good morning. bizarre behavior. why the alleged gunman in that colorado movie theater shooting acting so strangely in his first court appearance. does it set the stage for insanity defense. battery investigation? sheriff's deputies called to the home of michael jackson's mother katherine after reports of a family disturbance. jermaine and janet jackson seen arguing outside as paris tweets that she still hasn't spoken to her grandmother. what is going on? three days to go, the excitement building in london with the olympic games just around the corner. the royal family is getting ready to experience the action

today, tuesday, july 24th, 2012. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is a special edition of "today," countdown to the olympic games with matt lauer, live from olympic park in london, england, and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in london, england, and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on tuesday morning. good morning, everyone. i'm savannah guthrie. matt is in beautiful london once again. i understand, matt, you actually got a sneak preview of the opening ceremonies last night. >> that's right. savannah, it was a huge night last night. they did a full dress rehearsal for friday night's opening ceremony. extremely secretive. we were all sworn to silence. but i'll tell you it is big, it's fascinating. there are going to be some moments people will be talking about for a very long time. excitement is rising here. it's kind of a fever pitch now

with three days to go. even the queen is getting in on the action. no, i don't mean meredith vieira, although she will be joining us. can't wait to see you guys as you get on a plane and arrive tomorrow morning. we have a lot planned for your big debut. are you getting ready? >> yes. i finally packed you'll be happy to know. please have my tea and crumpettes ready. we're excited to come to london. >> we're looking forward to it. let me tell you why ahead you may be seeing a lot of the royal family at the games. they have vowed they are fully behind team britain at these games. some of them say they will try to go to at least one event every single day. we'll tell you about that. also we'll track down american swimmer ryan lochte. he should probably be michael phelps biggest competition here. you may think olympic athletes are all work and no play, ryan is a guy who likes to let loose,

even to the point of breaking a bone every once in a while. meredith will stop by to explain why this is the year of the women at the olympic games, savannah. >> we'll keep hammering that home with you. we'll check in a bit. a new twist in the search for the twins. the newest judge on "american idol" is mariah carey. we want to begin in the news with james holmes, the man accused of the movie theater massacre in colorado. he had a very bizarre court appearance. kate snow at the courthouse in centennial, colorado this morning. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you, savannah. the last time anyone outside of law enforcement saw james holmes, he was wearing black. he was wearing military gear armed to the teeth. yesterday the man in court, the man who walked in, 24 years old, looked a whole lot different. this man was very quiet as a judge read his rights. he seemed to not respond at all.

>> people versus james holmes. >> reporter: with his hair dyed bright orange, 24-year-old james holmes entered court shackled for a procedural hearing sitting silently by his public defender. nbc's mike taibbi was in the courtroom. >> you could hear a pin drop. nobody was moving as james walked into court, slowly, sitting down, not engaging, looking at anybody, not reacting. >> reporter: throughout the 11-minute hearing, holmes never spoke seeming to nod off, glaring, staring blankly, sometimes looking quizicly, leaving many legal experts to speculate about an insanity defense. >> i think that's the only option the defense has. the question becomes mentally did you understand what you were doing and should you be held accountable for committing the crime. insanity said i did it but i can't be held accountable because of my mental state. sitting in the front row of the court, the father of 24-year-old alex who died while shielding his girlfriend from

the gunfire. >> i saw him in court today, i could have wiped the floor with him without even making a sweat. >> why are we making these cowards notorious. >> david sanchez spent monday morning at the courthouse, too. his daughter wanted him to be there to look holmes in the eye. >> i was putting off looking at his face. eventually i had to get past that and see who the killer was. >> reporter: katie couldn't be there herself. she was about to have a baby. she had gone to the theater last week nine months pregnant. >> they had batman apparel on and they had been waiting for this poef for over a year. >> reporter: monday night katie was at the hospital where her husband is in a coma after shielding his wife and unborn baby in the gunfire. given the enormity of the crime, 12 dead and 58 injuries, the prosecutors may seek the death

penalty. >> the death penalty certainly will be considered in this case but it will be a conversation we have with the victims before we ever make a decision. >> reporter: while holmes remained silent, a lawyer for his parents spoke out for the first time. their hearts go out to the victims, she said, but they will stand by their son. >> yes, they do. he's their son. >> reporter: the next court appearance for james holmes is set to be on monday but it will be months before his actual arraignment when he'll give a plea of guilty or not guilty or guilty by reason of insanity. savannah, it could be up to a year before they see him go to trial. savannah. >> a long road. linda is a former prosecutor. gail saltz, psychiatrist and "today" contributor. good morning to both of you. we need a lawyer and psychiatrist to look into this. gayle, i'll start with you. i know you can't diagnose from a distance. when you saw that demeanor in court, what jumped out at you.

>> people described it in a lot of ways. the reason was it was a nondescript behavior. he looked dazed or out of it or sleepy. the point really is in a snapshot you can't tell if someone is psychiatrically ill. they will need to do an in-depth psychiatric examination, psychological testing and they will have to look at the history, sort of going back to determine whether there is a reason for insanity defense. >> we've reported according to sources close to the defense, he was not on medication. other people have been saying, could he be faking it. can you basically fake an insanity defense? >> i'm not sure about faking it. i think he was not faking anything. he looks to me, given his prior conduct, like a sociopath. think of the conduct he did in getting dressed, ritual, putting on the gear, painting his body red. not only red hair but painted his body red, war paint. this behavior was consistent

with somebody who could easily be a sociopath. >> let's ask our psychiatrist about that. >> is that possible? most mass shooters are and aren't psychiatrically ill. you can't say that. someone who is very psychiatrically ill, psychotic is capable of planning something for a long time. it's all a matter if they have had a break with reality and have a delusional system that has driven them to commit a crime, that they didn't know right from wrong. >> that's the point i wanted to bring up with linda. just because somebody appears crazy to us on the outside, the bar to establish legal insanity. >> very high. you have to show he didn't know the difference between right and wrong in colorado and also he didn't have have an irresistible impulse and didn't know right and wrong. the problem here, he goes on a website, looking for sex. you have the thing, it was like

an erotic thing for him. >> real quick, gayle. is it possible someone can have a normal life and snap like this, no warning signs. >> there probably will be warning signs in retrospect. however, psychiatric illness present in late teens and early 20s, so can sociopathy. they can be paranoid and ultimately commit an act. >> i know we'll be checking back in with you. thank you. now let's get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories. natalie morales at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning to you, savannah. good morning, everyone. a standoff with an armed man on the campus in connecticut has now ended. late monday night campus police spotted a man with a gun who reportedly was threatening to harm himself. the campus was evacuated and early this morning the man surrendered without incident.

trouble at other screens of "the dark knight rises" following that massacre in aurora. in southern arizona police say an intoxicated man behaving erratically triggered mass hysteria in the wake of colorado shootings. panic ensued and some 50 people fled the theater. that man was arrested. meantime in southern california, 52-year-old man arrested at a local movie theater. he's accused of making criminal threats to mimic the colorado shootings at the showing of the batman movie in norwalk monday. in maine a heavily armed man arrested on a state turnpike monday. he was carrying an ak-47 assault rifle and several other guns. police say he claimed he had attended the new batman film with a loaded weapon and said he was on his way to shoot a former employer. for the first time brad pitt and angelina jolie have been named by british prosecutors as alleged victims of the phone hacking. this morning eight people, including former "news of the world" editor, rebekah brooks,

were charged in connection with the phone hacking scandal. syrian officials are threatening they will deploy chemical weapons to ward off international military intervention. the warning is the most direct confirmation yet that syria has unconventional arms at its disposal. tributes are pouring in for astronaut sally ride, the first american woman in space. she died monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. nbc's rehema ellis has more. >> reporter: sally ride was the first american woman to wear the uniform and make the memorable journey into space. she was trained as a physicist but ride will always be remembered as an astronaut and crew member who orbited the earth on board the space shuttle "challenger" almost 30 years ago. >> i think there are a few people that are waiting to see how i do. >> reporter: what she did

captured the nation's imagination and made her a household name. out of 8,000 who applied for the space program in the late 1970s, she was one of the chosen to enter what had been an exclusive men's club. even after she left nasa, she continued on her mission to inspire young people, especially girls, which she spoke about recently during nbc's education nation summit. >> maybe most important it's the teachers in the schools holding the high expectation and getting the message to the students, the girls as well as the boys, that we expect you to do well. >> reporter: sally ride died at age 61 from pancreatic cancer, an american hero, became a symbol for everyone, mostly women, who broke through barriers like she did. >> to wall street where all eyes again on europe.

cortney regan at the new york stock exchange. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. cutting outlook for germany, netherlands and luxembourg on concern some of the healthier countries in europe may have to increase their financial systems to the weaker ones. it was worries about the future of the eurozone that pressured stocks on monday. the dow posted a triple digit decline back-to-back in three months. elsewhere zillo, real estate firm, said home prices increase in the second quarter year over year for the first time since 2007. natalie. >> courtney reagan at the new york stock exchange. a milestone with gabrielle giffords. with her husband astronaut, giffords traveled 12,000 feet into the french alps monday. this was giffords first trip outside of the u.s. since she was shot in the head back in january 2011. she looks victorious there on the top of the mountain. back over to savannah and al. looks great. >> that's great.

>> good to see her. nice to see that joy natalie, thanks. al is the first check of the weather. the heat continues, we cannot escape it. we have heat advisories and watches and warnings from the midsection of the country all the way along the southeastern coast. look at these temperatures, well over 100 degrees as you make your way into the midwest with heat indexes between 100 and 110 degrees. 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. right now it is humid. we are pleasant temperaturewise in the low to mid-70s. 76 at reagan national. later today, heating into the 90s and a possibility of some scattered afternoon storms. between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., some storms severe with damaging winds. lower humidity and cooler and the heat and humidity return for thursday and friday into the 90

that's your latest weather. savannah. now to penn state and the harsh sanctions handed by the ncaa in the wake of the jerry sandusky child sex abuse scandal. today some penn state fans are saying the punishment doesn't fit the crime. nbc's national investigative correspondent michael isikoff in state college, pa this morning. michael, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. just now right behind me bulldozers are tearing down the wall where the statue of the late joe paterno once stood. it's one more sign of the end of an era at penn state. this comes the day after the ncaa imposed severe sanctions on the school that the group's president said were needed to send the message that the conduct that occurred here will not be tolerated in collegiate athletics. >> football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting people. >> reporter: they are reeling after the ncaa announced

unprecedented sanctions as a result of the jerry sandusky child sex abuse scandal. the punishment includes a record $60 million fine, roughly the amount penn state makes on the football program each year to be used for programs to prevent child sex abuse. a four-year ban on playing in any bowl games, the loss of 40 scholarships over four years, and current players are free to transfer elsewhere, and vacating all penn state wins from 1998 to 2011, a devastating blow to the legacy of the late joe paterno. just this weekend the university took down paterno's statue after report by former fbi director louis freeh found the former coach played a key role in deciding not to notify authorities about an abuse allegation against sandusky, findings paterno's family denies. >> what we can do is impose sanctions that both reflect the magnitude of these terrible acts

and that also ensure penn state will rebuild an athletic culture that went horribly awry. >> penn state will not appeal the tough penalties and will vow to have a culture where people will speak up. it's central to the economy and penn state's identity. reaction on campus was shock, even tears. >> to do this to innocent people, players, the employees, community, it's just not fair. it's just not fair. >> you cannot deny there had to be a punishment. i just didn't think it would be this month. >> penn state football players med with head coach after it was announced. >> sports themselves can become too big to fail. indeed, too big to even challenge. the result can be an erosion of academic values replaced by the value of hero worship and winning at all cost. >> reporter: a penn state

spokesman confirmed this morning that the school had no choice. either accept these penalties or face the so-called death penalty, an outright suspension of the football program all together. savannah. >> all right. michael is quof ikoff at state college, pa. back to savannah and matt. >> obviously a lot going on back home. here the waiting is almost over in london. the games getting under way in just three days. it seems everyone is catching olympic fever, even the royal family. olympic spirit spread throughout the city of london monday. thompson carried by "star trek" star patrick stewart boldly going through the streets. >> it was thrilling. i shall never forget today. >> venus williams and murray each had their turn with the torch at wimbledon. no star sightings more anticipated than the royal

family. william, kate and harry vow to throw their support behind team britain, attending games every day. william, a former water polo player, is also expected to take in events at the aquatic center. kate, a former field hockey player may take in one of those events. harry reportedly has an interest in beach volleyball and will cheer on sprinter usain bolt who he met on a recent trip to jamaica. the queen show showing support to the olympics tuesday. >> the games will leave a strong legacy for future generations. >> but not everyone has caught olympic fever. london cabdrivers staged a protest on the tower bridge, angry at being forced out of newly created london traffic lanes. >> london cabbies are slowly being pushed out of london.

>> security around olympic park amped up as athletes continue to arrive at the village. inside the park, volunteers are getting early praise for being some of the friendliest the games have ever seen. >> i'm incredibly excited to be a part of it. i really am. >> approximately 10,000 of those lucky olympic volunteers were allowed into the stadium last night alongside performers arriving for an opening ceremony rehearsal, while the rest of the world has to wait just three more days to see the real thing. and a couple of notes for you folks back home. a couple of sports that will not be a part of the olympic games this time around in london, baseball and softball. one sport making its debut, women's boxing, which leads me to day two of our quiz from the nbc thick bic. >> showoff. >> stop whining. al, savannah and natalie, you're home. i hope you're doing your homework. five sports have been part of

every modern olympic games. name three of those. >> track and field. >> athletics. swimming. >> yes. >> gymnastics. >> yes. >> archery. >> two more for bonus points. no. if you say it twice it doesn't make it right the second time. >> making sure you heard. >> we're running out of time and you have to catch your flight shortly, cycling and fencing were the other two. >> all right. mr. highlighter pen. >> a lot of time on your flight tonight. >> thank you, teacher. coming up, the man who will likely be michael phelps biggest rival in the pool, ryan lochte and the two are extremely different. [ male announcer ] where did all the obama stimulus money go?

friends, donors, campaign supporters, special interest groups where did the obama stimulus money go? solyndra: 500 million taxpayer dollars. bankrupt. so where did the obama stimulus money go? windmills from china. electric cars from finland 79% of the 2.1 billion in stimulus grants awarded through it went to overseas companies. [ romney ] i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

coming up, what is going on

with the jackson family? sheriff's deputies called to the home of katherine jackson. afterwards jermaine and janet seen outside arguing. also, meredith vieira swings by to tell us why these games will be the year of the woman after your local news. it's called science!xist. here's what they'll need. ♪ pencils, folders, notebooks. ♪ ♪ backpacks, denims, graphic tees. ♪ ♪ markers, calculators. whoa! ♪ ♪ converse one start tennies ♪ well, pencils, hair gel, binders. ♪ ♪ pencils, hair gel, binders. announcer: school takes a lot, target has it all. are made with sweet cherries and the crisp, clean taste of our cranberries. i cannot tell a lie. 'tis tasty. okay, george washington, did you take my truck out last night? 'tis tasty.

you...you think these disguises will... no. [ male announcer ] salty. sweet. and impossible to resist. with mccafé real fruit smoothies at mcdonald's. ♪ the simple joy that lasts forever. ♪

good morning, 7:26 on this tuesday, july 24th. i'm aaron gilchrist. shaping up to be another hot and humid day. tom is here with what we can expect. >> it is mild and muggy on this tuesday morning. right now we're in the mid-70s, most of the region. upper 70s near the bay and it's already hitting the 80s, some of the highlands out of the mountains and later today into the 90s with the steam heat. we'll probably get some thunderstorms popping up, just a small chance and produce any damaging winds and looks like the time for that is 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and then the steam heat returns, along with chance of storms thursday, friday and again on saturday. aaron?

