April 2007 - Posts
Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Harry Receives His Marching Orders
Even with growing concern over a Prince on the battlefield, the British army reported today that Harry will be deployed next month to Iraq. Despite insurgents posting a bounty for the Prince, Harry insisted that he be deployed with his regiment. Tomorrow we will have all the details on the Prince's tour of duty.
Bear Attack Update
We brought you the story of Johan and Jenna Otter, who found themselves face to face with a bear in September of 2005. (Watch Video) Tomorrow we will have an update for you on the father and daughter almost a year and a half after surviving the mauling.
Don't Miss This Tomorrow:
- Rep. John Murtha talks to us about the Tenet fallout
- And Where is Matt- Day 2!
We had a shuffle. Due to the news today about Prince Harry and the booking of Johan and Jenna we shuffled out the Natalee Holloway story. We will be sure to bring you the latest on that story as it develops.
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(Want to know more about what we have coming up Tomorrow on Today? Text message TODAY to 46833)
(From Emily McAdam, TODAY Associate Producer)
My college friend Katy hung a yellow sign on the wall of her kitchen. Perched above the stove, in large black letters...it read - "ADJUST." Katy grew up in a Navy family. She moved from city to city, switched from school to school. Life became an adventure but also a constant adjustment. Just in case...Katy kept this sign posted for a bit of inspiration and as a stark reminder that life can change at any moment -- over breakfast or on the way to school. ADJUST.
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Think you know Where in the World Matt is going next? Text the name of the country to 46833. Watch TODAY. Take a guess every day. Matt just might return your call from his last stop!
Here's the clue for Day 2:
"Clare speaks the language. But if you need translation, you'll find Ann holding it down when some of us hit the road."
Note: Standard text message rates apply.
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Day Two: Where In the World
Currently, Matt is en route to his second destination. Where will it be? You'll have to tune it tomorrow to find out.
Castro Status
It has been more than nine months since the Cuban leader has been seen in public. Just yesterday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his ally is still "in charge". With tomorrow being May Day, there is curiosity as to whether the leader will make an appearance at the country's celebrations. NBC's Andrea Mitchell is in Havana and will bring us a report tomorrow.
Latest in Natalee Holloway Case
Approaching the two year anniversary of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, authorities are following new clues in the search for the high school student that went missing in Aruba. We will have all the details on these developments tomorrow.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
This morning we had quite the Spider-man extravaganza out on the plaza. The entire cast was on-hand to promote the film, in advance of its official premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this evening. I took a bunch of photos of the excitement out on the plaza. Read on...
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Finding roadblocks when planning your wedding? Dear Ada has some advice:
Dear Ada,
My fiancé and I have been engaged for almost 7 months and we are pretty much at a stand still in the wedding plans. She's a full time student with a part-time job, and takes really good care of our house while I'm away. I'm always away because I'm in the Army. In the three and a half years we've been together I have been deployed 4 times, gone on Temporary duty about 6 times, and work 12 hour days. I think we have only been by each others side maybe a total of one year. With the current global situation, it looks like there is just no end in sight for Monica and I to spend any good quality time together, let alone plan a wedding. I am in the Army, my family is from Montana, and Monica's family is from Tennessee where I'm stationed. What is the best way to help her plan a wedding and fit it into our schedule?
Thanks,
Lost in the OPTEMPO.
Jayson, Clarksville, TN
Dear Jayson,
Planning a wedding is a major undertaking. Even with your additional challenges, you still have plenty of resources to help your wife plan your special day. I enlisted the help of Brides magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Millie Martini Bratten to give you some great tips and resources:
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(From Amanda Mortimer, TODAY Associate Producer)
One of the nice things about producing stories at Today is the variety of work we get to do. Producers might develop niches or specialties, but we all pitch in and do what's needed, whether it's news or fashion, health or entertainment, business or features. We do a little bit of everything.
