Transcripts For KNTV Today 20240711

Unity in his own holiday message. I know the country has grown weary of the fight we need to remember, were at war with a virus, not with one another. Not with each other. Calling inaudible. The nfl makes a lastminute change to thanksgiving football, brought on by a new coronavirus outbreak among the Baltimore Ravens the league now scrambling to get the numbers back under control in time for the weekend. Well talk to their chief medical officer about that live. Ready, set, shop those infamous black friday crowds wont be the same this year, but dont worry, the deals are still very much on weve got your preview and a game plan for the holiday sales you will not want to miss. Plus, marching on. The iconic floats and showstopping performances keeping tradition alive at the macys thanksgiving day parade we are live along the route with a front row seat to all the excitement ahead today, thursday, november 26th, 2020. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in Rockefeller Plaza hey, guys hey, guys. Welcome to today. So happy you are joining us. Its a thursday morning. Happy thanksgiving savannah and i are here in Herold Square, right in front of macys. I cannot think of one place i would rather be right now than right in this spot with you, and waiting for the 94th macys thanksgiving day parade. It is happening. It kicks off about two hours from now. But nothing is going to rain on this parade. Nothing by the way, you know what, we like the rain. Theyve been lining up the floats are behind us there theyve been lining up since early morning. You guys know, it is not thanksgiving without our annual thanksgiving day parade. Todays, we have to let you know, will be a little different than what were used to, but the show is going to go on. Nbcs joe fryer has got all the details on how in the world theyre going to pull this off they are going to do it. Hi, joe, good morning. Hi, joe reporter savannah and hoda, good morning usually, this morning about 3. 5 Million People would be lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the balloons and other festivities in person. This is a parade without a parade route it is not a spectator event this year it is designed for tv. Not even a pandemic could deflate this holiday tradition those humongous balloons pumped up with helium will rise again in the macys thanksgiving day parade this year, theyll be pulled by utility vehicles instead of the 100 or so people each balloon is typically tethered to. Those human handlers will eagerly wait for next year. Probably ill be there underneath the balloon, whatever balloon they give me. Reporter in all, the big balloon count is dropping from 16 last year to 12 this year while the number of floats sinks from 26 to 18. And the parade workforce, thats been cut by 88 . Put simply, this years blueprint, fewer footprints for more safety. Normally, we see a lot of crowds we have a lot of clowns. We have a lot of balloon handlers were just not going to have as many people this year. Reporter nypd cut back on parade staffing by 80 and doesnt expect many spectators to show up those who do will be reminded to practice social distancing. Were not asking people to show up. Of course, there will be plenty of measures to make sure there are no crowds. Reporter rehearsals offered a glimpse of what to expect. Reporter a performance by jimmy fallon and the roots marching bands from the new york area, and, yes, the rockettes, unable to dance at radio city music hall, will don nutcracker costumes on Herold Square. Around since 1924, the macys parade was canceled only three times, during world war ii not even a snowstorm in 1989 could ground the procession. A blissfully stubborn event that, in 2020, is Still Standing tall for that, we are thankful. We need this, dont we now more than ever. We are new york tough, and this parade is really a display and a showcase for all of new york i think that people are going to look at this, and theyre going to say, you know what, if new york city can put on this parade, we can get through a pandemic reporter a couple other changes we want to point out first is the parade route. In a normal year, it is about 2 1 2 miles long starts way up around 77th street, marches through manhattan, and ends around 34th street this year, very different. It is basically about a block around Herold Square and the macys flagship store. Another change is usually, on thanksgiving eve, on wednesday, there is sort of a balloon blowup event. People come from all around the city to see the balloons get filled up. Obviously, this year, they did still have to fill up those balloons, but there was no event. They didnt want crowds gathering to watch that. Hoda, savannah, despite all the changes, cannot tell you how excited i am to see this parade. I know, joe i think youre new to the east coast this year, so youre in for a really good show. Yeah, the party is going to go on. I cant wait 9 00 were starting it. I know. Theres only one person we really need to check in with. Who the most important person on thanksgiving morning his name is al roker he along our parade route, which means hes probably right over there. Yeah. Al, we see we got some rain, but our spirits are high how about yours . Oh, they are. And the rain has kind of dropped off. I think what were going to be looking at is this, in and out showers, not a big deal. Okay, so heres 34th street. Theres tom