moderator of tonight's debate, own with "e.t" senior editor and the journalist had a challenge for trump. >> stand there, engage, do well, do better, take on the other guy, let's have a meaningful, ge. >> steve -- abbott told usg story about trump as a dad. plus, results on sarah palin and her own short hair cut. that is all on the way. now there's an interes sight, marsha clark hu oj. sort of, it's actually sarah paulson and cuba gooding, jr.e actors who play the real life adversaries in the people versus ovm j. simpson.e red carpet of the show's hollywood debut last night s.

>> only one communication, he asked me to do a charity, io it at the time, but he was very happy i was doing his role. >> collin taylor gave me a review, she seemed to think it was a thumbs-up. she might be a little bit biassed. >>s prosecutor marsha clark, in the fxminiseries, she says she and rest vt cast did their eresearch andle method acti >> i was wearing her perfume and watching her videos. to worryabout, i hope if anything, he sees my portrayal of them as, like i die best friend. >> the trial of the century gripped the nation back in 199 and the focus of this event was just finding fame back then. >> i remember watching the trial on the set of "friends" we would all gather to

probably bodes well for the ute my series. just announced, whoopee goldberg and kevin hart. tony barren tina fey also present and leonardo dicaprio may win an oscar. now he even has the pope's blessing. it was leo's italianskills on display when he met with the pope this morning.n native language ] dicaprio was granted a 15-minute meeting with the pope. crib as a young boy. >> leo who was actually raised a roman catholic as a young boy in l.a. was then given copies of two papal encyclicals and a rosary.er in england, jay

time about why he >> malik laid low on apple music beats one that there was no room for his own musical direction. >> in the early days, it was crazy.ke five of us sat in a room and wrote a song. now how do you write it from this perspective? >> and check this out,joying fatherhood. posting this pic of his baby boy, freddn l.a., sarah gilbert celebrated her 41st birthday by giving away recipients. >> there's a time in everybodyed help, so it's nice to be able to try to be there for people in those moments. >> one single mother of

a hud heart attack.s is a blessing. >> yeah, he's watching over you for sure. >> there's that big heart. coming up, wait until you hear what kerry washington is telling us about the oscar diversity controversy. >> and ladies, you're goingve this, kerrie's makeup secrets. and rebel wilson's secret about her night out with justin bieber. >> i just felt like i had good game., 24 " illustrated" swimsuit models, that's enough said.

etonline about being so outspoken.

the first to say happy birthday to kerrie washington. the star of one our favorite shows "scandal" turns 39 on sunday.on joined kerrie with a george washington

harvard university. >> 2016h in yet but is off to a great start. >> i'm woman of the year. >> i'm sort of done. i'm the woman of the year. toasted and roasted by harvard univers which means a crazy parade with students in drag.s who have a sense of humor and make contributions to society, ms. washington has always spoken up for women of color. hat's great about what is happening here with the oscars is it's giving us an opportunity to the talk about these thing in a way that's a little more

>> always about inclusivity, she the liquid skinmakeup in every skin color. >> this is cocoa color, which is my color that did not exist before. but now exists. >> she also reps opi nail color. with a nod isabel. >> i love the fact that you named one of your nail polishes after your little girl. how cool is that? >> inside the isabel way. and that color is just a really beautiful nude, but it's a nude mine. when i was growing up and people said nude like nude stockings,mean a person of color. it reminded me a little of her nudeness. she's goingsaying this on tel >> i love kerrie washington. by the way, she's in great company with the hasty pudding award. she's in good company. i had a chance to go there one year and hang out all day with scarlet johansen. coming up next, a few cosmos, and girls gone wild.

who goes to the gym a lot and doesn't have any hair. and megan kelly, what says abo choppingwatching her weight. >> i went right back to eating my kids goldfish. and pretzels.

megan kelly's short do which scared donald tru away from the doing a debate in iowa, which she's moderating, it'sfierce, and a very serious song, i love it.our senior news editor that is her power cut. we're going to talk about her new do, politics, and other things including staying in shape. it's the softer side of megan kelly. as if your former colleague sarah palin has come out to endhim, what do you think of that? >> it was riveting television. >> we're not going to chill, in fact it's time to drill, baby, ld these folks accountable. >> who could take their eyes off

