life of the party. new jersey's fiery governor chris christie will be the keynote speaker at this month's republican national convention. after considering a run of his own, what will he do with this moment in the spotlight. demanding an answer? u. port authority calling for an investigation into the $100 million security system at the airport after a stranded jet skier managed to swim ashore, climb the fence and walk across two runways undetected. and photo finish. on monday it was up on abbey road, now matt tries to recapture the magic of michael jordan. >> wow, that's ptty good.

>> hi, guys. >> if matt can be like mike, why is michael jordan laughing today >> if matt can be like mike, why is michael jordan laughing today tuesday august 14th, 2012. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on tuesday morning. i'm savannah guthrie. he's not really like mike. >> no, not even close. i'm matt lauer, the unofficial -- the official announcement is expected later today. chris christie says he's already grinding away on what will be his keynote address at the republican convention. >> in vintage christie style the governor says he will tell some direct and tough choices to americans. meanwhile paul ryan was met with cheers and a few jeers in iowa at his first solo campaign stop.

straight ahead we'll talk about the presidential race with former republican candidate newt gingrich. >> also, is your home's deck a hidden hazard? we've seen a number of collapses of decks across the country. experts are sake it's because decks aren't built right. coming up, how to spot the warning signs. then a remarkable car crash during a race on colorado's pike's peak. you have to see the video to believe it. what's amazing, the drivers walked away. one of them had a dislocated shoulder but nothing more serious. i'll tell you more about that. >> all right. we'll take a turn. look who followed us home from london, the gold medal winning gymnastic team. they are going to be helping us out all morning and answer questions from our crowd. >> and speaking of the crowd, some of them have been here since monday morning because we've got a live concert from one of the hottest names in music, nicki minaj. >> we want to get the president of politics and the choice to have chris christie deliver the

keynote address at the republican convention. nbc's chuck todd is the political director. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. all about the tough talk about the campaign. the battle to define paul ryan is on. democrats trying to paint him as an ideological warrior determined to take medicare away. republicans selling him as a serious candidate with a serious plan to get the country out of debt. >> it's my running mate paul ryan, a great leader. >> what's gutsy about gutting medicare. >> reporter: the two national tickets may not agree on much, but they are both trying to do the same thing, define paul ryan. >> he attacks problems. he recognizes there are honest differences between honest people. he looks to find ways to find common ground to bring people together. >> he's a very articulate spokesperson for governor romney's vision. the problem is it's the wrong vision for america. >> reporter: making his first solo campaign appearance in iowa

monday, ryan hit back at the president who is in the middle of his own iowa bus tour. >> as you see the president come through on his bus tour, you might ask him the same question that i'm getting asked from people all around america and that is where are the jobs, mr. president. >> reporter: as ryan quickly discovered, the latest flash point is medicare. ryan is the architect of a sweeping medicare reform plan. instead of a government insurance guarantee for health care coverage, ryan's plan calls for the government to give seniors in the future money to buy their own insurance. the president has been attacking ryan's plan for months. >> he plans to turn medicare into a voucher program. so if that voucher isn't worth enough to buy the health insurance that's on the market, you're out of luck. you're on your own. >> reporter: romney is pushing back in the senior citizen rich battleground of california backing ryan's battle plan but specifically not talking about the changes he'd make. >> my plan for medicare is very similar to his plan for

medicare, which is do not change the program for current retirees or new retirees, but do not do what president has done, and that is to cut $700 billion out of the current program. >> in fact the president did not actually cut medicare. the cost of that program continues to rise only at a slower rate but nuance gets lost when it comes to medicare politics. many republicans running down the ballot are nervous about running on ryan's medicare plan. in fact, in one high-profile senate race in montana, one of ryan's republican colleagues is running against it. >> rehberg refused to support a budget plan that could harm a plan so many seniors rely on. >> reporter: one other note, chris christie as keynote, the other contender, marco rubio, he will get the second most koefcod spot, that is to introduce mitt romney when he accepts the nomination.

>> thank you. newt gingrich is a one-time speaker of the house and one-time favorite in the presidential race. good to see you. >> good to see you. >> i've heard in the last 36 hours paul ryan described in different ways. on the one hand i hear he's a game changer for the romney campaign, i also hear he's a dream come true for the obama campaign. what was your first reaction when you heard he was on the ticket? >> i think both are true. my reaction is very, very positive. callista has known him since he was an intern. he's a remarkably bright guy, worked under gene kemp and kilpatrick, has understanding of growth and how to create jobs and has courage. he's a game changer from the democrat's standpoint. he guarantees this is going to be a big issue, big choice election. and our job is going to be to insist on telling the truth about it and to work on issues such as, for example, the fact that no one 55 or older, no one

has anything happen to medicare under the ryan proposal. so to scare current senior citizens is just false. >> let's talk about medicare. we do have to go back to what you said on the weekend. you announced you wanted the republican nomination. when you were talking about that version, paul ryan's version then of reforming medicare you said it was right wing social engineering. he since has evolved. is there anything about his current version of that plan that is still right wing social engineering? >> well, he doesn't care for criticism, which is one of his strengths, unlike president obama who doesn't want to listen. the result was he worked with another. it's important to remember the only bipartisan proposal to save medicare for the long run is the ryan widen plan. can you keep the current medicare system if that's what you want. even if you're 23 years old, if you want to keep the current

system you can do so. the challenge for the president is simple. he did transfer something like $716 billion out of projected spending in medicare in order to cover the cost of obama care. he did create a 15 person bureaucratic board which ends medicare as we know it as a doctor-patient system. for the president to go around pretending he's google to protect medicare is simply not accurate and frankly not being fair to the american people. let's have an honest debate and let's ask the president and vice president biden to be honest about what they have already done and be honest about the ryan plan which doesn't affect anyone at all over 55 years of age. >> you talk about a bipartisan plan. i've heard paul ryan described as a true conservative. of course you used to describe yourself as that in this race. do you honestly think he is someone who will work and reach across the aisle to democrats or will he be an im movable object on key social issues and issues of ideology? >> i think first of all you ought to talk to senator ron

widen, the democrat from oregon, who in big bold reform has worked very closely. i can tell you what his relationship has been like with paul ryan. in addition paul, he represents an industrial blue-collar auto worker district in wisconsin. he's very attuned to trying to reach across the aisle to find democrats, to find common ground. his interest is finding a solution, not just going out and having ideological speeches. but he also feels passionately as a father of three that his children are going to be left a bankrupt country unless we do something dramatic. he knows when lou at greece, which is 55% teenager unemployment and youth unemployment, 20% unemployment overall, we can't go down that road, which is why frankly governor christie is a great choice for keynote speaker. he was one of the first leaders in taking on the cost of government. >> former speaker, newt gingrich. mr. speaker always good to see you.

thank you for your time this morning. let's get a check of top stories, natalie morales at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning everyone. the new york port authority is calling for an investigation into how a man was able to bypass jfk airport's $100 million security system all while soaking wet and wearing a bright yellow lifejacket. officials say 31-year-old daniel cassio ran out of fuel jet skiing in jamaica bay, swam ashore, jumped a barbed wire fence, walked across two runways and asked for help. he passed cameras and motion detecters without raising alarm. the increased patrols are on the perimeter and surrounding waterways. he now faces criminal trespass charges. a shoot-out near texas a&m has left three people dead. a man opened fire on a police officer while being served with an eviction notice.

35-year-old man killed the officer and one other man. police shot and killed him soon after. gop presidential hopeful meanwhile spoke out right after the shooting saying thoughtful considering is necessary to prevent future shootings but said a change in gun legislation is not the answer. the fda has approved a new flu vaccine. this year's vaccine will help combat several new viral strains of the flu and will be manufactured by six companies. up to 20% of americans get the flu each year according to the cdc. head to wall street. mandy drury at the new york stock exchange. good morning, mandy. >> good morning, natalie. we're looking at a rebound after yesterday's decline. we'll see how much investors like earnings from home depot, better than expected as customers spend more on remodeling their homes. what cell phone do you use? more and more are using samsung, south korean company is widening market share lead over nokia and

apple. people tend to like galaxy phones which run on android. back to you. >> mandy drury at the stock exchange. thank you. an incredible car creche. the driver and co-driver flipped off course somersaulting as you see a dozen times down the side of the mountain. both drivers were airlifted to a local hospital and later released without even a broken bone. hard to believe seeing that. and last night on "the tonight show" with jay leno, first lady michelle obama invoked her rights as mom in chief to give gold medal gymnast gabby douglas a little scolding for her eating habit. >> how did you celebrate that. >> event finals after that. after the competition i splurged on an egg mcmuffin. >> egg mcmuffin. >> gabby, don't encourage him. i'm sure it was a whole wheat mcmuffin. >> on a whole wheat bun.

>> egg mcmuffin, very good. >> you're setting me back, gabby. >> we'll talk to gabby about that a little bit later. mrs. obama also called out another teenager girl, her own daughter. she said 13-year-old malia was disgusted she didn't deliver when the kiss cam caught her and the president at a recent basketball game. so the first daughter arranged for a second shot on the jumbotron. as you remember, they did deliver the goods. it's 7:13. back over to matt, savannah and al. >> thanks very much. let's check in with mr. roker outside among his people or nicki minaj's people i should say. >> wow, a big, big nicki minaj crowd here. we'll check in with t big nicki here. we'll check in with them in just a bit. we have strong storms including new york city, washington to

bi bingint bi binghamton and we have storms pushing in. hopefully we get the concert in before the rainfall. 1-3 inches locally, may pick up to 4. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. storm 4 radar showing pockets of yellow and orange with moderate rain in southeast washington and across the border in prince george's county advancing to the north and south and southwest, tapering off to a few scattered sprink sprinkles temporarily and could and that's your latest weather. savannah. >> all right, al, thanks. there's a new crash test designed to make cars even safer. bah lot of cars are not passing. nbc's tom costello has details this morning. tom, good morning to you. >> hi, savannah, good morning to

you. most cars today pass a federal as well as the insurance industry's crash test. these new crash tests are designed to see what happens when the front of the car, but only the front 25%, is hit in an accident missing the safety instruments there to protect you. the newest crash test from the insurance institute for highway safety is all about the overlap. the 25% overlap portion of the driver's side that hits a barrier or car at 40 miles per hour. each year more than 10,000 people die in front impact crashes. small overlap crashes were responsible for 25% of all serious injuries and deaths. >> the key crash absorbing structure in vehicles is located here at the middle of the front end. people are vulnerable in small overlap crashes because these structures are bypassed. the crash forces can go directly into the occupant compartment.

>> it happened to this woman hit head on in virginia. she suffered a concussion, fractured cheekbone and teeth, a cut to her eye and deep head laceration. >> i don't think it was just hitting glass. i think it was hitting something hard that did that. it was pretty deep laceration. >> in its latest test only three of 11 mid-sized luxury cars and near luxury cars earned good or acceptable ratings. the acura ttl, volvo s60 and infinity g. look what happened to the lexus. >> it was one of the worst performers in the test. the front pushed in toward the driver. the front wheel pushed into the occupant compartment. the foot well collapsed trapping the dummy's feet. >> in a statement toyota lexus tells nbc news, with this new test the institute has raised the bar again and we will respond to this challenge as we design new vehicles.

the mercedes c class and audi 84 also received poor marks while acura tss, bmw 3, lincoln and volkswagen received marginal scores. experts say the key is a safety cage that protects everyone regardless of the impact zone. >> strengthen the safety cage and they also need to improve rerestaurant systems. >> reporter: audi and volkswagen tell nbc news they are going to work to make sure their car designs meet the new test. mercedes says it disagrees with the test design. it has said its mercedes c is safe. mercury says it's also already meeting federal safety standards. that's true. but this is a new test raising the bar yet again. savannah, back to you. >> raising some eyebrows, too. it's 7:17, now here is matt. >> thank you. helen brown, the woman credited with ushering in the 1960 sexual

revolution has died. nbc's kate snow looks back at the remarkable and sometimes controversial life of cosmo poll continue magazine's longtime editor. >> you've seen her legacy, big splashy sex-filled headlines that scream out from the front page of cosmopolitan magazine. maybe they are not a big deal now. but in the '60s, the cosmo girls were empowering. >> in her very first issue, the top cover line, the pill that promises to make women more responsive. she told me oe she wanted to say responsive in bed or to men and management wouldn't let her do it but everyone knew what she meant. >> she's editor and chief now but for more than three decades it was helen gurley brown's magazine. >> she created a signature look. a really sexy attractive woman who looked like she had just walked into a party and thought, i own this room. >> brown was ambitious. she pushed to run her own

magazine after her blunt how to dating guide "sex and the single girl" hit the best sell are list in 1962. think of her as carrie bradshaw before bradshaw was born. she loved animal prints, fishnet stockings and of course -- >> sex is one of the three greatest things there is. i'm not sure what the other two are. >> reporter: in a 1995 interview with "dateline" she acknowledged the critics. >> they did instantly criticize us for concentrating on how you look and on being sexy and on pleasing men and i have fought that to the ground. i have said you can be sexy. i hope you're pleasing men. i hope they are pleasing you. i'll say again, anybody who accuses cosmo of being fluffy, lighthearted, superficial doesn't read the magazine. >> in one way she was a pioneer

for women. in another way she promoted a magazine that seemed to have the impact of making women way more conscious about their physical looks than we need to be. >> in 2003 at 80 she showed off her tango moves on "today" but complained about getting old. >> i don't find anything wonderl about being 80 except that i'm still here and i'm grateful for that. >> reporter: she coached single girls to sleep with married men. but she herself was married for more than 50 years. when she died monday at 90, she was still editor of cosmo's 64 international editions, still went to work most days. her colleagues said the office just won't be the same without her. for "today," kate snow, nbc news, new york. and still ahead, five guys, a friendship that's lasted the test of time, and 30 years of the exact same photo that tell the story. we'll talk to them. first this is "today" on nbc.