turkey tom turkey is going to be starting off there, and the floats are down there. This 6th avenue, all the balloons are lined up there. Then down here, of course, Herold Square in front of macys, and thats where you guys are thats where the parade will really get kicked off. Lets show you whats going on radar wise take a quick look. Youll see, we do have heavy showers, thunderstorms moving through the northeast. There is not band behind that. Once that moves through, thats good news. Scattered showers in the east, heaviest rain will be the northeast this morning it moves out this afternoon, cold front moves offshore, things dry out into the evening later today. Then as we get into tomorrow, we are going to be looking a lot at wet weather making its way through the gulf coast lots of heavy rain that rain will be making its way up into the northeast later in the weekend and on into the beginning of next week, causing possibilities of flash flood potential. Heavy rain anywhere from 2 to 3 inches from corpus christi, texas, all the way into the southeast. Thats going to be a real mess again, for thanksgiving day, if youre going to be eating outside, the east coast is going to be the more problematic for ya again, we got the parade getting ready to start off nobody cares about the rain. Were just thrilled, thrilled that were going to see the parade guys, also good news, it is going to be about 60 degrees by the time santa hits Herold Square and theres no wind, so the balloons wont have a problem. Even though the balloon handlers wont be there, but, but, will butter man make an appearance . Stay tuned butter, its always better with butter, baby. I hope so i heard santa might wear a tank top. Thats how warm it is. I dont think we want to see that. I dont know. I dont know i do, kind of. Hes been working out, al thank you so much. Right now, we have the commissioner of the nypd here to talk to us about what is normally a busy day for him in the force, and, actually, i think it still is. Savannah, hoda, thank you for having me. Happy thanksgiving. I think we can say, this is not like any parade any of us have experienced, but it still has its challenges tell me about the process of setting this up, and also, i was just thinking about making sure folks dont come up and try to watch what there is to see here because its just not safe in a pandemic. Thats right. I think the weather is helping us a little, unfortunately, this morning. But the advice for people, it is a great day to curl up on the couch, get coffee, and watch from home. The planning has been going on for weeks, if not months officers are still out there, so i thank them for being out in the rain and keeping people safe should be a nice day. Do you have to use a fewer number of officers we were saying, normally, the parade route is 2 1 2 miles plus we can literally see the parade from here. Does that mean more officers get a little time off on this thanksgiving. Absolutely does some of them redeployed. They all tried to get off. Some were redeployed, but a significant amount of officers cut back from prior years. The parade worked with the nypd and city to make sure this is a responsible event it is important to us. It is good for our spirits, but we have to keep it safe. Can you tell us a little bit about that process yeah. Weve been putting messages out for quite some time now, again, for people to stay home. Unfortunately, everyone loves this parade. It is probably peoples certainly my favorite parade each year, and people want to come out with families and kids and watch the balloons go by weve said this probably too many times this year, just not this year, right a little different this year people are compliant i think it should be a nice day. I think often, people think, i see a Police Officers there, there, and there, but theres a lot we dont see when it comes to protecting this parade. There absolutely is whether youre below ground in transit, we have a bump up in resources today. You have the counterterrorism element that, unfortunately, we always do. Nothing to worry about today it should be a very fine, safe day. Again, were out there i thank everyone, and especially macys, just for keeping the tradition alive and the show must go on. Oh, yeah. This is a day to be thankful, and we are thankful for the officers on the force, especially working so hard on the front lines during a pandemic. Yes. How are your officers doing how has this year been for them . My fingers are crossed, because we had two officers injured this week in a terrible accident. Yes. Were hoping theyll both get out later this morning thank you to jamaica hospital on that. Yeah. As far as the covid, you know, we are a part of new york city as it rises in the city, its also rising in the department. We are seeing an uptick in numbers, but the very good thing is, very few officers in the hospital two in stable condition. Well ride it out with new york city i dont know about you, but if were doing the parade today, can we drop the ball, too, and get it yes, light the tree. Get to 21. Commissioner, thank you to your officers and everything you do year round. Next year, well have a different atmosphere. Definitely. Looking forward to it, commissioner thank you. Were going to have a lot more from Herold Square along the parade route throughout the morning. Now, what do you say we go to a dry and toasty studio 1a, where craig because sheinelle are. Happy thanksgiving. Good morning, guys. Good morning. Loving the energy out there were going to go back to Herold Square in a moment itll be a bittersweet holiday for a lot of americans though, with skyrocketing coronavirus cases across the country, and new restrictions taking effect as overwhelmed hospitals brace for a new surge of patients. