captions paid for by nbc-universal television from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> well, congratulations to all of you out there who made it to winesday, wednesday. good for you folks. it's december 14th. >> it is. >> we are counting down until actual christmas day. >> i'm excited. looking at that beautiful christmas tree outside of rockefeller center made me think of my beautiful tree. >> these look like ornaments for your beautiful tree. >> how about those? >> how about going to get that tree yesterday, hoda woman. your family is coming in today. >> they're coming in today, on

the train as we speak. when you buy trees in new york they are on street corners as we saw in sara's piece yesterday. they're bound up in, like, wire. >> like twine. >> i went and picked one. i'll pick that one. they said, okay. it was all in its twine. it's like a christmas bush. it's short and square. when it opened up, i was like, what is that? >> here's the thing. >> it should have heels. it should be taller. >> you open it up at the stand where you're buying it to see the shape of it. >> it looked like -- >> then they wrap it up again for you. >> that looked like a lot of trouble. >> you didn't do that in egypt growing up? >> no. >> that's how we do it. >> get it bound up. there it is. we should ask our viewers to send in their trees. i'd like to see what their trees look like. >> better than that. >> go on our facebook page. we want to see your christmas tree. i want to see if it rivals mine. yours is up. >> we put ours up last week. white lights. that's all i did. i went in last night to look at the tree, one of the light

things had -- they all join together. what's that called when you do that? they don't know. >> they join. >> anyway, they link up. so -- jerry, please come over here. >> bring us a little wine with your outfit on. >> our little christmas elf. what would we do without jerry. >> ho ho ho. >> that hat is crazy. it's got little packages on it. >> jerry, by the way, speaking of smoking hot, we met your wife yesterday. >> the other day. >> the elf's doing all right at home. if you know what i mean. she was here and she's coming back again next week. anyway, christmas elf, nice to see you and thank you. you cannot only have that christmas merlot in your glass, apparently this christmas merlot moisturizer is like the greatest thing anybody has ever experienced because it's got all the stuff that's good for your -- look at the color of it.

>> purple. does it smell like merlot? >> i don't know. >> that smells good. >> we'll try that out. merlot skin cream. powerful antioxidant. it's got an spf. >> smell that. it smells great. >> makes me want to drink your arm. >> the ntsb is looking to change some things, change the way we drive. how a lot of people drive. >> this would have never been controversial in the past. it seems to be. >> the ntsb is saying they want to ban all cell phones from vehicles. that means hands free. that means blue tooth. what are you doing? >> i had a lot on there. running out of arms. >> it's a really serious deal. there are so many traffic accidents that happen as a result of texting and talking and driving and stuff like that. >> people e-mail. they e-mail, they text. what do you think about this deal? >> i was looking at this big study on the way in while i'm driving on a connecticut highway. >> you're not driving.

>> i'm being driven. of course. i'm reading the newspapers in the back. connecticut leads the nation in fatalities in the year. that year they did the study. listen. it's 163 times more likely to happen. those are bad odds. >> while you're texting. >> we've got some tough roads anyway. i guess -- did you guys find out the number? it's either 43% or 48% more casualties, deaths, from the year before. they think many of them, many of them were due to texting. >> they do have a number. they say 3,092 roadway fatalities have happened because of distracted driving. they have certain states that ban texting, certain states that ban cell phone use and some ban the whole kit and kaboodle. when you drive and you have blue tooth and you can say call mom and it will -- the way it's rigged up in your car you can call your mom, so you're not dialing, if you're going to ban blue tooth and all that stuff,

then you should ban anything that's a distraction, really. drinking coffee. talking to the person here. kids in the backseat where you turn around and go, could you keep it down? >> unbelievable. >> that's a distraction. i think you can ban certain things. i don't know about the hands free and blue tooth thing. i don't know if they have studies on that. that means you can't talk to the person next to you. that's what you're doing. you're talking. hey, what are you doing? hey, what are you doing? that's the same thing. your hands are here. you're looking here. >> maybe if you just don't say "hey." >> hey! >> how did we ever make it to the west in a covered wagon. we didn't need any of this stuff at one time in life. now people can't -- they can't do anything. >> i know. you know what? they feel like -- okay. here's the thing. you're in the car. you're late for work and you want to call them and say, i've hit traffic. okay. you feel less stressed because you've made a phone call and you've unburdened yourself. we didn't used to be able to do that. >> we used to arrive and go sorry, everybody, i'm late, i hit traffic. we all lived through that. people understood.

