good morning. brutal. that punishing cold blanketing much of the country is now spreading. more than 200 million americans waking up to below freezing temperatures this morning, and the worst is yet to come. breaking overnight. deadly blasts rock kabul. a suicide attack targeting a cultural center in afghan's capital leaves dozens killed and even more hurt. isis is now claiming responsibility. we're live with the latest. not so fast. a new warning for homeowners thinking about paying property taxes now before that tax law takes effect. why the irs say

making a big mistake. all that, plus, meghan markle's family firing back. >> it's the family she's never had. a power outage at disneyland leaves passengers not so happy. and mega million jackpot now at nearly $700 million combined after another night without a winner. while in south carolina, a computer glitch dashes dreams of players across the state as they walk away empty-handed, "today," thursday, december 28, 2017. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today." live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. and welcome to "today." we appreciate you joining us on this thursday morning. savannah, hoda, both off. 15 degrees on the plaza. >> ah! and folks are still

>> especially brave. >> i have to tell you, once we go below 25, i kind of are lose track. it's just freezing. >> it is. literally. >> uncomfortable, yeah. >> we are far from alone, as we said. extreme cold gripping much of the country shattering nearly century old records in some states and not going away anytime soon. we have it all covered including an impact on your new year's eve plans. start with nbc's ron allen who remains on duty in snow-covered erie, pennsylvania. good to see ya, buddy. how are you holding up? >> reporter: doing just fine, craig. here they're hoping that today they finally catch a break. the snow stopped falling. the snow emergency lifted, first time since christmas, after what can only be described as an historic, record-breaking holiday storm. now the cleanup, and dig-out, there is snow and ice everywhere and like most of the country they're also facing bone-chilling,

>> the ice on the front of my house is so thick. >> reporter: this morning much of the country has frozen over. homes encased in ice or buried under feet of snow. >> this is what fell. all of are this. >> reporter: a big chill just in time to ring in the new year. it's good for the slopes -- but bad for the roads. >> we're kind of over it. >> i wish i could go on vacation already. >> reporter: temperatures plunging to minus 37 degrees in international falls, minnesota. breaking a 90-year record. and in erie, pennsylvania, 65 inches of snow in just four days. >> seems every day there's a new record! >> i know. we have broken one record after the other after the other. >> reporter: sow county executive kathy dollkemp called in reinforcements. >> we have with us the national guard unit. >> reporter: national guard digging out this nursing home, exits and entrances blocked by snow. plows clearing the streets. driving

wonderland but serious business inside this emergency operation center where crucial decisions are being made to keep residents safe. on the tarmac at erie's airport wednesday, signs of progress. planes finally able to take off after days of a standstill, and inside -- >> i'm quite happy. >> reporter: deirdre walsh is finally on her way home after being stranded for days. on tuesday she told us her christmas meal was reeses peanut butter cups from a vending machine. >> i desperately want a salad. >> reporter: so did she ever get that salad? >> no, i did not, but when my sister picked me up she made spaghetti and meatballs. >> reporter: a warm meal and a ticket home. sounds like a belated christmas miracle. she was certainly one of the lucky ones. got the first flight out of here to detroit. there's still a huge backlog of passengers trying to get flights home. the airport was closed several days. just when you thought it was over -- think again. there's now a winter storm watch in pla

believe that, perhaps coming here this weekend. craig? >> can't catch a break. turn to dylan for a look at what's to come. >> good morning. i just mentioned, if the cold sticks around, the great lakes freezes and shuts off the lake-effect snow machine. takes a while a slow process, but i'm trying to look at the positive side of this here. the frigid, cold weather is the story for the rest of this year going into the start of 2018. we have windchill warning, windchill advisories. some of the higher elevations where it's windiest, you could see windchills at 40 degrees below zero. that is dangerous cold, if you're outside too long. this dip in the jet stream allowing cold air to settle in from the north. minot, north dakota, windchill, 30 belows. feels like 5 in chicago. not much wind there. cincinnati, the windchill makes it feel like it is zero. in the northeast, looking at record-low temperatures up in watertown. 31 deg

feels like 3 in new york. atlantic city feels like zero. a reinforcing shot of cold air through the weekend. sunday, in chicago, we start off the day at 1 degree. in fargo, 27 degrees below zero sunday morning. all the way down to little rock into charlotte, temperatures in the teens and 20s and monday morning in the northeast, when we really are going to feel the chill, bangor, maine, 25 degrees below zero when you factor in the wind clchillwindchill. it's stay inside kind of chill. if you go out, bundle up. >> dylan, thank you. that breaking news in afghanistan. dozens kill fed in a tragic suicide bombing. the country's president calling it a crime against humanity. nbc's matt bradley has the latest. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. there were at least three blasts in this complex attack, craig, and the first, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a basement lecture hall.

rescue workers and people trying to escape. today, carnage among afghanistan's most vulnerable. unknown gunmen bombed then stormed a cultural center in the capital kabul leaving at least 40 dead and nearly 60 wounded. ali reza witnessed the attack. i saw many dead in the area, he said. i looked for my cousin, but i couldn't find him. an isis affiliate claimed responsibility. the group has made false claims in the past but its recently turned its sights on the shia, afghanistan's minority. this poses a challenge for the 15,000 u.s. servicemen and women still in country. president donald trump tripled

just days ago, mike pence on a surprise christmas visit pledged a gloves-off approach to terrorists. >> this commander in chief empowered our battlefield commanders with the freedom and flexibility you need to win. >> reporter: as america's war here enters its 17th year with no end in sight. isis attacks aren't new to afghanistan, but as the group faces defeat in the middle east, many worry that fighting between isis and afghanistan's shiite minority could open a danger out new front in this already lengthy conflict. craig? >> matt bradley, thanks. much more to get to, including the ongoing confusion created by the new tax law, and this morning, the irs is out with new advice for you. nbc's chief white house correspondent hallie jackson has the latest. hallie, good morning. >> reporter: hi, sheinelle. good morning to you. the bottom line on that new irs guidance. it might not actually pay off for you to be waiting in line to pay off your property taxes now. with that new taxaw

break, and that includes president trump himself. making a rare public appearance here in west palm beach. this morning in florida, the calm before the storm of work waiting in washington in the new year. >> how are your 401(k)s doing? pretty well. >> reporter: but before 2018, president trump is talking 2017 at a surprise stop at the west palm beach fire house near his mar-a-lago resort. >> got a lot of legislation passed. the country, like a big, big beautiful ship we're turning around and a lot of good things happening. >> reporter: to help sell that new tax law the president's proudly promoting a flurry of op easy in papers across the country, and as people scramble to find out what it means for them, new guidance from the irs which says you could save money by paying next year's property taxes now, but you should check with officials in your town first, since it all depends on how

