winds today. and custody standoff. country singer mindy mccredie defies a court order to return her boy to florida. she says she's trying to protect him from abuse. what does the boy's father have to say? he'll speak out in an exclusive live interview today, friday, he'll speak out in an exclusive live interview today, friday, december 2, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning. welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> good morning. i'm savannah guthrie here for ann. warren winestein was the first american working privately in pakistan to be kidnapped since the abduction and killing in 2002. >> weinstein was just days from moving back to the united states when he was taken from his home in august.

this new statement from ayman al zawahiri is the first claim of responsibility. we're going to get the latest on the developing story ahead. >> and in politics, herman cain is scheduled to meet with his wife face to face for the first time since being accused of having an extramarital affair. this comes one day after cain admitted he never told his wife about his 13-year relationship with the woman which he dubbed a friendship but acknowledged he gave money to the woman to help her out financially. >> on a lighter note, it's been 40 years since the waltons premiered on television. >> good night john, b-boy. >> save it. >> they were one of the most beloved television families and we are reuniting the cast live in studio. >> let's begin on this friday morning with al qaeda allegedly holding an american kidnapped in pakistan. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel joins us with the latest on

this. i think the first question is why did they wait so long to claim responsibility? >> well, there are indications that weinstein was being passed up through different kidnappers. he was sold from small organizations to bigger organizations. they also released a statement from ayman al zawahiri with a message to the arab world, to the egyptian people. egypt has been in the headlines because of the elections which islamic groups are doing well. it seems zawahri wanted in on the action and to tell his fighters and other al qaeda prisoners, don't worry, we haven't forgotten you. that was the main demand. >> he's talking to prisoners of al qaeda and the taliban saying, quote, in order to release you allah guided us to capture the american jew. he said mr. weinstein is neck deep in american aid to pakistan since the 1970s. then there is a serious list of demands. >> an impossible list. they want the united states to

stop all drone strikes in pakistan, afghanistan, yemen, somalia, gaza. they want the release of all al qaeda and taliban prisoners. it is interesting that they are asking for both, clearly linking the two groups together. it's almost like him saying, come get me, i'm in pakistan. >> they want guantanamo empty. >> and the release of obdar rahman who is in prison for the world trade center bombings. >> powerful winds are hammering the west again but nothing like the gusts felt on thursday. those winds caused widespread damage, especially in california. nbc's miguel almaguer is in pasadena for us this morning. good morning to you. >> reporter: savannah, good morning to you. this area was pounded by winds for days. take a look at a this 60-year-old tree. neighbors say it was snapped in seconds and toppled over. much of the area is without

power while they assess the damage. in los angeles county, a state of emergency. whipping winds uprooted hundreds of trees, brought down power lines and damaged countless homes. across pasadena, houses are split in two. thursday, 340,000 in southern california lost power. some neighborhoods are still in the dark. >> it's been a a disaster. lights are still off. everything in the refrigerator is kind of dead. >> reporter: these santa ana winds, the most powerful in a decade. gusts clocked at nearly 100 miles an hour. brush fires sparked by transformers threatened to become massive wind-driven blazes. in l.a., first responders were dispatched to a new call every 12 seconds. schools are closed today for the second day.

the damage is in the millions. the cleanup will take weeks. >> it was frightening. the noise was unbelievable. i have lived here 25 years. this is the worst it's been. >> reporter: california isn't the only state hammered by wicked weather. in utah, hurricane-strength winds toppled big rigs and shut down i-15. cars pelted by debris. windshields smashed by flying rocks. >> i didn't e know what to think. the explosion of the window was so loud i couldn't hear for a second. it blew up by my ear. >> reporter: in steam boat springs, colorado, wind speeds topped 120 miles an hour. roofs peeled back. this ski town shut down. back in los angeles, sunset boulevard a was littered with two of southern california's palm trees. nearby in beverly hills, actor eric dane's home damaged by trees. >> any time you have 82 miles per hour winds, it's a significant event.

it's almost like the atmosphere took a ball of cold air and dumped it over southern california all a at once. >> reporter: the forecast calls for the wild western winds to calm today, but the cleanup is far from over. most cities hope to have these trees cleared out of roads in the next day. on private property it could take weeks. the forecast calls for another round of wind this weekend. it's not supposed to be nearly as strong. savannah? >> miguel almaguer in pasadena, thank you. here's matt. >> now to the presidential race. we could know later today if gop presidential hopeful herman cain will drop out or stay in. that's because he has an important meeting on his schedule with his wife. nbc's political director and chief white house correspondent chuck todd has details on that. good morning. >> good morning, matt. as you noted, herman cain today for the first time meets face to face with his wife gloria down

in georgia. it's the first time since the allegations that surfaced monday. cain said he will determine whether he decides by this monday to continue with the campaign. >> reporter: herman cain met with the union leader newspaper in manchester admitting he never told his wife about a 13-year friendship or the money he gave to ginger white who says she and cain had an affair. cain denied that allegation all week. still, he did acknowledge white sent him 70 text messages between october and november but insisted they contained nothing inappropriate. >> she wasn't the only friend i helped in these tough economic times. so her messages to me were relating to, you know, needed money for rent or whatever the case may be. i don't remember the specifics. >> reporter: as for white, she continues to insist the two are more than just friends. >> it wasn't a love affair. it was a sexual affair. as hard as that is for me to say

and as hard as it is for people to hear it, you know, it pretty much is what it is. >> reporter: white said she never met gloria cain but adds -- >> i would be surprised if she is surprised by this. honestly speaking. i would be surprised. >> reporter: and what would white say to gloria cain? >> i am not a cold-hearted person. i am a mother of two kids. and of course my heart bleeds for this woman because i am a woman and being in a situation like this cannot be fun. i am deeply, deeply sorry if i have caused any hurt to her and to his kids, to his family. >> reporter: as for cain's future as a candidate, if actions speak louder than words it appears he plans to stay in the race. his sooup pac has an unusual tv ad quoting a lie detector

expert. >> it's time for the truth. the media won't tell you what one of the foremost lie detector experts said. >> it withe allegations of her g she was sexually assaulted by him didn't occur. >> reporter: newt gingrich was quintessential newt making broad assertions while trying to explain how he'd teach young kids a work ethic. >> really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works. so they literally have no habit of showing up on monday. they have no habit of staying all day. they have no habit of i do this and you give me cash. unless it's illegal. what if you paid them part-time in the afternoon to sit at the clerical office? greet people when they came in? what if you paid them to work as

the assistant librarian? i'd pay them as early as is reasonable and practical. >> reporter: meanwhile the other front runner mitt romney flaunted his establishment credentials yesterday. he paid a visit to former president george h.w. bush and first lady barbara bush. the entire first family is staying on the sidelines. >> thank you. david gregory is moderator of "meet the press." let's start with herman cain. he acknowledged giving money to ginger white. he says his wife didn't know. unlike the sexual harassment allegations no one is leaping to his defense here. do you think voters moved on? >> i think he has a problem with women and social conservatives who are important in iowa. as you see newt gingrich rise it's a sign herman cain is suffering damage. he can't raise money and that's a problem.

he's reassessing. he doesn't have people rallying around him. >> have you ever seen a political ad where he says a lie detector has examined him? >> i haven't. i don't need to check with my wife to know not telling your wife that you are financially supporting another woman is not a good idea in politics or generally. >> thanks for the relationship add a vice. let's go to newt gingrich. the polls show he's the new front runner. we hear according to reports that romney is preparing a strategic offensive against romney. he'd blown off other front runners. >> he recognizes and his team recognizes something dangerous here. gingrich has the potential to run the table a little bit and be the anti-romney candidate. this is a right for the right. it's gingrich and romney. gingrich says, i will be the nominee. i'm the real conservative in the race by any rational standard. romney wants to keep his fire trained on president obama. that helps with the base because

he's certainly more conservative than obama. in this case he knows gingrich will come after him and he'll start to go after gingrich. >> do you think the matchup has the potential to be the epic prolonged battle we saw for example in 2008 with hillary clinton and then senator obama? >> much too early to say. one, newt gingrich has a history of saying things like his comments about children working. 17 years ago he talked about kids going into orphanages and talked about boys town. 17 years to the day almost. he can be undisciplined and gets in trouble. romney has money and they think that helps him. makes it a longer affair. the kind of support gingrich doesn't have right now. >> romney did an interview. he hasn't done a ton of national interviews and there were moments he seemed irritated by the questioning. what does it say about romney? does it go to the likability issues he may have with voters?

>> it does. and he doesn't want to do one on one interviews now. he's been debating effectively. he'll have to answer questions about you said this and this. the question about authenticity, these are issues within the primary. >> what's on "meet the press" this weekend? >> we'll talk about the presidency. david axelrod and reince preibus will be with me. >> here's matt. >> thank you. secretary of state hillary clinton is on a visit to myanmar and pledging to help bring democracy there. ian williams has the latest on her trip. ian, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt, from the lakeside home of ang san suu kyi. today she played host to the

secretary of state. a stroll in the garden of a house that's also been a prison for 15 of the last 21 years during which suu kyi was kept in almost total isolation. this meeting comes a year after a her release. today talk of working to hasten the pace of democratic change. >> we hold the dream you have represented to many of us around the world. we want to be a partner with you, with the new government and with all people of goodwill. >> reporter: behind myanmar's stunning facade lies grinding poverty. they spoke of stepping up if u.s. and others to a closed state. suu kyi said she was happy with the u.s. engablging burma. >> this will be the beginning of a new future for all of us providing we can maintain it and we hope to. >> reporter: they appeared at

ease together and it seemed a momentous moment for both of them. a short distance away, we witnessed the scramble to distribute the day's newspapers. with censorship eased there is a story worth reading. for two decades this lakeside home has been a symbol of resistance. now as myanmar begins to open up it's a symbol of hope for people hungry for change. secretary clinton is now on her way home, leaving a country at the beginning of a surprising reform process that's not just a challenge for myanmar but for u.s. policy in this region. matt? >> ian williams reporting for us. thank you very much. >> natalie morales is on assignment. tamron hall is at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning. the u.s. military handed over camp victory in baghdad to the iraqi government this morning. the former palace compound built

by saddam hussein became the military headquarters throughout the war in iraq. it is now under the authority of the iraqi government as part of the effort to move troops out by year's end. the senators blocked obama's plan for a tax cut which would have taxed wealthier americans to pay for the extension. a center piece of the jobs plan. in a rare move that broke party lines, more than half of senate republicans also voted to act a competing alternative plan by mitch mcconnell. capitol hill is demanding information from carrier iq. the software program discovered in smartphones that records information without user consent. senator al franken says the application may violate laws, and present security and privacy risk. now courtney reagan is at the new york stock exchange. all eyes on the jobs report out today. >> that's right. investors are looking to the

government's november jobs report to provide some kind of direction to the market. economists had been ramping up their forecasts after a private sector employment report was better than expected earlier this week. elsewhere, traders look forward to next week and a handful of meetings between european leaders as they work to solve the debt crisis. next week marks the first full week of december trading. many are hoping for a santa claus rally to close out the year. >> the new national christmas tree is bringing a holiday glow to the nation's capital. president obama and his family took part in the tree lighting ceremony last night with a little help from kermit the frog and santa. the tree was planted in march to replace one toppled by high winds. they don't call them dare devils for nothing. two motorcycles showing off their skills. one stuntman slammed head first into a car flying 80 feet into

the air and rolling to the asphalt for another 40 feet. but all's well that ends well. somehow the biker escaped serious injury and, get this, was back at work the next day. >> wow. >> wow is right. 7:18. now back to matt, savannah and al. i have a cold and i'm out for weeks. >> he didn't stretch it into an excuse. >> my kind of guy. >> the national christmas tree, savannah who lit the tree here with al said how puny it was compared to national one. >> i'm partial to our tree. >> now it's her tree. >> our tree. it's beautiful. the rockefeller center tree is breathtaking. >> they are all beautiful in their own way. >> which tree is better? vote on today.com. on today.com. how about the weather? >> our friends out west got

pummeled by the santa ana winds, and we will get a repeat this weekend. wind advisories will be up for the valleys and mountains in los angeles county. we are looking at a lot of wet weather making its way through texas today. snow back through the rockies and the central parts of the southwest and some areas in the rockies could see up to three to six inches of snow and texas could see two to three inches over the weekend. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. clear and frosty on this friday morning. here is a live view from the skywatcher camera showing the first sunlight across the tree tops and eliminating some of the fog over the potomac river. and they will stay in the 20s for another hour or so. and then this afternoon, in the mid-50s, clouds

and that's your latest weather. savannah? >> thanks, al. coming up, a popular country singer defies a jundge's order o return her son to florida. we'll hear what mindy mccready is saying a

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this is a story about jingle the husky pup. and jingle was a good dog. [ jingle ] ruff! ruff! jingle loved to bark hello. ruff! ruff! ruff! ruff! [ mom ] jingle even loved to sing. ruff! ruff! ruff! ruff! jingle! [ female announcer ] it's for bringing stories to life in a whole new way. jingle, stay. and jingle did. [ female announcer ] hallmark interactive story buddies. when you read key words, jingle responds. good morning. i am joe krebs. it's 7:26 on this cold friday. we begin with breaking news with an accident involving a school bus. you are looking at a live look from chopper 4 in vienna. no kids on the bus at the time, and one person taken to the hospital but injuries are not serious. >> as you can see, the chopper

is there now and a tow truck is on the scene. traveling eastbound route 7, your delays are about four miles according to the chopper. the intersection is open but use caution and follow police direction. we w[ baby coughing ] [ coughing continues ]

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good morning. a frosty cold start in the 20s throughout the region, a chilly weekend to follow. a bit milder on monday.

