good morning. southern sweep. rick santorum wins the gop primaries in mississippi and alabama and calls for conservatives to unite behind his campaign. with two third place finishes in the south, is mitt romney's iron grip on the nomination slipping away? soaring. stocks post their biggest gains of the year. what's behind the good times on wall street and how long will they last? and slapped down. nicollette sheridan's battery complaint against the creator of kwoez desperate dismissed. is the rest of her case in

kwoez desperate dismissed. is the rest of her case in jeopardy today, march 14, 2012. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> i'm ann curry. it was a big night for rick santorum and the twin wins in the deep south appeared to bolster his claim that he's the preferred choice among the most conservative republicans, matt. >> let's look at the results. rick santorum took 35% of the vote in alabama finishing ahead of newt gingrich and mitt romney. they each picked up 29%. the contest in mississippi was closer. look at the numbers there. 33% for santorum. 31% for gingrich and 30% for romney. romney did pick up a win in the caucuses in hawaii overnight. what does it say about his campaign that he failed again to break through in the south?

without a win on tuesday, why does newt gingrich appear so determined to stay in this race? we're going to break it down straight ahead. >> coming up, the trial of a florida millionaire accused of dui manslaughter in the death of a young man. that trial is under way. it's a case that's been making headlines because the defendant adopted his girlfriend to shield his fortune. just wait until you hear the defense. we're going to have the latest on the story as well. >> you had a chance to sit down with oscar winner george clooney. >> last night, lucky me. in fact, he just returned the same day from a trip to the sudan where he crossed the border illegally, matt, risking his life to expose the atrocities taking life there. he came under fire during a rocket attack, he told us. he walked up on an unexploded bomb. we have a revealing and passionate interview. we begin with rick santorum's key wins in alabama, mississippi and the impact on the presidential race. nbc's peter alexander joins us here in new york.

nice to have you here. >> nice to be finally home. the race has been filled with more twists and turns than even a seasoned veteran can count and we are only past the halfway point. 27 states have now voted. a santorum official said it is just silly of the romney campaign to say the nomination race is wrapped up. in his words, it's just getting started. >> we did it again. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: after a southern slugfest, rick santorum took to the stage with a narrow victory in alabama under his belt, only to learn he'd also won mississippi. >> we did? [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: despite being outspent by newt gingrich and mitt romney, santorum swept the deep south. >> who would have thought in the age of media that we have in this country today that ordinary

folks from across this country can defy the odds day in, day out. >> reporter: santorum stopped short of calling for gingrich to drop out, but insisted his double red state victories make him the party's conservative choice. >> we will compete everywhere. the time is now for conservatives to pull together. >> reporter: gingrich, whose spokesman said dpigingrich had win both states to remain viable, isn't backing down saying he's going to the summer convention. >> i emphasize going to tampa. one of the things proved tonight is that the elite media's effort to convince the nation that mitt romney is inevitable just collapsed. >> reporter: staying away from the south tuesday, romney stumped for votes in missouri and gave no election night speech. on the plane he told me regardless of the outcome, tuesday's primaries are another step toward the 1,144 delegates needed to become the nominee.

>> if the polls are near correct we'll end up with, a third of the delegates. that inches us closer to the magic number. >> reporter: while the math may be in romney's favor, the momentum has clearly shifted. >> for someone who thinks this race is inevitable he's spent a lot of money against me for being inevitable. >> reporter: earlier tuesday romney accused the former pennsylvania senator and his supporters of running dishonest ads. >> senator santorum is desperate and is trying to boost his prospects. frankly, misrepresenting the truth is not a good way of doing that. >> reporter: in the end, santorum overcame gingrich's claim to the south and romney's domination of the air waves earning a key block of the republican party, evangelicals who paused in prayer at his rally. >> people come up and say, i'm praying for you. [ applause ] >> i want to thank you for that.

i want to thank god for giving us the strength to go out there and to be clear in our message and our vision for this country. >> in a race where every delegate matters, both rick santorum and mitt romney head to puerto rico over the next couple of days. one romney aide said only one candidate has won florida, michigan and ohio and that's mitt romney. he has a strong lead but the next state to watch is the state that's the home state of the future opponent, barack obama's home state of illinois where they vote next tuesday. >> peter, thanks. good to have you in new york. david gregory is moderator of "meet the press." chuck todd is our chief white house correspondent and political director. >> good morning. >> david, it's a big day for rick santorum. not unexpected when you consider 80% of the people who voted in alabama and mississippi identify themselves as evangelicals. what did it do for his campaign? >> he is the conservative

alternative to mitt romney. mitt romney is saying it's a math equation. it's not. he's saying to vote with your head and not your heart. the heart of the party is voting with rick santorum. that means romney is not inevitable but santorum isn't winning the electability contest which is about message and about persuading more than conservatives that he can go all the way. >> he said for a front-runner if you keep finishing third, you're not much of a front-runner. how bad of a day was it for mitt romney? >> you finish third and the good news for mitt romney, yesterday morning i told you about the 28-28-28-26 numbers on the other southern states. mitt romney got to 29 in alabama and 30 in mississippi. apparently that's what jeff foxworthy was worth when you concentrated that effort. he is not winning the heart and soul of the republican party. this has always been the challenge. eight or nine months ago we said

mitt romney is the guy that's the favorite for the nomination. nobody was sure how he gets there. with we're still in that place. how does he land the plane? it's not clear. ironically he may win the night on delegates when we finish counting thanks to american samoa but he has a problem with the base of the party. >> david, to newt gingrich. his pitch to the party has been, look, whoever is the nominee, you need the south to win the election and i can win the south. now he's only won south carolina and his home state of georgia. how can he continue to make that pitch? >> i don't know. news flash for him, he's not running against the elite media. they are not on the ballot. we are not on the ballot. he's not winning in the south where he thought he could make a stand. he's getting in the way of rick santorum. mitt romney i think would be happy to help him. i'm not clear on what you can offer him to get out of the race. it may be that his big donors

have to say, we don't want to keep fuelling this. >> chuck, what do you think newt gingrich wants in return for getting out of the race? he says he's going to tampa. there's got to be something he's looking for. >> i think he got into the race looking for respectability again. looking to become a statesman of the party. the incentive to get out would be if staying in would embarrass him and would somehow lower his earning power and lower his standing in the party. i don't know what the incentive is to get out. we saw him fade away before. he rose up here which turned out to be a dead cat bounce in the south, i think. i think he'll end up going into ron paul territory and the voters and media will pass him by. >> guys, thank you very much. after another late night, thank you. it's 7:09. here's ann. >> wall street is looking to

build on the biggest gains of the year today. the dow closed at 13,178 on tuesday. that's the highest level in more than three years. the question is what's behind it and what does it meap fn for yo? we have jim cramer, host of "mad money" joining us. good morning, jim. there was a decision to essentially announce that after looking at the stress test that 15 out of 19 banks passed stress tests. why is this good news? >> they are saying, banks, you are free to lend more. the banks have been constrained by the government about how much they can lend. our banks are in the best shape of the world and the federal reserve is saying, you have our seal of approval. start lending. >> four banks failed including citi corps, a major one. >> they can raise money. if you look at the fed, they are

saying you're not bad banks but you have to go further before you can e reward shareholders. >> getting a lot of pickup is an op-ed by resigning director of goldman sachs who writes the culture of big investment banks hasn't changed since the financial meltdown. he says the banks are putting their interests ahead of the client's. is it possible these banks haven't learned their lessons. >> in full disclosure i started at goldman sachs. that's a devastating statement. they have no idea how rich they are, how much they have. it is shocking that's nothing changed. there is no humility. these people helped bring down the western world. >> he's resigning, not being fired. do you have information to believe what he's saying is not true? >> i don't. i hope it isn't. these were great places where

everybody could go, do well, support their families and create something. it would be terrible if this is the face of banking. >> and did the financial meltdown not teach them a lesson? is there anything that would? >> if this wasn't a wake-up call, i have no idea what will change their behavior? the client is first. that's the way it was when i was at goldman. i hate to think it's just capitalism. this is a shocking piece. everyone has to read it. >> thanks, jim. once again, here's matt. >> now to afghanistan where defense secretary leon panetta arrived to meet with government officials and u.s. troops. it come at a tense time, just days after an army staff sergeant's alleged deadly shooting rampage. richard engel is in kabul. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, matt.

secretary panetta is in southern afghanistan today in helmand province addressing troops. he's expected to deliver a message from president obama to president karzai saying that justice will be done in the case of the alleged shooting in which 16 afghan civilians were killed. we have been told several afghan officials have been shown surveillance video that shows the final moments when the staff sergeant turned himself in at a u.s. base. he's seen putting his weapon on the ground, raising his hands in the air. we have been told by u.s. officials when asked specifically about the shooting he said, i did it. now it's an international incident. defense secretary leon panetta arrives at what could be a low in u.s./afghan relations. he meets with troops, american commanders and president karzai. the two-day trip was previously scheduled but comes after a string of abuses and mistakes by

american forces. in eastern afghanistan, these protesters want the americans out now. on tuesday, they burned a cross and a crude effigy of president obama. so far, afghanistan has not seen the nationwide uproar some u.s. officials fear still could come. >> the united states takes this as seriously as if it was our own citizens and our own children who were murdered. we're heart broken over the loss of innocent life. the killing of innocent civilians is outrageous and unacceptable. it's not who we are as a country. it does not represent our military. >> reporter: president karzai is also trying to make amends. he sent a delegation led by two of his brothers to a memorial for the 16 civilians allegedly killed by the rogue american

sergeant. the delegation was attacked, one afghan soldier killed. the village is in no mood for condolence calls. of 16 victims, 11 were from the family of this tribal elder. the bodies were lined up, swaddled in bed sheets. a tiny corpse in the back of a truck. after the shooting, villagers gathered near kandahar looking for answers. [ speaking in a foreign language ] >> reporter: i am asking the elders, karzai, the ministers that the culprit be handed over to afghanistan and put on trial, says a relative. in kabul, afghans didn't appear to blame all americans. [ speaking in a foreign language ] >> reporter: but the killer should be executed. that is the punishment, said this man. and that could happen. the united states is considering capital murder charmgs thges th carry the death penalty after an american court martial, likely in afghanistan.

what triggered this act is unclear. u.s. officials say the sergeant was having marital problems and they have reason to believe alcohol may have been involved. matt? >> richard engel in kabul, thank you very much. >> just a devastating story. we have natalie morales at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. a strong earthquake measuring 6.8 rattled northern japan this morning, causing minor tidal changes on the pacific coastline but no reported damages or injuries. several towns issued advisories or evacuation orders and a small swell was observed. all tsunami advisories have been lifted. a bus carrying belgian students home from a skiing holiday crashed overnight killing at least 28 people including 22 kids. 24 other children were injured. police say they are investigating what caused the bus to veer directly into a tunnel wall. boston utility workers are trying to restore power to homes

and businesses after a smoky transformer fire erupted near a garage at the back bay hilton hotel. and the brooklyn bridge was closed tuesday night after a barge carrying a crane struck the scaffolding attached to the underside of the bridge. it tore a 20-foot gash but left the historic bridge unharmed. after 244 years the encyclopedia britannica is going out of print. it's now moving into the digital age as the company shifts focus to the online edition. that makes the 32-volume 2010 edition the last published version. and a victory in alaska as dallas seedy won the iditarod

after a 1,000 mile trek across the alaska wilderness. back to ann, matt and al. >> happy birthday to him. thanks, natalie. now a check of the weather from mr. roker. >> we are going to be talking about the northwest. they are getting hit again. look at these record highs today again. yesterday we saw temperatures in the 80s, 70s, rochester, minnesota. burlington, vermont. garden city. springfield, missouri. all hitting records and again today we have temperatures anywhere from 10 to 30 degrees above normal. minneapolis, 30 degrees above normal. detroit, 26. high of 72 in minneapolis. 77 in chicago. 80 in ft. worth. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, tom kierein in storm center 4. now at 7:18. sunrise under way. live view from our high definition sky watcher camera. this is from 300 feet up.

the sunrise is still a couple minutes away. a clear sky and temperatures are cool. we are in the 50s. much of the region, 55 at reagan national. later today into the low and mid 80s with lots of sun. another summerlike day that's your latest weather. ann? >> testimony is under way at the dui manslaughter trial of a florida millionaire charged in an accident that killed a 23-year-old driver. it's a case that's received a lot of attention because of an unusual move by the defendant. mark potter is in west palm beach with the latest on the story. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, ann. this is the case that drew national attention when the wealthy defendant adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend to protect some of his riches. now john goodman is in the fight of his life. prosecutors say he was drunk and left the scene of a fatal crash but the defense claims he was a

victim. >> the case of state of florida versus goodman. >> reporter: he's charged with dui manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident in which 23-year-old scott wilson was killed by drowning in a canal. in the opening statement the prosecutor said right after speeding through a stop sign and crashing his bently into wilson's car, goodman left the victim to die. >> he hit scott wilson, pushed that hyundai across the street through the dirt and it rolled into the canal upside down. scott wilson didn't die from blunt trauma. he drowned. and what did the defendant do? he walked away. >> reporter: the prosecution says goodman who owns the international polo club in florida had been partying and drinking with friends before getting in his car. >> three hours after this crash the defendant's b.a.c. was .17, more than twice the legal limit.