live. the gop tax plan also eventually gets rid of the individual mandate. that's the part of obamacare which requires everyone to have insurance or else pay a fine. >> we have essentially repealed obamacare. >> reporter: but republicans did not repeal bsobamacare even as e president pushed for a new bipartisan plan, one of his many things pushed on his working vacation. like other presidents, barack obama in hawaii, george w. bush in texas, president trump takes holidays where he wants. unlike other presidents, donald trump's selections happen to bear his name as his first year in office comes to a close he spent nearly one-third of it at a trump-branded property whether in florida, new jersey or in washington, where besides his own hotel or golf club he rarely branches out. >> i love the food in the white house. the white house is the greatest restaurant. it's the most beautiful --

press describing him as "the homebody president" in 2017. though there seems to be a new presidential resolution for 2018. >> i was accused the other day. well, when i leave the white house, which is seldom, i always go to my hotel on pennsylvania avenue. and they say, he should go to other places, and i never thought of it and i'm going to start doing that. >> reporter: so we'll see if the president does, come 2018. he's mostly laying low here in south florida so far but his secretary of state is now out with a new high-profile op-ed writing in the "new york times," rex tillerson daupg dogged by r he may leave the state department in 2018 sometime, but he's defending diplomacy saying he is proud of the work its done. >> hallie, thank you. back to the plunging temperatures that will likely not keep revelers from packing in at times square on new year's eve, but the cold is not all that massive crowd has to face. they'll

security. nbc's stephanie gosk is in times square with more on that. steph, good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning, craig. as you mentioned at the top of the show, temperature out here is in the teens. that's what the forecast is for new year's eve making it one of the coldest on record. those people who are brave enough to be out here in this cold, thinking of two things. that cold and security. >> three, two, one -- [ cheers ] >> reporter: as crowds gather in new york city's times square, biting winds and arctic chill will grip those looking to ring in the new year. >> it's been on my bucket list for many, many years and would be an experience of a lifetime. >> the cold wouldn't stop me. >> reporter: some aren't willing to suffer the bitter conditions. >> no. i would not. [ laughter ] >> reporter: and the frigid temperature already hitting the northeast isn't making it easy on those preparing for the ball

over 2,000 crystal pieces. workers here are installing many of them by hand without gloves as the mercury drops. >> this year it's honestly brutal. it's been worst. a couple years ago was really cold. we got to do what we got to do. layers of clothing. you know? >> reporter: the global tradition is expected to draw more than 1 million people into the heart of new york city, and police already on high alert aren't taking any chances. posting heavily armed officers and barricades throughout the area. today the nypd is expected to detail their plans for this year's festivities, and the amount of security will likely be unprecedented. this, coming after an attempted suicide bombing earlier this month, and a number of attacks throughout the year both home and abroad. out west, las vegas celebrates with a massive fireworks display on the strip, but following the country's worst mass shooting at a music festival last october, security is on everyone's mind.

doubled. >> reporter: police say they're putting more officers on and above the streets. >> in previous years we had spotters in elevated positions. this year, along with those spotters, they'll be accompanied by snipers. >> reporter: this year as americans gather with their loved ones, law enforcement will be working overtime to ensure everyone has a safe and happy new year. so though it will be bitterly cold here on new year's eve night it is not going to break the record. that was set in 1917. it was just 1 degree in times square. guys? >> hope we're nowhere close to the record. steph, thank you. meantime, we are learning more about last week's deadly amtrak derailment near seattle. authorities are releasing emergency recordings from the day of that tragic crash. nbc's gadi schwartz has the latest. >> reporter: the hair-raising 911 calls shedding light on the moment right after impact when people were thrown from the train, other

all the while dispatchers working to keep people calm surrounded by utter chaos. >> 911. what are you reporting? >> tons of people are hurt! >> reporter: among the wreckage of amtrak 501, voices trembling with fear as people frantically call for help. >> we're all hurt. >> is anybody in the car that you are in hurt? >> yes. a lot. >> reporter: a woman trying to keep calm with her 14-year-old son by her side. >> my son is hurt. my head is bleeding. >> reporter: all across the highway inside mangled cars and up on the track, dozens wounded and trying to save themselves. a massive derailment, investigators say the train was going nearly 80 miles an hour on th its inaugural run. several drives trapped in their cars. >> like a mudslide or something on i-5. my car

cab show the engineer appeared to realize the train was going too fast six seconds before the crash, but never pulled the emergency brakes. >> track 501. emergency. emergency. emergency. we are on the ground. >> reporter: as calls to 911 continue to flood in, dispatchers work to keep those hurt from panicking. >> how old are you? >> i don't know how old i am. my head -- >> that's okay. >> reporter: the amount of injuries, staggering. >> how many patients do you think? >> i see, one, two, three, four, five, six -- seven -- eight -- nine, ten -- probably a dozen. >> reporter: all told, police say nearly 100 people were taken to several hospitals. three people killed, including friends jim hamry and zach wellhoyt. ntsb investigators are working to figure out why the engineer failed to slow the train down before the curve and reviewing everything that happened in hopes of preventing another tragedy on the tracks. as for answers, the ntsb s

two years. part of that review could include a look at whether an automated safety feature called positive train control would have prevented that crash. that system is supposed to be in place on all tracks by the end of next year. back to you. >> thank you. lottery fever is spreading across the country. no winners in last night's massive powerball jackpot. sending the big prize soaring to $384 million. the next drawing is saturday night, but if you can't wait that long -- there's always mega millions. that joackpot at $3.6 million, the next drawing tomorrow night. more news on the lottery front. a computer glitch led dozens of south carolina residents to think they had won the lottery, when they actually had not. the mistake caused machines to generate an overabundance of winning tickets worth $500. people lined up at the lottery headquarters to cash in the ti

officials advised them to hang on to tickets. they'll make a decision on exactly what to do by tomorrow. >> everybody gets $500. >> yeah! >> a lot of folks. >> part of your family being the ones thinking they won? >> no. but a lot of angry folks. >> see how they handle that. >> dylan is back with the rest of the forecast. >> across the country, another clipper system trying to move it reinforces the lake-effect weeken northw watch for freezing fog your local forecast is coming up

i'm chuck bell. mostly clear sky overhead this mornin a beautiful sunrise about to capita 16 the current temperature in washin wind chills are down into the so plan on a very windy and cold start to the day to day. aftern highs today. only up into the mid 20s across the ar a litt better tomo latest forecast. >> thank you, dylan. coming up, prince harry stirs up the royal family. meghan markle is the sister they never had. and

pictures. but first, this is "today" on nbc. nbc. before we start, i just want to say if anyone still doesn't have fios, please stay out of the way so your lag doesn't get us all killed, ben. what's so good about fios anyway? uh. what's so great about a 100% fiber-optic network