7:30 now on a friday morning. it's the second day of december 2011 as we take a look at the empire state building in lower manhattan from the top of the rock just above us here in rockefeller plaza. down at street level we have nice people there as well enjoying time with us before they head off for holiday shopping. we thank them for stopping by. we'll get out there in a few

minutes. meanwhile inside studio 1a i'm matt lauer alongside savannah guthrie. just ahead, your kid may not like this news. in one city toy giveaways no longer come with children's meals that don't meet certain nutritional standards. >> two chains found a clever way around the law and not everyone is happy about it. we'll have details. >> then you want to save money and wrap up your holiday shopping? jill martin has great steals & deals. we are talking deep discounts up to 80% on clothing, jewelry and more. >> a couple of electronics, too. also we'll catch up with one of tv's most beloved families of all time. "the waltons" was a hit starting in 1971 and has gained new fans over the years. we have the family together for a special 40 ohth anniversary h in studio. >> we begin with country singer mindy mccready facing legal troubles after violating a

judge's order to return her 5-year-old son to florida. tamron has details on this. >> reporter: matt, mccready was once nashville's darling and now is in hiding with her son. the courts call it a case of parental abduction. mindy mccready exploded to the country scene in the late '90s, selling millions of records and burning up the charts. ♪ >> reporter: now the 36-year-old country singer is defying a court order to return her 5-year-old son zander. >> she was crying at several points in our conversation. she was clearly very upset. she also had a resolve that she was going to keep her child, fight for her child and not send her child back to florida. >> reporter: mccready's battled legal issues in the past. in 2007 her estranged mother was named zander's guardian. mccready is now pregnant with

twins and said she was visiting zander around thanksgiving and decided to leave because she said he wasn't safe. >> she said her son has experienced abuse at her mother's house while living there over the last few years. >> i can't explain it. >> reporter: nbc news spoke to mccready's mother who denies all allegations of abuse. as for mccready, her personal troubles have been well publicized. suicide attempts, dui arrests, a month in jail after resisting arrest after an altercation with her mother. >> she had a voice of honey and sold a lot of records. then her personal troubles seemed to spiral out of control. her life became like a bad country album. >> it was really scary. >> reporter: last year mccready was on celebrity rehab as she battled her addictions, even singing on the show "i'm still here "which she said she wrote in jail for zander. >> there is a full story i'm dying to tell. >> reporter: she spoke to "access hollywood".

>> i may be in the lowest point but i am still here. don't count me out. >> reporter: she said she wanted to become a good mother for her son. >> i've got to do better. >> reporter: last year she talked about conversations she'd had with zander about bringing him home with her. >> i said will you be excited to come back to nashville with mommy? he said, i'm scared. i said, what are you scared of? he said, i'm scared that i'm going to get my heart broke again. >> reporter: with zander now a missing person law experts say she could hurt her chances to regain custody of her son. >> she's justifying why she's not had custody. she's reinforcing the judge's decision. she thinks she knows best buzz bu the judge get it is last word. >> reporter: mccready's whereabouts are unknown. the ruling issued thursday is a take into custody order which mean law enforcement officials can get the boy and bring him back to florida no matter what state he's in. there is no arrest warrant out

for mccready so far. >> billy mcknight is mccready's ex-boyfriend, the father of their 5 a-year-old son. he joins us exclusively. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> i know you have spoken to min dand texted her. you did speak by phone after the judge's order went into effect. how did she sound? >> she sounded okay. she sounded upset wlith the situation. my son sounded well. >> he doesn't seem affected by the drama surrounding him? >> i don't know about that. i know that he sounded okay. i think he misses me. he's been down here for four years. i haven't seen him in a few weeks now. but he did sound healthy and okay. you know, he wasn't crying or scared. >> mindy is facing serious legal issues if she doesn't comply with this order. does she seem cognizant of that?

does it faze her? >> i don't think so. i think she believes she has a case and doesn't realize that she's pushing her luck on this one. >> to say that she's had some trouble in the last couple of years is an understatement. drug and dui arrests, suicide attempts. she spent a month in jail for violating probation. is she a fit mother? >> well, you know, i can only be accountable that we have gone through it in the past. there are people that can help you. if you take that help y can get back on track. that's what i can say. i have been through it. i got back on track. my life is in order. i'm doing things right now. she has the same opportunity. instead of taking it, she chooses to abut it. i wish she would do what's right, especially for our son. >> with all due respect, i'm not sure you answered the question. at this moment as she has control of her son do you think she's a fit mother?

>> not until she completes the case plan. >> do you worry? we talked about suicide attempts. do you worry the longer this goes on she might bring harm to either herself or your son? >> well, she has in the past. i pray to god that she doesn't. it does give me concern. i don't want her to hurt herself and i certainly don't want my son to live a life without his mother. >> i'm curious about your opinion also on another aspect of this case. she has now accused her mother, who has custody of your child, of abusing that child. do you agree with that? do you think that's possibly true? >> i do not agree with that at all. he's a very healthy, happy kid. i have a great relationship with her mother. it's unfortunate that they don't between themselves. but i have never seen anything that would lead me to believe that at all. >> you alluded to this a second

ago. in 2005 you were charged with attempted murder after an assault on mindy. you talked about your history with drugs and alcohol. but you have been dpranted by a court unsupervised visitation four nights a week with your son. they do not think you are in a bad place now. is there a lesson in that a for mindy? >> yeah, there is. there's help. i went ahead and re-evaluated my life, did what was right, listened to the people that can get you through programs, got myself back on track. i'm out there pushing our record and raising our kids and doing well for myself. she can do the same thing, too. it's there if she submits to it. >> thanks for your time. >> thanks for having me. >> now a check of the weather from al. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by kay jewelers. every kiss begins with kay. >> as we look at high temperatures around the country

we have chilly weather in new england and the northeast. warming into the midatlantic ws up in the gulf coast and mid-atlantic states. and we have sunshine from minnesota all the way down into the midwest. icy conditions through the panhandle of texas, and arctic air making its way into the pacific northwest and sunshine into the eastern seaboard. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the woods. >> bright sun and a blue sky on this friday morning. i am tom kierein in storm center 4. the skywatcher camera showing the bright sun pouring down. and temperatures are cold. it's frosty cold in the 20s throughout most of the region. you will be scraping frost off the windshield this morning. later today in the low and mid-50s, and a few clouds in and out. a bit warmer for of course today's friday. that means you're two days away

from the best night of the week. sunday night. football night in america. the lions of de-twah make their way to the super dome to take on the saints. we will play football in your general direction on sunday night, football night in america. >> i have no idea what you're doing. but that's okay. up next, mcdonald's finds a way to skirt a law against toy giveaways in kids' meals. and the waltons reunion live in studio. first, these messages.

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back now at 7:43. a controversial ordinance in san francisco is in effect. it bans free toys with fast food

kids' meals, but some chains have a plan that critics say violate it is spirit of the law. george lewis has details. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. if you're a parent or grandparent of children, this happy meal and the toy inside need no introduction. in san francisco these toys will no longer be free thanks to a new law that bans such giveaways in the name of public health. >> who is that? >> hello kitty. >> they first think about the toy. >> reporter: san francisco stirred audiotape national debate last year when it passed a law designed to keep fast food chains from using toy giveaways to sell the type of high fat meals that nutritionists say kids should avoid. >> low in nutrients, high in calories. and the toy is an attraction to get the kid to eat the food. that's not a good connection. >> reporter: now that the law has taken effect, mcdonald's found a way for kids to have their toys and eat happy meals, too.

the solution? selling the toys for ten cents apiece with the purchase of a happy meal, of course. the company says that proceeds will be donated to the ronald mcdonald house charity. burger king says it's planning to do something similar. supervisor eric maar who drafted the ordinance said it is a cynical way around a law designed to fight childhood obesity. >> they are being sneaky and manipulative about getting around a local law. >> reporter: franchise owner scott roderick who has ten mcdonald's locations in the city says the new system is driven by what customers want. >> they wanted us to provide choice on our menu. they wanted us to follow the letter of the law. >> reporter: roderick call it is law misplaced saying that mcdonald's added a variety of healthier options to its menu in recent years. >> customers want lower fat items, more nutritious items. >> we have healthier options but we want them to meet basic

standards. >> reporter: some say they are by passing the spirit of the law but there is an important message. >> we have raised childhood obesity and the connection of big fast food to a national level. >> reporter: mcdonald's announced it is moving to make the happy meals more healthful adding things like apple slices and downsizing french fries but san francisco says the toy giveaways are still banned. savannah? >> george lewis in los angeles. thank you. still ahead, a waltons family reunion 40 years in the making. we catch up with the cast. first, these messages. e . heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease

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nothing works faster. ♪ tum tum tum tum tums these days we can't seem to get anywhere without the help of gps. what if you were lost in the wilderness without the help of technology? one man is now teaching people a very old way of getting around. here's nbc's michelle kosinski. >> reporter: don't woyou hate i

when this happens? suddenly lost in the english countryside? no phone, map, gps, only your wits to guide you. thank goodness for tristan goolie who wrote the book on natural navigation. we are lost. what would be the first thing you would do? >> i encourage people to have a good look up. >> that's the sun. >> as the sun moves into the southern part of the sky. >> reporter: think mid-day sun, south. if it's cloudy -- >> feel the wind on each cheek. >> reporter: remember the prevailing winds are generally from the southwest. >> spot on. you're within ten degrees there. >> reporter: if that fails, hug a random country gravestone. >> the southern side will be warmer. this is sloping down. >> reporter: consult the trees. >> like a giant hand has combed the top branches. >> reporter: and in the direction of grass, all from the prevailing wind. why don't they teach us this in

kindergarten? >> good question. >> reporter: when you see a stump the heart will be closer to the sunny side in the south. the sun fades paint on the southern side. >> another clue. >> reporter: what have we here? >> here we have horse poo. the southern sun is drying the southern side. >> you are way too close to it. >> now it's your turn. >> reporter: then the test. blindfolded. led astray. >> i'm going to ask you to head northeast for one mile. >> reporter: and deserted. >> good luck! >> reporter: okay. the wind is definitely coming from here. if that's southwest. okay. if that's southwest. okay. wait. now i'm confused. okay. so that's southeast. um.

once you find the sun, the wind -- the northeast would be that way. ♪ you can go your own way >> reporter: clues everywhere. that has to be the sunny side. that's south. that's north. that's northeast. i made it! one more success story from the natural navigator who now teaches this. >> the horns of the crescent moon are in a line. that gives you a rough idea of south. this church is aligned west to east like most churches. >> reporter: in the city, satellite dishes, south. >> it bring the environment to life in a fun way. >> reporter: how would one navigate to the nearest pub? for "today" michelle kosinski, nbc news, sussex, england. >> you show me. >> i'm worried about those two actually. just ahead, jill martin's steals

& deals. we are talking about the holiday edition just to the north of us here. >> electronics, jewelry and maybe a gps device. you may need one. coming up after your local news and weather. two medium cappuccinos! let's show 'em what a breakfast with wholegrain fiber can do. one coffee with room, one large mocha latte. medium macchiato, light hot chocolate hold the whip, and two espressos, make one a double. she's full and focused! [ barista ] i have two cappuccinos, one coffee with room, one large mocha latte, a medium macchiato, a light hot chocolate, hold the whip and two espressos, one with a double shot. hehe, that's not the coffee talking. [ female announcer ] start your day with kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal. the 8 layers of whole grain fiber help keep you full so you can avoid the distraction of mid-morning hunger. no thanks, i'm good. of mid-morning hunger. here's a little holiday secret. there's only one place that has the new kardashian kollection. apostrophe, uk style by french connection. structure and bongo... all under one roof. sears has all the styles they love, at prices you'll love. and all the money you save...

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good morning. i am joe krebs. it's the 2nd of december. let's get the forecast for today and the weekend from tom. >> we were in the 20s all around the region for the last several hours, but now the frost is beginning to melt. in the shadows, it's still below freezing and still frosty cold. right now in the upper 20s to near 30 throughout much of the region, and then they will quickly climb later this morning to around noontime, and then it will be chilly into the weekend. the warmer in the first part of next week.

good morning. be careful if you are driving on suitland parkway. there's a brush fire in the area, so keep your eyes on the road and use caution. and 66 eastbound at waples mill, not seeing any accidents in the area. the 14th street bridge, a little crowding but no accidents as you head into the city. back to you.