i'm barack obama and i approve this message seen this? mitt romney claiming the president would end welfare's work requirements? the new york times calls it 'blatantly false' the washington post says: "the obama administration is not removing the bill's work requirements at all." in fact, obama's getting states to move twenty percent more people from welfare to work. and president clinton's reaction to the romney ad? it's just "not true." get the facts. we need to look for a new van. yeah. i just don't know where to start.

glad you found us. start by test-driving nearly every make and model, all in one place. carmax. start here.

what ? customers didn't like it. so why do banks do it ? hello ? hello ?! if your bank doesn't let you talk to a real person 24/7, you need an ally. hello ? ally bank. no nonsense. just people sense. [ music playing ] [ music playing ]

♪ 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. check out the latest collection of snacks from lean cuisine. creamy spinach artichoke dip, crispy garlic chicken spring rolls. they're this season's must-have accessory. lean cuisine. be culinary chic. 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. the moisturizer in other body washes sits on top of skin. only dove has nutriummoisture, which can nourish deep down. dove body wash with nutriummoisture. superior natural nourishment for your skin.

good morning. it's 7:26 on this tuesday, august 14th. i'm aaron gilchrist. a rainy start to the morning and more storms on the way. >> the rain is tapering off across virginia but in maryland, still moderate pockets of heavy downpours in the northeast washington and right across the border to prince george's county, still getting moderate to heavy rain from bowie and clinton to bowie. midday, you might get some sun and late day, might get some

and latei got the chancesome to start my own business.

i know what it's like to hire people and to make ends meet. from those experiences, i had the chance of running the olympics. the games were in real trouble. there'd been way too much spending. and in massachusetts i found a budget that was badly out of balance. our legislature was 85% democrat. and every one of the four years i was governor, we balanced the budget. i want to use those experiences to help americans have a better future. we believe in our future. we believe in ourselves. we believe the greatest days of america are ahead. i'm mitt romney and i approve this message. good morning. making the commute in silver

spring, maryland, a crash at georgia avenue northbound at seminary road. it's blocking the right side of the roadway. you have to squeeze by to the left and you are

sports images, mike jordan's soaring. we'll show you that unforgettable moment. 7:30 tuesday morning august 12. >> nice uniform. >> he looked a little better in his uniform in 1998. >> also ahead they wowed the world winning gold, now the u.s. gymnastics team is taking over

the plaza. we'll catch up with them. later on another treat for the crowd and our team, a concert from nicki minaj. >> news you can use. every summer backyard decks collapsing without warning. it could have something to do with how your deck is built and attached to your house. we're going to show you how to spot the red flags. >> then celebrity news robert pattinson makes his first public appearance since his long time girlfriend kristen stewart admitted publicly to cheating on him. we'll hear from him coming up. we'll begin with the sole survivor of an airlines crash that killed 156 people. she's breaking her silence for the first time in 25 years. here is nbc's janet shamlian. >> reporter: good morning. not far from the airport this is the official memorial to the victims of flight 255. every passengers on the plane died that day except for one. a little girl named cecilia cichan. despite so much curiosity about her she was raised out of public

view and spent her entire life not talking about what happened that day until now. it was a devastating scene. northwest airlines flight 255 went down just after taking off from the detroit airport in august 1987. first the crash, then the fire. the wreckage was everywhere. and sifting through it the firefighter couldn't believe it was survivable until he herd a faint moan. >> you hear the faint cry a baby doll makes and i looked to my right and i saw an arm, kind of bent, coming out of a chair. >> it belonged to cecilia cichan. the 4-year-old was severely injured, fractured skull, broken collar bone and third degree burns covering much of her body. she was alive. her mother, father, 6-year-old brother died in the cash along with everyone else on the plane and two people on the ground. authorities at the time said

they believed cecelia's mom shielded her with her body. >> she was found in the crash site. >> they called her the miracle child. cecelia began endless curiosity, how did she survive. even after the accident, people clamored for information about her but cecelia never spoke about the crash until now. >> i think about the accident every day. it's kind of hard not to look about it when i look in the mirror. i have visual scars. >> reporter: in the aftermath of the crash, cecelia was shielded from public view raised by her aunt and uncle. now 29 and married, her interview for the documentary featuring people like herself in commercial plane crashes and somehow defied the odds. >> this like sole survivor project is more about a group

and that's why i'm willing to get involved and be part of something bigger. >> reporter: the director said all the survivors were somewhat reluctant to speak. sensitive to the loss of other families. but aware of the public's fascination with their lives. >> i can see cecilia is happy. she's grounded. she's doing wonderful. she's in a committed relationship. >> reporter: cecelia has kept in touch with victims' families as she's grown as well as her rescuer who saw her for the first time as an adult the day she got married. >> to see her come down the aisle, i lost it. to see her in person was something. >> reporter: makers of the documentary "sole survivor" said cecelia is hoping to continue living a private life. thursday there will ab memorial here marking the 25th anniversary of that crash. it remains to this day one of the worst disasters in u.s. aviation history. savannah, back to you.

>> all right. janet shamlian, thank you. >> let us get a check of the weather now from mr. roker who joins us again. >> thank you very much, matt. we check of the weather from mr. roker who joins us again. >> the drought condition does not get much better. we have extreme drought in the northeast and lower and mid mississippi river valleys. temperatures aren't helping. highs in the 90s to 100s and texas and mississippi valley. temperatures cool down. you will see cooldowns later this week in the plain states. look for a high of 89 degrees in st. louis and risk of strong storms in the northeast and mid-atlantic this morning and this afternoon. that's what's going on in the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. good morning. storm 4 radar is showing thunder and lightning in kent. getting moderate showers,

eastern suburbs in prince george's county, near clinton, upper mar borrow and bowie up to north. this is tapering off generally and might get don't forget you can get your weather any time you need it, go to weather channel on cable or weather.com online. matt. >> thank you very much. robert pattinson is speaking out in his first interview since his girlfriend kristen stewart was caught cheating on him. natalie is here on that. good morning. >> pattinson talked to jon last night and did his bess to say very little about what was happening in his personal life. >> what have you been up to? >> i thought we had already prepared. i had a joke prepared. >> sitting down with robert pattinson jon stewart tried to

break the ice with ice cream. >> a couple of guys talking. >> pattinson faced the first questions about the in fidelity of his long time love kristen stewart. >> this is the weird thing about the interviews, my biggest problem in my life, i'm cheap. i didn't hire a publicist. every interview -- normally actors get scripted. i'm going to hire a publicist. >> reporter: the 26-year-old had reportedly been in hiding since news of the scandal broke last month. his girlfriend of three years had cheated on him with her "snow white and the henchman" directors. pattinson acknowledged fans for their support monday night for his new movie "cosmoplis." >> great, wonderful. >> for her part, stewart kept a low profile at her parents home. when the news first broke she issued a public apology staying in a statement, "i'm deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment i've caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected.

this momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person i love and respect the most, rob. i love him, i love him, i'm so sorry. >> tell me what you're thinking. >> reporter: it won't be long until the pair are reunited on the red carpet. the final installment of the series "breaking dawn" part 2 is set to be released in november. >> jon, i think you're confused about what this show is actually about and what the real issues in america are. >> what are they. >> tonight, maybe other times but tonight it's the "twilight" show. >> here is my wish for you, that you get to ham your business in private, in your personal life, and i wish you all the best. >> meanwhile pattinson's new movie "cosmoplis" opens in new york and los angeles on friday. >> still ahead former "american

idol" jordin sparks opens up about working with whitney houston and what would be her final movie role. up next, is your backyard deck in danger of collapsing? how to spot important warning signs right after this. [ male announcer ] ever wonder what's behind two little fleas?

more generations of fleas. frontline plus uses two ingredients. one to kill adult fleas and ticks. plus another to kill the next generation, flea eggs and larvae. ask your vet about frontline plus. agents, say hello to the biggest hailstone in u.s. history. oh, that will leave a dent. which is exactly why we educate people... about comprehensive coverage. yep. the right choice now can pay off later. [ announcer ] we are insurance. ♪ we are farmers bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪

[ telephone rings ] how's the camping trip? well, the kids had fun, but i think i slept on a rock. ♪ the best part of wakin' up what are you doing? having coffee. ohh. ♪ is folgers in your cup

back now at 7:41. this morning on rossen reports a hidden danger in your home. outdoor decks that can potentially collapse. national and investigative correspondent jeff rossen is here with how to protect your family. good morning. >> hey, matt. this is important information. we love our decks. you barbecue on them, invite people over, let the kids play and never worry about it, assuming they are safe. experts say people are getting hurt and killed because decks aren't built right, in danger of fall apart under your feet. this morning you're about to watch a collapse up close. it happens in a split second. you step onto your backyard deck, and it comes crashing down, no time to escape. no warning at all. >> if you're standing here taking a picture --

>> reporter: these teenagers in indiana were posing for their prom picture when suddenly the floor opened up. chaos. >> oh my gosh. >> reporter: they were okay and walked away. >> is everybody all right? >> i think so. >> reporter: not everyone is so lucky. >> the ambulance, what is the address of your emergency? >> reporter: in austin, texas, a late night party turned into a horror show. >> a balcony has collapsed. maybe 25 to 30 people were on the balcony. it collapsed. it just dropped. >> reporter: dozens were hurt, rushed to the hospital. broken bones and lacerations. >> it was terrible. seeing people come out with bloody heads and bones sticking out. oh my god. >> you never think the floor is going to come out from underneath you. a really scaring feeling. >> reporter: it happens every summer everywhere from idaho to rhode island to kentucky.

>> everything just fell. i was actually holding onto the latch of the door until -- i'm screaming help, help, call 911, call 911. >> reporter: it's a hazard most of us never even think about. but home inspectors say they see the warning signs all the time. >> i would say 80% of the decks i inspect have safety concerns. >> reporter: so could your deck be in danger, too? >> a crack like this is severe. it should be replaced. >> reporter: an engineer for a deck equipment company, we visited their safety lab in california where ricardo showed us the red flags you can spot on your deck right now. >> the very first thing you want to look at is where your deck attaches to the house. in this case we only have nails. >> reporter: nails bad. >> that's right. >> reporter: experts say using nails is the leading because of of deck collapses. >> a nail is smooth, pulls out easy. >> reporter: good for hanging pits on your wall but not

attaching a deck to your house. >> absolutely. >> reporter: rotting wood, splintered wood causing problems leading to cracks. ricardo set up a good deck showing the difference using screws and bolts, which are more secure. >> the big difference here is you can see lots of metal. you see bolts. you see screws attaching the deck to the house. this is all good. >> reporter: and that's what you should be looking for underneath your deck. but if all you see are nails, you risk this. >> reporter: wow, that's crazy and so fast. >> it happens in the blink of an eye. >> reporter: this is very much a real scenario. somebody could be sitting in these chairs, grilling. >> not only on top of the deck but underneath the deck. they probably would have been killed. >> reporter: in these accidents, people don't usually die but the injuries are very serious. by the way, deck railings can be just as dangerous.

every summer people end up in the hospital falling over. so if your railing is wobbly, you can feel it, that's another problem. experts say check your deck once a year, that's all it takes. get under there and check the bolts and screws. matt, they say it takes five minutes tops, that's it. >> a lot of people will check today. if they spot a problem, can they fix it themselves or call a professional. >> unless they are bob villa. call a home professional to tell you what should be done. it's an easy and inexpensive fix and could save your family's life. >> thank you for the information. 7:46. five friends who have taken the exact same photos together over the last 30 years. we're going to meet them and find out what it says about the passage of time and their friendship. a little later, can i be like mike in this iconic photo of basketball legend michael jordan. we'll show you the results but first these messages.