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still to come this morning, the controversial push of to get rid of your kids' love of video games. and

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7:26 o thursday, december i'm aaron gilchrist. >> and i'm susan hogan. a suspect is facing a long list 'sault juvenile, stole two vehicl police on a chase office look for updates in the nbc activated the cold it will be in effect tuesday mornin you can find a list of shilters the cold. aaa recommendin you keep items

let's go to rob stallworth for a look at first 4 traffic. rob? >> good morning, folks. with the latest, inbound new road, broken down blocking the left lane. if you take the beltway, looking good montgomery and that's the latest from the i'm ro stallworth. >> thank you, rob.

the is coming up now. that's not going to do much to temper we're mid teens across so blustery and cold start to not as cold tomorrow. a little chance for snow. maybe inc

saturd snowfall. then into monday, year. >> another local news update in >> now back to the "today"

back at 7:30 on this thursday morning, december 28, 2017. the rockefeller center christmas tree shining back on another bitter, cold morning. slipped a little bit. just 14 degrees here in manhattan. >> that big chill felt all over the country and that is where we start our check of today's headlines -- america the frozen. more than 200 million people waking up this morning to below freezing temperatures. a massive blast of arctic air blanketing much of the nation. >> ice on the front of my house is so thick. >> as the national guard is called out in pennsylvania after more than five feet of snow

>> deadly attack. dozens dead, even more hurt, after a series of blasts rocks afghanistan's capital. isis now claiming responsibility as officials search through the rubble looking for survivors. >> y'all keep holding it down. >> still fighting. roy moore's campaign launches a last-minute challenge over his defeat in alabama's special senate election. moore claiming potential fraud was behind his loss to democrat doug jones. >> not playing around. the world health organization set to recognize excessive video game playing as a serious mental health disorder. >> and i chihuahua. the pooch caught on camera fending off a coyote in a florida backyard and lives to tell about it, today, thursday, december 28, 2017. >> that little chihuahua, his name's pocko. >> i love that. >> he may be pint-sized but he has heart. >> and toothless. lost nearly all his teeth as well. >> and still

>> still scared off that coyote. >> good stuff. a remark from prince harrying a meghan markle's first christmas with the roye royals not sitting well with some of his family. good morning. >> reporter: sheinelle, good morning. you know, all families have their quirks and the royal family is certainly no different. prince harry shedding some light on the royal family christmas when he ran britain's flagship morning radio show interviewing his dad and talking about how meghan is fitting in. her future brother-in-law, a future king, a father-in-law, first in line to the throne, and the queen for a grandmother. prince harry says it's the family meghan markle nerve her at christmas. >> fantastic. she really enjoyed it. the family loved having her there, and great fun staying with my brother and sister-in-law and running around with the kids. she's done an absolutely amazing job. she's, you know,

suppose she's never had. >> reporter: meghan's reportedly half sister hit back on twitter. she has a large family always there with her and for her. our household was very normal and when dad and doria divorced we all made it. so it was like she had two houses. no one was estranged. she was just too busy. meghan, already an activist at 11. >> you can make a difference, for not just yourself but lots of other people. >> reporter: she talked about her own family christmas in the uk edition in 2015. her dad building a special barbie doll family to put under the tree. my dad had taken the sets apart and customized my family. >> reporter: her mom a social worker in yoga and dad, a lighting director in l.a. divorced when she was 6. meghan famously close to her mom, harry called her amazing, spent time afteroo

children " ♪ love and marriage harry still hasn't met him. >> he talked to my dad a few times, hasn't been able to meet him just yet, but it's all been -- all been worth every effort. >> it's been great. >> reporter: in and interview with his own father, a prince talking to a prince, but also a son talking to his dad. >> it makes you very proud to think that you understand. >> i'm listening. >> so does will. that's even more amazing. >> reporter: rewriting royal rules, "people" magazine says in her issue out tomorrow as the couple gets set to bring their two families and nations together to celebrate their uni union. and so many questions still about that may wedding at windsor. when meghan's dad walk her down the aisle and, of course who will be on the guest list? craig and sheinelle, you can bet on just about any famous name you can think of and actually place a bet here.

thank you, kelly. dylan dreyer is standing by. got your invitation in the mail? heading to kensington? >> i should check my mail, just to see if it's there. >> tell us about the forecast. >> let's focus on this right now. a clipper system that will move through the upper midwest. this will continue to move eastwa so it will produce a quick as it races through the great and on friday, we'll start as we go into saturday, we will but no real significant could end up with about six to grand rapids could see a couple so that's just that system midwes elsewh we don't have too sunny across the nortas

sunny dry in the southwest. we have another system making that bring snow and ice to nbc, northwest washington, it is a sunny start to the day. it cold and breezy. temper in the teens, winds so the feels like factors are mornin even a few spots like mart inzbur west virginia, below zero. a cold day to day. aftern highs in the mid 20s. wind c staying in the teens at best today. tomorr a little bit better. highs in the low t and you can find your full forecast 24/7 on the weather channel on cable. >> all right. dylan, thank you. still ahead here this morning, we are revealing "time" magazine's photos of the year and the incredible stories behind them. plus, some pop star country star, luke bryant's chris

