May 2007 - Posts
What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
Inside the Clinton Marriage
They could be the first couple in American politics to each serve as President. Tomorrow, we'll take a look inside the Clinton marriage. We have an exclusive interview with author Carl Bernstein about his new book "The Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton".
Should You Buy Wedding Insurance?
A fire at the reception location.... A hurricane.... Or even cold feet. Each could put an unhappy end to the wedding planning. We'll tell you about wedding insurance tomorrow and if it can protect you from a last minute wedding disaster.
Other Stories on Tomorrow's Show:
- Google Maps: A Little Too Up Close & Personal?
- If Jesus Were Alive, Where Would He Shop?
- Country Superstars Big & Rich
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 Melissa Dunlop, TODAY Associate Producer)
Behind-the-scenes of behind-the-scenes . . .
I spent Monday and Tuesday in New Hampshire following Senator Obama’s and Governor Romney’s campaigns for our Today on the Trail series. WATCH VIDEO Both days were exciting, sometimes chaotic and overall, exhausting!
A few observations:
CONTINUED >>
Here's the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Latest TB Scare
The tuberculosis patient that traveled through Europe and on two trans-continental flights has been identified as 31-year-old Andrew Speaker. This morning he was transported to Denver's National Jewish Medical Research Center for treatment. Peter Alexander will bring us all the details on this story from Denver tomorrow.
The Search for Maddy
It has been almost a month since little Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's hotel room in Portugal. Madeleine's parents are still holding onto hope while the search for their little girl continues. After meeting with the Pope this week, Kate and Gerry McCann will join us for an exclusive interview tomorrow.
W-I-N-N-E-R
Usprache... a noun meaning "a parent language, especially one reconstructed from the evidence of later languages." That was the winning word for last year's Scripps Howard Spelling Bee Champion. What will the winning word be this year? And who will be the lucky winner? We'll have the results for you tomorrow.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(From Amy Robach)
It's a pretty incredible experience co-hosting the 9am hour on TODAY! Hanging out with people like Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Al Roker, and Tiki Barber is cool in and of itself, but today I was able to meet one of my childhood idols!
The legendary coach of Nadia Comaneci, Bela Karolyi, was at TODAY with his new team of aspiring Olympic gymnasts. WATCH VIDEO I was a competitive gymnast for 7 years of my life and Bela was the ultimate mentor. I competed in the 1980's in both Missouri and Georgia and went to the Atlanta School of Gymnastics for a period of time. When I was 14 I finally came to the realization I wasn't Olympic material; I was too tall, and just not good enough to make it to the next level. But I never regretted my years in the gym.
I talked with Bela today about how fantastic gymnastics can be for young girls. Gymnastics gave me physical and mental discipline at a very early age. I learned the spirit of competition and the importance of teamwork. I learned how to get back up from nasty falls on the beam, stumbles during my floor exercise and a pretty major crash into the vault! It was so great to see a man who has spent the majority of his life helping young women succeed, still at it and inspiring others. My four year old daughter has already fallen in love with gymnastics after taking a few classes, and when I watch her little body learning all it can do, it brings a big smile to my face.
(Photo by Eric Jackson)
This morning, we ran a story on Augusta and Randy Roman, a divorced couple that -- when they were married -- had planned to conceive a child through in-vitro fertilization.
But divorce complicated their plans and brought about a legal and ethical issue -- what should be done with frozen embryos after a couple gets divorced?
Augusta, her lawyer, and Randy's lawyer also joined Meredith for a live interview this morning. WATCH VIDEO
Doctors had retrieved 13 eggs from Augusta's ovaries, and six had been fertilized with Randy's sperm. But just hours before the embryos were to be implanted into Augusta's womb, Randy got cold feet. He canceled the procedure, and the embryos were frozen while the couple underwent counseling.
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What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
Bumpy Summer for Airline Passengers?
So many of us can't wait to take off for summer vacation, but will our plans be slowed by turbulent airlines? TODAY Travel Editor Peter Greenberg will tell us tomorrow what passengers can expect at the airport.
- Other Stories on Tomorrow's Show:
- Latest on the TB Scare
- American Idol winner Jordin Sparks & Runner-up Blake Lewis
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 the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Conservatives Calling
Reports today indicated that Law & Order star Fred Thompson is preparing a White House run. An announcement is not expected until July, but insiders say Thompson will form a committee to begin raising money and hiring staff. Tomorrow we'll take a look at how Thompson's possible candidacy will impact the race.
Pen Pal with the Queen
One British boy's desire to find a friend with the help of a helium balloon found him one unexpected recipient. Find out tomorrow how this boy became pen pals with the Queen!
Staging Your Home: The Big Finish
Don't miss real estate guru Barbara Corcoran's final challenge. We'll show you what a difference $5,000 can make.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
This morning Elisabeth and Andrew Shue came by to talk about their new movie, "Gracie". WATCH VIDEO. I caught up with them in their dressing room to ask a little bit more about making the movie:
Q: How was it working with a sibling on a movie?
Elisabeth: Um, (laughs) I would say that it was - most of the time it was really really fun. There were times we were back at the dinner table (laughs) fighting it out like we did as kids...but we all really fought hard for the parts of the film we really believed in, and I think that's why the movie is as good at it is, because we had people who were all very passionately fighting for what they cared about.
CONTINUED >>
What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
Rare Form of TB
For the first time since 1963 the U.S. government has placed a man in quarantine. A man traveled on two trans-continental flights this month possibly exposing other passengers and crew members to a rare and dangerous form of tuberculosis. Tomorrow we'll tell you where this man traveled and what the CDC is doing to protect the public.
Search for Maddy
The parents of Madeleine McCann arrived in Rome today for a meeting with the Pope more than three weeks after their daughter went missing from their Portuguese hotel room. Tomorrow we'll bring you the latest on this story. We'll also speak to Marc Klaas and Dr. Gail Saltz about what you can do to keep your children safe on vacation.
Other Stories on Tomorrow's Show:
- What if Lindsay Lohan Wasn't a Celebrity?
- Lou Manfredini Tells Us How To Get Greener Lawns
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 the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Today on the Trail with Mitt Romney
What's a day like on the campaign trail for Mitt Romney? We'll show you tomorrow. Matt is spending the day today with the Republican candidate.
Miss USA Booed at Miss Universe Pageant
Was it in response to the immigration bill that the U.S. Congress recently passed? Or was it a global showing of anti-American sentiment? Tomorrow we'll take a look at why Miss USA was booed during the Miss Universe Pageant.
Pediatrician or Grown-up Doctor
How is a parent to know it's time for a child to move on from his or her pediatrician? Tomorrow on the show, Dr. Nancy Snyderman will explain the different stages of your child's medical care.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(From Sarah Clagett, TODAY Producer)
As I was breathing the exhaust fumes inside the Lincoln Tunnel waiting for AAA to come change my flat tire on my way back from a long day shooting an open house, I thought about the all things I go through for my job. For example painting a stranger's home to help viewers learn how to sell theirs. This is where my latest work adventure ended.
Generally speaking, as a professional journalist, I adhere to the ethos that I shall never stage any event, as this goes against the most basic principles of journalism. But my latest project was a bit of an exception, and in fact, everything was completely “staged”, since this concept is best defined as "working to improve one's house to maximize the value ahead of a potential buyer's offer."
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Actress Debra Messing stopped by the studio this morning to discuss her latest project "The Starter Wife," a television adaptation of the popular book. (WATCH VIDEO) After her segment, she stuck around to answer a few questions about "Will & Grace" and her new project:
Q: How much are you keeping in touch with your "Will & Grace" castmates at this point?
Debra: Well, I've been out of the country for many months, so e-mail has been our main source of communicating. Everyone is traveling all over the place, so that's the way we're able to keep up with each other.
CONTINUED >>
Actors Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogan started their Memorial Day early with us, promoting their new film "Knocked Up." WATCH VIDEO. After the cameras wrapped, they chatted some more with me for the blog.
Q: The movie is getting great reviews... it's being called this summer's "Wedding Crashers" or "40 Year Old Virgin." How does that kind of advanced buzz make you guys feel?
Katherine: It feels pretty good!
Seth: It makes me angry!! [laughs]
Katherine: Well there's a lot of pressure I think. Because you're just always afraid that if it's built up so much, then what if it doesn't do what everyone expects it to do.
Seth: Yeah that's true. I hadn't even thought of that until right now. That sucks. Why'd you say that? I felt no pressure before! [Katherine and Seth laughing]
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Here's what we're looking at for this weekend:
Memorial Day Weekend
The mad dash is on as many Americans plan to take advantage of the long Memorial Day weekend. Tomorrow on the show, we'll look at the state of travel across the county, the record high gas prices and the drought conditions in the southeast as summer unofficially starts!
Rosie Not Returning
After a fiery sparring on Wednesday's show, ABC and Disney announced today that Rosie O'Donnell will not return to "The View." The news comes three weeks before her contract was scheduled to end. Tomorrow on the show, we'll tell you why Rosie couldn't wait until the end.
Wayward Whales
For more than two weeks marine biologists have been trying to coax a mother whale and her baby back to the ocean. The two got lost as they migrated north and traveled 90 miles inland towards the port of Sacramento. We'll have an update on their status this weekend.
Don't Miss This on Weekend TODAY:
- Sat: Drugstore Doctors: Is it good medicine?
- Sat: National Hamburger Month
- Sun: Vice President Cheney Speaks at West Point
- Sun: Prepping Your Pet for Summer
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 Alicia Ybarbo, TODAY Producer)
My job continues to teach me things I never knew before. As a producer, one moment I'm picking out belts and shoes for a fashion show and the next I'm writing up interviews with major politicians and war experts. What helps me get through the more challenging segments is my ability to "brush up" on the subjects that I really know little to nothing about. (Nothing a quick call to the research library for some current articles on the subject can't fix.)
In the end, I always manage to pull through the more difficult segments, not letting on that I had to take a crash-course in whatever the topic was. That is, until recently, when I got a big wake-up call reminding me how little I know about science... where no amount of articles from the research library (nada, zilch, zippo) were going to help.
I went to interview a group of high school students from Buffalo, NY, who were on their way to the National Science Bowl in Washington D.C. as the first ever all-girl team. The "Fabulous Five," more formally known as Buffalo Prep, are successful, well-rounded sophomores, juniors and seniors. This was their first time to the Science Bowl, which is a national challenge between 60-something high school teams from across the country, who compete in a Jeopardy-style science challenge.
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We always like to say that our show has a little something for everyone, and our 8:30 half-hour this morning was a prime example, at least speaking from a generational perspective. First, our resident gadget guru Paul Hochman was by to talk about some cool gifts for graduates. Throughout the segment, just for fun, we had various facts about the Class of 2007 flashing across the screen, to illustrate the age in which they grew up. Some of those factoids:
-The Class of 2007 has never driven a Datsun
-The Class of 2007 has only known unleaded gas
-The Class of 2007 has always been able to fit computers in their backpacks
Immediately after we finished discussing some highly technological gadgets such as a portable 
satellite TV system and a pair of sunglasses with a built-in MP3 player (awesome!), we brought you a concert by BLONDIE. The first song they performed was "Call Me," which was made famous in the film "American Gigolo." WATCH VIDEO That film was released in 1980, at which point the college graduates of 2007 were still about 5 years away from being conceived. Then 21-year-old new music sensation Lily Allen joined the band for a performance. WATCH VIDEO 33 years after getting together, Blondie is still rocking it. And I'll bet that they could teach the class of 2007 a thing or two about driving a Datsun.