>> i don't think you need the harnessing wire. i put this on, i think i can fly. yeah. ow!r." [ male announcer ] zombies are calling it... [ grumbling ] i have no idea what you're talking about. [ male announcer ] it's "brilliant." don't make me throw this hummus. [ all gasp ] it's spicy. [ male announcer ] but zombies say... [ grumbling ] [ male announcer ] critics say it's great for kids and adults. well, duh. while zombies are giving it... [ grumbling ] i just knew something like this was gonna happen tonight. you did? 'cause that zombie bit really threw me. [ male announcer ] "paranorman." rated pg. the moisturizer in other body washes sits on top of skin. only dove has nutriummoisture, which can nourish deep down. dove body wash with nutriummoisture. superior natural nourishment for your skin. has become boring and tasteless... only one man can save the day... ♪ with his sweet and nutty, sweet and nutty crunchy nut ♪ delicious! [ male announcer ] kellogg's crunchy nut.

it's super delicious. thanks to new jif chocolate flavored hazelnut spread. ♪ now anytime of the day can be delicious time. ♪ choosy moms choose jif. bacon?! bacon? bacon! who wants a beggin' strip? meee! i'd get it myself but i don't have thumbs! yum, yum, yum, yum, yum... it's bacon!!! mmmmm...i love you. i love bacon. i love you. [ male announcer ] there's no time like beggin' time. mmmmm...i love you. i love bacon. i love you. of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritisn could mean living with joint damage. help stop the damage before it stops you with humira, adalimumab. for many adults with moderate to severe ra, humira's proven to help relieve pain and stop joint damage. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma or other types of cancer, have happened.

blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira, your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. ask your rheumatologist how you can defend against and help stop further joint damage with humira. back at 7:49 with a story of friendship amid troubling news. a friendship that stands the test of time. >> the pictures to prove it. it started with teenagers at a cabin at copco lake in 1982. they made a pact to take the same shot every five years. as you can see, they have kept that promise.

here is john wardlaw, john molony and john dickson, good morning to you. how does it feel to be an internet sensation. are you surprised at the reaction this has had, john? >> we're a bit stunned. it's a bit surreal. >> back in 1982 when you took the first picture, you had no intention of creating a tradition. >> no. >> not at all. >> so when you look back at that very first picture, five high school friends, what do you guys think when you see it. >> oh my god, that's a dorky picture. >> i see you guys dropped the shirtless thing in the early '90s. >> that's a must as you get older. >> i mentioned five friends. take me back to high school. what group were you in? were you the jocks, the cool kids? >> the nerds. >> we were do our own thing kind of guys, made movies. >> computer geeks. >> did great movies on weekends. >> we did our own thing.

made movies programmed on the first pcs out there. >> computers had just started coming out. just normal high school students really. >> wedge, can i call you wedge, you were kind of the keeper of this tradition, right? you're the guy that gets these guys together every five years. >> john took the first one, j.d. took the first one. five years later when we were all there i said, hey, we're all here again. let's take the photo again. we started the five year tradition. >> as you look at the passage of time through these photos, who changed the most? >> mark. >> who is the most like the picture in 1982. >> people say dallas. >> why dallas? >> no gray hair. >> still has his hair. >> i don't know. i've looked exactly the same since i was a child. >> it's interesting because it tells the story of friendship. of course, you have changed. not just physically but you've changed inside, too. i'm sure there have been

disagreements over the years. but somehow you've risen above it. dallas. >> like any group of people, when you're really close and you go through life, you're kind of interests changed and that sort of thing. sometimes we get irritated with each other. especially the first year we spent a month at that cabin fishing, doing all sorts of stuff. we got on each other's nerves. nobody talked to each other for half an hour, really like two months, three months. >> i think it's emotional to look at. when is the next one to be taken. >> 2017. >> raise your hand if you'll be there. >> oh yeah. >> you were a little slow there. >> "today" show curse, it's over. >> guys, thanks so much. great to see the picture. still ahead we've got nicki minaj live in concert after your local news.

don't hide behind your lipstick. use it to show the world how you feel. and today, i feel daring. [announcer:] revlon super lustrous lipstick. mega moisturizing formula in 82 stay true colors. [ engine revs, tires squeal ]

[ male announcer ] more power. more style. more technology. less doors. the 2012 c-coupe. join mercedes-benz usa on facebook for the best summer sweepstakes. ♪ look out baby 'cause here i come ♪ ♪ and i'm bringing you a love that's true ♪ ♪ so get ready ♪ so get ready [ music playing ]

[ music playing ] you know what, while we're waiting why don't we play a game of hide and seek? right now? yeah go hide. go on buddy. one, two... [ son ] come and find me! three! [ son ] are you even looking for me? i am looking! [ male announcer ] bite-sized chicken's grown up. new kfc bites. freshly hand-breaded big bites of premium breast meat, seasoned in the colonel's original recipe. try 10 bites with an 8 piece meal for $19.99. [ son ] dad? [ male announcer ] today tastes so good.

7:56 is your time this tuesday. we'll see how long the rain is going to stick around. hi, tom. >> it's tapering off and ending in most areas. in maryland, eastern shore, thunder and lightning towards jestertown across the north. we'll see this rain tapering off by noon temporarily and then sun peeking out and highs upper 80s. could get more storms. and thursday and friday afternoon. and then over the weekend, small chance of a shower. >>

good morning. if you're traveling in silver spring, northbound at seminary road, still have an accident there. just the center lane is squeezing by, left and right lane still blocked by the accident. near braddock, a crash blocking at least one of i'm barack obama and i approve this message seen this? mitt romney claiming the president would end welfare's work requirements? the new york times calls it 'blatantly false' the washington post says: "the obama administration is not removing the bill's work requirements at all." in fact, obama's getting states to move twenty percent more people from welfare to work.

and president clinton's reaction to the romney ad? it's just "not true." get the facts. 8:00 now on this tuesday morning august 14th, 2012. our crowd is particularly fired up this morning. there's good reason for it. nicki minaj is here for a live concert on the plaza in the next half hour. good morning, everyone. i'm savannah guthrie alongside matt lauer and al roker. coming up, a day in history. >> we recreated the iconic beatles album cover, had a lot of traffic stoppage on abbey road to do it. i decided to create a michael

jordan dunk. do i be like mike or fall flat on my face. we'll find out the results and even hear what jordan has to say about it. >> speaking of jordan, we have another jordan in the house. she now has hire first movie role, co-starred with whitney houston. we'll talk with jordan about working with whitney houston and other projects on the horizon. >> we know olympic gold but what about the fierce five ability to forecast? they are going to help me with the weather in just a little bit. a little later on hope solo will be joining us. we have a gold filled day. >> let's go inside. we have a lot to get to. natalie has the headlines. good morning again. >> good morning. more homes are threatened by a growing wildfire that has burned 40 buildings in central washington state. officials say the fire has scorched more than 24 square miles since it started monday.

they are urging residents in the fire's path to evacuate. wildfires are also burning in oregon and idaho where a firefighter was killed sunday when a tree fell on her. french police say at least 16 officers were injured overnight duringry rioting in northern france. officials say dozens of young men pulled people from their cars and set fire to a school. the violence ended after federal reinforcements arrived. republicans have chosen governor chris christie to deliver the keynote address at the republican national convention later this month. meantime mitt romney is making three stops today in the critical state of ohio focusing on energy issues. president obama is spending a second day in iowa where on monday he promised relief for drought stricken farmers. nbc's coverage of the london olympic games was the most watched event in american television history. nbc says the games drew more than 219 million viewers.

that's pretty impressive. now here is brian williams with a look at what's coming up on "nbc nightly news." >> coming up tonight on "nightly news," clean water for kids a world away. that's all rachel wanted for her birthday. now how a 9-year-old's dream inspired millions of people to make a difference. we'll have that great story tonight on "nightly news." for now, natalie, back to you. >> a quick roundup of what has you talking online. kristen chenoweth announced she's not returning to "the good wife" because she is still recovering from being hurt on set by a piece of wind blown equipment. she announced she loved the show and will be back when she can. >> taylor swift paid $5 million for a cape cod beach house to be closer to 18-year-old taylor kennedy. just a stroll away from conner's

ground mother and the legendary kennedy compound. some new naughty entries added to the webster dictionary, along with innocent man cave and "bucket list," also more risque terms like sexting and f-bomb. back outside to matt and savannah. >> now over to mr. roker and some of his special friends. >> that's right. it's the fierce five, help me with the fierce five-day forecast. for your hometown? gabby, start it off. >> virginia, partly sunny and warm, high of 86. >> that's right. virginia beach. >> all right, mikayla? >> can i have the mike? >> you have the mike but take mine. >> laguna niguel, a bit foggy but don't worry the sun will come out and it's going to be a beautiful day. make the best of it. >> wow, all right.

next. >> i'm aly raisman, today a high of 89 and partly sunny. go outside, go to the beach and get a tan. >> another california girl. >> good morning, alisa viejo, you might need your sunglasses. >> jordyn wieber. >> dewitt, michigan, early showers, grab umbrellas but later on partly sunny skies and a high of 76. >> very good. there you go. fierce five-day forecast. bring out the sunglasses even. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in ire neck of the woods. >> good morning. we have had morning showers coming through. they're tapering off and ending around the metro area temporary. getting downpours from the eastern shore of chestertown and

lightning and much of the rain will be ending temporary, we could get more storms later on this afternoon and the sun may break out this afternoon. and might get some storms again >> you guys enjoy your forecasting ability? weather channel is ready. they are on the phone for you. now, to savannah. >> i give them a 15.9999. al, thanks. coming up next, "today" in history. we'll find out if matt can create the unforgotable image of michael jordan right after this. parents this year i'm going to teach your kids that magic does exist. it's called science! 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. check out the latest collection of snacks from lean cuisine. creamy spinach artichoke dip, crispy garlic chicken spring rolls. they're this season's must-have accessory. lean cuisine. be culinary chic.

for their "destination wedding." double miles you can "actually" use. but with those single mile travel cards... [ bridesmaid ] blacked out... but i'm a bridesmaid. oh! "x" marks the spot she'll never sit. but i bought a dress! a toast... ...to the capital one venture card. fly any airline, any flight, anytime. double miles you can actually use. what a coincidence? what's in your wallet? [ all screaming ] watch the elbows ladies. has become boring and tasteless... only one man can save the day... ♪ with his sweet and nutty, sweet and nutty crunchy nut ♪ delicious! [ male announcer ] kellogg's crunchy nut. it's super delicious. [ male announcer ] every time you say no to a cigarette you celebrate a little win. nicorette gum helps calm your cravings

and makes you less irritable. quit one cigarette at a time. back now at 8:09 with more of our special series, "today" in history, where we try to recreate some of the most iconic photos ever taken. >> monday we took a famous walk across abbey road. i was sir paul down to the bare

feet. luckily today i get to wear shoes but they are some huge shoes to fill. >> we always knew there was going to be something good. >> you sat on the edge of your seat just expecting him to make your jaw drop. >> every night when i came to the ring, it wasn't just a game. >> jordan. >> jordan. >> jordan. >> i knew i was witnessing history. >> as the team photographer for the chicago bulls, bill had the high-stakes job of freezing history every night, every heart stopping slam-dunk, alley-oop, buzzer beater. >> i'd miss a shot, see it on the replay and be depressed for days. >> smith rarely had to worry about that because so many of his images became seared in our collective images. views as iconic as this.

>> well, they are on their feet here in chicago stadium. >> but to land that perfect shot, both guys needed to bring their a game, which they did to perfection during the 1988 nba slam-dunk contest. >> this is one of the epic slam-dunk contests of all time. michael jordan versus the human highlight film, wilkins. it came down to the final attempt. >> michael jordan needs a 49 to win. >> i had a chance to win. i wanted to do something special. >> now he's going to the baseline. >> the energy was unbelievable. >> here he came down the length of the court and he just took off at the foul line. >> he flew through the air like a bird through the rim and put it down. chicago stadium went berzerk.

>> the crowd let's you know what they think about it. >> i prayed -- i think i literally prayed that i had the shot. >> this was back before the instant gratification of digital cameras. and smith remembers camping out at the lab until his film was developed. >> you're nervous and your hand is shaking and you have your loop. then you see it. but is it in focus. when it was in focus, i just thought thank god, thank god, thank god, thank god. >> when you watched michael jordan and you watched his aerial act, it seems as if he would never come down. in this picture, it's the dream come true. it's jordan defying gravity. it is air jordan. >> i cannot say one picture illustrated my whole career but that would be very close. ♪ >> any kid who picked up a basketball in the last quarter of a century wanted to be like

mike, plus there were plenty of big kids like me who secretly shared the dream. so i agreed to try whatever it take to be like mike. bill smith agrees to try to get me there. >> we might have to have a few bales of wire and some rigors on handed and our photo shot skills in post production. >> some soft landing spot. >> this is our second intern. >> number two. >> intern number one is on the way to the hospital. >> i dealey if we had a thin wire to hold each leg in position. what do you think? >> hi, guys. how are you? >> we're good. how are you? >> i feel great now. am i going to feel great in a couple of hours? how hard is this going to be? >> it's going to be hard. >> cut. take two. no, it's not going to be that

hard. >> it's proven a little more difficult than we thought. >> actually accomplishing faking it is not going to be that easy. >> it hasn't been with the nbc interns. >> oh it's the nbc interns. bill, come on. you have the real deal here now. let's give it a shot. >> this is the high-tech version of spanx, right? >> you have to get a deep, deep tan and shave off more hair. >> i think i'm committing some kind of basketball sin right now, tarnishing the uniform of michael jordan. i don't think you need the harness anymore. i put this on, i think i can fly. >> let's get me up there. now, bill, speed is of the essence here. right? the longer i hang here, the crankier i get and the more chafed i get. discounting my mad jumping skills bill turns me into a human marionette, suspending me with an elaborate system of

harnesses, pulleys and fishing line to manipulate each appendage. the closer i am to the original position, the easier it will be to remove me from this background and electronically take me back to chicago in 1988. >> raise his left leg higher, bring the ball back. >> right knee down to the floor. >> left leg higher and push your hand up higher. shoulders back, jaw out, intense look. >> i grimace and bear it. holding the excruciating pose, enduring the crew's seemingly endless critique of my misaligned body parts. >> the human body doesn't go in that position. it's almost as if this basketball superhero super version of gumby.

he bends and contorts himself in a way that shouldn't be possible. >> ball back. >> then adding insult to injury, they forget about me. >> he needs to twist toward the camera a little more. >> don't worry about leaving me hanging here, okay? [ laughter ] >> finally -- >> it's a wrap. >> so did all that harness burn pay off? >> wow, that's pretty good. look at that, just one jump. can you make a jump shot. that's what i need to know. >> all right. let's see how we did. by the way, i just want to thank bill smith. he was fantastic to work with. let's take a look at the original iconic photo of michael jordan. there he is in 1988. here is what we created. >> wow -- >> you did it. that is amazing. >> some things aren't exactly right. my feet are in a slightly

different position i couldn't get. he propelled himself. he was a man in motion and we were hanging. >> you can barely tell you're chafing there. you've never been the same since. >> really painful. my apologies to the interns that had to endure it for me. let me thank the broadway show that enjoyed rigging me up a little too much. >> now you're a real boy. >> tomorrow natalie will transform herself into one of the most pivotal stars of early hollywood. we're talking about charlie chaplain. up next former "american idol" jordin sparks and her first movie and what it was like to work with her idol whitney houston. that's right after this. you know what, this looks just like

the tree house i built with my dad. (girl) really? yeah. there you go. okay, i'm gonna work on the roof. dad, i'll be right back! (announcer) it's more than just that great peanut taste, choosing jif is a simple way to show someone how much you care. you made that for me? well you're making this for me. (announcer) choosey moms, and dads, choose jif. [ female announcer ] new lipton tea & honey. sweetened with honey, made from real tea leaves and real fruit flavors. ♪ it's never felt so real ♪ no, it's never felt so right ♪ [ female announcer ] only 5 calories. new lipton tea & honey.