>> people feel like they're wasting time if they're not doing sometimes while they're sitting there. >> how much time are you going to gain if you're dead? >> there are a lot of fatalities. >> you want to do that to yourself it's one thing. when you take other people, innocent people with you. >> look, this happens. when you're at a stoplight -- this happens to me. look around at the people. everybody's doing something. some people are putting on mascara. some people are on -- their head's down because they're texting. or they're playing with music. >> i think this is probably going to pass. i don't think it's going to be enforced. that's the trouble. we're losing all kinds of federal funds for firemen, for police, for, you know, all of that sort of thing. we're not going to have the man and women power to make it happen. >> the ntsb, obviously they just suggest legislation to congress and congress decides on the issues. >> i'll be curious. anyway, apparently there's a website called -- we'll say stuff girls say. but it's another word that start

with "s" and ends with "t." >> i guess guys think we have a certain way of talking. >> what do they know? >> nothing. >> started by two male friends. that tells you right there. graydon sheppard and kyle humphrey. >> who are they? >> we'll find out. one said to the other, pass me the blanket. the other one said, that's such a girl thing to say, dude. so they started listening to all the things girls say. maybe they had a twitter account called -- girls say. >> let's watch. >> hey, are you near a computer. can you read this and see if it makes sense? >> can you look something up for me? >> can you do me a huge favor? >> can you pass me that blanket? >> can you turn it up? >> can you turn it down? >> i had to get up at 6:00 this morning. >> reach in my bag. >> go to my purse. >> did i lock the door? yes. >> listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. >> shut up! do i look like a doily. >> no, you're not.

>> first of all, ew. >> i know, right. >> get it together. >> exactly. >> i'm not even joking right now. [ crunching ] >> actually kind of funny. >> that was juliette lewis. the actress in there was a fan of theirs and did the cameo. i hate to say it but there's some truth in that humor. >> listen, listen, listen. i like that. that was good. >> all righty. this is important. we've been talking a lot about lying and how certain -- you know, certain people have different attitudes about it. >> no. >> apparently there's a body language expert -- >> before we go ahead and broad brush everybody as liars and not liars, there are people when someone will ask me, do i look tired, i will say no. no. you don't look tired. what is that? >> so you're fudging? >> is this a prop? >> yeah.

i was going to call it -- you call it lying. i call it fudging. now they've brought me fudge. i can have it every day the minute you start lying, i'll start eating fudge. >> you don't look tired at all. okay. apparently there's a body language expert, okay, i hope you're going to enjoy it because you're going to have quite -- >> i'm going to gain 200 pounds. >> no, you won't! >> yes, i will. >> no, you won't. this is going to be great. here's the thing. the body language expert -- >> thank you, elf. >> this is how you can tell if someone's lying according to this person. ready, here we go. steady gaze. is it good? >> yeah. >> okay. steady gaze. apparently if someone looks you square in the eye and doesn't blink. >> if i say, hoda, i feel like i've gained a little weight, what do you think? >> no, you haven't. you have not. now you're trying to look at me

like you do and i'm not having it. >> you ask me -- this is what they say is a sign of it. >> okay. look at me. >> keep the fudge here. >> do you like my dress? >> yeah. yeah. it's -- yeah. >> i know you don't. >> that's a lie. >> i know you don't. i know you don't. >> i was trying to do the thing. inconsistent behavior. that's every friend you've got. >> inconsistent behavior. hiding your mouth while talking. i do this a lot. not because i'm lying. tammy does it a lot. she never lies. you know what they say? they used to say when we were doing interviews for "dateline" and things, if someone looks down and left. down and left. that's when -- >> inadvertent. >> no. like this. i talk to you, i'm like this. hey, no, i mean, no. like you just got to glance down but left.