What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
New Home Sales Up
Numbers were released this morning showing sales of new homes surged in April. Tomorrow we'll tell you what impact this will have on the economy.
No Toothpaste from China
Where does your toothpaste come from? If it comes from China beware. We'll tell you tomorrow why the FDA is halting toothpaste imports from China.
Don't Miss This Tomorrow:
- Fast Food Solution to Fueling Cars
- Doggie DNA: How do you know your dog's breed?
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 the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Iraq Funding Bill
This morning, the President held a news conference where he said he supports the $120 billion war bill compromise. President Bush also said this summer will be a "critical" time in Iraq. Tomorrow we'll tell you about this new bill and what it means for the War in Iraq.
On The Move
Are you heading out for the holiday weekend? You've got to watch this segment. We'll tell you what you can expect on the road, in the air and on the rails.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
In case you missed any of our Locks of Love extravaganza today, you can catch up with these videos:
Meredith and Ann with Alisa, Olivia and Hannah Sobchak. WATCH VIDEO
Matt with Darwin Hurst and Adam Groff. WATCH VIDEO
Al with Donna Lutz. WATCH VIDEO
Here's a look at some before and after photos:
Meredith and Ann visiting with Alisa, Olivia and Hannah Sobchak "before"...
CONTINUED >>
This morning, Meredith spoke with Frieda Birnbaum, the 60-year-old New Jersey woman who gave birth to twins boys on Tuesday. WATCH VIDEO
Birnbaum now has five children with her husband, Ken. In addition to the twins, they have a 33-year-old son, a 28-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son. The three youngest children were all conceived by in-vitro fertilization.
Birnbaum told Meredith that she hopes to be a role model for other middle-aged women, showing them that they have more choices than commonly believed.
CONTINUED >>
(From Samantha Vallejera)
Samantha Vallejera joined us this morning to share her experience of living with alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair, and how Locks of Love has changed her life. Here, Samantha, 15, speaks in her own words...
When I first lost my hair 6 years ago, other kids would tease or bully me because I was different and it really hurt me. I think that when we were little, kids judged people by their appearances. We don't realize that even though my appearance is different, I was still the same person I always was. I lost my confidence and self esteem. When I got my hair prosthesis from Locks of Love, it really changed my feelings and I was able to regain my confidence and self esteem. Now that I am in high school, I don't want what happened to me in the elementary school. I am older now and know that I'm the same person. I would like to be judged for who I am. I am very grateful and thankful to Locks of Love for their awesome services rendered to teenagers like me.
When we first got the call from Madonna, the president of Locks of Love, for me to be on The Today Show, I was really excited. I was just thinking "Oh my god! I'm going to be on TV!" My experience at the NBC studio was a once in a lifetime, memorable experience. In the beginning I really didn't know what to expect. I was just so excited and anxious about what I was going to say and do. But once we started taping, I relaxed and I felt more confident. And now I really can't wait for Thursday, when I'll be on live television. That's another experience I'm really looking forward to. I just want to go through with it. I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that I'll never be able to have again, a chance to show people who I am and gain confidence despite my condition.
What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
The Latest "View" Feud
Did you catch the fight between Rosie and Elizabeth on The View this morning? What was it that set these two co-hosts off? Tune in tomorrow. We'll tell you what did it.
Don't Miss This Tomorrow:
- Part 2 of Ann's Interview with Angelina Jolie
- Locks of Love Plaza Blowout
- Sporty Fashion with Bobbie Thomas
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 Jay Blackman, NBC News Producer)
In a small Connecticut town, tucked away in the dowtown area, we found a Different kind of beauty salon with two very special stylists who to try to live up to the name of their salon Miracles and Beyond and many of their special customers would say they do. WATCH VIDEO
In a small private setting in the back of the salon, away from the normal cut and color services all salons offer, Sisters Lisa Dlugos (a cancer survivor herself) and Joyce Peterson cater their hair care services to women who are fighting cancer, trying to give them back some of the femininity that the disease takes away. Whether it is helping them choose the right wig or tips on using makeup to camouflage chemotherapy's awful effects, the sisters are there, with their bright smiles and comforting hugs. CONTINUED >>
(From Eric Hill, TODAY Production Associate)
I came to NBC and TODAY as a child of television and trivia. It started with
such useful facts as the name of the dog on “Petticoat Junction” (it’s “Dog”, really!).
That curiosity expanded to current events, politics and issues that touch our daily lives.
This show brings an incredible array of stories and information on a vast number of topics on a daily basis. While working at our various posts during air it is sometimes difficult to pick up on all the information our guests have to offer. I have taken the opportunity after the show to read some of the research and notes prepared for individual segments. In doing so I have picked up nuggets of information that have expanded my knowledge, ever so slightly, in a variety of subjects. The practical use of this was never more important to me than on a day last September.
CONTINUED >>
Here's the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Declassified Information on Bin Laden
This morning in a speech to the U.S. Coast Guard graduating class President Bush asserted that "Osama Bin Laden calls the struggle in Iraq a 'war of destiny.' Tuesday the White House declassified intelligence that showed Bin Laden ordered al Qaeda operatives to establish cells in Iraq to carry out attacks in the United States. We'll have this full story for you tomorrow.
Memorial Day Travel
Drivers can already expect high gas prices this weekend as they head out for the long weekend. But how do the airways, byways and highways look for the weekend travel? We'll have a traffic outlook for the Memorial Day weekend.
How Old Is Too Old to Give Birth?
Is 60 too old? Not for one New Jersey woman who gave birth to not only one, but two baby boys yesterday. But what do her 33-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter think? We'll tell you tomorrow.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Zoey Beda answers that question with "seven inches". Today seven-year-old Zoey showed up with her very excited family to our greenroom for a quick spot on her special skill: rollerskating limbo. WATCH VIDEO.
Needless to say, the control room was buzzing, cameras were flashing and stage managers were laughing at the amazing spectacle. Zoey's parents were pacing around before the segment began, making sure she stayed warm before her performance and handing out her business cards (yes, business cards). I have to mention Zoey's brother Jacob too, because he should be in the running for brother of the year; he was under the weather this morning but posed for a family photo and joined the crowd on the plaza to cheer his little sister on.
I also heard from Matt Zimmerman, a member of our booking team, that this was a competitive booking - we managed to call Zoey first and snag her for our show before other shows had a chance! With all of the attention and excitement, I was able to catch Zoey in the greenroom to ask about her life as a seven-year-old Roller Limbo Princess:
CONTINUED >>
What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
No Period Pills
No bloating. No cramps. No migraines. No period. Sounds nice. But is it safe? Tomorrow Dr. Nancy Snyderman will tell us about the first birth control pill approved by the FDA that would end periods for women.
What Else in on Deck for Tomorrow:
- Interview with John Edwards
- Soaring Gas Prices
- Martha Stewart Gets Us Ready for Memorial Day BBQ's
We had a shuffle
Our political spot on candidates' spouses will not air tomorrow. Instead we'll look at the agreement reached on the Iraq funding bill.
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 the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
'08 Spouses
A former president, a cancer survivor and a former nurse ready to advise on healthcare issues. These are the shining stars of the '08 race. And they're not even running. Tomorrow we'll take a look at the spouses of the 2008 candidates.
Ann's Interview with Angelina and Brad
Are there any bigger movie stars? Tomorrow we'll bring you Ann's exclusive interview with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Plane Etiquette
Should you say something about the crying baby? Or ask the person to throw out their nauseating smelly food? Or how about sharing an armrest? Tomorrow Peter Greenberg will lay out the rules of airline etiquette for us.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(From Bob Dotson, NBC News National Correspondent)
History is a sly dog most of the time. It manufactures its most interesting moments in strange, secret places. Take This week's American Story with Bob Dotson. We found a man who might today be the Emperor of Russia, it's Czar, if the Communists hadn't taken over in 1918. He lives not in a castle, but in small coastal town in northern California. WATCH VIDEO Andrew Romanoff, now 84, came to this country with eight hundred dollars in his pocket. Earned a living as an artist. No, not creating Faberge' Eggs. Shrinky Dinks. That's right. Those plastic squares on which kids love to paint. He's quite good.
Art replaced Romanoff's dreams of a kingdom, long ago.
CONTINUED >>
We continued our discussion of "helicopter parents" today looking at parents involved in their child's career. WATCH VIDEO. It was intriguing to me because I am part of Gen Y and see a range of parenting in my group of friends alone. How much is too much in terms of parental involvement? I know I found the transition out of college to be more challenging and rewarding than the transition into college from high school. A lot of the challenge was facing decisions about "real life" outside of the college bubble. What is a 401k, what benefits package do I want, how do I negotiate a salary? It is a lot of responsibility compared to choosing which lab science can help fulfill a graduation requirement.
Michele Borba presented a guideline for parents of kids entering the workforce for the first time: "Never do for your child what your child can do for himself." It can definitely be frustrating when something happens in the workplace and I just want an easy answer, but it has been valuable to struggle through some of the questions I've had without the quick fix of my parents.
Al mentioned that he occasionally finds himself to be a helicopter parent, so I caught up with him to ask a few follow-up questions after the segment:
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What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
GOP & Social Issues
What role will social issues play in the 2008 election for the Republicans? We'll take a look tomorrow and we'll have Tim Russert break it all down.
The Latest in Undergarments
Whether they're for slimming, tucking or just pure fun, all ladies think about their undergarments before they put on their clothes. Stacy London will be here tomorrow to tell us the latest fashions and tricks in undies!
Other Stories We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Fast Food Solution to Fueling Cars
Shuffled Back In
A couple weeks ago we shuffled out a story about how foods may help your eyesight. That story has found its way back into tomorrow's rundown. Tune in to see if carrots really do the trick!
We'll keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise, see you in the morning.
During his visit to "The Little House on the Prairie," Lester Holt got a chance to ask cast members questions submitted by viewers.
Will there be a "Little House" reunion? What did the actors take from the set and what did they leave behind?
Watch and find out.
Here's the first crack at tomorrow's rundown:
Conflict in Lebanon
This morning, mortar attacks continued in Tripoli, Lebanon as the Lebanese army attacked a Palestinian refugee camp linked to al Qaeda. On Sunday, at least 50 people were killed in the camp. Tomorrow we'll tell you what caused this conflict.
Today at the Pump
Memorial Day is almost here and many families have plans to hit the road to get away for the long weekend. In the last two weeks we've seen an 18 cent increase in the price of gas. What can motorists expect to see this weekend? We'll tell you tomorrow.
Hotel Goodies
Can you take shampoo from a hotel? Sure. How about the sewing kit? Why not. But the writing desk? Maybe not. Tomorrow Peter Greenberg will give us the 411 on what you can take from your hotel room. And yes, people really have tried to take the furniture.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Boxer, grill-guru, and spiritual preacher George Foreman stopped by this morning to talk about his new book. WATCH VIDEO. This book is very different from his previous autobiography. This one focuses on his spiritual life and work as a preacher. He gave me a few minutes in the green room before he went into the studio to chat.
Q: Why did you come out with this book now? It's so different from your last one.