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welcome back. 2017 was a historic year filled with unforgettable and powerful images. >> our friends at "time" magazine scoured through count lds pictures to select their top photos of the year. paul moakley is "times'" deputy director of photography. good to have you. we should note your list includes pictures from around the world but this morning we'll focus on the domestic pictures and this was the first image. from august. a white nationalist. a domestic terror incident down in charlottesville, virginia. tell us the story behind this photo. >> sure. i think that august morning we

all woke up to images from the night before of this protests. they were terrifying, and all of the protesters came out and it was just an insane day. this was the culmination of all of that violence from that day, all that hate, and this picture is fascinating. you could look at it forever. there's countless little details of shoes, cell phones flying through the air, and it's just -- an image that i think will -- was instantly iconic this year from all the images we saw, and i also think it will just go down in the long line of unfortunately in history as one of the long -- the images from the civil -- you know, in the long line of civil rights imagery. you know? the cops with the dogs, you know -- >> you indicated the photographer didn't even know he'd had this picture. right? >> no. he said it was an instant reflex and he went with his instincts and found this image later, and -- it just -- it captured it

became iconic from the worst mass shooting at the music festival in las vegas? >> yes. this photographer, david becker, was actually working. filing, finishing his work for the night and heard the gunshots. this image was taken right after the second round of shots and he just walked in to the whole scene and it was chaos and he was shooting in the dark, could hardly see anything and the amazing thing about it is he went back to file his images and he saw just horror on his, in his files, and the amazing thing about his persistence, he got the image out and we all woke up to this. it was on every home page. on social media. all the newspapers that morning. >> number three, this is puerto rico. this is back in september, of course. hurricane maria and its aftermath. >> yes. this image was taken by a photographer in a helicopter. she was looking at the skyline in san juan. it's a surreal image she happened uponf

sitting there with their dog. actually looking at the photographer carolyn cole, and it's -- it just shows you that we're all vulnerable to mother nature no matter where we live and where we are. >> sure. this next photo in the news. chris christie instantly became a meme. sitting on a beach over fourth of july weekend. a lot of -- the public ones, obviously shut down. >> the weekend the beaches were shutdown in jersey and it's chris christie he's at the beach when no one else could be and resulted in what we now know at beachgate. the image that day was taken, and then a couple hours later, chris christie was at a press conference saying he didn't get any sun, and later this image came out and proved otherwise, but within two days, christie had to sign a budget and everyone was back at the beach for fourth of july. a great goch

>> and this is not the picture i thought would come up. i thought it was the solar eclipse. but talk about this one. the wring ling brothers picture. there's the solar eclipse picture. >> the solar eclipse picture we love this. it's one of the more joyful pictures of the jeer and an image of everyone coming together under the hollywood sign. >> one of the more unifying moments, i feel like, of the year. a moment we could all come together for something bigger than all of us, really. >> yeah. usually in los angeles you see people gawking at movie celebrities. here just coming together to look at the wonder in the skies. a beautiful moment from this year. >> look at the nfl. this was huge this year. the nfl national anthem. the protests which sparked a lot of don't this year. tell us about this picture. >> this picture was taken about a month after the president was talking about the players at a rally and i think it spurred more protests and this was taken in october.

it looks like they're soldiers kind of kneeling down in a very solemn moment. you see the weight of what they're protesting in this moment, i think, and just with the smoke in the background, all the corporate logos. you see the risk these players are taking and it's a very solemn moment. >> and this is the image, this next one that sort of helped us start the year. >> yes. we were at the inauguration. we were all in our positions. all morning. this one photographer spent hours just waiting for the departure of the president. i love looking at this picture. there's such different body language between obama and trump and it's a little bit of a rorshach test depending how you see the image but it's just them isolated in, you know in a setting where there were tons of people around them and they were set on these cold, wet, stone steps. it looks like a cloudy sky and just a very interesting moody image from that day. >> seems like so long ago. doesn't it? >> it

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plus, kids are out of school. no injuries reported, a power outage around 11:00 a.m. sarah writes, how's disneyland going to have a power outage on the day we paid about $154 per ticket. disney responded, we are very sorry for today's outage. during the power outage about a dozen attractions affected. imagine on a ride, power out. escorting kids and families off of these rides. dana tweeting, stuck with 30 minutes, three small kids. backup generator let one speaker turn on. darn song, really stuck. kids can't stop singing it. the small ride's going to die. i don't trust those dolls, another one. reached out to disney about refunds and did not hear back but are told it will be handled on a days-by-case s.

guys, back to you. >> now i have that song in my head. ♪ it's a small world carnes, thank you. still ahead here this morning, what u2's bono is revealing about near-death experience recently. >> then the business of youtube. how the biggest i just finished months of chemo. how the biggest but i don't want to talk about months. i want to talk about years. treatments have gotten better, so... i'm hoping for good years ahead. that's thanks to research funded by the american cancer society. the same folks giving me free rides to treatments, insurance advice, and a place to stay during chemo. i need that stuff like you don't know. and now that you do, please give at cancer.org. when a achoo!alls... ...answer it. with zicam cold remedy. it shortens colds, so you get better, faster. colds are gonna call. answer them with zicam! zicam. get your better back. now in delicious fruit drops.

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it is 7:56, thursday, december i'm susan hogan. let's get to wtop's rob >> good morning, susan. good morning, everybody. orange and blue line trains are avenue road, an bandon car continues to block the left lane of travel. anothe problem being lookin a good ride as you virgin center rob stallworth.

sun's up. the warmup has begun. not that you'll notice it much. still 17 degrees with a wind washin there is a check of that ten day foreca >> all right. chuck, thanks so much. anothe local news have a

coming up, bitter cold. more than 200 million americans bundling up as below freezing temperatures sweep over the country. while pennsylvania digs out from a record snowfall. >> we're kind of over it. >> is there any relief in sight? we've got your forecast. ♪ let me go >> plus, cashing in. >> put the button over there to subscribe. >> youtube stars bringing internet stardom to retail. >> we built a physical business out of a virtual business. >> this morning, the clever ways these digital celebs are making some cold, hard cash. ♪ yeah, that's my kind of night ♪ >> and hoppy holidays! >> oh, my gosh! what?

