but as joe fryer reports, decades later the craze is going strong. >> reporter: when the cabbage patch give them all your love ♪ >> reporter: harmonious ads at odds with what it took to acquire one. >> i got my doll. >> reporter: toy stores turned into wrestling rings, a blood sport for a stuffed toy. there were victors. >> here she is, hello. >> reporter: jennifer was 13 when she got corinne marie, one of the last dolls on the shelf. >> you'll do whatever you can, if that means fighting in the toy aisles, you'll fight in the toy aisle. >> i never expected riots in department stores. >> reporter: xavier roberts created the cabbage patch kids, unlike any other dolls at the time, distinctive and diverse, a unique name and birthday. >> you weren't buying a doll but adopting a cabbage patch baby. >> reporter: the curator, they just inducted the kids into the toy hall of fame. >> i got a tip some were arriving in the department store, lined up one at a time. >> like a speakeasy. >> reporter: a craze that paved the way for tickle me elmo. they're still on the market and delivered daily at ba

joe fryer now on his legacy of laughs ♪ those were the days ♪ >> reporter: norman lear made the small >> we are the jeffersons. >> reporter: stretching tv's boundaries to share new stories. >> this is the big one. >> reporter: and project new voices. >> i have never been in a situation in my life, however tragic, where i didn't see some comedy. >> reporter: he built the foundation for his tv empire in the '70s with "all in the family." >> you are a meathead. [ laughter ] >> reporter: the groundbreaking show used humor to tackle hot button issues like race >> one, two, three [ laughter ] >> reporter: while its spin-off, "maude," addressed abortion months before the supreme court's decision in roe versus wade >> just tell me, walter, that i'm doing the right thing not having the baby. ♪ >> reporter: with shows like "sanford and son," lear depicted life for black americans. ♪ good times ♪ >> reporter: a family dealing with poverty in "good times." ♪ well we're moving o up ♪ >> reporter: a successful couple in "the jeffersons. >> how can you afford to live in a place like this? you ain't

joe fryer, nbc news. >>> and that is "nightly news" for this wednesday.ng, everyone. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night. >>> i was born in the year 2000. at 2023. i'm tired of it. >>> we continue to follow breaking news and las vegas. police responding to a mass shooting on campus.

here's joe fryer with a look at what happened in 2023. >> reporter: how do you define a year like 2023ar of the swift? did it offer a glimpse of the future with the rise of artificial intelligence and the weight lose drug ozempic, or a blast from the past with the pink resurgence of a classic doll? was it the year a speaker was muted or a prelude to 2024 and the campaign trail lined with pit stops in the courtroom? 2023 can be defined in so many ways. it was a year headlined by war in the middle east. >> breaking news tonight. war erupts in the middle east. the surprise attack by palestinian militants. >> reporter: it started october 7st, the day many call israel's 9/11 when hamas militants stormed into israeli towns. >> they were all around me and they were going tree by tree and shooting. pow, pow, pow. >> reporter: israel's foreign ministry says 1,200 people were killed, more than 200 taken hostage, including young children. >> it's something no parent can imagine, to see a child in the hands of terrorists. >> reporter: israel's response was swift and relentless, but with thousands

for "sunday today," joe fryer, nbc news, new york. >> all of that in just one year, joe, thank you verytdowns, and our countdown of the highs and lows of the year. where you just might see taylor swift again, alongside will farrell, as he broadens his career portfolio, to include deejaying at college fraternity parties. >>> and george, the young hockey fan who became a favorite on the jumbo tron and then all over the world on social media. it's all coming up on a new year's eve edition of "sunday year's eve edition of "sunday today." if your moderate to severe crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms are stopping you in your tracks... choose stelara® from the start... and move toward relief after the first dose... with injections every two months. stelara® may increase your risk of infections, some serious, and cancer. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, sores, new skin growths, have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. pres, a rare, potentially fatal brain condition, may be possible. some serious allergic reactions a