Foreman: You know I travel. I can be heavyweight champion of the world. I did an autobiography, and all kinds of books. And people are still meeting me in the market when I do signings and saying "I didn't know you were a preacher." I say "you didn't know that?" They know I recaptured the title, and I'm famous for the grill. But I had to make certain that people knew about my evangelistic work. And this book was to express my journey, my spiritual journey, so that once and for all people understand what I do.
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Chris "Ludacris" Bridges was on our show this morning to talk about his guest-starring role on tomorrow night's episode of "Law & Order: SVU." WATCH VIDEO. After his interview, he hung around in his dressing room for a quick Q&A for the web.
Q: You've broken into film and television. You've been in critically-acclaimed films and now a critically-acclaimed TV show. How does that feel? How do you like acting?
Bridges: Man it feels great to know that if one of the things I'm doing I get tired of, I'll have something else to fall back on. It just feels good to be so multi-faceted and just knowing that I'm gifted in a different area that I had no idea I was gifted in... until I tried it out and people liked it.
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(From Lynn Berry, TODAY Producer)
Many of us here at TODAY have a "beat". Whether it's hard news, fashion, politics, or cooking demos, we become mini "experts" on the topics. So much research goes into producing, and in the end you learn a tremendous amount about each story. My beat is security. I've done a lot of segments on scams, safety and security concerns. Basically, it's made me paranoid. Even my editors say they've gotten paper shredders or secure wireless devices because of the segments we've worked on, and I've done the same. Whether it's how to negotiate the price on a new car or how to protect myself when walking alone at night, I've learned a lot and hope people at home have gotten something out of it as well.
This week we're working on Airport Crimes. Today’s segment is about a scam many people have never given much thought to. When you check-in your luggage, how do you know if someone's taken items from the bag during transport, and do you check when it arrives on the other end? I never open my bag at the airport...I wait until I get home to unpack. What power do I have if I'm not at the airport to report the crime?
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(From David Gelles, TODAY Producer)
When Jerry Falwell died suddenly on Tuesday, I realized I had produced NBC’s last interview with him.
Two months ago, Andrea Mitchell and I started working on a story about the role of evangelicals in the 2008 presidential race.
I made some calls and set up some interviews. One of the first to call me back was Jerry Falwell.
On the morning of March 16th, Andrea interviewed him from a satellite uplink studio in Lynchberg, VA on the Liberty University campus. Andrea was in her office in Washington asking the questions over the phone.
Unfortunately, the interview never aired. In the weeks that followed, other stories: Iraq, Imus, Virginia Tech took our attention away.
The wide ranging conversation lasted only about 15 minutes, but Falwell offered his typical no holds barred opinions on the current Republican field.
“I have my finger on the evangelical pulse as well as anyone - there is no head-and-shoulders-above fella at all.” he said.
Falwell said that the faith of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon, should not be a concern for voters.
“We are not electing a Sunday school teacher but a president,” Falwell said. “And all of our past presidents - very few of them were Baptists - Bill Clinton was and he wasn't a very good one.”
Falwell predicted that Rudy Giulaini would have a tough time winning over religious conservatives calling Giuliani’s personal life “terrific baggage”
Though it was still early in the campaign, Falwell worried that the Republican party was suffering from a “malaise.” Still he knew there was one candidate in the race he’d never vote for.
“I have an ABC position,” he said. “Anybody But Clinton."
Falwell was a master of the television sound bite. Whether you loved him or hated him, his words always found a way into the political debate. On Tuesday, he managed to have the final word.
Portions of Falwell’s interview aired in Kevin Corke’s TODAY report on Wednesday morning and Bob Faw’s Nightly News report.
(From Sandy Rivera, TODAY Booking Producer)
Hello, my name is Sandy Rivera, and I am a Booking Producer for NBC's Today Show. Whenever you see a guest on our show do you wonder how he or she was chosen to appear or how we got them to sit down and tell us their story? It's not as simple as it may look. I can tell you first hand it's very challenging, exciting, and competitive. The Networks are always competing for that first BIG EXCLUSIVE interview with whoever is making news at the moment. Sometimes we work on stories for months or even years and sometimes a story breaks, and within hours we have booked a guest live for the next morning.
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Here's what we're looking at for Monday on TODAY:
Decision '08: Interview with Hillary
Her every move is carefully watched. She is cautiously serving her term in the senate. The role of her husband is considered a secret weapon. Does Hillary Clinton have what it takes to be our nation's first female president? We'll have a LIVE interview with the senator in the morning.
President Carter vs. Bush Administration
The White House today responded to President Jimmy Carter calling the Bush administration "the worst in history" saying that the former President is becoming "increasingly irrelevant." Tomorrow we'll talk to President Carter LIVE and we'll get the latest on this political firestorm. We'll also hear about President Carter's annual project with Habitat for Humanity as they raise the walls on the 1,001th Habitat home built in the Gulf Coast since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit.
Search Continues for Missing Soldiers
The U.S. and Iraqi armies continued to search for three U.S. soldiers that went missing more than 8 days ago. Reports out this weekend said that the army believes that 2 of the 3 may still be alive. We'll have the very latest on this story in the morning.
What Else We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Travel Detective: Time Share Scams
- Madelyn Fernstrom tells us about Food Addictions
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:
Immigration Bill
Controversy erupted on both sides of the debate as word spread about the new immigration bill passed by U.S. congress. Tomorrow on Weekend TODAY, we'll explain all the components of the proposal.
How Are Those Whales?
For the last couple of days we've had our eye on two wayward whales in the Port of Sacramento. Marine Biologists failed to lure the mother and baby whale into deeper waters today using special sonar devices. Tomorrow, we'll have an update for you.
Going Back to The Prairie
Laura... Ma & Pa...Nellie... what has happened to the cast of Little House on the Prairie? Lester Holt visited with the cast more than 20 years after the show's final season. We'll have this story on Sunday.
Don't Miss This on Weekend TODAY:
- Sat: Gearing up for the Preakness
- Sun: Today at Work- Your Wardrobe
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)
Today on the plaza, we had a special guest -- Christopher Agostino, a New York-based artist specializing in face painting. He is the author of Transformations! and has been painting faces for the past 30 years.
He says, "A face is a living canvas," and he proved that this morning. Here are a few examples (photos by Kate Billman):
Christopher Agostino at work.
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Who's the biggest reject in the band? What's it like to meet Al Roker? And what about the danger of foot rot on tour?
The All-American Rejects tell all in this Web-exclusive interview. WATCH VIDEO
(From Lester Holt, TODAY Anchor)
The little house is gone. As is the church that doubled as a schoolhouse, and Oleson's Mercantile. And who knew the creek that "half-pint" occasionally fished in never existed at all but was rather a piece of Hollywood magic? Yet the ride up a dusty trail past the Oak tree dotted hill where little Carry Ingalls takes a tumble in the show's open left no doubt I had arrived in Walnut Grove, the home of "Little House on the Prairie."
This weekend on TODAY we're beginning a series asking "Whatever happened to?" and so this occasion was a chance to catch up with many of the cast members from the long-running series "Little House on the Prairie" -- one of the last true family-oriented primetime TV shows. Its 9-year run on NBC, based on the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, told the story of a frontier family as they endured the hardships of living on the Minnesota prairie. For television the prairie was actually a movie and TV ranch about 30 miles north of Los Angeles, which is where I met up with 8 of the cast members.
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(From Anthony Galloway, Burbank Bureau Producer)
I've just returned from the set of "Little House on the Prairie." I know what you're thinking - the television show went off the air more than 20 years ago (and in the final episode the people of Walnut Grove blew up the entire town.) Granted, the buildings are gone, but the prairie is still there.
Today, many of the show's cast members were there, too. They traveled back to the prairie from cities far and close for an interview with Lester Holt. Many of them hadn't seen each other or been back to the prairie since the show ended. As the interview went on, I could see in their eyes how much the prairie meant to them. It wasn't just a piece of land or a temporary set built for television. To them, this was Walnut Grove - a place where some of them grew up and others grew older.
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This morning, we ran a story on a new hotel trend that focuses on female business travelers. For a $30 premium, women can stay on a female-only floor -- where they, the hotel administrators argue, will have a greater sense of security and can get pampered (with fresh flowers and upgraded toiletries in their rooms and a private lounge). WATCH VIDEO
Attorney Gloria Allred and Donny Deutsch, host of CNBC's "The Big Idea" debated whether this was a good idea or was discrimination against men.
We want to know what you think--
CONTINUED >>
(From Janet Shamlian, TODAY Correspondent)
I'd never been to New York's famed 21 Club before today's story on women and the glass ceiling, but what an appropriate spot to talk about career building and networking. Once a speakeasy, it's now a spot where relationships are forged and deals are done. I sat down with three women there for morning coffee (video). All have Ivy League degrees and career paths that wouldn't intersect in a million years! Cynthia Russell has a Harvard MBA and a full-time job taking care of three active children. Now that they're a little older, she'd love to get back in the game but isn't sure how. Lisa Quiroz is a corporate executive who never married or had children. She wonders about that choice. Lori Okun is somewhere in the middle. She works part time, is raising two children and questions herself constantly on how well she's managing it all.
This story was perfect for me, as I seem to have been on all sides of it. I worked for years before I had children, then I quit completely as I was in the midst of numerous pregnancies and now I am back full time and raising five young children. As any parent in similar circumstances will attest, it's a constant juggle and at least from this correspondents' perspective, it always feels like the I'm dropping more balls than I'm keeping in the air. Yesterday, for example, I tried to plan my daughter's birthday party for tomorrow from 900 miles away while I wrote a Today Show script. It was too late to order the cake she wanted and several friends on her guest list had already made other plans.
While Cynthia, Lisa and Lori are on different paths, they agreed on this: women don't network like the guys do -- and they should. Whether it's lunch in the building's cafeteria or a couple of cold ones at the end of the day -- men forge stronger workplace relationships than women, something that benefits them when it comes to moving up. People do business with people they know and like.
As for the juggle and the decision on whether to step off the fast track, it's one of those 'your mileage may vary' types of situations. What's true for most women is this: it's often tough to get back on, and if you do, the new ride comes with a healthy slice of mommy guilt. An inescapable feeling, I've come to accept, it's in our genetic makeup. Back to plans for a party...
What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
Immigration Deal Struck
Compromise is possible in politics! Today, Senators came to an agreement on a immigration bill. Chip Reid will have a full report for us from Capitol Hill.
Will Americans Get Away This Summer?
Summer is almost upon us and for many that means time to get away. Yes, even with those gas prices soaring. Tomorrow we'll look at a recent study that says there's no stopping the American road warrior this summer.
Other Stories We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Where Are We with the Glass Ceiling? Have Women Really Broken Through?
- All American Rejects Perform on the Plaza
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 Melissa Bellman, TODAY Finance Manager)
Looking back on my life, it has taken me to some very interesting places – I danced ballet professionally, lived in Europe while getting my Master’s Degree, and traveled to many beautiful places in the world. Matt just gave me some great ideas for new destinations. Life is all about change, and it’s what keeps life interesting. When I interviewed here at the Today Show, I knew that everyday at work would be different and exciting. As Finance Manager of the Today, each day truly is a different challenge. It’s not your typical finance job. Since our product is a live show, we are involved with day-to-day operations along with monthly closes and yearly budgeting. Sometimes we even get to go on location with the show. The one thing that does not cease to amaze me is how a plaza in the middle of New York City can transform into almost anything. We’ve had a stage for full blown concerts, a beach volleyball court, a mini-ski slope to demonstrate skiing (Mount Rockefeller), a construction site for Habitat for Humanity house, a circus, and even many weddings. I never know what to expect when I walk to work. So the next time you are in New York, stop by to see the show and what’s going on in the Plaza.