8:00 now on a friday morning, the second day of december 2011. it's a beautiful day here in new york city. moderate temperature, about 40 degrees. and we have a big crowd for a friday morning. i guess a lot of people -- no, you're here. we thank them for stopping by. there's the tree in the

background. savannah guthrie, al roker and i'm matt lauer in the foreground. coming up, great deals for the holiday season. >> jill martin's steals & deals and we have electronics, accessories, jewels. what doesn't she have? exclusive deals up to 80% off. >> can you believe it's been 40 years since the premiere of "the waltons"? they remain one of the most beloved television families of all time. we are going to catch up with the cast live in our studio. >> i am looking forward to talking to them. also, a programming note. back in october e news host revealed to us that during fertility treatment she found she had breast cancer. coming up monday she'll be back telling us how her treatment is going. we look forward to talking with her. >> let's get a check of the news

with tamron at the news desk. good morning. >> hey there. an american aid worker kidnapped in pakistan is being held as an al qaeda hostage. ayman al zawahiri said the group is holding 70-year-old warren weinstein and will release him if the u.s. stops air strikes in ak stan and afghanistan and releases the world trade center bombers. he's the first american civilian kidnapped since daniel pearl was abducted in 2002 and eventually executed. western states are bracing for more strong winds today. but nothing like the powerful santa anas that left a trail of destruction on thursday. hundreds of thousands of people throughout california lost power as winds toppled hundreds of trees. some splitting homes in half as they fell. some wind gusts topped 100 miles per hour in colorado and in utah, hurricane-strength winds toppled big rigs and blew debris across highways into

windshields. herman cain heads to atlanta to see if he'll stay in the race for the republican nomination. he'll have his first face to face meeting with his wife since he was accused of a long-term affair. he acknowledges giving the woman money without his wife's knowledge. ginger white said she's deeply sorry if she caused harm to cain's wife and children. honda is recalling more than 300,000 vehicles because of air bags that may inflate with too much force sending metal and plastic pieces flying. honda said there have been 20 accidents related to the problem including two deaths in 2009. 2001 and 2002 civics and accords are affected. now a quick roundup of what's got you talking online. the huntsman girls used the internet to boost their father's internet bid. now they have a parody of justin

timberlake's "sexy back." ♪ this video upset some staffers because it wasn't authorized and mocked other candidates by name. the new coke can is a hot debate online. coke said the white design was to raise money for endangered polar bears but customers said the white can looks too much like diet coke and others thought a holiday can should be red. and lady gaga's new video for "marry the night" is all the talk. gaga directed the 14-minute epic which she said was inspired by the worst day of her life. now back to matt and savannah. she's had a lot of good days since that one bad one syst. >> she certainly has. >> let's g >> let's go to al and get a check of the weather.

>> thanks so much, savannah. she is erin and she is 30. where are you from? >> knoxville, tennessee. >> good to see you. let's check your weather and see what is going on. eauclaire, wisconsin. plenty of sunshine. we have rain and snow in the eastern great lakes, and air stagnation alerts in the pacific northwest, and snow showers through the western plains. we have rain in texas. unusual for this time of year. they will pick up two to four inches out of that and the sunshine up and down the east coast. and you are 30! what is your name? >> erin. >> kiss me. all right. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the woods.. >> good morning. bright sun and a blue sky on this friday morning. i am meteorologist, tom kierein.

here in storm center 4, getting reports from cold frosty temperatures. right now down in the mid to upper 20s, and any vehicle in the sun, the frost is beginning to melt but in the shadows it's still frozen and will stay that way for perhaps another hour. and later today in the mid to low 50s with a few clouds in and out and a drier weekend to look, some sort of bear, animal thing there. i'm not sure what they are. but they're cute. matt? >> al, thanks. when we come back, a special holiday edition of jill martin's steals & deals. we'll save you big money. and then, yes, they are in studio 40 years after they captured our hearts. the waltons in a reunion. first, these messages. how are we going to make this season better than the last? how about making it brighter. more colorful. ♪ and putting all our helpers to work? so we can build on our favorite traditions by adding a few new ones.

we've all got garlands and budgets to stretch. and this year, we can keep them both evergreen. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. can you smell those savings? fresh cut christmas trees are arriving weekly. ♪ i think i'm falling ♪ i think i'm falling [ male announcer ] this is your moment. ♪ for you [ male announcer ] this is zales, the diamond store. take up to an extra 15 percent off storewide now through tuesday.

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♪ back now with a special holiday edition of jill martin's steals & deals. from jewelry to shaving kits we've got something for everyone on your list at exclusive discount. today us weekly contributor jill martin is here to take us through the deals. good morning. >> good morning. >> how does it work? >> i feel like everyone's been doing this because we sell so much but go to today.com now and we'll link you to these retailers up to 80% off. i want to start with with the basics so you can get a lot of holiday shopping done in less than five minutes. >> these are beautiful love scarfs. i like the sound of that. >> feel this. 100% cashmere. retail $132. this is one of the best sellers, 100% cashmere. celeb fans include julianna

margulies and there is free shipping. this is the biggest discount. the deal is $39. that's 70% off for a cashmere scarf. >> it passes the softness test. >> we are telling you it beyond passes the test. >> next, kenneth cole wallets. >> this is another item people buy to start the new year. available in three styles, all faux leather. the wristlet and organizer wallet in black. sold at macy's, lord and taylor and dillard's. the deal is $14. 77% off. they are great for day to night. it's a wallet and a wristlet. >> great for parties and stuff. >> a lot of parties coming up for everybody. that's perfect. >> and we have the constellation necklace. >> i love them.

retail is $145. great gift available in all 12 zodiac signs. 18 carat gold plated or silver plated. double sided. one side has the crystals on kons stlags points and the other has your zodiac. celeb fans include eva longoria, jessica simpson and britney spears. retail is $145. the deal is $29. that's 80% off. >> incredible. where are the crystals or whatever? >> this is one side. right here. on the other side is your sign with "happiness" different sayings. choose between gold or silver. it hangs long. you can layer it. it's personal, too, because it's the zodiac. >> let's go to guy things. the shaving kits for the guys. >> i get e-mails. what about us? this is the guy's version of a

facial. the only for us shaving set. give them the best shave ever. includes the short black handle shave brush, preshave oil, shave cream, after shave soother, all part of the verbena lime collection. the retail is $129. the deal is $45. that's 65% off. >> and i love verbena. is it manly enough? it's very macho. okay. >> i did the test, too. i was letting you let everyone know, too. >> now we have electronics. maybe saving the best for last. >> the crew almost took it. the retail is the first. $119.99. it's an ipad 2 case with built in stereo speakers. can be configured as a stand to watch movies. built in lithium ion battery

with a cable included. the retail is $119.99. the deal is $39.60. 67% off. >> over here, great for travel. >> this is cool. sp the app enhanced rechargeable portable speaker system. $199.99. compatible with ipad, iphone and ipod. works with ihome sleep app for custom settings and ihome radio for global internet radio. you can personalize it to your sleep and radio likes. the retail is $199.99. the deal is $66. that's 67% off. >> jill martin, thank you very much. let's review what we have. the cashmere love scarf, women's faux leather wallets from kenneth cole reaction. zodiac necklaces from leila, a holiday gift grooming kit from e-shave and it's manly, and electronics from ihome. we'll have questions about them

on twitter. use the hashtag # steeals and deals. thank you, jill. coming up, the waltons turn 40. we'll catch up with them after this. you want to make a healthy choice for your hair and a healthy choice for the planet? [ female announcer ] try pantene nature fusion shampoo. its pro-v formula captures the potential of cassia to make weak, brittle hair up to 10x stronger. and now it comes in pantene's new bottle. made from up to 59% plant-based material. ♪ healthier hair... healthier planet. one small step at a time. [ female announcer ] nature fusion from pantene. hair so healthy it shines. they won't be beat. oh, actually... then i'd be like, you rule! and my kids would be like, you rule! i'd be like, yes, i do rule! ohh! that rules! oh, load up the sleigh; this is going to be a great christmas.

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advil congestion relief reduces swelling due to nasal inflammation. so i can breathe. happily ever after. another story? from him! [ mucus ] advil congestion relief. the right relief for the real problem. all right. here we go this morning on today's update, one of television's most cherished families. 40 years ago america fell in love with the waltons. a big family with seven kids growing up during the great depression and world war ii in the blue ridge mountains of virginia. we watched them face hardships they always seemed to overcome together. >> where'd you get the money? >> working for the baldwin ladies. >> somebody show me how this thing works. >> when we were living through

them we called them bad times and thought we were poor. only after we had all grown up were we to realize what good times they add been and how very rich we were. often in memory, i returned to that house and to the echoes of those voices. >> good night, john boy. >> good night. >> good night, daddy. >> good night, son. >> we're happy to say we are joined now by ma. richard thomas was john boy. the youngest walton played by kami cotler. eric scott was ben. mary beth mcdonough was erin. and jon walmsley was jason walton. okay. we're out of time. you haven't changed a bit. do you stay in contact?

what's it like to stit in this group again? >> we get giddy. >> i was reading last night this material. do you know what jumped out at me? this all these years with all the time you spent together on the set and all you know about each other, not one person went out and wrote a tell-all book. is that not true? >> my book is not a tell-all, but it does tell the loving, wonderful memories. >> that's not what i mean. you know what i mean. not one person said, yeah, let me tell you what was really going on. >> it wasn't like that. >> no arrests, no convictions. >> confidentiality agreement? >> gag orders all around. >> was it a happy set? >> it was. >> it really was. >> what was it like? >> just great fun. >> like family. >> practical jokes. >> this one and john ritter. >> ritter and i were naughty

together. >> we had a great time, all of us. >> except me. >> you didn't love it? >> no. >> for those of you who were the kids on the show, raise your hands. what was it like being so famous at such a young age? >> we were pretty isolated from the public a lot of the time. i don't think we had a real sense of the impact of the show. i think a lot until almost the show being over. >> it's also -- it was a different time to be famous. >> not like the all reality tv time we live in now. >> not at all. on the whole, when waltons fans meet you, they feel like you're family. so there isn't that kind of get you or gotcha intrusive thing. people want to give you a hug. >> so many of us. there were six of us so it wasn't like one star. and everybody in the world is focused on that. we all had each other and we became like siblings. >> the show was based in a time of depression and war.

yet -- those aren't cheery subjects. why do you think so many people embraced it is this. >> family is family. >> community. >> you know, we really did have a strong bond, all of us together. i think it came across on camera. people could relate. it was just family stories, family stuff. nowadays, i think it's on all the time. >> three different cable channels run reruns. do you check it out? >> every now and then. >> does it hold up or seem dated to you? >> it was dated when we did it. >> it was already a period show. so it holds up for that reason. >> i think the writing is so good at home. >> you have all heard it a thousand times. just tee off on this. what do you say when people say, it was just too sugary. >> you know, it wasn't. that's what annoys me because in the beginning it was not. toward the end it fell in love with itself but in the beginning

we were dealing with book burning in germany, the dust bowl cousins, the hindenberg. we were dealing with segregation. we were dealing with real issues as well as the warmth of the family. >> i think the criticism tends to come from people who really didn't watch the show and weren't aware of it. >> even nowadays with what we are going through as a country. you see people are still having good times laughing as a family. may not have anything to go and buy, but they are together. that's what we were doing then. having a good time. >> refresh my memory. who was part of the original movie "the homecoming"? you were not. michael, you took over for patricpa tri patricia neil. what was it like joining a cast? >> i said, please help me out. i haven't done television in a long time. i tested with richard and ralph what was a blessing because i was hung over and didn't know

what i was doing. >> you pulled her through? >> there was always a dinner scene. did you like them? >> no! >> no! they were awful. >> that was my favorite part. >> i was always in tears at the end. they went on forever with mashed potatoes getting shoved back in the bowl and rescooped out. >> it was one camera and a lot of people. >> the kids would be flinging peas. >> the breakfast scene, the dinner and maybe another dinner scene. you were at the table all day long. >> all i did was pour coffee. more coffee, jon? >> and people would laugh during the prayer. >> people were always visiting. you always had guest stars which had to keep it fun. >> i have heard that before. >> was it fun to have the visitors? >> always. >> a lot of people started out.

sissy spacek started on our show. >> ritter. >> how many times have you heard over the years, richard -- >> good night, john boy? countless. >> is it fun or does it haunt you? >> it's wonderful. the idea that 40 years later people will still shout it to me on the street is the most extraordinary thing. >> it haunts us because they ask us to say it. >> did someone say that in the middle of a play you were doing? >> yeah. >> every now and then. >> guys, a big thank you. great to have you back. happy holidays. because we must -- >> good night, john boy! we are back with much more right after your local news and weather. well done. nice job.

8:26 is your time now on this friday, december 2nd, 2011. let's go to storm 4 meteorologist, tom kierein, with a look at the forecast. a cold start. >> we were frosty over the last several hours, and now the frost is beginning to melt a bit as temperatures are beginning to get to the freezing mark. reagan national is at 37 degrees, and we will climb into the low to mid-50s by

midafternoon, and then tomorrow still chilly and a cold start, and still chilly, too. and a bit warmer on monday, and could get rain tuesday and wednesday as we get into next

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paid by america's wireless companies. it's simple -- more spectrum means more freedom. for everyone. 8:30 now on a friday morning, december 2, 2011. big crowd out on the plaza. a lot of people are donating to our 18th annual holiday toy

drive. maya rudolph is here, former star of snl. current star of "up all night." she is doing the honors as an elf. >> i'm holding savannah. >> i didn't know what you were doing there. we are going to talk to maya in a few minutes. meanwhile out on the plaza i'm matt lauer along with savannah guthrie who's here while ann is on assignment. al roker and tamron hall as well. good thing you're here tamron. it's meatball madness. >> i love meatballs. >> we have done the nationwide search and we have three finalists. bobby flay will judge the best. these are interesting types of heatballs. not your grandmother's meat balls. >> or mom's. >> or anybody's. >> or bill murray's meatballs. >> one of the most prestigious universities in the country,

georgetown, has quite a class. it's all about jay-z. you know -- ♪ new york never mind. i know all about jay-z because i took the class, in my head. we're going to take a look at the unique class that focuses on jay-z. >> thanks, beyonce. he was a movie and tv legend. do you know the real story behind rin tin tin? coming up, we're going to fill you in on his fascinating ride to fame. >> all right. before we get there, let's bring in maya rudolph, one of the stars of the nbc comedy hit "up all night." good to see you. a former alum of snl. so, eva, all right? >> yes. >> she's a talk show host. >> yes. >> a little bit demanding, needy.

what else? >> fun-loving, ready for the party. she's definitely got some personal kinks to sort out, i think. she's got a great on-camera presence. >> did you pattern her after anyone in particular? don't worry, she's on assignment. >> i definitely didn't. she's an amalgam of people i have played over the years and in terms of the on-camera persona. >> you played oprah. >> i did. there she is. we made up eva. she's needy and nuts. those are fun people to play. that's the made up part. >> this show "up all night," speak of fiction, you can draw on your experience with parents, little kids, juggling it all. you can relate. >> right. i have three kids at home. pretty crazy. i have a 5-month-old at the moment. and a 2-year-old and a big girl.