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joe fryer, nbc news, los angeles. >>> coming up, flight risk. mental health. >>> you're watching "nbc news daily". heal th insurance. it's often hard to know which way to go. it's nice to have options, but too many can be confusing. for instance, if you have medicare, you may be able to get a plan with extra benefits if you know where to look. a licensed humana sales agent can help show you the way. take humana's medicare advantage prescription drug plans. these are convenient, all-in-one plans that offer all of the benefits of original medicare, plus add extra benefits. with a humana medicare advantage prescription drug plan, you'll have doctor, hospital and prescription drug coverage in one convenient plan. but that's just the beginning. because every humana medicare advantage prescription drug plan also includes dental coverage with two free cleanings a year and a yearly exam. vision coverage, including eye exams and a yearly allowance for eyewear. and hearing coverage, including routine hearing exams and coverage toward hearing aids. plus, z

would she go >> reporter: what was planted in the patch more than four decades ago is still growing joe fryer, nbc news. >>> and when we come back, there's good news tonight about a holiday tradition unlike any other right here at rockefeller center euphonium euphoria next. >>> finally, there's good news tonight about the magic of the holidays and the power of music to bring all of us together. here's kate snow >> reporter: at new york's rockefeller center, this is what holiday cheer looks and sounds like hundreds of tuba and euphonium players from across the country. >> i came from grand rapids, michigan >> we came from south dakota >> ohio. >> reporter: even the north pole >> it's a thrill i heard about it i said i got to do that. >> reporter: they lined up in the rain this month to perform in the tuba christmas 50th anniversary show ♪ >> this is like a bucket list item, a dream for me >> i've been coming since high school >> reporter: the celebration marking half a century in the spot where it all began back in 1974 how many more years of a tuba christmas do we have >> what does infinity l

nbc's joe fryer has a recap. >> reporter: how do you define a year like 2023? blast from the past? >> hi, barbie. >> hi, ken. >> reporter: with the classic resir jens of a classic pink doll. and a campaign lined with pit stops in the courtroom. 2023 can be combined in so many ways. to much of the world it was a headline by war in the middle east. >> major breaking news tonight. war erupts in the middle east. a stunning surprise attack by palestinian militants. >> reporter: it started on october 7th, the day many now call israel's 9/11. in a surprise attack, hamas militants stormed into towns and military bases. >> they were just all around me and they were going three by three and shooting. >> reporter: israel's foreign ministry says about 1,200 people were killed. more than 200 taken hostage, including young children. . >> it's something that no parent can ever imagine to see a child in the hands of terrorists. >> reporter: israel's response was swift and relentless, but with thousands of palestinians killed in a humanitarian crisis, israel faced mounting crit

joe fryer is here with something that will ease your mind a bit. >> your friends are throwing partiesprobably wants to see you. am i missing anything? okay you are probably thinking the host is going to be so mad if i don't go to all this stuff but now there is science, published science that proves they're good sure it's wonderful, but for most of us, it's the most stressful time of the year with our worst party predicaments perfectly presented in shows like "the office." >> i miss the days when there was only one party i didn't want to go to >> reporter: a recent study found 77% of people confess to accepting an invitation to an activity they did not want to attend because they were concerned about the consequences of declining they didn't want to see, well, frosty something that doesn't seem to bother comedian john melaney. >> canceling plans is an amazing feeling. it is so much easier not to do things than to do them that you would do anything is totally remarkable >> reporter: he might be on to something. that study i mentioned a moment ago, it was published in the journal of per

nbc's joe fryer has a look back at all that happened this year. >> how do you define a year like 2023that the year of the strike? >> no pay! >> or was it the year of the swift? did offer a glimpse of the future with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the weight loss drug ozempic or a blast from the past? >> hi, barbie! >> hi, can! >> with the pink coated resurgence of a classic doll. was that the speaker was muted or simply a political prelude to 2024? the campaign trail lined with pit stops in the courtroom. 2023 can be defined in so many ways, to much of the world it was a world headlined by war in the middle east. >> breaking news tonight, war erupts in the middle east, a stunning surprise attack by palestinian militants. >> it started on october 7th, the day many now call israel's 9/11, a surprise attack hamas militants stormed into israeli towns and military bases. >> they were just all around me. they were going tree by tree and shooting. bam bam bam. >> israel's foreign ministry says about 1200 people were killed, more than 200 taken off to, including young children.

