >> this is nbc news and men's health is out, and we agree that john kraysinski is hot, but looking around page 10, check it

our hunkie joseph, our floor director, is there. >> we are so proud of you, honey. >> you lost 50 pounds. >> i did. >> how did you do it? >> the boring way ak actually. i ate the way i should and started exercising. >> people don't like you at this moment. >> give it a few more moments. >> and here is the thing about you. we d o day e was a picture of him in hawaii. >> yes. >> and we looked at the before picture, and look at the, uh-huh, and we need the body before. and like >> was there an a-ha moment for you, joseph, when you said i'm going to lose some weight? >> there's the before. >> a few friend of mine who inspired me. they lost weight and then mostly took until i was out of breath tying my shoes. >> but you're not. >> you're a young man. >> you are young. never thought you were heavy. >> thank you. >> we thought you were stocky. >> thank you for that. >> husky. >> a husky boy. >> yeah.

if i was going to start it would be now. >> feels like you should have a cute girlfriend. >> we think that our friend friend zach should and our friend kyle michael miller should. >> let's start in the new year. >> let's do a dating thing. >> for the "men's health" guy? what's your twitter handle? >> my name? >> @yosefherzog. >> and i'm running my first half marathon in monor of my mom who is battling multiple myeloma and raising funds for mls. a link on my instagram page. >> you're a really good guy. wonderful. we thought you were hot before but now you're like scalding. >> yeah. burn, baby. >> thanks, baby. >> meredith viera. cute how he talks about his mom,

>> meredith here had some fun at someone's expense in particular, but she showed photos to a bunch of kids. >> mm-hmm. >> and asked the kids is this person naughty or nice based purely on the photos. here's what's happen. >> i'm going to lift up pictures and you tell me naughty or nice list. >> nice. >> naughty. >> foughty. >> naughty? >> naughty. >> naughty. >> do you know who that is? >> no. >> you don't know. why are you saying naughty? >> because she looks like it. >> she just looks like it. how about this person, naughty or nice. >> nice. >> that's hillary clinton. do you know who that is? >> yes. >> who is that? >> president. >> well, running for president. >> i don't know. >> naughty, naughty, naughty. >> why? >> he looks weird. >> i used to work with that guy. >> oh, my gosh. >> oh, my goodness. >> that's exactly what i sound like, i know. >> i feel bad for you. thanks.

it took a lot of therapy. you know what that is? >> it's not fair because it's not his best look during november. >> come on, that was funny. come on. >> oh, gosh. >> they love each other but how funny was that, creepy. >> so glad when it's not me they are picking on, or you. >> okay. >> looks like gwen stefani and blake shelton are going strong. >> yeah. >> gwen tweeted out a christmas message along with a short video that we just can't get enough of. >> oh. >> like a gif. >> anyway, that's enough. >> i'm -- i'm going to see the ladies' reaction to it? >> yeah. >> ladies. >> what did you think? >> i thought it was sweet. >> blake shelton is fabulous. >> isn't he fabulous. >> fabulous. >> appeals to all of us. >> charming, nice, good heart, handsome. >> tall. >> what about her? >> oh, gorgeous, and also really supportive of the young talent on that show.

>> it's cute. >> how sweet is she? >> she's not what you've heard. >> who? >> susan lucci. >> she an intererica kane. >> by the way, just want to point out as the show is progressing, what's going on with you. >> yosef, his phone is blowing up. >> bring your phone here. >> bring your phone here. >> exciting. >> i can't wait. >> hold on. >> wait, wait, wait. >> oh, my. >> how did they get your phone number? >> he's on twitter. >> password. >> been there with you, hoda. >> where is it coming. >> oh, wow. instagram. >> naughty pictures. >> let me tell you. >> let's not -- >> i'm not going to. >> wow. >> oh -- getting a lot. that's a good one. wow. >> yosef. i can't wait to see what happens. >> going to be a happy holiday for yosef. >> explosion. awesome. >> we want updates. >> thank you. >> all right. sarah palin has taken a joke

>> and now we know that she can dish it out, too. looks like there's a bottle brewing between tina fey and spal >> yeah. >> sarah just released a video spoofing her character. tina's character from "30 rock". >> liz lemon. >> this one is called "31 rock." >> when "31 rock" begins this january america will meet liz lemon. >> a tv writer who left the small town for the big city. >> no snow flakes. >> but she's struggling to have it all. >> where's my big gulp? where 's the new page? >> melon, okay. here's what you do. >> the "star wars" didn't actually change cinema. >> there's only one way to find out. >> good for her. >> that was done by a group called the independent journal review. >> okay. >> how about john mccain playing. that was funny, right?

graham on the day that he announced that he's -- now he's a page on $31 rock." >> that was timely. i like him by the way. he's feisty. >> i think he is feisty. the "new york times" said trends that didn't actually catch on and some of them were like the apple watch, sorry, and man buns. >> ugh. >> they asked the readers what trends they chose to skip this year and here's a look, and we're going to ring the bell every time we passed on a trend. >> all right. >> so the return of crop tops. >> past. >> face contouring. >> pass. >> not me. >> hoverboards. >> i gave one as a present. does that count as passing. >> harper lee's new book. >> pass. >> snapchat, i didn't, i love that. >> periscope. >> i like it. >> empire. >> love it. >> the "game of thrones,". >> unbreakable kimmy schmitz."