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez joins us now with the latest on that. Gabe, good morning reporter craig, good morning. The most tragic effects of this virus are felt deeply on a day like today the pandemic forcing many of us to stay apart. Still, Many Americans are finding a lot to be thankful for. This morning, Health Care Workers across this country are taking no holiday from the pandemic its hard to stay away from our loved ones during the holidays, but i think its an act of love. Reporter more than 261,000 lives lost to covid in the u. S more than four times the number of americans who died in the vietnam war. So many empty chairs at thanksgiving tables this year. Cliff anderson lost his mother, maryanne. We told the staff we were ready and that they could disconnect the monitors. We said bye, and it was okay to go reporter overnight, Los Angeles County shut down all dining at all restaurants and bars for the next three weeks. Pennsylvania banned alcohol sales in its bars and restaurants last night through this weekend in an effort to keep people at home. Nationwide, governors, mayors, and Public Health officials are urging people today to limit the size of any family gathering. Lets not look back and say, if wed only done thanksgiving differently, thousands upon thousands of people would still be with us. Going back for family, just short for thanksgiving reporter at the nations airports, a thanksgiving like none other travelers weighing whether to heed the advice to stay home. I really want to see my family my dad was really sick, so it just needed to happen. Reporter but many who survive covid19 are saying a special type of thanksgiving today to the doctors, nurses, and staff who saved their lives. Patients like sal mazara, who survived four weeks in the icu thankful to all the staff, doctors, and nurses who took care of me and made sure i came home to my family. Reporter and carrie weg, who underwent a double lung transplant. Grateful for northwestern medicine i may make it home and be home with my family reporter overnight, some breaking news out of the u. S. Supreme court. The court issued an injunction, blocking new yorks governor from enforcing 10 and 25 person occupancy limits on religious institutions, in an unsigned majority opinion the court said the restrictions would violate religious freedom, craig. Gabe gutierrez for us in new york, thank you. In a thanksgiving address on wednesday, president elect joe biden looking forward and asking the nation to come together to fight covid. Meanwhile, President Trump looking back at the election results, and now granting a full pardon to his former National Security adviser Michael Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the fbi White House Correspondent Kelly Odonnell joins us now with more on that. Good morning and happy thanksgiving. Reporter to you, as well, sheinelle. Good morning Michael Flynn is the only white house official, current or former, convicted in connection with the russia investigation. The president linked the timing of the pardon to the thanksgiving holiday in his announcement, and the flynn family responded with a statement expressing gratitude and solidarity to the president. Brandishing president ial power and political loyalty, a full pardon granted to former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. Rolled out on twitter, but long foreshadowed by President Trump. He was an innocent man. He is a great gentleman. He was targeted by the obama administration, and he was targeted in order to try to take down a president reporter reaction from democrats was swift and damning. It is a body blow to our National Security. It is also a body blow to the rule of law. Reporter House Speaker nancy pelosi called the flynn pardon an act of grave corruption and a brazen abuse of power. Flynn plead guilty to lying to the fbi about his communication with a russian ambassador, and was fired by President Trump when he lied about it to the Vice President flynn later asked to withdraw his plea trump ally, lindsey graham, called this a very good use of the pardon power wednesday, other Trump Supporters gathered in pennsylvania to outline complaints about election procedures before republican state legislators, though bidens win there is already certified. President trump called in, denying his defeat. This election was rigged, and we cant let that happen we won pennsylvania by a lot, and we won all of these swing states by a lot. And we have to turn the election over reporter in wilmington, a very different message from president elect joe biden. We have full and fair and free elections, and then we honor the results. Reporter biden also urged patience and unity against covid. I know the country has grown weary of the fight we need to remember were at war with a virus, not with one another. Not with each other. Reporter in another development, even after the pennsylvania results were certified by the democratic governor, wednesday, a Pennsylvania Appeals Court judge ordered no further certification, no additional steps toward the electoral college, after a gop lawmaker filed suit, challenging 2. 