i'm joe fryer in for willie this morning. the second weekend in a row, a massive storm is making life miserable for tens of millions of people along the east coast. dropped nearly half a foot of rain on parts of florida saturday and now is moving north. we're tracking the storm's every move and will have angie lassman's forecast just ahead. >>> then a "sunday focus" on a big problem this time of year -- so-called porch pirates stealing special deliveries for christmas. what the major carriers are doing about it. >>> plus, harry smith shines a "sunday spotlight" on the lifesaving work at st. jude's children research hospital in memphis focusing on the dedicated doctor who can understand what the kids are going through better than anyone because she was once in their shoes. >>> and later, willie's new "sunday sitdown" with willem dafoe from "platoon" to "spider-man" and now a golden globe nomination for his transformation in the acclaimed film "poor things." >> you see yourself go away and something else emerge. when you look d

nbc's joe fryer takes a look at all that has happened. >> how do you define a year like 2023? it the year of the strike? or the year of the swift. >> did it offer a glimpse of the future with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the weight loss drug, ozempic? or a blast from the past? >> i barbie. >> hi. can >> with the pig coated resurgence of a classic dull. was it the year a speaker was muted or simply a political prelude to 2024? the campaign trail line with pit stops in the courtroom. 2023 can be defined in so many ways. much of the world, it was a year headlined by war in the middle east. >> major breaking news tonight. war erupts in the middle east. a stunning surprise attack by palestinian militants. >> it started on october 7th. many now call it israel's 9/11. a surprise attack hamas militants stormed into israeli towns and military bases. >> they were just all around me. they were going to three by three, shooting. israel's foreign ministry says about 1200 people were killed, more than 200 taken hostage, including young children. >> it is something no parent

here's nbc's joe fryer. >> how do you define a year like 2023? was that the year of the strike? [crowd chanting] or year of the swift? ♪ ♪ ♪ didn't offer a glimpse of the future with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the weight loss drug ozempic? or a blast from the past? >> hi barbie! >> i can! >> with the pink coated resurgence of a classic doll. was it the year a speaker was booted, or simply a prelude to 2024? the campaign trail lined with pit stops in the courtroom. 2024 you can be defined in so many ways. so much of the world, it was a year headlined by war in the middle east. >> major breaking news tonight. why arrests in the middle east. the stunning surprise attack by palestinian militants. >> it started on october 7th. a day many now call israel's 9/11. the surprise attack hamas militants stormed into israeli towns and military bases. >> they were all just all around me. they were going tree by tree and shooting, we pow, pow, pow. >> israel's foreign ministry says -- more than 200 taken hostage, including young children. >> it's something that no parent can

joe fryer is here to talk about new year's eve eve. >> we decided this is new year's eve eve day. everybody is getting up and preparing for times square. >>> we get to the precautions cities are taking ahead of new year's eve. you see times square right there where 1 million people are expected to gather and celebrate tomorrow night. >>> let's start with the all-important weather forecast making it a difference for the travel rush and fireworks tomorrow. angie lassman has it covered. >> good morning. i'm happy to report that i have mostly good news with the weather forecast today and tomorrow to round out 2023. here is the satellite/radar across the country. we have a couple of snowshowers for interior northeast and the middle of the country is dry. out west is where we have problems. when it comes to travel, we watch for the potential for delays in san fran and l.a. and san diego with the potential for problems. the middle of the country looks great. no air travel delays today or tomorrow. san francisco and l.a. are the spots that we will watch for the potential for light rain an

we have joe fryer with more. >> the ayes are 221. the resolution is adopted. >> the hous voted along party lines for the impeachment inquiry of joe biden. >> what does the joe bidens do to receive the tens of millions of dollars from our enemies. >> president biden accused house republicans of a baseless stunt to defy hunter biden who faces criminal gun and tax charges and refused to testify behind closed doors and defend his father. >> no allegations that my father was involved in my business because it did not happen. >> a pregnant woman in texas, kate cox, was forced to leave the state to get an abortion. she made the decision after the state supreme court made the decision. >> i thought i would never want or need an abortion. >> cox is a mother of two already and her doctors said her ability to have future children would be at risk. >> representatives from 200 countries at the climb summit in dubai reached historic deal to transition away from fossil fuels that lead to global warming. it allows them to triple on wind and solar, bu

