replacing katie was almost seamless when they chose meredith vieira. ficult to bring that about and meredith seemed to have kind of the same background, kind of sort of the same level of notoriety and sort of likability in public mind. in my mind ann curry will be just about as smooth a transition. it ought to be anyway. >> we will get to that in a moment. i bump flood al roker who was telling me he loves meredith vieira. he didn't know how without it go when she came to the -- the ensemble show. all the pieces have to fit together. one of the challenges she faced was not just to be a good journalist but to pray well with matt lawer and the gang. >> absolutely. there was a lot -- when katie couric left the "today" show there was so much speculation, will "today" survive, how would meredith vieira fit in. she came from "the view." all the pieces have to fit together. it worked smoothly. i think they are setting themselves up for a slightly easier transition than -- entire "today" audience already knows ann curry and has been there so long. she has a pres

i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm david gregory in for matt. that strongly worded message from al qaeda just released on internet forums saying osama bin laden's blood will become, quote, a curse that chases the americans and their agents. but how strong is al qaeda now without bin laden? >> all this omes a day after we learn chilling new details about the information recovered during the raid on bin laden's compound. there was apparently talk of another attack in the u.s. on this year's tenth anniversary of 9/11. we'll have the latest from ann straight ahead. >>> we'll also switch gears. what is the best way to reach kids about the dangers of obesity? a controversial new campaign is using brutally honest images and messages like chubby kids may not outlive their parents. some critics say it crosses the line. we'll have that debate. >>> do you want to own a piece of hollywood history in the house made famous in "home alone" is up for sale. we'll take you on a tour. >>> but let us get right to al qaeda's first statement since osama bin laden's d

watch what happens when meredith vieira joins the cast of one of england's hottest tv shows as a new tv series kicks off, "anchors abroad". >>> i'm veronica de la cruz, thank you for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day, today on your nbc station.

and the kung fu panda himself, jack black, stops by studio 1a to tell meredith vieira about the second installment of his animated hit film. >>> now keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

. >>> meredith vieira is leaving next month to spend more time with her family. after the show the anchors took questions and vieira said this is ann's day, a reference to ann curry who will be replacing her in the anchor chair. she made her announcement vieira was fighting back tears. >> i'm going to try to hold myself together here. but after months of personal reflection and private conversations between my family and my friends, i've decided to leave "today" in june. and even as i say this, and i know that it is the right thing, i'm really sad because for the past i like to say ten years but it's only been -- this has been my second home. >> when asked which of her partners she missed the most, vieira joked, the scare crow, taking a line from the wizard of oz. she says the show is very much like a family. and it's nice for ann curry who's been in the waiting for that role for a long time. she's going to do a great job. >> meredith, a class act ands . a look at one of the biggest remodeling jobs in history. stay with us. ♪ let's go out to the dmv ♪ it's ok tha

meredith vieira made it official today. she's coming off the morning shift to enjoy life and her own family a bit more. she'll of course stay in the nbc family. when that happens in june, another beloved family member of ours, ann curry, moves up to cohost. natalie morales will replace ann as morning news anchor, and savannah guthrie leaves the white house beat to host the third hour of "today" each morning, so we managed to keep it all in the family. we'll take a break. >>> when we come back, what parents can learn from a major new study of autism. >>> and later, helping girls get a headstart in a field dominated by men in our "education nation." >>> back here tonight with news on a new study that is going to add to the debate over a disorder than seems to be surging and causes so much anxiety for families who wonder if their child has it. talking about the spectrum of autism disorders. tonight, a new study overseas seems to show the instance could be even higher than anybody first thought. our report from robert bazell. >

nobody will know who meredith is in cannes and nobody cares. >> meredith vieira? i don't know who it is. >> i don't know at all. no. >> you know, it's about time that i went, isn't it? matt's gone. ann's gone, natalie's gone. what gives with that? >> to be fair, meredith appeared once before in cannes. >> here's the bill board in front of the hotel. take a look at this. who is that lilliputian there with the parted red hair. >> i was in cannes for my movie. matt pointed out that i was one of the little people with a big, significant role. >> her one line consisted of two >>> just two words. >> i'm never going to know who said cut her out of the movie. but there is a back story to it. so i've been in many movies. i just haven't gotten that one step. >> are you ready for the final gender challenge? "stepford wives" was my first movie. >> perhaps cannes will kick start meredith's acting career. >> "get him to the greek," played myself with a twist. it's the right director discover rick me. >> pretty much anything angelina jolie is up for, she would be best suited for