>> you have your hands full. >> do you miss snl? >> i do. i was just saying to someone, that's my old office on the 17th floor. >> you're pointing at the whole side of the building. >> we used to stay up writing the show and i would hear your audio staff saying, it's time to go home. >> you started the show called "up all night". >> i use that phrase a lot. how are you doing? oh, i was up all night. all the time. >> thanks for being our elf. nice to have you here. maya rudolph, everybody. happy holidays. >> happy holidays. >> and now, mr. >> happy holidays. >> now, mr. roker will have a check of the weather. >> we have your forecast for you, starting with saturday, and sunny skies along the coast, and we're looking up snow in the upper great lakes and sunshine and windy in southern california. sunday, sunday, sunny and mild along the coast and rain in the

lower mississippi river valley up into the mid-plains, we have frigid air, and sunny and cold in the pacific midwest, and cool in the center part of california. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the woods.. >> a cold start to this friday morning. we are in storm center 4, and the long hshadows of the decembr blue sky. that was a live picture from the skywatcher camera. it's still cold. most locations are still a bit below freezing or at the freezing mark now. today in the low to mid-50s, and a few clouds in and out, and more of the same on saturday and sunday. monday, a bit warmer and by tuesday and wednesday of next week we could get some rain. don't forget. check your weather any time day or night. especially this weekend. weather.com online or weather channel on cable. >> catch "up all night" weekends at 8:00/7:00 central time.

coming up, a college course on jay-z and bobby flay judges our meatball madness competition. first, this is "today" on nbc.

back now at 8:37. jay-z is leaving his mark on the classroom. craig melvin is here to explain. good to see you. >> good to see you as well. jay-z inspired a course at georgetown. race, gender, culture, things that would be covered in most sociology classes. the issues are examined in a way that uniquely appealed to college students. ♪ >> reporter: the record-setting rapper and hip-hop icon has

become a business tycoon and best selling author. but now jay-z's street rhymes are being taught at one of america's top schools. >> i'm from the murder capital -- >> reporter: in the syllabus it's called the sociology of hip-hop, the odyssey of jay-z. for 140 students twice a week it's 90 minutes of head bouncing and dissecting. ♪ >> you have someone who perpetuates the same impediments imposed upon him. >> reporter: dr. eric die son has taught a hip-hop class for 15 years. jay-z gives him a fresh angle. >> this is a way for kids to explore the big ideas in sociology. >> god forgive me for my brash delivery but i remember vividly what these streets did to me. he's trying to make a connection and a link to the people who are

similarly suffering. >> reporter: die son uses jay-z's memoir to break down lyrics but maintains a traditional classroom using guest speakers, articles, essays and exams. >> we'll have the tests back for you as well. >> reporter: not surprising, the class is wildly popular. >> being somebody who grew up with second chances i'm allowed to explore. >> reporter: learning at georgetown isn't cheap. tuition costs are among the highest in the country. some students say their parents wonder whether the class is worth it. >> we are paying so much for this. we want you to take classes that will get you a great job. >> reporter: it's not just skeptical parents. critics knocked the class, in part because of jay-z's occasional celebration of miso gyn y like this video for big pimping. ♪ >> within hip-hop we are pointing this out to ridicule

it, criticize it, ask where it comes from. >> reporter: old school themes being taught in a new school way. >> i want students to understand, look, learning doesn't have to be boring. i'm trying to make it sexy. >> i'm trying to learn about a society i have never been exposed to, probably never will be. it's another way of thinking about things. >> reporter: jay-z is currently touring the country. at the concert in d.c. he gave a shoutout to dr. diyson which gae him more street cred with his students. we have more on today.com. >> interesting story. appreciate it. up next, our search for america's next top meatball. bobby flay helps to crown the winner. first, this is "today" on nbc.

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we are back with our special series meatball madness. we have narrowed to field to three finalists. marcie from maryland, philip from new jersey, anita from los angeles, california. here to crown the winner, famed chef bobby flay. good morning. nice to see you. >> good morning. >> are you looking for originality, classic taste? >> all of them. there is always, of course, the old school italian meatballs we all love. that's where meatballs get their fame. i'm looking for flavor and moisture. very important. >> these are three very different recipes. fan out, folks. i'll start with marcie here. first of all, where did you get the recipe? >> i got the recipe from my mom. she passed away last year. i'm doing it in honor of her. she never wrote anything down, so i had to kind of reconstruct and i turned them into meatballs

because she made them in a patty. >> these are super meaty salmon meat balls. >> they are great for holiday parties coming up. the ingredients are ritz crackers to give it a buttery feel, oatmeal for heft, flaxseed for nutrition. >> cook them in the pan and what oil? >> walnut oil. it's a delicate oil. so i try to be a little bit more unique. >> bold flavors. i like that and i like that you're putting in the oats and flaxseed. that's interesting. also, the key to these is not overcooking them. >> right. >> you want the moisture. >> you have an interesting dipping sauce. >> people like to dip. i thought it was fun to add it. they can be naked on their own. they're great, not fussy. you can have them out of the freezer, grill and fill. >> what's the sauce? >> spicy thai chili sauce from a

bottle. >> these are papa's meatballs, philip? >> papa's meatball. this is a traditional meatball with some of his favorite ingredients. two types of cheese. romano and parmesan. my grandfather put in two types because my grandmother liked that one and he likes that one. >> smart man. >> he kept it simple at home. some of the other ingredients are bread crumbs, onions, garlic. standards. >> classic, but most of the time in classic meatballs there are three kinds of meat -- veal, pork and beef. philip decided only to use beef. any reason? >> that's what my grandfather used. we bake them in the oven, finish them in the home made sauce which is very simple as well. this maleal is important becaus it was the last meal we shared before papa passed away. honoring him. >> very good. we appreciate it. the entire west coast resting on your shoulders, no pressure.

yours are different. they are jamaican style. >> i add a little bit of orange zest and ginger beer which is a nonalcoholic beverage. it has a nice bite of ginger. it's a strong ginger ale. you can do the dipping sauce or put them right in the sauce. >> you have plantains also? >> yes. green and yellow and then there's black. this might look rotten to you, but it's perfectly ripe. this is the one you want to use. >> that helps to bind it? >> it does. >> that's important. what you use to bind it without drying out the meatball and also delivering flavor. maintains is interesting. and she has jerk seasoning, ginger beer. >> where did you learn this? >> i made this up myself. >> i notice as we have been going along you have taken your first taste of all three meatballs. any initial responses before i put the pressure on you for a winner? >> they are all interesting.

philip, yours is the most traditional. you deliver on a traditional meatball in the best way. that's why you're in the finals. marcie, the salmon is a great way to make a fish meatball. salmon is a good choice with all the natural fat to create moisture. >> thank you. >> these are incredibly flavorful and very interesting. >> take 30 seconds to talk to yourself, think about it. >> 30 second. this will be my favorite conversation of the day. >> like in the oscars, they can't all be winners but they are all happy to be here. is this the first annual? who's the winner of our first annual meatball madness competition? >> i'm a man of flavor and originality. i'm going with the jamaican meatball. [ applause ] >> lift that over your head. >> fantastic. >> exactly. >> congratulations. you must be happy about that. >> these are good. >> thank you so much. we appreciate that.

i can't wait to try these. bobby, thank you. up next, the real story of one of hollywood's most famous dogs. we are talking about rin tin tin who loves meatballs, by the way. first, this is "today" on nbc. [ cheers and applause ]

for those of a certain

generation, no animal elicits the same love and adoration as rin tin tin, the heroic friend to all who fought for justice and saved the day. ♪ so brave ♪ is corporal rusty >> reporter: rin tin tin, three words that instantly capture the imagination. >> rin! sure, he knows it. >> reporter: for children around the world the german shepherd was a celebrity, hero and friend. back as a puppy on the battlefields of world war 1 he epitomized the scrappy determination of two generations. rinty, had star power from the beginning. in 1918 corporal lee duncan spotted the dog in a bombed kennel in france. after the war he brought rin tin tin to los angeles where he trained him for silent films.

the dog soon became a marquee name starring in 23 blockbuster movies, outearning even his human costars. the original rin tin tin passed away in 1932 but his descendants continued his legacy inspiring films, radio and a hit tv show. popularizing german shepherds and creating an enduring american icon that lives on. susan arlene is the author of the new york times bestseller "rin tin tin, the life and legend." good morning. >> great to be here. >> i know you spent seven years researching and reporting on the topic. the fact that you wanted to write about an actor dog surprised, most of all, you. >> absolutely. i grew up with rin tin tin, the television show. that seemed like there wasn't really a book to write about that. what got me interested was learning that he was a real dog who had been found in world war i by a young american g.i. and

the story of that man, lee duncan, and his devotion to the dog and his conviction that he would make him into a star became a wonderful story. >> we'll talk about that relationship in a moment. give us the gist. we know he was found in world war i and he came back and suddenly became a star. for people who may not remember him, what was so special about the dog that he had acting ability? >> he did. he had charisma. he was a great athlete. he was first filmed jumping over an 11-foot fence in a dog show. he was an amazing athlete and was phenomenally responsive to lee. he could kind of do anything. >> there was a time when rin tin tin was the most bankable star in hollywood. you argue that he saved warner brothers studio. >> he did. warner brothers was a small studio at the time. they began releasing rin tin tin

films. they were huge hit, not only in this country but around the world. suddenly warner brothers became warner brothers, the big studio. >> what's compelling about this is the bond between rin tin tin's owner and rescuer, lee duncan, and this dog. what was so special about it? >> they were both, i think, lonely and saw each other as each other's savior. lee found the puppy on a battlefield where he would have certainly died. lee himself was a pretty lonely guy who had been placed in an r orph orphanage as a kid. had a life that was always most connected to animals. he found this dog and they just found each other. they were never apart. they had a connection that if you take the usual connection we have with dogs which is very profound and just multiply it. that was their love. >> i love how your book jacket

puts it, rinty was born in 1918 but never died. his descendants lived on. there was a television show. why do you think this character resonated through the ages? >> we love dogs. we are able to look at a dog as a perfect hero. more even than we can look at a person that way. they are so selfless and they love us without expecting anything in return. so a dog becomes this wonderful embodiment of heroism, loyalty and love. >> fair to say you are an animal person. tell us what you have in up state new york because we have the time. >> it's a long list. a dog, three cats, nine chickens, four turkeys, three ducks, two geese, 13 black angus cattle, a couple of goldfish in there. >> show's over. thank you so much. great to have you. we're back after your local

news. 8:56 is your time on this friday, december 2nd, 2011.

let's go to storm 4 meteorologist, tom kierein. >> mid morning, live picture from the skywatcher camera. it's looking west towards fairfax county, and we have lots of sunshine and a blue sky. right now temperatures are at most locations getting near or above the freezing mark. a lot of the frost is melting off. later today, we should climb into the low and mid-50s. a few clouds in that out, and a little cloudiness from time to time. still chilly, and a bit warmer for the first part of next we

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and free atms at any bank. free is good. sign up at capital one bank. what's in your wallet? what is he, a clydesdale. good morning. seeing delays on i-270 southbound as you approach the truck weigh station the left lane is blocked. further down, no problems at 270 father hurley. in the clear in both [ screaming ] [ zapping ]

there goes dwayne's car. oh, man. there goes dwayne's house. whoa! whoa! and there goes dwayne. man, that thing does not like dwayne. [ male announcer ] state farm's got you covered. nice landing. it was. [ male announcer ] get to a better state. [ cheers and applause ] we're back now with more of "today" on a friday morning, the second day of december, 2011. you know, we said it a couple of times this morning. it's a sensational day in new york city. not a cloud in the sky. moderate temperatures and a wonderful crowd.

people from out of town here in the plaza. i'm matt lauer here with savannah guthrie here while ann is on assignment. al roker joins us as well. coming up we'll talk about a serious story, the case of the missing florida mom, michelle parker. for a second day police and divers have searched a lake near where they traced her cell phone. the last place they heard it pinging some two weeks ago. do they have new leads? we'll talk more about the case in a few minutes. >> all right. also ahead, another serious topic this time of year. financial infidelity. a lot of married people go through it. hiding your expenses, having secret bank accounts. hiding the shopping you have done. this is a sign your marriage may be facing trouble. we'll talk to experts about how to keep it real. >> speaking of real, we are talking about today's real estate. barbara corcoran shows us homes for sale for $300,000 or less from california wine country to the gulf coast.