>> reporter: famed defense attorney roy black offered another explanation. he told the jury the bentley malfunctioned and roared out of control through the stop sign. >> all of the sudden the car surges forward. you see him trying to control this enormously powerful car. unbeknownst to john goodman the throttles that run the fuel into the engine are not working properly. >> reporter: black said at the time of the accident goodman was not drunk and only drank heavily after leaving the scene to find a phone because his cell phone was dead. >> the only pain relief he was able to find comes from a bottle of alcohol. >> reporter: black says goodman didn't abandon wilson. in the dark he didn't know he had been pushed into the canal. he said before calling 911 he called his girlfriend because he was delirious from the accident and hers was the only number he

could remember. last year goodman adopted the 42-year-old to protect some of his wealth. over the weekend it was reported that goodman and the victim's family reached a monetary settlement in the civil case although none of the lawyers is talking about that. in the criminal case here, if convicted of the charges, goodman could face up to 30 years in prison. ann? >> we'll see what happens. mark potter, thank you. just ahead a judge dismisses nicollette sheridan's battery complaint against the creator of "desperate housewives" as closing arguments begin today. first, this is "today" on nbc.

coming up, are your allergies kicking in already because of the early spring temperatures? we'll get you some relief. >> and coming up, george clooney opening up about risking his life on a recent trip to africa after your local news. aft nature

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unique air-infused mousse formula blends easily for a smooth, poreless, airbrushed finish. good morning. i'm joe krebs. 7:26. this wednesday, 14th day of march. we have trouble on the roadways. let's check in with danella. >> good morning. taking the outer loop of the beltway, here is the situation. make your way past i-95, a crash there. blocking all of your lanes. it is now in the right shoulder lane but you are still seeing delays 17 miles per hour outer loop passing route 1. i will give you a live ok. and it is getting just a little bit better but you are still under speed all the way to i-270. joe, over to you. >> thanks very much. leave the jacket at home. it will feel more like summer

whatcha lookin' for hon? ah, these new jeans i want. i've been looking everywhere. new blue jeans? oh, don't be crazy, i've got tons of blue jeans. frank! frank! get my jean bin, susie wants my jeans. no she doesn't. here we go. nice and loose. ohhh. those are loose, but i actually just ordered three pairs of this kind. ooooohhhh. oh. when it's on your mind, it's on ebay.

live skycam showing sunrise in a clear sky on this wednesday morning. we are setting the stage for a summerlike day.

right now we are in the 50s. later today into the low and mid and even briefly mid 80s by mid afternoon. another summerlike day tomorrow. then rain possible and thunder and lightning friday. dry for the weekend. >> thanks very much. we will

why do you risk your life? >> george clooney is no stranger to action on the big screen wu bu in the past few days he's been in dangerous situations for real trying to make a difference for a cause he cares passionately about. we'll have an interview with him coming up in a moment. meantime at 7:30 on this wednesday morning, the 14th of march 2012. i'm ann curry along with matt lauer. it's a beautiful morning in the northeast. >> unbelievable. >> but it comes at a price. are you paying the price? >> a little bit. allergy season is arriving earlier than ever causing millions of americans to suffer

from -- you know the symptoms -- the sneezing, watery eyes. if it's bad now, how much worse will it get and what can you do to get relief? we'll get advice coming up. >> i will give you your tissue now. >> thank you very much. >> is your marriage good or only good enough? we have the results of an interesting new survey. we find out what one couple did to put their relationship to the test. could it work for others of us? we'll find out. we begin this half hour with nicollette sheridan's wrongful termination case heating up in los angeles after a judge dismissed one of the complaints brought by the former "desperate housewives" star. nbc's craig melvin has the latest on the story. good morning. >> reporter: ann, good morning. closing arguments are set to start at 9:30 this morning. yesterday in the courthouse behind me, it had all the makings of a classic "desperate housewives" episode, complete with plot twists and there was even a cliffhanger. >> why did you have to do this?

>> reporter: surprises and sus is pence were once the staples of kw"desperate housewives." what happened in court tuesday could have been easily one of the season ending shockers. >> it was a bombshell. nobody saw it coming. >> reporter: first a mystery witness was revealed. we learned it was longtime staffer michael reinhart who left a voicemail for nicollette sheridan's attorney over the weekend. >> i received an e-mail soon after nicolette filed suit that regarded having i.t. come in to wipe clean the hard drives of the producers in response to correspondence that they have had, e-mailwise, about firing her. >> reporter: reinhart helped build the colorfully suburban set and has been with the show since the beginning. he said he came forward to get the truth out. sheridan's lawyers hoped his testimony would help prove her character was killed off when she complained executive

producer marc cherry hit her in the head. but hollywood reporter inside the courtroom said it didn't go well. the problem was ultimately he wasn't that credible. even he couldn't be sure of exactly what he read and he couldn't remember who it was sent to. he didn't have a copy of it. he had very little detail. then 48-year-old sheridan took the stand and gave a brief version of what she said happened on set. in a trembling voice she said, quote, he was dismissive and he hit me. shortly after her testimony the judge threw out the battery complaint saying there was not enough evidence. >> obviously i'm thrilled by the judge's decision. but i'm going to withhold commentary on this matter until the entire case is revolved. i'm going to lunch now and i'm a happy man. >> reporter: the judge didn't toss the wrongful termination charge. sheridan's lawyers say that was the main focus. >> the case is about being fired for being hit and complaining at

wo work. >> reporter: sheridan often battled the other stars on the show. in this cliffhanger, it's abc and touchstone. answer touchstone dribistribute and airs "desperate housewives." they conducted an investigation and found sheridan was not mistreated. sheridan's lawyers will continue to look at reinhart's hard drive and if they find something, the judge said she could stop closing arguments. >> savannah guthrie is "today's" legal correspondent and star jones. >> good morning. >> with the judge dismissing the battery claim against the creator of the show is he off the hook? >> marc cherry is apparently out of the lawsuit now. in an early version there were several counts against him. with the dropping of the battery charge he personally is out of

the suit. the lawsuit continues. my take, i would be interested to hear what star thinks is this signals the judge doesn't think much of the case. that battery issue is at the heart of it. it's a he said/she said. the judge finds it so lacking in credibility she tosses that out. it makes me feel like she doesn't think much of the case and what jurors who heard the same evidence will think. >> it signals to the jury that the judge discounted all of what they have been hearing thus far as it relates to the battery. marc cherry is part of the case in that his behavior will be evaluated on whether or not abc is ultimately found liable. >> so abc touchstone. >> good news for marc. good news for abc. >> let's talk about the surprise witness that showed up yesterday. how influential given some of

the discrepancies. >> i was really surprised he was allowed to testify without actually having the evidence in front of him. the best evidence is obviously this alleged e-mail. the best evidence would have been a hard drive that showed something had been wiped off. i was surprised that the judge allowed him to testify. except it was a full and complete cross-examination to show that, one, he could be mistake. two, he could have missbre misinterpreted it and three, he doesn't have evidence. >> it was a bombshell that bombed. if he had an e-mail that had abc executives saying, destroy evidence the case would have been over. instead this well-meaning witness said, you know, under cross-examination, maybe it did say save the documents for the lawsuit. in other words the exact opposite of what he thought. it's a wash. >> i know it had nicollette sheridan. it was as if geraldo opened up the tomb again and nothing was

in there. >> ooh, geraldo reference. >> it's come to this. >> closing arguments today. what do we expect? >> you will hear abc touchstone used good judgment and followed the procedures that were set in place for when you are going to terminate an employee. those are the key words. the other side? >> it comes out to the timeline. whether you believe the battery or not. she said she was complained about the battery and was fired. abc executives say the plan was in the works for months to fire her. it comes down to the timeline if jurors believe they were planning to fire her for months. this case is out of court. >> when was it put into place? is when did occur? >> all right. we're going to find out what happened. star, savannah, thank you very much. now a check of the weather from al. >> thank you, ann.

what's your shirt? >> morning star baptist church in jackson, mississippi. >> how many of you are here? >> all of us. you. let's check your weather and show you for today. our friends in the pacific northwest, it just keeps getting worse. one low moves onshore. another one getting ready. then the aleutian low, right into the weekend for much of central california into the pacific northwest. look at all the rain and snow. talking about from northern california into central california. two to lee inches of rain. some areas locally make it may get five over the next 48 hours. and we are looking about one to three feet of snow. cascades and into the olympics. you can see record highs again in the plains. plenty of shine along the mid atlantic and southeast, northeast as well. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, tom kierein, storm center 4. dress for a summerlike day. here are the high temperatures i expect later this afternoon. we should make it up to 80 or

so. low 80s around washington. across parts of north central virginia. mid 80s and lots of sunshine and a lot of pollen, too, in the air. lot of tree pollen beginning to build. we will have another summerlike day tomorrow. then on friday, we will have that pollen washed out by rain and thunder and lightning over the weekend, saturday, sunday, sun comes back and highs and don't forget. get your weather any time of the day or night. go to the weather channel on cable. weather.com online. 100th anniversary of hadassah. [ cheers ] >> still ahead, the latest celebrity split that seemed to come out of nowhere surprising fans. up next, the downside to the warm weather. what you can do to cope with the early arrival of the allergy season after this. what's this? [ male announcer ] quaker oatmeal squares

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you squashed my willpower like a fly. you looked so innocent and so sweet. convinced my lips that we should meet. you were a relentless flirt. oh no we had indecent dessert. twinkle twinkle hope appears. a stevia leaf erased my fears. it made my willpower a super hero. as for calories, it has zero. twinkle twinkle truvia® star natural sweetness, i love just what you are. truvia. honestly sweet. it just wouldn't go away. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia, thought to be the result of overactive nerves that cause chronic widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain.

and for some people, it can work in as early as the first week of treatment. so now i can plan my days and accomplish more. lyrica is not for everyone. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior, or any swelling or affected breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight, including blurry vision or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. common side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain, and swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. with less pain, i'm feeling better now that i've found lyrica. ask your doctor if lyrica is right for your fibromyalgia pain. you know, typical alarm clock. i am so glad to get rid of it. just to be able to wake up in the morning on your own. that's a big accomplishment to me. i don't know how much money i need. but i know that whatever i have

that's what i'm going to live within. ♪ ♪ we're back now at 7:43. this morning on today's health, the early arrival of spring allergies. you may be enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. if you are one of the 45 million americans who suffers from allergies it comes at a price. dr. raj is here with advice on how to cope. she's the contributing medical editor at health magazine. nice to see you. >> nice to see you. >> enjoying the 70s in new york? >> it's wonderful. >> not only have allergy symptoms come early, they are worse this year than ever. why is that? >> as you said, it's warm. so the trees are releasing pollen at higher counts. people aren't prepared because

the trick with allergies is getting the medicine in before the pollen comes out. because this weather came out of nowhere, no one was prepared. they are not medicated and they are feeling the effects. >> you have allergy sufferers praying for a cold snap early in spring. would that change it or is the cat out of the bag already? >> it's too late. once the pollen is released, even if it gets cold it's too late. your body has been triggered to that response. >> for people at home now saying, i don't have allergies, this doesn't effect me you can develop allergies at any age. >> i myself only developed them last year. i never had them before. absolutely. it could come at any time. >> in terms of who's susceptible, who is susceptible to them? >> if you have a family history. if one or both parents have allergies you are more likely to develop them. if you have a food allergy, you're more likely to develop ese allergieallergies. >> you have people saying, do i have a cold or am i an allergy

sufferer? the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies are what? >> the runny, itchy nose. itchy, watery eyes. sometimes a scratchy throat. sometimes you get dark circles under your eyes. this can happen with a cold, but a cold lasts for only a week. if it persists, more likely to be an allergy. if it's a fever, it's more likely a cold. >> there are over-the-counter remedies and prescriptions as well. we have some medications on the table. >> you start with over-the-counter. you have the anti-histamine either eye drops or pills you can take. things like claritin and xyrtec. you need to talk about getting tested to determine what you're allergic to. is it tree pollen, grass pollen. what's going on. >> and behavioral things you can do to leave yat symptoms. check the pollen count. limit outdoor activities. keep your house and car windows

closed. not easy. shower and change clothes after being outside. >> the pollen is sticking to your hair, skin, clothes. wash your hair. wash your clothes. wash your bedding and pillows frequently so they are not exposed. >> and save your outdoor activities and exercise for the afternoon. why is that better than morning? >> pollen counts are highest early morning. if you really suffer you may want to leave the gardening and weeding to someone else. >> doctor, good to see you. >> you, too. >> good luck with the allergies. >> thank you. >> coming up, the celebrity couple that announced plans to divorce catching fans by surprise. we'll talk about that right after this. ♪ ♪ ♪

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these days when a hollywood power couple decides to divorce it's not surprising, but the latest celebrity breakup has stunned a lot of their fans. here's nbc's stephanie gosk. >> reporter: they are both teenage pop culture icons, but for different generations. 38-year-old peter facinelli is the father vampire in the twilight saga. >> reporter: 39-year-old jennie garth played kelly taylor in the original "beverly hills 90210" which aired over 20 years ago. during ten seasons of rich kids from beverly high, her character became one of the most beloved. they were, say fans, the perfect hollywood couple. the ones that were supposed to make it. this is facinelli supporting his wife on "dancing with the stars" in 2007.

in a joint statement released tuesday the couple confirms after 11 years they are separating. but they say, we remain dedicated to raising our beautiful daughters together. fans tweeted a steady stream of shock. thought they'd stay married forever. unacceptable! another wrote. another hollywood couple down. so sad. >> it definitely makes people think if they can't make it work in hollywood, nobody can. >> reporter: now they join the ranks of recent splits. ashton and demi, kim and chris, seal and heidi. despite garth's comments to oklahoma magazine fook magazine. i'm not interested in taking the easy way out. divorce is not an option for us. over the years they were seen in public with their three daughters. monday night it was just luka and her father at "the hunger games".