[ female announcer ] only 5 calories. - hugs from beneful baked delights... - [ barks ]rs ] are crispy, oven-baked dog snacks with soft savory centers, made with beef and cheese. beneful baked delights: a unique collection of four snacks... to help spark play in your day.

[ male announcer ] sometimes, it's hard for james to make up his mind. but corolla was an easy choice. over 80% of all corollas sold in the last 20 years are still on the road today. ♪ it's a choice well made. dang, son! [ male announcer ] another reason you can always count on corolla. from toyota. ♪ back at 8:20. at 17 years old jordin sparks became the youngest winner of

"american idol" ever. now five years later she's making her film debut. she plays in "sparkle" about three sisters with a taste for fame. their mother, played by whitney houston, has higher aspirations for them. >> i knew he would love me and wouldn't torture me with something i want to do, can't help but do. >> you figured that was wrong. >> that i had a gift. >> sparkle, you can have a gift. it's how you use it. >> and jordan joins us now. jordan, good morning to you. >> good morning, how are you? >> jordin sparks, "sparkle." >> i said that the first time. "sparkle" it's got a nice ring to it. it's awesome. i think the stars did align with this film. everybody was in a place where they could really propel the characters.

i feel like whitney was also in this place in her life where she could really play a mother like that. with me, it was my first time, so i couldn't ask for a better experience. >> i wanted to ask you about that your music has gone platinum, done broadway, feature films was the next step. was that a little scary? >> it was nerve-racking for sure. there were times when i felt comfortable. there were times when i was like, i don't know if i'm doing this right. the whole cast were so amazing. maybe you should try this or try that. how can i help you? they were so open and warm and i wasn't expecting that. >> you had to audition for that role? >> i did. >> what was worse, auditions or "american idol." >> both nerve-racking. after getting to know simon a little bit, he actually is a softy. auditioning was different because i didn't have a microphone in my hand. then i'm good. you go in and try to relay the character everybody was

thinking, it was a challenge for sure. >> as for all of that, you were playing across someone you grew up idolizing, whitney houston. >> yes. >> what was it like to share the stage with her. >> it was incredible. taking out the acting side, as a sirng i grew up listening to her music and idolizing her. that was intimidating but really fun. she made it so comfortable. she's always delivered in her on screen performances. for me i was like what can i learn. i was a sponge soaking up everything she was doing, nuances, how she would change things. she was the consummate professional. she was spot on. as soon as they yelled action she was emma, that character, it was amazing to be across from her. this is whitney. is she really mad at me right now? she was so great at it. >> you experienced this movie together. i'm sure you formed a friendship. >> yeah. >> then to lose her. i'm sure you took it hard. >> i did. i only got to know her two

months. it was an intense two months. you spend that much time with somebody, you do get close. i was devastated, shell shocked rather. for me to feel that way, i can't imagine how her family and people who have known her for years felt. i was so completely devastated that they must be still reeling from it. it still comes in waves. at the same time, this movie, what better gift for her to leave for all of her fans and everybody than this amazing performance she does. >> you do a song together on the soundtrack. >> yes. >> in some ways you're tied to her forever because you did this last song with her. >> i am. her legacy and my story are forever intertwined. if i think about that too much i get overwhelmed. i can't believe this is happening. but to do a song with her was one of those things, yeah, that will never happen. here it is. i hear it on the radio. i get chills every time it comes on. it's definitely been a huge blessing for me and everybody in

the cast as well. >> you have so much to smile about. this film, we see you on the cover of red book, shape magazine. there's much less of you to love. you lost 50 pounds. everyone wants to know how you did that? >> there's no secret. i changed my mind-set. i got really sick right after broadway. i was like, you know what, i'm not going to take my health for granted anymore. this changes right here, right now. i was evaluating what i was eating and when. i love food. i was eating because it tasted good. i re-evaluated that. i think now i definitely listen to my body first. then baby steps because i was so fatigued with what i was sick with. just doing baby steps, getting more physical activity. eventually i found a trainer and trying to keep it up. it's a day by day thing. it's been a year and a half and i feel good. >> the results speak for themselves. >> thank you. >> "sparkle" opens in theaters this friday. still ahead a concert from nicki

minaj after your local news. good morning. it's 8:26 on this tuesday august 14th. a wet tuesday for most of us around the region. let's check in with storm 4 meteorologist, tom. >> around the region, storm 4 radar showing the rain is tapering off around most of virginia and the metro area, moving north and pulling away. we still have a couple of showers around the metro area pulling away over the next half hour or so and sun breaking out around that and in the evening, you might get storms producing damaging winds and upper 70s in much of the region. might get saturday storms, could get forms friday night, partly

sunny over the

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. good morning. if you're taking metro today, foggy bottom metro station,

you're seeing orange and blue lines because of a sick passenger. and at seminary road, that crash is clear. 395 at the pentagon, that crash is hey, what are you drinking? i'm drinking dunkin'. i'm drinking dunkin'. medium iced, cream and sugar. dunkin' iced all day long. dunkin' keeps me going. it gives me the boost i need. dunkin' iced keeps me moving and grooving. i run on dunkin'. america runs on dunkin' coffee.

8:30 on tuesday morning, it's the 14th day of august, 2012. we hope our crowd is in the mood to dance because we've got nicki minaj in concert on the stage in just a couple minutes.

meanwhile out on the plaza i'm matt lauer along with savannah guthrie, natalie morales and al roker. >> tomorrow carrie underwood will be here, on thursday lionel richie will be here and on friday, the much anticipated reunion of al's favorite band 98 degrees. >> the u.s. women's soccer team hope solo helped lead her team to gold in london. in her new memoir, she says she doesn't believe in happy endings. she'll explain why in a live interview. >> first we want to say hello once again to five young ladies who also left london with gold medals, u.s. women's gymnastics team, mikayla, gabby -- >> notice the gymnastics team with three aspiring gymnasts. hi, ladies, i hear you have

questions for the gymnast. lulu, you want to go first. >> congratulations on your olympic gold medal. >> thank you. >> are you ready to give up your training to do other things that other teenagers do, like going to the mall, watching movies and eating ice cream and hanging out? >> it's a multi-part question. >> yeah, we like fashion and hanging out at the mall and movies. the next stop for us we're going to do the tour of champs. i'm very excited to do that. yeah, we're just regular teenagers. we like to talk about boys and shoes. >> okay. ellie, you've got the next question. >> [ inaudible ] >> thinking about rio? who is looking ahead? >> i think we're sort of taking the next few years one day at a

time. definitely going to keep going, but work towards other things. >> i'll have to rescue you. thinking about rio? >> possibly. i'm definitely thinking about rio. it's in the back of our minds. we're excited. >> yeah, definitely. >> maria, you get the last question. >> so many opportunities -- [ inaudible ] >> what advice? who wants to share advice? >> i'll share advice. >> it takes a lot of time, a lot of hard work and dedication, so make sure you always work hard, stay in the gym. >> good advice. >> good questions, ladies. >> girls, that you so much. your faces. your parents are proud of you. >> mr. roker. >> also the sparkly glasses. >> we like that. that's cool >> yeah. >> try them on.

>> all right. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, i'm meteorologist tom, showing much of the rain is exiting virginia, a few scattered showers in the metro area, a few downpours in the northeastern shore and getting showers in the late afternoon hours and in the evening some could produce damaging storms around 8:00 p.m. and low humidity thursday. don't forget, you can get that weather any time you need it. go to weather channel on cable or weather.com. >> mr. roker, thank you so much. when we come back hope solo, gold medal winner for the u.s. women's soccer team talks about her life on the field and struggles off it. her life on the field and struggles off it. fir[ male announcer ] in 1996,

president clinton and a bi-partisan congress helped end welfare as we know it, by requiring work for welfare. but on july 12th, president obama quietly announced a plan to gut welfare reform by dropping work requirements. under obama's plan, you wouldn't have to work, and wouldn't have to train for a job -- they just send you your welfare check. and welfare to work goes back to being plain, old welfare.

mitt romney will restore the work requirement, because it works. [ romney ] i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

braef back now at 8:36, one of of the heroes of the u.s. soccer team in london. hope solo made several saves to help the u.s. beat japan and win their third straight gold medal. now she's out with a new biography called "solo, a memoir of hope." good morning to you. >> good morning. >> are you still on cloud nine about this medal. >> i don't know what time zone i'm in. >> you wrote this memoir. it's really personal. i was looking through it. i think a lot of it was painful. was it painful to write. >> the process of writing the book wasn't easy. it felt like i was going through counsel sessions when i sat down with my writer. i'm proud of it, i'm happy. it was a good process to go through. >> you're known for your outspokenness and competitiveness. in the prologue you write, i don't believe in happy endings, my family doesn't do happy endings, we do sad or

frustrating or no ending at all. in a way it feels lying an explanation. do you want the world to understand you. >> i sit here with you wearing a gold medal. i do believe in happiness. i do believe in life's moments. not everything is going to be perfect. i think i have a really outlook on that. i know that life isn't always easy and i accept that. i think it enables me to live life to the fullest. i'm proud of that. i believe in happy moments, i just don't think it's all going to be perfect. >> your father is a key figure in the book and your life and in many ways a tragic figure, somebody who was in and out of jail, in and out of your life. i know there was a point at which he kidnapped you and your brother. but you also adored him and that really comes through. do you think it's hard for people to understand how you can reconcile those two things. >> i hope after they read the book it's not hard for people to understand it, because the book is about love. people try to interpret my life. they tell me i'm outspoken.

you know, a lot of people see me in a specific way but nobody really knows me or understands me or where i've come from. my father was all about love. it didn't matter if you live on the streets. he lived life to the fullest. i'm happy. it's made me everything that i am. i accept that and appreciate it. i think i have more life experience than a lot of people. >> in another section you write, i was a teenager, i was self-conscious. i was embarrass thad my father was homeless, my mother was a drunk, that my brother was in constant trouble with the police. do you ever just sit back and marvel you got out. do you think soccer saved me? >> soccer saved me absolutely but my family's strength saved me as well. my mother had her own personal struggles, my father as well, but they gave me the strength i needed to get through life and be a fighter and accept everything i am. i might have embarrassed when i was young and 17 and in college, but it's because i didn't know

who i was. i'm 31 years old now and i can stand up and be proud of everything my family has given me and everything i am. >> one thing your father gave you was soccer. he was your first soccer coach. did you ever think i want to be a goalie? that's first. >> nobody wants to be the goalie, you're a hero or goat. you watch the olympics, i didn't do much in six games. finally in the final i was asked to perform. >> in 2007, i have to remeend you, you stirred up controversy when your then coach didn't let you play in the semifinal game against brazil. the team went on to lose. you didn't hold your tongue. it was controversial. the team ostracized you. >> you asked me this in london, if i had any regrets about that.

no, i am who i am. im proud of that. i do believe in '07 i would have made the save. i'm confident who i am as a person and as a player. no, i would have made a difference on the field. that's the competitor in me. people get angry about that. i want to win for our country. how are you going to get mad at me for saying, put me on the field. i'll make a difference. >> do you see controversy as a bit of a -- >> do i like drama? hey, did you see our win against canada. i think the u.s. team likes drama. >> you have obviously had a lot of fun. i remember has you said you were a little three sheets to the wind along with your teammates. was that really true back in 2008. >> the press gets crazy. yeah, i've had some fun, of course. i can celebrate, right? >> is that your phone ringing right now? >> not mine. >> somebody's alarm is going off. >> it is. time to wake up. >> one thing i read about you, when you had the gold medal from

2008, you wore it and wore it and wore it until the ribbon frayed. is that your plan for this gold medal. >> snow. i'm proud of this. i don't want this one to fray. i'm going to put this up in my trophy room. i'm just happy. i don't know if i'm going to play in another olympics. i don't know if i can make it another four years. this could be it. this is the staple, the stamp for my character. it's been hard. there's been a lot of ups and downs. i'm so happy. i put everything into this game and sport. soccer has come a long way from back in 1999 when the u.s. team won their first world cup, only world cup, we've come a long way. i feel like my team and the current players have done a lot for the game. >> you certainly have. you're part of that progress. hope solo, thank you so much for your time this morning. the book is called "solo, a memoir of hope." coming up next nicki minaj live in concert. first this is "today" on nbc. " memoir of hope." coming up next

good morning! wow. want to start the day with something heart healthy and delicious? you're a talking bee... honey nut cheerios has whole grain oats that can help lower cholesterol. and it tastes good? sure does! right... ♪ wow. delicious, right? yeah. it's the honey, it makes it taste so... ♪ well, would you look at the time... what's the rush? be happy. be healthy.

our concert crowd started lining up more than 24 hours ago. let's not keep them waiting any longer. ladies and gentlemen, nicki minaj. started lining up more than 24 hours ago. let's not keep them waiting any longer. ladies and gentlemen, nicki minaj. ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ applause cheers

applause [ cheers and applause ] >> more in a moment. first this is "today" on nbc. ♪ i'm barack obama and i approve this message seen this? mitt romney claiming the president would end welfare's work requirements? the new york times calls it 'blatantly false' the washington post says: "the obama administration is not removing the bill's work requirements at all." in fact, obama's getting states to move twenty percent more people from welfare to work. and president clinton's reaction to the romney ad? it's just "not true." get the facts.