5 million mailin ballots. Then prompted another volley of court action the next steps are still to be determined sheinelle . All right Kelly Odonnell, thank you let us go back to mr. Roker on that parade route for another check of the weather happy thanksgiving, sir. Happy thanksgiving to both of you and your families. Its good to see you guys on thanksgiving morning lets take a quick look, show you what we have as far as your weather is concerned on this thanksgiving morning we are looking at a damp start along the eastern seaboard, all the way from new england, where there could be light snow in the upper elevations, to wet weather in the central gulf. Mild and sunny in the midsection of the country with temperatures into the 50s and 60s bright and sunny out west. Were going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds a fluffy blueberry muffin, from the drive thru youre already driving through. A glazed apple fritter, which might find its way into your coffee. These are options every breakfasthaver should have, and now. They do. Meet the new bakery sweets at mcdonalds ba da ba ba ba good morning, im meteorologist kari hall. Outside in san jose and some sunshine and Cool Temperatures across the bay area in the mid to low 60s and pretty windy out there throughout the day and were going to see those gusts at times topping over 30 miles per hour, especially in the north bay. Going through the forecast, well still have a lot of sunshine and dry weather. Morning temperatures will start out in the 30s in the inland valleys and dry through early next week. Savannah, hoda roker al, thank you so much the parade about an hour and a half away now. Coming up on the today show, were going to talk about the nfls covid crisis with one days notice, the league had to postpone the steelers and ravens game set for tonight, after several more baltimore players tested positive coming up, the nfls chief medical officer joining us live exclusively with how the nfl is trying to get that schedule and this outbreak back on track. Plus, the giant balloons are flying, but you know what, no crowds at todays macys thanksgiving day parade. But you can all be cozy watching it at home well talk to the ceo of macys about why this is important to keep this tradition alive, even though they had to reimagine the iconic event well be back from the parade route. Give you my world. How can i, when you wont take it from me. You can go your own way. Xfinity mobiles fast nationwide 5g network meets the first iphone with 5g. Get the new iphone 12 on xfinity mobile. And right now, get 250 off. Learn more at an xfinity store today. Still ahead, jill martin with steals an still ahead, jill martin with steals and deals featuring Small Businesses. Our chance to support the community during this unique Holiday Season get ready to start checking off your gift list, after your local news should auld acquaintance be forgot and Auld Lang Syne well take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne next customer please. benny its real pretty out today, isnt it . S it done . boss benny, what did you eat for breakfast . benny what . boss search the cupboards. buzz hes happy because he found out that honey nut cheerios can help lower cholesterol. benny hey, you guys want to go kayaking . boss youre lucky youre family, benny. To fight wrinkles . Its neutrogena®. Rapid wrinkle repair® visibly smooths fine lines in 1 week. Deep wrinkles in 4. So you can kiss wrinkles goodbye neutrogena®. And now your copilot. Still a father. But now a friend. Still an electric car. Just more electrifying. Still a night out. But everything fits in. Still hard work. Just a little easier. Still a legend. Just more legendary. Chevrolet. Making lifes journey, just better. Haha you saved the bottle. And the ship is for friendship. This is incredibly thoughtful. My turn no um. You should wait. Its a charger its gonna power our friendship. Its gonna power whats so great about dunkin at home . You dont have to wear pants. Okay, who drank all the milk . Enjoy the great taste of dunkin at home. Orgingerbread builds titradition. A string of lights sparks family ties. A lastminute gift makes a lasting impression. A tray carries your heritage. And an ending means a new beginning. Good morning. Happy thanksgiving. Its 7 26. Im kira klapper. Here are todays top stories including a crackdown in san jose. Enforcem teams are out enforcing covid19 rules. They will be joined by firefighters in Santa Clara County because of this surge in covid19 cases. Record number of cases, Record Number of hospitalizations and a threat on the icu beds. Theyll be looking at Grocery Stores now at 50 capacity. Retail stores at 25 capacity and making sure that people are wearing their masks and practicing social distancing. Im Cierra Johnson in San Francisco. Despite covid, folks here still wanting to put on a warm meal for the folks in need. So, behind me, three tents are set up right here at the 300 block and theyre gngoi to feed more than 0olks f and for the folks that cant make it to this location, 200 meals will be delivered throughout the city. Meteorologist kari hall has a look at your holiday forecast. And its going to be a really nice day with a lot of sunshine, but we are still going to have some really high winds for this afternoon. Were looking at our wind gusts in some parts of the bay area