>> thank you, tom. >> thank you, tom. before you leave for work, homicide of young people in america has an impact on all of us. >> thank you, tom. before you leave for work, how can we save these young people's lives? as a police chief i have an opportunity to affect what happens in a major city. i learned early on if you want to make a difference you have to have the right education. university of phoenix opened the door. my name is james craig, i'm committed to making a difference and i am a phoenix.

good morning if you're traveling westbound as you make your way to wheelie avenue.

heading over to i-66 slow from the bypass to the beltway. you're under speed. a live look at 50. delays continue at 27 miles per

>> that is the captain of the u.s. water polo team giving savannah a little advice for her first olympic experience. we're hoping she takes him up on it. it's 7:30 now on tuesday morning, the 24th day of july, 2012. i'm matt lauer at london's olympic park. savannah is back in new york city getting ready to jump on a plane and join me here. savannah, have you ever tried water polo. >> no. of course you want me to try it, because you know it will probably be embarrassing. >> no, no, no, no.

i will tell you, i actually played with the women's team in athens and nearly drowned. it is an incredibly intense sport. you should take them up on that. meanwhile, coming up from london, savannah, we're going to have a profile of probably a guy who could be called the best swimmer in the world right now and we're not talking about michael phelps. we're talking about ryan lochte. a lot of people think he might eclipse phelps at these london olympic games. he's fiercely competitive in the pool and he's a free spirit out of the pool. so we'll catch up with him. before we do, we have more athletes joining us in olympic park. the men's volleyball team, nice to see you, a pleasure. this is the team that won the gold in beijing in 2008. bad news, this is the team that won the gold in 2008, so there's a lot of pressure on you guys. >> that was four years ago and a lot has happened since then.

we have a good team. i think our upside is maybe higher than that other team. we're working on steadying things out. we're really excited to get things going. >> i'm learning, rich, this is not a sport for short people. who is your main competition in london? who do you think you've got to focus on most. >> in our group brazil, russia, serbia our first match. they are always a solid team. poland is an up and coming power in the world of volleyball. they just beat us in bulgaria, world league finals. there's somebody to look at as well. obviously everyone who qualified for the olympic is a strong team. >> we're wishing you the best. i just want to mention for you folks at home, from southern california right here. you mentioned your town is richmond, virginia, haven't lived there a lot. where do you call home now. >> huntington beach, california. >> thanks very much. reed, rich, thanks very much.

back to savannah. >> matt, we'll check back with you in a bit. we want to turn to more trouble for michael jackson's family. now sheriff's deputies have been called to the home of family matriarch katherine jackson. good morning to you. >> morning, savannah. >> katherine jackson was not at the home but police were called to a disturbance. >> her security team called and said there was allegedly a domestic abuse. randy, jermaine and janet came with a camera crew and tried to remove the children from the home, michael jackson's three children. paris, the oldest daughter, tweets after this goes down. police didn't charge anybody but looking into a battery. this is more battery for the jacksons. >> plenty of drama to go around. separately katherine jackson for a moment was reported missing. paris said my grandma is missing. then came out and said she's in

arizona, fine. then paris tweets eight days and counting. this isn't like her at all. i want to talk to my grandmother. >> this is very odd. we have pictures released, katherine jackson playing uno with rebe and her family. her team put out a picture saying we wanted katherine to ride in an r v travel on tour, saw a doctor that wasn't certified. the whole thing is very, very odd. >> meanwhile i believe it was last week some of michael jackson's siblings wrote a letter they are not happy with the executor of minds's estate. >> this has been going on three years since michael jackson passed away, fighting over the will, fighting over the estate. the kids are saying the will is not real. it went to court and they said this will holds up. katherine's people said we've reversed everything negative in katherine's life as far as the estate goes, it's making money for the kids. leave it alone.

>> real quickly, there was a photo taken, i believe of janet and jermaine, outside the house. they appear to be in some kind of dispute. this was yesterday. >> this appear to be in some kind of dispute but they allegedly ride together and united in the letter they wrote to katherine's lawyers. it's he said, she said, but one thing we do know, michael would not want this for his children. >> thank you for bringing this today, we appreciate it. now a check of the weather from al. >> today's weather brought to you by the makers of centrum, always your most complete. >> a lot of nice folks from upward bound, lexington, kentucky. there you go.heirsunglasses? all right. let's find out what you've got for your weather. risk of strong storms in the dakotas all the way to the mid-atlantic states and up into new england.

super cells the ohio river valley and mid-atlantic could see large hail, damaging winds and a severe thunderstorm watch, including chicago. look at these storms just training along this system from huron, south dakota, all the way into michigan. you can see we are looking at a lot of rain. some places picking up one to three inches, especially in the upper midwest. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening ing your neck of the woods. >> good morning, tom kierein, storm center 4. some of those storms may make their way our way by this afternoon and some of them could be severe. out ahead of that, mild and muggy morning right now. temperatures around the mid and upper 70s. 76 at reagan national and out in the mountains in the 80s. and we'll have increasing clouds and, again, a chance of some of those scattered storms that might produce wind damage. generally, the strongest storms 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and >> got a 14-year-old birthday. what's your name? >> james. >> happy birthday, james. now let's go to a nonbirthday

boy, matt. >> all right, al. thank you very much. coming up the guy who pulled off the funniest or some might say the cruelest prank of all time on his sleeping wife. but up next, one of the stars to watch in london, american swimmer ryan lochte right after these messages. happy anniversary. what'd you guys get each other? the new cable subscription. it's a lot of channels. [ male announcer ] is this your idea of romance? it feels like i'm married to espn. [ snores ] [ male announcer ] then on august 10... i want a real marriage again. you two have come here to restore intimacy to your relationship. [ male announcer ] ...you're invited... sometimes you have to ask yourself, is this the best that you can do? [ male announcer ] ...to fall in love all over again. oh! [ arnold ] you could have had your pick. i didn't think you'd ever want me. i never wanted anything more. [ male announcer ] "hope springs." rated pg-13. they claim to be complete. only centrum goes beyond. providing more than just the essential nutrients, so i'm at my best. centrum. always your most complete.

so i'm at my best. try our new lunch-size grilled chicken fajitas, with sauteed onions and peppers, served with soup or salad. lunch break combos, starting at 6 bucks. enjoy them with friends, because a lunch together feeds the friendship. energy is being produced to power our lives. while energy development comes with some risk, north america's natural gas producers are committed to safely and responsibly providing generations of cleaner-burning energy for our country, drilling thousands of feet below fresh water sources within self-contained well systems. and, using state-of-the-art monitoring technologies, rigorous practices help ensure our operations are safe and clean for our communities and the environment. we're america's natural gas.

gives you a 50% annual bonus. and everyone likes 50% more cash. [ russian accent ] 50% more rubles. eh, eh eh, eh, eh. [ brooklyn accent ] 50% more simoleons. [ western accent ] 50% more sawbucks. ♪ [ maine accent ] 50% more clams. it's a lobster, either way. [ male announcer ] the capital one cash rewards card. with a 50% annual cash bonus, it's the card for people who like more cash. [ italian accent ] 50% more dough! what's in your wallet?

we're back now at 7:40 with today's athlete to watch. we're talking about american swimmer ryan lochte. while other swimmers have grabbed the spotlight in past olympic games, this could be the year he takes center stage. while his easy going lighthearted manner may fool some, ryan lochte has always been a fierce competitor and

contender. he's come a long way from the kid who used to like getting kicked out of swim practice. >> no way anybody will catch ryan lochte now. >> ryan lochte coming home. >> for all his success in the pool, you might think ryan lochte was destined to be a champion. >> it is lochte, world record! >> he's the son and grandson of swim coaches. he didn't necessarily begin that way. >> when i was eight, i would try to get kicked out of practice. >> what didn't you like about it. >> i didn't like practicing that much. i liked going to races and racing people. i was a little kid having fun. >> ryan said it was his father steve, a high school coach, who pushed him to the next level. we first came to know the name lochte as one-fourth of the 2004

gold medal relay team at the summer games in athens. while it seems the whole world was focused on michael phelps quest for eight gold medals in beijing in 2008, ryan lochte was focused on one thing. >> my long time goal was getting an individual gold medal while breaking a world record. i just remember looking up to the ceiling and saying thank god, it finally happened. >> you had been on the podium before. you had heard the national anthem played while you were standing there. this time you were standing up along. >> they had this big jumbotron and zoomed in on my family and my dad was even crying. it was something i'll never forget. >> six career medals. >> so much is being made, ryan, about the rivalry between you and michael. obviously he's one of the greatest swimmers of all time if

not the greatest swim tore date. every time you walk in a room, every time you walk in a room, people are looking and saying, you're going against each other and getting more intense. >> to me, michael is just another swimmer, just another person i've got to go up against and race. he's one of the toughest competitors i've ever had to race against. i love racing against him. >> you've been standing there by the pool on a couple of occasions where he's pulled off miracle finishes. and in some ways does the aura of that give him some kind of a psych edge? >> not really. just because when i go on the blocks, i always feel like i can win. i'm not going for second or third, i'm going to win. >> and when he did in the years following the beijing olympics, no longer in phelps shadow, it was ryan lochte who dominated the swimming world, beating phelps at the 2010 national championships. >> ryan lochte five gold medals. >> in 2011, ryan went five for

five at the world championship. he attributes that success to getting a little more serious outside of the pool. >> i started eating healthier. >> no more junk food? you don't do that at all? because you lived at mcdonald's in beijing, didn't you? >> every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. >> he also got more serious with his workouts, teaming with strong man competitor and strength coach. >> for me for training, i need a variety. i'm lifting, what is this, an 850 pound tire. i'm dragging a 525 pound boat chain like 60 feet. i'm doing keg tosses in the air. >> what's the biggest difference you've noticed in the pool because of putting on extra bulk. >> i'm a lot stronger. i can pull a lot more water than i've ever pulled before. >> you're seen as a terrific competitor in the pool and a little more of a free spirit out of the pool. free assessment?

>> oh, yeah rainfall one way ryan expresses that spirit is his unique sense of style. colorful speedos to outrageous sneakers he designed. of course, his infamous mouthpiece, first revealed at a medal ceremony. >> nobody at home knew why you were smiling. then you take me through it, you walked up -- >> i had the grills in. >> have they been retired, by the way? >> oh, no. >> the grills could come back in london? >> they will come back. >> from what i understand, your closet would make oprah jealous. you are a bit of a clothes horse. >> oh, yeah. i mean, i love clothes. i love designing clothes. >> sometimes it seems you do things almost just to push the envelope. like we mentioned the junk food. i mean, that's not what olympic athletes are supposed to do. you have also injured yourself doing things like break-dancing. you've broken your ankle a couple times skateboarding. will you swear off those types

of things between now and london? >> no. >> so you would -- if we were to go out on the street right now and i was to say here is a skate board, you'd skate board down the road here? >> oh, yeah. i'd do tricks and everything. if i don't be myself, i won't swim my best. i need to be myself. >> ryan lochte doesn't just want to win, he wants to win on his own terms. >> if you can write the headlines, ryan, for what's about to happen in london, what's your headline going to be? >> ryan lochte takes over. >> that headline is interesting. you're going to have more -- we're going to have more on the rivalry between michael phelps and ryan lochte. you'll hear what michael phelps had to say when i told him what ryan lochte would dream up for the headline. it's an interesting response. meanwhile, j. lo out, mariah in.

mariah carey, the newest judge on "american idol." that right after this. [ bresha ] you know? you could increase your punching power if you opened your stance a bit. because if you win gold, i could win prizes. so chop, chop, marlen. let me know when you're ready to start. there you go, sting like a gnat. [ male announcer ] keep an eye on your us athletes when you enjoy select favorites under 400 calories at mcdonald's. when they wigold, you could win prizes. remember, the ukranians are doing this in the snow. [ male announcer ] the simple joy of winning. the calcium they take because they don't take it with food. switch to citracal maximum plus d. it's the only calcium supplement that can be taken with or without food. that's why my doctor recommends citracal maximum. it's all about absorption.

♪ jif to go goes anywhere ♪ jif to go goes here, goes there ♪ ♪ jif to go goes everywhere ♪ goes here, goes there ♪ jif to go, wherever you go

new pencils, new books... new backpack...looks good. just trying to look our best. gonna take more than looks. from what i hear, ms. haskins is a toughy. oh we had a good breakfast, so we're ready. gonna be another great year, huh guys?! you bet your 8 layers! yeah! long distance high 5. whoa! oh, careful. hey, watch it. [ female announcer ] packed with fiber and nearly a day's worth of whole grains, kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal helps keep your kids full and focused all morning long. now available in touch of fruit raspberry. keeps 'em full. keeps 'em focused. with the azerbaijani wrestling team. ♪ can febreze air effects defeat the smelly air in their gym for good? [ man ] what can you smell? [ inhales deeply ] a lot of flowers. it's on the zingy side of floral. potpourri factory, maybe. you can take off your blindfolds now. oh my gosh. [ laughter ] [ male announcer ] success. victory over odors, for good, both here and in your home.

febreze. breathe happy. latest round of musical chairs at "american idol." natalie has more on that. good morning. >> certainly is musical chairs. more than two decades pop superstar mariah carey has fascinated audiences with her five octave range. now she will join the mega hit show. the unmistakable voice that's been heard by fans around the world will now judge the voices of others. monday superstar mariah carey confirmed she's joining "american idol" via twitter seeing, it's going to be so much fun working on "american idol." as a singer songwriter, i'm excited to help find and nurture new talent. idol has a long history of using

big name stars to attract viewers. this change comes after stephen tyler and jennifer lopez were leaving "american idol." >> they needed to do something big. there's nothing bigger than the best selling female artist of all time on the panel. >> they suffered the largest ratings drop in history, down 25%. >> i don't know if there can ever be one thing that can instantly fix idol and the problems it's having. there's so many musical competition shows, i think the audience is just getting tired of them. having said that, bringing on mariah carey certainly ups the diva quotient. >> as for her salary, carey will reportedly earn more than lopez. >> fox is reporting mariah carey is making more money than jennifer lopez got, $12 million.