>> she knows how to make a splash. >> in a that cute little jacket. it was very smart. very smart. >> she is television's phenom. as is he. so to watch the two of them next to each other, the dynamic was great television. >> donald trump possibly could be our next president. so what are your thoughts that head to head with him right now. >> he's going to get over this in the end. >> he will be back when we need you, that's for sure. >> get over it, he will be nin i will be nine and america will >> the comments he has made by working mothers, i think it's ironic, that he has a working daughter who's a mother of three children.who knows trump real well. and he was on a private plane with trump years ago. and he tells the story about how an and needed trump's attention and trump was in the middle of a meeting with these other

other executives expected him toter, ivanca, other executives expected him toter, ivanca, but he didn't. he blew them off. and he stopped and she she her home work. and he walked to another part of the plane with her and he sat down with her and they attended to her needs. so i think that story speaks beautifully of him.is today speaks wonderfully of him. >> your "vanity fair" articlery good. and your new hair do, we are fans of it. >> do you feel like a little bit more lighter, it's easy breezy? >> i don't feel lighter because a it's january and as much as i tried to do thse 5 pounds this january. but there's something &- psychological about cutting your hair off and i love it. there's something about it that makes you feel empowered and it's strong stuff.the donald backed out of this face-off with meg meanwhile j bieber stood up to one of the stars of how to be and that was just one of the

carly stills joined the cast for trabl discussion. and you know the cosmopolitans may have helped too. >> i want to cheers. >> thanks, you >> why is this the perfem? >> if she's single? what are you going to say, cry, eat chocolate?h, that's what i do. >> you're single. >> yeah, i am, yeah. >> no, leslie mann is marrieducer jeb abital. and carly, dakota and rebel -- well. >> this three of us are single. >> dates and your love ie came on the set quite a lot. >> it's just one of those things that jake has a very nice body doesn't have any hair.

and judd has a lot of hair. he's just covered like a monkey. and a it'scute, but it's different and it was right for me to be with someone who doesn't go to has no hair. >> by the way their 17-year-old daughter maude was the coast of sun dance? advice? >> this feelke the cutest body and i, you know, tell her that she should -- because it really doesn't stay like that forever. i told dakota this too.vice.r mom given you any good advice? >> she has said to or my dreams for anyone, especially a dude. >> speaking of a

t a j-lo's vegas concert last week? >> we saw justin bieberd we thought, let's try and pick him up. like wrote him a note. justin, will you take us out after the show, pick yes or no. and he picked yes six times. >> well, not quite. >> he said oh, i just have to go and have a shower and i'll meet h you g later? so we back to the waiting room and wait he never >> he never came? >> what kind of an excuse is a shower? >> he was also with another girl? >> how dare he? >> i feel like i i game. and here's to being single. >> i love it. >> you fabulous ladies, thank

>> you notice that rebel has theglass? >> i did. >> she also had the only virgin cosmo. rebel said it was 11:00 a.m., so she wasn't allowed to get smashed. she's a good girl. entertainment birthdays, which star got her break in a pauley video? the and we're going to take you behind the scenes of a supersecretive "sports

welcome back to the show, everybody. tonight "e.t" birthday, what actor got his break?. he turns 35 today. not a little boy anymore. the "sports illustrated" swimsuit issue comes out next

didonato. and what it's like when two dozen gorgeous women all get together to pose in one place. >> what is it likeody. >> kind of summer campy. >> the cover won't be revealed until february 13th. >> we don't find out until everybody else. so we are all in suspense until the issue is actuall stood up by bieber, leo meets the pope, and our day with olivia pope.