. >> i'm meredith vieira. that cathay jet had just taken off when passengers heard two loud bangs and smelled something burning. luckily, no one was injured. >>> also ahead, in a surprise reversal, the high school senior who had been banned from his prom as punishment is now allowed to go, that decision following an outpouring of support for him online and across the country. we'll talk to him and his date exclusively. >>> plus, they are a big hit, but how is the "jersey shore" perceived in it lay li? they just touched down to begin a new season, and not everyone is happy to see them. >>> that breaking news, a cathay pacific jet forced to make an emergency landing after an engine burst into flames. mike taibbi is there. >> reporter: let's report the news off the top. this story ends well, but it had to be terrifying for the 136 passengers plus the crew on cathay pacific flight 715. the flight took off from singapore at 1:12 a.m. bound for jakarta, indonesia, but passengers heard the bangs, saw the lights go ou

i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm matt lauer. when arnold schwarzenegger and maria shriver went public with their separation a week ago, a lot of people wondered why it would be happening after 25 years of marriage. we have more information now about what likely contributed to the split. >> in a statement released overnight schwarzenegger says after he left the california governor's office in january he told his wife maria he fathered a child with a long-time member of their household staff. he says it happened more than a decade ago before he was elected and apparently he's provided financial support to the woman and child from the start. we have the latest details in a live report ahead. >> also ahead, a "today" investigation that will probably shock and surprise parents. how far would your kids go to get better grades? a growing number of college students are abusing a prescription drug claiming it can help them focus and study harder and it can be as easy to get as a trip to the school library. coming up, the resultins of our

here is meredith vieira for a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> coming up, dramaticails on the mission detail on how osama bin laden was finally tracked down. we take you inside his compound and the white house situation room. we ask the question if the government will release pictures of his body and his burial at sea? a close look at the navy seal team that took down bin laden. former miss usa who says she was groped by tsa agent. that is when we get started on a tuesday morning right here on the "today" show. >> 59 degrees on tv hill. >> we will come back and check on the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day. stay with us. s. >> it has been a pretty nice morning picket the latest accident on the east side of the beltway at 702. watch for possible delays forming part of route 24 and pulaski highway, we are tracking an accident. some fire activity longview drive. route 4 -- 32 miles per hour on southbound 95. on the west side of of, 24 miles per hour. let's give you a live view and on the west side. some delays. this is traffic near whi

here is meredith vieira for a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> good morning. we will have complete coverage on the death of osama bin laden, the most wanted man in the world. we'll have the new details on the raid and how the leader was tracked down after years of searching. the emotional display around the world and country. matt will be live a ground zero. the other top stories of the morning when we get started with a special edition of the "today" show r. >> we will come back and check on the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day. [ pilot #1 ] everybody gets excited when southwest announces a new nonstop. [ pilot #2 ] we like to look out the window and see new places. we love to fly. and we really love to fly to new destinations. [ male announcer ] starting june 5th, fly southwest airlines' new nonstop service from bwi airport to new york newark for just $69 one way. we have the best window office in the world. and the best job -- making sure people get where they need to go faster and better. [ laughs ] nice! [ ding ] >> overt

i'm meredith vieira. this is milliatt lauer.oversy at the anthony trial. >> there was tension between casey's father and her ex-boyfriend talks about the abuse casey claims to have suffered at the hands of her father and brother. >> and a medical miracle. a baby who developed outside the uterus was delivered. that woman speaks out. >> a programming note. a special show coming up next week on "today." we'll be live from vatican city. it is the spiritual home to the world's 1 billion catholics and home to some of the greatest art and architecture in the worl as well. we'll show you around, find out what the pope's life is like and examine some of the issues currently facing the catholic church. then i will have the honor of having an audience with pope benedict xvi. that's "today at the vatican" thursday, only on "today." let us begin with new developments at the trial of casey anthony. kerry sanders is in orlando. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. casey anthony's father, george anthony, is in an awkward position. hi

