May 2008 - Posts
It was my first time in the back of a police car. I didn't know the seat was going to be made of a sloped and slippery molded plastic that pushed me towards the floor.
Easier to clean up, I was told, when people vomited. I wondered how many times that had happened where I was sitting. Or rather, sweating. It was stifling back there, as the Plexiglas separating me from the officers also cut off the air conditioning on this 80-degree day.
There were, of course, no handles to open anything. Even though I had the peace of mind to know I could get out by just asking, the experience was suffocating and not something I'd want to repeat. CONTINUED >>
Your eyes were not deceiving you this morning.
Two years after she left TODAY to anchor the CBS Evening News, Katie Couric was back in our studio -- along with Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News and Charlie Gibson of ABC World News Tonight -- to announce the launch of the Stand Up 2 Cancer initiative. WATCH VIDEO
There is no truth to the rumors that Katie challenged Meredith to an arm wrestling contest, made fun of Matt's haircut or "walked around like she owned the place." In fact, it was simply a nice -- and quick -- reunion.
(Matt and Meredith's reaction after the jump)
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(From Tammy Fine, TODAY producer)I remember exactly where I was when my mother first told me she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was just home from college for Thanksgiving vacation. We were on the way home from the airport and she told me on that car ride. I cried the whole way home.
I remember exactly where I was when I first learned my father was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. I was in Minnesota, on a bus following Jesse Ventura on one of his "get out and meet the voters" tours. As important as my work was to me, I couldn't wait to get on the airplane and get to my family. I cried the whole way home.
C-A-N-C-E-R. It's such a short, simple word, and yet it has the power to scare like few others. And while diagnostics and treatments have improved, there is so much more to do. Sadly, few people make it through life without being touched by Cancer.
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Jim Nantz of CBS Sports stopped by the show this morning to talk about his new book, Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other.
Before he sat down to talk with Matt about the book (WATCH VIDEO), he chatted with me about his catchphrase, his political aspirations, and, of course, a tradition unlike any other.
DF: First of all, your catchphrase, "Hello, friends"...where does that come from?
Jim Nantz: It kind of just evolved naturally. I said it one time at a golf tournament on a Saturday show during the scene set. As soon as it left my lips, I thought, "That's the kind of connection I want to have with the audience."
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A month has passed since Ann Curry's father, Bob, passed away. Readers of allDAY showed an outpouring of love and support in the aftermath of his death, writing more than 500 tributes in the comments section.
This week, Ann turned over videos and photos from the last days of her father's life, and was interviewed for a piece that aired on NBC Nightly News last night and on TODAY this morning. WATCH VIDEO
While it can be difficult to watch, it's very moving...and you can read Ann's thoughts about it on the Daily Nightly blog.
(From Janet Shamlian, NBC News Correspondent)
I'm sitting here thinking about how wrong it is that I'm better able to report a story on how to talk to your kids about sex than talk to my OWN kids about sex. WATCH VIDEO
I have five (kids, that is), and my oldest is 12. Fortunately, as I'm so often reminded, I'm married to an amazing guy. So, my better half (it's an expression) handled the first one.
I fear our second child, my daughter, has picked up more than I'd like from movies and friends. She should have heard it FIRST from me. By the way, did anyone else let their 5th grader watch the season finale of "The Office"? Just wondering.
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Yesterday, Meredith Vieira had the honor of delivering the commencement address at her alma mater, Tufts University. She also received an honorary degree, so she's now Dr. Vieira.
Though as Meredith is quick to point out, "I could not get in [to Tufts] today if I tried."
She talked about the experience this morning with Matt. WATCH VIDEO
Here are some highlights from her speech (after the jump):
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From Kathie Lee Gifford, TODAY host
Hoda and I agreed that we wanted to stop by the Friars Club on Thursday to say a quick hello to Fran Drescher and wish her well. Fran was to be interviewed by Joy Behar and honored for all her work for "Cancer Schmancer" her book and organization by the same name which educates and empowers cancer patients.
We were sitting at lunch with Fran's very colorful family when suddenly one of the directors of the Friars Club approached me and asked if I would be willing to help them out with a little problem that had emerged: Joy Behar wasn't coming!
Nobody explained why -- there wasn't time for that. Hoda had to leave to shoot a segment for Dateline in New Jersey, so she shot me a quick "have another glass of wine, honey"' and promptly disappeared.
Someone handed me Fran's book, and within minutes I was on stage with the adorable Fran Drescher, an enthusiastic audience and a whole bunch of press. Oy.
