we have the first interview with kathie lee gifford since her stunning announcement she's leaving "theay show." >> let's get started with another day time shocker. now email lllen is talking abou walking away. >> i've gotten to the point in my life where i don't have to prove anything to anybody and i don't really care what anybody thinks. >> ellen tells "the new york times" she's considering ending her hugely successful talk show. her contract is up in 2020 and she's not sure she wants to extend it. so why leave after 15 years? well, in an article called "ellen degeneres is not as nice as you think," "the new york times" says the comedian is feeling boxed in by her talk show role. second, ellen's wife portia de rossi has been urging her to move on to other projects. there's the work load. ellen told "e.t." she was already feeling the talk show grind after the first season. >> it's tiring. i mean, it doesn't stop. it's every day and it's writing new monologue every day. >> what is your secret to keeping it so fresh? >> baking soda. we just leave an open box in the corner. >> the other

. >>> when we come back, the bombshell news from kathie lee gifford. >>> plus, see who is turning 95"the skinny" is next. the skinny is next. do you want ready to wear clothing without all the hassle? you can, with bounce dryer sheets. we dried one shirt without bounce, and an identical shirt using bounce. the bounce shirt has fewer wrinkles, less static, and more softness and freshness. bounce out wrinkles, bounce out static. ♪ skinny ♪ skinny ♪ just give me the skinny >>> "skinny" time, and we are starting a quick shout out to one of television's most enduring game show hosts. >> the bob barker. yeah, the longtime host of "the price is right" turns 95 today. >> look at that hair. despite a couple of hospital scares this year, barker is said to be doing well. he hosted "the price is right" for 45 years from 1972 until guess what year. you can't go over. >> ooh. >> 2011. anybody else? >> you lost. >> 2012. >> 2007. >> it was 2007, as jordan reads the script. you're right on. yes. >> happy birthday, bob. >> yes. you get nothing, though, sorry. >> no. >>> all right. next to another tv

. >> kathie lee gifford's shocking announcement. >> i will be leaving the "today" show. >> this came a surprise. >>> outrage over the frat boy accused of raping a college sophomore. no jail time. he doesn't have to register as a sex offender. >>> then, basketball superstar steph curry. does he think the moon landing was fake? >>> and, s.w.a.t. team siege. >> rescuing a family from a home invader. >> how he got in the basement and the message he scrawled on

kathie lee gifford is a beloved member and no one wants to see her go.ow they have to figure out 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. >> i know somebody wonderful will be sitting in this seat afterward. i have my idea of who i think would be absolutely wonderful. >> nbc said hoda will be staying and i think jenna bush would be a wonderful replacement. she's a regular on the show already. >> another fan favorite, kelly clarkson. >> i love you. >> count kelly out because she's already committed to her l.a. based day time talk show which debuts next fall. >> what kathie lee and hoda have is extraordinary. it's lightning in a wine bottle. you've can't fake the connection between two people. >> think about it, i had been off the air for eight years. >> it's called fun. >> indeed. absolutely. >> now look, jenna bush makes sense. my favorite name, the name i heard that i love that someone threw out there, chrissy teigen. >> i can dig it. >> could you imagine that? >> for sure i can dig it. >> kathie lee told us how much she loves hoda. meanwhile, the tension is building am

kathie lee gifford announced after 11 years of laughter and a wine toast or two in the morning, she'll be stepping away from "the today show" next year. she has a packed schedule with film, music and book projects. you'll still be seeing plenty of her. while we'll miss her the good news she's not saying good so soho -- so and the gang will have plentyerare more plan. we just wanted to wish our friend kathie lee the very best. >>> a lot more ahead, including the good samaritan who helped a mom in a mid-air emergency. and an incredible rescue. a baby and a 5-year-old thrown to safety. plus, the emotional graduation moment inspiring america. >>> tonight, a good samaritan is being cheered for his efforts to help a young mother on board. she began having seizure. other passengers are asking why the pilot continued flying for up to two hours as the seizures continued. with more on that, here's tom costello. >> reporter: it happened on a united express flight from houston to cincinnati. a young mother suddenly having seizure, shaking uncontrollably. former volunteer firefighter anthony moreno

. >>> a note about a good friend of our kathie lee gifford announced after 11 yers of laughter and a wine toast or two in the morning, she'll be stepping away from the "today" show xt ar. she has a packed schedule with film, music and book srojects. you'll be seeing plenty of her. while we'll miss her the good news she's officially until april. so they'll have plenty of time to raise a few more glasses. hoda will continue host that hour. there are more plans to come. we just wanted to wish our friend kathie lee the very best. >>> a lot more ahead, including the good samaritan helped a mom in a mid-air emergency. and an incredible rescue. a baby and a 5-year-old thrown to safety. plus, the emotional graduation moment inspiring america. what if numbers tell only half the story? at t. rowe price, hundreds of our experts go beyond the wnuermbto es mixa invnees half the story? like a biotech firm that engineers a patient's own cells to fight cancer. this is strategic investing. because your investments deserve the full story. t. rowe price. invest with confidence. touch shows how we reall