later, whether you've got high blood pressure or a bad cough, we've got natural remedies that really work. >> and it's nice to see your mom and sister in the area. even though they don't want to have dinner with me, that's okay. >> nancy and annie. >> right. tamron is here while natalie is on assignment today over at the news desk. >> hey there. good morning, everybody. we begin with economic news. the nation's unemployment rate dropped to the lowest point since march 2009 falling from 9% to 8.6% in november. 120,000 jobs were added last month. however part of the reason the unemployment rate fell was more than 300,000 people gave up looking for work and were no longer counted. an american aid worker is being held as an al qaeda hostage. ayman al zawahiri said in a message the group is holding the 70-year-old warren weinstein and

will release him if the u.s. meets demands. he's the first american civilian kidnapped in pakistan since wall street journal reporter daniel pearl was abducted in 2002 and executed. the mystery of missing mother michelle parker is deepening today as her family establishes a new timeline of the hours after her disappearance. mark potter has the latest from orlando. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, tamron. if the police have any new kribl leads in this case they are not saying so publically. none of the searches has led to michelle parker but the local community strongly supports her family. at a bar in orlando called the barn where michelle parker was a popular bartender a fund-raiser for the family and the search effort drew a large crowd. >> these are all of our friends, family, her friends and family. it's just good to be surrounded by a lot of love here. >> reporter: meanwhile police searched for a second day at a

lake near the area where a ping from parker's cell phone was last heard two weeks ago. orlando police and sheriffs divers combed the waters and the shoreline. a spokesman said nothing of importance has been found here. police say the only suspect in the case is parker's ex-fiance dale smith. they have not arrested him. smith knocked a news photographer to the ground before a child custody hearing wednesday insists he had nothing to do with the disappearance. a timeline put together with the help of parker's family shows how quickly they became alarmed for her. >> this is the defendant, michelle parker. >> reporter: at 2:00 p.m. november 17th, the people's court episode featuring parker and smith, her ex-fiance, arguing over an engagement ring airs in orlando. at 2:30 michelle's family last sees her at a salon. at 3:15 according to a police source michelle is seen on a

security camera arriving at smith's home, but the angle doesn't allow them to see her leave. smith said he then took the children to his parents' house an hour later. at 4:26 michelle's brother dustin gets a one-word text from her cell phone which the family insists is uncharacteristically short saying waterford. at 6:50 michelle's son calls the family asking where is his mom. at 6:53 michelle's sister sends her a text, call me asap, please. gets no response. at 7:20 lauren calls police after michelle fails to show up for her 7:30 bartending shift. at 8:15 the ping is found from the lake. an area she never frequented. the next day her hummer is found in a parking lot miles from her home. a sign in the truck advertising her business is missing.

family members say they are not giving up hope of finding michelle alive, but this now two-week-long search without results has been painful for them. >> thank you. the skating santa isn't looking so sharp these days. paul chernowski arrived, fetched his $900 skates out of storage but left the skates in a taxi. santa's making due with rental skates but said he isn't getting the same performance from them. he'll take you off the naughty list if you return those skates. not a good thing for santa. >> we have to get him on his own skates on the rink. thank you very much. now let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker. >> thank you. this side said they weren't feeling the love. we're showing them the love.

hello and merry christhello, an merry christmas to everybody. out west we have stuff going on. santa ana, not as bad as yesterday, but still windy. another storm system getting itself together from the southwest into texas, and the mountain snows through the four corners and a lot of wet weather and austin and brownsville, and over the next 48 hours we could talk about half an inch to an inch, and maybe a little more. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. skywatcher camera looking southeast into arlington this morning and a beautiful blue sky. a few clouds passing north of the metro area now. the temperatures are still hovering around freezing throughout much of the area. and it's milder near the bay waters. and today we will climb to the low and mid-50s, and a few clouds and lots of sunshine and

more of the same on saturday and sunday and and one of the great shows from the '60s, my three sons. savannah? >> thanks, al. this morning on "today's money" financial infidelity. a money magazine survey finds 71% of americans keep secrets about spending from their spouses. before you head out for holiday shopping we have good advice to keep the peace in your relationship. jean chatzky is today's financial editor and we have the host of "you're cut off." appropriate title. good morning. jean, define the term financial infidelity. >> it's lying about money and if you are just hiding information by not revealing it, that would be included in financial infidelity as well. >> keeping secrets or maybe not saying how much things cost. that kind of thing. >> exactly. >> from your perspective what does the survey say about why

couples commit financial infidelity? >> they do it to keep the peace. they don't want the scorning look from the spouse or an argument about what you spent on x, y or z. the result is when things are uncovered it's a bigger problem. >> in terms of the damage this can do to a relationship, do you think it's as serious as cheating in some cases? >> it's obviously very different in the sense that infidelity, regardless of what it is, exposes what's going on in the relationship. it exposes the fact that you cannot be honest with your spouse. it's not as grave but it says you can't communicate well. >> you say sometimes it's about control issues. >> without a doubt. and i don't think financial infidelity is that bad. women need to have independence

in their relationship. they have to have private money to do whatever they want with. >> okay. i agree. but let's acknowledge that we are each going to have a pool of money we can do with what we want and we don't have to talk about it. >> that gets us to the tips. i want to get to some ideas. you think couples need three bank accounts. >> one for you, one for me and one for the house. the house is taken care of first. >> this is controversial. some people think you shouldn't. >> without question you should have separate bank accounts. you should be able to do whatever you want with your money. >> once you have provided for savings and taken care of the household expenses. >> when that budget gets cut, every budget gets cut. just because you get your nails done doesn't mean that gets cut. his money gets cut, food, everything equally. >> you say you should use the money in your account to further educational opportunities.

>> yeah. education and feeding yourself with opportunity is like spanx for the future. it tightens it all up. it gives you the opportunity to remember you can be independent outside the relationship. >> we were talking about the numbers and unemployment fell to 8.6%. people who have done well were educat educated. >> you say to trade places with your spouse financially. >> if a f they don't understand why you can't get out of the grocery store for under $150. let them go to the store. >> don't let them do your clothes shopping. >> walk a mile in your high heels. >> good advice. thank you. coming up on today's real estate, what you can get for $300,000 or less. later, what some fast food restaurants are doing to beat a ban on free toys with kids' meals.

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this morning on today's real estate what you can get for under $300,000. barbara corcoran is here to show off great homes across the country. good to see you. >> good morning, al. >> let's go to napa. i'm surprised. it's a one bedroom, one bath bungalow. >> the average listing price there is $1.3 million.

this is the tiniest house on the best block. the porch is great because every house in the neighborhood participates in porchfest. you go from house to house. a really cozy neighborhood where people like each other. this is only 754 square feet. little or big, whatever you want to call it. look at the fence. you get a big fence with this little house. inside it has a modern kitchen with big glass doors that open the room to the outside. i like the brown touch on the wall. it really pops the cabinets. black granite counters. it's fresh and sexy for a nice little house. the living room isn't big but has bamboo floors which suit it is house well and two hopper windows and the brick fireplace make it a friendly room. it's not that big. there is a sunny blue office and it has a separate entrance. you can feel like your business is away from home. the panel door leads to the great outdoors and there is a

private backyard which needs a new fence and furniture. the fact is it could be nice and it's the only thing in the house that's not perfect. >> now to the home of brett favre, hattiesburg, mississippi. >> this is a southern style house with a shaded covered front porch. it has a separate garage you see off to the left. the kitchen has old fashioned white cabinets, tile counters and a leaded window over the sink. that middle thing -- >> it makes everything so small. >> get rid of it immediately. the sunny breakfast room has plantation shutters. it feels spacious, appropriately designed with a glass door and a nice window above. charming. the living room light is blocked by the shades that really ought to come down because it is a sunny room.

it has long windows, a stone fireplace and nice crown molding. let that sunshine in. >> what about the big armoire thing? >> it's nice. big. it just lacks light in the room. the faster bedroom has an oversized window. that's a charmer. that window is a knockout. an inviting seating area and wood floors. out back you have your own private forest. look at this. >> gorgeous. >> lovely. just small enough to feel cozy and private surrounded by mature trees. >> now to phoenix, arizona. nicknamed the valley of the sun. we have a contemporary three bedroom home for $282,5 00. this is a nicely landscaped contemporary home on a cul-de-sac. i like that they were clever enough to photograph it at dusk. much prettier at that time of day. the kitchen looks straight out of a magazine.

blond wood cabinets, granite counters and an open dining rare area. that's a lovely family space. the living room photo is photographed again at night. unusual but it shows off the recessed lighting. >> looks like a magazine. >> it's great. it's sexy. that was a great move. there is a snug office clever as can be off the corner of the living room. that's a smart move. it's carved out of the entry hall but counts as another room. the backyard looks like an oasis. it's elegant. man cured. >> is that a fire pit? >> i think they don't use the fire pit because they are busy mowing that lawn. perfect for that climate. you need that cover. >> lastly, frisco, texas. just outside of dallas. >> not only outside of dallas but it's the fastest growing city in america by population

and jobs. shopping, museums and lots of jobs. a whacky looking front. >> almost looks like a mall. >> yes. it does. people like that kind of thing in that part of the country. there you have it. it's grand and impressive. five bedrooms, three and a half baths and 4,000 some square feet. look at the nice stepway. makes you look like you will see something special and you do when you get inside. formal dining room. a stop sign red, orange, whatever. wrong move. but it is what it is. that's the dining room with a great picture window and lovely molding. the house is fancy enough to have a parlor with crown molding. that's a spare room to hang out in. the kitchen is big enough to land a plane in. look at that thing. miles of expensive cabinets and counter tops. flagstone patio with two umbrellas. they're opposites. i don't get it.

>> what's going on there? >> a lovely backyard if you get those umbrellas to match. beautiful home. $299,000. >> for that you can get matching umbrellas. >> you bet. >> good to see you. >> thank you, al. >> we're back with much more of "today" after these messages.

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companies as well. >> one of the companies is ugly dolls. they donated again this year. we have elita freeman and avery, the daughter of one of the executives. tell us about your donation. >> good morning. thanks for joining thanks for having us. we are so excited to donate 10,000 ugly dolls. this brings our total over a million dollars to donate. it's important to give and we are happy about it. >> you come back year after year. what is it? >> there are kids all over north america and the toy drive that you do is so amazing. it allows tous reach kids from new york to california. everybody in between. it's important to give for the holidays. >> nice to give things kids love. my dog loves the ugly dolls, too. >> i love them. >> i love your hat. >> thank you. >> why are kids crazy about us? >> they're like us. they love candy, cookies.

i had them on my bed and backpack. >> how many do you have? >> like all of them. my friends love them. >> thank you so much. we appreciate it. don't forget, we need everyone's help to get needy kids toys. kids up to age 18. donate on the plaza. the nbc experience store. details at today.com. >> coming up, natural remedies after your local news and weather. can you believe it another thanksgiving. oh your turkey was delicious like always sweetheart. ah...thanks mom. bye. drive safely.

yes, we will we will love you. ♪ it's beginning to look a lot like christmas ♪ ♪ toys in every store. egg nog? ♪ the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door ♪ we have breaking news at 9:26. right now, loudoun county police are on the scene of a stabbing. a woman was stabbed in the chest. this is happening along john mosley highway. there's no word on the victim's [ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices...

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it's been a frozen friday morning. good morning. i am meteorologist, tom kierein, in storm center 4. right now temperatures are beginning to get above freezing in most locations. reagan national is at 41 degrees. and later we should climb into the mid to low 50s. more of the same on saturday and sunday, and monday milder as clouds close in and could get

showers on monday and tuesday. a couple accidents slowing you down. 295 southbound at howard road, and then 270 approaching the truck weigh station, still seeing delays. and taking the beltway at route 1, not seeing any problems. i am seeing a disabled vehicle, but other than that, clear

through my attempts to get pregnant through ivf we sadly found out that i have early stages of breast cancer. and it's been a shock. >> that's giuliana rancic, e news host and reality star. back in october she announced here on "today" that while going through fertility treatments she found out she had breast cancer. she's going to be back here on monday on "today" to tell us how

she's doing. of course as you might imagine she's had quite the outpouring of support after she came forward with the shocking news. >> we all wish her the best. in the meantime just ahead we'll look at something you're really into. natural remedies, things that will cure the things that ail us. traditionally you think of them as old wives tales but some work from cherry juice to dark chocolate and chamomile tea. what can treat everything from cough, high blood pressure and why they work. >> when it comes to your kids out in san francisco they have actually banned the high calorie fast food meals that come with toys because they want to curb childhood obesity. now big names like mcdonald's and burger king have come up with a clever way around the rule. it's controversial. some say, now you're violating the spirit of the law.

we'll tell you about it. >> all right. who doesn't like a nice steaming bowl of hot soup? >> who doesn't? >> right now. >> it would be very nice. in today's kitchen, we are going to be showing you how to make fantastic butternut squash and crab bisque. first let's check in with our own weekend bisque -- >> that's bisque. >> sounds like you were going to practice that. >> that was dangerous. >> he pulled it off. >> this weekend. >> my heart is thumping. we have a big show. 23 days left before christmas. i don't know if you mentioned it once or eight times so far. we have to get shopping. we'll talk about the biggest mistakes consumers make while holiday shopping. we'll tell you how to avoid pitfalls that can cost big money. plus, from "happy days" and "pretty woman" gary marshall

tells us his plans for "new year's eve," the movie. probably not his personal plans. we'll ask him. and who's that girl? she just turned 5 and looks just like mom. can you tell? wait until you hear who she is. >> who is she? >> no, no. >> you may get up early saturday and sunday to watch. >> i'll tell you. >> oh, my god. you've got to watch this weekend! >> crazy. >> in the meantime how about the weather. >> that's that's comedy. let's -- let's show you what is happening as far as your weekend is concerned. sunshine up and down the coast. heavy rain down in texas, and nice but windy out west. and then on sunday, sunday, sunny and mild conditions continue along the east coast with the exception of new england. heavy rain in the lower belt coast. and look for frigid conditions

in the plains. that's what's going on around the country, and here's what's going on in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. temperatures getting above freezing throughout much of the region. this is a live view from the skywatcher camera looking north. sunshine on this friday morning and we will have it with us through much of the rest of the day. right now 30s to near 40 degrees throughout most of the region, and later we should make it to the low and mid-50s later this afternoon. and saturday and subpoenaed, still chilly. cold in the mornings. afternoon highs, 50s.it's frida means we can get ready for the best night of the week, sunday night, football night in america. get them lions from detroit down to new orleans. the mercedes benz superdome. it's a dome, so the weather will be good inside. but outside it will be cloudy and mild. temperatures mid to upper 60s on the best night of the week. sunday night, football night in america.