While some of the work is glamorous, most of it's not. But the best thing about the work I do is the people I meet. And I don't mean celebrities or politicians or newsmakers. I mean real people. A lot of the stories I tend to produce don't feature famous people - they feature real people - working moms and dads, teachers, happy children, sick children and the doctors who treat them, neighbors and grandparents... the people on your street. They aren't extraordinary people - generally ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances doing extraordinary things - and they're willing to share their stories.
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It's day one of "Where in the World" and Matt Lauer is in Everett, Washington at the Boeing airplane factory.
In his first video blog of the trip, Matt talks to our travel editor, Peter Greenberg, about a part of the plane that you never get to see and hope your pilot never uses... but you'll both be glad it's there, just in case. WATCH VIDEO
(By Curtis Vogel, TODAY producer)
With the possible exception of the Olympics, landing an assignment with Matt Lauer for the “Where in the World” series is the most coveted gig for a Today Show producer. You get to travel to exotic places, experience new cultures and immerse yourself in all the food and fun that the destination has to offer.
So, you can imagine my excitement when my boss told me that I would be working on my first-ever Where in the World for Matt. I already had visions of paddling canoes down the Amazon River or riding camels in the Sahara Desert when my boss informed me that we would be going to Everett, Washington.
As in Washington state?
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It's a little before 7am on Monday morning, the first day of our Where in the World series. So many people are curious about this series, and Matt's secret whereabouts really get us buzzing. This weekend, a few friends came up to me asking where Matt would be. And the honest answer is I don't really know. All of our anchors repeatedly say on the show that the destinations are kept top-secret, and that is absolutely the case. Unless you are working on one specific day, for the most part the answers are kept hush-hush. When video segments from the producers in the field are fed into New York, they often feed them with secret code titles so everyone seeing lists of feeds doesn't know the destinations. Producers working on the series just refer to everything by number -- Day 1, Day 2, and so on. I even just went looking in our file where all scripts are kept, hoping to find some scripts from this morning's segment. I got nothing. All the written segments about the series are not in the general file. And all of Matt's segments on the rundown are listed as "Location TBA" for this morning. So it really is kept top secret. Or maybe I just don't know where to look. Either way, we've got about 15 minutes left until Matt's eighth globe-trotting trek kicks off. Stay tuned. And you can follow Matt's journey on our website
HERE.
Here's what we're looking at for Monday on TODAY:
Where's Matt?
You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out where Matt is kicking off his eighth Where in the World trip. Here's a clue: "This is the second time we've stopped in this country, but our last four trips all began here." Don't forget to visit FollowMatt.com for an interactive experience.
Tenet's Bombshells- First Live Interview
On tomorrow's show, Tom Brokaw will sit down with George Tenet in his first live interview to talk about the former CIA director's newly released book. In the memoir, Tenet reveals many of the details of the decision to invade Iraq. We'll have more for you in the morning.
Other Stories to Catch Tomorrow:
- The Real Story of Fat & Thin
- LIVE on the Plaza: The Cast of Spiderman 3
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(Want to know more about what we have coming up Tomorrow on Today? Text message TODAY to 46833)
Here's what we have coming on Weekend Today:
Terror Sweep Seizes 172 Suspects
You have to think... what would have happened if they weren't arrested? Today Saudi forces foiled a plot to attack the country's oil fields. Over $5 million in explosives, rifles, ammunition and handguns was found in the seizure. Tomorrow morning, we will bring you full details on this story.
Iraq Veto Threat
This week both the House and the Senate passed an Iraq War spending bill, each setting a withdrawal deadline for our troops. President Bush promises to use his veto power. Ironically, the bill is scheduled to come across the President's desk on Tuesday the four year anniversary of the 'Victory' speech. We'll take a closer look at this bill on Sunday.
He Really Wants To Serve
Prince Harry has threatened to quit the army if he is not permitted to go to Iraq with his brigade. It has been reported that the Royal Army was considering re-assigning the third in line to the throne due to terrorist threats. Look for more on this story on Saturday.