not right. left. >> what does right mean? >> i don't know. >> this stuff is insane. >> this is ridiculous. >> all righty. we've been asking to see some of your crazy christmas cards. well, we've got one for you. the johnson family of minnesota has a tradition that started out very cute when michael, eric and gabby were just kids. now that they're grown up it's gotten to be redicio. for 20 years, mom, sue, has gotten the family in numerous costumes. >> hats off to sue. >> this year she roped in the family dog. look at the presents. where's the family dog? >> i love this. all day long i could watch this. oh, my god. sue rocks. >> look at the whole family. >> all day long. it's a treat. >> what happened? this is now. okay. now they're going to get the dog and the new son-in-law in as a

sheep to her shepherd. >> i feel sorry for him. >> they must have the best time doing that. i think about all the things we've stopped doing as a family because our kids are grown. >> look what's happening. for one second. >> maybe mentally the children haven't grown up as they would have wished. and emotionally a little unstable. no. god bless that family. you can tell they have fun all year round. >> here's a feel-good picture for you. you've heard penguins mate for life. there happens to be a photograph that was taken of a pair of penguins and they were holding flippers. apparently. >> there they are! look at that. is that real? well, the music isn't. we just added that in. here comes another -- now, see. he wants to have a threesome. but no! look what happens. no! >> later. >> we mate for life.

see you back at the igloo. >> are they really holding -- >> they're holding hands. >> is this not photo shopped? i'm just asking. >> you cynical -- >> how were you holding flippers like that for all that time. i wonder if it was photo shopped. >> we'd love to know what you think. >> we want to see pictures of your trees. >> or bushes. up next, are you worried about -- stop it, jerry! you filthy little elf. up next, are you worried about your job, your family, the holidays. >> relax. we'll tell you how to bring common balance to your life.

now on "today's woman" it's the worried woman's guide to calm. are you a worrier? do you get worked up over a mixed message from your boss or over something that hasn't even happened?

here to help us get calm is diane salvatore, editor in chief of "prevention," and michelle callahan, psychologist and author of "ms. typed." >> people say i'm just a worrier by nature. so they think that there's nothing they can do about it. is there such thing as a worrier as opposed to something that just lets it go. >> most of us worry. what you want to do is transform worry into analytical thinking and action. the two as, if you will. when you worry, you're stuck. when you're thinking, you're problem solving. here's a great exercise. take a piece of paper. three columns. on the left, your worries. in the mid, the worst case scenario. on the right three or four things you can do today to help you fix it. you're now a person with more solutions than you are worries. >> they say 90% of what we worry about never happens. even though we know this rationally and it's in our head -- >> it's the 10%.

>> your child is going out. it's prom night. you're sitting there, wringing your hands. seems like a natural reaction from mom. >> that is a normal worry. people worry about the fear of things that will happen. they often feel they're going to have negative emotions. you're worried you're going to feel really upset if your daughter goes out and something bad happens during her prom. it's so important for us to be able to sort of get past that fear. we believe when we worry that we can control the situation. we can anticipate it. >> we're doing something. >> we think we're doing something really great. until you move to the action portion of it you're spinning in your head without coming up with solutions to the problem. >> it can do real damage to not just your psyche but your body. >> right. >> it's stress. >> that's right. one of the things that really works well is do a positive visualization. let's say you're worried about having a confrontational conversation you have to have. picture yourself sitting in a cozy leather chair. >> in a snuggie. >> picture yourself being calm and persuasive. picture the person being won over.

studies have shown athletes who visualize a positive outcome like a hole in one perform better than an equally skilled athlete. what's happening there is that confidence crushes worry. >> that explains tiger woods. >> what if a lot of people, they gain weight over the holidays. it's something that's on their mind. they worry about it. they think about it. >> they eat while they're worrying about it. >> you get more and more stressed. those kind of things. what's the best way to tackle something like that. >> it's about putting down in words what you're going to do about the problem. that's the difference between worrying to thinking. when you move from worry to thinking you're moving from thoughts to action. >> what should somebody do? >> talk about your health plan. changing your diet. your plans for the gym. maybe you have a gym buddy. list out things so you feel an immediate sense of relief. a solution. >> the key is you ladies know about sound bites. this is about action bites. it's overwhelming a big problem. so that's what makes people procrastinate.