♪ nicki minaj was an

underground rap artist, now very much aboveground tornado warning out hit after hit, teaming up with some of the biggest names in the business. her new album, pink reloaded. nice to have you back again. >> thank you for having me. >> i know you craft your image very carefully and you control a lot of it. what are we seeing today? >> in terms of the performances? >> yes. >> this is -- i'm going to do something a little more gritty. for my gritty in the audience. >> last time you were here, you were nicki minaj. you were talking nicki. people like romans and barbies, any of them present today? >> roman will come out. >> barbie is not here today? >> no. >> no. okay. i mentioned you've got a lot

going on. not only musically but fragrance, fashion. how hands on are you? >> very hands on. my fragrance, a thousand times per picture, the commercial layout. everything. the fragrance will be out in september. i'm so excited for it. i think in a couple days we're actually going to show them a model. i'm hands on with everything. >> you don't want to sit back and let someone else control your future. >> that's not my thing. >> i know you just finished up an international tour. >> i had an amazing time. i want to thank all my amazing fans that came out. [ cheers and applause ] >> i couldn't ask for anything more. >> the best way to thank them is to do another song. ladies and gentlemen, once again, nicki minaj. for anythin more. >> the best way to thank them is to do another song. ladies and gentlemen, once again, nicki minaj.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> nicki minaj will still be back with one more song in just a little while. but first on a tuesday morning, this is your news and weather. this is your news and weather.

breaking news at 8:56, metro riders can expect delays on the red line after a door malfunctioned. the door opened while the train was in a tunnel outside the ml station. they can expect riders to gle

glenmon. >> now, to foggy bottom. >> you can see blue and orange lines, expect delays because of a sick passenger to the foggy bottom station. 66 westbound, you are a slow, your travel speed just 26 mi

good morning. storm 4 radar showing rain e ending throughout much of the area. sunshine coming out and we will have a few sprinkles north and northwest of washington another hour. and then storms later today and in theevening, some could be severe with damaging winds.

xxxxx nikcki minaj. more "today" august 14th, 2012. people have been gathered more than 24 hours. nicki, thank you so much.

nicki minaj. here on the plaza with savannah guthrie and al roker. that's a pretty good show. it's a little clammy out here on this tuesday morning. they earned their keep. >> exactly. anyway, coming up in this half hour, some questions about diet. for example, if you get a spoonful of vinegar or eight glasses of water, does that help you lose weight? joey bauer is here to answer that. >> we're going to introduce you to a fun new way to care for yourself, beauty products fun but also functional. >> a little bit of a blast from the past. she played the adorable cindy brady on the brady bunch. she has a new role, an animal activist. we'll talk to her in a little bit. >> first inside. natalie has a look at the headlines. good morning. >> good morning, matt, savannah and al. a high-profile role for new jersey governor chris christie at the republican convention

later this month. he'll take the stage as the keynote speaker. christie says he's already at work on his speech. meantime trouble for paul ryan as he was heckled at a campaign event on the flash point issue of medicare. "today" the candidates crisscross the nation traveling between swing states. last night visitors to the iowa state fair got a surprise when president obama stopped by. the new york port authority is calling for an investigation into how a man was able to bypass jfk airport's $100 million security system all while soaking wet and wearing a bright yellow lifejacket. officials say 31-year-old daniel castillo ran out of fuel jet skiing in jamaica bay, swam ashore, climbed a barbed wire fence, walked across two runways into a terminal where h asked for help. he managed to bypass motion detectors and surveillance cameras without raising alarm. the security system exceeds federal requirements. today increased controls are

monitoring the perimeter and surrounding waterways. castillo now faces criminal trespass charges. a shooting monday near texas a&m university left three people dead including a bystander and police officer who was serving an eviction notice on a man who opened fire. the gunman was killed in a shoot-out with the s.w.a.t. team. >> there's new fallout from the child sex abuse scandal at penn state, a commission that credits universities has put penn state on notice that its status is in jeopardy. it wants a detailed report on what penn state is doing to meet leadership and integrity standards and it wants assurances that the school can bear the financial obligations related to the scandal. the original cosmo girl author and trailblazer helen gurley brown died in new york. her best seller "sex and the single girl" made her a celebrity. she later served 32 years as editor of cosmopolitan magazine

guided by her motto good girls go to heaven. bad girls go everywhere. she had been married to the same man, movie producer. michael phelps may be the most decorated of all time but not hanging up his suit yet. he's posing in a smaller body of water, a bathtub. it also features him having tea with a gymnast, the most decorated olympian of all time until phelps shattered her record. >> when in detroit you better show respect for eminem. guess who broke out the signature hoodie and rap a few versions of "lose yourself." check it out. versions of "lose yo ♪

♪ >> can't quite figure who that is? that's song stress kelly clarkson. up next, kelly's girl power anthem. it's 5 past the hour. outside to al with a check of your weather. >> i came inside. let's see what we've got. a risk of strong storms today from binghamton, lancaster down to washington, salisbury, maryland. on the radar already seeing storms firing up a lot of heavy rain in eastern pennsylvania getting ready to cross the border. in new jersey rainfall amounts next 24 hours generally about a half an inch to an inch in some the border into new jersey. some areas may pick up 3 inches of rain before it's all over. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning. tom kiernan, storm 4 radar showing rain across virginia, a

few sprinkles to our northwest and we will have that continuing general drying trend a few hours and sunshine breaking out. later this afternoon and this evening, some might get storms and severe winds 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. highs to 80s and then 70s. then maybe an afternoon storm and friday >> this morning on joy's diet s.o.s., diet dilemma, farfetched claims. what really works and what doesn't. good morning. >> good morning. the diet olympics. >> here we go for the gold. our first question coming from michelle from minnesota. michelle, good morning. what's your question? >> i've heard a lot of hype about raspberry key tones and do they help you lose weight?

>> i haven't heard about this. >> i can't completely rule it out. as of the date no proven benefits. so everybody knows what raspberry keytones are. one of the keytonights that occur and gives the nice aroma. in mice and test tubes in high amounts shoes some weight loss activity. the thing to note here, we have no studies on humans. we don't know if it translates to people. the amount in raspberries is miniscule, trace amounts. they are pumping high concentrated doses into these supplements. to me i feel like we don't even know if it works in humans and also any worrisome side effects. i don't think you should be a guinea pig before we know now. >> or at least a mouse. >> now to the phones, alisa

calling in from oshkosh, wisconsin. good morning. >> what's your question. i heard apple cider vinegar controls your appetite. what time of day. >> this is pretty darn cool. vinegar in general, doesn't have to be apple cider, all types contains acidic acid. it might have fat fighting abilities. if you consume two teaspoons at the beginning it helps blunt the rise in blood sugar that will typically occur after eating. this is great news for diabetics. in terms of weight loss we know a few studies showing people reporting they feel fuller after they consume vinegar with meals. if you feel fuller, you eat less food, therefore you will probably lose weight. go for it. don't have to drink it straight. >> would that count balsamic and

olive oil. >> yes, with anything. start dinner with a first course, a salad, sliced cucumber or tomato, top with one or two splashes of begin gar or olive oil, balsamic vinegar and continue eating your meal. we know the vegetables will work, high volume, filled with fiber. maybe the vinegar is going to work, too. so give it a shot. >> thanks so much. an e-mail question just came in from allison in columbus, missouri. are the claims that green coffee bean extract can increase weight loss true? i am thinking about trying the powder and just want to make sure it's not another diet fad. >> with this it's too soon to tell. the thing with the green coffee bean extract it contains an acid that you don't get with regular coffee because the roasting process burns off this compound.

in some studies, they are small studies, short studies, but there was some weight loss activity. so i think it's one of these things, be on the lookout. stay tuned. let's wait until we have more rigorous testing. you don't want to find out there's side effects after you start taking it. let's see. it's never going to replace diet and exercise. >> the last one, another e-mail from robin in niagara falls. she writes, i heard that drinking a cup of ice water 10 minutes before a meal helps you to feel full so you will eat less later but all it does is make me pee. that's because you're by niagara falls. >> by the way, she's burning calories going back and forth to the bathroom. it works. >> it does work? >> it definitely works. >> does it have to be ice water? >> no. it could be hot water, lukewarm water. the idea is if you have a zero calorie beverage, one to two cups before or at the beginning of the meal it helps to fill up belly space so you end up eating

less. it might be working for her. she doesn't have a reference range. going to the bathroom, hydrates you. >> joe michaels wants to know does scotch and water count? >> it does. >> unique body products with a twist. and we're going to catch up with a former brady buncher who found her calling. first these messages. and we're going to catch up with a former brady buncher who found her calling. first these messages. [ female announcer ] life is full of little tests, but your basic paper towel can handle them. especially if that towel is bounty basic. the towel that's durable and scrubbable. in this lab demo, bounty basic is stronger than the leading bargain brand. everyday life. bring it with bounty basic. affordably priced. tested by everyday life. and try bounty napkins.

♪ look out baby 'cause here i come ♪ ♪ and i'm bringing you a love that's true ♪ ♪ so get ready ♪ so get ready ♪ [ female announcer ] lunchables packs the foods they love, so they make the most of every day. and now, try lunchables with smoothie. an[ female announcer ]s windex multi-surface uh oh!! lets you keep up with messes right when they happen. so you can put that windex shine -- on just about anything. get windex multi-surface and keep up. sc johnson, a family company. it's got that sweet honey taste.

but no way it's 80 calories, right? no way, right? lady, i just drive the truck. right, there's no way right, right? have a nice day. [ male announcer ] 80 delicious calories. fiber one. 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. this morning on "today's" beauty, fun and functional beauty products with a twist. a contributing style editor from

"lucky" magazine. good morning. >> good morning. >> these are cool items but things you say work. >> exactly. let's talk about nails first. as you know, you were at the olympics. nail art is huge. >> huge. >> everyone is doing it. this is a really fun way to do it at home. it's $25. i don't know if you guys can see that at home. i had it yesterday. >> like little balls. >> it's 3d nail art. they come in a multitude of colors. i know it looks very difficult but it's actually remarkably simple and dries quicker. >> you put on the polish first, then a funnel with the balls. >> that's to help clean up. >> put them on and press them in. >> put a top coat on the tip of your nail, not the whole nail. >> don't last that long. >> a few days. >> special event perfect. >> this is truly magic. >> a magic gloss.

>> from givenchy. this works. if i can talk and do it at the same time. it makes your lips the perfect color of pink. you never have to worry whether that color looks good on you, $30, sephora. >> a made for you color. this is a fragrance from lady gaga. >> the first time. >> black. >> black liquid inside. the ultimate. you can see i'm spraying on the towel, comes out completely clear. >> what does it smell like? >> smells like floral with a little spice there, saffron and honey and bella donna, a poison. it's very gagaesque but beautiful. >> a goth bottle. >> super cool to have on your nightstand. >> another requested for fragrance. >> i love this. get ready to blow some bubbles here. these are perfume bubbles, $20 at bergdorf.

from a world renowned perfumer. i'm not very good at blowing bubbles. >> they pop and give a scent. >> they come in a simple scent, fun to play with. great for a little girl. >> i love this idea for people who are sensitive to fragrance or can't wait wear it on their skin, a great way to get the fragrance. >> ecofriendly. available on hsn.com. from lisa hoffman, whose name you may recognize, she's dustin hoffman's wife. they are beads of perfume in bracelets. you have bracelets, earrings, necklaces. you can see the chamber. can you pop in whichever fragrance. there are all -- a whole wardrobe of fragrances, mix and match. if you're wearing something in the morning. switch out your bracelet and later you can smell sultry.

>> i love it, multi-functional, gorgeous jewelry with a fragrance. highlighting is a big trend with vivid, bright colors. if you don't want to do it permanently, this is a great solution. >> try before you buy. you know how much highlighting your hair can cost. for $30 you get 20 applications. put it in your hair, a mousse. do it on dry hair. you get that color. i have a baby, i don't have time to get my hair highlighted. it reinvigorates what you have. >> i love the look of this. a hair drier with a hand on it. >> a claw. girls with curly hair when they blow dry tends to get frizzy and loses that shine. this is from a salon in new york known for giving girls with curls great style. it has 360 degree heat. you're not just getting a straight shot of hot air on the

top of your head, which is already dehydrated. >> a massage while you're at it. >> super gentle, really gives those curls bounce and a lot of shine. >> last but not least, puffy eyes, forget tea bags and cucumbers. >> i'm going to donate these to the "today" show. >> what is it? >> all it is, it gets rid of tired eyes. roll it on -- really cold. doesn't it feel good. >> yes. >> boosts collagen production. these are $60 from christina's skin care. >> it's sweating because it's so cold. this is a great alternative for cucumbers and tea bags. this is a great way to get some inner vigor back into your face. >> we like it. >> it lasts for a really long time. >> good stuff. really fun things. thank you. >> thank you. >> coming up next, new addition to webster's dictionary.

how many do you use? later tracking great white sharks to our very own shores but first these messages. dictio. how many do you use? later tracking great white sharks to our very own shores but first these messages. . [ bridesmaid ] blacked out... but i'm a bridesmaid. oh! "x" marks the spot she'll never sit. but i bought a dress! a toast... ...to the capital one venture card. fly any airline, any flight, anytime. double miles you can actually use. what a coincidence? what's in your wallet? [ all screaming ] watch the elbows ladies.

but with advair, i'm breathing better. so now i can be in the scene. advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator working together to help improve your lung function all day. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. if you're still having difficulty breathing, ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. get your first full prescription free and save on refills

at advaircopd.com. sure, bisquick makes delicious pancakes, but that's just the start. unleash the hidden power of bisquick. see what you can make at bisquick.com. unleash the hidden power of bisquick. mommy! i went potty! that's great, honey.... where? for life's bleachable moments.