Don't Miss These Stories This Weekend:
- Saturday: Designer vs. Knockoff Shoes
- Sunday: Get Your Garden Ready for Spring
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(Want to know more about what we have coming up Tomorrow on Today? Text message TODAY to 46833)
From Aarne Heikkila, Associate Producer, Burbank Bureau
Driving along Highway 59 near the Utah/Arizona border, the community of Hildale doesn't particularly stand out.
But turn off the highway and drive down the city's main road and it quickly becomes apparent that this isn't any ordinary town.
"Keep Out" and "No Trespassing" signs are prominently displayed everywhere and large homes peer out over imposing concrete walls, making them look like heavily fortified compounds.
It's this secluded atmosphere that correspondent Jennifer London, cameraman Paul Thiriot and I came upon in Hildale and we sensed immediately that visitors like ourselves weren't especially welcome.
Oddly enough though, visitors were what brought us to Hildale.
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(From Dan Barbossa, TODAY producer)
Al’s Book Club for Kids launched this morning on TODAY with much fanfare.
His club will show children that reading can be fun. The first book selection is “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick. WATCH VIDEO
(From Bob Dotson, NBC News National Correspondent)
A lot of people who climb the ladder of success find that it's been leaning against the wrong wall. Joshua Bell made it to the top. Received a big prize. But is not too comfortable with just one ladder. He's our profile this morning on American Story with Bob Dotson. WATCH VIDEO
Bell is something rare, a musician who loves and excels at all sorts of music. Not just performing. Teaching, too. CONTINUED >>
This morning, Masi Oka, who plays Hiro Nakamura on the hit NBC show "Heroes," stopped by for an interview with Meredith, David, Al and Campbell. WATCH VIDEO
I caught up with him for a few minutes before his appearance, and we chatted about his recent fame, Robin Williams, and his upcoming college reunion. Here's some of our conversation (edited for content):
Q: So you've got your 10-year college reunion coming up at Brown University. What will you say to people who come up to you and ask what you've been up to lately?
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Most people by now know the story of Barbaro -- the horse who dominated the field at the 2006 Kentucky Derby only to shatter his right hind leg just two weeks later in the Preakness. After successful surgery to repair the leg, he then embarked on a fight for survival that inspired thousands of people across the country.
Two months after the surgery, however, Barbaro developed the often fatal disease laminitis, and he did not survive -- he was euthanized on Janury 29, 2007.
For the first time since Barbaro's death, his owners, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, sat down for a live interview this morning with David Gregory on "Today." They were also joined by Dr. Dean Richardson, who treated Barbaro. WATCH VIDEO
Their appearance coincides with the NBC Sports production of a special one-hour documentary, "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse," which will air on NBC on Sunday, April 29, at 5 p.m. ET. WATCH TRAILER The 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby also airs on NBC on Saturday, May 5.
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(Today Producer Stephanie Becker is blogging about wearing the “Complaint Free World” purple rubber bracelet and her attempts to go 21 days without complaining. The bracelet gained national attention after NBC’s George Lewis reported on the Missouri Pastor who challenged his congregation to give up grousing. WATCH VIDEO Each violation called for rotating the bracelet to the other wrist. Stephanie quit the project until….)
(From Stephanie)
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of my abandoned attempt at complaint free living have been greatly exaggerated. That’s probably because I’m the one who wrote it. I quit after being able to go no more than 36 hours straight without grousing. WATCH VIDEO But, a strangely timed message has me back on the wristband bandwagon.
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Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Mother-Daughter Business Venture
They can be best friends, but how would a mother-daughter duo fair in the business world? Tomorrow we'll look at mothers and daughter teaming up to take the plunge into business together.
He Certainly Makes Us Laugh...
But what's it really like to be Chevy Chase. We'll sit down with the funny man and talk about his newly released biography titled, I'm Chevy Chase ... and You're Not.
Also tomorrow:
- One mom expecting sextuplets... That's SIX!