tonight it's war.ld trump's big gamble that could steal the spotlight from fox and the gp debate holding its own event at the same high drama of the clash of the titans. the zika virus spreading explosively in the americas. the world health organization calls anergency summit warning that millions could be exposed. nbc news exclusive richard engel in iran, with a scientist at the nuclear le with the u.s. revealing the secret conditions set by the supreme leader himself. fixed game. you try to get tickets to a concert or bigme, but they sell out immediately. tonight, the surprise reason why you're getting shut out. and makeover barbie. the

american icon. "nightly news" begins right now.nnouncer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with to a lot of people, the republican race for president may be feeling more and more like a reality show tonight, starring a man that before he became a candidate, proved he could draw audience. so donald trump will eyeballs watching tonight. either the republican debate that he's now vowed to boycott ors own event that could steal the spotlight. leading up to this, a public duel with fox news that he even primetime discussions of milkshakes. all just four days until the vote in iowa. nbc's peter alexander ains. >> reporter: tonight should be the republican's final showdown before the iowa caucuses, instead, donald trump's no-show is stealing the spotlight. staging his own

raise money for veterans. going head-to-head on the fox news debate three miles away. drawing his underdog opponents, like huckabee and santorum. >> you're not giving them -->> i'm not walking away. >> reporter: trump is defiantly positioning himself as the deal maker in chief. >> it's called an eye e. >> i bought you so many milkshakes. you owe me. >> reporter: it's a media company, not a public service for voters. >> now they're g make much less. >> reporter: today the billionaire launched his fund-raising website claiming 100% of donations to the founda vets. the campaign won't say exactly where the money will go. canines for warriors tells nbc news the ca them today, saying they're one of 18 nonprofits now under consideration. a separate veterans

doesn't need to be if funneled through a campaign. just do good work. trump's move backfire. still trump has momentum and now the lead in iowa, according to the poll. what are the richks for donald truch? >> the risks for trump is that he looks weak by not confronting his opponent upside is, he avoids being a pinata at the republican debate. >> reporter: marco rubio rising in the polls, already taking a swing. >> interesting s show. greatest show on earth. this is not a show. this is serious. >> reporter: late tonight, another twist. campaign confirms to nbc news that trump would be willing to debate ted cruz one on one just as soon ase canadian border senator gets a word on his el janlt to be president.

side of the race, our new poll shows hillary clinton and bernie sanders locked in a virtual tie in iowa. even as the two campaigns looked beyond the hawkeye state, debating over r to hold more debates. meantime, clinton is also getting drawn away from the trail to raise more money. something her opponent was quick to pounce on. we get the details from nbc's andrea mitchell. >> reporter: it's a dead heat for the democrats in iowa. our new nbc "wall street journal" poll has hillary leading bernie sanders by just three points. but in new hampshire, the vermont senator has a commanding 19-point lead. both are now agreeing to more debates. including next week in new hampshire. if the democratic party approves. >> the political world has changed a little bit, and now it seems like hillary clinton would like another debate. you know what? i said that's fine, i don't mind that. >> reporter: facing a longer than expected primary contest, clinton left iowa

raise money in philadelphia from an investment firm. and in new york today. >> some of my supporters, including my good friend jon bon jovi had a fund-raiser for me. >> reporter: but it plays right into sanders' top issues. critics say the ad violates his pledge not to go negative. >> how does wall street get away with it? millions of contributions in speaking fees. >> why isn't that a negative negative ad? >> does it mention hillary clinton? >> no. >> i'm not suggesting anything at all. >> reporter: tonight clinton returned to iowa, and sanders at 74 would be the oldest person ever elected president if he wins. >> you know what i'm thinking of doing? >> not with me. >> it was a tough decision. do i get involved in senior boxing, challenge, go for the

championship or run for president? i decided to run for president. clinton is back in iowa tonight. she only just took the stage tonight, though. because this is so tough, she has to repeatedly go back to fund raise from the big donors, unlike sanders who has 2.5 contributors. >> andrea mitchell, thanks. the moderator of "meet the press," chuck todd. you're in iowa, four days until the caucuses. how is this playing there? any signs of a blowback on the ground there? >> not from anybody that's thinking about supporting trump. that's probably good news for him. look, he has figured out a way to steal the spotlight from this debate before it started. and there's already a lot of rumors circulating around here he may figure out how to steal the spotlight after the debate is over, that maybe he shows up in the spin room, or he figures out a way. that's been his campaign in a nutshell

to almost pull the rug