reaching over 30 miles per hour. If youre going to be outside, plan for the decorations to be blown around and well have a calmer wind tomorrow and highs reaching into the low 60s and morning temperatures will be very chilly here our inland valleys will dip below freezing in some spots. I hope everyone can stay cozy inside. Another local news update for you in half an hour. Have a happy thanksgiving. Come experience floor and decors grand opening in san leandro safely shop our wide aisles and be amazed with our even wider selection. Discover the perfect floor at the perfect price in whatever way is perfect for you. Floor and decors newest location is now open. Also open in milpitas and burlingame. Were back now its 7 30. Its thanksgiving morning. Oh, theres the man of the hour. I mean, the turkey of the hour, tom turkey always the traditional look at that. First float to come along the parade route today will be no different so much is different about this year, but one thing is going to go on almost as it always has, and that is the macys thanksgiving day parade. It is you cant really see it behind us, but there is a production number starting. Jimmy fallon and the roots are joining us at the top of the parade macys parade starts in 90 minutes. They had to get super creative to pull off this one its been a unique year amid the pandemic, but macys says health and safety are priorities. Theyre getting it done. We know a little about this parade and how theyre pulling it off itll be a really good show. In a few minutes, well talk to the ceo of macys about what to expect this year first, lets talk football another big part of thanksgiving tough news for the nfl to deliver, a lastminute change to your thanksgiving lineup covid outbreak among the Baltimore Ravens forced the nfl to postpone todays matchup against the unbeaten steelers. In a moment, craig is going to talk to the nfls chief medical officer. First, Morgan Chesky with the latest morgan, good morning. Reporter hey, savannah, hoda, good morning to you. These thanksgiving day games have become as much of a tradition here as turkey and pumpkin pie. The cowboys and lions are going to be hosting these games as they have for decades. The third game, featuring arguably the best team in the league, is off the table all courtesy of covid19. Reporter this morning a primetime turkey day clash is on the back burner. The Baltimore Ravens is now trying to contain a covid outbreak. At least seven players matchup out of, quote, an abundance of identified as positive or identified as close contacts. The team saying in a statement, theyve disciplined a staff member for conduct surrounding the recent covid19 cases. In turn, the nfl said it is postponing the thanksgiving day matchup out of, quote, an abundance of caution. Weve done a very, very deep dive into this situation weve interviewed everyone involved we feel like we have a really good handle on exactly when transmission occurred. Reporter some steelers players frustrated by the delay. Wide receiver juju smithschuster tweeting, first the nfl takes away our bye week because another team cant get their covid situation together now, they take away our thanksgiving primetime game for the same reason. Wide receiver chase claypool tweeting, simply, what a joke. The league cracking down even further on virus protocols announcing players Must Wear Masks on the sidelines if not entering the game or wearing a helmet that follows another mask mandate, requiring staff and players to wear them at all times at team facilities, during practice and in weight rooms Team Meetings must be now held virtually or in a large indoor space approved by the league all meals have to be made grab and go, to avoid players and staff spending time in cafeterias the nfl, motivated not just by growing cases inside their own sport, but across the country. The leagues chief medical officer putting out this thanksgiving psa, warning fans to look out for any covid symptoms. In todays day and time, its always covid until proven otherwise. If anyone in the family or household has those symptoms, isolate them, get them tested immediately, make sure they dont interact with everyone else reporter and we learned the ravens have disciplined a strength and conditioning coach following the fact that theyve learned he wasnt routinely wearing a mask, nor consistently reporting symptoms they think that could have led to this recent rash of covid19. Meanwhile, theyre hoping that by proactively punishing him, the nfl will lessen a fine or punishment after having to cancel the thanksgiving day game craig . Morgan chesky for us there in texas. Morgan, thank you. Dr. Allen sills is the chief medical officer for the nfl and joins us this morning. Happy thanksgiving to you, dr. Sills. Happy thanksgiving to, you as well, craig. So the two running backs, they test positive earlier in the week walk us through what happened after that how did you guys arrive at the decision to postpone the game . Well, we did what we do in every single one of these cases, craig, which is we look at the facts and evidence of where it takes us, in terms of transmission so whenever we get a positive case, we have a dedicated team of contact tracers and epidemiologists that go in, interview everyone involved. They look at our proximity tracking device data and try to understand, where might this case have come from, and who might be at risk for further spread we started