let's check in with meredith vieira to see what they're working on.ing to you. coming up on this thursday morning to "today," the latest reaction not to release photos of osama bin laden's body as the president prepares to visit ground zero here in new york. >>> also ahead, the white house changes the story yet again about what happened in the raid. we're going to have new details. >>>en and ann curry will be livn pakistan with what bin laden's wife will be telling the authorities there. >>> and two speak out. we'll hear from her and those teens for the first time. >>> the oregon woman who said she went for oral surgery and woke up with an english act sent. talk to her on a thursday morning right here on "today." back to you, joe. >>> i'm staying away from the dentist. man alive. >> i like an english act sent. >> wouldn't be bad. gives me more class than i deserve. >> thank you. >> you got it. >> i wonder if you can choose >> i[ coach ] in albuquerque, citi pre-approved my mortgage. [ whistle blows ] all right, layups, guys. let's go. in sioux falls,

so is meredith vieira. m about 6:15, and i walk over to meredith's dressing room, knock on the door. normally she's in the red bathrobe and the clogs, but sometimes i open the door and the room seems empty, and i'll say meredith, meredith, and then from the bathroom i hear her say, can you come back later. i'm changing. and then i hear -- [ toilet flushes ] >> the toilet flush and then she comes out and scurries out in the red bathroom and the slclog. meredith, changing, really? >> oh, my lord. >> they sent me a script and asked me to do that. >> how juvenile. i'm not like you, matt. i don't wear depends so i have to use the bathroom. you know -- >> this is unraveling at a fast pace, meredith. anyway, we're just trying to spice up your appearance. >>> coming up, a woman who is proud to be called the biggest loser, olivia ward got that title on "biggest loser couples." she lost half her body weight. we'll talk to olivia in a couple of minutes. >> two sisters. they both did very well. >> that's great. >>> and

. >> does meredith vieira leaving the "today" show pry an opening for you?ing provides an opening. >> best of luck at cbs. chris licht, thanks for joining us. >>> up next, don lemon's challenges on being in the news business on being black and gay and why he disclosed a dark secret from his childhood. building up our wireless network all across america. we're adding new cell sites... increasing network capacity, and investing billions of dollars to improve your wireless network experience. from a single phone call to the most advanced data download, we're covering more people in more places than ever before in an effort to give you the best network possible. at&t. rethink possible. >>> don lemon knew what would draw attention in his new book. and he was right. the cnn anchor disclosed that he is gay which he had never discussed before and also wrote about problems in his childhood. lemon said this was a difficult step for him, made all the more difficult because he is black. i spoke earlier with the author of "transparent," don lemon from los angeles. don le

i'm meredith vieira. >> in for matt i'm ann curry. we'll talk about the arnold schwarzenegger story as he talks about the fallout of fathering a child. he may face an investigation as well. >> some want to know if he used state money to pay for the woman. the boy could be as old as 14 meaning the mother may have been pregnant at the same time maria shriver was pregnant with their youngest son. the latest ahead. >> also this morning, a warning to users of craigslist. a college freshman in california went there to buy a computer. when he met the sellers they allegedly robbed him and eventually shot and killed him. this morning the victim's family is speaking out for the first time about what happened. >> on a lighter note we'll have more of the special series anchors abroad where we make guest appearances on some of the world's hottest shows. today, your turn. >> it's crazy. the show is called bingo bango. it's in denmark and is popular. 25% of the country watch it every week. you can see me falling in that. i have two words -- high ris

i'm meredith vieira alongside ann curry in for matt.t ahead, the california mother who enraged parents worldwide, when she claimed she gave her 8-year-old daughter botox. after sharing her story on national tv child services launched an investigation into potential child abuse. she now says she made it up for money. the latest just ahead. >> also this morning an undercover investigation into a drug called the new cocaine. we are talking about bath salts, sold in stores that can be used to get a dangerous high. we want to warn people about it coming up. >> very scary stuff. >> and more of our special series, anchors abroad. al traveled to the land down under to become the unofficial fifth member of the wiggles. wait until you see what they made him do in front of a live audience of thousands. that sounds scary. >> looks like fun. we begin with the mother who is now claiming that she lied about giving her 8-year-old daughter botox injections. nbc investigative reporter michael izakoff joins us with details. good morning. >> good morning.

