i'm carl quintanilla. brian williams has the night off. we begin tonight with holiday observances and holidays across the nation and globe. this year is a reminder that sometimes thanksgiving comes during hard times when many americans have to dig deep to put a feast on the table. others don't have the luxury to be with loved ones because duty calls on the war front. and it's been such a tough year for some of america's big name retailers that one of them, a legacy name, is open on thanksgiving day for the first i'm ever. we have it all covered beginning with nbc's rehema ellis. >> four, three, two, one! >> reporter: for many in new york, this day began with a tradition, "diary of a wimpy kid" and "kung fu panda" joined the line-up for today's 84th annual macy's thanksgiving day parade. at the white house president obama used his weekly radio address to count the nation's blessings. >> we'll spend some time taking stock of what we're thankful for, the god-given bounty of america and the blessings of one an

. >> i'm carl quintanilla in for lester holt. if you're staying home, consider yourself lucky. >> some 40 million americans travel during the thanksgiving holiday weekend and today is believed to be the busiest travel day of the year. will the weather make the trip back tougher for you? we'll let you know in a moment. >> and get ready for cyber monday, the online shopping version of black friday and retailers are promising bigger bargains on the web. what are the best internet deals? that's ahead. >> i have to get on that. i say i'm going to do cyber monday and then it's january. did i miss cyber monday? >> they say log on tonight at midnight. >> now i know why i never get on that. that's why. >>> and we are going to switch gears to the former "survivor" producer accused of killing his wife. she was killed during a family vacation to cancun this year. the victim's husband is in a los angeles jail and has a hearing tomorrow. we'll have the latest on that. >> also, prince william is ready to be married but is in no rush for the thr

. >> and i'm carl quintanilla in for lester holt. we know the president loves his basketball but things got a little bit too heated yesterday. >> 12 stitches. that's not just a little mishap. there he was icing his lip. and apparently the guy who hit him, by accident, called the president a tough competitor, but a good sport. >> he's in an undisclosed location this morning. we'll which heal more about that story. also this morning, just in time for the holiday rush home, parts of the northeast could get up to a foot of snow this weekend. we'll get more on the winter weather coming up. >> plus survival at sea. the incredible story of three teenage boys who were lost in the pacific ocean for 50 days. they were presumed dead and even memorial services for the boys had been held. but then came the amazing rescue, and a story you have to hear. we're going to bring it to you just ahead. >> and then tiger woods. his world unraveled one year ago today. he lost his marriage, he lost endorsements, but now, he says he's feeling great. we will l

. >> and i'm carl quintanilla. matt and meredith have the morning off. perhaps joining all those black friday deal hunters who are out early at malls like this one in paramus, new jersey. i don't see matt in that shot, but if we do, we'll call him out on it. >> look at all those people. it amazing. some stores opened before midnight. what are the hottest items you should be targeting? and if you're still at home, have you already missed out on all of the bargains. we have everything you need to know ahead. >>> also still ahead, a warning to driver, deadly danger deer pose on the roads. we have more on that coming up. >> on a much lighter note, if your kids are still asleep, wake them up. >> that's right. >> 16-year-old pop sensation justin bieber who was just named artist of the year at the american music awards will be here live, we have a big crowd outside. warming up their pipes. >> but let's begin with the black friday rush. nbc's rehema ellis is braving those crowds just a few blocks south of us at the manhattan mall. how is it looking there? >> rep