but if you break it down into little pieces, let's say you've got a work room that is crazy overwhelmed. only tackle the corner. >> i have the answer to the whole thing. pray about it. you'll feel so much better. anyway, thanks, ladies. >> thanks, ladies. >> thank you. up next, funny photos that will have you saying "what the what?" right after this. whet her you're gearing up for a big game, or watching from the sidelines... [ male announcer ] start with a breakfast at subway that can't be beat. like the protein-powerhouse steak, bacon, egg & cheese. mwah!! [ male announcer ] tackle a fresh toasted subway steak melt today. rush in and get your flavor on. subway. where winners eat. [ male announcer ] only subway has a deal this flat-out delicious -- the $3 flatbread breakfast combo. a toasty flatbread breakfast sandwich and a 16-ounce cup of seattle's best coffee or 21-ounce fountain drink. all for only $3. but my nose is still runny. [ male announcer ] truth is, dayquil doesn't treat that. really? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus fights your worst cold symptoms, plus it relieves your runny nose. [ deep breath] awesome.

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we are back with your side splitting segment called "what the what?" >> sara spent the week poring through all the photos you sent in. she's here with a few of the favorites. >> i think i lost a couple pounds laughing. our first photo is from mary donovan from los angeles, california. what's the first best? this is a store that's legitimate. they say that they excel in mediocrity. >> the second best pickle on the planet. >> and we're never open. i like that. >> i like that they go straight for the kill. they're not trying to be something they're not.

next photo by mary lion from prattville, alabama. at least they're strong. a little mistype on the bowls. unfortunate for -- yes. joni hoffman from myerstown, pennsylvania, submitted this photo. >> who let the dogs out? >> they were in a parking lot at the store. >> there's a third one in the back. >> we have a photo from susan allen from merlin, oregon. my kind of nutrition. house of nutrition. sandi's candies & fudgerie. they did have to move it. from new britain, connecticut. this photo. do they come with cookies? >> girl scouts sold here. >> they sell all their stuff. clearly someone didn't read that sign and think this sounds a little funny. >> you never know. you never know. >> these days, come on. finally, annie crawford from chicago, illinois, sent me this photo. does this happen so often it was necessary to write it in?

>> or cell phones? that's just a natural part of modern life. >> i've almost lost my audio in there. >> if you lose your cell phone in the toilet, i'm just saying, you can -- it's either -- it depends on what stage. but if it was first -- if there's nothing going on there if you put it in rice. >> i always have some handy. >> right away. that's how you save your phone. >> i've got rice in my purse. i can save this. >> at your house. in your house you're fine. why do you take your cell phone in there? nevermind. >> we got to go. we'll be right back, though, after your local news. >> and mary higgins clark is in the house!

we are back with more of "today." we're ready to play our weekly trivia game we call "who knew?" since the holidays are just around the corner we're testing your knowledge of holiday movie trivia.

kathie lee is across the street at the nbc experience store ready to hand out $100 to those who answer the question correctly. to those who don't, they get her cd. senior writer at "newsweek" magazine is with me. are you ready? >> a handsome man from mississippi. all right. in 1983's "a christmas story" all ralphie wants for christmas is what? a toy soldier, bb gun, bicycle or pogo stick. >> a bb gun. >> you got it. good for you, sweetie. >> all right. a bb gun. >> he really wants a bb gun. he asks his mom, the teacher, santa claus. they all say the same thing. you remember what it is? >> what? >> you'll shoot your eye out. this movie is so popular tbs airs it back to back to back to back nonstop on christmas day. 12 times all day long. a few years ago 50 million americans watched it christmas day. >> it's coming to a theater near you in new form as a musical.