>> well, game changer -- new words added to new miriam webster collegiate dictionary. maybe we can use these in a sentence. >> we frequently suffer from brain cramps. we're familiar. >> man cave is on there. >> actually i was kind of surprised man cave wasn't on until now. >> that's been around a while. >> gastropub. >> basically a pub with good food. >> we won the 400 meter

gastropub. >> gassed which means you're tired. we know what that's all about. >> if you're gassed you get an energy drink. >> i like this one, obesogenic, a food that makes you fat. >> underwater, like underwater on your mortgage. >> tipping point, i like that's in there. >> that's interesting. >> i love this. flexatarian. a vegetarian but sometimes eat meat. >> f-bomb. >> now x rated. >> still to come cindy brady from the brady bunch, find out what she's up to. >> nicki minaj after your local news and weather. from the brady bunch, find out what she's up to. >> nicki minaj after your local news and weather.

>> . >> . olive garden's never ending pasta bowl is back! never ending combinations of pasta and sauce like our new chianti three meat for just $9.95. and now add never ending sausage, chicken, and yep even meatballs for just $2.95 more. and of course all the crisp salad or homemade soup and warm breadsticks are on us. the pasta never ends but the offer does. the never ending pasta bowl for a limited time only at olive garden. now all general mills big g kid cereals have more whole grain than any other ingredient in cereals like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch, the delicious way to help them grow up strong. ♪ spread a little love my way ♪ ♪ spread a little something to remember ♪

[ female announcer ] fresh milk and real cream makes philadelphia and the moment a little richer. breaking news at 9:26, metro riders can expect delays on the red line after a door malfunctioned. there are multiple reports on twit ear door opened while the train was in a tunnel outside the ml medical station. you can look for updates here and on our website. a look at the roads. >> if you're traveling on i-270 southbound in the through lane, police still on the scene of an earlier crash in the shoulder lane, looks like the tow truck is out of the roadway but very

good morning. any sprinkles ending shortly. some storms at 8:00 p.m. could produce damaging winds and could

♪ >> that is carrie underwood performing one of her hit songs. just to let you know tomorrow on "today," the country music star will take center stage in part of the summer series, a special week long event. today isn't over, superstar nicki minaj has one more song coming up. don't forget thursday lionel richie will be here and friday the reunion of the boy band 98 degrees. >> something for everyone this week for sure.

>> absolutely. meantime just ahead it's shark week on the discovery channel. we're going to follow the migratory channels of the great white shark. >> excited. >> i'm not happy about them but i'll watch them on tv. >> can your dog count to ten? does your horseplay a mean basketball? if your pet has a one-of-a-kind talent, we want to see it. >> our quest for the best pet contest. we're on the prowl for the most gifted animal in america. to submit a video of your critter's savvy skills, go to nbc.com. >> can't just be good looks. three pets will win a trip to new york city and a chance to compete live for the title of "today's" best. the deadline is this thursday so start training fido now. >> might be a little late. let's see what we've got weather

wise starting with "today," a risk of strong storms along the mid-atlantic and northeast. we're also looking at warm we also looking at warm weather continuing in the pacific northwest, sizzling in the southwest. as we move to tomorrow, look for another risk of strong storms in the upper mississippi river valley, sizzling weather in the southeast and texas and southeast and thunderstorms hanging around in northern new england. th's what's happening around the country. >> radar showing a few sprinkles exiting points north and pulling away and dissipating the next hour and sun in and out. mid to later afternoon, could get storms, some producing damaging winds. tomorrow, partly sunny, into the 80s. might hit an afternoon storm. thursday, beautiful day near 90. friday, partly sunny, >> and that's your latest weather. >> al, thanks. coming up next, actor to

activist, what former brady bunch star cindy olsen is doing right after this. so, you guys grew up together. yes, since third grade... what are you lookin' at? i wasn't... not looking at anything... we're not good enough for you. must be supermodels? what do you model gloves? brad, eat a snickers. why? 'cause you get a little angry when you're hungry. better? [ male announcer ] you're not you when you're hungry™. better. [ male announcer ] snickers satisfies.

to help keep stuff off their hands. ♪ this back to school ♪ there's a new routine ♪ grab a kleenex® tissue to help keep your hands clean ♪ ♪ every time you sneeze no matter where ♪ ♪ ya gotta shield sneeze swish like you just don't care ♪ ♪ shield sneeze swish ♪ check out my swish ♪ da da da da da, da da da da da ♪ [ female announcer ] only kleenex® brand has sneeze shield in all their tissues

to help keep stuff off kids' hands. [ music playing ] [ music playing ] 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. donuts? ♪ [ chuckles ] ♪ you're cute. ♪ [ door creaks, closes ] [ female announcer ] the protein effect. new special k protein cereal. with ten grams of protein and three grams of fiber... finally, a protein cereal to help keep you fuller longer. willpower.

what will you gain when you lose? this morning, a blast from the past with an actress a lot of us grew up watching. now she's taken on a new role devoting her life to saving wills. our susan rappaport caught up with her. >> are you ready? ♪ it's a story >> that was awful. played the adorable cindy brady. now she's acting on behalf of animals and her performance has saved thousands of cats and kitchens. during the five seasons of "the brady bunch" there was one part of cindy brady's character that was easy for cindy olsen to

portray. >> i remember in the show you always seemed to love the animals. in your opinion, you dependent think "the brady bunch" were good to pets. >> the bradys were awful owners. good for parenting, bad for ownership. >> look what happened when the brady's pet dog tiger escaped. >> obviously he hadn't been neutered, because he knocked up another dog and they had puppies. that's really irresponsible. >> congratulations, tiger. >> the show played tiger's puppies for laughs. in real life the problem of unwanted pets is definitely no laughing matter. especially for kittens. >> your little eyes just opened up. >> that's why susan has devoted so much of her time helping a nonprofit group in los angeles called precious paws. she's a foster parent for kittens, bottle feeding them until they are old enough to be spayed and neutered. >> that's like putting a big

band-aid on the cancer. because what really has to happen is to shut down the population. >> this is where the kittens were found. >> a few days after rescuing the kittens, susan returned to the apartment building where they were born. her mission, to find the kittens' parents. next stop, a veterinarian to get spayed and neutered. >> bye, sweetheart. >> we've heard the downside of child stars as they are older. look at you, and look what you're doing for cats, kittens. pretty incredible. >> i've always thought my strange past was an asset. it's probably what made me stronger. >> you call strange past. you mean being one of "the brady bunch" is strange. >> it's very strange. it's a strange business to be in as a child. we got fame without fortune. >> a little different from today's world. >> we don't make money off the

reruns. >> pretty shocking. people assume you do. thinking those kids are living on easy street. >> they expect me to pay for dinner. >> now susan lends her celebrity name to raise money for precious paws, signing autographs and original works of art. sometimes her brady brothers help out, too. at a recent autograph show, bobby, peter and even cousin oliver, remember him, spent the day signing. >> one, two, three. >> and taking pictures with the fans. >> she refers to herself, you know, glibly as the crazy catlady. then you go to her house and she's very serious about it. >> look. >> while susan has been changing the lives of so many cats, she says the animals have also helped her son michael deal with a challenging childhood. >> my son has asperger's children. empathy is more difcult for

aspy's. i thought getting involved with foster children. >> like training wheels on a bike to get the same level of compassion and care like other humans. >> i was born with ellie may clampett syndrome. >> i can relate. >> i don't expect other people to be as crazy as me. but i think it's really, really rare or even impossible for somebody to not benefit from the companionship of another species, another life form. this is how to wear fur. >> now, thanks so susan's time, money and effort, precious paws is truly making a difference for our fur angels. she's really doing a great job. and happy birthday, susan. happy birthday. >> i love the fact raising awareness helped her own son. >> learn about compassion through caring for the cats. >> great story. thanks so much. coming up next, great white sharks swimming off our shores right after this. is every spoonfuljust how satisg

of new light & fit greek? morning donut cookies chips, chips,...! silence those tempting thoughts with new light & fit greek. its creamy thick texture helps satisfy you. it has twice the protein of regular lowfat yogurt. and at 80 calories it's the lightest greek yogurt with fruit. cupcake! it's not gonna happen. new light & fit greek. be light and fit and satisfied. discover a supernatural family comedy that has audiences in stitches. ooh! "paranorman." don't make me throw this hummus. [ all gasp ] it's spicy. [ male announcer ] rated pg. release fragrance into the air... the welcoming scent of lavender and peaches quickly fills your home. then fills you with a little something, too. a long-lasting one-of-a-kind scent only from glade.

within each strand of an oat's rhythmical sway. when an apple's vibrant red temptation, and honey's sweet touch of golden sensation, join together with a pecan crunch you'll savor, creating the most perfect lesson in flavor. at nature valley, nature's best-written recipe is ready for you to enjoy. delicious granola bars made with the best ingredients in nature. nature valley, nature at its most delicious. that magic does exist. it's called science! 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.

challenge the need for such heavy measures with olay. regenerist micro-sculpting serum for firmer skin in 5 days. pretty heavy lifting for such a lightweight. [ female announcer ] olay regenerist. [ male announcer ] monica's decided to make a quick pit stop for gas. [ engine turns over ] but it looks like she'll have to find another station to fill 'er up. no! are you kidding me?! [ male announcer ] good thing her corolla has legendary mpg, so getting there won't be a problem. another reason you can always count on corolla. from toyota.

celebrating its 25th anniversary, discovery channel's shark week offers a unique glimpse into the lives of these creatures. follows the migratory patterns of great white sharks. one of places they travel may surprise you. >> just off the california coast, only 30 miles from san francisco's golden gate bridge lie the jagged peaks of the islands. harsh beyond words, this national maureen sanctuary harbors amazing riches. like a watering hole in africa,

theres a season when the predators come. five months of every year, a distinct population of predators prowl sanctuary waters. some of the largest great white sharks in the world. >> the voice of ted danson. taylor, a research scientist with stanford, sal with the monterey bay aquarium. both featured in the episode. gentlemen, good to see you. this is kind of interesting. you guys have been following these shocks. the key to the information, taylor, is tagging them. >> we have a couple different keys to our research. we've been following these sharks for almost 25 years. actually tom johnson, one of -- has been following longer than shark week has been on. the electronic tag allows us to follow where the sharks go and allow us to know when they arrive at the coast. >> sal, you have discovered that sharks travel an awful lot. >> that's right. it's amazing. the electronic tags allow us to track them through the ocean.

we discover they are moving along these invisible highways. often to these amazing places we never thought of. >> seems like every week we're seeing some story in the news about the sharks. the fact is you guys say their numbers are dwindling. >> well, so we've been able to identify each individual -- a number of the individual sharks off of california. so their dorsal fin is like a fingerprint. they are unique. we can tell who's who. we've been able to estimate the population off california. they are somewhere in the range of a couple hundred individuals, 200 adolescent or adult individuals. >> sal, you guys are advocates for sharks. in a sense you feel kind of bad -- >> they get a bad rap. i think everyone is still iraq from "jaws." i heard somebody say a moment ago, every since she was six and a half she saw "jaws" and never got back in the water. that's a narrative we're trying to change. i think our program brings

people in connection with sharks in a new ways that's never been done before. >> with the electronic tags we have allows us to share the information we have with the public. we have a free app that allows us to see what we see, the way we see them. people get to learn when they show up. >> you run into the same sharks year after year. one in particular scar girl. >> scar girl. my belt buckle has a picture. she's unique, has the top of her dorsal fin is gone. she's easy to identify. she's one of those kind of rough-and-tumble sharks. she's got scars and marks all over her. she's a pretty amazing shark to follow. >> you mentioned early tom johnson. >> our team of researchers, we have a team of individuals that does this. tom johnson was photographed 26 years ago and we just picked up on our electronic tags tom johnson last week. he's back. >> how did he get the name tom johnson? >> actually the guy who first

photographed him was a bird naturalist. he was out there news, weather, and traffic islands, saw him and took a picture. we referred to him as the tom johnson shark and eventually earned the name tom johnson. >> you guys have been working together so long. tell me what happened in hawaii when you were trying to retrieve the tag. >> sometimes the tags come off the animal. to get the information, most of the information we have to retrieve that tag. a tag popped off in hawaii, sal and i got to jump in a plane. >> that must be tough. >> it was rough. one of the invisible highways from california to hawaii. they go to hawaii. they do we don't know what yet but we're learning. we get to go out there and hunt down the tags and bring them back with the data intact. >> we can't wait to see this. shark week a big, big draw in my household. we're looking forward to seeing it. thank you so much. new episodes of shark week

airing on discovery channel, shark week. nicki minaj up next. but first these messages.