>> her husband hosts "america's got talent" on nbc and recently joked idol producers couldn't afford to pay his wife. >> i think it's funny mariah carey is a judge on "american idol" while her husband nick cannon is the host of "america's got talent." i would love to see them engage in a little bit of a friendly rivalry. idol host ryan seacrest was among the first celebrities to offer baby-sitting help to the couples' twins by congratulating via twitter saying welcome to the familiar, mariah carey. when you and nick cannon need a date night, i'm happy to strap on the double baby bjorn. >> not confirming any other decisions on the idol judging panel, which includes randy jackson. new judges could be announced as early as the coming weeks. a lot of moving parts. everybody waiting to hear. >> the big question, can mariah be mean? coming up, much more from matt lauer and meredith vieira stops

by, after your local news. hi. i'm timothy. i came from the garden. [ cindy ] is he for us? mom, dad... i'm getting that feeling. [ male announcer ] on august 15th comes the family movie of the summer. why are you smiling? i can only get better. [ male announcer ] and once you meet timothy green... [ laughs ] i never thought i'd hear that laugh again. [ male announcer ] ...you'll never be the same. that little guy of yours -- he's something special. [ cindy ] everyone he touches, he changes. [ male announcer ] "the odd life of timothy green," rated pg. with less chronic osteoarthritis pain. imagine living your life with less chronic low back pain. imagine you, with less pain. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is fda-approved to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. one non-narcotic pill a day, every day, can help reduce this pain. tell your doctor right away if your mood worsens, you have unusual changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. cymbalta is not approved for children under 18. people taking maois or thioridazine

or with uncontrolled glaucoma should not take cymbalta. taking it with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. severe liver problems, some fatal, were reported. signs include abdominal pain and yellowing skin or eyes. tell your doctor about all your medicines, including those for migraine and while on cymbalta, call right away if you have high fever, confusion and stiff muscles or serious allergic skin reactions like blisters, peeling rash, hives, or mouth sores to address possible life-threatening conditions. talk about your alcohol use, liver disease and before you reduce or stop cymbaa.lt dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing. ask your doctor about cymbalta. imagine you with less pain. cymbalta can help. go to cymbalta.com to learn about a free trial offer. go to cymbalta.com are a sizzling deal, starting at 6 bucks. try our new lunch-size chicken fajitas, sauteed onions and peppers topped with grilled chicken, served with soup or salad. chili's lunch break combos, starting at 6 bucks. ♪ i just can't get enough

♪ and i just can't seem to get enough ♪ [ male announcer ] this back to school, you'll be coming back. when you buy the staples savings pass, you're guaranteed to save 15% each time. [ bell rings ] ♪ she gives me snickers peanut butter squared and i eat it. it's snickers with creamy peanut butter, would you like one? let's just keep an open mind. [ groans ] [ male announcer ] if you like peanut butter and chocolate, you'll love peanut butter and snickers. try snickers peanut butter squared. mine was earned off vietnam in 1968. over the south pacific in 1943. i got mine in iraq, 2003. usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation. because it offers a superior level of protection, and because usaa's commitment to serve the military, veterans and their families is without equal. begin your legacy, get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve.

7:55 is your time now on this july 24th u 2012. i'm eun lang. it is going to be a hot one. let's get the forecast from tom kierein. so far so good. >> it is a good one, but a muggy and mild start to this tuesday. mid and upper 70s to near 80 degrees and we have the thick humidity in the air. later today, into the 90s and a possibility of some scattered storms moving in this afternoon. could be severe between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. some could produce some damaging winds. lower humidity and cooler tomorrow and then steam heat returns for thursday, friday and saturday. chance of storms each afternoon. eun?

good morning. starting in maryland southbound 295 just past mills boulevard. crash there blocks two of your right lanes. still two right lanes are blocked by the earlier car fire. the fire is out, but you're seeing delays start right around hunter mill road.

8:00 now on tuesday morning july 24th, 2012. we are out here to say hi and bye to the wonderful crowd that's come out here to say hello to us on the plaza. tomorrow we will be in london. you don't miss matt at all. >> of course i miss matt. we'll see him tomorrow. >> we will. >> we've got these nice friends today. >> hi and bye. >> are you putting a lot of sunscreen on the top of the dome here. >> nothing i can do for that, al. that's basically fried already, which brings up a good point. as you guys get ready to come

over here, all the talk of rain, three days in a row, also warm. get ready for that. it's close to 85 degrees today. hopefully that will continue for the next couple of days. we look forward to seeing you. also want to tell you here in london a lot of people are saying these summer games could signal the year of the woman and cue the theme music, because who is better to tell us about the year of the woman than meredith vieira. >> you know that expression i am woman, hear my roar. for the first time ever all 205 nations are sending women as athletes here. team usa, more women than men. >> what's your point? >> your days are numbered, baldy. >> wow, the civility went out the window early here. anyway, you're going to tell us more about that? >> i am going to tell you about that, the athlete from afghanistan, the only woman from

afghanistan. >> you can come closer. >> i'm nervous, your head. she was under pressure from her country, people that didn't want her here. see you in just a second. before we go further can i introduce nastia liukin, the reigning all around gymnastics champion. good to see you. >> thanks, matt. >> i almost wore that same outfit. talk to me about being a spectator and broadcaster as opposed to being part of the team. >> it's really different for me, but i'm so excited to be able to be here and enjoy the olympic games as a fan. for me to compete at the 2008 olympics was a dream come true. now i'm really able to enjoy the games. >> i know when you look back at that moment when you failed to make the team during the olympic trials after a pretty nasty fall, you have to kind of cringe. you know what i thought was

amazing about it. you could have said, check, please, and walked off. you finished your routine. talk to me about what was going on. >> i did. i knew at that point i had no chance of making the olympic team. it was more than that for me. i knew i had to finish what i started. for me it was that bar routine. my parents always taught me from day one, let's finish what you start. finishing my career to standing ovations with 20,000 people was heartwarming people. in 2008 people cheered me on because of my performances. in san jose a few weeks ago, they cheered me on for more reasons. that's why i got emotional, this is my last performance in front of thousands and thousands of people. >> are you going to have a little fun in london. >> i hope so. i'm excited. i'm excited for all the girls and be able to see their olympic moment this time. >> mention you're going to be working for nbc olympics decrease. >> i will. i'm so excited. >> great to see you again. we'll see you throughout london. let's go back to new york. natalie at the news desk with a

check of the headlines. natalie. >> good morning to you and everyone. colorado prosecutor said her office will consider the death penalty against movie theater shooter james holmes. with his dyed orange hair he made his first court appearance. he and dazed and didn't speak. he's accused of killing 12 people and injured 58. his family said they are standing by their son but issued a statement that their hearts go out to the families. penn state handed a penalty for failing to protect children against accused sex abuser jerry sandusky, fined $60 million, banned from bowl play for four years and stripped of all football victories from 1998 to 2011. the ncaa stopped short of suspending the football program. a jury could be seated by the end of the day for the drew

peterson murder trial. the former chicago area police chief accused of killing his wife. police began investigating the disappearance of his fourth wife. navy investigators said monday a civilian shipyard worker in maine confessed to torching a nuclear submarine in may and setting another fire last month so he could get out of work early. damage to the uss miami was estimated at $400 million. 24-year-old could face up to life in prison. now for a look at what's trending today. a quick roundup of what has you talking online. madonna triggered backlash at her show in scotland this weekend. she brandished fake guns out of respect for colorado. she brandishes assault rifles.

she would rather cancel than censor her art. cheek kisses in a receiving line. protocol dictates you cannot touch the queen unless she extends her hand first. the kissing couple turned out to be the king of greece and his wife so they were related to the phillips. the physical contact was okay. this husband's spur of the moment prank is getting a lot of reaction online. he saw a backward facing truck towed and decided to wake his sleeping wife. i don't think he'll be getting any husband of the year awards any time soon. the look of shock on her face. 8:06 right now. let's go back outside to al with a check of your weather. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by the makers of

zantac, a new look at heartburn relief. >> don't scare your wife and don't shoot video of yourself while you're driving. what's your name, sir? you're 88? >> 88 today. >> world war ii vet. >> yes. >> and you met the queen. >> three times. >> you met the queen three times. >> yes. >> my gosh. you guys could have been dating. fantastic. i love this guy. all right. happy birthday, sir. and thank you for your service. you, too. let's check your weather and see what we've got going on. london's five-day forecast. look at these temperatures in the 80s. scattered showers before the opening ceremony. then on saturday temperatures temperatures drop back a bit. 68 and cooler. a risk of some strong storms stretching from the dakotas into the new england area and firing up from minneapolis into chicago and beautiful weather down through the southwest and 78 and gorgeous in l.a. today. that's what's going on around the country, another look at gus, here's what's happening in

your neck of the woods. >> good morning, tom kierein storm center 4. that severe storm risk zone is right over our region for later today and any storms that get going might produce damaging winds, especially 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. before then, climbing into the mid-90s and we'll have lower humidity moving in late tonight and in place tomorrow. beautiful day on wednesday with cooler temperatures, too. then thursday and into friday, the steam heat returns. and we have a possibility of afternoon storms turning cooler for over the weekend andnd that weather. savannah. >> all right, al. thanks. coming up two young women who survived the shooting in colorado and even moved president obama with their story of bravery. we'll have it right after this. did you know when heartburn, it's too late to take prilosec because... but it's but zantac® works differently. it relieves heartburn in as little as 30 minutes.

in fact, so, when heartburn strikes, try zantac® this has been medifacts for zantac® [ male announcer ] this is our beach. ♪ this is our pool. ♪ our fireworks. ♪ and our slip and slide. you have your idea of summer fun, and we have ours. now during the summer event get an exceptionally engineered mercedes-benz for an exceptional price. but hurry, this offer ends july 31st. for an exceptional price. you can't argue with nutrition you can see. great grains. great grains cereal starts whole and stays whole. see the seam? more processed flakes look nothing like natural grains. i'm eating what i know is better nutrition. mmmm. great grains. search great grains and see for yourself. are made with sweet cherries

and the crisp, clean taste of our cranberries. i cannot tell a lie. 'tis tasty. okay, george washington, did you take my truck out last night? 'tis tasty. food you love is a blt with hellmann's. it's made with real ingredients like cage-free eggs for the unmistakable taste that can only be hellmann's. bring out the best. here's what the kids will n-e-e-d. ♪ pens and markers, paper wide ruled. ♪ ♪ hoodies, sneakers, tape, sticks of glue.♪ ♪ large boxes pencils, highlighters. ♪ ♪ sneakers and t-shirts.

♪ notebooks and jeans, ♪ notebooks and jeans, ♪ notebooks and jeeeeans, yeah! ♪ ♪ notebooks and jeans! announcer: school takes a lot, target has it all. how far would you go to save your best friend's life. two women from colorado certainly know the answer to that question. they were in the movie theater in colorado when the bullets started flying. the story of bravery became known worldwide when president obama shared it during his visit to colorado. nbc's kristen dahlgren with a story of life, death, and everlasting friendship. >> reporter: at first glance, they are your typical bffs. >> we met working at victoria secret. >> reporter: allie young and stephanie davies finish each other's sentences. >> i decided we were going to be friends and hang out. we hung out that weekend. >> we've been inseparable since

then. >> reporter: almost every sentence ends in a laugh. >> she was like, hey, do you want to go see batman, the movie premier. yeah, i want to go. >> reporter: what started in a typical night out ended in a friendship so extraordinary even the president was moved to share. >> when the gunman initially came in and threw the canisters, he threw them only a few feet away from allie and stephanie. >> and the people behind us, run, run, go. i just remember opening my eyes. i'm on the ground, blood everywhere. i just hear her say, allie, get up. we have to go. allie, get up. i couldn't talk. i was like, stef, stef, i can't. >> i never heard her voice sound like that in my life. >> i can't move. she says, get up. people running down the aisle, i'm in the aisle, my arm across just laying there. she grabs me and pulls me into the seats where your feet would

be. >> there's blood everywhere. >> she puts her fingers over my artery, my carotid artery was exploded. that's where i got shot. >> i'm telling her, allie, stay down, stay quiet. just stay there. don't move, be quiet and just keep breathing. i'm looking up through all of the rows of seat. i just peek up. i see him up there, and i'm hearing him yell at people. then you just hear the rounds going off, just boom, boom, boom, boom. >> reporter: knowing she couldn't move, allie told stef to run, save yourself. >> you have to go. have you to go. she's like, no, no, no. i'm not leaving you. >> she stayed by her friend's side until the gunman was gone and s.w.a.t. teams arrived helping carry allie across bodies and two parking lots to safety and an ambulance. >> i call her parents and told

them, there was a shooting where we were. she's bleeding. she is shot. here is the ambulance she's going in. here is the two possible hospitals she could be going to. i love you guys. i hope you find her. >> reporter: stef went to check in on allie at the hospital and there's her dad. >> i get into the lobby and see her dad. he comes over and gives me the biggest hug. then he says, you know, allie can talk because she's got breathing tubes down her throat but they gave her a board to write on. the first thing she wrote on that board is where is my stef. i lost it. i just lost it. you never really know how close you are to somebody and how important they are to you until you can test your friendship and literally say you were both willing do lay down your lives for each other. she was willing to give up hers to let me run, and i was willing to give up mine to make sure she

lived. >> so when the president visited. >> he's the most important man in the world. >> a lot taller than we thought. >> he's really tall. >> reporter: even the commander in chief couldn't compete with the best buds. >> it was exciting. more exciting is being able to be here. >> being alive and being together. >> reporter: allie still has multiple gunshot wounds, no use of her right harm and a lot of healing ahead. surprisingly little anger for the gunman. >> i feel so sorry that someone went through that much in their life, that much pain and no one noticed, no one had a best friend like me to say that's not right. >> allie and stef still side by side. >> we consider ourselves eeternal optimist. >> we look at everything with a bright side. >> reporter: teaching us all the meaning of best friends for life. for today kristen godahlgren, n news, colorado. >> what a story.

back to london where meredith vieira will tell us why olympic games will have the woman's touch but first these messages. [ female announcer ] it's 9 pm... and the chocolate cravings begin... again. ♪ for nights like these... there's special k chocolatey delight cereal. so you can get your chocolatey fix... without undoing your whole day. ♪ an unguilty pleasure. what will you gain when you lose? with mccafé real fruit smoothies at mcdonald's. ♪ the simple joy that lasts forever. ♪ because vitamin d3 helps bones absorb calcium, caltrate's double the d. it now has more than any other brand

to help maximize calcium absorption. so caltrate women can move the world. i wish i could keep it this way. [ dentist ] even after a dental cleaning... plaque quickly starts to grow back. but new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste can help. it not only reduces plaque... it's also clinically proven... to help keep plaque from coming back. plus, it works in these other areas dentists check most. ♪ new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste. life opens up when you do. [ male announcer ] buy one crest rinse, get one free. look for our coupon in sunday's paper.

[ gasps ] hi. i'm timothy. i came from the garden. [ cindy ] is he for us? mom, dad... i'm getting that feeling. [ male announcer ] on august 15th comes the family movie of the summer. why are you smiling? i can only get better. [ male announcer ] and once you meet timothy green... [ laughs ] i never thought i'd hear that laugh again. [ male announcer ] ...you'll never be the same. that little guy of yours -- he's something special. [ cindy ] everyone he touches, he changes. [ male announcer ] "the odd life of timothy green," rated pg.