>> my daughter is a huge fan. i'm excited to see it. >> reporter: the divorce comes as garth gets ready to launch a new reality show called "jennie garth little bit country" focusing on her move out of los angeles to a simpler life. >> being out here on my own with the girls is not going to be easy. >> reporter: escaping the pressures of hollywood may take more than just a move to the country. for "today" stephanie gosk, nbc news, los angeles. >> meantime switching gears, we'll hear from george clooney on why he risks his life for the people of the sudan. he's coming back with a powerful story. we'll tell you about that. >> we look forward to that. first, your local news and weather. (bell rings) hi. good morning. big news. we're spreading the word about new honey bunches of oats

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good morning. it is 7:56. i'm joe krebs. shorts and t-shirt weather today. let's get the nice forecast from meteorologist tom kierein. >> yes. cool now. live view from our city camera. we have is opportunity up and clear sky. temperatures in the 50s. but it should climb maybe another 30 degrees by mid afternoon. these are some of the highs i expect around the region. warmest temperatures north central virginia. low 80s mid afternoon. tomorrow another summerlike day. then on friday, some rain. washing the pollen out of the air. dry weekend to follow. >> thanks very much.

if you are traveling northbound, branch avenue, multivehicle crash blocking the right shoulder lane. you are seeing some delays as you make your way past it. 270 southbound, very slow out of gaithersburg. these delays continue as you head south towards the spur. live look at shady grove. not so bad but you are seeing volume and it grows as you make your way to the beltway. joe, over to you. >> dan el a thanks very much. we will have another news update in 25 minutes.

it's 8:00 now on a wednesday morning. it's the first week of march 2012. if you are living in a part of the country where the weather is not great, prepare to be jealous. we have a day without a cloud in the sky. it is already 62 degrees in new york city. going up to about 70. >> 70 degrees again. chicago will be 77 today. which is great in may, but this is march. >> we have a huge crowd of rolling spring breakers on the plaza. i'm matt lauer along with ann curry and al roker. coming up, we're going to talk about a question a lot of married couples ask -- is our

marriage good or is it just good enough? if it's just good enough what can you do to make it better? we'll learn things from one couple. they have challenged themselves in a way to get beyond just good. we'll see how it worked out. >> and coming up, we'll hear from george clooney. about this time yesterday morning he landed back in the united states, having traveled to sudan where he risked his life to give voice to people suffering because they are being attacked by their own government there. he brought back this videotape and before he left to go to washington, he'll testify this morning before the senate foreign relations committee. he sat down with us to tell us about this passion and why he cares so much. >> that's terrific. one of the greatest actors of our age, robert de niro, will be stopping by. he has a new movie out. he'll tell us about that. and some other things going on. can't wait to see it. >> there is a great story about how he was at one point dressed

up as a homeless guy for the movie. and he was mistaken. people didn't know who he was and he was treated like a homeless guy. >> we'll talk about that with him. natalie has a check of the headlines. >> good morning, everyone. former pennsylvania senator rick santorum says twin victories in the deep south prove he is the republican party's conservative choice for president. santorum swept tuesday's alabama and mississippi primaries. mitt romney finished third behind newt gingrich in both states. romney did win caucuses in hawaii and american samoa. defense secretary leon panetta arrived in afghanistan for a visit. the trip was planned months before sunday's massacre of 16 afghan civilians allegedly by an american soldier. the u.s. military has showed

video of the soldier surrendering as proof he acted alone. the dow rose 218 points on tuesday and the labor department reported the unemployment rate fell in 45 statein january. a sign that nearly all of the country is benefitting from the improving economy. an update now on the 85-year-old restaurant reviewer who has gone viral as we reported on tuesday for her glowing review of an olive garden. she's now in new york on a whirlwind tour and is reviewing some of the finest restaurants. she had her first taste of the classic new york staple, the street cart hot dog. never one to give overly negative reviews, she said the dog could have been hotter but she gave a thumbs-up to the mustard and onion toppings. after all, that makes the dog. now for a look at what's trending today, the quick round-up of what has you talking online. criminals turned liquid tide into liquid gold. it's the top story on today.com. police say thieves are swiping

tide by the basketful because it's easy to resell for quick cash on the streets. abraham lincoln's assassin is the talk of twitter. bobblehead john wilkes booth have been pulled from the shelves. they were right next to his victim, our 16th president. and a blog about a dog who surely eats a balanced diet is being shared. maddie belongs to a photographer who is documenting his travels. he says maddie prefers standing to lying down so he started putting her on top of things. now he puts the pictures on maddieonthings.com. that's quite a pose. now out to matt, ann and al. >> i think she wants a break. >> how do you know if maddie likes that? >> i know. but the pictures are fantastic. meantime -- >> mr. roker. >> thank you very much. we have nice friends here to tell us about m.s.

>> my name is sherry. i'm here to support m.s. awareness week to give information to people who don't know about m.s. will all those who have m.s. say hi? >> we find out more at ms isconnection.org. let's check your weather. evansville, indiana. 14 wfi. sunny, breezy, 79 degrees. man, what a day. we are talking about much of the eastern two-thirds of the country. we are looking at plenty of sunshine. we can see we have a lot of wet weather, show. making its way into the pacific northwest. northern california. mountain snows as well. record highs from the plains down into texas. and into the northeast and mid atlantic states. little leftover snow there. picking up two to four inches northern maine including caribou and few showers. back door cold front. temperatures back down. still going to be warmer than normal. still drop our temperatures a little bit into the northeast.

happy birthday! you have to have that looked at. that doesn't look good. all right, cincinnati. i like the chilly freeway. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. good morning. sunny and cool. 50s. we will have a rapid warmup into the 70s by noontime. head up around 08 degrees around the metro area by mid afternoon. even warmer than that. just to the south of washington and in virginia. then overnight tonight, clear and we will be down into the 50s again tomorrow morning. another summerlike day on thursday. and then increasing clouds during the afternoon. late thursday night into friday could have showers and thunder. that will wash pollen out of the air. and that's your latest weather, matt? >> thank you very much. when we come back, george clooney talks about a very important issue and his recent harrowing trip to africa. he'll sit down with ann. first, these messages. is this what we're doing now?

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back with george clooney's mission to bring attention to the atrocities in the sudan. he traveled to the border region between sudan and south sudan where violence has been flaring up. he said he witnessed horrors first hand and got caught up in an attack. we sat down on tuesday hours after his return and i asked if this was his most dangerous trip to date. >> sure. i think you were just there. you would agree that it's gotten heated. so, yeah. it was hairy. there were moments that were dangerous. >> what made it dangerous? >> the randomness of the violence. people are getting killed and hurt all over. there were 39 people in the village we were in in the last month had been killed. 39. 514 injured. 39 killed in a village of 1,000 people. you know, that's just in one village. >> by?

>> by bashir. >> the president of sudan. >> three guys who were charged for war crimes in darfur are the exact same people bombing innocent people. they are living in caves because they are getting bombed. they are getting bombed every day. this is not a military exercise. these are innocent people. it is a war crime. >> what's your evidence? you went there with cameras? >> we went with cameras. we have evidence of that. we have certainly firsthand evidence. >> this was yesterday? [ speaking in a foreign language ] >> we showed up in one village. there were 150 people who came out and were cheering for us to come. clearly someone had told them we were coming. they probably had seen one of my films. and then all of the sudden, everyone just started running. >> we're going to go.

>> move. >> a rocket just sailed over there. let's see if we can see what it hit. you can see the kids. take a look over here. this is everybody headed into the caves to hide. >> how close was the rocket to you? >> about a kilometer away, the first one. it was close enough to feel it. it was close enough to make you -- wake you up. >> at one point you walk up to an unexploded bomb. >> yeah. >> yesterday at 10:30 in the morning, 15 bombs hit this tiny village where everyone is hiding in the rocks. and this is an unexploded bomb. it's buried up to its neck in the dirt. that's what you do with unexploded bombs? >> he kept putting the bushes on

it. i'm like, it's okay. you can leave them there. >> you can stop moving the bushes and step back slowly. >> i believe we'll just leave that there. that was interesting. the interesting thing was watching the fear. this whole thing is about fear and intimidation. this is ethnic cleansing. it's that simple. by identity they want them to leave. >> how do you know it's ethnic cleansing? >> they are only getting rid of people who are nonarab, period, that's it. at the end of the day what it all comes down to is creating space to get to the oil. at the end of the day, it's oil. south sudan has the oil and north sudan has the refineries. that's a problem. >> why do you risk your life? why care so much? this is your sixth trip to this region. why sudan? >> once you get there and you see people that, left to their own devices, without being attacked have lived and survived

and thrived in areas that are very difficult to do because they are survivors. but let's take it away from that for a second. the important thing is why everyone at home? why people in the united states? let's take away the idea that we are the most generous nation in the world. let's take away all the facts that we care about people. let's go completely selfishly and talk about economics. right now, what is going on in the sudan changes the cost of your gas every single day of your life. if for no other reason than your economic interests, there is plenty of reason to make sure that your government is involved in trying to secure some form of peace. >> you have said, i would like indicted war criminals to enjoy the same level of celebrity as me. okay. make them famous. >> make them famous.

>> omar al bashir, hussein, hahroun, taha. quite a few guys should be remembered like kony. i know that's become a big issue here. while we were on the road we found out about that. >> what do you think? >> i think it's great. the best takeaway is that if that means people across the country and across the world know the name of a war criminal, good. they should know the name of all the war criminals. >> some people watching this are going to wonder how they should square this passionate activist talking about global politics, the price of oil and sudan with the guy they see as an award-winning actor. >> not so much award winning recently. >> with a great sense of -- want to say more about that? >> i would like to talk about that. >> are you inspired by what you

have seen? >> there is always inspiration in those kind of moments. you feel an enormous sense of responsibility. we are only successful as a human race by how we look out to the people who can't look out for themselves. >> on that point, george clooney will testify about what he has witnessed before the senate foreign relations committee today. he will visit the oval office for a meeting with president obama and the secretary of state hillary clinton. he's also planning to protest in front of the embassy on friday. we are now going to switch gears. on a different note we'll ask, is your marriage good or just good enough? what you can do to improve it coming up right after this. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] not everything powerful has to guzzle fuel. the 2012 e-class bluetec from mercedes-benz.

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author liz wiler thought her relationship could use improvement. she wrote about her great experiment for the new york times. if it ain't broke, don't fix it. that pretty much describes many couples' approach to married life. it wasn't good enough for this san francisco journalist. nine years and two kids into what she describes as a happy, stable marriage, she decided to examine her relationship, going to different types of therapy to find out how to improve it. >> the research says the average couple is unhappy for six years before going to therapy. at that point it's like you broke your leg six years ago and you have been limping around. you haven't had medical care and you finally go in. part of what i was interested in was not waiting. >> it sounded like a nightmare to me. what's any guy going to say when your wife says, hey, i have a great idea. let's experiment with with marriage improvement techniques. >> there are a huge number of

marriage therapists out there. they have hugely varying degrees of skill and experiment. >> reporter: she says the wrong therapist can lead couples toward a divorce they may not really want. >> you need to be with someone good. you need to be with someone who knows what they are doing. >> people go to marriage counseling to get divorced. when you hear, if a friend confesses to you, yeah, actually, we're going to marriage counseling, your immediate thought is, oh, wow, their marriage is done. >> reporter: they are both writers who work from home and split household responsibilities. even people who spend a lot of time together and use words for a living can use some extra help. >> man, i walked out of the counseling sessions a couple of times feeling like, wow, this is terrific! you know? this is working out great for me. i'm scoring points here. >> reporter: but for all the hours spent in therapy, the most memorable part of the marriage

improvement project didn't require any talking at all. >> the best thing we did was we trained together for a swim to alcatraz from san francisco. we did the swim. it was bonding and exhilarating. it was all the qualities i feel 10, 12 years into a marriage we are all hoping to reclaim. >> most of us aren't going to do extreme sports on date night but she says the key is to take on a challenge that you and your spouse can do together. she says anything you can do to get out of your routine may be the best form of couples therapy. matt? >> amy, thank you very much. elizabeth and her husband dan are with us now. she's the author of "no cheating, no dying." i had a good marriage and i tried to make it better. judith sills is here as well. good morning, everybody. >> good morning. >> did you feel something had gone out of your marriage in the 10 or so years you were married or did you just think you hadn't reached your potential? >> i thought we hadn't reached

our potential. you know, our kids were young. we were in the stage where there is a lot of attention paid to making sure the kids get to sleep, to preschool and all of that stuff. it was more that i wanted it to be all it could be. >> you had a good marriage. >> a great marriage. >> dan, she says, we have a good marriage but i want to explore it. that's, we're having a good day, but i want to be audited by the irs. how did you react? >> the metaphor was why not see if we can peel our skin off? i didn't react well. it sounded terrible to me. >> when you first started counseling, were there days -- you say you had good days where you walked outgoing, yeah, i'm doing well. were there days you walked out in worse shape than you walked in? is. >> of course. you're stirring the pot of your life. you're getting all the gunk to come to the surface. of course there were some bad things.

>> judith, i think this isn't for everyone. >> i'm thinking it isn't for everyone because a good marriage is great. if you say, i have a good marriage, that is great, but you asked another question. you said, i have a good marriage, what can i put in to strengthen it and that is for everyone, every day. >> a statistic here. we conducted a survey on today.com asking the following question. do you have a good marriage? 86% said yes. 14% said no. then we asked another question. are there areas where you would like to improve your marriage? 87% said yes, 13% said no. the same number basically say they can do better. >> good marriage. yes, it can be better. >> how do you define good today versus how you defined it before this whole experiment. >> good today is more about acceptance. good today is not worrying that dan leaves brown socks around the house. >> is that because you don't worry anymore or he doesn't do

it? >> i don't worry. >> he still does it. >> have you improved at all? >> i no longer slip fried pig's ears into salad and try to tell her they're croutons. >> that's good. >> what's the big change in the marriage for you? >> i feel more comfortable leaving brown socks around the house. i feel comfortable cooking crazy stuff. >> everyone is relaxed. is that part of it? >> everyone's relaxed. everyone is in a place of realizing we love each other in particular. let's not worry about, you know, our small eccentricities. we are who we are. let's embrace them. >> don't measure yourself against an abstract standard of good enough, i love you. >> the marriage association called and said, thank you very much. this will be great for business. thank you for being here. we're back after your local news and weather.