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(Want to know more about what we have coming up Tomorrow on Today? Text message TODAY to 46833)
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Tomorrow We'll Know Where They Stand
Tonight is the first debate of the 2008 race. And tomorrow we'll hopefully have an idea of where the Democrats stand. Tim Russert will bring us a full analysis of the debate. And Dan Bartlett will join us with the White House's reaction.
Are You An Alpha Mom?
They're connected. They're juggling. They're savvy. They're trendsetters. And that's why marketing researchers love Alpha Moms. Tomorrow we'll look at who this new kind of mom is.
Is A Kiss Just A Kiss? Or Jail Time?
When traveling in a foreign country, it's helpful to know the laws. That is the lesson Richard Gere is learning after planting a wet one on Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. We'll tell you all about the leading man's legal predicament in India.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Clay Aiken sat down with Al Roker, David Gregory and Dr. Nancy Snyderman today to talk about his recent work with UNICEF USA in Afghanistan (WATCH VIDEO).
Before his appearance on the show, I got to talk to him for a quick Q&A. Here is some of our conversation (edited for content):
Q: When did you get back from Afghanistan, how long were you there and what were you doing?
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NBC Burbank Producer Mike Mosher and Singapore-based freelance producer Mike Barrett link up with the Motion Picture Association of America and Operation Double Trouble to follow Lucky and Flo as the canines take a bite out of organized crime.
Piracy is the biggest threat to the U.S. motion picture industry. In 2005 losses estimated at $6.1 billion dollars were attributed to piracy. Eighty percent of the losses are a result of piracy overseas. Now the music and film industries are teaming up with international police in their investigations into the criminal gangs involved in piracy.
An unlikely pair of canine detectives have been sent to Malaysia, one fo the world’s top illegal movie producers and exporters and one of the 36 countries on a U.S. watch list of serious copyright violators. In the past month these search dogs have led five raids and seized 1.5 million pirated discs worth an estimated $3.7 million. WATCH VIDEO
Malaysia’s most famous dogs, two brown Labradors named Lucky and Flo, have sniffed out another huge consignment of illegal DVDs, this time in the southern Malaysia city of Johor Bahru.
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We talked a bit on the show today about the rare confluence of events that occurred on Wednesday -- the meeting of tabloid titans Rosie O'Donnell and Alec Baldwin, which caused all kinds of chatter in the entertainment world.
On the day Rosie announced she would be leaving "The View" in June, Baldwin sat down for an interview on that show to discuss the infamous voicemail message he left for his 11-year-old daughter that was released last week. He's locked in a contentious custody battle with ex-wife Kim Basinger over their daughter Ireland.
(You can WATCH VIDEO of our report and discussion on Rosie, and you can WATCH VIDEO of our report and discussion on Baldwin.)
O'Donnell said that she was unable to come to terms on a contract extension with ABC, but there are rumors that she was fired. And Baldwin reportedly said of his career, "If I never acted again, I couldn't care less."
In the aftermath of Wednesday's meeting, entertainment fans are pondering several questions today:
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Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Middle Class Faces Market Squeeze
Already in 2007 we have seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in the stock market. But has the instability put the squeeze on the middle class while the rich just gets richer? CNBC's Scott Cohn will bring us this story tomorrow.
Alec Baldwin: Out of Line or Just an Angry Dad?
This story still has buzz almost a week later. Tomorrow, we'll discuss it more. Was it a father hitting a breaking point? Child abuse? Or a messy divorce getting messier?
Don't Miss These Stories Tomorrow:
- New moms outsourcing breast feeding?
- Gearing Up for Where in the World
We had a shuffle
You won't be SEEING our segment on foods that help your eyesight. It's been shuffled out of tomorrow's rundown, but we'll let you know when it is shuffled back in.