>> having a squad like taylor swift. >> we have a squad. >> we're a duo. >> you're right. >> and finally watch me whip. watch me nae-nae. >> the only one i do is face contouring. >> i say i'm using my time more wisely than anybody else out there. >> all right. so "fuller house," the teases are out on netflix, the reboot of "full house with the "and we played that the other day, but this is what the girls from the cast looked like back in 1993, so that's candace cameron bure, jody sweeten and andrea barber. >> all right. >> and here's the new clip from the teaser. >> okay. you already know who it is now watch me whip watch me nae-nae >> okay.

>> watch me, oh, watch me, watch me. watch me, watch me >> they got the moves. >> the what does whip nae-nae mean. >> means nothing. >> booze day tuesday, sparklers here, a little cocktail. >> prosecco which you love. >> apple cider and cranberry juice, maple sugar and sin mom. >> did you make these for us, giada? >> yeah. >> go to our facebook page and see our step-by-step intrucksal video to see what giada didn't make and other fun holiday cocktails. >> susan lucci is next. she brings "joy" to the big screen. >> and giada is here to bring a meal to your christmas table that feeds all your family and friends. >> look at those two kids getting along. we rely on our courage.

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for 41 years to a award wink actress and legend susan lucy played the entertaining erica cain on "all my children." >> and so while it has been ten years, you can take the drama out of the woman, but not the woman out of the drama. she is now back on the big screen. >> mother, again! you sit there.

how many times do i have to tell you not to clean it out in the sink? >> well, she thinks it is unlady like to talk about it -- >> direct her power anywhere danica chooses, a hand is the power of danica. >> hello, sweetie. >> i am so thrilled to have been part of the movie to he wor with david orussell who is an amazing director, and i have a they are telling the story of joy mangano, her life story, and her mother, jennifer, she is amazing in every frame and she is amazing. and have virginia madison plays her mother, and she was a apparently, joy, a timid woman

and addicted to soaps. and so danica was strong and she would quote danica. >> and live vicariously through her. >> hopefully not so tid. >> and so david said that soap op er opera actors were like athletes, and he chose you because he knew extly what you could do. >> so generous with the coents. and youearn pagesnd pages d pahe was lot ofolume everyd, and eca cai wo busy a i am so bus that i got e play h. and it kept you off of tht m inside of daylight hours, and all of that, but we had a lot to do everyday. and david orussell said that what i ra read in one of the interviews, he said that h and tell us what to do and we would just do it. we are ready.

>> and we come in with the motivation, and we know what we are supposed to be doing, because of the nature of the -- i say, like old man river, and si going to be rolling along, and it is going to happen no matter how late you were at the studios the night before. >> and were you able to work with some of the other actors? >> yes. i got the work with jennifer who is brilliant of course, and also with robert de niro. >> are you pinching yourself? >> yes, virginia madysen is there and bella rosalini. >> and how about bradley cooper? >> i wish i had got a scene with him, but i was admiring his work. >> i bet you were. >> and on instagram, you are a busy poster, aren't you?

into a frenzy. mom, you have to pose everyday. >> what is happening here? >> ooh, your everyday bubble bath. >> this is how i spend the weekends at the hotel right here on54th street and i am so sorry, hotel, i don't remember where you are, but it was a great time and it is like being in bea so are you, and we love you shgs, and merry christmas and merry everything. give our love to everyone at your home. >> "christmas joy" opens christmas day. >> are you wrapping and you can't find your ribbon? it's that night of the year you come here. looking for gifts so there won't be tears. eleventh hour shopper...that's you. it's ok because they know you.

an xbox for the children. and a mixer for your dear. no need to shop around for present you've missed it's all here. you're off the naughty list! eleventh hour shopper... that's you! see you next year, buddy! get low prices on all your last-minute gifts. walmart. dear stranger, when i booked your place, my friends thought i was crazy. but this morning, a city i'd never been to felt like home. thank you for sharing the world with me.

this holiday, give the gift of ferrero rocher. ferrero rocher... make your moments golden. there are some people you should give underwear to this holiday. and there are some people you shouldn't . people you should. shouldn't. janice! should. shouldn't.

no. should. no way. should. no. definitely not. ha ha, nay. you shouldn't give underwear to everybody. but for those you do, give them fruit of the loom. silent night holy night sleep in heavenly peace

it's time for brain teaser tuesday when we put your minds to work with a fun riddle co of buzz feed. >> here it is, johnny's mother had three children. the first child was named april and the second child was named may and what was the third child's name? >> that seems too obvious. think about it, google it. we will be back in a minute. >> and grab your toilet paper rolls and magazines. >> don't talk like that, hoda. >> and we are about to wrap.