>> the wild gift country superstar luke bryan gave his wife that has fans swooning, "today," thursday, december 28, 2017. [ cheers ] >> so here i hear jackson wants to be a meteorologist? give the forecast? >> it's freezing cold out here. >> you traded 81 for 18. why? >> because we are "today"! >> what are you checking off your bucket list before 2018? >> rockefeller plaza! ♪ thunder, thunder >> hows this? >> both: twins turning 21 on "today." >> who do you want to say hello to this morning? >> we love you! >> this is your first trip to the plaza. >> all: all the way from the bahamas! [ cheers and applause ] and welcome back to "today." thanks for being here. i'm craig melvin along side

it is 14 degrees out on the plaza right now. we're going to put on our coats and go on outside. >> a couple from the bahamas? are they sure this is what they wanted to do? goodness. we begin the half hour with your news at 8:00. we're not alone. more than 200 million americans are battling bone-chilling temperatures this morning. the worst is yet to come. ron allen is in erie, pennsylvania, where the snow finally stopped falling. ron, good morning. >> reporter: yes, it has stopped falling sheinelle and they're hoping this is a break in the action to get to work cleaning up and digging out of all the snow that's here. a historic record-breaking holiday season. i think at last count there were 65 inches of snow. that's 5.5 feet that fell in a four-day period. a snow emergency in effect, but now that's been lifted. again, they're hoping to get to digging up and out and cleaning up all of this snow. just like much of the rest of the country, they will be doing it in bone-chilling, cold temperatures. we are in the teens and se

be over -- well, yeah. think again. there's now a winter storm watch in effect. perhaps as much as a foot of snow coming this way for this weekend, if you can believe that. guys, back to you. >> all right. ron allen, thank you. >> dylan is standing by. again, roughly two-thirds of this country's waking up to subzero temperatures, and our understanding is that it's going to be here until next year? huh? >> it is. sounds so far off. just until monday. seeing frigid temperatures arkans

ice. then midnight, lake-effect brutal cold through the northw if that's the actual temper that will be the and then record morning lows as sunny and frigid in the northern plains so, yeah, it is going to sta >> tha n kabul afghanistan killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens of others. officials say suicide bombers set off an explosion outside the center before detonating more explosives inside. the crowd was gathered to commemorate the 1979 soviet invasion of afghanistan, and an isis affiliate claimed responsibility for today's attack. afghanistan's president called the bombings a crime against humanity. here in new york city, more than two dozen peoe

wednesday night after a ferry hit a sandbar and got stuck. passengers were left stranded about five hours in subfreezing temperatures. late last night pulled off the ferry and taken back to land by fire department boats. no injuries reported. this is the second such incident in a month, though, for the city's newly expanded ferry service. when a basketball coach calms time-out most nba players are busy trying to find out what the next play is. last night, irndiana's damian ad his fiancee had something else to worry about. the gender of their baby. >> we're about to find out together. what is it? what are they having this spring? it's a boy! congratulations! >> boomer, the pacers mascot on hand to help give the couple the

figure it out, what the sign said. teammates there to congratulate him and eventually attention was turned back to the game. >> he did a double take. much more ahead on "today." a controversy, and then sharing the nicest things that happened in 2017. and hoda cooked up a meal for a family that empowers the spirit of "today." and what you can learn from a new generation of youtube millionaires. planning a big new year's eve party? creative ideas for fancy yet easy to make appetizers that are sure to leave your guests impressed. fi

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pretty sweet. or as we like to say from seven days in the future... ah...we still say pretty sweet. it's basically the same. frida is a work appof art. the arts. when it's time to eat, frida enjoys the culinary-inspired

made with real chicken, salmon or tuna. it's the only one cats ask for by name. ♪ (christmas marching band music) (drumsticks click) we are back at 8:10 with "what's trending today" as 2017 um cans to a close, we are starting to reflect on the year that was. rounding up a list of nice things that happened this

>> nice things. >> yes. amen to that. >> first up, who can forget april the giraffe? >> how many that baby doing? >> a giraffe pregnant like half the year? >> it was half the year. >> millions of folks watched that live stream event, showcased letter pregnanher pre. april gave birth to a son in april. >> tough, watching a giraffe six months, when that's the best thing -- >> very good point. >> another nice animal moment. remember our very own kerry sanders did this? rescued that dolphin during hurricane irma? >> or did the dolphin rescue kerry? we don't know. >> and another thing that happened. harry styles performs on the plaza, in that bright, pink suit. favorite moment of the year. >> they picked that moment. huh? i remember that moment, being downstairs when he was here. he is one o

i mean, right? >> very polite. >> really like him. >> last, not least -- 2017, the year of twins. beyonce and jay-z, amal and george clooney, and ma ddonna a well. a lot of twins. >> something in the water. >> go around the table. what was your nice moment of 2017? >> i would have picked my twins -- kidding. my oldest. something besides that? right? i picked this moment. when i re-enact add scene from "scandal" with tony goldman. right in front of me. this -- came on -- the 9:00 hour. >> you were into it. >> this was my moment. >> she's more into it than he was. >> this was my moment, carson! i love kerry washington! i was into it. we googled the scene. you want to do a scene? he was like, sure. >> was that on youtube? i need to go back and watch t. i smell an emmy. >> she'll send it 0 to you. sh

>> what's yours, craig? >> family vacation. went to hilton head. started what we hope to be a tradition. there's me, my dad and my brothers. smoked cigars. >> that's a good hang right there. >> the highlight of the year. down about a week at hilton head. you, d.? >> on my birthday. brian brought in calvin and surprised me on the show, dressed up as superman with dean cain, a/k/a superman right next to me. the ultimate surprise and wasn't expecting it at all. >> it was very, very sweet. >> calvin looked like he had a good time, too. >> he's such a cute baby. >> for you? carson? >> hate to be a downer. hurricanes, lost a lot of people. my parents passed away. greatest moment of 2017 this. this sunday night. the final ten seconds of 2017 will be my favorite part of the year, because i, and i think so many of us, desperately are

a fresh start and that's what 2018 feels like sunday night at midnight. start again, put this year behind us. >> absolutely. >> cheers to you. >> and don't have a mug, do one for you. >> there you go. >> cheers. >> happy 2018. >> shall we "pop start" now? >> start. do it. forbes reveals highest grossing actor and actress. 2017's global ticket sales determined the top spot. guesses for male actor? highest grossing. think about tickets that sold. movies -- >> roughly raking in $1.6 billion with the help of xxx return of zander. vin diesel. actress? >> wonderwoman. >> is that right? >> gale gadat. >>gr

bono's latest interview making headlines. u2's singer sat down with "rolling stone" to discuss his latest album. he revealed making his album he suffered a near-death experience. didn't want to get into the particulars about what happened. it worried him. didn't want the topic to become tabloid and experienced, it had a direct impact on the album. the theme of the album focuses on mortality. shocking to read and glad he's okay now. finally, christmas may be over. many sharing the gifts received over the holiday including luke bryan's wife. making sure his wife caroline had an extra hoppy christmas. >> we have caroline's gifts. this is the brett's barn gifts. here's your purses. your two purses. take your blindfolds off. >> oh, my