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(Want to know more about what we have coming up Tomorrow on Today? Text message TODAY to 46833)
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Debates for '08 & the Iraq Plan
With the '08 race in full swing and political tension brewing over the plan in Iraq, we're looking at two major debates across the political spectrum tomorrow. We'll bring you the latest on the Iraq debate between the President and Congress. And Andrea Mitchell will have a complete preview of the very first debate in the 2008 presidential race. The debate will take place in South Carolina with Democratic candidates. Tim Russert will also join us in the morning with an overview of all the political activity.
So Long Rosie
She said "It just didn't work." This morning Rosie O'Donnell announced she is leaving The View over contract negotiations. Barbara Walters said she had nothing to do with those negotiations. Still many wonder if Rosie's short stay has anything to do with the controversy she has brought on over the past year. Tomorrow we'll take a look at how Rosie's gig came to an end.
"Eat Carrots, They're Good For Your Eyes"
That's what my mother used to tell me at least. But was she dealing the truth, or just conning me into eating my vegetables. We'll find out tomorrow! Nutritionist Joy Bauer will be here to tell us what foods can help your eyesight.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(From Alicia Ybarbo, TODAY Producer)
April is a huge month for birthdays in my family. My grandmother, mother, sister, nephew and several girlfriends are all April birthdays, but what I really get excited about - albeit crazy too- are the birthdays of my precious children: “Jackieboy” and Lucy.
Having lived in Manhattan for more than ten years now, it's pretty hard not to notice all the time, money and effort that’s spent on birthday blowouts. It’s crazy. Now I, too, am a victim of the birthday party madness.
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I watched the Martha Stewart segment from the studio this morning. If you watched at home, you learned some great tips on spring-cleaning from sweeping your floors to vacuuming your mattress (wait...really?)
The studio view was a little different. While one anchor was with Martha tackling one area of spring-cleaning, the other three anchors were off camera trying to get him or her to laugh. Martha is truly a tour de force when it comes to sterilizing your home in time for the warm weather, but I have to say, sometimes the things she points out are beyond me. I caught up with Meredith, Al, Matt and David Gregory after the segment to see what their actual spring-cleaning habits are. WATCH VIDEO
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Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Dow Almost Made It
Finishing the day at 12,953.94, the Dow nearly missed the 13,000 mark for a record close. Strong first-quarter earning reports pushed the market towards the record, but with weak numbers from the housing markets the day was full of wavering data. CNBC's Erin Burnett will bring us a full report on the status of the markets.
With Abated Breath We Wait...
Waiting for what.... To find out who made PEOPLE magazine's most beautiful list for 2007. Tomorrow we will talk to PEOPLE's Julie Jordan and find out who made the cut.
Don't Miss These Stories Tomorrow:
- How Will the '08 Race Keep Up the Endurance Until '08?
- Meredith Learns to Cook with the Take Home Chef
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(From Paul Manson, TODAY Producer)
Where in the world is Paul Manson.
Allow my to introduce myself. I'm one of the today show producers. I've been with the show for 8 years now ... Sometimes it's hard to believe. But as is true with many of our staff, it’s a hard place to leave because it’s a terrific place to work.
I'm often reminded what a privilege this job is. As a producer you have the opportunity to travel quite a bit, meeting interesting people often with a front row seat to history.
Those who are fans of the show will be familiar with our annual series, “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” In order to get Matt ready for a week of world travel teams of producers hit the ground ahead of time to scout locations and shoot stories reflecting what's going on in each country. I'm currently on location doing just that.
I'll give you a hint on where Matt is headed next week. Here goes…
I am somewhere on earth. Due to budget cutbacks and the inevitable exorbitant cost we had to forgo plans for “Where in Outer Space is Matt Lauer?” So I am in fact somewhere on earth. Here are some other facts I've garnered since hitting the ground. The people we've met here are extremely friendly...They generally eat three meals a day and tend to sleep at night. Unfortunately that's about all I can say.
Tune in next week for more. As they say in this country.... Goodbye.