they worked on it in seattle. this lovely lady, which actor played kevin mccallister in the 1990 comedy "home alone?" >> kevin mccall. >> say that again. you mean macaulay culkin? or haley, his brother? >> macaulay. >> the number one movie of the year. this movie made $280 million. he was 10 when it came out. he became the highest paid child actor of the time. demanding $8 million a movie. >> what did he do right after that? >> "home alone 2." >> after all those? >> "lost in new york." he did a lot of movies. darker movies like "the good son." >> this lovely lady is from new orleans. she sent your book over to sign it for her.

finish the lyric to adam sandler's "the chanukah song." ♪ here comes hanukkah ♪ i love hanukkah >> sounded good to me. ♪ so much funukkah >> such a great try. >> it was recorded in 1994. adam sandler did it on "saturday night live." it became a sensation, went viral. he made a movie in 2003, "eight crazy nights." there aren't that many hanukkah movies, but it's a little raunchy, though. >> back across to kath. >> lovely lady. you went to virginia tech or your daughter did? you should come over here, hoda. a lot of friends. which of these actors has not played santa claus in a holiday movie. tim allen, george clooney -- >> george clooney.

>> is that a guess? >> she got it. all of the rest of them have? >> tim allen in the santa claus. tom hanks was motion captured in "the polar express." billy bob thornton was in "bad santa." george clooney is the only one that's not. although he looks good in a beard. >> he sure does. >> lovely young lady from leesburg, virginia. what is will ferrell desperately searching for in the movie elf? a reindeer, a red suit, santa or his real father. >> his real father. >> how cute are you? there you go. >> that's a real fun movie. i loved "elf." >> a great movie. they were going to make a sequel. will ferrell ended up not going to do it. they offered him $29 million to wear the green tights. he said no because he didn't think it would be very good. >> wow. okay. all right. back across to kath. >> -- version of "miracle on 34th street" susan tells kris

kringle she wants which of the following gifts for christmas? a house, a brother, a dad or all of the above? >> a dad. i'm the first one to miss. >> yeah. no, you're not. >> all of the above is the correct answer. >> santa was very good to her that year. this is a remake of the 1947 movie. didn't do that well. it's still good. it's a fun movie to watch. >> she's so cute. you can watch her all day. back across to kath. >> a gentleman from western massachusetts. what do greg's parents give pam's father, jack, as a christmas hanukkah present in "little fockers"? the star of david, a dreidel -- >> i'm going to go with a dreidel. >> wrong. >> the correct answer is? >> it's a yamaka. it's a funny scene. dustin hoffman and barbra streisand give her father one because they say he's half

jewish. >> woef time for one more. >> where you from, honey? >> auburn. >> okay. here we go. which mariah carey jingle plays a pivotal role in the movie "love actually"? >> "a." >> yeah! now you appreciate your mother. >> congrats. a terrific scene from the movie "love actually." if you want to rent one fun christmas movie this may be the one. >> my favorite. is it yours? >> i love it. ♪ there's just one thing i need, i don't care about the presents underneath the christmas tree ♪ >> all right. so, anyway, it's a great, great movie. >> justin bieber and mariah carey just redid that song. >> we heard a lot about that. happy holidays. merry christmas. we deliver the best mail

order food of the holidays right after this. and mary higgins clark is in the house with us. we're excited. right after this. man: my electric bill was breaking the bank. so to save some money, i trained this team of guinea pigs to row this tiny boat. guinea pig: row...row. they generate electricity, which lets me surf the web all day. guinea pig: row...row. took me 6 months to train each one, 8 months to get the guinea pig: row...row. little chubby one to yell row! guinea pig: row...row. that's kind of strange. guinea pig: row...row. such a simple word... row. anncr: there's an easier way to save. get online. go to geico.com. get a quote. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. you go next if you had a hoveround power chair? the statue of liberty? the grand canyon? it's all possible with a hoveround. tom: hi i'm tom kruse, inventor and founder of hoveround. when we say you're free to see the world, we mean it. call today and get a free hoveround information kit that includes a video and full color brochure. dennis celorie: "it's by far the best chair i've ever owned."