>> announcer: the toyota concert series on "today," brought to you by toyota. >> our crowd has been dancing all morning locke long to the beats of rock star nicki minaj. >> reloaded opened at the top of the list. >> fresh off her international tour, here she is once again singing a special medley just for our crowd. the always popular nicki minaj. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

[ cheers and applause ] [ cheers and applause ] .

i'm barack obama and i approve this message seen this? mitt romney claiming the president would end welfare's work requirements? the new york times calls it 'blatantly false' the washington post says: "the obama administration is not removing the bill's work requirements at all." in fact, obama's getting states to move twenty percent more people from welfare to work.

and president clinton's reaction to the romney ad? it's just "not true." get the facts. 9:57 is your time on this tuesday august 14th 2012. let's check in with our meteorologist, tom kierein for a look at the forecast. >> a few light sprinkles across northern virginia and maryland. a little sun trying to break out. later today, probably get storms popping up. 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., could be severe with damaging winds,

we're in the 70s now and might get isolated storms in the afternoon. high 80s and near 90 and partly sunny for the weekend. how's traffic? >> some relief as far as traffic and volume. i-66 looks a lot better. eastbound to the beltway, no issues to report. i-95 in virginia, northbound at lorton, southbound as well as you make your way to the beltway, no issues to report right now. a lot better than earlier today. a lot better than earlier today. >> thank you.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television yes. >> y thought it would never get here. it's august 14th. so glad you guys are with us. we're grateful people today, aren't we? >> we're so grateful. you know what's so funny? when you write on our facebook page, we see it. >> one of us does. >> she's learning how to tweet and facebook. >> i know. >> and it's dangerous. >> the world is already a dangerous place and now i'm

going to be doing that. no, no, no. i'm learning. we're going do a little piece on it later. >> you are? >> yeah. >> anyway, we want to thank anybody who's come on our facebook page. a lot of people are congratulating you on your broadway show. >> i know. thank you, everybody. they're already buying tickets. remember, we told them the code word today. thank you, everybody. >> i'm reading this part but i'm not sure i agree with it. we're even agreeable with jean. >> yes, i love her. >> she sent us a photo and she said she named her chicken after me. >> why? >> that is rude. >> well, what did come first? the chicken or hoda? >> okay, okay. here's the -- that's rude. that's rude. >> the hairdo. >> that's rude. >> okay. here's the thing. >> you could be a rock star. they all wear their hair like that now. >> okay. first of all, you need to stay off twitter, okay? do not follow her at kat

kathielgifford. >> i tweet ed kim. >> how many followers do you have? >> so few because i just started. i facebooked that picture of you. >> which picture. >> the photo of you. it has 11,000 likes and 100 con kmenlts. >> okay. where was this posted? on our show page? >> aren't you proud of me. >> that's terrible. >> i didn't know they could resend it to somebody else and a whot lot did that. thank you, everybody. i'm learning a lot. >> i hate you on twitter. robert pattinson is out and about. you guys know that there was -- >> he has a new movie. >> the headline in the ""new

york post" -- he was on "the daily show" with jon stewart. >> and apparently is handling this very well. wouldn't you like to after something like that hole up someplace and lick your wounds and try to make sense of this. but, you know, part of making the movies, one of the huge commitments they make is to go off and promote it. >> when he went on jon stewart, he got ben & jerry's ice cream and said let's have girl talk. do we have a sound bite? let's listen. >> we're just a couple of gals talking. >> all right. my biggest problem in my life is i'm cheap, and i didn't hire a publicist. and every interview -- usually everything is scripted. i'm going to hire a publicist. >> he probably should. i wish him all the best. i wish her too. we all make mistakes in this life. at least she owned u to it.

i wish the media would stop saying she humiliated him. she's the one -- she humiliated herself and the man with her, not his wife. they broke their hearts. let's say the humiliation is for the person who does the humiliating thing. >> i like that. like that a lot. >> yeah. there's another thing you like a lot. >> which? >> hoda likes peeing in the pool. >> what are you talking about? where does this even come from? here's the thing. ryan seacrest made news. he interviewed ryan lochte and he admitted he urinates in the pool during warm-ups. >> not during races. [ toilet plushing ] >> michael phelps says he, too, does it. after all, they're in the pool for hours. look at that shot.

>> he's peeing right now. >> he says they're in the pool for hours. who wants to get out and use the bathroom. according to studies, one in six people say they, too, pea in the pool. >> i would tell cody not to pee in the pool. he'd get out and pee in the bush. i'd tell him, not the bush either. go into the house. >> i thought with the chlorine -- >> apparently not, hoda. the chlorine does not take care of all the germs. it depends on the pool and the chlorine and ph levels. apparently people are being ruder all the time. >> what's gross is when you're swimming, you see people put water in their mouth and spit it out. you've seen them swim. they swim, spit it out. it's all in there. >> haven't you ever been to a public school where it's closed for a while because something else happens? >> that's gross. >> i'm just saying. can tell if there's a slimy

buildup -- >> let me say this. have you ever peeed in the shower? >> it happens. you know what i'm very, very aware of, is how much water it takes time to flush. i think it's disgusting to leave something in the toilet for a long, long time. i think this through. say you have to potty, okay? just ppee-pee. why use all that water to flush when you're going in the shower and there's going to be water anyway. >> okay. that's a valid point. that's a valid point. >> that's pee-ta. good for the environment. >> the public restrooms, that's a hit -or-miss kind of thing. did you see what happened on the concourse? did you see this? >> no. >> there was all kinds of stuff in the men's public restroom.

apparently a man had a problem. the steps that come down, all the way, all the way, all the way. he never made it to the men's room. just saying. >> this discussion -- this chat is awful. this is the worst chat we've ever had. no, it is. >> i'm having fun. [ toilet flushing ] >> you were talking about the public restroom. >> i see you're supposed to squat because you're not supposed to sit down. have you ever sat down and didn't notice it was wet from the person before you? that's happened. >> sometimes that's why there's paper things but sometimes people leave their paper things. >> the thing is when you're in your stall and you see under the stalls their legs are spread out. i'm afraid to touch anything. i wave to the sensor that flushes it and you have to be very, very careful. all right. stay with our theme of the worst chat ever. there's a man selling -- okay.

there's bird poop on a car windshield that he says looks exactly like michael jackson. >> once it hardens he says. >> let's look at it. we'll be the judge. oh, my gosh. it does. anyway, he's not taking his -- sorry. is that -- why is it blue like that? ♪ people are strange >> the cost is $500. >> which is the cost of the windshield that you'd have to take off to sell it. all right. singer/song writer, she's now the leading lady. she's 22 years old. jordin sparks is here and robert pattinson. miley cyrus gets a new 'do. what do you think of her 'do? >> okay. >> we'll talk about it.

>> and we're still happy for jennifer aniston. all the buzz. and we miss our kristen, but we'll be back with all our news. roc® retinol. found in roc® retinol correxion deep wrinkle night cream. it's clinically proven to give 10 years back to the look of skin. now for maximum results, the power of roc® retinol is intensified with a serum to create retinol correxion® max. it's clinically shown to be 4x better at smoothing lines and deep wrinkles than professional treatments. new roc® retinol correxion® max. nothing's better than gold. has become boring and tasteless... only one man can save the day... ♪ with his sweet and nutty, sweet and nutty crunchy nut ♪ delicious! [ male announcer ] kellogg's crunchy nut. it's super delicious.

and we got onesies. sometimes miracles get messy. so we use tide free. no perfumes or dyes for her delicate skin. brad. not it. not it. just kidding. that's our tide. what's yours? 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. 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. what ? customers didn't like it. so why do banks do it ? hello ? hello ?! if your bank doesn't let you talk to a real person 24/7, you need an ally. hello ? ally bank. no nonsense. just people sense.

she was the youngest contestant ever to wing "american idol" now jordin sparks is making a film debut in the movie spt sparkle." >> she stars alongside the late whitney houston in what was to be her last film role. take a look. >> all right. so this is -- >> and she's here in the studio on the big promo tour, huh? >> how are you? >> i'm good. i ee good. we were talking about it and how everything is going. now the press tour is very different than doing something with cds. i'm singing and then there's a short little interview and i sing. now i want to take a vow of

silence after this, i'm so exhausted. >> you have to trainer your voice a different way now, right? >> yeah. >> and what way to kind of start your movie career alongside whitney houston. what a way to start, huh? >> taking out that she's an amazing actress. as a singer, i was like, oh, my gosh, this is whitney. >> she's a legend for a reason. >> exactly. she's always delivered on the big screen. and them you put that in and the pressure and this is like this is crazy. >> was she sort of mothering toward you on the set or what was the vibe between you and whitney? >> she was very nurturing. we all kind of sat up a little straighter when she walked into the room. she had a great sense of humor. she was this mama bear. she was to all of us. she called us her babies. she was there asking if we need anything, if we were okay. you know, we really bonded. i was the youngest one on set and she was this motherly, amazing woman and we kind of

gravitated toward each other. >> she's also a very spiritual person. there's a spiritual vibe through the whole thing, quite a change from the original movie. but what was going to ask you about that? did you see any sense of her struggling with addictions at all while you were working together? >> no. >> you didn't see this coming at all, right? >> no, no, not at all. it was really crazy because she walks in and she would have the biggest smile on her face. she would be blasting music, and she would just be ready to work. she e with us so excited. >> happy to work. >> pat houston said this was one of the happiest times in her life. so to be part of something that made her so happy, it was incredible. >> as for you, this was kind of the first time at the rodeo. did you take lessons -- >> we cried so much at one point. i talked to celine, the director, when do we get to the performances? i don't want to cry anymore.

and he was like soon. but i didn't take any acting classes before that, but i did look it over with this acting coach. his name is john kirby. and he read through the script with me before i did the audition and i memorized the script backward andforward. i knew everybody's lines. i knew exits and entrances. >> you came prepared. >> your role, you're part of a group of sisters who want to perform. you're sort of in the background in the beginning. you're the backup singer. >> i'm the song writer and the youngest of the sisters as well, but it's my dream to be the singer and the star, and i mischievously get my sisters to be a part of it. and then it goes throughout our journey and, you know, things that happen and the choices you make and how you deal with them. >> yeah. >> and then she finds her voice at the end. >> now what does your real-lifebuoyfriend, who's very cute, i think of your on screen kisses with your tv boyfriend, your movie boyfriend?

>> at the time our relationship was really early and i said i have a kissing scene and he was like, okay. then we went and saw it -- we went and did a special screening. he's in australia right now. we did a special screening. said, what did you think. he said i loved the movie but the kissing scenes -- i said, well, i told you i'm doing them. he said he's very excited for me. 's been so supportive. we celebrated our one year. >> good for you. >> oh, my gosh. >> you know what i wan to know? what does your real-life mom think. >> come on over here. >> the mother of this beautiful talented child. >> come here, mommy. >> i'm sorry, you look like her sister. >> thank you. >> are you so proud of your girl? >> so proud. so proud. >> what was your reaction when she got an audition with whitney houston. what did you say? >> i knew she could do it. she had it in her. >> she's always been really supportive.

actually there's a performance tonight and she's never seen it. >> you're going to walk the red carpet and do the whole thing? >> that's going to taken two minutes. she's gorgeous already. >> congratulations to you, jordin, and to you. >> i love to see people's moms and see their relationships. do you have any more at home that are this talented and beautiful? >> yes, my son t.j. he's playing football. he's on a scholarship. >> amazing. we wish you all the best. great to see you. bobbie thomas with the latest trends. we love our bobbie. she's brought along some hot studs. yes, you heard me right. [ barks ] [ announcer ] all work and no play... will make allie miss her favorite part of the day. [ laughing ] that's why there's beneful baked delights. from crispy crackers to shortbread cookie dog snacks,

they're oven-baked to surprise and delight. beneful baked delights: a unique collection of four snacks... to help spark play in your day. now all general mills big g kid cereals have more whole grain than any other ingredient in cereals like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch, the delicious way to help them grow up strong. in cereals like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch, what makes me feel truly decadent? [announcer:] new revlon colorstay whipped crème makeup. its unique formula flexes with skin for a flawless finish. the feel of nothing but silk on my skin. ♪ power surge, let it blow your mind. [ male announcer ] for fruits, veggies and natural green tea energy... new v8 v-fusion plus energy. could've had a v8.

turn to senokot-s tablets. senokot-s has a natural vegetable laxative ingredient plus the comfort of a stool softener for gentle, overnight relief of occasional constipation. go to senokot-s.com for savings.

we're back with tuesday's trend and everything old is new again from spikes to studs. heavy metal has made its way back to cool.

>> our gal bobbie thomas is showing off the latest hardware that's sleek, chic and sophisticated. >> i took a vacation and i don't do it very often. >> you never do that. >> i missed you so much. >> i can't believe it. walking down the street in lisbon, people said, vino, vino show. >> studs are in. >> studs are everywhere. we saw them on the spring runways and fall runways and they've really made a comeback. we have some pictures. this is katy perry with her versace runway dress. we have jada picket smith and die ane kruger and her studded flats, that parisian look. they're put on lace and brocades, very subtle feminine

looks. but, of course, the easiest way to jump in on a trend is with accessories. when you go to a stoll, it's hard to find things that are not studded. here are my tips. these are affordable. >> why did you put them next to me? >> look for something that is either in a traditional shape or a neutral color. black, sage, navy. that balances out the edge. if you get a hot pink bag with studs, it's too much. you can add a little on the shoe. you'll see them on one of my models. even on the shoe. and a stud in the ear can add some edge. >> let's bring out some of your folks. let's bring out lorraine. tell us about her look. >> what i love about lorraine's look is she's the epitome of studded looks. she's about classic modern

pieces that are reinvented. you go to the store and you don't think about looking at the white button-down blouse. you see on the collar a bit of it. and the shoe even with this fantastic pony hair flat. it's got a little studded detail. obviously i put them all together for the look today, but just one of these pieces will instantly update your look. >> don't overdo it. you could get hurt. >> the other thing about this is you'll use this for years to come. this on the i have on is something i got three or four years ago and it still looks okay. >> by the way. you're losing weight for your wedding. >> no, i'm eating pastries every single day. >> who's up next? >> keisha. keisha is someone i wanted to help me show off the way you can really add a little modern twist to a feminine dress. this dress is beautiful. it's from 9 west, but in all

honesty anyone over 40 could potentially look matronly. it's a little much. especially with a print like that, if you put that bold studded belt, you can find studs -- they're always around, it really anchors the dress and gives it a balance. so pieces you might not normally think about wearing together makes the perfect complement. >> that looks great. >> thank you, keisha. >> next we have maye. >> hi, maye. >> uber class. >> this is from kohl's. it comes in four colors. it's something you could wear to the office or a luncheon. you could even wear this with jeans or a t-shirt on the weekends. a studded jacket like this is going to be an update to your basic blazer. one thing i like about this jacket is the sleeves don't have the studs shoo sstuds.