18 minutes past the hour where we welcome you to olympic park, where athletes will achieve greatness and inspire people around the world. history has been made even though the torch has not been lit. meredith here with that. >> hey, matt. these games are all about first and this year all about women. 205 countries competing in these games are sending female athletes. on the home front team usa, a first as well, women athletes at these games outnumber mean. london olympics may just be the girls games of 2012. even as missy the missile franklin is poised to be the next great american swimming icon, allyson felix is going for

gold on the track. >> felix with a sizable victory some are saying this could be the greatest u.s. gymnastics team ever. the girls of the london games have already made history. >> we have 269 women and 261 men on the team. as you can see, that really represents a strong group of women. >> on the global stage middle eastern countries bruni, qatar and saudi arabia will send female athletes to london. for the first time in history every country competing will compete. a sprinter from afghanistan. >> can you believe you're here? >> no. >> when do you think it's going to sink in? >> sometimes i think it's like a dream, but i'm here. >> i met up with her at the olympic village where performers welcome athletes to the game. she understands this is a special time.

she recognizes her own place in history. >> here you are at the olympics, the only woman on your team, only the third woman ever from afghanistan to compete in the olympics but it has been a hard road for you to get here, wasn't it? >> yeah. it was very hard and very difficult for me. there's a lot of people supporting me but there's also a lot of people that don't like me and they just hate me. >> what do they say? >> sometimes they will say that i'm not a good girl because i'm doing a sport. they are thinking i'm not a good muslim, these ideas they have about me. >> are you seen as less of a woman than those around you because of the fact you're in sports? >> there's a lot of afghan women that don't accept me and my way. they are thinking that i'm wrong but i am not wrong. >> so it's not just the men but the women, too. >> yes. >> he says her strength comes from her family. every step her parents

encouraged her olympic-sized dream. >> my family don't have any problem with my sport. all the time they are supporting me. i can say the most supporter of my life is my father all the time. my father told me that one day you'll achieve your goal. don't stop. that was the reason for me that i'm here. >> she is a practicing muslim and will compete in the olympics in a traditional headscarf and islamic uniform. >> do you feel in any way that will limit you as a sprinter? >> no, i never think that it's disturbing me during the competition. i don't think like this. >> what do you think the likelihood is that you will medal. >> very difficult to win medal from the olympic games. it's just like a dream. but if i got the medal, i think i will start a new wave for women of afghanistan know i tried. that time they will believe

theirself they can do everything that they want. >> with hope for the future and a fierce determination to make a difference, she will compete in the 100 meters for afghanistan. i asked her how to say good luck in her home language, persian. [ speaking foreign language ] >> it means good luck. >> thank you. >> she's part of these historic games they are calling the year of the woman. she's running 100 meters. she has a long shot. you never know. she has a sign in her room that says dreams come true. she looks at that every day especially under pressure from others not to compete. >> she will inspire a lot of people by being here. you are now here. what are you most looking forward to? >> i'm a sucker for gymnastics. i'm looking forward to that. meeting the athletes, you realize every one of them have an incredible story. it took so much to get here both

physically and mentally. great challenges like she has, respect for them all. >> opening ceremony friday night, which i'm looking forward to. should mention folks in new york will fly out overnight. as you know, these will be savannah's first olympic games. savannah, to help you out, we have some veteran olympians to give you advice. take a look. >> savannah, for your first olympic games, you should get crazy. dress in the red, white, and blue and go to as many events as possible because it's a once in a lifetime experience. >> savannah, you know, i really think the best way to show up to the olympic games and start fresh is to jump into a nice, cold pool with us and play a little game of water polo. >> make sure you tie your suit before you go in the water. >> savannah should not cheer like this. savannah should cheer like this -- come on!

you're in first place. >> you need to stand up on your feet and yell, go usa! >> if you can soak up every moment that is. >> there's going to be a lot going on. they will be over before you know it. sit back and relax, take a deep breath and enjoy the olympics. >> drinking. >> drinking. now we're getting to a sport. >> right, natalie and al, go ahead. >> i said that i think she should, contrary to what you guys have shown us, she should not wear spandex for any spot that will live on in archives and make it on the air. also i told her the other olympics. there's the spandex, we see it over again. she should invest in the other olympic sport with pin collecting. we started her off with her first set here. >> take as many pictures as possible because it's going to go so fast. you won't believe how fast it is. when you look back at those pictures, you are just going to be amazed at what you did and

what you saw. >> matt, what's your advice. >> more of a winter piece of advice. if bode miller asks if you want to party, just say no. miller asks you if you want to party, just say no. good morning, it is 8:26 on this tuesday, july 24th. i'm aaron gilchrist. in for another day of warm temperatures, hot even. and the potential for a stormy afternoon. right now we're looking out over the district. 81 degrees outside our studios. tom kierein has our forecast. tom? >> you can see that humidity hanging in the air there over the monuments. that's a live view from our hd city camera. later today into the 90s and stronger winds and cooler tomorrow, steam, heat and chance of storms returns thursday, friday and saturday and then lower humidity, again. a bit cooler for sunday and monday, aaron. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ good morning. traveling in the district, southbound 295 and had a crash there blocking the left lane, it's clear. but still seeing delays as you approach route 50.

let's take a live look at 50 heading inbound and starting to hit the brakes at landover road and you're slow as you connect to. more traffic and weather in 25 minutes. release me, momigus! that's mom to you. and you should eat something that's good for you before you go outside. never! come on james. it's a new fiber one chewy bar. chocolatey and delicious. fiber one chewy bar, huh?

mmm. refueled space captain james. [ male announcer ] new fiber one chewy bars. great taste kids love plus calcium and fiber kids need. we're back now, 8:30 on tuesday morning. it's the 24th day of july, 2012. coming to you live from sunny london. how often do you get to say those words. boy, it is beautiful temperatures in the 80s as you take a look at that beautiful millennium wheel. the eye as they call it, the rest of the sights of london. we are here for the olympic games that get under way friday night with the opening ceremony.

i'm matt lauer at olympic park. i've asked meredith to stick around a little bit. they have also got a great crowd in new york city outside studio 1a. that's where we're going to find savannah, al, and natalie, who are planning their trip here. guys, meredith and i want to know what you want to see when you get here? >> i'd like to see the london eye. >> although it takes an hour. i'm just looking forward to the town itself. london never disappoints. >> beach volleyball. >> matt, you almost missed a great sight here. natalie almost had a marilyn monroe moment, "seven year itch." >> really? okay. by the way, you're going to fly overnight and they are going to join us both at the bridge tonight. >> i was on the london eye a couple days ago. it took 45 minutes, less than an hour and it was fantastic. >> how many people in those

orbs. >> orbs? 12 to 16. >> they do it in an hour, 45 minutes for people they don't like. >> i had to jump. >> meredith got the bum rush. we have a very important figure standing next to us. can i bring in bella karolyi, the legendary gymnastic coach. you've spent so much time with team usa. i'll ask you the question everybody wants to know, can this team win the gold medal. >> the strongest team in the last 30 years. smart kids, smart, easy to work with them. easy to direct them toward the main goal, a perfect performance in the state competition. of course really not a competition, the most important. i'm having the vision that these five fabulous members of the team, they are going to do very, very well. >> in 1996, you won the gold. the team won the gold. can you do it again?

>> beautiful memories. that was different times. this is much stronger time. the competition is much harder than that. the closeness and force what the europeans are doing, russians, romanians, a strong situation to face. >> you've hung around and coached people with names like ma mary lou and nadia, is there someone on this team that should be mentioned in the group. >> jordan has the physical standing. she has the stamina, the power like nadia. mentally, they are strong like mary lou. physical and mental. >> we just talk to nastia. what do you think her legacy would be? >> wow, don't mention to me. it's breaking my heart.

our two best is missing on this team. what a blow to the team. i wish they would do that great, amazing performance but -- >> we'll mention bella will help us out at nbc sports for gymnastics. always a pleasure. back to the little bit. >> that's what's going on around the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. we are heating up already now climbing into the 80s and later today, we'll be hitting the 90s. could get some strong storms during the afternoon. actually, might have some thunderstorms coming towards the metro area around noontime and then the stronger storms after that. then tomorrow, lower humidity and cooler weather. we'll have another chance of storms, again, on thursday as we heat up and get humid, again. and maybe again on friday and

saturday and cooler for the >> what's your name, young lady? >> emma. >> where are you from? >> naples, florida. >> very nice. all right. savannah. >> all right, al, thanks. coming up next, called hillbilly hand fishing, catching a catfish with your bare hands. we'll introduce you to this sport coming up. this is today on nbc.

reel. how would you like to catch a huge fish with a your bare hands. kerry sanders jumped in literally to give it a try. kerry, can't wait to see this. >> good morning, savannah. i've been fishing my whole life, off the coast of maine, florida. there's fishing with a rod and reel and something called noodli noodling. this will grab you hook, line, and sinker for the very reason

there is no hook, line, and sinker. in south central oklahoma along the red river there's an area nicknamed the badlands for deadly snakes. >> we have cotton mouth, water moccasins, spiders. >> deadly spiders. >> there's the plaque widow we have to worry about. >> deadly heat. i've come down to these parts to witness, experience the tradition that dates back to early american. noodli noodling, cat fishing in the muddy waters with the touch of your feet and grip of your bare hands. who better to teach them, third and fourth generation noodlers. two home grown stars from animal planet's hit show, hillbilly hand fishing. >> you have to offer yourself up as bait. buddy, i'm telling you, you qualify. you're living and breathing, you look like live bait. >> i'm the worm at the end of the hook. >> yes, except there's no hook. the only hook is your hand.

>> it's a chore just to get to the fishing hole. >> fish to swallow up. >> after a quick prayer. >> in jesus' name, amen. >> be the bait. be the bait. let's go. >> it's time to get down and dirty oklahoma style with the experts and their families. >> going to ease up in here nice and easy using hands and feet. i'm feeling around gingerly, really soft. if you touch something let me know. if it's soft and slick, it's probably a fish. if it's scaly, could be a snake. do you feel something. >> yeah, yeah. you're very funny. >> no fish. >> it looks so easy on tv. but for me, it's slow going. >> feel real slow, easy. >> who in their right mind ever dreams this up. >> people that were hungry.

>> after several near misses and a few close calls -- that's a big spider. the excitement begins with skipper's daughter heather catching a catfish in open water. >> congratulations. >> thanks. >> shall i let him go? >> yeah, let him go. >> fishless and embarrassed i finally get my chance. look at that. it's tiny but i got one. >> that's what you call catch and release. >> but there was no way i was leaving the badland without a monster catfish to call my own. so with everybody pitching in -- >> his mouth. >> hey, hey, hey. looky there. a big fish. >> a 45-pounder.

>> give him a kiss. >> yes, it does hurt when you put your hand in a 45-pound catfishes mouth that would rather not be caught, shredded my skin. all these fish are catch and release. another day. >> that sound we heard from you kerry oh, my goodness. thank you. stars of animal planet's hillbilly hand fishing. skipper and jackson as you like to be called, good to have you here. >> thank you. >> kerry screamed like a girl. >> worse than that, like a pig under a gate. >> if everything goes right with this, you get bitten by a catfish, are you surprised how many are into this? >> they seem to want to live vicariously through our lives. they want to come down and go fishing with us. you're right. it is a little hard to convince them to become the bait. >> jackson, what is the term

noodling. what does that refer to? >> we cassel call it graveling, catching a fish with your hands. >> like you're noodling with your hand. >> exactly. >> what does it feel like, the catfish. >> it's a rush, slide back into a dark, deep beaver hole. he's way in the back. he starts running at you, puts a smack daddy bite on you. >> there's going to be some great satisfaction as you're gripping a fish with your bare hands. >> there's no greater pleasurement than to catch a fish with your bare hands, almost like going bear hunting with a switch. >> what makes noodling. >> a young girl like you. >> a lot of guts. >> i would think so. >> once you try, you're hooked. it's like an adrenaline you never felt before. you can fish your hole life with a rod and reel and never catch a fish as big as we catch every day. >> imagine you put your hand in the hole, you might get a catfish. >> beaver or snakes but more often than not it's going to be

a catfish. >> i think i'm too afraid to try the sport. what were you going to say? >> we would like to invite you to come down and go fishing with us. >> nothing against kerry. he was good. he done great but you would make much better bait than he would. >> i don't know. they like slimy. maybe i'll try it. you keep that hand sanitizer on the boat. >> real close. that little scar is three weeks old. >> you're not selling it. that looks scary. >> battle scars. >> thank you so much. we want to remind everybody the second season of hillbilly hand fishing premiers at 8:00 eastern on animal planet. simple cooking, some of the freshest veges of the summer but first this is "today" on nbc.

this morning on,000 cook every san diego. pick a peck of peppers, yellow,

red, sweetness of bell peppers. today we have three classic recipes featuring the summer favorite. the author mark bittman, "how to cook everything." peppers are in season, right? >> they are totally in season. they are never sweeter than they are in midsummer. i know we have them all year-round. mostly they are grown in greenhouses now they are grown in gardens. >> we have three recipes, two of which feature roasted red peppers. give us the optimum way to roast. >> the optimum way to roast, which i'm not going to show you, super hot fire outside, throw them on the grill, blacken and collapse, that's the best. the most practical way, the way most of us do it. you do it in an oven, hot oven, on aluminum foil. not wrapped like that but on aluminum foil until they blacken and collapse. where that them a few minutes. they seem a bit.

the black skin is easy to peel off. >> as soon as it's cool enough to handle the skin comes off. >> this is not perfect usually. this is a good one. any skin that sticks is not a big deal. mostly what you want to get is the blackest parts because they are bitter. then you have beautiful caram carameliz caramelized, word of the year. you pull the core out. >> our first one is a spanish recipe, a salsa. >> it's some onions cooked until they are tender, then a bunch of chopped tomatoes, maybe that's a little too much. then our roasted red, or in this case yellow pepper. the taste, i like to add a little bit of sugar, and, of course, salt. then stir that up and come over here. >> okay. our next one is a bisque. >> just a second. just a little bit of vinegar at

the end, some oregano or other fresh herb and you wind up with something that's a fabulous salsa. >> looks good. i'm going to try it while you tell us about the bisque. >> the bisque, you could think of it as lobster bisque but with peppers instead of lobster. some chicken stock or a stock you have and a lot of roasted peppers. right in with smoked paprika, minced garlic. all of that cooks together for a while. then you puree that in a blender with a bit of cream. >> as much cream as you like. >> a little bit, really, is enough. then we topped it with cream fresh. you get this beautiful creamy, delicious -- >> cold or hot? >> you can serve it cold or hot, if it's hot, but it's fantastic cold. >> thirty seconds for our last recipe. >> this is easy. basic mixed tango of peppers,

olive oil, salt and pepper, a little vinegar at the end just to sort of spice things up, get that nice sizzle. so beautiful. you can serve with anchovies if you're bold. >> or all of the above. all right. great recipes. mark bittman, thank you. up next from bow to wow, we'll find shelter dogs a happy home. but first this is "today" on people like options. when you take geico, you can call them anytime you feel like saving money. it don't matter, day or night. use your computer, your smartphone, your tablet, whatever. the point is, you have options. oh, how convenient. hey. crab cakes, what are you looking at? geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.

>> announcer: today brought to you by sergeant's. >> time for our special series, bow to wow, take dogs out of shelters, clean them up, find them wonderful loving homes. our animal expert jill rappaport with us. we're still at 100% adoption. >> we're so proud of that fact. considering it's the dog days of summer, it's the perfect time to adopt a dog. yes, today we have another wonderful batch to continue our winning streak. from mighty to mini, all begging for a loving home. first up, the most precious little puppy. he's so cute. >> this is hailey, a four-month-old, a beagle. >> i gathered that. she's been very mellow.

but put her down and look at her. i can't take it. look at that little face. this bundled tri-color is jack. he is so sweet. if you zoom in close, look at those beautiful butterscotch color eyes. >> very friendly, very playful. >> we should mention he's an active puppy and a sweetheart. say hello to scooby doobie doo. this adorable little boy is a pomeranian mix. >> three years old. he was rescued as a stray not too far from the shelter actually. >> he's a little bit timid. considering what he's been through, he's definitely a couch potato in the making, isn't he? now onto another little powerhouse with a very big name. this little guy is courage.

>> courage is a three-year-old miniature pinscher. >> min pin. i love that. he's a baby. tell me about miniature pinschers. >> they have a big personality, even though small in nature. >> what a breed to be featuring on a hot july day. excessive xena, siberian pup. >> five years old. >> active. >> super active. >> sit down, baby. she has beautiful ice blue eyes. such a beauty. >> and joining us now as always is richard with the animal care and control. good morning. >> good morning. >> let's get right to the beautiful pups being walked out by kathie lee. we have the sweet scooby doo. one dog for kathie lee. scooby doo. it's perfect.