doing that with the very first cases in baltimore and continue with each case since. From that, you get a pattern of where you think the spread may have been. We also sequence the genome of each positive sample so we can better understand, did person a pass it to person b, or is this coming inside from the community . Were postponing this thursday game until sunday afternoon, as i understand it. Why are you confident youre going to be able to play the game three days later, if you cant play it today . Well, let me start out by saying we take every single day one step at a time we have to look at the results every day and make the best decision for that day. In this particular situation, we feel we have a good understanding where transmission occurred we also feel like we have a good understanding of where that window of transmission may close. We certainly dont want to put anyone on the field for either team if we think theyre in the window of vulnerability. At present, with the information in hand, we feel fairly confident that we understand the end of this transmission chain and would be able to get the game played safely on sunday we did not have that confidence that we could do that today, and thats why we made the decision to postpone the game. Got it. I want to go back to juju smiths point that he made in that tweet the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver tweeting, the nfl takes our game away because of the other team not getting the covid together. Now taking away our primetime thanksgiving game for the same reason doesnt he have a point . Shouldnt teams be forced to be held accountable for outbreaks on their team, and other teams shouldnt suffer as a result craig, i think wed all like to get back to a sense of normalcy and a schedule we can count on it is not just true in the nfl but in daily lives, with schools and businesses what we said throughout the season is we have to remain flexible and adaptable because safety is our top priority our number one priority is to make sure we put two teams on the field who are infection free, and we can keep everyone safe, players, coaches, and staff on both sides. We have to make the decisions that lead us to that place and be ruled by the science and not be ruled by the schedule thats what weve tried to do consistently throughout this entire season. Really quickly, before the season, there had been talk that perhaps the nfl should consider the kind of bubble that the nba and wnba and nhl used. This point in the season, playoffs looming, games become more important, any talk of the nfl considering the bubble model for the rest of the season craig, weve said throughout that all options remain on the table. Well look at whatever the most appropriate decision is, based on the data and science. Weve been in regular communication with those other pro sports leagues ill say there are some pros and cons there is risk and benefits to each model now, were doubling down on intensive protocols for each team, making changes this week we have confidence in those steps, and well be monitoring the data carefully over the next few weeks to see what makes the most sense come january. Dr. Allen sills, thanks thanks for your time enjoy your thanksgiving, sir reminder, now two nfl games on nbc this sunday. The ravens taking on those undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 00 eastern, followed by the bears and packers. Nfc north showdown at 7 00, right here on nbc. Still have two games. There you go. Two games on sunday on nfl. Savannah and hoda, back to you on Harold Square. Thanks, guys. Huge balloons, spectacular floats, musical numbers, theyre all going to be here, still the beating heart of the macys thanksgiving day parade a little later this morning. 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When youre celebrating, keeping your devices safe sound isnt always easy. Add affordable protection to the devices that connect us. Walmart protection plans by allstate. Black friday into deals for days. Starting friday november 27th score deals like a 98 6 volt chevy silvarado rideon instore and online. Lets end the year saving bigger welcome back we are right here in the heart of the action, Harold Square, right in front of macys the 94th annual thanksgiving day parade is going to start in less than 90 minutes. The rain isnt going to stop it. The pandemic is not going to stop it. No here with us is jeff gwinnett, the chairman and ceo of macys. Happy thanksgiving. Hoda, savannah, great to be back with you again. Cant think of anywhere wed rather be than right here, saying the parade is going to happen this is a labor of love. It is. Tell me about what it took to put it on this year. This year was different because, first off, just want to thank the creativity of our entire team and amazing partners so you think about the city and state of new york, the nypd, all of our great partners at nbc, just were going to make this happen so it is different this year it is not a live event in the sense that we have crowds. It is a tv event it was filmed over three days. When you think of the envelope we are in right now, it is just on 34th street instead of 9,000 participants last year, 500 this year everybody covid tested everybody social distanced with masks. It is still going to be a feast for america. Theyre going to love it in this threehour presentation were about to do. In the very beginning, you guys said, were