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Is Gore Running?
With the election a year and a half away, there's still plenty of time for politicians to declare their candidacy. One of those politicians some say is still weighing his options is former Vice President Al Gore. We'll look at whether or not he's getting ready to throw his hat in the ring.
Women Only Hotel Floor
Security seems to always be on the mind of women, especially when they are alone. One hotel under construction in Grand Rapids, Michigan has taken this into account and is creating a floor specifically for female guests. Tomorrow we'll tell you all about the plans and whether or not it's actually legal.
Cause for Concern: Relationships
Another topic on women's minds is relationships. Tomorrow on the show, we'll talk to Dr. Nancy Snyderman and Dr. Laura Berman about the top relationship mistakes women make.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Mike Lupica stopped by this morning to talk with Matt about his new young adult book, Summer Ball, the sequel to his 2005 bestseller, Travel Team. WATCH VIDEO
After his interview with Matt, Lupica -- who is also a sports columnist for the New York Daily News -- chatted with me on subjects ranging from his writing influences to baseball to the 2008 presidential race. Here are some of the highlights:
Q: Who were some of your writing influences when you were a kid reading young adult sports books?
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What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
Prince Harry Not Going To Iraq
Against Prince Harry's desires to serve with his unit in Iraq, news came today that the third in line to the British throne will not be deployed. Britain's top general said the decision was made after a "number of specific threats" targeted the Prince. Tomorrow Keith Miller will join us from London with the whole story.
Political Shuffle
We had a shuffle in Kelly O'Donnell's political spot. We'll now look at Rudy Giuliani and his firm response to Rep. Ron Paul's claim about the Sept. 11th attacks. Can Rudy run on his Sept. 11th image? In addition to Kelly's report, we'll talk to Laura Ingraham and Dee Dee Myers tomorrow.
Other Stories We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Who are the final two on IDOL?
- Mario Batali cooks Italian in our kitchen
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 at Today, we are used to spectacles on the plaza. Summer concerts, celebrities, and fashion shows are all part of a normal day on the show. But walking out on the plaza this week had us all saying “wow.” For our week-long series “Today Goes Wild” we have had a huge giraffe, a giant salt-water aquarium, and today a tent full of thousands of butterflies.
WATCH VIDEO It was an awesome sight for all of us here, but many of you watching from home were quite impressed as well. Here are some of your e-mails:
Good morning Meredith,
My 7 year old, first grader is so thrilled this morning to see your segment on the butterfly migration. It couldn't have come at a better time, her class let their Painted Lady Butterflies free yesterday, here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Venice in Sarasota County. It was beautiful, on a small scale!! They have raised them from that very first stage of life, nurturing them carefully. It was a wonderful experience for the children.
I can tell you that you were truly envied by a first grader this morning!! She is still begging to be right there where you were!
Have a wonderful day!
Allison Horsley and daughter, Rebekah
CONTINUED >>
(From Robin Sindler, TODAY producer)
Check out these photos from Al's trip to Manitoba where he observed polar bears in their natural habitat....
This photo was taken by professional photographer Kevin Gilbert, who we met during our stay at the Tundra Buggy Lodge.
CONTINUED >>
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Today at the Pump
It feels like everyday the price of gas inches a little bit higher. No doubt the increase is having an impact on everyday life. Research shows that the average household is spending $1,000 more per year on gas than it did five years ago. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at all the ways these rising prices are draining your pockets.
Stick To Party Lines?
As the '08 election heats up, the pressure will be on the candidates to define their positions. Already in the debates, we have seen the Republican candidate cautiously support the President while still distinctively distancing themselves. We'll look at the mechanics of political party alignment tomorrow morning.
Is it Healthy or Not Healthy?
It's fair to say that the average woman considers the nutritional value before she takes a bite or swig of anything. But are you really eating food that's good for you? Tomorrow, Dr. Nancy Snyderman and nutritionist Joy Bauer will tell us the biggest nutritional mistakes that women make.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
(By Stephanie Becker, TODAY producer)
I am a swag hag. That means I’m a fanatic for the freebies people send me just because I’m a Today Show producer. So, when I see an unexpected box stuffed into my mailbox I get all tingly with anticipation. It’s like Christmas morning on any random weekday.
The goodies are supposed to entice me to cover an event, author, product or movie that I might otherwise ignore. Now, NBC has strict rules about what is acceptable. It cannot accept anything of more than “nominal value.” Of course, what’s nominal to our standards department and what’s nominal to me has more than a nominal difference. For instance, a diamond tiara from the jeweler to the stars Harry Winston has little value to me since I never go anywhere where I could wear it. Technically accepting one would not be a violation.
However, I should probably turn over my fuzzy purple sweatshirt from Capitol University. CONTINUED >>
How do 3,000 butterflies make their way to Rockefeller Plaza? Via Fed Ex, apparently. This morning, Rockefeller Plaza became Butterfly Plaza, as a tent was erected containing the aforementioned 3,000 butterflies. The butterfly tent was all part of our continuing Today Goes Wild series, as a follow-up to Meredith's recent trip to Mexico to see the monarch butterfly migration. I stepped into the tent earlier this morning to see how the butterfly tent preps were going:
CONTINUED >>
(From Robin Sindler, TODAY producer)
Check out these photos from Meredith's trip to Mexico (video) to witness the migration of the Monarch butterflies....
Meredith and the horse (Meredith named her Mariposa) that brought her to the butterfly colony.
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What we're planning for tomorrow's show:
Remembering Rev. Jerry Falwell
This afternoon news came that the Rev. Jerry Falwell was found unconscious in his office at Liberty University. He was later pronounced dead. Tomorrow, we'll look at the life of the man who will be remembered for establishing the Moral Majority in American politics.
More of Brian Williams Exclusive with Tony Blair
Tomorrow we will bring you more from Brian Williams's exclusive with Tony Blair. The interview comes less then a week after the Prime Minister announced his resignation. Read The Daily Nightly for more about the interview. Read Here
Other Stories We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Today Goes Wild with Bugs & Butterflies
- Amputee Sprinter: Overcomes Disability? Or Too-Abled?
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)
Tomorrow we are expecting 3,000 visitors in the plaza. How can we fit them all in, you ask? Well, for starters, they weigh about an ounce a piece.
I’m talking about butterflies. And they’ll be flying around in a netted tent tomorrow as part of our ‘Today Goes Wild’ series.
Monday we had wild animals from the Amazon to the outback, and Ann did her piece on the orangutan. Today we had a huge fish tank in honor of Matt’s piece about the humpback whale. Wednesday it’s my turn: I followed the monarch butterfly on its annual migration from the United States to Mexico.
Read the rest of Meredith's blog at iVillage.
(From Alexandra Pournaras, TODAY Producer)
If you’ve been reading the TODAY blog you’ve heard lots of stories of what it’s like to work at the Today Show. Of course, I think it’s great. And one of the reasons I’ve stayed here for over 10 years is the range of stories I can work on in a month, week and even day. Everyday is different and the only way to keep track of what’s next is to check my calendar which gets updated daily. Today I thought I’d give you an insider’s look at how one of those spots goes from an idea to being on the air.
About a month ago, I was assigned a cookbook spot. (Yes… sometimes we are assigned segments and other times we come up with the story idea ourselves – a question I’m often asked.) Food blogger, Clotilde Dusoulier has written her first cookbook, Chocolate and Zucchini, which is also the name of her own blog. I checked out her website and felt I had been whisked away to a Paris café. I couldn’t wait to speak with her directly. After a series of emails (there is a 6 hour time difference between Paris and New York) we spoke.
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Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
GOP's 2nd Debate
Republican presidential candidates are getting ready to face off tonight in the second debate of the 2008 election season. Tonight's debate is in South Carolina. Tomorrow on our show Tim Russert to talk about the night's events.
Top 10 Medical Mistakes Women Make
We all know there is a lot going on in our bodies and that means we probably do a lot of things wrong. Tomorrow, Dr. Nancy Snyderman will begin a three day series on the 10 mistakes women make regarding their health.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
This morning's edition of "Today Goes Wild" featured an underwater extravaganza as the plaza was taken over by a giant fish tank filled with sharks, puffer fish, sting rays and more. How long did it take to put this plaza aquarium together? I took a peek at the schedule for the set-up of the tank and it shows the time and dedication it took to put this amazing segment together:
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As my friends and family can attest, I love to watch and discuss television. Although the show "That Girl" was a little bit before my time, I'm certainly aware of its cultural importance. This morning a tape spot featuring "That Girl" star Marlo Thomas delved into the history and the future of the modern woman in television, and in reality.
(WATCH HERE) While the spot offered a significant amount of hope for the future of women, I was also reminded of a recent NY Times article, that begged the question, what happened to the quirky, lovable career girl from "That Girl" and the "Mary Tyler Moore Show?" Shows within the past decade like "Ally McBeal," and recent shows like "Grey's Anatomy" feature strong independent women often becoming weak as they succumb to their neurotic tendencies. As the NY Times article pointed out, these shows are often admittedly "escapist fantasies," but is there some truth to the portrayal of women? Along with the Marlo Thomas spot this morning, Today is lauching a series called "In Search of the Modern Woman." Is she the modern-day equivalent to "That Girl?" Or has she evolved into something else entirely? What do you think?
What' we're planning for tomorrow's show:
'08 Wildcards
They haven't declared their candidacy, but their every move is being watched and noted. Some say if one of them runs, it will shake up the entire race. So who are the wildcards in the '08 election? Kelly O'Donnell will tell us tomorrow in her report.
Celebs Join Effort To Find Missing British Toddler
Police today questioned a man regarding the disappearance of little Madeleine McCann who went missing from her parent's hotel room in Portugal. This comes after several famous Brits have joined the efforts in finding Maddie. Harry Potter author, J.K.Rowling, Sir Richard Branson and Simon Cowell have made contributions to assist in the search. Tomorrow we'll bring you the latest on this story.
Other Stories We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Why are Mammogram Rates Declining?
- Matt Goes Wild and Swims With Humpbacks
- American Girl's Casting Call
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:
Latest on Missing Soldiers
Tomorrow, we will bring you the very latest on the soldiers that went missing over the weekend. This morning U.S. troops continued their search for the three and engaged in fire with suspected Sunni militants. Still today though, the Al Qaeda linked group that claimed responsibility has not shown proof that they have the soldiers.
Wildfires Burning in Florida
Firefighters today continued to fight a wildfire that jumped from Georgia into Florida burning more than 240,000 acres across state lines. Scattered storms and thunderstorms are expected later today, but firefighters fear lightning strikes will only ignite more fires. Tomorrow morning we will bring you the latest on the effort to contain this fire and keep you updated as more residents are being forced to evacuate their homes.