[ laughter ] oh, my god! >> that's right! >> two? >> luke gifted not one but two baby kangaroos to his wife. >> does he realize how big they get? >> i don't know. tell him. caroline posted on instagram named them margo and todd and they are adjusts perfectly. >> are they wearing diapers? >> i hope so. >> maybe getting that blue bber massage we did yesterday. and double clicks of daily -- a dad testing out his son's hov per board. the wife is saying, this is not a good idea. >> oh! >> oh, no. >> almost crashed -- told he and his son are whipping around the neighborhood in that. eventually he figured it out. >> how about the p.j.s. >> seconds before, his wife going, please, don't. i don't foley like going

hospit hospital. >> and there's dad. and next, a golden retriever with a special christmas surprise. take a look. the dog unwraps the gift and gets his very own puppy. look at that. a new friend for cash. watch how excited cash gets. >> ah! >> pumped up there. >> ah! >> that's cool. >> it's like a kid who opens up a toy, like, i love it! oh, my god! an xbox. >> that's so sweet. >> that was worth two today. >> cute puppy present. guys? >> thanks for leaving u.s. with a smi smile. the forecast not making us smile so much. >> i'm sorry. but it's december, it's cold and just happens to be extra cold. so how

of the previous new year's eves? the coldest december ban was 1 1962, degrees. if hit 11, we'll tie for the i don't think we'll break a we hav that's going to lakes. a clipper system. and it races through the down through parts of texas. so freezing fog is a sunny and dry in the southwest. all the way down in southern florid it's 81 degrees. so one of the warmer spots today. that's look at the weather now here's a peek out your there still time to buy the still degrees here in washin northw winds averaging still

wind c wide are down this morning. aftern highs today, plenty cold. in the downwa below freezing on new year's eve look at the best of "today." some of our most memorable stories of 2017. >> for pink power today, hoda introduced us to erin ludwig a courageous woman battling breast cancer. sadly, she lost that fight earlier in the year. hoda showed us erin's strength and love live on in her husband and children. >> yeah! >> yeah! good job. >> reporter: there's no question 35-year-old jason ludwig is an amazing dad. he knows how to play in the yard. >> you want to have a race to get the ball? >> reporter: make his kids lafr

better. >> that feel better? >> yeah. >> okay, good. >> reporter: but just a year ago, the last time we visited with the ludwigs he was not doing this alone. jason was raising these precious girls with his beloved wife erin, battling an aggressive form of breast cancer. >> the difficult talks -- they've been, you know, been difficult, and so we've talked about, you know, like the future and everything like that, but not -- not too much. we treat it more as, you know, tomorrow is not promised. live every moment, in the moment. >> reporter: where's erin? >> whew! yeah! >> reporter: getting to meet erin -- >> hi, erin. >> hey, hoda. >> reporter: and experiencing her courage and her family's courage is something i'll never forget, and i will never forget her simple wish -- a family portrait, and to be surrounded by those she loved.

just a few short months later, our beautiful erin passed away. but erin's legacy of love is ever-present. aubrey is now almost 3. savannah, just turned 6. and jason is finding strength in the memories of his wife. even as he learns a few new skills. >> so i learned how to braid by watching youtube videos. >> reporter: like braiding hair. >> there we go. >> reporter: or cooking spaghetti. >> realizes life's moving on whether you're ready or not. either jump onboard or get left behind is the way i look at it. >> reporter: and some mile stoermilestones are especially bittersweet woo. >> happy and sad. accomplished this milestone. it's like -- erin never got to see that, really. it feels like since march it's -- the time has gone by very fast, but -- it

passed. you know? >> reporter: one thing is for certain, jason and his sweet girls are doing the best they can. and i couldn't wait to see them again. ♪ >> you're okay. come on. >> ah! >> ooh. what is that? >> bears. >> are those big bears. >> hoda! >> hi! come here! >> who's that, aubrey? >> hi! >> hoda -- >> hi, aubrey. i remember -- can i hold you for a second? >> here, daddy! >> what a surprise. >> look, i want to show you one quick thing. on the bottom of the feet, this one says -- aubrey! >> and that one says -- >> both: savannah! >> thank you. >> reporter: watching you with those girls just melts my heart. how are you doing? >> um, it's a struggle, every day. just getting into our routine now instead of, you ,

erin was here. >> how often do you talk about erin? >> every day. every single day. we'll just be doing something, a little thing will remind me of her. just like mommy used to do, or that's what mommy liked. >> we love your girls so much and you know that. we wanted to do something to help. we know a couple things are heavy on your heart. you have to cook and you've got to keep the house clean. so blue apron, an outfit that helps with meals will provide feels more you guys for a year. >> wow. >> and metjets, the group that flew in your entire family last time i was here, agreed to donate $10,000 to help with all of that housework. so don't worry about the mops. don't worry about the vacuums. don't worry about any of it, it's taken care of for you. >> that is awesome. thank you so much. >> reporter: walking along the beach it was so incredible to see the girls be their happy-go-lucky selves. a wonderful tribute to

to erin. >> reporter: watching your girls. they seem carefree, what are your hopes as they grow up? >> that they'll follow in erin's footsteps and be strong, opinionated and be themselves and have the same values that erin has. >> reporter: it is clear they already do. >> yep. >> goodness. >> one of the strongest stories we did all year. seeing it the first time and for all of us who have kids, seeing the resilience and strength in jason in a world without erin and how he's been able to just cope. so heroically. gives me chills. >> wasn't a dry eyes in the house when we heard that story. >> those girls hit the parent lottery, too. >> they did. coming up, a look at some of the legends lost in 2017. also, the youtube stars cashing in on their online fame as we count down to the new year. we have some last-minute appetizer ideas as well for your night of celebration, but first, your local news.

we have breaking news on the let's get to rob stallworth in rob? >> aaron, good morning. oren and blue line trains are aeaste market due to a track avenue also silver line trains between wiehle and balston. we still have problems hanging that's the latest from the aaron, back to you we'll have a check on your

feels extra cold this morning. temper in the teens. wind chills are in the single so layer up for sure. highs today, mid 20s with plenty of sunshine around. not quite as windy later on in tomorr chilly as .

highs in the low 30s for tomorr then as you're wondering about sunday and new years, still on >> and now bac

[ cheers and applause ] good morning! 8:30 now on this thursday morning, december 28, 2017. we've been talking a lot about the extreme cold all morning. so finally, it was our time to step outside and experience this. 14 degrees! >> man! this is a real -- anyone can come to the plaza in may or june or july, were ut it takes real "today" show fans to show up when it's 14 degrees. >> it's cold! >> thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! >> so we have someone we want to highlight this morning. >> okay. >> a special birthday on the plaza. all the way over here.

