began as a whisper in our hearts and became a roar. >> as an alumni of oh "touched by an angel" roma downey would have had a strong sense that there is a passionate community out there craving these kind of stories. >> downey and burnett thought it was an answered prayer. >> i think we felt a calling on our hearts to do this work with. over a cup of tea we decided to move forward with this. >> given hollywood's reluctance to make faith-based shows they knew it could be a big risk. and despite the couple's huge success in tv when they pitched their bible idea they got about the same response mel gibson received. >> when you went to the networks and you tried to sell them on it, they thought you two were crazy. what are they saying now? >> yeah. . i think in those early days, many people here in hollywood thought we had lost our minds, that no one would want to see the bible on tv. >> it has begun. >> roma downey's instinct turned out to be right and heads turned all over hollywood. >> the ratings for "the bible" were off the charts. i don't think anyone expected those kinds of ratings. >> in

everyone, please welcome roma downey and mark burnett!ak. big hits, giant hits. thank you guys so much for coming out. i appreciate this. you both have had amazing careers, of course, "touched by an angel." and then you produced, executive produced, some of my favorite shows in the history of television. you know i love "survivor." i would tell you every time i see you, i love it. [ cheers and applause ] you're married almost eight years, right? >> we are, yeah, we're together 12 years. >> jimmy: how did you guys meet? >> well, i was having a haircut and roma was getting a a pedicure. >> jimmy: oh. >> yeah, my feet were in a a bucket of water, and our eyes met in the mirror, and, you know, we fell in love. >> and i -- and she was really hot so, you know. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: yeah, that doesn't hurt. yeah, it doesn't hurt. speaking of hot, what is this guy? i love it. i love it. this is a beard among -- this is "duck dynasty" category. [ laughter ] >> i think my wife is getting really fed up with the beard. >> this is my very own afro. >

tonight, join jimmy and his guests -- pharrell williams, roma downey and mark burnett musical gu

tonight, join jimmy and his guests -- pharrell williams, roma downey and mark burnett

tonight, join jimmy and his guests -- pharrell williams, roma downey and mark burnett musical guest,ilky chance,

executive producers mark burnett and roma downey. >> i think it speaks to a deeper need the public has to connect with the word, to connect with hope. >> reporter: this behind-the-scenes footage shows how present-day morocco was transformed into ancient jerusalem. >> it took hundreds of workers months in the hot moroccan desert to build this in time. >> action. >> reporter: recreating an age-old story with the timeless appeal of hope. anne thompson, nbc news, new york. >>> that will do it for us on this friday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching, and good night. >>> nbc bay area news starts now. >> right now at 6:00 it could be worse than loma prieta. the new warning from scientists after the discovery about two dangerous bay area fault lines. good friday evening. thanks for joining us. i'm janelle wang in for jessica aguirre. >> and i'm raj mathai. some new and ominous information that is picking up the way seismologists are looking at things. we're going show you this map right here that shows you exactly what it is. uc berkeley scientists say th

executive producers mark burnett and roma downey. >> i think it speaks to a deeper need the public has the word to connect with hope. >> reporter: this behind-the-scenes footage shows how present day morocco was transformed into ancient jerusalem. >> it took hundreds of workers months in the hot morocan desert to create this in time. >> reporter: recreating an age-old story with the timeless appeal of hope. anne thompson, nbc news, new york. >>> that will do it for us on this friday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc >> he has ups and downs. >> new updates on the kardashian men. i have a candid chloe, and she holds nothing back about kylie. >> i don't know if that's appropriate to say. >>> what's up taylor? >> g