Bystanders Did Nothing
Why wouldn't someone say something? That's what authorities in Detroit are asking today after surveillance footage showed a group of onlookers doing nothing while a 91-year-old veteran was beaten. Watch Video We'll take a look at this story and the bystander effect.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Dear Ada has the answers to some of your pressing questions:
Dear Ada,
I watch the Today Show every morning while I am getting ready to go to work and I really liked the series of "Where in the World is Matt Lauer". I was a little bit disappointed that going everywhere around the world he did not go anywhere in South America where I am sure he could find very exotic and beautiful places that most people in North America don't know of.
Best Regards,
Diana, New York
Dear Diana,
You're right about South America's abundance of beautiful and exotic places. For what has become one of Today's trademark series, Matt has broadcast live from remote locations around the world. In 2001, Matt's travels brought him to Machu Picchu, Peru, and in 2002 he visited Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, as well at the Amazon. This year, on day 5 of Where In The World Is Matt Lauer, Matt was asked, "Of all the places you've visited over the years, what would be the one place you would return to for a family vacation?" He mentioned 3 places he would return to. The first one mentioned was Machu Picchu. He called it "a magical place". I'm certain his travels will bring him back to South America where he will continue to share with us, and the rest of the viewers, the splendor and magnificence of South America and its people.
CONTINUED >>
(From Michele Leone, TODAY Producer)
My name is Michele and I'm one of the producer's here at TODAY.
My family and I are from Jamaica, but I'm an American Citizen, and so, I guess that would make me Jamerican. I'm very proud to be doing a job that I love, in a country that I love, like these 3 Air Force servicemen who I recently did a segment on. They just received the Military's Visual Information Award for their creative work in the field during this time of war. WATCH VIDEO
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This morning, we kicked off a week-long series called "Today Goes Wild." All of our anchors have traveled the globe, tracking animals in their natural environments, and are bringing us stories from all different habitats. Ann's journey aired this morning, showing her trip to Borneo to study the orangutan. WATCH VIDEO. This morning also featured our plaza transformed into a tropical rainforest, the African Savanna, and the Australian Outback, complete with enough animals to keep everyone on their toes.
It isn't every day that you see a giraffe walking across 49th Street in midtown Manhattan at 6:30 in the morning. Or when you see a zebra break free from its trainer and start scurrying around Rockefeller Plaza. Or when you see Meredith, Matt, Al and Ann holding a huge anaconda. Or when you see "Heroes'" star Hayden Panettiere feeding a 17-foot giraffe a carrot. These were just some of the antics taking place outside our studio, as we brought you day one of our series. Tune in tomorrow for a look at creatures under the sea. And see below for some photos from this morning's festivities.
CONTINUED >>
(From Ann Curry, TODAY Anchor)
Some scientists consider orangutans to be the world's most intelligent animal, second only to humans. There is even evidence they have a kind of culture, passing down knowledge from generation to generation, and more incredibly this knowledge appears to vary from one geographical area to another.
They are elusive in the wild. To see them, our NBC News team had to hike deep in the rainforests of Borneo, through knee deep black water and constant waves of mosquitoes.
CONTINUED >>
Note: Last month, cameraman Mike Simon accompanied Ann Curry to Borneo and into the Sebangau National Park in search of wild orangutans. He may have gotten more than he bargained for.
I've taken a lot of adventurous trips with Ann Curry. We traveled into the heartbreak of Sri Lanka after the tsunami. There have been three trips into the Darfur region of Africa, including the $4 a night guesthouse in Adre along the Chad/Sudan border. Our crew slept in sleeping bags for a week enduring Hurricane Katrina. We wore flak jackets in downtown Beirut. So, she knows how to rough it. I thought this trip should be easy. After all, any story that didn't involve body armor had to be a good one. But our trip to Sebangau National Park in Borneo would soon join this league of adventures.
CONTINUED >>
Note: Last month, soundman Bob Lapp accompanied Ann Curry to Borneo and the Nyaru Menteng Rescue and Rehabilitation Center for orangutans.
In our modern society, there are rules that govern every aspect of our lives. But rules about touching an orangutan? Who knew?
In preparation for our trip to Borneo, I received a plethora of information about our location and an exhaustive page on the “Do’s and Dont’s” of orangutans. One of the more disturbing “Do’s” was that I had to get checked for HIV, Hep-B and TB. Not for my protection, but for the apes. What? Are these not the critters that run around a swamp swinging naked from trees and pissing on anything that happens by? Tests that prove I am worthy to meet the apes? That’s a new twist. OK, OK, no problem. I’ll have the tests done. Hell, I need the work.
But wait, there was more. Check out these general guidelines for when meeting an orangutan:
CONTINUED >>
Here's what we're looking at for Monday on TODAY:
Search Continues for Missing Soldiers
U.S. troops continued to search today for three missing soldiers in the town of Yusufiya, just south of Baghdad. The three went missing in a pre-dawn attack Saturday that left four other soldiers and an Iraqi Army translator dead. Today, an al-Qaeda group claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was holding the three missing soldiers, but there was no proof to support the claim. NBC's Ian Williams will join us tomorrow with the latest on this story.
BBC Program Attacks Scientology
A firestorm has ensued between British television network, BBC, and the Church of Scientology, after a documentary labeled the church as a cult. The program even prompted reaction from one Hollywood actor who is a member of the Church. Tomorrow, we'll have a report from Keith Miller on the details of the documentary and he'll tell us what member of the church called it a display of "hatred against my religion."
TODAY Goes Wild
Tomorrow we begin our special series, "TODAY Goes Wild". Ann will tell us all about her special adventure with orangutans.
What Else We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Today at the Pump- Interview with the President of Shell Oil
- Wildfires in the Southeast
- Consumer Reporter Janice Lieberman tells us about Money Scams
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:
Wildfires Across The Country
We are continuing to watch wildfires from California to Florida and Georgia. Today, firefighters on Catalina Island seem to have gotten a good handle on the fire there. Meanwhile in Georgia a second fire ignited and jumped the state line into northern Florida. Tomorrow on the show, we will have full reports on the status of these fires.
Toddler Snatched From Parent's Hotel Room
A parent's worst nightmare is for their child to go missing, that nightmare only is magnified when the family is in a foreign country. Saturday on the show we will bring you the story of a British toddler snatched from her parent's hotel room in Portugal. And we'll tell you what international super star is pleading for her return.
Who is Rudy?
Sunday on the show we will look at presidential contender Rudy Giuliani and his personal life. What is the history behind the divorces? John Yang will bring us that report.
Don't Miss This on Weekend TODAY:
- Sat: Why do we sweat excessively?
- Sun: Make your best pitch to your boss
- We celebrate Mother's Day all weekend LONG!
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)
Martina McBride takes five, sharing her biggest fear, her obsession with a strong cup of joe and more. WATCH VIDEO
Josh Turner tells allDAY about his fast food habits, the one object he has to have on tour and forgetting his lyrics in front of the president. WATCH VIDEO
(From Lester Holt, TODAY Anchor)
Why is it that sometimes the farther you are from the past the more you are drawn toward it? As a child I never talked much to my maternal grandparents about their lives growing up, where they came from, or how they came to immigrate to America. I knew of course they were both born in Jamaica, and were married and had my mom after they had moved to New York. My grandfather passed away when I was just 8. My grandmother lived well into her 90's.
I ate a lot of Jamaican foods and was exposed to some of the culture and customs growing up, but never felt a pull to explore that part of my background until two years ago when my mother, June, made her first trip to Jamaica. The stories and pictures she brought back of ancestors, relatives and pieces of family history she didn't know existed were inspiring. Listening to her delight in the stories of her trip also made me regret I had never had those conversations with my grandparents.
And so when TODAY producers asked me to do "something special" with my mother for a Mother's Day weekend story, I knew just what I wanted to do: To "go home" to Jamaica with my mom. To see through her eyes the Jamaica of her parents.
CONTINUED >>
(From Amanda Bushey, TODAY Assistant to Meredith Vieira)
So, it's 4:30am and my phone rings...it's Meredith Vieira calling me. I can't say this is something that happens often.
I put on my best...I'm totally wide-awake, kind of …HELLO.
CONTINUED >>
(From Samantha Holman, TODAY Assistant to Gene Shalit)
Here at Today, I go to the movies for a living. I work with Gene Shalit and I’ve been His Girl Friday for almost 10 years now. The job is a great fit for me because I’ve always loved movies. And I’ve especially loved movies that are so bad they’re good. Admit it…we all have a few movies in our DVD collection that we can quote backwards and forwards because they’re great – and a bunch of OTHER ones which aren’t, but we love ‘em anyway.
Here are some of my favorites from the latter category:
CONTINUED >>
(From Rachel Burstein, TODAY Producer)
Much to the annoyance of my friends, family, in-laws, and in particular, my mother, I have turned down every opportunity to have my 18-month-old daughter on the Today Show. And there have been plenty. I should know, it's my job to recruit people.
CONTINUED >>
(From Campbell Brown, TODAY Anchor)
When I think of my mother, Dale, I usually picture her covered in paint. She spends most of her time in a big open warehouse just outside of Pensacola, Florida.
In her studio, giant canvases cover the walls in various stages of completion. I would describe her paintings as bold. The colors are strong and the canvas is big. They are abstract and inspired by her Gulf of Mexico surroundings. (To see Dale's paintings click here.)
Painting is not a hobby for my mother. It is a passion. As she has said, since she was a child all she ever wanted to do was paint. Her only dream was to be an artist. But like so many women of her generation, she put her dream on hold to raise her children. When we were kids it was clear to us that our stay-at-home Mom had greater ambitions; but ambitions that she was quieting for a time. She instilled in us the belief that we must follow our passions.
Now with her kids grown and gone, she has taken to her painting with a vengeance. There is no question she is making up for lost time. She paints without regret but certainly with urgency. Her commitment is my inspiration. Her desire has never waned and she has never let go of her dream.
For both that which she has given up and for that which she has determinedly held onto, I honor my Mom on this Mother's Day. WATCH VIDEO
Antonio Banderas stopped by the studio this morning to talk about his scene-stealing role as Puss in Boots in the upcoming movie 'Shrek the 3rd.' (WATCH HERE) I had the opportunity to ask Banderas a few questions as he was getting ready for the show:
CONTINUED >>
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
House Votes Again on Iraq
The House tonight voted to implement an installment plan for the War in Iraq, despite the fact that the President has promised another veto for the Iraq withdrawal plan. Chip Reid will have more on this vote tomorrow morning.
What Does it Mean When Wal-Mart Falls?
Today Wal-Mart posted a record decline- the weakest performance ever recorded by the retail giant. What does this and other retail companies' low earnings say about the current market? We'll have Jim Cramer on to tell us all about the stock market.
Fast Food: La Creme de la Creme
They've rated restaurants across the country; so now what does the world renowned Zagats guide have to say about fast food. We'll tell you what fast food restaurants topped the list tomorrow.
Don't Miss This Tomorrow:
- First Concert of the Summer Series with Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson and Josh Turner
- Today Celebrates Magnificent Moms
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 Sarah Demarest, TODAY Researcher, Washington, D.C.)
I am Sarah Demarest and work for the Today Show in Washington DC. Gina Garcia has already blogged about our job description so I won’t go into details again. There is however a part of our job that is not so glamorous and that is covering disasters; everything from Hurricane Katrina, the Sago Mine Disaster and most recently the Virginia Tech Massacre. These types of stories bring out raw emotions that can only be understood when you are in the middle of a disaster. Anger, despair and hopelessness immediately took hold on the Virginia Tech Campus on that snowy morning, but throughout the 10 days I spent there, other emotions emerged and not all were caught on camera.