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now on "today's countdown to the holidays" it's mail order food. >> from citrus to pecans to lobster, chef and cookbook author kathleen daelemans scoured the country for the delicious foods that offer free shipping for the holidays. that adds up, doesn't it? >> it absolutely does. free shipping. all really special deals. >> they can all make it by christmas time. >> and they're all american companies and all american employees. they send a big heartfelt thank you. >> let's start with the sweets down here. >> this is all butter baking. 22 hand wrapped gift wrapped. 22 homemade cookies. >> hoda and i have been sampling. they're unbelievable. >> 22 cookies, $28. beautiful. all handmade, hand cut. free shipping. $29.95.

that's a pie to your door plus a coupon for 10 off your next order. >> every pie i've ever had from michigan has been the most delicious pie i've ever had. >> ingredients locally grown. a celebrity cult following as well. everything here. these chocolates. 350-year-old chocolate company. this is almost better than two for one. you get two boxes for $48. that's to your door. generous, beautiful boxes. >> how about this big chocolate santa? >> they also sell that this is really special bravo "top chef" judge favorites. finishing salts. one is a vanilla salt. a paprika salt. look at their gift wrapping. >> three salts, $25. >> $25 door to door. >> beautiful. >> these guys have been grinding

their own flour since the 1600s. they're the oldest company in the country. they're in rhode island. it's rhode island maple syrup. then johnny cakes and waffle mixes. and a free cookbook. $40. graysgristmill.com. this is ham i am. i love their name. half or whole ham free shipping. still get it there. $58.95 for the half. the whole is $89.95. a half ham is normally about $90 and a whole $125. so it's a huge deal. >> i didn't realize they were that much. >> a great deal. >> they're small companies. eau galle cheeses. like o'malley. this is a cheese and salami sampler. parmesan, asiago, salami. mom and pop shop in wisconsin. >> keep them in business. so important. >> pecans. this is a favorite of paula

deen. she uses these guys a lot. they're colossal. >> they're huge! >> a three-pound bag. this professional grade cracker is part of their deal. or a separate deal, the southern pecan sampler for $29.95. >> citrus. >> countryside citrus. one of the last local growers, harvesters and shippers of their own produce -- of their own citrus in the country. amazing family operation. outrageously delicious. get a sampler with two jars of jam for about $29. i think it's on your website for sure. >> that is so appreciated in the dead of winter. >> look at this down here. >> lobster gram. the first company to deliver lobsters in the country. from maine. they ship the lobsters live. complete dinner. with shipping. four maine lobsters. they have three deals. go to the website. this is one of them. four lobsters, whoopie pies,

chowder, everything, for $155. and they have another deal. ten tails for $200. ten lobster tails. free shipping. >> that's amazing. great job. >> thank you so much. up next -- >> the queen of suspense. our friend mary higgins clark is here, right after these messages. i'm meteorologist chris warren with your forecast. if we see any wintry weather, we could start off with a little snow in northern new england, and that could change over to ice. so a threat for freezing rain with us for some slick roads. that changes over to rain. mild air moving in and that's been the story so far this season where we have just had way too warm of temperatures to see much significant snowfall. even in the northern locations. with this frontal boundary, we can see some storms. another system in the west.

not expecting a whole lot of snow associated with that. look am these mild temperatures. our senior meteorologist here at the weather channel tom moore looked at this and said outrageous. mid 70s in new orleans. 78 in orlando. we're going to see that cold air stay to the north. but not a lot of moisture, just a little disturbance along the canadian border, bringing snow to minneapolis by friday. still going to see rain throughout parts of the south. not a ton of rain but we'll see a little bit there. mild in the southeast, if not warm in florida with 80 degrees. and over the weekend, we're going to see a chance for a little bit of snow on saturday throughout northern wisconsin, northern michigan and the u.p., as well. another system in the southwest. the southwest has been getting really the bulk of the snow this year it seems. and then on monday, we're going to see another chance for rain for good portion of the mississippi valley, all the way up into chicago.

temperatures into the lower 40s for chicago. still relatively mild in the northeast. on monday, mid to upper 40s, drying out in the west. a chance for some rain there on tuesday from the south all the way up to the great lakes. and still on the fringe could see a little snow. remember, weekdays on the weather channel catch "wake up with al" at 6:00 a.m. the mighty turducken. nature's majestic beast. [ both laugh ]