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
We're Watching the Weather
Wicked storms are expected in the Texas, the Rockies and Plains. Forecasters are looking at the possibility of thunderstorms and tornadoes in these states today. We'll track these storms and bring you the latest in the morning.
How to Get Your Home to Sell
New numbers were released today by the National Association of Realtors showing existing home sales have dropped 8.4 percent in March. With bad weather and mortgage lending tightening, what can you do to get your home to sell? Barbara Corcoran will join us tomorrow with all the best tips.
Is He Okay?
Today we showed you the video of four-year-old Caden Thomas getting railroaded by a Colorado State receiver on the sidelines of a practice game. (Watch video) Tomorrow we'll talk to little Caden and see how he's feeling.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(From Erica Grody Levens, TODAY Associate Director)
By now you savvy blog readers know quite a bit about the “Today family,” the early hours and the “working mom” juggle. Roll all those into one person, add a twist and you’ve got me. Let me explain.
CONTINUED >>
Waiting outside on the plaza for Sanjaya to ask him a few questions for the blog made me think that I was waiting for the President. I couldn't get near the guy at first! And it wasn't his fault. He was just being nice and mingling with all of his fans, and boy were there a lot of them. Snapping pictures, signing autographs, and hamming it up for the crowd, Sanjaya was really giving our crowd a treat. WATCH INTERVIEW. But on his way out (to another interview, of course), I snagged him for a couple minutes.
Q: If there's one moment from the season that was a highlight for you, or that sums up the entire experience, what would it be?
Sanjaya: Meeting Tony Bennett and having him appreciate my music and my ability.
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If you really wanted someone to talk to, would you call a stranger who gave his number out on youtube? Well, thousands of people have in the last few days. Ryan Fitzgerald is a 20-year-old from Boson who posted a video on the internet site a few days ago, giving people an opportunity to chat with someone if they wanted. Since then, his phone has been ringing off the hook. WATCH VIDEO.
I spoke to his twin brother and cousin in the green room this morning, as Ryan was getting ready for his interview. Needless to say, their heads were still spinning from the incredible outpouring that Ryan has received over the past few days. According to his brother, Ryan answers about 85-90% of all the calls that come in. And by their estimate, so far he's topping 9,000 new friends. Many just want to see if he'll pick up. Others have wacky questions -- one caller wanted Ryan's opinion on whether he should eat a cheeseburger. Others are actually asking him serious, life questions. And then there are some questionable, borderline stalkers -- one guy kept calling him over and over, saying he wanted to meet him and was going to travel from out-of-state to do so. But through it all, Ryan keeps answering.
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Here's The Latest on Tomorrow's Rundown:
Oh The Places You'll Go, Oh What It Will Cost You
When does the average person make their commute? Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. But what if local lawmakers decided to charge you to travel into the urban center at that time? That's what NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg has proposed for cars traveling into the most congested part of Manhattan. Tomorrow we will take a look at this proposal and tell you what other laws are being proposed to encourage you to help the environment.
Is It Over? When To Quit a Marriage
Marriage is a commitment through "sickness and health," but still more than 90 million Americans have been divorced at least once. With kids, careers and passions it can be difficult to decipher when over is really over. Drs. Gail Saltz and Drew Pinsky join us tomorrow to explain the warning signs of the end.
Other Stories To Catch Tomorrow:
- Parenting Magazine Looks At Motherhood Today
- Sanjaya LIVE
- Dress For Success
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
(Want to know more about what we have coming up Tomorrow on Today? Text message TODAY to 46833)
(From Sara Haines, TODAY Production Coordinator)
Catering for 20 people = $250
Airport transportation for Bon Jovi's band = $500
Booking a flight for Wilbur the pig = PRICELESS!!
My name is Sara Haines and I am the Production Coordinator. Although I handle an array of logistics including: plaza concerts, catering, security lists, etc., I spend the majority of each day doing guest travel.