i hear -- where's haley? haley! it's your 14th birthday? >> yeah. >> who all do you have here with you? >> all of my friends. nicole, kiley, cheyenne. >> and your dad. >> yeah. >> i love this. i woke up at 4:30 for this -- so how was it at 4:30 this morning in 14-degree weather with a whole bunch of girls? >> there's not enough coffee in the world! >> we hope you have a very wonderful birthday. >> thank you. >> and good luck to you. >> thank you. >> i hope you get more coffee. >> i will. thank you. >> happy birthday, haley! >> happy birthday! >> so fun. >> thank you, dylan. coming up here, modern day moguls turning their internet fame into real-life fortunes and what we could all be learning from them to perhaps cash in. >> i'll take notes on that one. then what are you serving guests for new year's eve? great ideas and recipes that will be like gourmet and you can

one of the best to show us how to do it. >> first, dylan a che so looking at wind chills down in the teens below zero. tempertoo. we're also looking at lake, 37 degrees. my mouth is so frozen. 37 degrees below zero is what it feels like. mt. washington, it feels like 82 degree does anybody know what that that's just outrageous. so we do have some snow that's a quick clipper. then it moves eastward tomorrow we'll see more snow develop in and see a little more northw

at least temperatures there in it just going to remain very that's look at the weather now here's a peek out your starte northw winds are driving wind chills the single numbers curren wind chill, 9 above in leesbu below in martin saturd cold. your latest forecast. sheinelle and craig? >> all right, dylan. thank you. now to the very big business of youtube. entrepreneurs using the site and the fame it can bring to make millions. here's

correspondent jo ling kent. >> reporter: from rachael ray -- >> it's so beautiful. i love this. i'm obsessed. >> reporter: to ellen degeneres. >> they're so, so soft. what i love about them. >> reporter: celebrities long used their fame to hawk their own line of products. now the next generation is taking a page from the same playbook. youtube stars cashing in. >> finally, we arrived at this formula. >> it smells clean and smart. and funny. >> reporter: over a billion hours of video are watched on youtube every day according to forbes, the top ten youtube stars earn a combined $127 million this year, from ad revenue alone. on top of the list, daniel middleton, evan phuong and dude perfect. [ cheers ] and now some influencers are leveraging their fame in the real word branding their own merchandise to sell to millions of followers. >> the smartest influencers know

expiration date, and if they want to have a career out of this, they can't just be an influencer, have to be bigger than that. they have to be a brand. >> reporter: between homecoming and gymnastic classes, these two document their every move and song on their youtube channel. >> we are here today with the "today" show. jo interviewed us. >> reporter: they are putting their own line of products branded with a double b in front of their 4 million subscribers. >> i call it an everyday line. we have t-shirts, wallets, pencils. >> reporter: was merchandizing something your followers were asking for? >> anytime we'd post an oo tv they would want the outfit we were wearing. >> the outfit of the day. >> yes. and we were seeing they were wanting the things we were wearing and decided to create something of our

more connected to us. >> reporter: they did not say how much they're pulling in, other than the line is doing well. they're saving all of that money they make for college tuition. >> on the weekdays we go to school. it's very normal. we have math homework, too, but at the same time live a totally different life. going to business meetings. >> reporter: another youtube star cooking up a success story. >> hey, guys. welcome to another nerd. >> reporter: baker rosanna panxeno. >> just arrived -- >> reporter: caught up with her on a road trip across america promoting a new line of kitchen tools. >> it feels surreal. it is the only word i can think to describe it. >> reporter: fans anxiously waiting in line to get their hands on aprons, mixing bowls, cookie cutters and sprinkles. >> this is the first time i've ever made a baking line. so i learned so much about the process. there's so much work that goes into it. >> reporter: you built a physical business out of a

have a career online, and make a living creating content full-time, but i do know that i didn't know it wa happen for me. >> she's amazing. >> reporter: why? >> she's like the coolest person in the world. >> just to watch her. >> reporter: turning virtual fame into a real world of fortune. for "today," nbc, los angeles. >> crazy, right? >> what can i come up with to be a star? >> you're too late. my 5-year-old daughter, if i let her, she will watch youtube all day long. she watches other little kids play with dolls all day. or toys. my kids, videos, and what are these videos? can you put them on youtube? no! >> my kid would rather watch other kids their own age play with the same toys that they have and could be playing with. it's weird. >> it is weird. >> like, you have that toy five feet away. you don't have to watch

play with it. up next, sure to class up that new year's eve party. we're going to eat. apparently at 8:30 in the morning. >> tequila, too. >> but first, th is "today" on is

but the living room's pretty blank. it's really nice when clients come in and have done some of their own research. working with a bassett designer was really easy. just kind of ties in very well. we love it!

all right. finally. back with "today food." this morning, appetizers for new year's eve, fancy enough for your guests yet super easy to make. executive chef of a brand new restaurant here in new york, the loyal, received rave rue vievie tuesday. >> so many restaurants, lucky to be reviewed. >> and to get a great one, like you did. >> right. >> walk us through appetizers. people are coming over, want to step it up but no idea where to begin. >> right. a couple things going through this morning, things to eat with your hands. number one.

prepare and can be ready for when your guests arrive. >> okay. >> right? we're going to start with the shrimp toast. it's something you would see typically on, like, a chinese menu. >> something i would never attempt to make. look at the ingredients. it's really not that complicated. >> it's not. it's yesterday's toast, basically. rock shrimp. >> you hear the noise, it's our oil. >> serrano chilies, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, egg and -- >> you can pre-prep this in the morning, chopping it all up and just dump it in? >> we're doing this yesterday. right? we're going to sweat this. the vegetables in the pan. basically take them into soft. right? >> what do you have in here? aromatics? >> right. >> what are they? >> a lot of oil. bloom the oil with the heat. right? then soften the vegetables. vegetables mixed in with our shrimp. >> how long do you sweating this stuff? >> five minutes. take it out. go into the refrigerat

this also happens yesterday. >> when you go to make this, you're making this -- this whole thing is done in ten minutes if you've done the pre-pep. >> the idea, you have time for your guests, yes. aromatics in here. using rock shrimp. could use whole de-veined shrimp. >> fresh or frozen? >> fresh is better. go into this with eggs, sesame oil and soy sauce. this is really screaming here. >> getting hot. >> see what this does. okay. not going to puree too much. the right thing here. yeah. and we're going to pulse this. right away. right? not to a complete puree -- just so you know it's still shrimp but it's going to spread easily on to toast. you still know it's shrimp. we have some pre-prepped here. >> what do you have for toast? any old toast? >> i like wonder bread, but use whatever you wa.