>> a good dog for children. >> you do that very well. very well done. >> very well with bambinos. >> beautiful white dog. sweet girl. all right. okay. thank you, kathie lee. prancing away. next we have jack with the butterscotch eyes along with our own butterscotch eyes, hoda kotb. >> jack is five-month-old, all the dogs and cats are spayed or neutered before they are adopted. he will be neutered. >> a sweet dog. >> he has a very mellow, kind personality. >> he doesn't have -- >> okay. all right. >> thank you, hoda. next we have the little man with a huge name walked out by al

roker. this is courage. >> he'll get under the covers and snuggle, loves to sit in your lap. >> only with the dog. >> take a few minutes to warm up. once he does he melts in your lap. >> big personality, little dog. >> we've never -- a nice one. >> thank you, al. the biggest dog in the group, the husky xena marked out by mario, our tech guru. >> loves to play. >> very active. >> very active. >> you're the star. >> have to be careful in weather like this. >> look at those eyes. they are gorgeous. >> they are excited over there because jack is marking his territory. >> finally, quickly, hailey being walked out by savannah. come on out sweet girl. tell me about this dog. >> typically beagles are

intelligent. they get along, great in a family with kids. >> they are puppies still. >> wind her up and let her go. her ears are bigger than her. very nice. thank you so much. jill rappaport, thank you. still to come, eat like an olympian after your local news and weather. great job, guys. 8:56 is your time now on this tuesday, july 24th, 2012. good morning to you, i'm eun yang. tom, good morning. >> it's warm and muggy and into the 80s now and storm 4 radar showing a line of strong thunderstorms in pennsylvania rapidly moving southeast at about 50 miles per hour.

near frederick and winchester and, yeah, about an hour or so around 10:00 and then, if they hold together, near washington by 11:00 and then all this area in the yellow zone could get severe storms 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and some could produce wind damage. lower humidity and lots of sun and then steam heat with a chance of storms thursday, friday and saturday. eun? ♪

♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] everyone likes a bit of order in their life. virtual wallet helps you get it. keep track of spending, move money with a slide, and use the calendar. all to see your money how you want. ♪ ♪ i'm teaching performance. here's what they'll need. ♪ get your backpack, your hoodies, harajuku, ♪ ♪ turquoise kinda purple orangish sorta blue. ♪ ♪ backpacks, yeow, ♪ to put their stuff in. ♪ graphic tees and denim, denim, denim, denim. ♪ ♪ backpacks. school takes a lot, target has is all.

good morning. if you're traveling the dulles toll road westbound, the earlier crash at weelie avenue is clear. 39 miles per hour, pretty slow. let's head over to i-66, still seeing stop and go as you make your way eastbound. a live look at 50 slow to the beltway. your travel spee

we're back now with more of today from sunny london getting ready for 2012 summer olympic games. it's tuesday morning, also the 24th day of july, 2012. such pretty sights all around this gorgeous city. we are at olympic park. i'm keeping the seats warm for you guys back in new york until you're here tomorrow. i'm in london. savannah, natalie and al are back in new york. today 84 and sunny, tomorrow 85 and sunny, thursday, 81 and sunny. friday, the day of the opening ceremony, 79 and strong chance

of showers. then it gets a little colder over the weekend. >> cooler. >> al, you've got time to work on that. >> absolutely. >> matt, we've been enjoying you quizzing us on olympic trivia. got us thinking how well do you know your olympics. a question for you. what is the olympic -- >> you know what, can i interrupt for a second. >> no. >> no, no, nastia liukin has a wardrobe malfunction, i'm going to have to go. >> wow. >> no, no, no, mr. lauer. >> all right. go ahead. give it your best shot. >> what is the olympic motto in latin, please. >> in latin. >> higher, faster, stronger. >> that's called english. >> i have no idea in latin. highere, strongere. >> no, if you'd studied you'd find it on 32.

i have my book. >> when was it introduced actually. that's another good question, which olympics? >> when was what, the motto introduced? >> the motto. >> the motto, today's first family was introduced back in 1992, i believe. >> it is swifter, faster, stronger. >> you're right, it is. it is. >> swifter, faster, stronger. >> all right. swiftly take it back to new york. >> kind of a letdown because he knew the motto. it's annoying. >> we'll stump him. >> we'll check in later. meantime coming up, the remarkable recovery of aimee copeland, the georgia woman who lost limbs to flesh-eating bacteria. a major milestone to her independence, her courageous story coming up.

play along with the athletes with cool games, gadgets and toys for all ages. just because we're going to be in london doesn't mean we've forgotten about our trends at home. no concerts on the plaza when we're gone. when we get back a week's worth of blockbusters on the plaza starting with the fray monday august 13th. >> the party continues tuesday 14th with the one and only new york native nicki minaj. then on wednesday, country queen carrie underwood rocking our on certificate stage followed by thursday with the legendary lionel richie. >> wrap up friday, the 16th, with a rare live reunion of the boy band 98 degrees. it's their first tv appearance in a decade. the whole band will be here. nick lachey and others. a week of live performances right here on the plaza starting august 14th here on "today." >> our producer don nash is

screaming like a little girl. >> lots to look forward to but we want to get to the news of the day. >> starting off with serious news. colorado movie shooter james holmes awaits charges after making his first court appearance on monday. holmes behavior in court attracted attention, his hair, eyes opening erratically. the prosecutor said she will consult with the families of the shooting victims to determine whether or not to pursue the death penalty. twelve people were killed in the massacre, 58 injured. box office figures confirmed "the dark knight rises" earned $160 million, the best ever by a two-dimensional film. warner brothers said monday it will make a substantial contribution to charities supporting the victims. sally ride, the first american woman in space, crew member on the space shuttle challenger died monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic

cancer. ride was 61 years old. the search is intensifying for two missing iowa cousins as investigators are reaching out to the public for clues. nbc's john yang has the latest now from evansdale, iowa. good morning. >> good morning, natalie. specifically investigators want to hear from anybody who was around this lake the day the girls disappeared. this mysterious abduction may be pulling this community together but it also seems to be pulling the girls' families apart. wearing bright pink t-shirts emblazened with the images of the girls, drew and heather collins struggle to keep it together. twelve days after investigators say their daughter, elizabeth collins, eight, and her ten-year-old cousin lyric morrissey were abducted. >> i go as long as i can until i break down and then i get up and go again. >> reporter: signs of tension. lyric's mom.

>> even though we like to be one family, it has made it to be two separate families. >> reporter: the course of the comment, statements that lyric's parents weren't fully cooperating. on monday she took a second polygraph test. she said she passed. investigators wouldn't discuss the exam. >> we are getting the cooperation that we're asking for, so it's getting better. >> reporter: both misty and her husband, who spent time in prison on drug charges, over the weekend she acknowledged their criminal past but said it had nothing to do with the girls' disappearance. >> it's not something i'm scared of, not something i shy away from, you know, in any respect. >> reporter: the two girls were last seen july 13th, heading out on a bike ride. their bikes were later found on a nature trail by a lake. searchers combed the area and drained the lake. last week authorities called the case an abduction saying there were signs the girls were still alive. monday investigators said they still cling to that hope. >> nothing to indicate that they

are not. we want to keep hopes up and for the family to keep the hope up. >> reporter: the community is pilling together. pink ribbons, missing posters and message boards. but throughout this tiny rural area, parents are worried. >> my kids are on lockdown. they don't go anywhere without me, not even in my own front yard. >> is that person still around. are they looking to take someone else. >> reporter: as heather collins yearns for the return of her daughter and the niece she considers her own child. >> we love you. miss you, miss your voices, your laughter, your little jokes. >> reporter: authorities remain tight-lipped about the investigation. there's a $50,000 reward for the girls' safe return. natalie. >> john yang in evansdale, iowa. thanks, john. the los angeles sheriff's department confirms deputies were called monday to the home of michael jackson's mother in calabasas, california. katherine jackson is the guardian of michael's three

children. reported a family disagreement over whether jackson's children would stay in calabasas or travel to california to be with their grandmother. tmz showed a photo of janet jackson and jermaine in an argument. she surfaced thursday after being reported missing. however, paris jackson tweeted she still hasn't spoken with her grandmother. and feeling peckish? luckily you don't have to share your breakfast like these guys do. the pair of hawks can't seem to get along as they share that plate of food. all right. who wins there. >> nobody is winning. >> looks like dinner at my house. the kids go at it. >> give it back. back. how about a check of the weather. >> we'll show you that we're looking at a really expanding heat wave from sioux falls down to tulsa, as far east as wilmington and norfolk. heat watches and excessive heat

warnings. look at these temperatures. air temperature 103 in kansas city, sioux city and also in oklahoma city and dallas 98 degrees and we've also got as cooler air comes in a risk of storms stretching all the way from the great lakes up into the southern plains, northern plains, i should say into the mid-atlantic states and a lot of rain out of this system and damaging wind and hail. 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. storm 4 radar showing a line of thunderstorms dropping rapidly out of pennsylvania and the panhandle of west virginia maybe near winchester and perhaps frederick by 10:00 this morning. they hold together in the metro area by 11:00 and then later today, maybe some more storms and especially between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. we might get some that produces wind damage. tomorrow lower humidity and cooler and then heat and humidity return with a chance of >> and that's your latest weather. natalie. >> thank you, al. now for a look into what will be aimee copeland's new home.

the 24-year-old georgia grad student almost lost her life to a rare flesh-eating bacteria but she's battling back with amazing courage. nbc's thanh truong has the story. >> she does push-ups with her elbows, like 100 push ups at a time. >> reporter: a rare flesh-eating bacteria forced amputations to her left leg, right foot and both hands. she continues to amaze doctors and family with her physical rehab. aimee's father describes how she's now able to move herself in and out of her wheelchair without assistance. >> i think that's a huge step. really, when you start thinking about being able to assert your independence, what that means is being able to get out of bed and go somewhere on your own. >> reporter: later this morning aimee is scheduled can be fitted with her first prosthetics. she'll start by wearing removable hooks. >> a standard hook, like you take index and middle finger and

have theability to move them. >> while she's been hard at work rebuilding strength, volunteers have been busy building at the copeland house. aimee's father gave us a tour. >> this is aimee's wing. we're actually on the top floor. >> reporter: aimee's wing will be a 2,000 square foot edition to the home, state-of-the-art. >> she'll have the latest technology to help her, plus she can even use voice commands. >> this the elevator shaft. >> reporter: an elevator will help aimee move to the second floor where she'll continue to rehab in her own physical therapy room. >> this room here is a fitness room. this is going to be a very important room for her to practice using her prosthetics. >> reporter: next door she'll be able to relax in the sun room all while being close to those closest to her. >> this experience isn't just about aimee, it's about the copeland family and how we have hung together through a difficult time. i believe it's that family support that's meant a lot to her recovery. >> aimee's father said it's been a while since the whole family

has lived under one roof, and he can't wait to welcome his daughter back home. for "today," thanh truong, nbc news, snellville, georgia. >> still to come, the newest ways to watch the olympics, bringing the games into your home. but first these messages. ♪ [ female announcer ] gross -- i'll tell you what's really gross: used dishcloths. they can have a history that they drag around with them. for a cleaner way to clean try bounty extra soft. in this lab demo, one sheet of bounty extra soft leaves this surface 3 times cleaner than a dishcloth. it's super durable too. it's the cleaner way to clean. bring it with bounty extra soft. in the pink pack. and try bounty napkins. it's all the salad andfor $25. breadsticks you want. 2 appetizers made for sharing. then 2 entrées from 6 of our favorites. like new smoked mozzarella chicken. 3 courses, 2 people, just $25. at olive garden.

and now it really shows. tadaa there's a new bathroom cleaner with color power technology from scrubbing bubbles. this powerful new foam sprays on blue, and it cleans as it turns from blue to white. then all you have to do is wipe. new scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner with color power technology. we work hard. and it shows. [ male announcer ] so you don't have to. [ female announcer ] sc johnson. a family company. i want healthy skin for life. [ female announcer ] don't just moisturize, improve the health of your skin with aveeno daily moisturizing lotion. the natural oatmeal formula goes beyond 24-hour moisture. it's clinically proven to improve your skin's health in one day,

with significant improvement in 2 weeks. for healthy, beautiful skin that lasts. i found a moisturizer for life. [ female announcer ] aveeno daily moisturizing lotion. also discover daily moisturizing body wash. for healthy skin that starts in the shower. only from aveeno. food you love is a blt with hellmann's. it's made with real ingredients like cage-free eggs for the unmistakable taste that can only be hellmann's. bring out the best. she gives me snickers peanut butter squared and i eat it. it's snickers with creamy peanut butter, would you like one? let's just keep an open mind. [ groans ] [ male announcer ] if you like peanut butter and chocolate, you'll love peanut butter and snickers. try snickers peanut butter squared. this morning on eat smart today, joy bauer with the

secrets to food olympic success. good morning. >> good morning. >> i thought we would see diets but this is straightforward. >> these are powerhouses. we have reveals and secrets and weapons they are using. everybody will like this. >> gymnasts, what are they eating? >> hard to believe they are 16 and 17 years of age. these are not typical teen diets whatsoever. there's no junk food. they load up their plates with a lot of lean proteins like fish and chicken and tons of produce. no sugary beverages, all about water. nice to know there's room for treats in an olympian diets. when i ask them, what are their favorite splurnlgs? well, for jordan, mango fro yo with fresh fruit and dark chocolate. >> another gymnast from the men's gymnastic team.

>> what john does is front loads his breakfast, a huge preevent meal then light throughout the rest of the day so he doesn't feel weighted down. for breakfast, protein packed eggs and nonfat greek yogurt, easy to digest carbs, whole wheat bread. >> i don't see any butter. is this a splurge? >> this is heather. she is drop dead gorgeous and going after her third gold medal in soccer. i think she's going to score for us. her secret weapon after she works out, a glass of chocolate milk. >> now we're talking. >> it sounds so simple and unsophisticated. really, savannah, it's a perfect blend of protein and carbohydrates that helps to replenish what's lost in your

muscles. heather's got milk, chocolate milk. >> a scoop of ice cream would taste good in that. gwen jordan, triathlete. >> besides incredible wholesome foods throughout the day, after each workout she makes this, protein smoothie. whips it up in a blender, banana, pineapple, berries, flack seed, peanut butter. got to like that. >> sounds great. >> he won the silver in beijing. it's interesting to know after that he thought, here i am on this olympian fencer, but i'm not in great shape. he was a little overweight, low energy, did a total overhaul. ditched the pizza habit. started getting delivery meals from bistro, three meals a day, totally balanced. he fills it in with hummus and vegetables. a big hmus guys.