>> how are we supposed to go on after that? >> i don't know. that's not my job. >> al, thank you. now let's bring in charles from "neverland" a new syfy series. it tell it is back story of peter pan and captain hook. >> it's a prequel. it's how "neverland" came about. i play a 500-year-old apothecary. i made "neverland." it's the most extraordinary place. i created it. i harnessed the power of two as steroids and it's fantastic. >> the thing we didn't realize, captain hook wasn't always a bad guy. >> indeed not. something happened to him and his life changed a little. >> sounds like "wicked," the back story of oz.

i think keiera knightley is the voice of tinker bell. so we have familiar faces. >> and a unfamiliar faces. captain hook, that's a strange mixture. you have to see it. but it takes you on a most wonderful trip. for sure. >> that sounds cool. fantastic. thank you so much. you can watch part one of "neverland" this sunday at 9:00/8:00 central on syfy. >> charles, thank you so much. >> nice to see you, al. >> and smartly, he leaves. he knows how to make an exit. hey, what ails you? we'll try to help you cure it with all natural remedies. first, these messages. sally, you don't need toys when you have... ♪ imagination ♪ imagination imagination ♪ ♪ helps you see the world in different ways ♪ yay! yay!

♪ this is a pony ♪ and this is a choo-choo ♪ [ male announcer ] it's movie time. and this is a... [ male announcer ] with a wii twist. what is this? [ male announcer ] netflix now delivers unlimited tv episodes and movies instantly through wii and nintendo 3ds. all for only 8 bucks a month. ♪ [ femala $100 cream. we were flattered when regenerist beat flabbergasted when we creamed a $500 cream. for about $30 regenerist micro-sculpting cream hydrates better than over 20 of america's most expensive luxury creams. fantastic. phenomenal. regenerist.

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[ younger brother ] oh, do you want it? yeah. ok, we'll split it. [ female announcer ] made fresh, so light... ...buttery and flaky... this is half. that is not half. guys i have more. [ female announcer ] do you have enough crescents? gives you a 50% annual bonus! so you earn 50% more cash. according to research, everybody likes more cash. well, almost everybody... ♪ would you like 50% more cash? no! but it's more money. [ male announcer ] the new capital one cash rewards card. the card for people who want 50% more cash. what's in your wallet? woah! [ giggles ] woah! good morning. we have a news4 special report. news4 just learned the fbi is

raiding the home of d.c. council member, harry thomas jr. thomas represents ward five. we have a crew on the way and will have more on the investigation coming up on "news4 midday" at 11:00. the fbi is raiding the home of d.c. council member, harry thomas. thomas. stbig piece of potato. [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. this morning on today's health, natural remedies. 4 of 10 adults are turning to alternative medicine to help with certain health problems, but do they work and are they safe? today nutritionist joy bauer is here with a list of the most effective natural health remedies. >> good morning. they work. >> that's what our grandparents told us. we would hear people pass along

great advice and they work. >> some of them do work. the ones we'll go over are natural food remedies. there is no down side. you may as well try them. you can alleviate lousy symptoms you may be having. >> what are the natural concerns we should have here? >> certainly if you have a serious medical condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, first you want to go with your doctor's advice. a lot of times that will involve prescription traditional medications. these are natural food remedies and things we'll go over are safe. but the intense concentrated herbs, supplemented herbs and things, check it out with your doctor. >> the first thing you have is vinegar for lowering blood pressure. >> blood sugar. >> i love this strategy, particularly for people with type 2 diabetes. if you take in two to four teaspoons of vinegar with the meal or before the meal it can

blunt the rise in blood sugar you get from the meal. nobody wants a shot of vinegar, but mix vinegar with olive oil and start your meal with a salad or drizzle balsamic on a vinegar, tomato and onion along with your meal to reap the benefits. >> mixing it with the food makes it the same. >> we have honey. for years we have honey that helps with a lot of things. >> plain old honey helps your child falls asleep when coughing. again, regular honey helps to coat and soothes the throat and loosens mucus. for kids 1 to 6. no honey for kids under 1. half a teaspoon 30 minutes before bedtime. if kids are over 6 you can have one teaspoon up to two. >> same effectiveness in adults?

>> absolutely. this is good news. the american academy of pediatrics is not recommending cough syrup for young kid spms for menstrual cramps, a specific tea. >> chamomile tea. the herb has been around for years used as traditional medicine. the reason i particularly like chamomile is it elevates glycine in the body which is an amino acid which squashes muscle spasms. it will help women who struggle with cramps to feel better. one to three cups a day during the menstrual cycle. it's caffeine free so you don't have to worry about it interrupting sleep. >> and pepper mint oil for people with irritable bowel syndrome. it relaxes the muscles in the lining of the intestines. pick up pepper mint capsules and take one three times a day, 30 minutes before a meal.

it can really help. >> that's a nice list of things. put those many your medicine cabinet. >> food as medicine. we love it. >> up next, the ban on kids' meal toys. right after this. [ horse neighs ] you're leaving. it is my destiny. ♪ take this. it is a piece of me. ♪ [ male announcer ] it's movie time. with a wii twist. netflix now delivers unlimited tv episodes and movies instantly through wii and nintendo 3ds. all for only 8 bucks a month. seriously, what is it? a big thank you this friday & saturday. save an extra 20% off all your holiday gifts when you use your jcpenney rewards credit card. don't have a card, you still get an extra 15% off. no exclusions! doors open extra early saturday. go to jcp.com to see everything on sale. jcpenney. yoohoo, hi.

i noticed you used the largest cash back card... why is that? they give me 5% cash back at department stores this quarter. but only on up to $300 worth of merchandise. so the most you can earn is $15 dollars. chase freedom also gives you 5% cash back at department stores this quarter but on up to $1,500 worth of purchases. that is $75. that's 5 times more! woo. get your cash back. activate today at chase.com/freedom. to find you a great deal, even if it's not with us. [ ding ] oh, that's helpful! well, our company does that, too. actually, we invented that. it's like a sauna in here. helping you save, even if it's not with us -- now, that's progressive! call or click today. no mas pantalones!

time to deploy the chex mix boring potato chip decoy bag. now no one will want to steal the deliciousness. with a variety of tastes and textures, only chex mix is a bag of interesting. write "you're pretty." you're pretty! ♪ i think he hurt his tibia. what's a tibia? [ female announcer ] cards are not for sending. ♪ they're for bringing us together. this holiday, select cards come postage-paid. hellmann's and holiday leftovers become irresistibly creamy turkey casserole. real delicious hellmann's. make it real. make it different.

gives you the lowest plan premium in the country... so you can focus on what really matters. call humana at 1-800-808-4003. it's me? alright emma, i know it's not your favorite but it's time for your medicine, okay? you ready? one, two, three. [ both ] ♪ emma, emma bo-bemma ♪ banana-fana-fo-femma ♪ fee-fi-fo-femma ♪ em-ma very good sweety, how do you feel? good. yeah? you did a really good job, okay? [ female announcer ] to nurses everywhere, thank you, from johnson & johnson. in an effort to fight childhood obesity san francisco has banned fast food restaurants from giving away free toys along with kids meals. now big chains have a plan that a critics say violates the

spirit of that law. nbc's george lewis is in los angeles this morning with the latest on this. good morning, george. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. if you're a parent or a grandparent with small children, this happy meal and the toy that comes inside are no surprise to you. but now in san francisco the toys will no longer be free. that's because of a new law in the name of public health. >> who is that? >> hello kitty. >> they first think about the toy. >> reporter: san francisco stirred up a national debate last year when it passed a law designed to keep fast food chains from using toy giveaways to sell the type of high fat meals that nutritionists say kids should avoid. >> so it's low in nutrients and high in calories. and the toy is an attraction to get the kid to eat the food. that's not a good connection. >> reporter: now that the law has taken effect, mcdonald's found a way for kids to have their toys and eat happy meals, too. the solution? selling the toys for ten cents

apiece with the purchase of a happy meal, of course. the company says that proceeds will be donated to the ronald mcdonald house charity. burger king says it's planning to do something similar. supervisor eric maar who drafted the ordinance said it is a cynical way around a law designed to fight childhood obesity. >> they are being sneaky and manipulative about getting around a local law. >> reporter: franchise owner scott roderick who has ten mcdonald's locations in the city says the new system is driven by what customers want. >> they wanted us to provide choice on our menu. they wanted us to follow the letter of the law. >> reporter: roderick calls the law misplaced saying that mcdonald's added a variety of healthier options to its menu in recent years. >> customers want lower fat items, more nutritious items. >> we have healthier options but we want them to meet basic standards. >> reporter: supervisor maar says mcdonald's and burger king

are manipulating the spirit of the law, but maintains san francisco's efforts sent an important message to the fast food giants. >> we have raised childhood obesity and the connection of big fast food to a national level. >> reporter: mcdonald's in a press release notes that it is making the happy meals more healthful, downsizing french fries and adding things like apple slices as san francisco keeps up pressure on the fast food chain. >> weren't there ten french fries in there earlier? now there's just one in the bag. >> there is nothing like day old french fry, savannah. >> george lewis in los angeles, thank you. up next, a bowl of warm goodness for the long winter nights. first, this is "today" on nbc.

this morning in today's holiday kitchen, butternut

squash and crab bisque, perfect for cozy nights in front of the fire. here, the star of chef roble and company. good to see you. >> good to see you. >> excited for the new show? >> very excited. >> we're excited about the soup. first of all, butter nutsquash, one of my favorites. this is an easy soup to make. >> straightforward. >> how do we start? >> i have onions sweating in the pan. going to add in the ginger and garlic, get your aromatics in there. let it sweat down in the pan for a few minutes. add in white wine. >> nice. >> and chicken stock right here. get that in there. stir it around a little bit. now for the star of the show, the butternut squash. >> right. >> we have raw squash cubed here. >> which you can buy already peeled in the store. >> actually, yes, sir, they have that. go with that or roast it off.

oil, salt, pepper, 400 degrees for 20 minutes. >> i make this as a side dish at home. >> definitely. it adds another level of flavor. >> sweeter. >> yes. it's good to get the char on the edges. right in the pot. let it simmer for an hour. everything's pretty much cooked. you're just bringing the flavors together, letting them marry. then once it goes down you have all the veggies and aromatics. take two ladles of that into the blender. blend everything together. we need to season it at all. hook me up with a little salt and pepper. all right. there we go. >> all right. >> and give it a little whiz in the blender. nice and easy. like that. super simple. >> uh-huh. >> little bit more.

and right into the bowl. we have the crab already in the bowl. see if i can do it without making a mess. >> here we go. >> all around, just like that. >> very nice. >> here i have creme fraiche flavored with rum and vanilla. normally you would have heavy cream. >> there is a little bit of heartiness there. >> little bit of that around. >> ooh! >> beautiful. >> there we go. >> just in time. >> you can serve them socially like this at a cocktail party. >> i like that. >> cheers. >> chef, thank you so much. you can catch the series premiere sunday night at 10:00/9:00 central on bravo. >> coming up, hoda and kathie

lee choose lucky ladies for an instant ambush makeover. >> there is no crying in catering. i love that line. first your

the fbi is raiding the home of d.c. council member, thomas.

thomas has maintained his innocence even though he axwraeed to settle a lawsuit and repay the $300,000. we have breaking news, the fbi is raiding the home of d.c. council member, thomas. we have a crew on the way and we will have more on the investigation coming up on "news4 midday" at 11:00 a.m. and let's take a look at weather now. tom? >> a beautiful sky now after a frozen friday morning. we are now warming into the low to mid-40s throughout much of the region. reagan national is at 43, and later today should hit the low to mid-50s with a clouds. a chilly weekend to follow. cold mornings and chilly afternoons. warming up a bit the first part of next week a

state farm. this is jessica. hey, jessica, jerry neumann with a policy question. jerry, how are you doing? fine, i just got a little fender bender. oh, jerry, i'm so sorry. i would love to help but remember, you dropped us last month. yeah, you know it's funny. it only took 15 minutes to sign up for that new auto insurance company but it's taken a lot longer to hear back. is your car up a pole again? [ crying ] i miss you, jessica! jerry, are you crying? no, i just, i bit my tongue. [ male announcer ] get to a better state. state farm.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television it is try day friday, december, 2011. we are so glad you're here with us. a nice day in new york. >> we are in the festive holiday spirit, aren't we? >> we went to a party last

night. >> we whooped it up is what we are saying. there is a restaurant that is really cool called peba. it's downtown. it's 18th and park. it is the abc carpets and antiques that is a main stay down there i love that place. >> we should tell people what this was. this was a party for our advertisers and people who work with us in that department. the man whose leg kathie lee is grabbing is john kelly. he is in charge of advertising. look what she is doing to him in front of all the people. >> as long as my legs look good, doesn't matter what you're holding on to. >> this is our motley crew. you can tell there are folks from advertising there, tammy, christine, sara and joanne. on the end is meghan. let's talk about meghan. >> she is amazing. she puts everything together. we are crazy about meghan.