8:26 is your time now on this wednesday, march 14, 2012. good morning to you. i'm eun yang. let's check in with storm 4 meteorologist tom kierein for a look at your forecast for today. feels like summer today, tom. >> yes. off to a cool start, though. temperatures around the region now at just right around 8:30. hovering in the 50s to around 60 degrees. continue to have the temperatures climbing as we get into the afternoon hours. right now reagan national is at 56. and by later today, here are the high temperatures expected around the region with lots of sunshine and highs at the mid 80s, parts of virginia, up around 80 around the metro area. tomorrow another summerlike day. maybe rain on friday. and then sun back, cooler for the weekend. >> tom, thank you.

we will ta(bell rings) hi. good morning. big news. we're spreading the word about new honey bunches of oats fruit blends and their unique taste combinations. like peach/raspberry... and banana/blueberry. we're telling everyone. with one flavor in the granola bunch and one on the flake. try some. mmm! two flavors. in harmony. yummy. four nutritious grains and two big fruit flavors to make your day bunches better.

if you are traveling i-66 eastbound, gallows, accident blocking the left lane. we are seeing significant delays

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8:30 now on a wednesday morning, the 14th of march 2012. we have a massive crowd. part of our rolling spring break in rockefeller plaza. we're glad to give them this opportunity with their boas and all to say hi to family and friends back home. meantime we're out on the plaza. we have a big story about a big happening at the supermarket. >> more men are out there doing the grocery shopping.

so stores have gotten hip to that. they're saying, wait a second. what can we do to make the experience better for men and attract more men to buy more? >> free bacon samples. >> potatoes. >> we'll talk about how stores are getting macho. >> are you doing enough to save for retirement? jean chatzky says no and she has great, important and easy to follow advice to help you build that emergency cushion. she has a new book out. we'll talk to her. >> also for parents if you have children in day care are they getting the stimulation they need? much of a child's foundation for learning is established in the first two years of life, as you know. according to a recent study many day cares aren't fulfilling the primary needs. jenna bush hager will have more on this coming up. >> she looks luminous. let's bring in amanda peet. tell us about your new character

and why a comedy? >> i'm so excited to do another comedy. it's an opposites attract romantic comedy. i play a type a lawyer whose ex-husband is in jail for securities fraud. i fall in love with my contractor who's a sexy, pot smoking motorcycle riding good for nothing. >> something you said in the preinterview i liked. in the best tradition of a show like moonlighting you like the opposite attracts situation especially when the two characters almost hate the fact that they are attracted to each other. >> i love that. i get uncomfortable in the audience because it's suspenseful. you want them to be together, but you understand it's a contentious relationship. yes, i love playing that. and my beautiful, gorgeous costar david walton is -- beautiful. >> he's beautiful and gorgeous. >> and you have a terrific

supporting cast. jeffrey tamber, jamie smooth. >> i can't function because i'm worshiping my costars. we feel really, really lucky. everyone's brilliantly funny and so, yeah. >> you're a brilliant working mom as well. i know you found a way to manage balancing career and the kids. >> i have? am i managing it? >> do you bring them to the set? >> yes. they came to the set sometimes in their pajamas and frankie, my older daughter would do the clapper and say we're going on a bell! >> not the kind that turns the lights off. >> how are you this funny this early? >> we're punchy, not funny. >> congratulations. the series premiere of "bent" is on wednesday with two episodes

starting at 9:00/8:00 central time here on nbc. >> nice to >> let's show you what we've got for you. today, afternoon temperatures, talking 30s, 40s and 60s in new england. 50s in the northern plains. and a look at these temperatures. mississippi river valley, central plains, southeast, mid atlantic states, temperatures will be in the 80s. much above normal temperatures important march the way we are looking now. to the end of march, below normal temperatures along the coast. above normal temperatures along the eastern seaboard. above normal back through much of the plains and you can see as we said today record highs in the plains and into the lower mississippi rivers valley. more heavy rain coming into the pacific northwest. northern california, heavy mountain snows and a gorgeous day along the northeast and mid atlantic coast. into the southeast. look for some mountain snows in northern new england. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. tom kierein, storm center 4. with the sun up now.

the temperatures are beginning to climb. we are into the mid to upper 50s throughout much of the area. later today, though, it will continue to climb. all the way into the 70s and maybe low 80s around the metro area. and perhaps even mid 80s across parts of virginia by mid afternoon. then clear tonight and we will be in the 60s lou the evening. then by dawn tomorrow, the 50s and tomorrow afternoon into the low 80s. might get a shower or thundershower thursday nig and that's your latest weather. ann? >> thanks, al. >> we want to say hello to robert de niro. yeah, robert de niro is on the couch. big time oscar winner stars in "being flynn" playing a man who drinks too much, spends time in prison and abandons his family until his son tries to reconnect. good to see you. >> how are you? >> kind of a guy at odds with himself, this character. why do you like him? >> i liked paul white, the director and screenwriter, adapter, if you will, of the book. i liked his intensity about it.

his passion, if you will. it's a word i can't stand is, but he has a personal reason for wanting to do the movie. if somebody has that kind of feeling already to me, you know, you're 70% there. plus what i have seen in paul's other work, i knew it was going to be special. not necessarily that it would be something i would be going after or try to develop. but with him, being at the helm, if you will, i would say this would be worth doing. >> is it true you get back behind the wheel of a taxi in this movie? >> yeah. >> as part of the character? >> yeah. >> that must have been interesting. you probably haven't driven a taxi since "taxi". >> "taxi driver," right. >> that must have been fun. >> that was something else.

>> the movie is a memoir based on the book by nick flynn about this estranged father-son relationship. >> yeah. >> you, as a father of six kids now, what did you take away from doing this? >> well, the father, his father is kind of a guy that in some ways i don't understand. because he's totally abandoned in a sense, self-involved. >> and homeless. >> becomes homeless eventually. to me it's somebody who's been avoiding his whole life what he wants to do which is to be a great writer. not just a writer, but a great writer. he deludes himself into thinking he is. of course, he's not. and the whole thing is that the son does carry that mantel, if you will. that's the nice thing about it. >> you disappear into characters

and you disappear into this guy. you went into the greenwich hotel downtown as the homeless character and security was called because they thought there was a homeless man in the hotel. you were confronted. and the funny part is you own that hotel. that had to create -- how did you like seeing the hotel operate from that side of things? >> you know, i didn't blame the security. they didn't want me in. i said, i wouldn't want somebody like myself in there either. >> but they are still employed. >> coming up, you have the tribeca film festival on the way. you're busy. nice of you to take time for us this morning. >> thank you. >> congratulations. >> lots of good buzz. >> "being flynn" opens nationwide friday. up next, noticed a change at the grocery store like a guy like robert de niro walking in dressed as a homeless man?

what stores are doing to attract male shoppers. first, this is "today" on nbc.

back now at 8:40. if you have been to the grocery store you may have seen manufacture men doing the shopping and supermarkets are taking notice. kevin tibbles is in chicago with more on the story. hey, kevin. good morning. >> reporter: ann, there was a time when you wouldn't see that many men out doing the shopping, but these days in the aisles, the times, they are achanging. ♪ lost in the supermarket no more if you're a guy. >> on a weekly basis i shop maybe three, four times a week. >> i just enjoy it. it's relaxing for me. >> reporter: of course to some men it's just work. >> to me it's a chore i like to

get done. >> reporter: we wanted to find out why increasing numbers of males are getting it done when it comes to taking control of the cart. >> this is what guys want. >> in here it's a free-for-all. >> welcome to beer heaven. >> reporter: we went shopping with men's health senior contributing editor matt bean at mariano's fresh market to see what guys are cruising the aisles for. if you're a red-blooded male this gets your attention. >> this is something a lot of places have beefed up on, no pun intended. >> reporter: yes, beef, and other man friendly items. one survey showed that in 51% of households, men are the primary shoppers. nothing like a frozen pizza. >> $3? can't beat that. >> reporter: it's no longer just pizza or manwich for us guys. wherever you look, supermarkets

are more man friendly from freshly prepared foods to a dazzling display of vitamins and grooming products. >> now as you see we have a wall of deodorant choices here. this is almost stifling. >> reporter: i want my own guy-aisle. why are grocery stores going macho? because men, quite frankly, are easy marks. >> guys are mission oriented. we are also bigger impulse buyers. when you get us in a supermarket, watch out. >> reporter: don't believe me? just ask the women. >> when it comes to buying, he just grabs. i'm more specific. >> she tells me stay away from this place, this place. she knows i'll see it and i might buy it. >> reporter: men are also likely to pay full price. men don't coupon clip, do they? >> have you ever clipped a coupon? >> reporter: negative. so if you are letting the man of

the house loose in the supermarket, make sure he's thoroughly trained. >> i don't have to do anything. i just sit at home, send him to the grocery store. >> reporter: these aisles were once the domain of the lady of the house, but no more. grocery shopping is every bit a man's world. and as men's health's matt bean tells us, ladies, if you don't want your guy to go rogue, send him armed with a list and tell him to stick to it. what was my impulse buy this morning? corned beef, of course. it's st. patrick's day, after all. >> that's a good choice. you look like trouble though. >> reporter: this thing weighs ten pounds. >> kevin tibbles, thank you for your reporting. up next, jean chatzky's money rules to live by. first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪

♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] virtual wallet can help you be that person who's good with money. see what's free to spend. move money with a slide. save with a shake. feel good about your decisions.

>> announcer: today's money is brought to you by bank of america. >> this morning on today's money, financial rules to live by. despite years of saving 50% of people will run out of money during retirement. what can you do to make sure it doesn't happen to you? jean chatzky is the author of "money rules, the simple path to lifelong security." welcome. >> tank you. >> these are simple rules you explain in perfect ways. let's get to them. if you can't see it and you can't touch it, you won't spend it. >> this is why 401(k) works. you have to get the money out of your line of sight. you can do it for other things. any goal you want to save for, get the money into a separate account. >> how about this one? just because someone will lend it to you doesn't mean you should borrow it. >> this is the lesson of the

credit crisis. the whole housing bust and boom. banks now are willing to lend you a lot of money for a mortgage. maybe more than you can afford. don't take it. and don't take the high credit limits either. know your own budget and keep yourself in check. >> this next one has entered my life on a number of occasions, i will be honest. don't shop angry, don't shop sad, don't shop hungry. >> three rules. don't shop angry because you're more optimistic and you are likely to take foolish risks buying things. by the way, investing in things. when you feel sad you have a hole in your sad you're looking to fill up and a new pair of shoes might do it. >> it makes you feel good for a little while. >> then you feel really bad afterwards. >> and hungry. >> you go into the warehouse stores. you have samples and you come home with a tent you didn't go to buy in the first place. it gets you going. and drinking the wine and cheese

things at that time neighborhood boutique, stay away. >> i have gotten good use out of that tent. if you can't explain it, don't buy it. >> any investment you do not understand does not belong in your portfolio. >> why? some could be really good but it's above your head. >> if it's above your head a financial adviser should be able to explain it to you so you do understand it. if you can't wrap your brain around it, it doesn't belong. >> this one will get people thinking. count dollars like calories. >> you should be tracking your spending. that's the thing that will get most people on track. you know, i read michael pollen's book "food rules" and i started quoting him like crazy. i thought, this is what we need for money. we tried to simplify. >> the best cost-cutting tool is a good night's sleep. >> absolutely. >> everything in your life you can say that about. >> if you don't wake up 24 hours later, you don't need it. >> i like the way you have broken it down. good book. it's "money rules."

up next, is your child's day care doing enough to boost learning at an early age? jenna bush hager has the results of an alarming study. first, this is "today" on nbc.

back now at 8:51 with an eye opening look at the importance of quality day care center from millions of infants in the u.s. jenna bush hager is here with

details. good to see you. >> hi, ann. during the first two years of life the brain is at its most vulnerable. in some day care centers where kids aren't learning they fall way behind. that window can be a predictor for the rest of a child's life. life for high school seniors is almost always busy, juggling early mornings and school work. >> want to help mom? >> reporter: for 18-year-olds it has complexities. here she's raising two young boys who are under the age of 3 and only ten months apart. >> it's hard. it's hard because at times i'm a mother and father to my kids. >> reporter: although glamorized on tv and in celebrity magazines, in reality -- >> color right there. >> reporter: young teenaged moms have a lot to worry about. like dismal day care. >> they usually sat down and it's like one teacher with 20

students. and if they didn't want to do nothing they will just make them watch tv. >> reporter: wendy's kids are not alone. approximately 7 million toddlers in the u.s. get care from somebody other than a relative and a recent study found only 8% of infant care centers are of good or excellent quality. >> many children spend a lot of time without having anyone talk to them, without being picked up. there are many children spending their days in front of television sets. by the time they are ready for kindergarten they may be two years behind well to do peers. >> reporter: the head of the center for early childhood education at harvard has new research that shows how negligent in the first few years of life changes a child's brain forever. >> when a child is getting almost no stimulation the brain starts to lose its architecture. you can see some of the connections wither away and you

have death of brain cells. the result is a brain that's less well wired for learning and development. this is not about everybody ending up the same. this is about everybody starting at a level playing field. >> reporter: a level playing field is all wendy wants for her sons. >> they are learning so much, every second. >> reporter: it turns out just across town from wendy lives su srs susie sprks bu -- buffett. he chose not to give money to his children but give them billions for philanthropy. >> i believe that most of the kids popped out with the ability to learn and succeed but they don't have the opportunity. so they end up going to kindergarten unprepared and everything starts going downhill. if we can change that it will change the k through 12 system and other things in the country.