i'm meredith vieira. >> and i'm matt lauer. we're learning a little more about arnold schwarzenegger, his mistress and the relationship they had with the family. >> her name is mildred baena. she worked as a housekeeper. her and maria's son were born five days apart. mouch contact did the families have over the years? what led the former governor to reveal the secret he kept hidden in plain sight for 13 years? we'll have the latest straight ahead. >>> also straight ahead, the final message from osama bin laden recorded just days before his death, released by al qaeda overnight. he called on muslims for an islamic revolution. we will be live with details on that story. >>> and a story with parents and kids in college you'll want to see. you'll hear from two students who say they were sexually assaulted. they say when they reported the crimes, the stories were swept under the road. >> we begin with new details on the schwarzenegger scandal. >>> peter alexander is out in santa monica this morning. peter, good morning to you. >> re

i'm meredith vieira. >> and i'm matt lauer. as this extraordinary week continues, we have learned that president obama plans to visit ground zero on tuesday to pay tribute to lives lost there and use it as a way to mark this successful mission to track down and kill osama bin laden. the president and aides saw it unfold live from the situation room at the white house. >> an extremely tense atmosphere. one insider said those 40 minutes or so felt like days. it was nothing but cheers last night where the president received a standing ovation from congressional leaders. ahead, new details on the mission and the possible release of photos and video of a dead bin laden. >> plus, the white house is getting a lot of the credit for the operation, but did the controversial enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding used by the bush administrational, yield key information that eventually led to bin laden? we'll ask president bush's secretary of state, condoleezza rice, about that. >>> we begin on this tuesday morning with d

. >> i'm meredith vieira. your heart goes out to everyone in joplin affected by that monster tornado. the skies have turned ominous yet again this morning as another powerful storm system rolls in. >> what a few hours it has been. when we first got to work this morning, we were told the storm was severe but about 25 or 30 people had been killed. that number quickly rose to over 89, and as you can see that, weather is not going to help any in the recovery or search efforts. among the buildings that took a direct hit on sunday, the town's hospital, st. john's. doctors and you are ins had just moments to scramble patients into hallways. to give you a sense of the twister's power, x-rays and medical records from inside that hospital building have now been found more than 60 miles away. >> president obama called missouri's governor a short time ago to offer his condolences, while promising the full support of the federal government. but as we said, folks in joplin have another storm to deal with. al has been there

meredith vieira is back up in studio 1a. ground zero, this is where nearly 3,000 people died during the attacks on 9/11 in 2001. of course 184 more died at the pentagon in washington, d.c., 40 others died in that field when flight 93 crashed in shanksville, pennsylvania. and there is a large outpouring of emotion here as you might expect, meredith. >> i was going to say, matt, an extremely emotional morning. obviously the headlines of every newspaper this morning, "new york times," bin laden killed by u.s. forces in pakistan, obama says declaring justice has been done. headlines in other newspapers more pointed than that, "the new york post," gut him, vengeance at last. and "the daily news" puts it this way -- rot in hell. president obama made the announcement in a late-night address from the white house and this morning we are learning new details about what unfolded in that raid, matt. >> reporter: that's right. we're learning a lot more. an incredibly successful raid by u.s. special forces, a dangerous mission but one tha

i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira and ann curry.ssee, along the banks of the mississippi river covering the massive flooding that is going on in that part of the country. we'll check in with him in just a couple of minutes. >> also, i was just talking with paul riser inside. great guy. he has written a new book sharing his thoughts on family. everything from making the rules up as we go to explaining things to the kids that you don't even understand. we'll talk to him coming up. >> in the meantime, outside here some people have a little chill. it is getting warmer. it's called rum and coke ribs. >> well, hello. >> yeah. >> before we get to all that, let's say hi to andy sandberg, the "snl" cast member who is part of a comedy group called the lonely island and they have a new album out called turtle neck and chains. what does that mean? >> it can mean so many things. >> what does it mean to you? >> me and my buddies, that's basically all we wore in junior high school. >> turtle necks and chains. >> we do a little splash of drakar, tu