>> we gave away our favorite things. we are going to give three lucky people at home a gift bag of our favorite things. we'll tell you what they are later in the chat. >> well, well, well, what you started yesterday. something that will not be in your personal gift bag. it's your brookestone personal massager. >> they have a catalog and in it they have a massager and they don't tell you what it's for. >> i know what it's for. ♪ i did it my way that's what it is. >> if you look in the catalog, it gives a description -- >> we are not going to read that again, are we? >> they say -- that's not for that. is it? >> i think anything you want for whatever hurts. you know? i have a bad back and a bad

neck. i can see that that could be helpful. >> we were wondering when we talked about the product on the air what they would think about us discussing it. they liked it. >> they sold a trillion of it. >> you can use your imagination. sorry. >> sick. you're sick. >> anyway, just put it over here. >> i don't want it. i've got my own anyway. >> there is a whole new trend. the world is changing around us. you are embracing these things. i am not. >> she is fighting them. when a man proposes, it's one of those great moments, you get the engagement ring, people ask you about it, you show it, it's fun, fun, fun. everybody knows the girl is engaged, nobody knows the man is engaged. there is a trend where they want man engagement rings.

mangagement rings. you know she is taken so we should know he is taken, too. >> it also has another use, which is if you want to be the leader or the aggressor in the relationship, if you want to ask a man to marry you, you give him an engagement ring. i don't know many men who would go for that. i don't know. >> i'm not into that. i'm just not. some people say it's old fashioned, but i think you want -- >> some things are nice that are old fashioned. we are going to throw everything away, stuff that works? you know? >> here is the thing. men are getting so feminine. >> emasculated. >> we talked about men getting manicures and pedicures. do you guys ever get a manicure, pedicure?

raise your hand. >> walter? >> walter? >> come over here. >> walter? no, i want to see your hands. you better not be lying to me. >> no, no, no. >> when i travel i get a manicure and pedicure. >> and pedicures. what else do you get? >> that's it. >> you sure? >> walter. >> walter? >> you can't escape, walter. >> why when you go away? >> so i have clean fingers, clean know nails. >> for whom? >> the wife. >> he says he likes to do it when he is going out of town. >> vacation. but his wife lives with him at home. you've got to think this thing through. >> every time i travel, i get them. >> if he is not a real man, who is? >> he feels secure enough to get a manicure and pedicure. how about a brazilian? >> no. >> oh, god. >> he stops at that. everybody has their comfort zone. >> i don't like the idea of a man saying to me, i'll be back, i need to get a pedicure.

i lose that loving feeling. >> what if his toe nails are like howard hughes. >> there is a difference between trimming them. no one likes skanky feet. >> i shouldn't say this. >> then don't. >> no. i'm sorry. my husband is one of the most gorgeous human beings god ever put on the planet. just is. he's hot, hot, hot, and still is at 81. he'll be the first one to tell you his feet have been through the mill. i'm not talking about the second wife. i'm talking about his feet playing football and losing his toe nails to cleats. on the football field they would rip your toe nails off and make you keep playing. oh, yeah. there he is. so frank always said he gets a pedicure, but they need the jackhammer. poor baby. i fell in love with him anyway. i have a huge thing about hands

and feet. >> people get nervous being around kathie. people show up like this. they don't want to show their bad hands. >> i'm not that shallow. >> yes, you are. i put band-aids on when you're around. not today because they are done. >> we'll show you beautiful new opi. let's do it. >> these are our favorite things we had at our party last night. >> we are drinking one of them. >> it's called cultivate. >> everyone was enjoying it very much. philanthropic company. they give 10% of their profits all year around. >> the folks were trying to come last year and got stuck in a snowstorm. they brought that active wear. >> and the jog bra. >> look we are flashing our spanx. >> because we are proud. >> i wanted people to smell my arms. >> that is weird, i have to say. >> i like this fresh.

it smells like that fresh lemon sugar body thing. >> not at the beginning it didn't. >> i piled it on. i love the fresh stuff. you love that laura mercier stuff. >> she has a beautiful primer for foundation which works beautifully. also beautiful palette -- don't do it. eye shadows. i was naughty last night. >> we are not going to repeat. >> it was naughty, even by my standards. >> it was. >> then opi, which we love. my color which is san tantonio. the other is getting miss piggy with it. then this gorgeous jewelry by lia sophia. i wore this last night and i loved it. >> they had the bracelet. >> here is what we are doing for

you at home. >> cupcakes baked by melissa. >> she is the only one that wasn't drunk last night. >> these are so bite-sized delicious. they taste like reese's cups and h-hos, everything you love. we are giving away three of these bags. >> go on our facebook page. >> let's go to our girl bobbie thomas. >> hey, girl. how are you, beautiful? >> i'm so excited it's the holidays. this is my favorite time of year. i get to share fun gifts. i have fun ones today. this company i was so obsessed with, pillow mob.com. for $25 you can buy a pillow with your face on it. it looks like i sneezed. then there is bobbie like a victoria's secret model. >> i ordered bambino and hanna. they didn't get here yet. they make even with baby heads.

the best part, 25 bucks, shipping included worldwide. >> sara looks hysterical. i look like someone hit me in the back of the head with a 2 x 4. >> you're going to love this this next idea. >> the next idea, lisa hoffman, such a cool idea. these bracelets come -- >> the hand is back. >> come with little charles. the coolest part is that the charms hold the fragrance. inside this, if somebody is allergic to jewelry -- there goes the minute. if you can't wear the set, you can put the wooden infused balls on the bracelet so you have the jewelry. smell it. it's cool. >> who wouldn't love that? >> it's $65. i wear your jewelry. if you're one of lady gaga's 45 million fans on facebook, she

collaborated with barney's to create these christmas stuff, chocolate skulls. >> nothing says christmas like chocolate skulls. we love you, bobbie. >> we want to give a big congratulations to lindsey. she had a baby boy. >> cole earnest grubb was born two weeks ago. we did not mention it because she waited to give him a name. she never looks pregnant. she looked like she had a bagel. some things in life are not fair, but we are glad she had a beautiful baby. >> coming up next, our big ambush makeovers because it's friday. >> the latest on everything. >> no time for friday funny. that's too sad. >> that's all right. hi, could you read my list?

it's all crossed out... it's 'cause i got everything on it. boom! thank you! [ male announcer ] no need to wait with our christmas price guarantee.

if you find a lower price on a local print ad before christmas, we'll give you the difference on a walmart gift card. ♪ but the fire is so delightful ♪ nothing melts away the cold like a hot, delicious bowl of chicken noodle soup from campbell's. ♪ let it snow, let it snow left behind by some mop. why you... nobody's taken a shine to me in a long time. phooey. i don't need anybody...but you! ♪ i believe in miracles [ male announcer ] swiffer attracts dirt. used mops can push muddy water around. swiffer wetjet's new, upgraded solution helps prevent streaks and residue to reveal more shine than a mop or your money back.

you're a fresh swiffersnapper! put a little more k'ching in your christmas! this friday and saturday... this 50 inch zenith hdtv, just $499.99... all sesame street toys are on sale... and take 50% off apparel during the big half-off apparel holiday sale! now that's kmart smart. >>. >> we are back with today's plaza ambush makeovers where we pluck two lucky ladies out of the crowd. we haven't had an unhappy customer yet. >> except for that one. >> one lady needed a psychiatrist afterwards. >> our today contributor and stylist to the stars, luis lacari. >> and "us weekly" contributor and author and pin-up girl -- yes, we spotted jill on the beach. >> whoa, jill. >> snap-snap. she is known as the babe around

here. >> they were waiting for a pris hilton. i think she was staying at the hotel. >> you look fabulous and we are just gel ruse. barbara mccormick, 42 years old from carson, virginia. her 13-year-old daughter is constantly begging her to change her hair. they were thrilled when we saw them on the plaza and picked them. let's take a listen. >> no make-up and she hasn't cut her hair in 19 years. what do you think about this? >> i think we need a makeover. >> are you excited for this? >> yes. >> tell me why. >> we really haven't done anything for myself in a long time. this will be fun. >> you know who is the most excited? >> i'm most excited because she

wears those pants all the time and she wears those hoodies all the time. it looks really bad. she doesn't wear any make-up either. >> here we go. we are going to change all that. are you ready to go? >> yes. >> hi five, dylan. >> dylan is ready and so is the rest of the gang. they have their blind folds on except dylan. he's okay. keep the blind folds on until i give you the green light. here is barbara mccormick before. let's see the new you. >> oh, my gosh! you ready? all right. >> oh, my gosh. >> oh, my god! >> look at her husband. >> oh, my god. >> it's short, it's sassy. >> you look really great. that is a sexy haircut.

>> lena did the haircut. barbara knew her hair was too long so she did keep the front cut shorter. what lena did was plended the back with the front. >> it's darling. >> it's a great haircut. i softened the colors which were too frosted on the ends and she looks fantastic. >> what a great holiday outfit. >> she wears sweats all the time. great sweater with cashmere it. you can wear it with jeans. >> i love that. >> the skirt from macy's and a basic black tank. >> do you like it? >> i love it. >> i love it. >> a big round of applause for barbara. you can join your family. >> our second lady is christy adam, 28 from pittsburgh, pennsylvania. she had no time to focus on herself since her daughter was born a year ago. she was excited at the chance to be pampered for a few hours.

>> even though i'm a giants fan, we still picked christine. why do you want this for your wife? >> she deserves it. she is a great mom and great wife and she deserves everything. >> are you ready for a whole new look? >> absolutely. it's been long overdue, probably. >> she is here with her husband chris. jill has a picture of their little daughter. she is precious. let's take one last look at christy before and bring out the new christy. >> oh, she knows it. >> hold on. stop the presses. all right, chris, take them off. >> chris likey what he sees. >> turn around christy. >> oh, my gosh. >> working it girl. >> and liking it.

>> we scored. >> wow, what a difference. >> she is beautiful before. >> yes. a beautiful girl. she just wanted to have a little more glamour, a little more sophistication. she was beautiful before. more beautiful now. i slightly changed the hue of her color. toned up the make-up to go with the new hair color. lena made her haircut a little bit longer to give it more movement. she looks younger. >> she's 28. come on. >> that dress is sexy. >> adrianna arpel. and simply vera vewang at kohl'.

>> sara has the crowd. we are ready to take them on. [ female announcer ] today...is the day hellmann's and holiday leftovers become irresistibly creamy turkey casserole. real delicious hellmann's. make it real. make it different.

they won't be beat. oh, actually... then i'd be like, you rule! and my kids would be like, you rule! i'd be like, yes, i do rule! ohh! that rules! oh, load up the sleigh; this is going to be a great christmas. yeah. ring dinga-ding, ring dinga-ding, ring, ring, ring me up. [ male announcer ] no need to wait with our christmas price guarantee. we're so confident in our prices if you do find a lower one between now and christmas, we'll give you the difference on a walmart gift card. save money. live better. walmart. -here you go, lulu. -hey?! you had an imaginary friend once, too. she's full. [ female announcer ] hamburger helper beef pasta. helpers. forty dishes, all delicious.