going to do it, and everyone was like, how are they going to pull that off . It was important to keep the crowds back. If youre at home and watching this, jeff, i think what youre going to see is a macys day parade you may miss the crowds, but as youre watching it, i dont know that you will say, oh, thats a weird parade. Thats true all the elements are back. We have the balloons, which is fantastic. Weve got the new floats what i love is that we have the talent we have a lot of talent here in new york city that havent been able to perform for the last nine months. Putting that on a national stage. Broadway shows, jimmy fallon is going to be here. Boom. Dolly parton, patti labelle, the rockettes. This wouldnt be a parade without the rockettes. My favorite is the macys Christmas Tree theyre virtual but back. All macys employees. When you thought about this, and, obviously, this has been an unusual year, im sure someone said, okay, do you want to do it this year do you think we can do it . What does it mean, standing here and knowing this is going to happen, something that 50 million americans count on and watch, especially when we want the little normalcy. What does it mean to you theres your answer ill tell you, we have been doing the thanksgiving day parade almost 100 years. It is a Family Tradition boy, do we need traditions right now in america so proud to do that. Weve only canceled it three times. All in world war ii. To figure out a way to launch this, proud to do it you talk about how it is scaled back. You have new things, too, new balloons talk about what people havent seen before. You have boss baby and red titan. You have the tom and jerry float, which youll love cant wait for you to see it jack and little pill mean girls broadway shows hamilton. I love the new York City Ballet is going to be here we have local parades that were canceled this year the opportunity to show that great talent on a national stage, very proud of that. My theme for the day is dont rain on my parade, right not going to let a parade be dodged by any rain so happy. Thank you. Thank you, jeff. Happy thanksgiving. Happy thanksgiving. Thank you. Thank you to the macys employees. The 94th annual macys thanksgiving day parade starts right here, 9 00 a. M. On nbc, a little over an hour. The man of the hour is always al. He lets us know how itll be along the parade route it is a short one, but already, the rain has cleared up, al. Were going to get a couple more spritzes, hit or misses, but nothing as heavier as it was this morning in fact, heres our forecast for the parade we are looking at wet but mild parade by the time santa hits Harold Square, were going to be looking at 60 degrees. A spritz here and there. If you are going to be dining outside, wet and cool in the east dress in warm, waterproof layers maybe hold off on eating until later in the afternoon if youre in the south, itll be nice and warm. Get a fire pit going if youre in the midwest mild temperatures in the south in the northwest, youll need warmer layers, but the southwest, a light jacket after sunset thats whats going on a good morning, im meteorologist kari hall. Take a look outside at a different system. All clear and sunny and nice start to our morning. Were going to have some winds as our temperatures head up to the low to mid 60s for today. If you will be having dinner outside, its going to be quite windy especially in the north bay. Highs into the mid 60s today and as well the next several days but our mornings will be chilly starting out near freezing in the inland valley. Thats your latest weather. Tom turkey is all ready to kick off the parade. By the way, happens to be the favorite of one deborah roberts. Guys oh, sweet. It is a tradition speaking of, one of your favorites, or perhaps your nemesis, your old pal butter, al thats right al and butter man are going to reunite. A live interview they will revisit their encounter, shall we say, from last years parade, that turned this unlikely duo into a viral sensation. Thats right we love you, roker. Then we are going to share our gratitude for Small Businesses we have a special steals and deals. From comfy fleece jogger sets to a celebrity Favorite Jewelry line, jill martin will help us shop first, these messages. Black friday into deals for days. Starting friday november 27th score deals like a 98 6 volt chevy silvarado rideon instore and online. Lets end the year saving bigger good moves. Or hydration. Neutrogena® hydro boost. The number 1 hyaluronic acid moisturizer instantly delivers 2 times the hydration. And keeps hydrating all day long. Running dry of supple, bouncy skin. Never hydro boost. Pair with new serum for 4 times the hydrating power. Neutrogena® pair with new serum for 4 investing your time. Wer. Matters just as much as investing your money. Honey. Securian financial offers solutions that give you the confidence to make every moment count. [sfx] mnemonic why not bring the holidays to a vrbo vacation home. Somewhere with more space to get closer to the people you love. Your together awaits. With vrbo jake from state farm. After you saved me so much dough on insurance with that parker promo i devised a promo for you. Heres the deal parker, state farm offers everyone surprisingly great rates. Yeh, right. Pepperoni pocketz, atomic brownie, cuckoo crustiez. Theres no promo. Just great rates. And a side of ranch. Youre the man, man. When you want the real deal. Like