CONTINUED >>
After today’s
story on empty nesters, many of you told us about both the fears and freedoms of sending your kids off to college. Here are a few of your e-mails:
Survive the Empty Nest!! I am in tears here ... I have been struggling with this all week ... my only child is graduating on June 1st ... and she will head off to Drexel University in the fall. I am a single parent and I am a mess. I am so proud of my daughter for getting into the college of her choice and just for being who she is ... and I am going to miss her soooooooooo much!!! She knows this and she says she is going to miss me too ... Im not sure she knows how much this is bothering me and I really don’t want her to know. She says we are like the Gilmore girls and I don’t want her worrying about me.
Thank you,
Denise
CONTINUED >>
(From Sabrina Clay, TODAY Producer)
I have always believed that it is a privilege for those of us who work in television to be allowed into the viewers’ homes every single day. But with that privilege comes great responsibility. There are so many great stories and segments we bring to you each day. Some are entertaining. Some are informative. Some are funny and some are even sad. But all of these stories and segments hopefully help us connect and understand the world around us.
Recently I had the privilege of working on Al Roker’s annual “Lend-A-Hand” series, which is one of the best things we do on this show. There is no one promoting any movie, cd or agenda. In fact, it’s all about helping those who are trying to help others.
This year, the series, which started the morning of Monday, April 16th, began as planned in San Diego, CA, but of course by that afternoon we were all stunned to learn what had happened on the campus of Virginia Tech and we all instantly knew this story was huge. So, now with TODAY going into breaking news mode, dispatching our anchors to Blacksburg, VA and reworking the show so that we give this story our complete attention, and that means all of the segments and stories originally “planned” would likely not happen or change tremendously… including “Lend-A-Hand”.
CONTINUED >>
(From Yael Federbush, TODAY Producer)
I was asked to produce a taped piece for Ann Curry's 10th anniversary with the TODAY show highlighting some of the key moments of her time on the show. WATCH VIDEO
What that entails is watching 10 years worth of footage of Ann reporting the news from the news desk in the studio, covering stories in the field and also documenting some of the lighter moments; as Al Roker pointed out to me, "like when Elmo gave Ann a hickey."
After the Senior Producer screened the final piece, he suggested that I book Elmo as the surprise live guest when we celebrate Ann's anniversary in the studio.
This, by the way, was great material to talk about with my girls, ages, 4 and 2.
CONTINUED >>
Mike Myers, the "Saturday Night Live" alum who has given us such classic comedy characters as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and Wayne Campbell, stopped by to talk to Matt this morning about his upcoming movie, Shrek the Third, which comes out May 18. WATCH VIDEO
A few minutes before Mike visited with Matt, he chatted with me. Here are the highlights from our conversation:
Q: One of the big news stories this week was Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the U.S. You're Canadian but you also have a British passport. Were you excited about her visit?
CONTINUED >>
Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Political Pressure
we had a change in our political story on President Bush's trip to Kansas slated for tomorrow. Kelly O'Donnell will now look at the pressure the GOP is putting on the President over the War in Iraq.
Negotiating 101
You want a car? How about a loan? Maybe a raise? These are all things that could involve negotiation, when approached with the proper technique. Tomorrow we'll look at the art of negotiating and what it takes to get yourself a good deal.
Don't Miss This Tomorrow
- Funny man Mike Myers will be live in studio to talk about Shrek 3
And shuffled back in!
Yesterday in the blog, we told you to expect a story about the man that was misdiagnosed with cancer. Well it's been shuffled back into tomorrow's rundown.
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:
Disaster Preparedness
President Bush today is on the ground in Kansas to survey the destruction left by the weekend storms that killed 11 people in Greensburg, Kansas. Acting quickly to prevent another Post-Katrina response, the President ordered emergency aid for the town. Tomorrow we'll hear about the President's trip and the next steps for Greensburg.
Report It? Mind Your Own Business?
When you hear the news about the foiled terror plot, you have to think what if the video store clerk didn't report his findings to the police? The clerk is now being deemed a hero. But when do you know to go to the police or mind your own business? Tomorrow we'll look at what you should do if you have a feeling something is suspicious.
Is Tony Blair Quitting?
Reports out of London today suggest that the British Prime Minister will make an announcement tomorrow that he is stepping down. If he does announce his resignation, Blair would probably remain in office until the end of June or early July. We expect to hear the news overnight. We'll have the very latest in the morning.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
This morning, Brooke Shields was on the show to talk about a new campaign that she is involved with, where she is promoting confidence and strong friendships among young girls. WATCH VIDEO. After her interview, she had some time and chatted with with me about a few more topics.
Q: What are your Mothers Day plans?
Brooke Shields: Well my husband is coming back from LA with my oldest daughter. I have the baby here with me, and he's in LA with her right now. So they're flying back so we can all be together. I don't know... we'll probably just go to lunch and all be together in New York City. I love being here. I miss New York.
Q: You have two young girls, and are now on a campaign talking about confidence and inspiration for young women. What do you see as the biggest challenges that your girls face as they grow up?
CONTINUED >>
Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Terror Plot Foiled
This morning we reported that a terror plot had been foiled that involved an ambush of Ft. Dix in New Jersey. This afternoon, we received more information about the six foreign-born Muslims accused and arrested for planning to massacre U.S. soldiers. The group does not appear to have a direct allegiance to al-Qaeda. Pete Williams will have more information on this story tomorrow.
Hope in the Face of Tragedy
We have seen the destruction left in the wake of last weekend's tornadoes and one family's suffering continued today. The family of Robert Tim Buckman removed the police officer from life support early this morning. But not before he shared in one special family event. Tomorrow we'll share this family's one brief moment of happiness before saying goodbye.
Senator Shuffled In
We told you earlier about the new bill that the House Democrats have proposed for Iraq and now we've booked a guest. We'll talk to Sen. Gordon Smith from Oregon in the morning to get his take.
Don't Miss These Stories Tomorrow:
- Brooke Shields talks to us about how to raise confident girls
- We look at adoption in our infertility series
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 Meredith Reis, TODAY Producer)
Recently, I found myself crawling on the rooftop of a four-story Manhattan building, working through a mini obstacle course created by the metal framework of one of Times Square’s enormous billboards.
This one in particular, featuring a close up on a pouting, blonde woman, was an advertisement for a so-called “gentleman’s club.” (Note to future New York tourists…big billboards for soda, cameras and Broadway musicals far outnumber the type I’m referring to in Times Square.)
So I’m crawling on this rooftop -- did I mention I was in a skirt? And that the rooftops in New York are generally kind of dirty? So why was I there? Allow me explain.
CONTINUED >>
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
New Deadline for Iraq?
Just a week after the President vetoed their bill that would bring the troops home from Iraq in October, House Democrats proposed a different bill to fund the war until July and then cut off spending. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at this new proposal.
We Misdiagnosed You. You Don't Have Cancer
What would you do if doctors told you that you had terminal cancer? Quit your job? Travel? Spend everyday with your loved ones? Even spend you last dime? That's how John Brandrick lived what he thought was last year of his life, until he found out truth. Tune in tomorrow to hear John's entire story.
Martha Helps Us with Mother's Day
Nothing says Happy Mother's Day more than an homemade gift. And nobody is more creative than Martha Stewart herself. Tomorrow Martha will give us good tips to make mom a gift from the heart.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Which "Shrek Princess" has an obsession with Ted Koppel? Who feels a special connection to Estelle Getty on "The Golden Girls"?
Maya Rudolph, Amy Poeller, Amy Sedaris and Cheri Oteri -- stars of "Shrek the Third" -- reveal all in our video blog. WATCH VIDEO
(From Tammy Fine, TODAY Producer)
By now you've heard from many producers on the staff here about what great jobs we have. I add my voice to everything that has been said before, we work with a fantastic group of people, we meet the famous and the infamous.
But there is a story that I have been working on for weeks that aired on this morning's show that has meant a great deal to me. It's a story on what you should do when you suffer recurrent, unexplained miscarriages. WATCH VIDEO. It's part of a series called, "I Want a Baby, " where we are focusing on what to do if you can't get pregnant, can't carry a pregnancy to term or simply can't carry your own child and plan to adopt.
CONTINUED >>
This morning we did a segment on creative sentencing, in light of a story about an Alabama woman who shoplifted at Walmart and was forced to stand outside the store wearing a sandwich-board sign stating "I am a Thief." (WATCH VIDEO) Last night, I was assigned to help the Atlanta producer who was crashing this tape spot. As I searched for video of these wacky sentences that judges have doled out over the years, I came across some truly unusual punishments. Here are some of the sentences that didn't make the cut this morning:
-In Michigan, a woman claiming to be a Hurricane Katrina victim in order to get free rent, was ordered to clean houses.
-In Ohio, a man who ran away from police after a traffic accident was sentenced to jog for an hour every other day around the block where the jail is located.
-Also in Ohio, a man who called a police officer a pig was sentenced to spend 2 hours standing in a pen with a pig and sign saying "This is not a police officer."
Are these creative punishments warranted?
Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Dinner with the Queen
What's it like to eat dinner with the Queen? We'll ask White House correspondent, David Gregory, that question tomorrow morning. David was amongst the 134 guests invited to this evening's white-tie dinner and we'll hear all about it tomorrow.
First Look Back
Many of the families in Greensburg, Kansas fled from the wreckage left by the horrible tornadoes over the weekend. NBC's Janet Shamlian was with a few when they returned home to what was left of their personal belongings. Janet will join us tomorrow with their stories.
Don't Miss This Story Tomorrow:
- With Gas Prices So High - Why Can't We Pull Back on the Gas?
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 Elliott Walker, TODAY Producer)
My name is Elliott Walker ("that's an unusual name for a woman...") and I have been a producer on the TODAY show for 17 years.
That's 119 in dog years, yet it has flown by because something compelling is always going on and it's our job at TODAY to find a way to get it onto your television. Politics, music, the military, national security, movies, religion and American history are some of the things that excite me, and therein lies the addictive thrill of working on TODAY: I'm always learning, but more importantly, hoping that the stories I work on will give you, the person watching, something you'll want to think about, tell a friend about, feel outraged or maybe inspired by, the rest of your day. At least, that's what I look for when I watch television. (OK, I also love to watch Hugh Laurie act, but we can talk about that another day.)
CONTINUED >>
(From Karen Trosset, TODAY Producer)
People always ask me the same question about my job. "You must meet a lot of celebrities, who is the coolest person you've ever met?"
Bruce Springsteen...let's just say I get why he's a legend.
Elizabeth Taylor...shockingly, she cursed like a truck driver.
Henry Kissinger? He pointed his finger at my chest and warned "don't edit this to make it sound like I am sympathetic to the Bosnians, I know where to find you" ...I was right out of college, feeling smart in my shoulder padded purple suit and my permed hair held in place by a big white lace hair bow; a look inspired by a woman we now call Madge.
Or Esther.
It's true, I have some great stories about celebrities and politicians but they're not close to being my favorite.
I liked the family I met in Virginia a few weeks ago.