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>> by the way it is is boozeday tuesday and before the break we gave you johnny's mother had three children. the first child was named april. the second child was named may name? >> johnny. >> we actually got that one. was it a trick question? duh. >> and have you ever realized on christmas eve that you are out of gift wrap, bags, bows? >> yes. >> and we have some help from robin spicer. >> she has been on our affiliate in atlan no and she has ideas for creative homemade wrapping. >> good to see you and it is robin to the rescue.

make it fabulous, because we will rerecycle and repurpose with pizazz. so i thought of a person who is a word smith or the crossword puzzles, so my sister cheryl is a crossboard addict, and so we wrapped it up with crossword puzzle wrapment and that little center is right off of the milk carton. >> and i lovv host. >> and so i take this and make a figure eight. if it is exhard i'm not doing it. so it is seconds. figure eight, and staple it in the middle and then layer up the figt ur figure eight, and before you know it, it is a bow to go. >> and smart here with the kids can color

>> yes, the front page, sports section for the sports, anything. and now, egg cartons. >> everybody has gotten them. >> and i have been eating a lot of eggs now, but they are grade a egg friends so i covered them with heresy kisses and filled it with candy, and is so it is is a lot of fun, but th are getting involved now. they are telling you how they are going to be wrapping so you take out the scraps, and this year, get all of the scraps before somebody throws them out. >> yes. >> and you can see how pretty it sis is. and i'm wild about the cardboard pap paper, a soy put a beautiful piece of jewelry in here, and now i am going to be taking the tisch tissue, and wrap it up in style with the tissue paper, and one, two, three, four, five, and then tie the edges like here, and you wi a finished wrap, and tie them with the bows, and that is really simple. scraps, and you have it.

>> yes, that is a nice hostess gift. gift. >> and tucked in the end, an c roll up a tee shirt or sweets. cash -- cash goes great there. >> and who doesn't like cash. >> and now me. and i love this one. literally straight out of the sock drawer. you want the try it and help me.e sock, and put it around the wine bottle. and look, one, two, three, and you have got it. and then wha t is to just add a few bows around the top, and one, two, three. >> and what is somebody going to to do with the one sock? >> well, are r wine that you love so much, because i know that you have the favorite wine. >> yes, we do. >> and the fact is that the other sock had a hole in it, and you only had one sock left. >> all right, all right, robin. okay. maybe we wil time. what is this? >> well, marshmallows and dip

will make perfect polka dots. >> you have to hold it down, hoda. >> and now you can see the finished product, and the kids love it. they will have so much fun. >> and make sure they don't eat it. >> you eat one, and stamp one. >> and don't mix them up. >> like a st tt is so much fun. >> and i alternated colors and took a little bit. >> she took more time. >> and a second more than you did. and this is my favorite wap of all time, and try this. now, watch me. take the corners of the ban dandana and pull them up to the top. right. a now, you can see that we have four corners, and take a rubberband. kathie lee, you are a pro at this. and take a rubber band and put it on the top, and watch robin here with a simple way t at that, four instant

>> we are going to be puttin it. >> yes. pretzel sticks, and candies and treats and sweets. this is called the the ban dandana wrap, one, two, three, and then they can repurpose it. one, two, three, cute. >> thank you, robin. >> and if you are a pitch perfect fan, we have a group here with perfect pitch. >> ty are a college group the vanderbilt melodores. zack. turning it on now.

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anti-flu? go antiviral with tamiflu. all right. if you are expecting a houseful over to holidays a and you don't want to spend the night or day in the kitchen, we have a res e pea for you.

laurentiis is here. >> this is kishgs mbo kishgsmbocca squash. >> people were getting confused. >> and what kind of beef? tenderloin. >> oh, no, it is too expensive, a tenderloin. >> i like tenderloin. e the cheaper kind, and that is what i use. >> what is it, the butt? what part is cheap? >> this is hoda's butt here, and we have cut it up and seasoned it. >> what kind is it? >> chuck. wellyou , can use ground meet if wanted to, but then you want to cut the squash smallerer so

you could use a tri-tip if you wanted to. >> you want to cook it slow and everything is going to melt and be tender. moving on to hoda's butt. >> okay. >> and then you season it with a little bit of salt and flour, and the flour creates a nice thick thickness to the stew. i the oil. >> dump it, hoda. >> go, hoda. dump it, hoda. >> all right. i'm trying. >> and we will brown it. you brown it for a couple of minutes. >> you don't cook it all of the way through. >> no, because the slow cooker is going to do it for you. >> oh, you are goio be putt in the slow cooker. >> this is something to do and then leave. >> forget about it. >> yes. this is the squash situation. i like the two together, because it is nice this time of the year, and very comforting. so this is a squash, but you could use acorn or butternut or whatever kind. and you need a really sharp