. >>> morning television icon kathie lee gifford said it is time to go. she announced she'll be leavi the "today" show next year. she made the announcement and theears wereflowing. ho hodaot kb said her life changed. gifford hosted liv r withis and kathie lee. >>> daytime tv won't be s thee without her. >> we'll have to see if she's keeping up her w morninge tradition which goes to our next project. we'll e.seal journalists. >> you heard "time" magazine recognized tal capit gazette. new reaction from the paper's editor. >>> the one thing you should do every day if you don't want w t gaght during the holiday season. >> have you pen missing doug kammerer lately? >> well, he's at thezoo. >> reporter: we are down here at zoo lights. a great night to come out for that. 500,000 lights right here at the zoo. and you come down now, you get to be on tv with me and other really cool things going on. really cool things going on. we'll lk about it after the ta alright, everyone. santa will be right back, but i just g to say, if you're going to ask him for tech this y

. >>> kathie lee gifford has made yearaugh for today a lot of tears came out that she announced she'llingtoday" nextyear. >> she made the announcement this morning. her co-host hoda kotb said her life changed for the better when she joined the show. her las day will be i am a 7th of next year.he >>s so busy. she does so much. incredible. good for her. break.'s earned this and knowing her, she'll have a good time doing it. >> .absolute with her ghass of wine. >>>e see i over and over ag n, people stealing packages off porches. but this porch pirate had a different approach. >>> and the team looking for ad few g people to run for office. you can get your name on the ballot. >>> bette run down here, zoo lights on a cold, cold night acss the area. the temperatures into the 20s already. and we'll talk about the and we'll talk about the upcoming alright, everyone. santa will be right back, but i just got to say, if you're going to ask him for tech this year, you got to ask for fios too. sorry, why is that? because fios is a 100% fiber-optic network. don't you guys want all of the tech on you

♪"extra" "extra" ♪ >>> now on "extra," kathie lee gifford in tears, breaking big news on live tv. >>ving the "today" show. >> what's next for the daytime star? why matt lauer's firing was a factor in her decision. >> our very first interview with kathie lee on the "today" show set. >> nice digs. i'm going to dish some dirt with "extra." >>> a "grey's anatomy" feud. >> ellen pompeo's confession. why she hasn't talked to patrick dempsey since he left the show. >> typically when they leave -- >> the "extra" feed. kendall jenner nearly naked. lady gaga breaking down, and bradley cooper is big in japan. >>>

. >> kathie lee gifford announced sheill be leavingext year. >> all so hard because the reason i s year because i love everybody here so much. gifford made theou aement yesterday morning. her co-host said her life became better when gifford joined in 2008. gifford will focus on book, sic. her last day will be april 7th of next year. >>> i'm chris wrence. breaking news in tennessee where we have just learned that there has been a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in tennessee. ges this, it likely felt all the way in atlanta. in fact, in nearly 40 years that area has onlyth seen one quake of this magnitude. at this point they're not expecting large scale damage but they do expect to see aftershocks continue throughout the day. we ml gete information, perhaps some video. c'll be sure to bring it to you. is lawrence at the live desk. thank you. >> ape right. >> hd about an hour ago. i follow people in atlanta, 4.4. luckily we didn't feel it here. that's good news. all we feel here is the chill of december. 34 degrees here. light win out of the south today at only 5 miles per hour so there's not much

. >> kathie lee gifford announced year.ill be leaving next >> it's all so hard because the reason i stayed longer than a year is because love everybody here so much. >> gifford made t announcement yesterday morning. her co-host hoda kotb said her life changed when gifford joined in 2008. she will focus on film, music, woks. her last dayl be april 7th of next year. >> i can't believe it's been 11 years. time really does fly by. >> we need that tissue box on a string that comes that would be awesome to have. >> i didn't know you were a cryer. ometimes you're crying, sometimes you're nflleing. there's more than one use for a tissue. >> i would like the chocolate chip cookiery deli. >> that is a bridge too far. >> it's a chilly start on your n wednesday mo nose may be running a little bit. not much of a wind to contend th this morning so that is good news. winds now are only at about 3 miles per hour. not even enough of a breeze for a wind chill here in d.c.cu ent temperature, 34 degrees. upper teens and in culpepper county. certaiy a lot colder there. milder in the chesapeake bay. we'll call

. >>> television icon kathie lee gifford will bid farewell to nbc's "today" show next april.g her departure, nbc news president toll in jobben heim called -- nole oppenheim called her a staple. she hosted "live with regis and kathie lee." then she and hoda kotb hosted the fourth hour of "today." known for funny conversations, tons of celebrity guests, and wine do. they really drink the wine? i meant to ask -- >> i have been on the show a few times. yes, i do believe they partake. congratulations to kathie lee. >> you have no idea what's in my mug now. >> enjoy the day drink at home now. >>> while you were sleeping late night, taking a few swipes at vice president mike pence complete silence during the chaotic oval office meeting. >> you want to know something -- you want -- >> you said it. >> hmm, president pence. the pence administration. the michael pence presidential library and casino. >> i will shut down the government -- >> fair enough. >> nobody even noticed. >> my favorite part of this awkward threesome was mike pence. because you might not have even noticed him. he d