>> reporter: susie is putting time and resources behind a new child care system called edu-care. what's different between what you see here and what you see in ineffective child care systems? >> it's quality. certified teachers in every classroom. it's low ratio. for the young kids it's 3 to 1. kids walk into kindergarten prepared and on a same level with their peers. >> reporter: wendy's kids are now being cared for here. >> they have learned a lot. i look at my son and he's doing everything. he's talking, walking, saying his numbers. he knows what he's doing. >> reporter: does it make you feel proud as a mom? >> it makes me feel good. >> reporter: the boys may have started at a zdisadvantage. now they are ahead of the game. for too many, that creates obstacles that will last a lifetime. we don't want to scare parents or make them worry. appropriate stimulation is everything from reading to

playing to simply speaking with your children. it's the simple things that help form the foundation for the rest of their lives. >> that's a really good story, jenna. >> thank you. >> it doesn't just help children and families. it helps our company. >> economy. economists talk about how important it is. >> well done. >> thanks. >> just ahead, answers to your most pressing financial emergencies. first, these messages and your local news. 8:56 is your time on this wednesday, march 14, 2012. good morning. i'm eun yang. let's check in with storm 4 meteorologist tom kierein now for a look at your forecast for today. quite a warmup, tom. >> yeah. we are beginning to warm up now. sun is up and a clear sky. temperatures are now climbing into the low 60s through sxwrout much of the region. 63 now at reagan national.

it will continue to climb. 70s by noontime. then actually maybe up rinds 80 degrees or so around the metro area by mid afternoon. may hit mid 80s across parts of morning virginia by mid afternoon. clear tonight and we will be down to the 50s tomorrow morning. another warm day thursday. could get rain friday. dry for the weekend. >> thanks, tom. a quick break now and

good morning. traveling in northeast d.c., we have a crash shutting down west virginia avenue. it is between raum street and holbrook street. colesville road, have an accident just in the right shoulder lane. police are on the scene there. over to i-66, had a crash here at gallows but out of the roadway. over to at bank of america, we're lending and investing in the people and communities who call greater washington, d.c. home. from supporting an organization that helps new citizens find their way... to proudly supporting our washington redskins... and partnering with a school that brings academic excellence to the anacostia community.

because the more we do in greater washington, d.c., the more we help make opportunity possible. back now with more of "today" on a wednesday morning, the 14th day of march 2012. and just another chance to say hi to some of the people who have come to new york on perhaps one of the nicest weeks of weather we have had in years. three days in a row reaching 70 deees in the month of march. that doesn't happen often. not a lot of complaints about it. i'm matt lauer along with ann curry, al roker and savannah guthrie. coming up, we're going to talk more about a case making big headlines not only in florida where it's happening but now all across the country. >> that's right. this involves a millionaire on trial accused of manslaughter in a driving under the influence

case. a young man perished in the accident. what's happening is there is a lot of controversy because he adopted his own girlfriend in an effort to shield some of his fortunes. now testimony is under way. the defense is claiming he was the victim. we're going to explain that coming up in a report. >> health news, you may or may not know march is colon cancer awareness month and there are a lot of misconceptions about the disease. it is not just a man's disease. other people worry that colonoscopies are painful. we'll find out the facts about colon health. >> and later on, with rising gas prices, millions of americans still unemployed, money is tight. we have our money 911 crew here to answer questions about whether to refinance your mortgage, close a store credit card and how to protect yourself from bouncing checks. >> sounds like we have a busy hour ahead. let's get started at the news desk with natalie and the

headlines. >> good morning. gop presidential hopeful rick santorum swept the south last night winning both the alabama and mississippi primaries. coming in second in both states was newt gingrich, pushing one-time front-runner mitt romney to third place. romney did have two smaller victories to celebrate this morning. he won the contests in american samoa and hawaii. leon panetta is in afghanistan today. the visit was planned months ago but has taken on new significance just days after a u.s. soldier allegedly went on a shooting rampage, killing 16 afghan civilians. meantime afghan officials say they have surveillance video of the lone soldier surrendering, proof he acted alone. an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 is jolted the tokyo area this morning. it came hours after a stronger magnitude 6.8 quake in northern japan in an area still recovering from the massive earthquake and tsunami a year ago. there were no reports of

injuries or significant damage from either of today's quakes. a bus carrying belgian students home from a swiss skiing holiday crashed overnight, killing at least 28 people including 22 kids. 24 other children were injured. police say they are investigating what caused the bus to veer directly into a tunnel wall. testimony is now under way at the dui manslaughter trial of a florida millionaire charged in an accident that killed a 23-year-old driver. it's a case that received a lot of attention because of an unusual move by the defendant. mark potter is in west palm beach with more. good morning, mark. >> good morning to you, natalie. the case drew national attention when the wealthy defendant adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend to protect some of that wealth. now john goodman is in a fight for his life. police say he was drunk and left the scene of the accident but the defense claims he was a victim.

>> the case of state of florida versus goodman. >> reporter: he's charged with dui manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident in which 23-year-old scott wilson was killed by drowning in a canal. in the opening statement the prosecutor said right after speeding through a stop sign and crashing his bentley into wilson's car, goodman left the victim to die. >> he hit scott wilson, pushed that hyundai across the street through the dirt and it rolled into the canal upside down. scott wilson didn't die from blunt trauma. he drowned. and what did the defendant do? he walked away. >> reporter: the prosecution says goodman who owns the international polo club in florida had been partying and drinking with friends before getting in his car. >> three hours after this crash the defendant's b.a.c. was .17, more than twice the legal limit. >> reporter: famed defense attorney roy black offered

another explanation. he told the jury the bentley malfunctioned and roared out of control through the stop sign. >> all of the sudden the car surges forward. you see him trying to control this enormously powerful car. unbeknownst to john goodman the throttles that run the fuel into the engine are not working properly. >> reporter: black said at the time of the accident goodman was not drunk and only drank heavily after leaving the scene to find a phone because his cell phone was dead. >> for the next hour, the only pain relief he was able to find comes from a bottle of alcohol. >> reporter: black says goodman didn't abandon wilson. in the dark he didn't know he had been pushed into the canal. he said before calling 911 he called his girlfriend because he was delirious from the accident and hers was the only number he could remember.

last year goodman adopted the 42-year-old to protect some of his wealth. over the weekend it was reported that goodman and the victim's family reached an undisclosed settlement in the civil case although none of the lawyers is talking about that. in the criminal case, goodman could get up to 30 years in prison if convicted. natalie, back to you. >> thank you, mark. restrooms are being restocked with toilet paper in the new jersey state capitol. supplies had dwindled to few rolls at more than a dozen city buildings in trenton. the city council refused to okay the contract for paper products because it included 4,000 dollars in paper cups. after negative publicity they approved the emergency purchase of a six-month toilet paper supply. that's a good thing. now six minutes past the hour. let's turn it over to al with a check of the weather.

>> now we know why they have been writing all those tickets -- extra paper. let's sho let's show you what we have for today. pacific northwest, it is going to get hammered continually. three storms back to back. they have more coming. we have rain from northern california on into pacific north west. mountain snows as well. we are talking anywhere from 2 to 4 feet of snow in the cascades and sierra. we are also looking at anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain. some areas locally 5 inches and temperatures way above normal. 10 to 30 degrees above normal. today in minneapolis, high of 72 degrees. 75 in detroit. 77 in chicago. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, tom kierein, storm center 4. right now with the sunshine temperatures are climbing into the 60s. reagan national now is at 63 degrees. and it is going to continue to climb into the 70s by noontime and then actually may hit around 80 or so. again right around the metro

area by mid afternoon. maybe bit warm mere the mid 80s across north central virginia. then tonight clear and cool. down into the 50s by dawn tomorrow. then another summerlike day on thursday. could get a passing shower or thundershower late thursday night and off and, money, money♪ >> time for today's money 911. that's where our team of experts tackle your financial problems. today we have sharon epperson, cnbc's personal finance correspondent. david bach, founder of finish rich.com and author of "debt free for life" and farnoos farnoosh torabi, host of financially fit on yahoo finance. we have a lot of questions. we have a call-in from jamie, a young person in new mexico. good morning. what's your question? >> caller: good morning. i'm 59 years old. i still have 24 years left on my mortgage. my house payment goes up every year and i'm considering refinancing to lower the payments.

should i assume that i would never pay off my mortgage at this age and refinance for 30 years or should i refinance for 50 years and keep the higher monthly payment? i'm wondering if i should investment in retirement or pay off my house? >> what do you think? >> it comes down to how much her terms are for the mortgage. if she's able to shave off at least one percent or half a percent it makes sense to refinance. she has to find the break even point. you can look at a lot of calculators online to do that. the key will be whether or not you want to get the 30-year or 15-year. if you can shave off enough you can refinance. but make sure your monthly housing payments are less than what you are paying now. as long as you can do it with a 15-year go for that. if it's a higher payment, i'd say not to do that. in terms of retirement, unless you have enough money in emergency savings, eight months worth of living expenses, paid off your credit cards and you are already putting 15% away for retirement i would not say to

pay off the house before saving for retirement. at 59, the key is to make sure you have cash to pay your expenses including a mortgage. you want the flexibility to do that. a tax advantage retirement account would allow you to do that. if you put the money in the house it's tied up and you don't have access to it. don't do that. >> thank you, jamie. now an e-mail. james from rhode island writes, after several insufficient funds fees assessed to her account my wife was told she should deposit her checks as cash to avoid having the bank place a hold on those funds. she says this worked for her. i wonder how they make it work and if it's something others could take advantage of. >> i don't like that she's bouncing checks, living paycheck to paycheck. if it's the employment check she should not walk the check to the bank. she should have the money automatically deposited in the account. that way it clears instantly. if she walk it is check to the

bank it depends where the check is from. if it's the same bank. if you give me a check from your bank they will say, hey, i can clear al's check. from a different bank it could take 5 to 10 days. a government check takes two to three days. the bank manager can sometimes make exceptions. for the most part they don't unless there is money in your bank account. they don't want to take the risk of checks bouncing. >> enough money to cover the check you're depositing. >> she should opt for overdraft protection. if she's getting a fee every time. >> check link your checking and savings so the money can come from there. >> if she opts out for not having the check covered she'll get a late fee anyway. don't write a check you can't afford. >> good advice. now to skype. joined by jessica.

good morning. >> my question is i opened a credit card through one of the furniture companies to have no interest for a year. i paid it off within two months. now i have this credit card i no longer need to use. is it possible for me to close it or will that affect my credit? >> you can close the account. in general we have talked ad nauseam about how it's important to keep credit cards open even after you have paid them off because having the line of credit helps your credit score. calculators like to see that you have ample sufficient credit in your name, even if you are not using it. a little bit of difference with store credit cards. they are structured differently. the limit on store cards is generally little compared to a bank issued major credit card. a lot of times they start you with $1 ,000 or $1,500 at most. assuming you have other credit

cards in the mix, closing a store card is not as negative as closing a card with a $10,000 limit. if this is not your only credit card and it does have a small limit in the grand scheme of things this is not going to hurt your score. if you want to get rid of it and it's keeping you up at night. >> thanks so much. we have lee anne from texas. good morning. >> good morning. my question is one of our credit cards went to collections. we have been working with them for the last six months on a payment plan. they recently offered to let us settle for half the amount owed. my husband wants to hire a lawyer and let them work with the company to help us settle the debt and remove it from our credit. >> i don't think the lawyers will do what they say they can. my husband thinks if we settle the collection agency will still owe the remaining amount due. what should we do? >> i think her husband wants the certainty that this will get

done. you can have that by getting everything in writing. that's the key. of course this is a negative entry on your credit report and it could stay for seven years. the good thing is it counts less along the way. look for a paid for delete letter. figure out a sample form of that. you want to contact the collection agency, come up with an agreement to the terms you decide on whether it's paying half the amount, the full amount. even if it's a settlement for half the amount that it says paid in full in your agreement. don't pay anything, not one dime until you get it in writing. send everything certified mail so you have a receipt for all the information. check your credit report. make sure it's gone or at least says paid in full. your credit score should improve. on the right track. >> best of luck. sharon, david and farnoosh, thank you. stick around, we have more answers to your questions during the next hour or so for those of you on the east coast.

that's at today.com. up next, we are talking about colon cancer. we have important health advice. later on, is nicollette sheridan's case crumbling? poor baby. the latest twist in the "desperate housewives" trial. first, these messages. family together for breakfaste might seem... ♪ ...impossible. no, no... well how about the purp? ew! ♪ yeah. wow. unless you have eggo® waffles. they're quick and easy to make, and there's something about them... that just makes people move. [ male announcer ] golden crispy outside, warm and fluffy inside. who says breakfast together can't be done? [ male announcer ] eggo® waffles. simply delicious.

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super for the oats that are so good for our hearts. ♪ super for how it makes us... super. quaker oats. energy. fiber. heart health. super people eat super grains. >> announcer: today's health is brought to you by the american cancer society, the official respon sponsor of birthdays. >> this morning on today's health, the truth about your colon. march is colon cancer awareness month. it's a good time to separate fact from fiction. dr. raj is a "today" contributor and a gastroenterologist at nyu medical center in new york city. good morning. you're the perfect person to talk to about this. >> that's right. >> you can't say enough about the importance of colon health in general. >> absolutely. your colon or large intestine

helps you eliminate waste, toxins. it's a site of one of the most common cancers worldwide. we need to know everything about colon cancer. >> let's do myth versus fact. a lot of people think colon cancer is a man's disease. not true? >> absolutely not. colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer and cancer death for men and women. it happens almost as equal for men and women. >> the next myth or fact. if you have no family history of colon cancer you don't need to be screened. >> not true at all. most cases of colon cancer occur in people that don't have relatives who had colon cancer. even if you have no family history at the appropriate age which is 50 for most people you need to be screened. >> if you have it in the family should you get an earlier screening? >> most likely, yes. it depends what age the relative was when they got colon cancer and how close the relative is. discuss it with your doctor. >> our next myth or fact.

colonoscopies are painful. >> this is one a lot of people worry about and it prevents people from going to get this life-saving test. you get sedation for a colonoscopy. you should not feel pain. most of the time you're totally asleep. you may be in a twilight state, groggy. not painful at all. >> the truth is it's what you have to do to prepare that isn't painful but it is uncomfortable. >> annoying. the preparation is what you're talking about. yes, you need to have a laxative solution the day before. clear everything out. it's annoying. you have to go to the bathroom several times. it's not painful. it's a necessary evil of the test, but not so bad. >> myths and facts. i want to get the facts out there. our next one. colon cancer is curable. >> it is true. colon cancer is both preventable and curable. most colon cancers start in polyps, precancerous growths we can remove during a colonoscopy

so it doesn't grow into cancer. if we find it at an early stage you can have surgery to remove it. basically you have an excellent survival after that. it's a cure. >> so doctors see polyps in the colonoscopy, they can remove it? >> absolutely. you don't feel a thing. we have it analyzed. >> only older people get colon cancer? >> not true. your risk increases as you get older. at age 50 you should start. i have seen younger people with colon cancer. it's important to be aware of the symptoms of colon cancer. rectal bleeding, a change in bowel habits. diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss. check with your doctor. >> good information. thank you so much. >> thank you. >> coming up, luscious locks for spring inspired by red carpet celebrity hair styles. first, these messages. (bell rings)

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have 46 grams of whole grains... mmmm. ...and a touch of sweetness. you'll be delighted to discover how good they taste. same as becka's science fair... another mini-wheats day coming up! ummmm...you rock. right here! [ female announcer ] kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal is packed with fiber and nearly a day's worth of whole grains to help keep your kids full and focused. coming up, a surprise witness at the "desperate housewives" trial as the judge dismisses part of the case. we'll have the latest. plus the hottest new hair styles for spring right off the red carpet. >> and a trip down memory lane in today's kitchen with old fashioned desserts. black and white cookies. jerry! >> and banana pudding. >> tell them about the black and white cookies! after your local news and weather. ♪

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9:26 is your time on this wednesday, march 14, 2012. good morning. i'm eun yang. let's go to storm 4 meteorologist tom kierein for a look at your forecast. couple of really nice days coming up, tom. >> yes. summer in march weather. going to continue. 81 yesterday at reagan national. probably repeat that today. temperatures right now, though are climbing into the 60s throughout much of the region, sun up and blue sky and we will have lots of sunshine throughout the rest of the day. warmest temperatures may be just into north central virginia and into the low to mid 80s there by mid afternoon. elsewhere around 80. tomorrow more of the same although maybe a little bit cooler and increasing clouds in the afternoon. might get shower or thundershower late thursday night. off and on friday. and then to be followed by a

little sun back on saturday and sun on sunday. >> tom, thank you. >> tom, thank you. a quick bre never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. (woman) the goal is to bring an end to breast cancer. (woman) there's no doubt in my mind that komen's funding helped saved my life. the 3-day is my opportunity to help save others' lives. (woman) i'll never stop walking, not till we find a cure. it is the most rewarding experience i have ever had in my entire life.