>> i love it. >> come on out, ladies. welcome back. >> welcome home, honey. we've got the juicy buzz coming up. the details on jennifer's engagement and a member of the joy's fit club. [ female announcer ] back to school means back to busy mornings. that's why i got them pillsbury toaster strudel. warm flaky pastry with delicious sweet filling my kids will love. plus i get two boxtops for their school. toaster strudel. the one kids want to eat.

plus i get two boxtops for their school. mmmm, just how satisfying of new light & fit greek? morning donut cookies chips, chips,...! silence those tempting thoughts with new light & fit greek. its creamy thick texture helps satisfy you. it has twice the protein of regular lowfat yogurt. and at 80 calories it's the lightest greek yogurt with fruit. cupcake! it's not gonna happen. new light & fit greek. be light and fit and satisfied.

what's going on is we're back with more of "today." we've got the inside scoop to everything from jennifer's engagement. >> here's rob. hello, rob. >> hello. >> so, robert pattinson spoke. >> sat down for the first time since the scandal with jon stewart. >> it was scandalous. >> it was scandalous. i think jon did a good job. it's a really tricky interview. he chose not to actually mention her name. he offered him ice cream and they sat there and talked.

he said it was girl talk. made light of it. robert was a little uncomfortable. smiles a lot. the most profound thing jon said when you're young going through a break-up you feel like your world is coming to an end and then they left it alone. >> why don't we move on to another scandalous topic. >> oh, let's do it. >> miley cyrus's new hair cut. >> miley cyrus clipped up her hair. >> why? she's at great place right now. >> she's always admired twiggy. >> she's from 1960. >> i know. she cut all all her hair. she put it on twitter and people blew up. they went crazy. >> crazy good or -- >> not good. she said she felt more comfortable with this look. the man who did it is the one

who created jennifer aniston's "rachel" hair do. >> what are the chances of that. >> she's young and 19. >> i wonder what her fiancee thinks about it. next bobbi kissing her brother. >> he's not technically her brother. he was never actually adon'ted by whitney officially, but he has lived with the family since she was very, very young. she's very close with nick. she did tweet them kissing and they both gotta tattoo'd. >> do you remember what you did with that quiz a couple of fridays ago? >> he doesn't speak english. he's from england.

>> our friend who we love, krist krist kristen chen wet, she's not going to be on. >> this makes me very serious. there's not been a single picture of her. she has been on twitter saying she's getting better. >> she's not in the hospital. >> it also makes me very worried. she canceled a couple of theater engagements and benefits. she loves that broadway community. anything to make her cancel that make mess wonder what shape she's in. >> when you remember how the accident was described that and she's so tiny. we send our love. we hope you're watching, kristen. we send our love. >> absolutely. jennifer aniston is engaged. >> i love this story. there was a rumor floating around that her dad didn't know she was getting engaged. to set the record straight, he

said he knew but whenever a reporter called, he played dumm. >> they had a rift and they healed. even her and her mother. we haven't seen the ring yet. she was spotted yesterday. she wasn't wearing the ring because she was on a movie set. don't believe the rumors. she is engaged. >> i'm happy for them that they've been able to keep the relationship private. >> it's not easy. she's one of the most recognized people in the world. >> he looks like a very, very solid guy. unlike you, rob. all right. the newest member of the joy's fit club shows off her new body after dropping nearly half her weight. that's right. you heard me right. right after this. [ female announcer ] teach your kids to shield, sneeze, swish

to help keep stuff off their hands. ♪ this back to school ♪ there's a new routine ♪ grab a kleenex® tissue to help keep your hands clean ♪ ♪ every time you sneeze no matter where ♪ ♪ ya gotta shield sneeze swish like you just don't care ♪ ♪ shield sneeze swish ♪ check out my swish ♪ da da da da da, da da da da da ♪ [ female announcer ] only kleenex® brand has sneeze shield in all their tissues to help keep stuff off kids' hands.

[ female announcer ] only kleenex® brand has sneeze shield in all their tissues hey, becky. hey....uncle steve. for life's bleachable moments. parebut not on your face. juvéderm® xc is the gel filler your doctor uses to instantly smooth out lines right here. temporary side effects include redness, pain, firmness, swelling, bumps, or risk of infection. ask your doctor about juvéderm® xc.

i'd like to thank eating right, whole grain, multigrain cheerios! my bowl, my spoons! mom, are those my jeans? [ female announcer ] people who choose more whole grain tend to weigh less than those who don't. multigrain cheerios has whole grain and 110 delicious calories. ...more grains. less you! multigrain cheerios in multi-grain cheerios peanut butter.

and we're back now with the joy fit club and the induction of its newest member. her name is bethany taylor and she's 28 years old. let's take a listen to her story. >> my name is bethany taylor and i once weighed 252 pounds. i was always an overweight child, and my weight continued to increase throughout high school and college. in graduate school a close friend of mine passed away and shortly after my father suffered a ruptured aortic aneurysm and came very close to death. between trying to finish my degree, returning to the ic every evening to visit my dad,

grieving for my friend, and seeking employment i went to a very dark place and turned to food for comfort. in july of 2009 i saw a picture of myself and was shocked and disappointed by what i saw. i decided to see how much i really weighed and could not believe that my weight had skyrocketed to 252 pounds. i quickly decided that now was the time to do something about my overall health. i began making little changes in my diet and exercising more. two and a half years later i reached all of my weight loss goals. i now work out regularly and have a completely different relationship with my food. i lost the weight on my own without a trainer or a diet plan and i want people to know they can do it too. losing weight does not require a lot of money, just a lot of heart. >> wow. what a -- i love her voice. >> i do too. >> and joy bauer is the leader of the joy fit club. you're in love with this lady. >> i am in love with this lady,

and you are too. it also allowed her to transform her entire look on life. she used to be a glass half empty person and she's totally a half glass full. >> the fact that she was able to recognize it and put a finger on it and turn the page. >> she had so many smart strategies and one that stood out for me. everyone veers off on the weekends. she practices on monday, meatless monday, all vegetarian to help her reboot. one thing she loves to have for dinner is a small amount of whole wheat noodles with lots of different vegetables and seasonings. two of mine. this is a baked potato topped with black beans and salsa. that's it. a little bit of dijon and cumin. >> that's delicious. >> vegetarian fricatta and

vejtabvej vegetables. i'll post this on facebook so everyone can enjoy it. >> oh, my gosh. >> no, no, no. >> can you believe that? look at those arms. >> go hit her. >> i want to make sure it's real. >> hi, bethany. >> bethany, you are amazing. >> thank you. >> no diet plan, nothing from a book or no trainer? what was -- how did you do it? >> i just had to use the top of my head. i was underemployed at the time, so i had to use the things that were given to me. it was also attitude. have what you are, use what you have and do what you can. i used the workout dvds around the house. >> did you cut food out? i heard about the meatless mondays. is that how you did it? >> one thing i did was stop eating a lot of fast food. >> tell them what your mantra is

because it's so powerful. >> pushing past pain through prayer, faith, and persistence. >> write that down. >> i love that. >> congratulations. >> we're so proud of you. >> congratulations. you look gorgeous. coming up next, we're going to have healthy no-cook meals to get you out of the kitchen fast. >> first we're going to have messages. [ male announcer ] in a world where breakfast has become boring and tasteless... only one man can save the day... ♪ with his sweet and nutty, sweet and nutty crunchy nut ♪ delicious!

[ male announcer ] kellogg's crunchy nut. it's super delicious. [ femala $100 cream. we were flattered when regenerist beat flabbergasted when we creamed a $500 cream. for about $30 regenerist micro-sculpting cream hydrates better than over 20 of america's most expensive luxury creams. fantastic. phenomenal. regenerist. mine hurt more! mine stopped hurting faster... [ female announcer ] neosporin® plus pain relief starts relieving pain faster and kills more types of infectious bacteria. neosporin® plus pain relief. for a two dollar coupon, visit neosporin.com. is the only yogurt brand endorsed by weight watchers and your taste buds have always endorsed us. so, you know what this means... this is a real win win! yoplait, it is so good.

seen this? mitt romney claiming the president would end welfare's work requirements? i'm barack obama and i approve this message the new york times calls it 'blatantly false' the washington post says: "the obama administration is not removing the bill's work requirements at all." in fact, obama's getting states to move twenty percent more people from welfare to work. and president clinton's reaction to the romney ad? it's just "not true." get the facts. you're on timeout leo! some things won't last 25 years. ah! woof. some things will.

save up to 20% on an ikea kitchen. we're back with today's kitchen and what's cooking? guess what. absolutely nothing. >> if you don't have time to slave over a hot stove, something easy and healthy. hi. >> hi. >> so really no turning on the stove? nada happening here? >> no stove, maximum deliciousness. >> you had to peel the avocado. >> yes, i did. >> so what are we making? >> we're going to start with

chicken and guacamole toestadas. they're next to the taco shells. >> salsa or tomatoes? >> it's tomatoes now but it's about to be salsa once you add in cilantro, onions and jalapenos. >> you had to cut these. >> yes. >> that's false advertising. >> and lemon. >> somebody had to squeeze this. now it's no cooking. >> i want to give a smoky flavor to that chicken. that's pepper. >> i shamed her into it. >> is this paprika? >> quarter teaspoon, very smoky and a little bit of lime juice and the usual guac suspects here. tomato, onion, lime juice,

garlic. are you ready to go? >> uh-huh. >> i'm going put my diamondback m guacamole on the bottom. that's about 350 calories next to chicken. >> it's healthy. >> that looks delicious. >> how delicious is that. >> come on down. >> it's got crab meat in it. i'm going to have to test it. >> please do. >> what do you have in there? >> crab, corn, and tomato salad with a lemon bales viniagrette. that's what that vinaigrette does. the lemon, boom, perks it up. the corn, no cook. you can just cut it right off. >> in the living room, not in the kitchen. all righty. that looks delicious. >> there you go. isn't that nice? >> sure. it looks really good. >> i hope you like the contrast of that corn and crab.

>> we will let you know. >> mmm. >> mmm. >> what do you think? >> i want to try this too. >> go for it. >> what's happening down here? we've got about a minute. >> this is roasted chicken and white bean salad. begin, very good neutral ingredients to start. canned white beans are terrific. go for it. canned white beans are terrific. >> let's take it back. >> nice. >> mix all that up. >> you don't have to heat anything up. get the organic, 33% less sodium. of course, rinse off the sodium. >> do you have to put the onions in it? >> yes. people like onions. put in the red wine vin bar and the lemon juice, it will be super perky. >> in the kitchen. >> sault. the olive oil. >> thank you. okay. >> cook light. we love our flavors. again, very vivid flavors. a little pepper for you. >> why do we have such an epidemic of diabetes and obesity in our country when all we hear

is people are cooking lightly. we don't have time for that answer. guess what? sara's going to get in touch with her roots. but first this is "today" on nbc. you're a good sport. 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. president clinton and a bi-partisan congress helped end welfare as we know it, by requiring work for welfare. but on july 12th, president obama quietly announced a plan to gut welfare reform by dropping work requirements. under obama's plan, you wouldn't have to work,

and wouldn't have to train for a job -- they just send you your welfare check. and welfare to work goes back to being plain, old welfare. mitt romney will restore the work requirement, because it works. [ romney ] i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

get who's back. sara's back. today she takes us home with her to iowa where corn is big business as sara hit the fields to tackle the most popular summer jobs in the air yachl by the way, hi. >> i missed you. >> i missed you too. so i went to iowa while we were gone. >> of course, you did sniet was my first summer job as a teen. it's called deas theling. pulling tassels off the stalk and it's highly coveted among children of the corn.

welcome to another day of deas the ling. it's 4:00 a.m. in iowa but these kids aren't headed to school. why are you on the back of the bus? >> it's a cool place to sit. >> they're headed to their summer day's job as corn detassel detasselers. they sworm cornfields and pull the tassels off select plants. the pay starts at minimum wage for most. >> you won't want corn on the job until do you this job every day. >> i know about it all too well except i'm having trouble remembering exactly how it's done. we're in a cornfield. this is christine. she's my buddy. it's been a while since i have actually seen a tassel so you're going to show me how to do it again and we're going to be the slowest low every. >> this right here is a tassel. >> okay. and you pull it. it seems simple new but it sets

it up for future corn. it grows with both male and female parts. by pulling off the tassel, the male part, the corn is forced to cross-pollinate with other strains creating a more vibrant vital seed. >> tassel. whoop, whoop. >> for every male left untouched there are four female rows that have to be detasseled. there's a lost ground to cover so we pull and push forward. >> i'm going to pull this out. done. it's done. >> bloomer. >> bloomer! >> what's that? these? that's a bloomer. >> that's a bloomer. is it good luck? >> no. >> that's bad. >> oh. >> that's what you don't want. >> that's what you don't want to miss? >> in a sea of green this job requires an eye for details. each crew has four de-tasslers and one checker following behind to make sure we don't miss

anything. >> a whip is just one that's hard to pull. i don't know officially -- >> it's bent over. it looks like it's going to smack you. >> ow. how do you guys motivate to get up so early, seriously? >> money. >> money? are you saving for anything? >> college books. >> it gets hot under the blazing sun and protective gear so when you finally reach the end of a row, relief is what you feel. >> victory dance, we finished our row. >> we've tot go back. >> okay. i was celebrating a little prematurely, early. >> with over a million acres of corn plant add i cross the u.s. each year, a detasseler's job is never done. >> oh, my god. i hope this is lucrative work. >> that's why you do it. >> were you totally exhausted by the end of the day? >> totally wiped off, exhausted.

we were hosed down. >> thank you, sara. tomorrow, actress molly ring wald and back-to-school fashions. good-bye, everybody. we'll see you tomorrow.