>> you're actually going to fry that whole thing? >> exactly. some here. drop it straight into the oil. >> how hot is the oil? >> about 350. it will take five or seven minutes, something like this. you'll know it's done, pick it with a knife and it comes out a little warm. >> have you had the shrimp? >> so good. i finished the shrimp toast and the tater tots. >> how do you know it's done? >> when you pick it with a knife are and it comes out warm. >> hmm. surprised that the shrimps adheres to the bread. >> the eggs. epg eggs of the magic glue for that. come out of the fryer. >> garnish it with something green. >> made a little slaw with avocado, celery and applish finished with cilantro. get it on there. >> and set up the next one. you're going to do -- >> we have tater tots. serve those with caviar and sour cream. >> that's delicious. >> obviously, tater tots, all had them as kids.

with caviar. this is sour cream. push in a little bit. is that your watch? >> yeah. sorry. >> nice work. lemon juice. load it into a squeeze bottle so it's nice and easy to throw on to the plate. >> sour cream and lemon juice? >> yes. and tater tots, already cooked an on skewers. >> exactly. easy to handle. you don't have to get sour cream all over your fingers. go with caviar. what do you prefer? red, black. >> i prefer the black. >> cavern jaiar, sturgeon. >> american caviar has come a long way in the last five years. that's where i would go with it. >> how do you like the caviar on the tater tot? >> i have a happy plate. >> what a great combination. >> who ever heard of that? >> and that goes on top of that. >> the way to do it. really! the only thing i cook. >>

last, not least, reward ourselves. right? we've got a cocktail. cocktail's going to be made with tequila grapefruit juice. >> unbelievable. >> not bad, right? >> this drink is amazing. >> so good. >> pace yourselves it's only 8:45. >> and stir this up. >> what's in that again? >> repasato tequila, grapefruit juice, sugar and bitters. >> okay. this is not a champaign drink? >> it is. >> it is? >> exactly. >> doesn't that make it a long island iced tea somehow? >> it all goes back to that. doesn't it? >> exactly. >> strain this in here. >> okay. >> i'm going to have you top that with champaign. >> oh. at the end, just a little -- wow. this is nice. >> you got it. >> this is like a fancy -- >> shall we do a little cheers? >> snakebite. >> cheers. >> cheers. >> appreciate it very much. happy new year. >> happy new year to you. how about that? step up your parto

good at today.com/food. much more ahead on this thursday morning. eat up, guys. >> so good. >> appreciate it. >> first, this is "today" on nbc. happy new year!

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♪ sleep in heavenly peace welcome dylan, let's set brailcelebrate birthdays. >> turn around the smucker's jars. and this lovely lady from hoboken, new jersey, celebrating his 100th birthday. ed thoems, somerset, kentucky, 101, worked for ford motor company climbing his way up the ladder more than 60 years. happy 100th birthday to elizabeth nimmo of willoughby, ohio. loves to dance and produced many musicals and dance pageants. good for

100 years from minneapolis, minnesota. didn't retire until he was 99. wow. and from runville, minnesota, this woman is 101 years olds has 33 grandkids and 48 great-grandkids. getting a lot of birthday cards this year. and a retired teacher from iowa. she says the secret to longevity is having a fantastic sense of humor. love to have a nice meal we with her and hear some jokes. if you no someone celebrating a 100th birthday, send them to us and don't forget that picture. >> we're back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

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from actors to activists to moguls and musicians we said good guy a number of legends this year. >> and this morning wanted to pay tribute to some of those we lost in 2017. ♪ >> hi, guys! ♪ who can turn the world on with her smile ♪ ♪ >> i never dreamed i'd ever get to do something like this. >> i wanted "benson" to embody the american dream. ♪ >> an especially nice touch, clarise. ♪ ♪ go, johnny go, go jony

♪ ain't that a shame my girl fell like rain ♪ ♪ >> that's what i do. i laugh at life. ♪ >> jerry lewis! >> good evening to you. welcome to the muscular dystrophy telethon. [ applause ] ♪ ♪ like a rhinestone cowboy riding out on a horse ♪ ♪ i've got to run to keep ♪ black hole sound won't you come ♪ ♪ it doesn't even matter

>> roy holliday has thrown a no hitter! >> and denver recovered. oh, my! >> hi. and welcome to playboy's penthouse. >> my name is bond. james bond. ♪ ♪ oh, yes, i'm thankful for this beautiful day ♪ >> shazam! ♪ batman ♪ ♪ these days >> i'm going to tell mom on you! ♪ ♪ i think i

i think i love you ♪ no ♪ she was an american girl ♪ and i'm free, free falling, now i'm free falling ♪ free falling ♪ free falling, i'm free falling ♪ yeah, i'm free ♪ >> we lost a lot this year. >> hmm. yeah. >> a lot of big names every year, obviously. you look at that, seems like a generational change. names, icons people grew up in our generation watching from "happy days" to the original "batman." >> you watch a spot like that and feel emotions with each person that comes through. >> roger moore. >> all the memories tied to them. >> absolutely. quite a year. >> quite a year indeed. that's all the time we have. megyn kelly is straight ahead, but first, your local news.

8:56. thursd december 28th, 2017. we do have breaking news on the now. let's get to wtop's rob that track problem outside of

this means silver line that's the latest from the wtop i'm stallworth. back t you. >> we'll get a check on your

wind c are still in the aftern highs today, sorry a little better tomorrow back and you're planning out new year'sweekend, know it's going cold on sunday. highs the 20s. and highs in the mid 20s on

this morning on "megyn kelly today" a hopeful holiday. meet the chef who warms hearts and fills stomachs with the help of 9 red kettle brick gad. then, how to break the new year without breaking the bank. uncorking the truth whether in a bottle of wine is worth the big bucks. plus, sultry and smoking looks for your eyes from one of magazine's most influential people on the internet. all that and more on "megyn kelly today" right now. >> hi! [ cheers and applause ] hello! . hi, everybody. hello. hello, and welcome to the show, everybody. i'm megyn kelly. we have a great show for you today including how to make your eyes hot and smoky