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♪ i'm sexy and i know it wave good-bye to your old hair style. wave? did you get it? >> yes. >> the hottest new dos for spring. waves are all the rage and the glossy pony as well. how to get a red carpet look at home with four sexy styles from jonathan antin. >> the glossy pony, huh? >> sandra bullock had it. it's sleek. >> sounds like something else. i don't know what. >> like what, al? >> i don't know. it sounds like more than a hair style. >> go with it, al. >> speaking of hair styles there was a dramatic twist wor athy oa

primetime soap at the trial brought by nicollette sheridan. part of the case was thrown out. we'll have the latest. >> all right. we'll have a bit of nostalgia in today's kitchen today with desserts that will bring you back to your childhood whether it's the classic black and white cookie of new york city or southern style banana pudding. we'll get a lesson in three classic sweet treats. >> that was the strawberry poke cake. >> we'll find out why it's called the poke cake. i think we got a hint. poking holes in it. >> do you think? wow! >> speaking of sweets, our sweet weather man, al. >> oh! let's show you what's happening. for today we have plenty of sunshine up and down the sweet coast. this is a sweet forecast for the eastern two-thirds of the country. record highsatures in the plains. unfortunately not so sweet for the friends in the northwest and northern california. heavy rain which will continue tomorrow. windy conditions. the record highs will continue in the plains. slight risk of strong storms in the upper mississippi river valley. and ohio river valley.

look for sunny and mild conditions. up and down the east coast. with chillier conditions in northern new england. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> sunny and mild now. around the region, we are into the low to mid 60s. much much of the area, la plata, 66. we will be into the 70s by noontime. low and mid 80s by mid afternoon. then overnight tonight clear, 60s through the evening and 50s tomorrow morning. thursday, increasing clouds. highs low 80s. and might get a shower or thundershower late thursday night and off and on friday. to be followed by some sun returning for the weekend. highs in the 70s saturday and and that's your latest weather. >> al, thank you. up next, more drama than any scripted tv series. the "desperate housewives" trial takes a surprising turn after this. time out. sweet. [ female announcer ] with charmin ultra soft, you can get that cushiony feeling you love

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sheridan against the show's creator. craig melvin has the twists and turns. hey, craig. >> reporter: thanks, al. good morning to you. in about three hours closing arguments are set to start here at the l.a. county courthouse. yesterday inside the courtroom, all the makings of a classic housewives episode. there were plot twists. even a cliff hanger. >> why did you have to do this? >> reporter: surprises and suspense were once the staples of "desperate housewives." what happened in court tuesday could have been easily one of the season ending shockers. >> it was a bombshell. nobody saw it coming. >> reporter: first a mystery witness was revealed. we learned it was longtime staffer michael reinhart who left a voicemail for nicollette sheridan's attorney over the weekend. >> i received an e-mail soon after nicolette filed suit that regarded having i.t. come in to

wipe clean the hard drives of the producers in response to correspondence that they have had, e-mailwise, about firing her. >> reporter: reinhart helped build the colorfully suburban set and has been with the show since the beginning. he said he came forward to get the truth out. sheridan's lawyers hoped his testimony would help prove her character was killed off when she complained executive producer marc cherry hit her in the head. but hollywood reporter inside the courtroom said it didn't go well. the problem was ultimately he wasn't that credible. even he couldn't be sure of exactly what he read and he couldn't remember who it was sent to. he didn't have a copy of it. he had very little detail. then 48-year-old sheridan took the stand and gave a brief version of what she said happened on set in 2008. in a trembling voice she said, quote, he was dismissive and he hit me. shortly after her testimony the judge threw out the battery complaint saying there was not

enough evidence. >> obviously i'm thrilled by the judge's decision. but i'm going to withhold commentary on this matter until the entire case is resolved. i'm going to lunch now and i'm a happy man. >> reporter: the judge didn't toss the wrongful termination claim against the show. sheridan's lawyers say that was the main focus all along. >> the case is about being fired for being hit and complaining a about it at work which is worth $5.7 million. chase what it's about. >> reporter: sheridan often battled the other stars on the show. felicity huffman, eva longoria and teri hatcher. in this cliffhanger, it's abc and touchstone. abc and touchstone airs and distributes the show. they conducted an investigation and found sheridan was not mistreated. we should note here that sheridan's lawyers will continue to scour reinhart's computer. the judge said if they find something she should stop closing arguments. al?

>> craig, thanks so much. up next, you'll be desperate for these hair styles. we have the hottest styles for spring with celebrity hair stylist jonathan antin right after these messages. what's this? [ male announcer ] quaker oatmeal squares

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this morning, the hottest hair styles for spring from penelope cruz to jessica chastain, waves are all the wage. celebrity hair stylist jonathan antin is here with easy styles to do at home. let's get started. i love the looks today. we are starting with retro chic. our first model has long beautiful flowy locks. >> yeah. >> and the inspiration here is the penelope cruz look. let's see how she looks now here in the live picture. you have the up do we saw at the oscars. >> they did waves on her and just rolled her under really easy. the great thing is it's just a couple of pins to roll her up. >> she didn't cut her hair or anything. >> no, no. it's a simple. i will take out a few pins to show you.

>> so you see it's all there. just tucked under. >> a couple pins. a little rubber band. watch. a little rubber band. at night she can take her hair out and style have these beautiful sexy waves. >> right. >> do you have to have length to to do? >> yeah. all it is is a curling iron and rolled up and pinned underneath. that's it. a little bit of spray and shine. at the end of going out she could just take this out all the way around her head and have all of her length back and great curl. >> is this a look everyone can wear, even if you're older? >> you could do it, too. look. you grab this hair, pin it up. >> '40s. >> retro chic. the classic a-frame bob.

>> looks great. >> exactly. >> on the next one, next we have the one-sided wave we saw on stacy keebler. this is our model beforehand. here is how she looks now. absolutely gorgeous. it doesn't look like it takes a lot of effort. the hard part is to keep it all on one side. curling iron, brush through. a little bit of shine product. >> how do you get this perfect wave? >> it's a curling iron and a good brushing makes all the curls blend into each other for this kind of veronica lake wave. >> it is veronica lake. >> spray on one side of her head all the way to the other side. but this isn't glued together. >> it still moves. >> she can run her hands through this at the end of the night, get her curls back and have it

looser. >> she looks like stacy keebler. gorgeous girl. >> very stacy keebler. >> anyone can do this? >> even hotter. >> anyone can do this look? >> anyone. >> you have to have long hair or can you do clip-ons? >> you can have the extensions. >> you can still use the curling iron. brush it all to one side and have that finger wave. >> lots of hair spray on this side to keep it down. >> or you can do a bobby pin or a hair pin. >> a nice broach. >> let's move over for our next look. this is the half do. this is our before picture of our model. let's see the before and after. it's the half twist on top. >> this is like what jessica chastain did at the awards. she had length down in front. the waves again, you know.

the waves right now are in. >> right. >> it's not about straight anymore. it's not necessarily about curly. >> very romantic. >> retro, clean. >> how did you do the twist on top? >> really simple. i just take a ponytail at the top of the back of the crown. ponytail here and then the pieces around her face i just grab them, wrap them around the ponytail. you can see the pin underneath. >> elegant. >> it's classic and clean. it pulls really tight on the face here. it's still sexy with the length, you know? >> she wears it well. finally, the full ponytail. >> the full tail. >> here is the model beforehand and here she is live. gorgeous. >> you can see the type of ponytail, again. >> the glossy pony. >> it has a pretty, classic wave inside the ponytail. >> but it's very tight.

>> very, very tight. the secret behind this type of ponytail is i take one ponytail in the center. then i take a few extra ponytails from around it and wrap those into the main ponytail. >> wrapped it around. >> and then just a little bit of curling iron for this nice wave. >> as we saw on sandra bullock at the oscars. >> just like sandra. >> these are gorgeous ladies. thank you. jonathan antin thank you as well. >> you're very welcome. >> up next, desserts to remind >> you're very welcome. >> up next, desserts to remind you of your

never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. (woman) the goal is to bring an end to breast cancer. (woman) there's no doubt in my mind that komen's funding

helped saved my life. the 3-day is my opportunity to help save others' lives. (woman) i'll never stop walking, not till we find a cure. it is the most rewarding experience i have ever had in my entire life. (man) register today for the... because everyone deserves a lifetime. this morning in today's kitchen, delicious desserts, old fashioned favorites. >> we'll bring back sweet childhood memories of grandma's house with three classic recipes for a cookie and a cake.

>> chris, good morning. >> good morning. my grandma was a terrible cook. >> oh! >> but a lovely grandma. this is memories of somebody else's grandma's house. >> the grandma you wish you had. >> if you're not from new york city you probably don't know from the black & white cookie. >> they were made a hundred years ago in a secret location in brooklyn and they're stored. every year, they are doled out and they taste like they were made in 1911. that's the story of the black & white cookie. did you know? >> i didn't know that. if you don't have a supply and want to start your own. >> a recently baked one. we'll make a cake cookie dough. we use a quarter cup which is a lot. we put them on a sheet tray and bake them for about 15 minutes at 350. >> you scoop them out. >> yeah. it's a cross between a cake dough. you want it softer. >> you don't want to cook it too long. >> 15 to 18 minutes. it's done when it's brown around

the edges. most people overcook their cookies. we have a glaze of confectioner's sugar, corn syrup which makes it glossy and doesn't make the cookie soggy which is nice. we'll mix this up. you can put half of that in here and we'll add cocoa powder and more milk. we have done that. >> this is more of a glaze than icing. >> this is a glaze. it has a nice softness to it. alsoice and bright. >> i will start with the white and go to the chocolate. >> there you go. i'll start with chocolate and go to white. you put the glaze on like that. doing a good job? >> trying. how long does it take to set? >> i let them sit for about 15 minutes. they'll be fine. >> delicious. >> there you go. you did it well. you didn't lick it or anything. >> he ate the cookie dough

beforehand. >> such control. >> i have none. >> from a new york classic to a southern classic. banana pudding. >> 1920 it was invented to sell a box of vanilla wafers. this is vanilla pudding but called banana pudding. so we put -- >> bananas in it. i'm on to you. >> so is everybody else. >> these are roasted bananas. >> roasted for 20 minutes. we start with -- >> very ripe? >> no, not that ripe. if they are too ripe they exude. >> ew. >> that would be a runny pudding. so we take the roasted bananas out. >> 20 minutes in a 350 oven. >> and a regular vanilla pudding. >> we have the pudding we also made. >> blend it all up. >> and now we have banana

pudding. >> okay. >> now we have layers of cookies, pudding and bananas. some of the bananas, a little bit of lemon juice so they don't turn brown. >> banana pudding is always better the next day when it sets in a little bit. what are you laughing at? >> i was looking at savannah over your shoulder. >> it's creepy. >> i found it calming. >> this is performance art. we should go on the road. we assemble that, put this on and we have the top layer. >> put it in the fridge? >> let it set about an hour. we made this a year ago in the kitchen and i made fun of it. >> looks good for a year old. >> this one was made just today. >> like the black & white cookies. >> i'm trying it. >> savannah. >> we have strawberry poke cake. why, chris, do they call it strawberry poke cake? >> is i bet you know the answer.

you poke exactly 50 holes in there. >> can you poke them anywhere? >> five rows of ten. >> what's the purpose? >> we really lost this segment. this was done by kraft in 1969 to use the gelatin. we cooked strawberries for ten minutes. we made our own mixture here. we're going to take strawberry gel and put it in. put this in the food processor. mix it up. we're going to put this over our own jello mixer. we'll put it over the cake. originally this was a boxed cake. it was too soft and got soggy. we made our own. >> it looks like this. >> looks like that. >> your local news is next.

i'm eun yang. tomorrow on "news4 midday," what brings president obama to a local community college. plus the future of food. the gaj etdgets that could maker morning routine easier. >> summer in march. already now as we approach 10:00. temperatures are pushing into the upper 60s to near 70 degrees. we may hit the low to mid 80s across much of the region today with lots of sunshine.

looks like this warm trend is going to be continuing into towards the end of the week. i will have all the latest on that tomorrow morning. be sure to tune in. >> i will be watching for any problems on the roads and rails in weather and traffic on the 1s. >> thank you. plus, the madness begins. everything you need to know to get you ready for our local teams in the big dance. let us get your day started the right way. we will see you then. we will see you then. have a

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. >> middle of the week, everybody, and it was a beautiful day yesterday. another gorgeous day here in new york. winesday wednesday. march 14th. >> i think it's time to put the coats away. >> got home yesterday after our lovely lunch that ann curry threw all the ladies of "today." it was lovely. >> now you're showing off. >> east 52nd street. it means the frog. just say it was at the frog. it was delicious. we had a wonderful time. got home and guess what had happened?