CONTINUED >>
Over the weekend, Hoda had the honor of delivering the commencement address at her alma mater, Virginia Tech. Here's the text of her speech:Hello, graduates!
I asked my friends one question before I came here, and that question was, "Who spoke at your college graduation?" Do you know not one person could remember? No one could remember who stood at a podium like this one and spoke at graduation. They couldn’t remember the speaker, but they all remember the message. It was always the same. It was always poignant, always memorable and it went like this...
"Wa wa ..wa wa...wa wa” (a-la Charlie Brown’s teacher)
Class of 2008, I am going to remember you and I want you to remember me.
I am Hoda Kotb -- and I am a HOKIE!
I am a TODAY Show co-host -- and I am a HOKIE!
I am a breast cancer survivor -- AND I AM A HOKIE!
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From Kathie Lee Gifford, TODAY host![]()
Just finished Monday's show starting our sixth week. The time has just flown. The shows are so packed full and fast-paced. Loved
"Eduardo" day (video) and having my Mom on for Mother's Day. She has made me laugh my entire life. It was great to see
Rosie. She always makes for "lively" TV.
Speaking of "lively" TV--for any of you that found o
ur interview with Heather Armstrong (video) offensive, I certainly wasn't "judging" her decision to blog about her daughter. I simply have tremendous fears about the Internet, which didn't exist when I first did my show with Regis. It's natural to fear what one does not understand. I am far more careful now with what I share on TV or in print. Hence, my "mixed emotions" on the subject. I wish Heather nothing but the best and look forward to having her join us on Today again soon.
I'm still meeting new producers and crew members here--how many people are on the Today Show staff??! Can't begin to describe how friendly and supportive everyone has been.
Richard Adams, a producer in TODAY's Los Angeles bureau, visited California's San Quentin State Prison as part of this week's Access Granted: TODAY segment. Here, he offers observations from the trip.
It’s a view that people would pay millions for, but for now, it's reserved for those who would rather be almost anywhere else: the view from San Quentin State Prison. California’s only Death Row happens to be located in one of the country’s most expensive real estate markets. Tucked into a cove of San Francisco Bay, the prison offers panoramic views across the water, and of Marin County’s Mt. Tamalpais to the north.
In Larkspur, the next town over, the average two-bedroom home costs more than a million dollars. One can only imagine the frustration and envy that real estate developers have felt over the years, looking over this 432-acre site that houses a prison complex. But there’s little chance this place will change hands anytime soon. CONTINUED >>
(From Janet Shamlian, NBC News Correspondent)
I'm a writer by training, but I'm no match for these women when it comes to tales from the home front. Call it the new coffee clutch, moms are sharing everything from parenting advice to details of their marriage on the World Wide Web. I sat down with three of them to talk about the trend for a report on Wednesday's Today Show. WATCH VIDEO
What they write about used to be the stuff of diaries or a mid-morning phone call between the best of friends, and maybe that's why they've become so popular.
Being a mom can be isolating, but with a connection to the Internet we can peek behind the curtain of our contemporaries who blog about their lives, whether it be a tense morning moment with a hubby over who's driving carpool to feeling guilty about taking little Tommy to our hair appointment instead of taking him to the park.
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Day three of TODAY's special series on siblings was devoted to discussing twins, and here, Tiki Barber reflects on the nuances of his twinship between him and his brother Ronde.
Ronde and I have always done everything together. Some [things were] intentional, like playing football, and reaching the highest peaks in our respective positions, or collaborating to write five children's books, using our celebrity as athletes and our uniqueness as twins to promote reading and literacy for boys, in particular.
But some things were unintentional – like the fact that we used to gravitate to each other when we slept, or that we both suffered from febrile seizures, and my mom told tells us that we would always seize at the same time. Also, even though Ronde dated blondes for most of his life, he married an Asian women, like me. (Even though technically, Claudia is from the South Pacific. He gets his briefs in a wad about that one … LOL). Also we had our first children, unplanned, one month apart, and our second [kids] six months apart. And two Christmases ago, we both got our wives the same watch without knowing.
Two others: We decided at the same time that UVA was our school choice. And we both switched from PCs to Macs at the same time.
However, even though we are identical, we are also very different. This is the evidence for "nurture" in the debate. After we left school, our interest divided. I got into fashion, he got into golf. He loves hip-hop, I prefer jazz and blues. I have two boys, and he has two girls. WATCH VIDEO
Related links: Slideshow: Celebrity siblings