and if not, you can a knife and just chop it off. but you want to have a nice, well, it is going to be sitting up nicely on its own. >> in a perfect world. >> well, you don't want it to roll around or you will cut your finger finger. >> cut that ba and it can take some force and you can buy this already done. some grocery sto it up for you and make life easy. >> and what is this? >> well, i forgot. no no, no, i forgot to add the onions and the and the thyme and the rosemary. >> okay. i will do that >> and ycook, and do this. >> okay. i got distracted with this. >> okay. >> and you move the meat over to dexwlaz the pan. >> and that is the flavor. >> you see that nice brown stuff? >> yes. >> that is the flavor.

the meat first or you won't get that flavor. i take marsala wine or beef stock. >> yes. >> and scrape it and clean the pan so you don't have to clean it later, and then you take all of these ingredients. n the slow cooker. >> yes. >> careful. >> you don't want to wear it for day? no, i don't. nice. >> and a get all of the bits in there. >> okay. i'm getting as many as i can. >> and then we are going to be dumping the beef broth on top of that. >> beef broth. >> and what about the tomatoes, and sun dried tomatoes, and squash, and put the lid on it, and we will let it go for four hours. then we come back here, and this is great, and people love the slow cooker. >> look. >> look at this. >> has some bread with it. how delicious. and this is a nice meal. it is warm and hot when you get home. >> okay.

>> for the hot stuff. >> and i'm going to dunk a and it is pretty the. >> and it falls apart. >> and the meat should fall ap apart, and after four hours up to eight h t meat should fall apart. >> hmm. >> and the only thing that we are missing guys -- >> the glass of wine. >> i mean, really, this needs a glass of wine. >> and you can find this delicious stew recipe at today.com/food. >> hey, gather around, because we have a great song here with the vanderbilt before there could be a nation, there had to be people willing to fight for it, to take on the world's greatest challenges, whatever they might be. so, the u.s. army masters not only tactics and strategy, but also physics and chemistry. we make battle plans and create breakthroughs - in medicine, science and engineering. our next mission could be anything.

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the snow is starting to fall... and all the decorations are just right. the presents have all been opened... and our loved ones are gathered all around. so share that extra joy in your heart... and make this christmas even more special than the last. walmart has everything you'll need for a christmas meal they'll never forget. share wonder every day.

not only the champion s of the sing-off, they are the college champions for ak pel capella. >> hoar they are. hang on the mistletoe i'm going to get to know you better ba da da this christmas and every trim of the tree how fun it is going to be together this christmas the fireside is blazing bright

night and this christmas will be a very special christmas for me me whoa woo ba da da ta-da presents and cards this time t the of year my world is filled with cheer and you this christmas and as i look around your eyes are shining down this christmas fireside is blazing bright we're carolling through the night and this christmas

christmas for me whoa whoa take it here now take it here now ooh ooh ooh this christmas this christmas you know it is going to be a very special christmas for you and me very special christmas this christmas this christmas will this christmas will be a very special christmas for me yeah, yeah take a hand take a hand now

whoa we'll be together to make this christmas bright >> all right. that was awesome. >> very nice talent and nice kids. a couple of teen sensations spread the joy to some needy children. my world is filled with cheer with you why let someone else have all the fun? the sometimes haphazard,

the why can't it smell like this all the time fun. the learning the virtue of sharing fun. why let someone else have all the fun? that's no fun. unleash the power of dough. give it a pop. paris: there's a lot to do on a dairy farm. nobody's gonna do it for you. you have to get out there and do it yourself.

bernie cannot be bought out by big money. bernie's opinion cannot be purchased. it's time for our next president to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street, take on big business, take on big money, and get the working class back to where they should be. he's a rock.

it is our final donation nor the toy drive and it is from o frs at henry o better known as the folks who make hello kitty. >> here to the about it is teen sensations mattie and kenzi zeigler. >> and now before we get to how fabulous you both are, what are you giving away from hello kitty? >> we are giving these away

toys and merchandise and we are they arecute. yes, awesome. >> and now, you have major >> yes, mackenzie is a big singer, right? >> yes, i just released my single "sleigh ride" my christmas song. >> number one on itunes, right? >> yes. >> and mattie? >> i just wrapped up filming "my book of henry." and i was exciting. >> who are these people? >> well, they have been raised parents, and very polite, and i love that. merry christmas, and we are pekting great things from you guys. >> we want to thank you for the more than $37.5 million to the make this the second biggest toy drive ever.

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they include phasing out the