My tale begins on a Friday afternoon. As anyone, I was hoping to have a relatively easy day heading into a much-needed weekend. Things were going swimmingly until right after lunch. One of our senior producers, Jackie, called me about travel for a guest coming in over the weekend. She proceeded to tell me that it was for Wilbur the pig. A smile, foreshadowing what was to come, snuck across my face as I thought about what I was being asked to do. I was booking travel for Wilbur the pig! I mean who hasn't read Charlotte's Web? Wilbur was my absolute favorite! I love little pigs. I am from Iowa, so I think we are born with that soft spot, and aside from the fact that they grow up to be full-grown pigs (that smell and roll in the mud), this was a cute, little, fuzzy piglet.
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Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
More Information About Cho's First Victim
As the campus of Virginia Tech returned to class, state police revealed that they found e-mail correspondence between the gunman and his first victim, Emily Hilscher. We'll have more on this story tomorrow.
YouTube's Latest Phenom
We've seen how YouTube can make one person an immediate sensation. But how about becoming an immediate shrink? That's what happened to 20-year-old Ryan Fitzgerald after he posted his cell phone number and offered "to be there" for anyone who needed a listening ear. Well, we called his cell phone. He answered. He talked to our booker. And now he'll be on the show tomorrow.
Making Strides But Not Making The Money
While women steadily take steps towards leveling the playing field with men in their careers, the gap has actually increased for the bottom line. A study released today explains why the pay gap continues to grow between college-educated women and men. Tomorrow we'll tell you why women continue to get the short end of the stick.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(From Tory Duncan, TODAY Producer Washington, D.C.)
I am a producer for the show based in Washington, D.C. I write lots of live segments and cut tape spots based on news of the day -- from the war in Iraq, to wranglings in Washington, to presidential politics. My responsibilities also include being on hand in our D.C. control room every other week. That control room -- f control -- serves as the funnel for D.C.-based interviews and correspondents.
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This morning we had Pamela Druckerman, author of "Lust in Translation" on the show. The book examines the way different countries perceive adultery. The United States is apparently one of the few countries, in which the confession approach when it comes to adultery is particularly prevalent. Many countries, particularly in Europe, view adultery as something that can be and should be enjoyed with having to confess and clear one's conscience.
Druckerman also mentioned the way in which pop culture depicts adulterous affairs, also demonstrates the discrepancies between the U.S. and other countries. If you think about it, many of the television shows and movies we watch here in the U.S. depict the scenario over and over again, where a spouse cheats and never gets away with it, because they are inevitably caught or so racked with guilt that the discretion must be confessed. In France apparently, that situation is rarely the case. A hero in a French movie could have an affair, but still be depicted as the hero, not suffering the consequences of an indiscretion.
What does this mean for the big picture? Should you confess, clear your conscience, and possibly cause pain in doing so? Or is the better route to simply keep your secrets?
After a week of sad and upsetting news, it is nice to be able to report on something that makes everyone happy: spring weather! It was very exciting to see the forecast this weekend and to know that we could toss the jacket and rainboots for the time being, and head to the park!
Cabin fever was definitely in the studio air this morning, as Meredith, David & Al decided to leave Home Base and go outside to the plaza for the 7:00 weather. 
Using a brand new 'Today's Temperature' thermometer, everyone got excited about Al's forecast of 80 degrees. Here at the show, warmer temperatures mean that many of the show's segments (concerts, cooking segments, fashion shows, etc.) can go outside, allowing everyone to bask in the good weather.
Here's hoping for a good week with more warm weather!
(From Jim Semmelman, TODAY Stage Manager)
I had no intention of getting into television, let alone being a part of the most watched morning show; my first love was “live” theatre, though truth be told I started out as a child actor doing TV commercials for Kenner toys and in high school actually won a local Emmy award as a performer and writer on a teenage “laugh-In” type show called “Vegetable Soup.”
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(From Rich Bonnabeau, TODAY Producer/Editor)
What’s that? I’m supposed to do what? Write a blog?
Hmmm…
Why would I be asked to blog?
Blogging frightens me…sort of…
Probably because I don’t know what it is….