. >>> television icon kathie lee gifford will bid farewell to the "today" show next april.aring talents in morning television. from 1985 until 2000, gifford co-hosted "live with regis and kathie lee." 2008 she became hoda kotb's co-host in the 10:00 a.m. of "today" known for funny conversation, celebrity guests, and nice big goblets of wine. >> take that day drink back to her house. good luck, and congratulations. >> theshe's got a lot going on. >> a movie career -- >> and music. >> good for her. >>> a judge in texas facing backlash after a former fraternity president charged with sexual assaultee assaulting another student receives a plea bargain. why he won't face any jail time. alright, i brought in ensure max protein... ...to give you the protein you need with less of the sugar you don't. [grunting noise] i'll take that. 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. ensure max protein. in two great flavors. ♪ the new capital one savor card. earn 4% cash back on dining and 4% on entertainment. now when you go out, you cash in. what's in your wallet? now when you go out, you c

. >>> host kathie lee gifford is leaving the "today" show. she shared the bittersweet news this morning. she says she stayed 11 years because she fell in love with co host hoda kotb and the amazing group of people she works with. >> it's going to happen the same way it did with regis. when i left regis, it was hard, but i'm closer to him now than we were after 15 years together. >> she will stay until april. after that, she plans to focus her attention on other endeavors, including film, music and book projects. >> good luck to her. >>> coming up here, a warning about your morning breakfast. the item you need to pull from your fridge. >>> plus, a mother has been missing since thanksgiving. now there's a nationwide search for her. the clues that investigators are zeroing in on to find her. growi. police are asking for t >>> this morning there's a growing mystery in colorado. police are asking for the public's help as they search for a young mother who was last seen thanksgiving day. nbc's joe fryer is following this unfolding investigation. >>

who hate having the sun in their eyes and friends in their life. [ light laughter ] finally, kathie lee giffordnnounced today that she will be leaving the "today" show in april. and with a hell of a severance package. [ laughter and applause ] ladies and gentlemen, we have a fantastic show for you tonight. his new holiday special, "ken jeong cracks christmas" premiers on buzzfeed's youtube channel tomorrow. and he's also part of the upcoming singing competition show, "the masked singer", which premiers in january on fox. ken jeong is here tonight, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] our friend ken is back. she is starring in the new romantic comedy, "second act." vanessa hudgens is here. [ cheers and applause ] and she is a very funny comedian who you can see on "nailed it! holiday!" on netflix. nicole byer is here. [ cheers and applause ] i'm so excited. she's a very funny person. looking forward to talking to her. before we get to all that, if you were on twitter today, you may have seen people sharing this video about migrating tree frogs and -- [ sniffs ] i'm sorry. i could be wrong here, bu

. >> kathie lee made the announcement yesterday morning.e co-host said her life changed for then better w gifford joined the show in 2008. kathie lee said she will focus more on film, musk and b projects. her last day will be april 7th of next year which she said was their 11th anniversary. >> she's such a force on that show. it will be interesting to see what happens after that. >> she's 65. you'reed to retire. >> 100%. >> regis used to 'my, not retiring, i'm just moving on. >> right. she makes movies. she has other projects she wants to work on. they remind me of that song "for good" from that mical "wicked" sorry. that's just what i thought of. >> that's a lovely thought. >> that's what comes to my fmin. only i knew what that song was. >> i'll play it for you during i commeral break, chuck. >> ridiculous. >> another cold start. just because it's not a cold as yesterday, doesn't mean it isn't plenty cold enough current temperature, 32 in washington. even less of a bree in the morning than there was yesterday. yesterday they had a 5 mile per hour breeze. yesteriny the has gone calm across the ar

kathie lee on the other hand is a beloved member of the "today" show family. i don't think anybody wants to see her go. now they have to figure out 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. >> gifford's last day will be april 7th. original plan was to leave a year earlier. >> i said i'm going to do one more year. until we had turmoil in our midst. >> we found out about your colleague matt lauer. >> and our friend. >> they said, kathy, can you just stay? >> who's going fill your shoes? >> you know what, it's going to be the most blessed person on earth. whoever hoda wants, hoda gets. >> the "today" show crew toasted kathie lee. jenna bush hager raised a glass. confirmed she's the front-runner. she already opened so much of her life. she lost her grandfather seven months after losing her ganny, barbara. >> i stood up for you when you stuck your tongue out at the press. >> because you have been wanting to do that for years. >> another member of the nbc family, kelly clarkson. but count her out. she's already committed to her l.a. based talk show, which debuts next fall. >> okay, let's get to the reports about daytime tv's other big shake-up. >> say it ain't so. please say it ain't so. k