>> what happened? >> not only are the daffodils full out, they're out, and some of the trees starting to put outdoor furniture outside. what a thrill! for city people it's, like, yeah. come on, we put them away for like six months and then all of a sudden -- >> you take the chairs out, baby. >> we don't have cushions out yet. don't go crazy. >> good. doesn't it feel nice? >> it's like there's hope. hope springs eternal. >> i feel sorry for this first girl we're going to talk about today. amanda still, 19 years old. this young lady was in atlanta. and you guys, it's happened to all of us. we've accidentally dropped our cell phone somewhere. hers fell down the trash chute of her building. tossing some garbage. she looked down the chute and thought, you know what? i can get it. i can get it. >> she must have seen it. >> she could see it so she stuck her head in and dove in the trash chute. i have a similar one. >> same thing. >> dove in, got stuck between the second and first floors.

the fire department had to come. 911 was called, obviously. she was trapped for an hour dangling her head first. >> at this point you think she cares more about how she looks or what it smells like? what do you think's bothering her the most at this point? >> she didn't get her phone back. >> go all the way down. go down to the trash floor and get it out of the trash. >> she must have seen it lodged or something. we asked our facebook people what you guys -- where have you lost your cell phone? we got a wide variety of answers. >> some of them we can't even discuss because they are so disgusting. most of the time it's a toilet involved. >> that's what happens. it slips out of your hand when you're in the bathroom. you had that, didn't you? >> it's really none of your business. yes, it's happened to me. more than that, we wear microphones, and we have these pads that we wear. and we love it when we have to go to our sound guys and go oh, by the way -- >> it slipped off. >> it's a little damp. >> if you do ever drop your cell

phone in the toilet, they say that the best way to save it -- >> put it in your bowl of rice sitting right there. >> have a bowl of dry rice. they have it at manicure places because oftentimes people drop their phones when they're getting a pedicure or something. one guy, this is nasty. should we say it? >> yeah, you do it. you're good at it. >> a friend of his dropped it in a port-a-potty. and then went after it. blah. >> kara leone dropped hers in a woodburning stove. it didn't make calls afterwards. really? but she was able to at least see her contact says. here's the thing. aren't you supposed to back up everything with a back -- with a plan "b," right? >> i don't have that. >> why am i not surprised? >> i really don't. if i lost my phone -- and the thing is, again, because i don't remember anybody's phone number anymore except for my mom's. >> yep. >> and probably one or two others. that's it. i mean, i'd be out of luck without my phone. >> doesn't kathy, your assistant, have all the numbers? >> i guess them the work-related

ones are in mine. >> she's always out with foot problems. we want to say hello to her. she's at home recuperating from my foot doctor. she's out of feet, though. that's the good news. she's had both feet done now. >> kathy, we're glad you're back. she's back at work. >> i have good news. >> oh. >> i have to say the good news. you know how once in a while great things happen for nice, nice people. >> what happened? >> chef matt out in grand rapids, right? at the reserve restaurant has been nominated for a james beard award. do you know what that is? it's a restaurant that's off the beaten track in grand rapids. i'm happy for him. >> congrats to him. good for you. if you want to know if your boyfriend/husband is a cheater, there is an app for that. >> of course there is. >> now, here's the deal. we're going to tell you about the app. there are ten questions that have been compiled, very simple questions that they say will determine whether your significant other is a cheater. okay? here are the questions.

get ready. is he an extrovert or an introvert? >> i said it a different way. i just decided, you know what? who would a dream man be? so i did it that way. >> okay. so extrovert? >> no. >> introvert. you did introvert. >> i'm extroverted enough for anybody. >> does he earn more than $75,000? >> in new york, that's not a lot of money. >> the answer is yes. how high is his education level? is it high school? college? or advanced degrees? >> i just want advanced degree for fun. >> same here. how old is he? okay. >> about my age. >> all right. what kinds of physique does he have? >> athletic? because there was chubby, athletic and really buff. >> i like chubby. what kind of town was he raised in? urban? >> i said suburban. what did you say? >> i said urban. >> really? >> yes, i said urban.

okay. what kind of -- >> keith urban? just kidding. >> what kind of car does he drive? >> i said a nice sedan. not flashy but elegant. >> i said a ford. has he ever cheated or been cheated on in his past? >> i said yes. one time by a woman, broke her heart so he knows how it feels. >> okay, good. so was he ever cheated on, though? >> he was cheated on. he was cheated on so he knows how it feels. >> what's his commitment history? that's another question. >> married but amicably divorced. >> same. how many sexual partners has he had in the past? >> just less than me. >> the choices are -- the numbers are pretty astonishing for that, around they? >> not if you're dating charlie sheen. >> okay. all right. so -- and they sound like very basic questions. so when you and i both took the quiz, and our results are -- we don't even know what they are. >> we both got a "c," so he's on the fence. >> he's not a definite cheater. >> here's the thing. obviously the longer you live, the more opportunities you have

to cheat. the more options you have in life, meaning the more money and the more people around, you have more opportunities to cheat. >> yep. >> it seems to me. so, you know. and then i know some people that have lived on a farm with their nearest neighbor, 20 miles away, and he's cheated. so there's no -- >> and half the country's marriages are ending in divorce, the chance are that most people who take this quiz -- i mean, everybody's taken it so far has been on the fence or the guy's a cheater, which is probably true. >> because there's only one billy graham in the world. "glamour" did this survey. this was, i thought, kind of shocking. they asked how many guys have accidentally said "i love you" before they meant it. and they said that half -- half of the men said they accidentally said it either when they were drinking too much or when they were having sex. >> or when they said it because they wanted sex. >> yes. or they said it to get sex. >> yeah, yeah. and they're the ones, amazingly enough, who end up cheating

later once they get you. >> and their greatest fear, men's greatest fear, which is not death, a lot of women think it is, but they say it's poverty. >> well, some guys should fear death more after they cheat. because sometimes you want to kill them. >> yeah. and also, probably an older guy would be more concerned with death. >> yeah, that's the thing with these. you have to know -- i mean, what are you worried about, jerry? come over here, please, for a moment. you're our target guy. you represent every man to everyone. yes. huh? no, come on over here, my darling. speak into my bosom because that's where my fmicrophone is. what's your question? >> i don't remember. >> death or poverty? >> poverty. absolutely. i have a family to raise. >> but what if you were older and your kids are -- >> if you're closer to death, you worry about death, but i'm not that close yet. >> how old are you, jer? >> 55. >> you've got a couple of years. speed limit. ooh, i like that.

jerry's the speed limit. or he's a speed bump to somebody. >> it's a sad day today. you know why? >> oh, yeah. >> the encyclopedia britannica has just stopped the presses it. that's it. >> anybody under 30 out there is going what? what's the problem? but after 244 years -- >> yeah, they decided it's going out of print. it came out every two years and they would update it. the way the world is now with information and things being updated dpaish >> on a daily basis. >> it is kind of antiquated. by the way, it is so expensive. 1400 bucks. we used to have the world book encyclopedia. >> right. i think i had that one. >> the britannica? >> i forget. i just remember you couldn't do a term paper back in my day unless you had that. and my kids would not even know what the heck i was talking about. >> but here's the funny thing. a lot of people go to wikipedia but it sounds like an encyclopedia, but that stuff could be changed by any mary smith on the street.

>> keep in mind there's stuff on there that's not true at all. i'm not saying it was put on on purpose. it's not authenticated in any way. as you say, anybody can put stuff on there. >> you can go in there and change whatever you want. >> don't use that as a source for stuff, especially about me. we have a fun contest coming up. it's a voice contest. >> questioyes, yes, yes. >> we are starting to get submissions. and by that i mean we got one, i think. sara's going to tell us all about it. >> yeah, we did our voice contest last year, and it was a hit. this year there's a little spin. we're doing it with kids that are 18 to 16 years old. the winner will come with one guardian or parent to actually sing, and they'll get to meet and greet one of the judges from "the voice." but i think our judges are the best so it doesn't matter. logon to klgandhoda.com. you have to be singing a cappella. >> no music. >> no music and we're not looking for professionals as

nice as they may sing. we do have a submission i want you guys to hear. so put on your blindfolds. >> don't look. >> i don't cheat, hoda. >> you're looking at the reflection. >> roll the tape. ♪ i set fire to the rain ♪ watch it pour ♪ watch it pour ♪ as i saw your face ♪ well it burned when i cried ♪ because i heard it screaming out your name ♪ >> cute. >> i love that song. >> they're the girlie girls from california. >> don't tell us any more information. we know here girls. >> how do you know? you never know. okay, are we done? can we take them off? >> i couldn't tell because the harmony went by so fast. i think there were maybe three people? four. >> submit your videos. this could be a lot of fun. >> they are really, really talented. we've got quite the show today. >> wait a minute. it's winesday wednesday.

one more thing about this kid. colby is his name. i forget his last name. colby, c-o-l-b-y, out in washington state. >> you're hooked on it. >> it's the best red wine i've ever had. it's very, very accessible and smooth and every penny goes to -- >> affordable. >> -- heart disease research. so here's to you, colby, although you're only 14. up next, we're talking to a couple of kids from "the jersey shore." oh, my god, they're reading "the times." >> they're looking at the pictures. fighting. ♪ [ female announcer ] dry, itchy skin. a long term struggle needs long term relief. eucerin calming creme. used every day, its triple ingredient formula is clinically proven to relieve dry, itchy skin, with 92% of people reporting improved overall skin condition over time. eucerin calming creme. and the gentle cleansing formula of calming body wash.

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that cleans, brightens, and fights stains. pop in. stand out. "the jersey shore" is set to wrap on its fifth season tomorrow night. >> five, wow. as we say good-bye to another year of gtl and debauchery on the jersey coast, two of its stars, vinny and deena, are here to reflect on their achievements. hello, kids. how you doing?

>> you do admit it ain't brain surgery. >> it's harder than it looks. >> tell us why. >> you film 24 hours a day. usually the jersey shore is for a vacation on the weekends. we do is every single night for two months straight. it gets a little tough. >> also we don't have like a cell phone. we don't have anything but each other. >> the whole world. >> do you lose a sense of reality when you're doing reality television? >> all the time. >> do you forget they're even there after a while and you start saying shoot, i wish i hadn't said that or done that? >> we were just discussing that. last time we were here, i was telling you i was going to italy. we can't even think -- it wasn't even real that we were there. >> he's, like, yeah, we lived by the carousel. oh, my god, i forgot that. >> your life's been documented and you kind of miss it because you can't be all the way present. you had a few medical issues, didn't you, vinny, you had issues with anxiety. >> yeah. >> and how are you doing? >> i'm fine. i was set off that week, and unfortunately it was while i was there filming.

there's no escape. that's our real life 24 hours a day. >> when you say "set off," honey, what happened? >> i was just anxious because we filmed in italy for two months. and then we were told that we were going right to jersey. so i hadn't slept in, like, weeks, you know. >> yeah. >> i was drinking every day. and for me, you know, a trigger gets set up in my mind where i turn into a miserable, different person, you know. and unfortunately, like i said, it was that week. >> deena, you helped out. you really came in and sort of helped lift him up. >> i tried. because vinny was one of the closest people in the house to me. and i go through anxiety also. he would kind of help me out when i was going through it. so i was, like, oh, my god. >> you know what i do for anxiety, vin? >> what do you do? >> i read my bible. jersey shore at the house and get together and do a bible study. >> we couldn't have any books. >> you're not allowed to read? >> not the bible. talk about anxiety. >> all we really have is each other. >> i think that's called a

sweatshop, people. >> people always think it's in the house and just drinking. but no, sometimes we're not drinking, and it's so hard because you have the cameras on you from the minute you wake up to the minute you go to sleep. and if you get up when you're sleeping, they still see you, and they come in with the cameras. >> when do those guys sleep? >> they don't. >> there's someone on call 24 hours a day. >> snooki is on the cover of "us weekly," one of the highest selling ever. she's pregnancy and announced she's getting married. you're tight with her. tell us a little about that. >> she's very excited. this is what she's wanted for a while deep down inside. she's happy with gianni, so good for her. >> what's he like, gianni? >> jigianni is cool. quiet. >> decent guy? >> he seems it. we don't really know that much. >> the last time she said on, i said you know what you need to do, snooks, take it from a mother figure. start valuing yourself. don't give yourself away to every jerk that comes along. what does she do? >> she did. >> she really loves him. but, i mean, i don't know gianni

like that. like i know him from coming to the house. i sometimes see him out, but it's not like that level that i really know. >> is this going to change the show, do you think? >> i think so. >> it could. but the thing is, it doesn't revolve around snooki. it's all of us in the house, so i don't see why we wouldn't be able to film again without her. >> because there's no place for a kid, you guys agree with that? >> yes. >> no place for an infant. >> maybe we could throw a little baby shower before she pops out a little meatball. >> turn the smush room, put a crib in there, decorate it. >> from smush to snush. >> do you think she's matured since all this news has come out? >> you know, you can say what you want about her, that she's a mess, but this is reality. i think what will mature you real quick, being pregnant. i don't know. i've never been pregnant, but i can imagine. >> you want anxiety. >> everybody sees one side -- like you see my party side. you see nicole's party side. there's other sides to us that aren't just that. like we're very genuine.

we're very -- >> i am truly concerned about a message that's sent to the youth of our nation which is that, you know, if you don't want a child, use protection. >> she's really happy. she's excited. >> all right. well, we're happy for her. >> she's stopped smoking. she's doing really good. >> thanks for coming to see us. >> remember, bible. are you going to read your bible now? >> i'm going to read my book. >> you can catch the finale of "the jersey shore" tomorrow night at 10/9 central on mtv. "what the what in" right after this. brad needs car insurance, but, uh, brad doesn't want to spend too much. who's brad? this is brad. ahh! well, progressive has lots of discounts for a guy like brad. brad's intrigued. paid in full, safe driver, multi-car, going paperless -- all can help brad save a bunch. sign brad up. cool! jamie will ring you up. show brad the way. who's brad? oh, here we go again. discounts that everyone can use. now, that's progressive. call or click today.