>> we have more. >> olympian rowers. susan eats about 4,000 calories per day. her preevent meal, ta da, sushi. she says it makes her feel like a prehistoric warrior. and quinoa. especially for endurance athletes a lot of iron which helps circulate oxygen to muscles. >> the last one. >> handsome giuseppe, eats 4,000 each day. after each training session, multiple throughout the day every day, savannah, he has protein shakes and power bars. >> 7,000 calories, you've got to load up. joy bauer, good idea. great to see that. thank you. up next, the olympic spirit. the latest tech gadgets for watching all the game coming up after this. ♪ watch out, wishful thinking ♪ ooh la la, read between the lines ♪

♪ i know a blessing in disguise ♪ ♪ [ female announcer ] you know the difference between paying more and getting more. that's value sense. at scott we're all about value. introducing the scott shared values program. get deals like free movie rentals, free admission to family attractions and more. use your value sense. sign up at scottbrand.com. never beat around the bush. you'll just squash the berries. new triple berry newtons. ♪ made with real fruit, 100% whole grain, and fiber. it's one unique cookie. challenge that with new olay facial hair removal duo. a two-step process that removes even coarse, stubborn facial hair gently. plenty of gain, without all that pain... with olay. did you know honey nut cheerios is america's favorite cereal? oh, you're good! hey, did you know that honey nut cheerios is...

oh you too! ooh, hey america's favorite cereal is... honey nut cheerios ok then off to iceland!

this morning on "today's" countdown to london, just three years ago, show you how to bring the summer games home with toys and gadgets. mario armstrong, digital lifestyle editor and contributor and world champion hummer. very nice. all right. >> yes, i do have a gold medal in it. >> a lot of folks sitting watching tv. >> yes. >> 3d. >> sure. >> this is the first one in 3d. >> when you think about london before 1948, black and white. this is sony 3d television, opening ceremony, closing ceremony. >> is this 3d right here? >> i don't think this is 3d. >> no, it's not. okay. but if it was -- >> if it was, it would look great. a lot of events, over 200 hours in 3d. the tv is 3d, it's not projecting a 3d image. >> a lot of apps. >> a lot of apps, show you a few. london 2012.com is the official apps. everything about the games, history of the games, go there.

nbc also has a great site because all the games -- let's get it up there, mario. all the games are actually streamed. there we go. so all the events, al, will be live streamed. >> is this the first time they are doing it. >> live streamed, over 3500 hours. you can choose which feed you watch. if you watch track and field, go to javelin, not just track. also the athletes hub where you can learn what the athletes like, connect with them on twitter and facebook. >> video games. >> this is big, playstation 3, the game we're showing official london video game, available on multiple gaming systems. $39 bucks. i like it, party mode, so everybody can play. >> party. >> party mode. >> olympics are a big party. >> leap frog. >> this is a map. what's cool it has all the countries, take a tag pen, then teach your kid we're playing spain. what is hello in spain. we're playing the united

kingdom. >> welcome to the united kingdom. you can use this as a fun way to teach kids to learn what they are seeing on the screen with olympics. >> barbie. >> barbie had to do something with olympics, track and field, $13, $14 amazon, hurdles, everything, all the accessories to make it feel like a real gymnast or experience. >> during the summer don't want the kids getting the summer slide. >> no summer reading loss, no summer learning loss. good reading materials. i love this one. this is by nbc production. >> ryan brown, who happens to be the husband of one of our directors, mary ellen. >> very fun book. >> the best olympic book for kids ever written. >> great color illustrations, great for 8 to 12 years old. >> want to start looking like athletes. >> custom shoes, new balance. they not only look great but feel great. it takes four to eight days to customize them. you can do any color combination

and put words and names and things on the back of it. >> pretty cool. >> really night there. >> some other gear. >> soccer jersey, the official usa soccer jersey for men. many of these can be found at soccer pro.com. all the cool jerseys from all the teams playing plus the soccer ball itself. >> you got any skills? >> i've got nothing. >> come on. >> i've got nothing. >> a little head shot. there we go brf that's about it. very nice. mario armstrong. >> miss anything go to mario.com and on today.com. >> more of "today" but first your local news and weather right here on nbc. hey parents, it's a big year. i'm not just teaching music. ♪ i'm teaching performance. here's what they'll need. ♪ get your backpack, your hoodies, harajuku, ♪ ♪ turquoise kinda purple orangish sorta blue. ♪ ♪ backpacks, yeow, ♪ to put their stuff in.

♪ graphic tees and denim, denim, denim, denim. ♪ ♪ backpacks. school takes a lot, target has is all. hi. we're spreading the word about new honey bunches of oats fruit blends and their unique taste combinations. like peach/raspberry. with one flavor in the granola bunch and one on the flake. two flavors. in harmony. honey bunches of oats. make your day bunches better. say hello to the p'zolo, in meat trio, italian steak or buffalo chicken. get one for three bucks or two for five. pizza hut. make it great. ♪guitar get one for three bucks or two for five. [phone ringing] hi. oh there you are. hey babe.how are ya? daddy,look! you lost another tooth. [man thinking] don't grow up without me. oh,uh riley wants to say hi. riley... hey buddy...keep 'em safe. [announcer] we know how important your dog is.

so help keep him strong and healthy with the total care nutrition... in purina dog chow. because you're not just a family. you're a dog family. we miss you. good morning. it's 9:26 on this tuesday, july 24th. i'm aaron gilchrist. we'll start with the roads this go around. >> let me start with the rails because we have delays on the orange line due to an earlier problem. you are delayed all the way to new carrollton and now to the roads. an accident eastbound at norbeck road. and delays 395 slow at the pentagon. they continue as you head to the beltway. aaron, back over to you. [ male announcer ] where did all the obama stimulus money go?

friends, donors, campaign supporters, special interest groups where did the obama stimulus money go? solyndra: 500 million taxpayer dollars. bankrupt. so where did the obama stimulus money go? windmills from china. electric cars from finland 79% of the 2.1 billion in stimulus grants awarded through it went to overseas companies. [ romney ] i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

good morning. storm 4 radar showing two strong thunderstorms dropping southeast out of pennsylvania into allegheny and garret counties and one shower out ahead of that just now coming into washington

county and those may be near the metro area if they hold together. later today, though, could get strong storms 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. into the 90s with steam heat over the next four months,at you have a choice to make. not just between two political parties, or even two people. it's a choice between two very different plans for our country. governor romney's plan would cut taxes for the folks at the very top. roll back regulations on big banks. and he says that if we do, our economy will grow and everyone will benefit. but you know what? we tried that top down approach. it's what caused the mess in the first place. i believe the only way to create an economy built to last is to strengthen the middle class. asking the wealthy to pay a little more so we can pay down our debt in a balanced way. so that we can afford to invest in education, manufacturing, and home-grown american energy for good middle class jobs. sometimes politics can seem very small.

but the choice you face, it couldn't be bigger. ♪ i'm barack obama and i approve this message. tomorrow on "today," we will all join matt in london as we get ready for the olympic games and some of the biggest names will be with us including michael phelps at the pool with our special correspondent ryan seacrest. we say let the games begin from london tomorrow on "today." >> i wonder if ryan is going to be in the pool as well. >> in a speedo. >> exactly. in a special ryan seacrest speedo. well, we are looking forward to

sinking our teeth when we get to london in a favorite british desert, a staple of english cuisine. >> some scones there, too. >> that's delicious. >> now we're talking. you may also want to serve them if you're throwing an outdoor party. we have tips for throwing a great summer bash without the stress. looking forward to that. weather for us. >> let's show you for today, a risk of strong storms from the mid-atlantic states into the dakotas and a beautiful day down in southern california, 78 and sunshine in los angeles. we got some hit or miss showers and thunderstorms along the gulf coast. tomorrow, we've got a risk of strong storms in the upper mississippi river valley and mild conditions in the and sizzling in the southwest and nice and mild in northern new england with plenty of sunshine here in the mid-atlantic states and the northeast. 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. showing a couple of strong thunderstorms dropping southeast

out of pennsylvania, should be into western maryland over the next half hour. out ahead of that, just one lighter shower now moving into washington county. now, around the metro area, later this afternoon we could get some passing thunderstorms. before then into the mid and upper 90s. some storms could be severe. cooler weather tomorrow, could get more storms as we heat and that's your latest weather. >> al, thanks. coming up next stress-free party planning. so... [ gasps ]

these are sandra's "homemade" yummy, scrumptious bars. hmm? i just wanted you to eat more fiber. chewy, oatie, gooeyness... and fraudulence. i'm in deep, babe. you certainly are. [ male announcer ] fiber one. i'm in deep, babe. you certainly are. hey, becky. hey....uncle steve. for life's bleachable moments. have multiple ways to help you save. they'll reach out to your doctor... ♪ go above and beyond to find lower priced options... ♪ and enroll you in walgreens prescription savings club... which saves members an average of one hundred and seventy dollars a year. ask your pharmacist how much you can save today at walgreens. ♪

for a golf getaway. double miles you can actually use... but mr. single miles can't join his friends because he's getting hit with blackouts. shame on you. now he's stuck in a miniature nightmare. oh, thank you. but, with the capital one venture card... you can fly any airline, any flight, any time. double miles you can actually use. what's in your wallet? alec jr? it was a gift. she would help her child. go! goooo! [ male announcer ] with everything. but instead she gives him capri sun super-v. with one combined serving of fruits and vegetables. new capri sun super-v. until they see this. the new oral-b pro-health clinical brush. its pro-flex sides adjust to teeth and gums for a better clean. the new pro-health clinical brush from oral-b.

but what about your wrinkles. neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair. it has the fastest retinol formula available. it's clinically proven to visibly reduce wrinkles in just one week. "why wait if you don't have to." rapid wrinkle repair. neutrogena®. recommended most by dermatologists.

whether it's a backyard barbecue or rooftop dinner, throwing a summer party is a great way to spend time with friends and family. the trick is to keep it simple. the author of "you're so invited, panic less, play more and get your party on." sounds like good advice. cheryl, good morning. >> good morning. >> a lot of people stress when it comes to a swear soiree, take baby steps, drum up a theme, break the rules, focus on your strengths. what do you think is the number one mistake people make. >> what do you think? the number one thing, panic. have fun. they are your biggest fans. people coming over, think about

that as your friends and have fun with it. >> all right. so we're going to have some fun today. you've set up three beautiful place settings for occasions, starting simple with backyard barbecue, simple but elegant. >> it doesn't have to be paper plates with solo cups. even though it's outside, think about natural textures. i used a plain checkerboard and cork place mat. these are actually paper. >> beautiful. >> it's paper, elegant and fun and you can grab them up and throw them away. >> ecofriendly. >> think about printing something off your computer and putting it around the napkin, making fun place cards, just adds a little bit of fun and frenzy to the event. >> personalizes it. >> what is this for. >> wings or ribs, put it in there. >> over here, dress it up with a poolside martini party. i'm so invited to this one. >> so invited to have fun.

think about it, you don't have to use paper around the pool. i used tin and melamine. it's still elegant. it's not your plastic cup and so much fun. so if you're playing around with martini glasses or margarita plaza use the bottles for the name tags and have a good time. think about what you have in your closet. like this is actually a shower curtain. can you see the holes? i cut it up to layer it on the table to add bubbles and fun and that festive feel. >> pretty. >> on the napkin i used these flowers beside my bed and wrapped them around the napkin treatment. don't just use napkin rings. the only good reason for napkin rings is to keep something round from falling off the table. >> there you go, bling it up and have fun. >> over here we have another great setting, urban rooftop party. here it is a little more elegant

but still somewhat understated. >> that's right. that's right. what i've done is tried to use things like in the cupboard. i layer. i use pewter and wood. these are actually bamboo reusable plates that are really ecofriendly. i use these disposable cameras as place settings so that people can, smile, have fun, get the party started. >> i like the water jug, too. >> think about peppering those around the table, not just one big one. this is actually an ornament that we tied around the napkin treatment. look at what you have, don't get stressed, have fun and enjoy yourself. >> i like that. over here i love this idea. great way to set the scene a little bit is to use infused waters throughout. >> waters give you this amazing pop of color on the buffet table and they are simple and inexpensive. think about flavors you wouldn't necessarily think about. so we have sweet peppers. i have lemon and lavender.

today i'm going to be basil and grapefruit. now the secret to using the herbs, you want to bruise them to release the oil. do you want to bruise a little. >> i've been known to be a bruiser. >> get in and bruise it, then slice. >> you have the water jug. >> put it in here. put your basil on. >> beautiful. >> now take the spoon and stir it up and you're set. it takes about two hours. get it done in the morning, then everybody comes over and it's easy. >> i can smell the fragrance, it's gorgeous. thank you so much. coming up, five surprising facts about london right after this. [ laughs ] what's wrong with him?

he thinks you're naked. it just looks like my milk chocolate is showing. only a fool would think i'd actually show up naked. so it's that kind of party...hit it! ♪ i'm sexy and i know it ♪ look at that body food you love is a blt with hellmann's. it's made with real ingredients like cage-free eggs for the unmistakable taste that can only be hellmann's. bring out the best. you kids almost ready? i've got breakfast waiting for you. wooo! uh oh. what? mom's doing her exercise video again. when mom's on a health kick, all of us are. and now she's made us breakfast.

uh oh. [ male announcer ] eggo nutri-grain waffles. you know it's made with 8 grams of whole grain and is a good source of fiber. all they know is it tastes great. eggo nutri-grain waffles. yeah, and i took on all the bigger, tougher ones. but now that mr. clean's got this new select-a-size magic eraser, i mean, he can take on any size job. look how easily he gets things cleaned. it's enough to make you cry. you, specifically. not me. i'm just happy we don't go near rex's mobile home as often. because it's hard to clean or because you're scared of an itty-bitty doggy? [ dog barks ] aah! oh! [ clears throat ] yeah, that was a sneeze. i think i sprayed myself. [ male announcer ] new mr. clean select-a-size magic eraser. lets you pick the right size for every job. it's all the salad andfor $25. breadsticks you want. 2 appetizers made for sharing. then 2 entrées from 6 of our favorites. like new spaghetti with 4 cheese meat sauce & meatballs. 3 courses, 2 people, just $25. at olive garden.

it's creamy, nonfat, and it turns the next person you see into john stamos for five seconds. honey! i think i'm getting burned! heh! eat. ♪ tastes pretty good, huh? ♪ best yogurt ever. yeah! [ men grunting ] open! [ male announcer ] dannon oikos berry flavors beat chobani 2 to 1 in a national taste test. oikos greek yogurt. possibly the best yogurt in the world. pronamel iso-active is a toothpaste in a can. it starts off as a gel... transforms into a foam and actually surrounds your teeth. it gets into all those nooks and crannies. dentists recommend pronamel.

pronamel iso-active re-hardens the enamel that's been softened by acid you're consuming. acid doesn't just affect our front or back teeth but the whole tooth. pronamel iso-active helps protect against the effects of acid erosion. this morning on "today's" five facts which you may not know about london from the taxi to pubs, a lesson on all things london before we head to the games. we have the editor of condominiconde nas

naste. >> the london underground is the world's oldest subway system. no surprise there. 1863 is when it opened. however, because of its age it has the distinction of its own mosquito species. it evolved over time. it's evolved over time to live specifically in the dark and warm underground tunnel system of the tube. the main distinction, it does not hibernate in the winter so it does bite year-round. >> we need bug spray in the tube. >> next heathrow airport. what's the fun fact here. >> london heathrow is the busiest in europe as you may probably experience now. the fourth busiest in the world. it's about to get even busier. during the olympics about 80% of all visitors will come through heathrow. this is about the equivalent of 250 extra jumbo jets coming in. it's a lot of people. a lot of luggage.