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she's been called the queen of suspense. now best-selling author mary higgins clark is thrilling a different kind of audience. children. >> just in time for the holidays is her new book called "the magical christmas horse." >> it's adorable. nice to see you again. >> i love coming here as you well know. it's like coming home. >> you sell a lot of books when you're here, mary higgins clark. >> that, too. >> this is a little bit of a departure for you. we're used to seeing you having the page turners, suspense novels. what made you decide to do this one, mary? >> to do it very quickly,

wendell minor, wonderful illustrator, did this one years ago. >> that was your first. >> that wonderful picture helped put it over. we were at a party with our editors a few years ago. they said why don't you do a christmas book together. so we did "ghost ships." then we decided to do another one. the result is "the magical christmas horse." >> it's a sweet little story. it really is. >> it's about love. it's about going home for christmas. it's about wanting to give the best gift you can to your little brother. so on that level i think it's a sweet story. but i have to tell you quickly. i was reading it to a kindergarten and first grade. and then afterwards we were talking about it. and i said, "don't you believe that wishes come true?" and all the kids put their hands up except one little guy. he said no. i said, "you don't believe

wishes come true?" he said no. i said, "didn't ever one wish come?" he said no. i said, you're going to grow up to be a book reviewer. >> that is so funny. >> you've had nothing but good reviews your whole life. maybe theater. >> if people are watching tnt over the holidays, they may tune in and see one of your books that you did with your daughter turned into a movie. >> the very first one. that was "deck the halls." carol plays identical twins in it. i sit in the bar and drink red wine. >> the other thing people don't know about you, you go to pretty much every home game there is for the new york giants. >> i do, indeed. >> huge fan. >> you sit there in that box, and you guys, you get into it. >> oh, i mean it. i mean it. and frank, of course, i'm sitting often next to him. i'll say, are they going to pass

or is it going to be a run. well, i'll tell you, i think it's going to be a pass because -- >> is he usually right. >> of course. >> frank gifford. >> if you want to see her sometime mary's pub on 67th street between 1st and 2nd avenue. she hangs out there a lot. just a little nip. >> he always appears in my book. >> except for this one. >> you can't incorporate a bar in a children's book. >> it's a restaurant, too. >> thank you, mary. >> so happy to see you. love to carol from us. >> please. all righty. we are going to be back with more of "today" on nbc.

our toy drive is rushing tons of toys to underprivileged children in all 50 states. because so many people have been so generous this year, these kids are going to have a gift to enjoy during the holidays. >> they sure are. we're happy to have two philanthropic companies here with a wonderful donation. robert passen chief wagon officer of the classic toy company radio flier. and david and bianca liseby founders of for life. hello to all. >> my kids adored these when they were little. look at this. initials on it. that should go straight to hannah. >> tell us about this. >> our new style and ride scoot er. girls can personalize it with their names and decorate it and make it their own. we're famous for the iconic red wagon. we've also been making scooters longer than anyone else, too. this is our latest and greatest

scooters. >> how many are you donating? >> 2,500. >> how about you guys. >> we're so excited to be back this year. our products and gifts represent the foundation for life's desire to keep kids healthy, happy and smart. >> tell us what you've got. what are you giving away? >> well, we've got our little cuddly towel pillow pets to keep kids happy. and why don't you tell them about this. >> we've got 2,500 of these great backpacks full of school supplies. vitamins for their health. some great things. pencils and pens and all sorts of things. notebooks. we're really excited. thank you for all the great work you've done. >> oh, my gosh. we just sit here and get stuff. >> we really do. >> and we're so happy to pass it on to these guys. >> merry christmas. our toy drive continues through december 21st. come down to the plaza and you can donate in person. >> we've got an easy way for you to donate online. go to today.com for all the details. tomorrow ak stress elizabeth mcgovern stops by.

plus holiday gifts for groups. you know what i'm saying? >> we'll know by tomorrow. >> of course you will. >> have an awesome winesday, everyone. see you for thirst day, just one day away. >> see you. >> bye. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com comedian and author