executive producers mark burnett and roma downey. >> i think it speaks to a deeper need the public hasth hope. >> reporter: this behind-the-scenes footage shows how present day morocco was transformed into ancient jerusalem. >> it took hundreds of workers months in the hot mo rocco desert to create this in time. >> reporter: recreating an age-old story with the timeless appeal of hope. anne thompson nbc news new york. >>> that will do it for us on this friday night. . >>> new video, taylor swift officially goes public with hit maker calvin harris. >> holding hands, confirming their music's hot new super couple, now on "extra." >>> what it's taylor. >> it's on if first video of taylor swift and calvin harris on a hollywood date night. plus new hook ups to breakups gone bad. nick cannon answering reports he is writing a scathing tell all about his marriage to mariah. >> foours furious 7's fast and furious box office take over. >> daddy as gotta go to work. >> the cast talking about the tribute to paul walker. >> it was classy. >>> it's good friday. tv's son of god is here. just don't cal

mark burnett, who is obviously a big producer of all sorts of reality television but also with roma downey, they did the bible mini series was such a huge hit on cable and also in theaters. this time they actually managed to convince a major american network, nbc, to run their next mini series which is a.d. and this -- in a way it's interesting coming off all these stories about the religious freedom restoration act, brooke because there you had chambers of commerce pushing the religious community saying we don't like this, it's not good for business. here you have big business working their way. they saw the huge demand for the bible mini series and now nbc, although they didn't do it last time now they're on board because there is this huge audience. >> all right, jake tapper. we'll look for it. many other things happening i'm sure at 4:00 eastern with "the lead." thank you very much, my friend. >> thanks brooke. >>> next here on this show a pizza shop in indiana definitely making some headlines because its owners said they would not cater a gay wedding. a number of people outraged here.

♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: my thanks to pharrell williams, roma downey, mark burnett.ilky chance, once again, ladies and gentlemen. and the roots right there, from philadelphia. [ cheers and applause ] thank you so much for watching. have a great night. i hope to see you tomorrow. have a great night, everybody! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> announcer: from 30 rockefeller plaza in new york, it's "late night with seth meyers." tonight -- chris ludacris bridges, from marvel's "daredevil", charlie cox, music from dead sara, featuring the 8g band. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] and now, here he is, seth meyers! ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: good evening, everybody. i'm seth meyers. this is "late night." how is everybody doing tonight? [ cheers and applause ] good to hear. that is very, very good to hear. now, real quick, you've all heard the news about the indiana religious freedom law, yes? a lot of people think the law is anti-gay. well, presidential hopefuls jeb bush, ted cruz and scott walker have all come out in favor of the new law. wait -- oh

but three years ago, he and his wife actress roma downey took the risky step of jumping genres and producingipted drama that no major broadcast network wanted to air. "the bible" mini series which ran on the history channel. >> survivor the apprentice the voice, shark tank what was the moment where you went from those shows to bringing "the bible" into people's homes? >> if you look at all those shows you mentioned, also are you smarter than a fifth grader they are all family friendly. i have to tell you when we went around pitching "the bible" so many people said have you lost your mind. >> right. >> nobody is going to watch "the bible" on prime time american tv. stick to sundays in church. roma and i said we think you're wrong. >> reporter: were they ever. the success of "the bible" stunned the entertainment industry as 100 million people tuned in over the course of the series. >> his name is jesus. >> it's become mainstream. that's what's amazing. in three short years it's gone from niche, i don't think so to bring me some of that. >> are you the messiah? >> i am. >> reporter: this sunday

. >> emmy-winning producer mark brunette and his wife roma downey are here.better. >> i can't take my eyes off of one thing when i look at those two. look again. >> besides how gorgeous roma is. >> roma is the first thing you notice. and the second thing is the growth. >> i think they're getting ready to announce the next thing they're going to do is moses and he could play it. yep, he's moses. >>> all right, "twilight" star peter facinelli has something new for us to sink our teeth into. >> it's also wednesday and you know what that means. every wednesday we wear something that is of a great value, inexpensive, and it's called lovely liliana's luxe looks for less. so today -- >> what are we wear sfging? >> well, you're actually wearing clothes. we're happy -- oh, my gosh! what is -- ah! [ laughter ] >> i don't care. >> i think someone in the kitchen is getting fired. that is disgusting. >> what's in yours, hoda? there is something in there? >> there's a finger? >> what is it? >> i'm going in. >> oh it's just a little alligator or something. who cares? >> wha