CONTINUED >>
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Stretched Too Thin for Recovery?
Today, Al was on the ground in Greensburg, Kansas where tornadoes ripped through the town over the weekend. When Al spoke to Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius about the recovery effort, she said rebuilding may be "hampered" due to the fact that a great amount of equipment is with the state's National Guard in Iraq. Watch Video. Tomorrow we'll look at just how recovery efforts are being affected with National Guard resources allocated in Iraq.
Scam Proof Your ATM Visits
ATM users are generally pretty conscience of the standard safety steps: Be Aware of Your Surroundings; Don't Count Your Cash Openly; Don't Give Away your Pin Number. We all know them. But have you ever thought the machine itself might be taking more than just money out of your account? Tomorrow in our Scam Proof Your Life series we'll take a look at ATM skimmers, devices used to capture your account number and pin. We'll tell you what you need to do to keep your money and information secure in your account.
"I want a Baby" - Dealing with Miscarriages
There can be so much hope for a woman when she finally conceives. But unfortunately for women with infertility challenges, they often find themselves experiencing multiple miscarriages before actually giving birth to a child. In our infertility series tomorrow, we'll look at the devastating loss of miscarriages.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
If you watched closely to this morning's show, you might have noticed a few new locations. As our show continues to grow, so too does the space from which we broadcast. This morning, two new locations made their debuts. Our building where Studio 1A is located is three floors -- the basement level is where the control room is located; the second floor is our street-side studio; and the third floor has hair, makeup, wardrobe, and dressing rooms. But starting today, we've got an entirely new corner to the third floor, known as the satellite studio. The biggest addition to our studio is a permanent, full-functioning kitchen. Today contributor Giada de Laurentiis gave us a tour this morning (WATCH VIDEO). We used to do all of our cooking segments either inside our regular studio, or outside. Our incredible production crew was always busy wheeling portable cook tops in and out. Now, we can do all of our cooking segments from upstairs. The kitchen offers them everything they need to prepare, and gives them their own space to be as loud as they want, without worrying about disrupting another segment taking place right in the same studio.
We also have added additional space upstairs for more segments. Meredith's interview on infertility this morning (WATCH VIDEO) was done from the satellite studio as well. This set looks just like our regular studio, but is actually located upstairs. We have several new locations to accommodate more segments and our expanding show. So keep your eyes peeled. You never know when we'll be broadcasting from new corners of our window on the world.
Here's what we're looking at for Monday on TODAY:
Devastating Tornadoes
Rescue crews are searching for survivors after more than a dozen tornadoes ripped through Kansas this weekend. Ten deaths have been blamed on the supercell storms. President Bush this morning pledged federal aid to help in the clean-up effort. Al Roker will report live from Greensburg, Kansas tomorrow.
Exclusive Interview with Gov. Jon Corzine
It is back to work tomorrow for Jon Corzine, less than a month after a car crash put the New Jersey governor in the hospital with a broken leg, collarbone, sternum and 11 broken ribs. Matt Lauer sat down with the governor and we'll have that exclusive interview tomorrow.
Her Royal Majesty Visits the White House
It will be white tie, 134 guests, five courses and it is a White House state dinner fit for a Queen. After attending the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip will travel to Washington, DC for a visit with President and Mrs. Bush. Kelly O'Donnell will bring us a complete report as the White House prepares for the Queen's visit.
What Else We're Working on for Tomorrow:
- Special Series: "I Want A Baby"- A Look at the Challenges of Infertility
- We Have a New Prep Kitchen- Giada Di Laurentiis Will Give Us a Tour
- Matt Looks Back at Last Week's Where in the World Trip
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 Lester Holt, TODAY Anchor)
Did you know there are several words that begin with the letter "Q" that don't have to be followed with a “U?” Did you know "AE" is a word? I know that because I am an addict. A Scrabble addict.
On Sunday's program we featured a story on the National School Scrabble Tournament. It's a high pressure competition pitting some amazingly bright kids against each other -- word for word. I am so in to Scrabble I found myself poring over the video of the story trying to memorize some of the unusual words the kids had laid out on the board.
CONTINUED >>
Although it was Matt making his trek around the world this week, the
stories and pictures from every corner of the globe made an impression on all of us. Many of you even felt like you were on the trip with him. Here are some of your e-mails:
Matt,
Just want to tell you that every year I really look forward to this Where in the World is Matt Lauer week. I feel like I'm taking my own personal vacation thru your trips. For most people, these destinations will never happen to us, so it's so much fun to see parts of the world that we would never be able to do ourselves. So, thank you so much for this week of brutal miles and hours that you put in. We do so appreciate it. Please don't ever quit doing this part of The Today Show.
Cathy Howell (Decatur, IL)
CONTINUED >>
Here's what we have coming on Weekend Today:
What's Going on in the Southeast?
It looks like some whacky weather is stirring up in the Southeast. Some states are experiencing drought conditions, while others are issuing tornado warnings. Find out tomorrow what you can expect in your area.
What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?
Well according to my fourth grade handwriting teacher, Sister Carol, mine doesn't say much... she gave me a C in that class. (I'm left handed, we wrote with pencils, my script would get smudged as I wrote across the page and I assure you it is much better now.) But seriously, what does your handwriting say about you? Tomorrow on the show Lester and Campbell will have their handwriting analyzed. Find out tomorrow what your script says about you.
Pro-Eating Disorder Websites
Every parent is on the alert for predators lurking on the internet. But danger, it turns out, can be in the information on the web as well. On Sunday, we'll tell you about websites that provide how-to information for people suffering from eating disorders.
Don't Miss These Stories This Weekend:
- Saturday: Cinco de Mayo Celebration
- Sunday: Queen Elizabeth at Churchill Downs- Who Won the Derby?
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 Sean Reis, TODAY Producer)
For almost every segment on the Today Show, there are notes written. Sometimes lengthy, sometimes not. They can be background about a story, or a rundown of how the segment's been planned to go. Sometimes, in the case of the Where in The World, they can be quick notes about things Matt's going to encounter. This is one of those notes, about my first trip to Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, otherwise known as Baboon Country.
"We're in Baboon Country"
With apologies to Hunter S. Thompson, Matt, you're in Baboon country. It's about the wildest thing maybe I've ever seen. There are Chacma Baboons (I think they are commonly referred to as Red Assed Baboons for reasons that are pretty obvious) all over the place. You see them around the parking lot where we are doing the live shot. I'm not kidding.
We went down to do the survey. There are busloads of tourists. There's a little snack place. I went in to buy a soda and a sandwich. The nice lady behind the counter offered this ominous advice "if you're going to walk through the parking lot, hide your sandwich under your jacket."
CONTINUED >>
(By Tiki Barber, TODAY national correspondent)
Having watched “Where in the World is Matt Lauer” over that last four or five years, I was already a big fan of Matt’s experiences around the globe before joining TODAY. Now, I was given the opportunity to be a part of the series when I was sent on assignment to Cape, Town, South Africa.
Matt has the hard job—spending less than a day in a location, delivering his stories, then getting on a plane to fly thousands of miles to the next place, only to do it again, five days in a row. I had the easy job—swimming with great white sharks! WATCH VIDEO
Let me back up for one minute, getting to South Africa is not an easy task… especially when you miss you connection at Heathrow Airport in London, lose your bags (see Sean Reis’ blog on buying me underwear, a must read), have a 10 hour unplanned layover, which makes an already long 19 hour journey, into 36 hours. And forget about adjusting to jetlag; I was on my way to Shark Alley at 6:45 a.m. the next morning.
CONTINUED >>
(From Sean Reis, TODAY Producer)
I bought Tiki Barber underwear. They were green, and blue, and white, and had the word BEAR in the waistband. They are more of the boxer brief variety. Snug. He likes them. As 
Dave Barry would say, "I am not making this up." I'm just going to come out and admit it. If you work at the TODAY Show, and are subjected to a task like this, you're really never going to hear the end of it. I'm going to be known as Tiki's Personal Shopper, whether I like it or not. So I might as well set the record straight. But I've really started this story in the middle.
Tiki missed his connection in London, and his bags went to another part of Europe (we think). I got the phone call over dinner with my mother (did I mention she came all this way?). He had missed his connection because of a delay in New York, which happens in the least wind and rain. Ordinarily, even under the most direct route, it takes about 19 hours to get here from the East Coast. His arrival was going to be delayed by more than 12 hours. His bags weren't going to make till the next day, if then.
Here he was, a man traveling six time zones, two continents, and he did not have so much as clean socks. The morning after he arrived I had to produce a shoot, where, um, I had to stick him in a cage in the ocean, and Great White Sharks were going to come by. WATCH VIDEO He needed new clothes (underwear could be important for this story). He was going to hit the town after the stores were closed, so it was up to me.
CONTINUED >>
On this Friday morning, it seems that there is still only one thing to blog about, the topic that everyone has been talking about this week: Where in the World. The thing that I enjoy the most about watching the 'Where in the World' is how it gets one thinking about travel. Liz blogged yesterday about Dubai and other fantasy destinations. For many people that might have never heard of or seen images of Dubai or Bhutan, 'Where in the World' opens up a world of possibilities, so to speak. It also provides the impetus for that trip you keep thinking about, but maybe are too lazy to plan. Being bombarded with these amazing images from 'Where in the World,' it's hard not to call the travel agent and start booking a trip to that place that is now at the top of your wish list.
CONTINUED >>
Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Car Blind Spots
It is a stunning statistic: Every week, an average of two children are killed by an accidental roll-over by a car. But what is being done to prevent more children from such a horrible, tragic and accidental death? With Summer on the horizon and kids in the yard, Today Consumer correspondent Janice Lieberman will tell us what measures & laws are being implemented for the safety of our kids.
Box Office Hit or Flop?
We've been covering the release of Spider-Man 3 all week with all the stars. Already, all over the world, the trilogy is setting record numbers at the box office. We'll have a review from our own Gene Shalit tomorrow.
Don't Miss Matt on Day 5! Where is he?
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)
After writing in to allDAY about following Matt on his "Where in the World" adventures, Tamara Williams' third, fourth and fifth grade reading classes appeared on TODAY to ask Matt their questions.
When you post on the blog, you never know...we may be contacting you next!
Matt and Natalie swap stories about skiing in Dubai and about his golfing on the helipad. WATCH VIDEO
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Last Day of WITW
Matt's off to his fifth and final location for this year's Where in the World trip. Watch tomorrow to see where Matt wraps up his whirlwind tour.
Think you know where Matt is going tomorrow? Use your cell to text message the country to 46833.
GOP Candidates Debate
Tonight the 10 declared Republican presidential candidates face off in their first debate. Tomorrow morning David Gregory will join us from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA with a debate wrap-up.
Horses and the Queen
Kevin Tibbles will be in Louisville, Kentucky tomorrow ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby and Queen Elizabeth's visit. Kevin will tell us all about the preparations for the Royal spectator and the anticipation of the event.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
One more chance to give it your best guess. Tell us where you think Matt will be on the last day of his trip.
If you think you know the country, use your cell phone to text the answer to 46833. Watch the show tomorrow. Matt just may return your call from tomorrow's location.
Note: Standard text messaging rates apply.
Here's the clue for tomorrow:
"To the West, it is 10 degrees colder. To the East, there is warmth in the air. To the North, there's a seat at the table. To the South, there's a formal affair."