. >> i'm meredith vieira. president obama is in a catch-22. release a photo as proof that osama bin laden is dead and risk inflaming anti-u.s. sentiment in the muslim world. >> people who have seen the images describe them as gruesome. is it something the american public needs to see? we'll get into that and talk to new york city's mayor a day before president obama's planned visit to ground zero in manhattan. >> also on tuesday the white house moved to clear up some details surrounding the raid. initially, u.s. officials said bin laden was armed with an automatic rifle and fired on the navy s.e.a.l.s. now they say he resisted but never had a weapon. >> and we have insight on what life was like inside bin laden's compound. how did they get supplies? how much interaction did people who lived there have with neighbors? and what about the 23 kids found with bin laden? where are they now? we are live in abbottabad with the latest. >> let us begin with the debate over whether to release a photo of bin laden's body. savannah guthrie has the latest.

i'm meredith vieira. >> and i'm matt lauer. you're taking a live look at ground zero in new york city. a little later today president obama will honor the nearly 3,000 victims who died there on 9/11/2001. >> he'll meet with victims' families as one way of marking the death of osama bin laden. >> the president can also expect to face some questions about the choice not to release photos of bin laden's body. straight ahead we'll hear from the president on the reasoning and also on some who think it was the wrong decision. >> we're going to begin with new developments in pakistan. ann curry is there. ann, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you, meredith. pakistan is on the defensive. the front page headlines of o all four english-speaking newspapers quoting the whole world is to plame for not finding osama bin laden sooner. amid the images emerging from inside osama bin laden's hideout, a yemeni passport apparently belonging to bin laden's fifth and youngest wife now in custody along with at least one other woman an

inside studio 1a i'm matt lauer alongside meredith vieira.ust ahead the long awaited opening statements from the casey anthony murder trial begin today, nearly three years after her daughter caylee's disappearance was first reported. we'll have a live report from the courthouse. >> and medevac flights can mean the difference between life or death. but there are medevac cases for a woman who spilled hot water on her case and a child who slipped in the shower. >> and teens and plastic surgery. what if your kid wanted to fix a cosmetic flaw so that he or she would stop getting picked on or bullied at school? ahead, a girl and her mother speak out about a controversial choice they are considering. >> let's begin with more on the long road to recovery in joplin, missouri, following sunday's deadly and devastating tornado. al, good morning once again. >> good morning. at least it's a sunny day this morning. rescue workers, volunteers get a break before the next round of storms come in. it's bn a tough month for missouri. first you had the flooding

. >> and i'm meredith vieira. the videos, documents and computers taken from osama bin laden's compound are being called the single largest collection of terrorist materials ever seized. >> they include some of the last known images of the terror leader before he was killed. it could take weeks or months for analysts to look through all of this. but they have already uncovered the names of possible al qaeda operatives. we are going to have more details on that straight ahead. >>> and natalie holloway's mother opens up about her daughter's disappearance in aruba nearly six years ago. joran van der sloot has been considered the suspect. beth holloway flew to peru where he is being held on an unrelated murder case to talk to him face to face. what did they say? we'll ask her when she joins us for a live interview. >>> on a much lighter note we'll kick off our series called "anchors abroad." >> have you ever wondered what's popular in other countries? we spread out to star on the shows. my assignment the longest runni

right now as you know, meredith vieira is in cannes. >> next year guess who is going to cannes?>> we are going to go next year. we heard from our executive. he gave us the green light. we get to go to the south of france. >> only 364 days to go. >> like the royal wedding. every day. >> merci. jerry, bless your heart. let's all work out hard for the next year and all of us wear a thong in cannes. yes, we can. >> thongs for cannes. >> if you promise to wear a thong, we promise to take you. did i say that? i'll have to pay for that. >> right. >> there is a kid. it makes me crazy. he is a nice young man from shelton, connecticut. friday at 1:00 a.m., they took cardboard letters and placed them to the side of the school wall. >> they got in the golf cart. they trespassed to the school. he wanted to ask his girlfriend to prom. he taped up with tape these cardboard letters that read, "will you go with me to the prom, hmu," which is hit me up. >> she saw him and was texting him yes. he was behind her. isn't that the sweetest thing? the kid gets called into the principal's office. the pr