[ female announcer ] hamburger helper beef pasta. twizzlers. the twist you can't resist. [ grandma ] ok. ♪ ah. then we will all do it together. treats! teets...teets...teets... yeah, look at this. [ female announcer ] it seems like the best family traditions... always start in the kitchen. ♪

rice krispies®. happy holidays. we are back with three, two, one, live with sara haines. sara has a crowd with questions over at the nbc experience store across the street. >> first up we have missy from texas with a question about bucket lists. >> you both already accomplished

so much, but what is the one thing that you all still have left on your list to do? >> what do i still have on my list to do? i was married. that wasn't great. >> that again? >> that's what she says. >> i don't know. i don't know. we only have 1:30. i don't know. go. >> i do know. i want to bring "saving aimee" to broadway, and i want to make "under the bridge" my first musical into a film and shoot it in paris. is that too much to ask for? >> we like it. andy from michigan has a question for you guys. >> turning 40 today. i know. thank you. my girlfriend and i are in town for the weekend to celebrate. we are wondering what you did to celebrate the new decade. >> i thought you meant when we turned 40. when i turned 40, i had just given birth to my daughter cassidy. unlike lindsey grubb who had the first child and popped her out in 20 seconds, i was recuperating, thank you very

much. >> 40 wasn't so monumental to me, i thought. i'm 47. i've come to enjoy my 40s so much. >> you won't like 50. >> your best decade is starting right now. i'm telling you right now. >> it is. enjoy every minute because before you know it, it's over. everything you had before is someplace else. half the time you can't remember where it is. >> any hoo, happy birthday. we'll be back with party food. >> sara hits the streets. ially. so we switched to the bargain detergent, but i found myself using three times more than you're supposed to and the clothes still weren't as clean as with tide. so we're back to tide. they're cuter in clean clothes. thanks, honey. yeah. you suck at folding. [ laughs ] [ female announcer ] just one cap of tide plus bleach gives you more cleaning power than six caps of the bargain brand. visit facebook.com/tide to learn about special offers. that's my tide. what's yours? kmart is the place... to find this season's hottest toys!

that's right, thousands of toys for girls... and boys are at the prices you've been waiting for! like vtech infant toys - now buy one get one 50% off! now that's kmart smart. i don't have to settle anymore. you're just talking about pizza though, right? of course. [ male announcer ] right now, any pizza is just ten bucks when you carryout. any pizza, any size, any crust, any toppings -- only ten bucks when you carryout. and only at your pizza hut. i'd like a decaf 360 calories please. i'll have a triple iced 410 calories please. you know what... i'll have this instead. [ female announcer ] swap one thing a day for a yoplait light at around 100 calories. it will add up to amazing.

and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement. it's an amazing holiday deal. but don't wait. it's only available for a limited time. so go to verizon.com/superoffer to sign up. act now and we'll add a special bonus -- $300 back. fios delivers the best picture quality, plus america's fastest, most consistent most reliable internet. spend the holidays saving money. switch to fios and get our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement when you order online. save $840 in your first two years. and don't forget your special bonus -- $300 back.

hurry, offer ends soon. go to verizon.com/superoffer. contact the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's verizon.com/superoffer. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. fios. a network ahead. we are back on this try day friday with our resident guy's guy, donny deutsch-man. >> it's not your turn yet. >> he already insulted us so he is sort of in the dog house. >> i'm not going to answer questions. i'm like a human pinata. >> you love every minute. >> i'm a stay at home mom of

four. my hubby works out of the town all the week, do all the running for the kids, cook, clean, he comes home and acts like he's on vacation. when do i get a break? >> there is a lot of tension there. >> the simple thing is you have to educate him. say, i know you're working all week, i want to explain to you what my week was. not in a nagging way. we both work and have a contract on what goes down on the weekend. who gets their four hours alone time. some guys are not thinking. >> the word you used, educated. >> i mean that. you have to teach him. he probably does not know what's going on. he better care or he is going to have problems. >> lisa wrote in, why do i have to direct my husband when it comes to being romantic. for once i would love for him to be romantic without me telling him, let alone bringing it up. >> it's a woman saying you never bring me flowers then he brings you flowers, you don't want the flowers. >> here is the reality.

some guys have a sensitive humor. once every two months i like romance. we like sometimes to be told when we are not getting it done right. >> maybe he wasn't romantic when they met. he is not going to change. >> right. if you have certain needs, say, this is important to me. >> when i ask for something and i get it, i don't enjoy it. >> it's good, but it's a second place. that's as good as it's going to get. >> next question from jennifer, do i have to spell out what i want for christmas? >> yes! >> i left several hints. >> this is the theme. i want to be told what they want. i don't want to guess. what will make you happy? tell me what you want. why does it have to be this guessing game? i'll tell a woman what i want for christmas. >> what do you want? >> you're looking at all the wrong places. >> what is wrong with your voice? >> i don't know.

when i get nervous or feel put upon. >> tiffany is asking, is it okay to start out a relationship as friends with benefits? >> you know, i think it's great to start out a relationship as friends. once it's friends with benefits, maybe i'm old school, you're in a relationship. i don't get that. the definition of friends is people with opposite sex, no romance, no sex. once the benefits are in there you're already in a relationship. you're letting the guy get away with benefits. no relationship, no benefits. >> why is it so hard for a husband to defend his wife against his mother, especially when the wife is right? >> we had things like this before. if you're with a man that cannot understand that at this point his wife comes first, you are not with a man. it's that simple. >> i love hearing that. >> when i get tough, you like that. >> we like it a lot. >> when i hear these grown men

with their mothers, that is the most unmasculine thing to do. you can love your mother. i have the greatest mom in the world, hi, fran down in boca. >> fran in boca? >> mommy. >> i'd like to call you mommy. >> wow. >> let's go back to sara. >> peggy asks, is it really -- >> i'm sorry. i came in good will. >> is it possible for a happily married man to avoid advances from another woman, including suggestive pictures of herself or is my husband lying? >> the answer is yes, you can avoid it. in this day and age, women are more forward. >> so aggressive. >> i like to use the word forward. >> no. it is aggressive. >> this will be the last installment of "the other view." women are incredibly forward. if you're not open for business, you're not open for business. if you're getting them, you're sending a signal it's okay.

don't let him play, i'm mr. innocent. >> we are only responsible for what we say and we do. we can't control what the world does around us. >> if there is a picture coming in, it's a picture going out. >> guys, can we take a vote. do you think this has been fair today as far as the abuse? >> i think it's fair. >> i'm kind, i like to share, i like to help, i get punished and abused. i like it. >> you can make it up to us in shoes. >> anyway, sara is going to drink her way through new york. >> the best hot chocolate. nnouncer ] holiday plus cookies plus memories

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it is time for sara in the city. sara haines sets out to experience all the metropolis has to offer. >> we hope she was thirsty she had to toss back a few. >> a few hot chocolates. when the temperatures drop, what is better than snuggling up with

a big mug of cocoa? >> i'll tell you. >> i hit the streets to find the creme of the cup. my first stop was to city bakery. heart of union square and known especially for its endless vat of hot chocolate. maury ruben is the founder, baker and hot chocolate maker at city bakery. you guys have a festival in february with all kinds of different hot chocolate flavors. are those top secret? >> it's very secret. >> if i said you shouldn't put blank in hot chocolate. >> mashed potatoes. meet the hot chocolate. it's rich, thick, it's unctious. >> the final touch, a homemade marshmallow. >> ready? >> oh, yum. >> voila. >> oh, my gosh, that is amazing. >> i floated on to the chocolate bar for toasty treats.

>> we'll try our bittersweet belgian chocolate and pour it into milk and steam it with a steam wand and that is that. >> i was steamed to sample the autumn spice variety. that one is delicious. it truly tastes like thanksgiving in a cup. delicious. >> thank you. >> right now i'm at serendipity. they have a slightly different take on what we are trying today. it's frozen. you get funny looks. i don't understand. >> what is it, is it hot chocolate? do you take hot chocolate and freeze it? >> i poured and mixed and before i knew it, it was time for a taste test. >> whoa. >> this is called a byos, bring your own straw. >> it was good. >> delicious. >> scale of 1 to 10?

>> 10. >> i ventured back downtown to max brenner restaurant. i'm in a hot chocolate mood. i think i'll take one of the spicy hot chocolates. i thinkle's also try one with crunchy things in it. even the mug -- >> this is the hug mug. >> kept me warm. i think i have to hug it out with the choco cup. when i arrived at our final location jacques torres, i was swept off my feet. >> bonjour. >> at jacques' house, it's not just about making the perfect hot chocolate, it's about enjoying the ride. what do you say in france? >> chin-chin or something. what do you think? you want a little bit of rum inside? >> this is so romantic.

>> i just fell in love. >> that's it. yes! come on, guys. hot chocolate on the house! >> if kathie lee and hoda come down here, would you put a little rum in their drinks? >> i will put a lot of rum and i will have a party with them. the best hot chocolate, salte! >> i love that. >> to his health again. >> he is a big fan. >> not going to happen. very, very nice. he's adorable. what a sweet personality. >> coming up next, we'll take you into our kitchen to make mini appetizers. mary? what are you doing here? it's megan. i'm getting new insurance. marjorie, you've had a policy with us for three years. it's been five years. five years.

well, progressive gives megan discounts that you guys didn't. paperless, safe driver, and i get great service. meredith, what's shakin', bacon? they'll figure it out. getting you the discounts you deserve. now, that's progressive. call or click today. prego?! but i've been buying ragu for years. [ thinking ] i wonder what other questionable choices i've made? [ '80s dance music plays ] [ sighs ] [ male announcer ] choose taste. choose prego. o kmart is the place... to find this season's hottest toys! that's right, thousands of toys for girls... and boys are at the prices you've been waiting for! like vtech infant toys - now buy one get one 50% off! now that's kmart smart. in 15 minutes, you can serve some warmth with your bread. and some flavor with your bread. and some layers with your bread. if you're serving bread honey, then serve it. grands! dinner ideas made easy.

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it's time to take you into today's holiday kitchen.

we are going to let linnea show you about our russian appetizer. >> she is adorable. >> thank you. you're adorable, too. >> what are you making? >> first off, these are simple and trendy ideas on things you can do for holiday parties. we'll starts with chips and dip. this is super easy. the secret is in the sauce. we know that. this is spicy chutney. you mix it equal parts with creme fraiche, which is like the french version of sour cream. take potato chips and do salmon, i've got chopped up salmon here. or chicken, whatever you want to do on there. put a little chip like that. >> get a flat chip. >> you get the idea.

>> you can do it with a little piece of beef? >> yes. >> i'm intimidated with this set-up in the donut section because these look fright evening. >> this is one of my favorite things. boozy donuts. are you ready for boozy donuts. >> why do people think of us? it's sad. >> you're getting this if you're coming to a holiday party at my house. this is cream and coffee liquer. you mix them together and fill your syringe. >> where do you get that? >> at your dentist. >> this is a turkey briner. >> this is a regular store bought donut. >> it's in there already. >> this is full. excuse me.

>> take a little in there. just take a little bit in each. >> do it on the bottom there. don't go too crazy. >> no, this is bad. that's why you're the celebrity chef and we are not. >> i have some ready ones. >> that was delicious. let's eat. >> now what? >> when you're done. >> we're not done? >> once you fill them up, dip them in water and sugar, put them on a sheet pan and pop them in the oven on broil, just like that. cook them up. they get like a creme brulee glaze on it. it's like a white russian donut, right? >> that is really good.

>> over here, here are s sikouskis. they are like little tapas, traditional from russia. i think it's time to bring these back. the cool thing is two things. one, they are like little plates, but they are served in a prescribed order. whatever order the host puts it out, that's the way you eat it. set it out, you don't have to be stuck in the kitchen. >> that makes no sense, if somebody is on that side they get the eggs and will knock everything over. >> this is a mingle party. not sitting down. then each little plate is matched with a sipper cocktail. >> now we are talking. >> are we going to eat any of that? these little devilled eggs. >> i was going to teach you these cocktails. >> i don't think we have time. >> just try it.

they are strong. sipper vodka cocktails. >> it gets very cold in russia. >> thank you so much. >> you're i a sweetheart, thank you for putting up with us. >> we'll be back with more of "today" on nbc. [ male announcer ] are you paying more and more for cable

and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement. it's an amazing holiday deal. but don't wait. it's only available for a limited time. so go to verizon.com/superoffer to sign up. act now and we'll add a special bonus -- $300 back. fios delivers the best picture quality, plus america's fastest, most consistent most reliable internet. spend the holidays saving money. switch to fios and get our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement

when you order online. save $840 in your first two years. and don't forget your special bonus -- $300 back. hurry, offer ends soon. go to verizon.com/superoffer. contact the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's verizon.com/superoffer. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. fios. a network ahead.

nearly 200 charities representing 3 million kids living in difficult situations are on our toy drive list this last season. that's the longest list we ever had. >> so far thanks to wonderful donors, we've been able to distribute $14 million in gifts for those children. one of the partner companies this year is tony. you came with gifts. >> tiny tim is a great tv show for preschool kids, teaches

social and emotional development and helps kids get ready for school and is a lot of fun. >> this is for young boys, i would guess, right? >> there are some girl characters, but trains is mostly a boy toy. >> there is magic about a train, there just is. how many of those are you donating? >> over $150,000 of product this year. >> you guys do a lot of philanthropic work, it's not just during this time of the year. >> around the world we probably do over $1 million of giving. we do things with the american red cross, kids in distressed situation. this has become an annual thing for us. we've done this since the late '90s and becoming one of my favorite things. >> a lot of people this year seem to need it. >> we just heard the unemployment rate went down. we are happy to hear about that. >> i think it will come back around, right? in the meantime, there are a lot of kids out there. they don't have everything. they all have imaginations and we can help them fulfill their

dream with toys. >> jamie, thank you so much. >> everyone at tomy, a big thank you. if you want to make donations, check our website for details. >> we also forget the teenagers. they need a christmas, too. next week our holiday gift guide begins. daniel baldwin, melissa gilbert and ten secrets of the happy woman personified by hoda. >> you, too. >> have an awesome weekend. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

you'd do that for me?

really? yeah, i'd like that. who are you talking to? uh, it's jake from state farm. sounds like a really good deal. jake from state farm at three in the morning. who is this? it's jake from state farm. what are you wearing, jake from state farm? [ jake ] uh... khakis. she sounds hideous. well she's a guy, so... [ male announcer ] another reason more people stay with state farm. get to a better state. ♪

good morning, everybody. welcome to "news4 midday." i am barbara harrison. it's friday, december 2nd, 2011. and federal investigators are raiding the northeast home of council member thomas. he represents ward five and is accused of spending