. >> we're so happy to have joe fryer with us today, our friend laura is off, enjoying the weekend well deservedly. >>> headlines, it has been eight weeks since the surprising horrific attack by hamas on israel. and overnight, the israeli military stepped up its fighting. against hamas. taking direct aim at new targets in southern gaza, where israel believes many of the terror groups's leaders have fled. >> the fighting is in a second day after the fragile cease-fire finally came to an end on friday. more than 100 hostages were released from gaza before the fighting resumed but many more still remain, and it is unclear when or if they will be released. >> we will get into all of it this morning, we do want to begin with nbc's raf sanchez near the israeli border, with gaza. raf, good morning. >> reporter: peter, good morning. israel overnight stepping up its strikes on the city in southern gaza. it says that is where hamas leaders are hiding and where hundreds of thousands of palestinian civilians are seeking shelter, after israel told them to flee from their homes in the north. now, the

. >> joe fryer is here with the symbol of the holiday season here in new york hey, joe. >> reporter:donated their tree bringing christmas cheer to millions of people. when matt and jackie moved into their new york home in 2019, they paid little attention to the giant tree towering over their driveway >> we had a whole punch list of things that needed to get repaired, things that we wanted to update or remodel, and frankly the tree was just kind of in the background >> reporter: but someone else did take notice, rockefeller center's head gardener >> a guy gets out and says, my name's eric. i'm here to look at your tree and i was, like, do you, like, understand how crazy you sound right now? >> reporter: they couldn't have known he was a rockefeller christmas tree legend having personally discovered each tree for the last 30 years. >> i googled him and realized and i quickly texted matt, this is legitimate. we thought they were dating a lot of other trees, that maybe ours would be considered and then as the date got closer and closer, we realized that, in fact, we probably did have the

. >> joe fryer, with a look back at a very busy 12 months. nbc news legal analyst danny cevallos for a look at the year's big courtroom battles, from those murdaugh murders to gwyneth paltrow's skiing child. morning joe is coming right back. back. the winter play was really coming together. until... disaster struck. luckily, replacement costumes were shipped with fedex. which means mr. harvey... could picture the perfect night. we're delivering more happy for the holidays. it■s beginning to look alot like savings! blendjets holiday sale is on now! give the gift of convenience the blendjet 2 portable blender is perfect for everyone on your list. even that picky relative who hates everything. and dont forget the accessories! theyre all on sale! dont wait! our most popular colors and patterns will sell out! go to blendjet.com and take advantage of our holiday sale now. hi, i'm jason. i've lost 228 pounds on golo. ♪ could picture the perfect night. changing your habits is the only way that gets you to lose the weight. and golo is the plan that's

let's bring in joe fryer now. >> hey there good morning george clooney was promoting his new film whichship with matthew perry, someone he has known for nearly 40 years this morning, george clooney is opening up about his long-time friendship with "friends" star matthew perry who died in october. in an interview with deadline, he had known the younger perry since the friends star was 16 years old. as a teenager, perry was a great funny, funny, funny kid, eager to land a role in a sitcom, and he got on probably one of the best ever. >> and i just won $1 million. >> clooney describes a magical time for both actors after they rocketed to fame in roles that changed their careers. clooney on "er" and perry on "friends". >> she's on the other line, going to call me back. >> clooney even made a memorable guest appearance on "friends" in 1995 but clooney says after that breakthrough success, perry was not happy. it didn't bring him joy or happiness or peace, saying it was hard to watch. he had been open about his struggles with addiction and the fame of "friends". >> it is a disease that we hav

nbc news correspondent joe fryer looks back at the incredible life and legacy of norman lear. ♪ those, the small screen grew. >> we are the jeffersons. >> reporter: its boundaries swelled to share news stories. >> this is a big one. >> reporter: project new voices. >> i have never been in a situation in my life, however tragic, where i didn't see some comedy. >> reporter: born in 1922, here served during world war ii before settling down in los angeles where he wrote for comedy shows "the colegate comedy hour" staring dean lewis and jerry martin. he turned to producing movies, earning an oscar nomination for "divorce american style". >> $250 a month, and i'm a house boy. >> reporter: until the '70s lear began to build the foundation starting with "all in the family". >> you are a meat head. >> reporter: the groundbreaking show used humor to tackle serious topics like race and sexuality. so controversial, it started with a disclaimer. >> one, two, three. >> reporter: when it came to social issues, lear was fearless. >> just tell me, walter, that i'm doing the right thing, not having th