15% of the luggage will probably be large sporting equipment. javelin, bicycles, strange things in baggage claim. >> what's the worst day, busiest day we're expecting. >> if you can avoid it, avoid flying through heathrow august 13, the day after the conclusion of the olympics. it's expected to handle about 200,000 pieces of bags. >> wow. >> a lot of bags means a lot of missing bags, too. >> taxi drivers, cabdrivers are legendary. >> they are. it's tougher than you think, compared to new york city taxi drivers. they have to learn 25,000 streets, 20,000 landmarks and memorize 350 different routes in central london in order to even take the test. >> as opposed to new york where it's left side, right side. >> you direct the cabbie sometimes. >> it's called learning the knowledge. it typically takes two to four years to master. only 50% of applicants pass. >> that's like get a phd. >> the learning is so intense

that neuroscientists have found out hippocampus of taxi drivers is larger than that of mere mortals. >> mere mortals. >> that part of the brain is responsible for long-term memory. >> gps. >> rain. we've all been worried about the forecast. you have an interesting fact about this. >> well, rain, fog, london, kind of synonymous in a lot of terms. in actuality the rainfall is less in london than cities such as rome, london, new york, chicago, chicago, seattle, even tokyo. >> is that true, al, weatherman? >> absolutely true. >> according to weather.com, london sees an average of 23 inches of rain, new york an average of 50 inches of rain. >> why does it have that reputation? >> just a little bit at a time versus a lot of flash flood. >> london was more the center of things. >> it is. >> love this one. >> save the best for last. >> public life is integral part

of life, social club, where people rally. london has 5,000 pubs that important 62 pints of beer, ale, sider. averages about 8 pints per person per month consumed in london pubs. >> that's going up, because it's a record that -- >> some of these pubs have been around for centuries. a couple have been around and they suspect mib shakaybe shake had a pint or two. >> we look forward to the history. thank you for informing us. getting into the spirit with the fun facts. coming up, a case of goodies from across the pond. tea and crumpets. first, this is "today" on nbc.

i'm barack obama and i approve this message. [romney singing]: oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountains majesty, above the fruited plain, america, america, god shed his grace on thee, and crowned thy good, with brotherhood...

this morning on "today's" kitchen, delicious deserts. make the treats at home courtesy of chef ashley james of the four seasons hotel in beverly hills. good to see you. >> from los angeles to beverly hills. >> this is an eckels cake? >> yes. >> what is the tradition? >> it's from manchester. i used to make these when i was a kid. i loved them so much i even make them in los angeles. i want to make them here for you today. we have currants, traditionally with currants, sugar, spiced. mine is a sort of american, los angeles touch, cranberry, dried blueberries. >> dates. >> some dates. >> california has amazing dates and almonds. very simple.

what could be easier, put it all in the bowl like that, melted butter, mixed spice. in this case in england we have mixed spice, pumpkin spice here in the u.s. is very similar, some brown sugar. >> mix it up? i think i can handle that. >> mix it up like that, very, very easy. >> next puffed pastry. you can make puffed pastry or -- >> or you can buy it. >> save time. if you want to be adventurous, you can make it. there we go. four inch cutter. this great mix you just made. thank you so much. we're going to spoon it in the middle like so. so easy. >> kind of like a mint pie. >> similar, similar. i grew up eating these. my granny would make them, my mom would make them.

the interesting thing about them, they become -- either old school. they have become very trendy. >> everything old is new again. >> that's right. finally the brits getting recognition in the kitchen. >> you guys had a great year. wedding, jubilee and now the olympics. >> a lot going on. very easy, as you can see. i put those beautiful dried fruits inside. turned it, folded it up like a purse, then turn it over like so. shake it a little with our hands, push it down. there we go. a little bit of sugar on the top, then we're going to roll it out. >> flatten it out. >> can you see the fruits coming through. very traditional, three slits, one, two, three. then bake it in the oven, 350 degrees for 12 minutes. here we have the finished product. so i'm going to plate one for

you. >> the great thing, it's perfect with a cup of tea. it sort of resembles a cookie. we actually call it a cake. some glaze or custard in -- >> the colony. >> that's right. there we have it, these delicious eccles cake. very simple. >> is this vanilla ice cream? >> it is. >> that is clotted cream ice cream. clotted cream. >> oh, my. >> there you go. clotted cream ice cream. >> man. >> how is that? how are you doing, ladies? >> scones here. >> just a few berries. we want some fresh fruit. there we go. >> that's the ticket. okay. >> there we go. >> eccles cakes with clotted

cream ice cream. how is it? >> low fat ice cream. >> wow. >> just grab one like a cookie maybe. >> like a cookie. >> like a cookie only better. >> dip it in your tea. >> ashley from the four seasons in los angeles. thank you so much. >> do you like it. >> we love it. >> good. thank you. [ male announcer ] where did all the obama stimulus money go? friends, donors, campaign supporters,

special interest groups where did the obama stimulus money go? solyndra: 500 million taxpayer dollars. bankrupt. so where did the obama stimulus money go? windmills from china. electric cars from finland 79% of the 2.1 billion in stimulus grants awarded through it went to overseas companies. [ romney ] i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

9:57 is your time now on this tuesday, july 24th, 2012. good morning. i'm eun yang. let's check in with tom kierein for a check of the forecast. >> already we're seeing them fire up in pennsylvania and moving rapidly southeast. one of them just coming into western washington county has weakened. another one coming into allegheny county in western maryland. these are advancing southeast and if they hold together will be near the metro area by about

11:30 this morning. later this afternoon, climbing into the 90s and already into the 80s with steam heat and some of the stronger storms that produce storm damage. a better situation tomorrow. danella, how is traffic? >> some accidents in our area. right lane is blocked by a crash involving an overturned vehicle in that area. and if you're traveling eastbound at norbeck road, still the right lane is blocked by an accident and the fire department is on the scene. eun, over to you. >> thanks so much don't forget to tune in for news 4 tomorrow over the next four months,rrow you have a choice to make. not just between two political parties, or even two people. it's a choice between two very different plans for our country. governor romney's plan would cut taxes for the folks at the very top. roll back regulations on big banks. and he says that if we do, our economy will grow and everyone will benefit. but you know what? we tried that top down approach.

it's what caused the mess in the first place. i believe the only way to create an economy built to last is to strengthen the middle class. asking the wealthy to pay a little more so we can pay down our debt in a balanced way. so that we can afford to invest in education, manufacturing, and home-grown american energy for good middle class jobs. sometimes politics can seem very small. but the choice you face, it couldn't be bigger. ♪ i'm barack obama and i approve this message.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television hey, everybody. welcome, welcome, it's booze day tuesday, july 24th. and apparently national margarita today. tequila. >> cheers. >> cheers to you. >> this is a blackberry margarita. >> is it? >> blackberry, sugar, salt, lime juice, tequila. >> delicious. >> what are we going to do about

miss madonna? >> madonna's concerts have made the headlines because one time she flashed her, yeah. then she showed her -- now she is apparently in scotland. in her concert she uses fake guns as props. >> during one of the numbers. >> okay. this isn't actually from her concert but this is the idea of what she does. >> it's her backup singers. >> right. i guess the concert organizers asked her in light of what happened in colorado and other things not to use the fake weaponry. >> out of respect for the victims of the massacre. >> we have a quote from somebody. >> we don't believe it was from liz, her official -- >> but a member of the staff told the huffington post -- her entire career she has fought against people telling her what she can and cannot do and she is

not going to start listening to them now. >> we would love to know what you think. >> they say it's part of her art. >> i understand the whole artistic concept that you want freedom, but we are all on this planet together. she talks a lot about peace and talks about through her kabala loving one another and you have to put your own personal will down for the greater good of the planet and other people. regardless of what you think of her as an artist, she is still a human being. a lot of people are grieving very, very much. the best -- i think the best statement you can ever make is one of love. love people by saying, i want to do this, but i'm not going to do this today because i love those people. love is always the greatest statement any of us can make. >> we are waiting for a statement from liz rosenberg. >> whom we love. how does she get a good night's sleep.

madonna is in krakow right now. she showed her crack in krakow. >> she is amping it up at each concert so something will capture headlines. >> i don't think it's doing her any good, do you? >> there are a million blogs, but a lot of people are saying she used to be provocative. some people said it went to sort of pathetic. >> no artist wants to be pathetic. i'm sure many of her die-hard fans would totally disagree. we would love to know what you think. how many likes do we have now, hodi? >> oh, let's get our stupid things out again. we need more likes. >> this is shameless plug. >> our feelings are hurt a little. here is the thing. the "today" show. we are part of the "today" show. >> they don't like to think of us as part of their show. >> the first three hours have a

million likes. we don't have a million. >> we almost have half of that though. >> we had on wednesday 388,976. that number changed dramatically. >> because of you. you like us, you really -- >> never mind. that didn't work for sally fields. >> we are actually up to 418,000. we need people to go to our page. >> explain it again. >> it's facebook back/klg&hoda or kathie lee and hoda. >> you know it's our page by how many -- >> what do you type in? >> you put kathie lee and know how to spell her name it's i-e. then there is a like button. click on that. that's all we ask. >> dawn from pittsburgh says,

i'm watching now and howling. i just liked you on facebook. i hope it helps. >> if you only knew how much i could explain how much i like the fourth hour. >> got bless him. i'm so grateful he put his drink down long enough to contact us. valerie, i liked your facebook page. what else can i do to help you girls get the word out there? >> thank you, sweetie. we appreciate it so much. >> apparently big pay day for miss mariah carey. >> she hit the jackpot. she's been announced as the new judge for "american idol." we are wondering how much these judges make. >> "us weekly" is saying she is getting paid $18 million. >> a year. j. lo made a paltry $12 million for her first year. >> the trouble we here, and she made $15 this past, the trouble

is now britney has just been paid $16 million for the "x factor." miss maria has more number one hits. >> that's unbelievable. these shows are huge money-makers. i get why they have to pay the judges. even though the numbers are down, they are huge numbers for those shows. >> i'm still voting for aretha franklin. >> that's what we've been saying from the very beginning. >> and randy jackson. >> we understand he wants to be a mentor. run, randy, run. buy a beautiful island in the south pacific. enjoy yourself. >> we have disturbing news. it looks like there are people allergic to wine. >> this is tragic. >> we hate to have sad news on our show. almost 25% of people are. that's when you experience your skin getting flushed, your nose

starts running, you feel itchy. something is happening. they say red wine more than white. >> because skins are used in the making of red wine. i think it could be pesticides. i loved cherries my entire life but now i can't eat cherries. cherries didn't change what we do to make cherries beautiful. even washing all you can. >> i think you're right. >> why would the good lord above ever make you allergic to something so good? s. >> we like to read "the new york times" on sundays. some of us. and there is a social column. our friend phil galona. "last summer my husband and i took our teenage sons and their two friends to a condo we rented in the mountains for a week. we bought the groceries and ate. our sons asked to take the same

trip this year. would it be okay to ask the parents of the boys to chip in for groceries?" they didn't offer anything last year and it cost at least that much to feed the hungry boys. >> i think it's totally fine to do that. the expectation is when you invite someone as a guest that you're going to take care of all the expenses. in today's world, very few people can take care of their own family much less everybody else. as long as it's understood up front. we would love to take you guys again this year, but times are tougher than last year. we would like you to help with the groceries. we'll still have a great time. i think it's totally fair to do that. >> i can see where people would be cringing thinking, i hate to ask someone for money. you hope people would just offer up. >> it's better than later being resentful of people because they made no effort to help. >> phil says it is fine to ask for money for food. ask for the financial help upfront when you invite the

guests. don't do after because then it's weird. >> not after ever. >> guess who is coming on our show? emily giffin. this is called "where we belong." she's written "something blue, something borrowed." she is great. >> you dressed for her book today. >> what do you mean? >> you matched it perfectly. i went to see a show last night i have to highly, highly recommend to you. i've not seen a whole lot of theater because i'm so busy on mine. my friends richard maltby and david sheer had something on broadway called "closer than ever." it's two guys and two women. they sing brilliantly about friendships and love and everything that goes in trying to mature into that place where you're an adult and all of that. i saw it over 20 years and saw it last night. it's at the york theater. richard was there, david came

by. first network special i did i was seven months pregnant. there is the cast right there. i was seven months pregnant with cassidy. it was a mother's day special. there is richard maltby. i had such respect for these two guys i said would you be my musical director on my special? we go way, way back. i was secretly saying i hope this is as wonderful as i remember it. it's so great it's been extended -- check online, but i think through the end of august. it's for smart people. lyrics. there is no hey, goofy, goofy, uh-huh, it's intelligent, lyrics, beautiful melodies and great performances, going to call the po-po, none of that. nobody is going to call the po-po at "closer than ever." >> you done? we are having a fun show friday

because the opening ceremonies, how exciting, of the olympics are coming up. i cannot wait to see what they have cooked up. matt got to see a run-through but wasn't allowed to veal any part of it. after china -- >> how can they top it? >> look at this wonderful spot. le while the opening ceremonies are going on there, out here on the plaza -- >> a lot of our people are in london. they left behinded people totally unnecessary. >> bottom line is we are doing our show outside on friday. >> yes. >> at 8:00. >> be here at 7:30. >> dress up if you want to in your olympic regala. it's going to be a lot of fun. met this darling kid downstairs. peter simcoti and his sister that wrote a musical that is about chlorine.

he has to explain to you. tony danza is with him. >> checking out the wine, kathie lee. >> it's tequila day. is he talking to us? s. >> they are talking. >> has matt lauer ever looked sexier than he did today? >> hoda was lusting in the make-up room. we'll check everything out after this. be kidding me. sweetie, help us settle this. i say this and this is called southern hospitality. well, i call it the clean getaway. [ scoffs ] you're both wrong. it's the freshy fresh. everyone knows that. i didn't know that. oh yeah, that's what they're saying now. [ female announcer ] nothing leaves you feeling cleaner and fresher than the cottonelle care routine. try them together. then name it on facebook.

do you really think brushing is enough to keep it clean? while brushing misses germs in 75% of your mouth, listerine cleans virtually your entire mouth. so take your oral health to a whole new level. listerine... power to your mouth. so take your oral health to a whole new level. so you're telling me he didn't win the batting title in 1935, but he won ii'm 99.9% positive. so you don't know. ball park angus beef franks. made with 100% angus beef, to make guys 100% happy. the moisturizer in other body washes sits on top of skin. cincotti. . . dove body wash with nutriummoisture.

superior natural nourishment for your skin. dove body wash with nutriummoisture. abracadabra. ♪ hershey's milk chocolate with almonds in pieces. your favorites, in pieces. 2012. i got this wrong before, new

york music theater festival. it's got everything, love, lust and tony danza. "how deep is the ocean" and an environmentally friendly love story about a pool guy competing with his rival for the heart of a woman they both love. >> the soldout performances is coming back to the stage for two more performances. singer/actor and dancer tony danza and the award-winning musician peter cincotti. he wrote the music. >> lyrics by your sister. he wrote the book. get this straight. >> what, are you talking? what do you do? >> i have one number. i'm a friend. i live around the corner. we hang out together so i look good. he said to me one day he wrote this show about a pool man and chlorine. >> and healing benefits of chlorine. >> it ends up being a very original idea. it's fun.

by the way, salut. >> it's actually tequila day, national. >> he wrote a number for me. i have one number in the second act. >> it's too bawdy for you to sing for us today. >> it's called "part of growing balls." >> is there a clip? >> we have nothing. it's all in london. >> but we've got wine. >> we've got a clip. ♪ ♪ you've got to get her back [ bleep ].

>> you can't say "sack?" grow a sack. >> well, you said it. >> it's like i said something else there. >> better publicity. >> help out, peter. >> i got one number in the show, that's all i got, i swear. >> tony was saying he is like the surprise guest. i said are you sure you want to give that away, but you only have two more performances. people start heckling you. >> in the second act, rob sings a song about how much his wife means to him and how he'll do anything to have her. she is more important than chlorine or anything else and fame. >> wow. >> then he sits down and stops. i let it settle for a couple of seconds. people get uncomfortable. then i yell out, are you kidding me? are you serious? from the audience. people get crazy. my daughter was with me the first night. she was like this, dad, what are

you doing? don't embarrass an 18-year-old. >> we've got to get to peter. you put this whole thing together. >> my sister came up with the chlorine idea. >> there we are, the three of us. that is pia. she is unbelievable. look, look, not everybody carries -- i'm like a groupie. >> what is it about his music you love so much? >> he's different. when i see him play the piano, it's like watching somebody do something special. >> it's a bromance. >> a little bit. look, he signed it. >> thank you. >> we wish you all the best. >> and he's straight and he writes all this stuff. when he was 25 years old he wrote a line in a song called "the country life." and it says, "i want to smell the roses of our love the day they bloom." when i was 25 i was thinking something else. >> we love you guys. thank you.