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get ready to do some double takes from one of our favorite segments. it's called "what the what?" sara has spent all week long, she has nothing else to do, sorting through the photos you sent us, and she's here with our favorites. >> our first one is from doug from fairmont, minnesota. maybe i should get one of these for my front yard. >> oh, yeah. >> that's the fast train straight to a special place. our next photo is from carolyn in burlington, ontario. this is great advice, i think. while driving, get a little wisdom. >> i like that one. >> you might want to hold a

little longer. goggles, sometimes objects may appear closer. jim sidebottom from milwaukee, wiscons wisconsin, submitted this photo. >> showdown, see our dam. >> or see our dam judge. >> that's good. >> nice little warning there. we have a photo from redondo beach, california. >> if you look under 85. >> we're going to cast the net wide by saying if you look anything under 85, we are going to card you. so it's safe to say we'd all be i. i.d.'ed. >> i love it. i'm not complaining. carol from indiana sent us this photo. they do say honesty is the best policy. it's a restaurant. and we can promise you that it's going to be better than most hospitals. maybe even the schools. we don't know for sure. and finally christina willard from north platte, nebraska, submitted this photo. was it really necessary? >> well, you never know. they could have gone all the way up to the very end. >> they give you an extra few feet, but don't drive there.

>> okay. thank you, honey. all right. don't spend your entire week doing it. life is short. "what the what" is coming up. >> who knew? >> oh, yeah, who knew? who keeps up with this stuff? i tried it and my body felt so right, for a change. and then there's you... why should i try it? my system gets out of sorts but that comes with age, right? wouldn't you like to feel great? just because we're in that over 50... what does that mean? are we done? activia helps regulate your digestive system when eaten daily. these could be our best years yet. activia you don't disappear at midnight. and now, you've met your match. new revlon® colorstay™ 16 hour eyeshadow. 64 colors that will take you from night to day without smudging, creasing or fading away.

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this portion of "today" is brought to you by the new nonalcoholic baileys coffee creamers. find your flavor today. and we're back on this winesday wednesday, ready to play our weekly trivia game we call "who knew?" st. patrick's day is saturday so we're going to test your luck with irish trivia. as always, kathie lee is next door. she's ready to hand out 100 bucks to those who get the questions right. and to those who don't, lucky them, they get a copy of kathie lee's cd. here to help me out is ryan, the host of ireland's "the late late late show" and the author of "jfk in ireland: four days that changed a president." the longest-running talk show in

the world. >> in the world, ever. the planet earth. >> i love it. >> yes. nice to be here. >> you, too. >> this lovely lady is from newtown, connecticut. how many pints are guinness are consumed internationally on st. patrick's day? 10 million? 12 million? 13 million? or 15 million? >> oh, gosh. i'll say 15. >> oh, no, i'm so glad you got that wrong! >> oh, yes, the kathie lee cd. the correct answer, ryan, is actually? >> 13 million which is generally how many i'd have on a saturday night, but on st. patrick's week, we change that. i'm sorry she got the wrong answer. guinness is very popular. they say in ireland there's both eating and drinking it. >> a meal. >> we consider it a meal. look at me. i'm well nourished. >> back across to cath. >> this lovely young lady is from texas. she's all dressed up for a party. a leprechaun is actually an irish what? a shoe maker? banker? magician? or a thief?

>> a banker. >> did you say banker? you are adorable, and you are a proud owner of a new kathie lee cd. >> yes, she is. the correct answer here, shoe maker. >> some would say they are bankers given what they've been doing recently. at the end of a rainbow somewhere. by all accounts, shoe makers are employed. >> okay. back across. >> i bet you this lady from iowa will know the answer to this. true or also, erin go bragh means let's drink. >> wrong. >> i told you. don't mess with this woman. >> i was going to say, she's a tough cookie over there. that, of course, is false. >> it's false. there's great expressions in ireland. my favorite is may the rose rise ahead of you. i don't know why they say that because if the road rides ahead of you, it's the hills. there's another great one which president obama said when he was

in ireland recently, which translates as "yes, we can." there's an irish expression for everything. erin go bragh, ireland forever and over. >> back across to kath. >> colleen, if you're out there in america watching this, dean has a message from you. all right? all right. in the meantime, this gentleman from tennessee, how many patric? 1 in 100? 1 in 160? 1 in 200? or 1 in 260? >> "b." >> yeah. yeah. >> wow! that was a good guess. 1 in 160. >> 1 in 160, barack patrick obama. who knew? my middle name's patrick. >> is it? >> my father's name is patrick. you can't avoid it. it's a beautiful name. it's named after a saint, st. patrick who was welsh. who knew? >> the cathedral right across the street. >> true story. >> back across. >> the best corned beef and

cabbage in all of new york city no doubt about it wins every year is at neery's on 57th street. here's the question. corned beef and cabbage is the traditional food eaten on st. patrick's day in ireland? >> true. >> oh. oh, have fun. >> all right. so in ireland, what is -- what is eaten on st. patrick's day? >> anything, actually. we go to mcdonald's. the truth is, it's not corned beef. corned beef and cabbage is a frightful meal. it's desperate. we'd all feel quite sick at the pub after eating it. i'm being honest. >> really? >> there's a tradition. you must have some corned beef and cabbage. my mother showed up with corned beef and cabbage, i'd say politely i love you but i'm not going to eat that. some good irish stew or lamb. corned beef, there was a time. but i'm glad to say -- >> that time has passed. >> come on. >> moving on. ryan, thank you for coming to see us. good luck with your show. not that you need it. >> you always have luck.

happy st. patrick's day and thanks for having me. >> my pleasure. are your kids always getting the upper hand in an argument? kathie lee will come back across the street, and we'll talk about how you can regain control right after this. i'm a wife, i'm a mom... and chantix worked for me. it's a medication i could take and still smoke, while it built up in my system. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these, stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, tell your doctor if you have new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea,

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children really know how to push their parents' buttons to a point where they give in or they argue, pretty much. >> yes, but susan is the author of "parenting without power struggles." she says you can raise your child without battles by following her techniques. where were you when i needed you? >> where was i when i needed you? >> we talk so much about parenting and how we feel like the kids rule the roost. >> asylum. >> yeah, when you're watching how parents deal with their kids, clearly they're not the ones in charge. >> no, and we need to be. our kids want and need us to be what i call the captain of the ship. >> we're doing them a disservice. we love our children so much. if you really love them, then discipline them, right? >> because the truth is we're not raising children. we're raising adults.

>> well, show us some good techniques. >> three things. >> hand signals. hand signals. >> so this represents the parent. the parent in charge. and this is the child. this is how it's supposed to go where the child says, i want some cake. sweetie, not right now. why not? watch carefully. yes, i will. no, i gave you cake last night and you didn't eat. but that's because this is where you have the pushing and the pushing back. nobody's in charge. i call this the two lawyers. >> yes. >> and then it goes worse. if you don't give me cake, i'm not going to do my homework. yes, you are. >> they become the dominant one. >> and down here the way you know you're here is you're bribing and threatening and nobody's in charge. that's where you're not at your best parenting. >> show us how it should be. >> same scenario. >> i want some cake. sweetie, i know. the cake's really good. can i have some? i'm afraid not. why not? whatever reason i give you isn't going to make sense right now, but it's really yummy, i get it, and maybe we'll talk about when you can have cake and you can make another one. you're not engaging.

you're not participating or pushing or pushing back. >> but you are giving them hope. >> seems to me it's not as decisive enough. >> that's if they're not pushing against you. if they're really nuts and stirred up, you don't give any hope. it's not that you're not giving hope, you're just saying i know you want it. it's great cake. it tasted so good, but you're not engaging in the power struggle. you're staying disengaged. >> you may have dessert after you've had your full dinner. >> you can say that, but you don't want to need their push. sometimes we train our kids how to push and push and push to get what they want. >> what about when you're totally exhausted? you know what i mean? you're tired, it's the end of the day. when you need a piece of cake. just eat it. >> here's the way that you hold this place. you make it your idea. i was about to give you cake. i can't believe it! you read my mind! >> oh, so then you festeal the power? >> you manipulate them. i like that. >> then they know their place. >> when your child is very frustrated -- >> usually it's because they're

tired. >> a lot of times they're at the end of the day. >> what do you do in that kind of situation? >> you stay calm. you slow down. you address the root of what's going on by just getting them to nod their head or say yes at least three times. you really -- you know, you really were hoping i would give you a free pass on the homework. you really don't want to do it. i get it. and you just don't engage in the pushing. but you acknowledge what's underneath it. >> i think that's an important point. acknowledging that your feelings are your feelings. >> sure. >> and you have the right to them. however, mine are more important than yours. >> all right. there's a lot of great stuff in your book. >> very nice to meet you. you look beautiful in your jennifer miller outfit. you can read an excerpt from her book at klgandhoda.com. up next, age-busting makeup tricks. they'll help you look years and years and years younger after this. >> and years. yours and mine. because we found it. together. on a walk, walk, walk. love to walk.

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appearance, look no further than your own makeup bag. the right lip color or foundation will help you turn back the clock instantly. here with age-busting makeup tricks is meredith rollins. >> we love her. >> so nice to see you again. thank you. >> you, too. some tips to really shave some years off? >> they really are. i'm not saying you should throw out your wrinkle creams or stop wearing spfs, but these are easy. it's really one product. you can do them yourself. you don't need a makeup artist, and they make you look great. >> let's start with purdy. >> so this is a beautiful sort of rosy blush, and it is a cream formulation. the key thing with cream blush is that you can just put it on with your fingers, you just rub it in. it gives you that youthful glow. and it's better than a powder brush because powder formulas can settle into fine lines and make your skin look a little dry. with a cream formulation, you can just build it up beautifully. >> just make sure you blend it real well. >> exactly. >> you do look great. let's move down to tiffany.

this is the eyeliner section. hi, tiffany. >> tiffany is wearing this beautiful black liner that is flipped up at the ends. as all of us get a little older, the outside of the corners of your eyes tend to droop a tiny bit. this counteracts it because you use a liner to go along here and flick it pup. you can use it with a q-tip, you can use the end of your pencil, and it gives you sort of an instant eyelift. >> we like that. >> you look great. >> thank you. >> now, on the eyes, we've got shimmers or something you like here. stacy is with us. >> exactly. so this is a neutral shimmery shadow. >> i like that. >> it is just one shade lighter than her normal skin tone. and we use a powder formulation here because cream formulations for shadow can sometimes settle into your fine lines and make you look a little crepey. but this is like spanx for your lids. it just lifts you and makes you look great. >> just saying the word spanx, every time we saw it, she needs to send us a buck. >> a little less expensive options? >> you can get them at any price

point and really any shade that matches your skin tone. >> you should throw these things out after a while. what would you say, six months? >> six months, get rid of them. >> hody, that means you. get a whole new bag. >> get a whole new ziploc. thanks, hon. we have christine here on the end, and we're talking lips. we need this one, don't we? >> yeah. the other thing that happens as you get older is that you lose color in your lips. and so the best way to look really youthful is to have sort of a rosy glow. and you can use kind of a sheer formulation like this revlon. >> that's so natural. >> pinky rosy glow really gives you that kind of young, sexy, juicy-looking mouth. >> she was talking about you. >> juicy. >> thank you so much. >> thanks, ladies. up next, we're tasting the wild flavors of south africa. >> really? >> i know. this is "today" on nbc. cheeseburger macaroni?

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it is time for "today's kitchen," and we're gettin' saucy with a chef visiting us all the way from south africa. >> he is very cute. he's here from ruben's at one and only cape town. so you're making chicken balls for us, yes? >> i'm making chicken balls. i wanted to -- i'll just start by saying i wanted to make ostrich, but i thought that was going to be too big for today. >> it's hard to catch those doggone things. ostrich balls, i guess we could have had. >> is this breast meat or dark meat? >> it's dark meat. it's just a bit more moist. we slow cook that in a bit of a stock. just pick them off the bone. >> mm-hmm. >> and then we started some onion. >> what about all this business here? is that going in? >> that's some curry powder,

nutmeg, lemon juice for zest. >> first of all, that's onion and carrots? >> that's some onion and carrots, yes. >> good. >> the spice will make it a bit lighter as well. >> and healthy. >> and healthy, ruben. >> ruben, stop it. >> once we get there -- >> now, where does the chicken go? in here? >> you can add the chicken to this. >> i could do that. i'll do it. >> spices. >> i'll do it. >> you're doing well there. >> thank you. i'm stirring. look at me stirring. >> i'll slowly add this. >> uh-huh. >> faster. >> oh, faster? >> yeah. >> okay. >> you've done this before, i can see. >> yes, i'm very schooled. >> only here. >> in the kitchen. at the "today" show. okay. and how long is this happening? >> just until it starts to thicken up. >> uh-huh. >> and then we're just going to -- and normally that has to cool a little bit. >> oh, look what i've done, kath. >> look at you, hodi.

>> oh, this is that? >> and this week we stir for how long? just so it gets moistened together? just to mix it up. >> all right, we're ready. i'm go ahead to add this? oh, lord. good luck. >> it really looks like she's done it. >> she knows what she's doing. i do it quickly. >> you've got to stand back when hoda does that because i know hoda. >> okay. sorry, kath. >> it flies. that's all right. we mix that up. and that becomes -- >> so that cools. we mix it up. it cools. >> sorry, kath. >> that's all right. >> all right. >> so these, we've -- >> show us. >> so that's been cooled down a little bit. >> scoop it out. >> just scoop it out like that. >> mm-hmm. yeah. >> make them nice and round. >> make them nice and round. you can make them small or big. >> yes, you can. yes, i do. >> people prefer them different ways.

>> yeah. >> yeah. >> uh-huh. okay. >> all right. just regular little -- what kind -- >> panko bread crumbs, the japanese ones. >> the japanese. >> and then you just drop them in that hot oil? >> yeah, stand back for that. oh, you don't have it too hot. all right. and we sizzle them for how long? >> just until they get nice golden brown like that. >> okay. >> and then basically -- i mean, that takes a few minutes. it doesn't take too long. the chicken's cooked already. we're not trying to cook it. >> so we're just going to have a little bite of it. >> that goes over salad? >> that goes over salad like this. like so. >> oh, that's delicious. >> this is actually the great thing is the sauce. and it's not quite a lot of fruit in here. sweet and sour. >> i like that. >> that has a little bit of a chutney taste. >> thank you for coming to see us. >> you have to try the wine. >> sweet. >> you shouldn't have. but you couldn't come back if you hadn't. thank you, ruben.

>> thank you, sweetie. tomorrow funny man joel mchale is with us? >> who invited him? have a great day, everybody. happy wednesday winesday. see you today at 1:00 from broadway. [ dog growls, barks ]

bring your dog to work day...

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