(By Tiki Barber, TODAY national correspondent)
We all know the expressions “trial by fire”, “hitting the ground running”. Well, that is exactly how the first few weeks of my second career would be described, and you know what… I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Little did I know when I stepped into my new job here at NBC as a national correspondent on Today and an analyst on Football Night in America (Sundays this fall), that the challenges I endured as a running back for the New York Giants would be nothing compared to what lay ahead, or that they would be coming at such a rapid pace.
My first day on Today was April 16, a day that would come to mark one of the darkest days in the history of our country’s educational system. In a little town named Blacksburg in Montgomery County, VA (where I was born), at about the same time that I was being introduced to Today Show viewers across the country by Matt Lauer and Ann Curry, Cho Seung Hui, a deranged 23-year-old Virginia Tech student, began, as President George W. Bush described it, “the worst day of violence on a college campus in American history.”
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This morning I can only think of one thing to write about: the future trip to Dubai I started planning around 7:05 a.m. this morning with some people in the control room. Matt is in Dubai for Day 4 of Where in the World is Matt Lauer, and it looks absolutely magnificent. WATCH VIDEO. Part of the grandeur of the reveal today was Matt's specific location at the Burj Al Arab Hotel helipad of course, but Eric Jackson, our overnight researcher, quickly pulled up some airline websites so we could start budgeting our own trip.
Between Lauren Kapp - our public relations guru - saying she could leave her new baby for the sake of the trip and Phil Griffin - Senior Vice President of NBC News - calling his two kids at home this morning to ask if they want to go with him to Dubai, this show has clearly given us all travel fever.
Eric and I were talking about our wish lists - our top three places we would like to travel that we have not been to before. Eric's top three right now are Dubai, Scotland and Australia, while mine are Thailand, Croatia and Peru (heading there this summer!)
I decided to get some of our New York anchors in on this conversation, so I popped up to the studio to ask Meredith, Al and Ann their top "wish list" locations, here is what they came up with:
ANN: Tibet - I really want to get there.
MEREDITH: After this week, I have to say Bhutan. It was so beautiful there - and I just feel like the way they live - that is how life should be.
AL: Hackensack, New Jersey.
What are your top wish list locations? Any notable travel adventures or catastrophes you want to share? Send us your comments!
Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
Gas Shuffled Back in, Price Still Shuffling Up
On yesterday's blog we told you to expect a story this morning about rising gas prices. Well, that was shuffled out last night. But now it's back in. And guess what? The prices are continuing to climb. Tune in tomorrow to get the full story and to see if it actually makes air.
Want to Sell Your House?
Then, don't do this. There are certain changes that won't help you sell. Tomorrow we'll tell you five things that will not get your house off the market.
Also Tomorrow:
- Queen Rania of Jordan talks to Meredith
And of course, Where will Matt be tomorrow? TODAY Travel Editor Peter Greenberg will be here to tell you affordable ways to travel to Matt's location.
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 Mark Atterbury, Director Flight Standards and Safety, NetJets Large Aircraft Co.)
My name is Mark Atterbury and I am one of Matt’s pilots on this year’s tour. This is my second assignment on "Where in the World." Last year I flew the legs from Innsbruck, Austria, to Shanghai and Shanghai to Helsinki, Finland.
Innsbruck is classified as a “special airport” meaning that the aircrew must undergo specialized training and be specially certified to operate into and out of the field. About two weeks prior to last years trip, my crew and I underwent training in the simulator to qualify for this tricky approach, landing and departure.
This years “special” destination makes getting into and out of Innsbruck seem like a walk in the park. The skill set required to get Matt and his team safely to Wednesday's destination are more closely linked to a tactical military operation combined with crop dusting.
About six weeks ago I traveled half way around the world to meet the chief pilot of the tiny airline that serves this community. I rode in the cockpit of one of their planes while he showed me the nuances of the arrivals and departures. I then spent two days in a four-wheel drive vehicle driving around the area to get a good “lay of the land.” About a week later my co-captain and I traveled to a military base in northern England where British Aerospace operates the only flight simulator in the world with an accurate visual model of our target airport. NBC wanted to accompany us to film the training but the Royal Air Force denied them access to the base. My flying partner, Jim Lucore, and I spent four hours being instructed by a retired RAF pilot who had been into our field many times.
In the meantime, back at my companies headquarters, a team that included our chief pilot, Rick Weeks, and our performance engineer, Pat Chiles, were busy gathering as much information as they could and crunching numbers to be sure that we could operate safely into and out of this airport under any conceivable conditions. Armed with these numbers, we went to our own simulator and validated what we had on paper.
If you saw today's show, you know we made it Bhutan, no problems!
Ada answers your questions about the show:
Dear Ada,
There was a segment on diet and specific exercise for 30 days to get in shape for the summer on the show on Saturday, 4/14/07. I can’t find any reference to the book or the title on the website. Please tell me what it was. I want to buy the book!!
Suzy, Lubbock, TX
Dear Suzy,
The name of the book you are referring to is Making The Cut by Jillian Michaels. Good luck…I’m picking up a copy myself!
Dear Ada,
I was wondering if you could please tell me when the Today Show will be holding another wedding series where I can nominate someone.
Ann, York, PA
Dear Ann,
Look for the start of a new Today Throws A Wedding in September/October…and get ready to cast your votes!
Dear Ada,
Who is the guy we can hear laughing in the background of the set? We absolutely love to hear him. He has the most pleasant laugh. Please keep him close so we can continue to hear him. Today is a great show!
Dotty Coffey, Georgetown, KY
Hi Dotty,
As you can tell from watching the show, our anchors and crew love what they do and clearly have fun doing it. There are many times where show antics cause everyone on set to chuckle. One of the loudest and most recognizable laughs belongs to Mark Traub, our Senior Stage Manager. You can learn more about him in his AllDay blog.
What would you like to know about the Today crew? Do you have a problem and need advice? Ask Ada here.
Here's a look at tomorrow's rundown:
Where in the World is Matt?
Well, right now he's on a plane. But where is he going? You'll find out tomorrow on the show. Here's the clue for Day 4: Although we can't top the Himalayas, we will sail to new heights in a place that will soon host the world.
Think you know where Matt is going for Day 4? Use your cell to text message the country to 46833.
And this too!
Where in the World (or WITW as we like to call it) isn't just Matt taking you to cool locations, it's also a great learning tool. Tomorrow we'll talk to a class in Bluefield, Virginia who's making Matt's trip into one big lesson! You can participate too. Just log onto www.FollowMatt.com.
Anti-Depressant Warning
The FDA released new warnings today about suicidal risks for young adults taking anti-depressants and proposed new labels on prescriptions. Dr. Nancy Snyderman will join us in the morning to tell us about these new warnings.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Matt takes you inside the plane, as a Bhutanese pilot helps the crew navigate through the Himalayan Mountains on their way to the Kingdom of Bhutan. WATCH VIDEO
UPDATE: If you want to learn more about the flight to Bhutan, check out pilot Mark Atterbury's blog.
Did you guess Bhutan for today's location? Well, give it another shot with tomorrow's clue.
Here it is:
"Although, we can't top the Himalayas, we will sail to new heights in a place that will soon host the world."
Think you know Where in the World Matt is going next? Use your cell phone to 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.
Note: Standard text messaging rates apply.
This morning, Kirsten Dunst stopped by to talk with Meredith about her role as Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man 3, the newest installment in the hugely popular superhero series. WATCH VIDEO
Spider-Man 3 opens in wide release on Friday, and Dunst was just the latest star to visit us here in New York -- Tobey Maguire, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace all came by on Monday. SEE PHOTOS
The release of Spider-Man 3 marks the third consecutive year that Hollywood has given us a big comic book movie sequel -- two years ago, we had Batman Begins, and last year, it was Superman Returns.
And all of this superhero talk begs some fun questions to think about, and we'd like to hear your thoughts:
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(From Stephanie Becker, TODAY Producer)
You may have seen the story this morning) on "inter-facial" mixed marriages -- couples who aren’t on the same level of attractiveness -- as defined by Belinda Luscombe the Arts Editor at Time Magazine. She's written a humorous essay about being married to a much more attractive man (see their wedding photo to the right). In our phone conversation she compared him to Brad Pitt, while rating herself a 6 ½. Personally, I think she's short-changing herself.
For the taped story we interviewed Belinda and talked to an expert on relationships, Dr. Drew Pinsky who confessed that he, too, married up on the attractiveness scale when he married a model 15 years ago. (Judge for yourself by the photo below.)
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(By Kerry Sanders, NBC News Correspondent)
Paro, Bhutan—Pant. Pant. Gasp. Gasp.
I’m breathless, and so is everyone around me, tourists that is.
It’s not just the spectacular view that’s stolen our breath: It’s the steep hike at this altitude.
The Bhutanese are used to this thin air, and thankfully they’re politely not laughing at us. The climb to Tigers Nest is a challenge, especially for a flat-lander who lives at sea level like I do. This Buddhist monastery sits at 11,000 feet. The only way to get here is a long, narrow, well worn, mostly dirt path. The hike up begins at around 8500 feet.
If there is one must-stop for every tourist who comes to Bhutan, Tigers Nest is it. But iIf you’re coming here, consider yourself in rare company: last year (2006) only 18,000 tourists were given visas to travel to Bhutan.
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Here's The Latest for Tomorrow:
What's a Grupster?
They're hip... They're trendy... They're stylish... And they won't let the fact that they have kids change their lives. The "Grupster" is a new type of parent who is sticking to their old ways even though Junior is a part of their life. We'll tell you about these parents tomorrow.
We're Star Studded Tomorrow:
- Kirsten Dunst Stops By To Tell Us about Spiderman 3
- Jada Pinkett Smith Talks To Al about Child Safety
And Don't Forget To Catch Matt on Day 3 of Where in the World.
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:
Where's Matt- Day 3
You're heating up the chatter on the blog with your guesses. So, where will Matt be tomorrow? You'll have to tune in to see!
$3 for a Gallon!
That's what we can all expect to pay for gas in the very near future. On Monday, the national average for a gallon was $2.971, an increase of 30 cents over the last month. Tomorrow we'll have this story for you as experts expect the national record of $3.069 to be broken in the coming weeks.
Queen Comes To The U.S.
With a Royal visit comes plenty of planning. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the preparations for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip's visit to the states. The Royals plan to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown in Virginia, watch the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and visit with the President and First Lady in Washington.
Check back later to see which stories stick, which move and which get shelved for a later day.
Which artists does crooner Michael Bublé listen to....besides himself? How does he deal with a bad day?
Bublé tells all when he answers viewer questions after his performance on TODAY.
WATCH VIDEO
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 3:
"As the son also rises, power is money here, with billions on the horizon."
Note: Standard text message rates apply.
On day 2 of "Where in the World," Matt is relaxing at a pub in Galway, and enjoying the music of The Lennon Quintet. WATCH VIDEO
We all know that when it comes to the Where in the World clues each day, the Today anchors do a pretty good job of guessing. But most of you don't know that there's actually another clue aficionado here at the Today show, News Producer Jim Wilson. While many of us may overhear the locations as the week goes on, Jim prefers to be surprised, and tries to decipher Matt's clues each day . I spoke with him this morning to get his thoughts on the best and worst 'Where in the World' clues.
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