>> thank you. >> next, sara gets herself into a pickle. [ female announcer ] letting her home be turned into a training facility? ♪ this olympian's mom has been doing it for years. she's got bounty. in this lab demo, one sheet of new bounty leaves this surface cleaner than two sheets of the leading ordinary brand. bounty has trap and lock technology to soak up big spills and lock them in. let the spills begin. p&g. proud sponsor of the olympic games. release fragrance into the air... the welcoming scent of fresh lavender

and juicy, sun-ripened peaches... quickly fills your home. then fills you with a little something, too. ♪ try the long-lasting one-of-a-kind scent of lavender and peach blossom. available in plugins scented oil, only from glade. s.c. johnson. a family company.

it is time now for "sara in the city" when sara bravely explores every nook and cranny of the big apple. >> she headed downtown and got the number on the guy who pickles the cucumbers. >> manhattan's lower east side known as the pickle district had 40 speciality pickle shops lining the streets. some are still standing. we decided to find out what pickling is all about. the pickle guys are relished for their crunchy pickles and juicy personalities. >> pickling is a process we use to preserve vegetables, pickle in sugar, salt or vinegar. what we do is most of our products are pickles made the old-fashioned way, just done in

salt water. that's called brine. new pickles are 1 to 10 days old, 1/2 hour is three weeks old, 3/4 is one month old. >> this is one pickle -- tickle. >> the pickle guys specialize in all things pickles. >> we pickle fruits, mangos and pineapples, olives, hot peppers, tomatoes, okra. >> the biggest pickle of all, the pickle itself. that's a great pickle. >> just water? >> just water. >> and this is a board. >> that is our stirring stick. this is salt. >> do you guys have problem with blood pressure? >> only when i get home at night. these are kirby cucumbers.

ready? >> yep. whoa! >> beautiful. >> thank you. >> i'm pickling. >> not quite. we still had to add the garlic. >> it's like a vampire's nightmare. >> spread it out. there you go. >> and this specially blended pickle spices. >> push it all together. >> i don't think we have enough of the brine. >> you got plenty of brine there. put a cover on there. that goes in the fridge. >> got it. >> go for it. you said you could do it. >> my feet aren't really connecting with the ground right now. then i graduated to working behind the barrel. >> little squeeze, make sure they're firm. >> let me try this. >> soon made a few friends. >> i just made a barrel of those. they're in the back. >> you did a good job. >> spicy.

>> spicy like you. hot like a pistol. >> whoa! >> i had a feeling my new friend may be familiar with a few of my old friends. what kind of pickle people do you think kathie lee would be versus hoda? >> kathie lee 1/2 sour and hoda full sour. >> really? >> straight in, full sour. >> both feet in the brine. >> i'm with you. >> after a long day of pickling, it was time to celebrate with team bonding. get in there, pickle people. one, two, three, pickles! you'll be happy to know the pickle guy ships nationwide. regular customers place weekly mail orders to get their pickle fix. i brought in a few samples for you to try. >> these olives are good, too. >> i can't believe the garlic.

>> i most shocked by the fruit. it was my favorite part. >> i don't think so. i'll have one of these. from new york to great britain. madelyn puts us to the english food test. >> and the latest looks in summer denim. [ ding ] oh, that's helpful! well, our company does that, too. actually, we invented that. it's like a sauna in here. helping you save, even if it's not with us -- now, that's progressive! call or click today. no mas pantalones! to your kids' wet skin. neutrogena® wet skin kids.

ordinary sunblock drips and whitens. neutrogena® wet skin cuts through water. forms a broad spectrum barrier for full strength sun protection. wet skin. neutrogena®. hamburger helper can help you back. and with box tops for education on every box, it helps you help your school. so you're doing good just by making dinner. hamburger helper. help is on the way.

we are back with more of "today" and "today's trend." we are singing the summer blues from cute little skirts, there are so many ways to fit denim in your wardrobe. >> here to help anyone flaunt denim at any age is "today" style editor and bobbie.com, bobbie thomas. >> i'm excited to show you how to wear these. >> who can still wear those? >> i don't know. there actually is one. this is when you know they are too short when the pockets show. these are for sale. >> you're kidding me. a lot of labor goes into ruining

those. >> i thought maybe for your vacation. >> thank you. >> there's been such a spotlight on denim in hollywood. we have pictures of friend setters. we have carrie underwood. rihanna rocking the studs. jeremy scott's "runway" with the fringe. there is every fashion for it, but there is a sweeter side to denim that i love. these long sweeping skirts and you see this mullberry retro button down skirt. i have the jean vest on and we'll show you how to pull it off. >> nancy and her daughter briel. >> both ladies did it great. >> cut-offs are something in your 20s it's the easiest thing to throw on. briel has a great boho style look going.

it's on trend. that doesn't mean you can't wear jean shorts in a sophisticated pay. nancy's pair are $14 and they come with the belt at j.c. penney. if you put a white button down blouse, it goes with anything. instantly adds sophistication, the wedge. it's a grown-up way to wear your denim shorts. >> you're right. >> you don't have to do the bermuda length but i like the longer length with the roll. it's not dowdy. it's very in vogue. >> so charming. >> home run, two of them. >> marina is next. this is the skirt look. >> i like these denim a-line skirts that are back in. keira knightley, so many are bringing back this retro skirt. i couldn't believe the price. this is only $11. >> oh, good grief. >> this skirt is a great thing to grab for the end of summer. the blouse is the trick to dressing up the denim.

get something that is chiffon or floral and dress it up. if you want an effortless look, a plain white t-shirt would look stunning with denim. >> what is prettier in summertime? >> this is something we see every summer with denim. this year we are seeing more styles like the denim skirt. >> darling. >> thank you. >> all right. lastly we have chastity. >> gorgeous in this chambray dress. this is a lighter weight fabric that looks like denim. in the heat, look for this to get the denim look. this is a great line for full-figured ladies and covers your curves. we have edna in our studio. >> edna is doing make-up this week. >> she didn't plan this, but this is one of our most talented make-up artists on the show. we love you. >> and stylish. >> and modest. >> you really always wear things that are on trend. it's such an adorable way to

pull off a dress you might think is for a younger person, but anyone can wear this. >> thank you, edna. >> bobbie, we love you, too. >> got a kid about to check into a dorm? ways to keep it clean. what makes hershey's s'mores special?

pure chocolate goodness that brings people together. hershey's makes it a s'more... you make it special. pure hershey's. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] you've been years in the making. and there are many years ahead. join the millions of members who've chosen an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. go long.

insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. sleep in my contacts. relax... air optix® night & day aqua contact lenses are approved for up to 30 days and nights of continuous wear, so it's okay to sleep in them. visit airoptix.com for a free 1-month trial.

but may not realize what they can do for your health. we know what it takes to look good on the outside but with 70% of our immune system located in our gut, the core of our health is truly on the inside. that's why i take new trubiotics. it's a daily probiotic that helps in two ways. one helps support digestive health, the other immune health. stay true to your health. new trubiotics. from the makers of one-a-day.

back to school day and dorm room defense. whether you have a child checking into a campus dorm or his or her first apartment away from you. we are going to teach your kid how to get cleaned and organized. >> the accidental housewife is here for tips. the mom of a young man three weeks about to start his freshman year away. >> yes. my goal is to keep health inspectors away from his room. and everybody out there. we know the microwave and fridge will be used and abused. put sheets of paper towels in before we leave when we drop them off. when they make a mess, they'll take a sheet out and maybe it will stay a tad cleaner. maybe. >> doubtful. >> in the fridge, lots of odors. making soda. this is a space saver. it's microfridge, one and the same. you can rent these at some schools as well as buy them.

>> it's a space saver and there are different sizes. >> and you share with your roommates. they can fight over everything all year long. >> stinky garbage can. >> put extra bags in there and newspaper will absorb the odor. >> you put the extra bags in the bottom of that? >> i try. laundry. we know it's on the floor. we want one open. maybe they aim. you also want one that is perforated like this from the container store because no mold or mildew. again baking soda. that will keep odors away. i like ties one on there so they may use it, may. dresser drawers. they've got pesties in there. these are lavender and cedar wood drawer liners. they will keep the pests away and that is a good little things

for our kids. >> the bed is so high. >> a lot of times they let you loft in schools which is great. before we get to storage. the other thing are mattresses are a haven for dust mites. you want to get encasements. these are clean rest. they click and lock. even if there is an opening near the zipper, they can't get in. you get those at bed bath and beyond. microfiber for bedding. wrinkle resistant, stain resistant. this is from marshalls. easy and drys fast. looks good. next, storage. another big issue, the loft thing. these are from walmart.com. they roll in, roll out. you can stack them. this is from container store. these are also stackable. what i like, they close so no dirt or anything else. another great thing an ottoman. this is from sam's club.com.

you can store things, sit on it and eat at it. >> genius. >> three in one. i'm going to get one for your offices. >> thank you. >> next on the walls, you want to also, if you want put them under, put them on walls. these are command hooks. damage-free. you can hang jewelry, whatever else you want. you can use adhesive and use it on wood surfaces. last but not least, love this. this is a little desk organizer you put on your chair. >> cute. >> what's great, it's called the aussie pouch. it's a great way of taking things off the floor. my son likes to measure how long it is from one putt to the next. >> good luck to your son, by the way. >> great to see you, julie. >> how about a food fight?

>> madelyn fernstrom. ♪ [ female announcer ] when a woman wears a pad, she can't always move the way she wants. that's why stayfree created a brand new ultra thin that moves with you. inspired by athletic wear, only stayfree has new flexible layers that move with your body. while thermocontrol wicks moisture away. so feel free to move the way you want. switch to new stayfree ultra thins. keep moving. [ female announcer ] do you know what a difference dove nourishment can make? my hips, they know.

my shins, they get it. [ female announcer ] only dove body wash has nutrium moisture and a breakthrough formula that goes beyond moisture to nourish deep down like no other. [ female announcer ] dove body wash. proven effective natural nourishment. ♪ the nourishment of nutrium moisture is also available in all your favourite dove body wash products. ♪ [ man ] excuse me miss. [ gasps ] this fiber one 90 calorie brownie has all the moist, chewy, deliciousness you desire. mmmm. thanks. [ man ] at 90 calories, the brownie of your dreams

is now deliciously real. [ female announcer ] and now, try our new chocolate chip cookie 90 calorie brownie. [romney singing]: oh beautiful, for spacious skies, i'm barack obama and i approve this message.

for amber waves of grain, for purple mountains majesty, above the fruited plain, america, america, god shed his grace on thee, and crowned thy good, with brotherhood...

it's time for madelyn's food fight. in case you've been living under a rock, the olympics start this week in london. the british love nontraditional foods. >> if you're thinking of throwing a party, madelyn fernstrom is here to keep your menu healthy. why do we have hats on? >> we are very british, going to an event. it's fascinating. we'll start out with something very british. we'll start off with tea. tea is the official beverage of england. >> true.

>> it is true. >> most tea used in england is from loose tea not tea bags. >> true. >> no. it's false. mo >> she missed it. >> it's only true or false. the most popular edition to tea is milk. >> true. >> you get that point. >> she hadn't gotten the question out. >> it came out. >> 1-1. >> one of these is not part of a typical english breakfast. listen carefully. eggs, sausage, bacon, baked beans, mushrooms, fried bread or roasted potatoes. >> i'm going bacon. >> you are not right. >> baked beans. >> wrong. >> potatoes. >> it's potatoes. >> so sad. 1-1, hoda woman. >> moving on. two popular british baked goods,

scones and crumpets. how many crumpets can you eat for the calories of one scone, one, three or five? >> i would say definitely three. >> you are definitely not right. >> five. >> you're right. about 100 calories for the english muffin and the scone is full of sugar and butter. a popular combination is bangers and mash. what are bangers, sausages? >> yes, they are sausages. >> yes. >> moving on to an alcoholic beverage. >> i'm getting this one. >> pimm's is a popular alcoholic drink. is it made from vodka, gin or bourbon. >> gin. >> you are right. >> this game is awful. >> hoda, we still have a couple more questions.

>> 18-2. >> double or nothing. >> one away from a tiebreaker. bubble and squeak is another favorite. is this a fried vegetable meat patty, a pork stew or sponge cake. >> sponge cake. >> i hate this game. >> the porky thing. >> no. >> the other one. >> vegetable patty. >> fried vegetable patty. it bubbles and squeaks in the pan. >> we should build up. we are on our final question and now it's double or nothing. >> you might have heard of shepard's pie, a typical british casserole. the topping is it crushed potato chips, mashed potatoes. >> mashed potatoes. >> it's mashed potatoes. >> you said crushed. >> no. i said mashed potatoes. >> the winner is -- >> the score is 5-1. >> so the winner is kathie lee.

>> what do you get? >> pimm's. >> the runner up gets lemon kurd. >> lemon kurd? >> a great, great author, emily giffin is with us with a terrific book. [ male announcer ] where did all the obama stimulus money go?

friends, donors, campaign supporters,

special interest groups where did the obama stimulus money go? solyndra: 500 million taxpayer dollars. bankrupt. so where did the obama stimulus money go? windmills from china. electric cars from finland 79% of the 2.1 billion in stimulus grants awarded through it went to overseas companies. [ romney ] i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

now on "today's" sizzling summer reads, the best-selling author emily giffin is here. her first movie "something borrowed" was made into a movie starring kate hudson. >> her new book is called "where we belong," the story of two women and secrets that bind them. >> i love how you say this is your favorite. they are all the kind of books

you cannot put down. >> i think i fell in love with this character. i love the coming of age story. kirby is such a compelling character. >> where does she come from? do you base your characters on people you know or is there some of you? >> i think there is a little of me in all of them. i was intimidated to write her. she is 18, i'm 40. >> it's what you look like, not what you are. >> i just said i'm 40 on the "today" show. >> i love how you write your books. you say you let your mom read chapter by chapter, your aunt, your best friends who are visiting "today." can we get a shot of mom in that corner right there? >> such an elegant lady. >> you let them read each chapter? >> i do. i have an inner circle of a

close friend and cousin. >> sometimes i do change. it's more that i like to gauge the reaction how they are feeling about the characters. there is a scene in this book where the adopted mother, the biological mother, the child comes and shows up at her door. her first reaction is to take her to barney's to shop. it's because she's nervous. but of course, you know, when you hear from a couple of your readers, that is so appallingly obnoxious that you've got to tone that down, that helps, i think. >> do you think that's obnoxious? >> i sort of got it when she was doing it. >> i'm so glad you had empathy. if you did, my readers will. >> she would assume that is one thing they may have in common the love of shopping. >> of course this girl is not

like that. she doesn't know her. maybe she should have had a conversation with her. >> when your book came out, my friends and i all read them all. >> you did. >> hoda is your biggest fan. >> you pick immediate as your favorite thing. thank you. >> yes. >> your make-up tip was good that week. >> i'm sorry. i've been writing my own thing lately. you think you're the only author. >> my friends and i would go to the book store asking for another emily giffi nfn book. >> we are in talks. i can't say the producer's name, but she is amazing and committed to telling smart, romantic comedies in this era of animation and blowing things up. >> interpersonal relationships. >> do you still have to go on book signings? >> do i have to? it is my honor and privilege. it's true though. >> you want to hear what they say to you. >> it really is true. >> we love you and want this one

to be a bestseller. >> we'll take total credit for it. >> make it number one. >> all right. >> congratulations. >> tomorrow things heat up with chef curtis stone. >> bruce jenner will be here. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

man: we need a good night's sleep. woman: which means a little heat to keep us warm. and a good dose of support for my back. some over-the-top comfort couldn't hurt. and our perfect dream factory's been built. you're feeling sleepy already? nighty-night. [giggling]