Let’s see…
According to Wikipedia…
“A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order…The term "blog" is a portmanteau, or, in other words, a blend of the words web and log (Web log)...”
Exciting! Now I know the definition of blogging and portmanteau!
So let the blogging begin…
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Here's what we have planned for Weekend TODAY
VT Tragedy
The healing process has begun on the campus of Virginia Tech. With the investigation ongoing, the community will come together this weekend in the first church services since the shooting. We'll talk to some students as they prepare to go back to class after the horrific shootings in their academic buildings. And we'll let you know how the Hokies did on the ball field as they will play their first game since the tragedy this weekend.
Father's Fury or Nasty Custody Battle?
This morning on TODAY we brought you the rant that Alec Baldwin left for his daughter on her cell phone. (Watch Video) Was it a father upset with his daughter? Or was it an ex-husband caught in a custody battle with his ex? What is your reaction? Does it depend on your sex? We'll take a look at this tomorrow.
Other Stories to Catch This Weekend:
- Saturday: On Vacation - Rent a Home or Stay in a Hotel?
- Saturday: The Queen Turns 81
- Sunday: Today at Work - Team Building Exercises
I don't think anyone will disagree that it has been a crazy rollercoaster of a week. From fear to sorrow, from hate to pride, we've all seen and experienced every emotion.
A sign in the crowd this morning read "Today We Are All Hokies." This week, the entire nation became Hokies, supporting Virginia Tech and its community, as everyone came to terms with this terrible tragedy. As the days go by, the pain will lessen and people will begin to heal. But there is no question that the horror of the Virginia Tech massacre will ever be forgotten.
Take a look at this video of the unforgettable images and sounds from the week that was. WATCH VIDEO
(From Antoinette Machiaverna, TODAY Producer and Mother of a College Student)
For parents of college students, like me, with children miles away at college, the massacre at Virginia Tech has been unsettling. It is just harder and harder for parents to protect their children. No matter how old they are, they are still your children. You always want to keep them safe, even if you can't keep them close by.
(A student hugs her mother as she departs Virginia Tech. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
This week I interviewed experts for the many segments we did asking how and why this happened. When I asked Marylene Cloitre, a psychologist at the New York University Child Study Center, how parents can reassure young adults that they are safe, she told me:
"I think people have a changed view of how safe they really are and it's less than what they used to think. By and large, these events are rare. There will be a change in security so I don't think students will be, practically speaking, less safe. They will be MORE safe… What does change is their feeling of being invulnerable. They have learned they are not invulnerable and that's how people reappraise what happens."
My son is about to graduate from a major university 3,000 miles away. He and his friends all feel that new vulnerability and wonder if there is some crazy shooter among them on his urban Los Angeles campus. My husband and I have held our collective breath for four years, long before Cho Seung-Hui went on his rampage. You can only hope that Dr. Cloitre's prediction that things will become safer becomes a reality very quickly. CONTINUED >>
Here's the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Virginia Tech Investigation
We are continuing to follow the tragic events that took place this week on the campus of Virginia Tech University. Tomorrow, we will have the latest on the investigation.
We will also speak to Colin Goddard and his mother Anne. Collin was shot three times on Monday when Cho Seung-Hui entered his classroom.
Political Round-Up
We have been immersed in covering the horrible massacre that took place on Monday, however, throughout the week there has been quite a bit of action on the political front. Tomorrow Tim Russert will bring us up to date on Alberto Gonzales's testimony, the Iraq War Debate and all the other politicking that took place this week.
Check back later to see what other stories we'll have tomorrow.
As you know by now, Cho Seung-Hui sent NBC News a package including 28 video clips, 43 photos and a 23-page written statement, apparently mailing it between the first and second shootings on Monday.
There was much discussion and debate here at NBC News before the decision was ultimately made to air some of the photos and videos last night.
This is how Matt and Meredith opened the show this morning at 7 a.m.:
CONTINUED >>
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