a good neighbor, state farm is there. When you want the real deal. Like a good neighbor, turns into magic hour. Flan brings abuela closer. And a good deal means a great deal. Hello. From Harold Square still ahead i need the mic. Hello. Thanksgiving expert Martha Stewart. Harry smith looks at decades of her tips. With shopping moving mostly online, we have the deals after your local news. Over two million meals provided. Over four hundred National Parks protected. In fact, subaru and our retailers will have proudly donated over two hundred Million Dollars to national and Hometown Charities through the subaru share the love event. vo get 0 for 63 months and subaru will donate 250 dollars to charity. Its black friday now. Only athis week. Save on toys. Video games. Tvs and more. This week only. Its black friday, now. At target. Windows open, im yelling unity side by side with my community celebrate, lets have a jubilee theyve been there for us lets be there for them. To crispy fluffy eggo homestyle waffles. We are go for. Lift off. When theyre this crispy and fluffy. I think this ones a solo mission. I understand. Would you leggo your eggo . Less oral steroids. Taking my treatment at home. Nucala is a oncemonthly addon injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. Not for sudden breathing problems. Allergic reactions can occur. Get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. Infections that can cause shingles have occurred. Dont stop steroids unless told by your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. May cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. Ask your doctor about nucala at home. Find your nunormal with nucala. And along the way, we noticed wevsomething was missing. Asts. A warm cinnamon roll for breakfast, or with breakfast. A fluffy blueberry muffin, from the drive thru youre already driving through. A glazed apple fritter, which might find its way into your coffee. These are options every breakfasthaver should have, and now. They do. Meet the new bakery sweets at mcdonalds ba da ba ba ba black friday into deals for days. Starting friday november 27th score deals like a 98 6 volt chevy silvarado rideon instore and online. Lets end the year saving bigger xxxx. Good morning and happy thanksgiving. It is 7 56. Im kira k llapper. Im Cierra Johnson and despite the cooler temperatures and the pandemic, the folks here at glide stepping up and doing what they to serve more than 2,300 folks warm meals in a safe and sanitary measure. Now, behind me those tents will be filled with folks beginning at 9 00 and runs until 1 00. For the folks that cant make it meals delivered via vans throughout the city. Im thom jensen. Enforcement teams are out enforcing covid19 rules. New rules go into effect joined by firefighters in Santa Clara County because of this surge in covid19 cases. Record number of cases, Record Number of hospitalizations and a stress on those icu beds. They will be looking at Grocery Stores now at 50 capacity and restale stores at 25 capacity and making sure people are wearing their masks and practicing social distancing. Meteorologist kari hall has your thanksgiving forecast. And it will be windy today with our temperatures starting out chilly. Reaching into the low 60s for much of the bay area. Microclimates a few mid 60s for the our inland valleys and we go through the forecast the weather remains and cool mornings and warm and sunny afternoons. Well see that continue into at least the middle of next week. Back to today show. Its 8 00 on today. Coming up, happy thanksgiving. The holiday kicks off like never before, as americans adjust to new Safety Measures. Health officials pleading for smaller gatherings this year, while we give thanks and thankful to all the staff, nurses, and doctors who took care of me and made sure i came home to my family. Were live with the latest. Plus, get ready to shop. The big changes coming to black friday, as major retailers work to keep shoppers safe. Theres really not one big sales day this year. Ahead, what you need to know about the deals happening online and in stores. And cant rain on our parade the macys thanksgiving day parade kicks off with new floats and new performances, and a few old friends. Butter man will join us live, as we get ready to celebrate today, im thursday, november 26th, 2020. Im grateful lancaster, pa. Starting thanksgiving with today. This is today. Happy thanksgiving. From the gowins family. All the way from beverly hills, michigan. Im thankful for from our family to yours, happy thanksgiving. From tulsa, oklahoma, to Health Care Workers, thank you and happy thanksgiving grateful and a happy thanksgiving to everybody. Happy thanksgiving. Welcome in, guys. We are so grateful that you guys are with us. You at home, craig and sheinelle in studio. Happy thanksgiving, guys. Happy thanksgiving. Happy thanksgiving, guys. We are right here in front of macys on 34th street, where miracles happen. We are getting ready for the 94th annual macys thanksgiving day parade are you excited . They call this the miracle on 34th street, and this year, it feels like that with all the things going against it. This parade is happening in about an hour. It is going to kick off. Yes, it will be a bit different, but it is going to have all the things you count on. The giant balloons, the animated floats, of course, the big name performances jimmy fallon and the roots are going to be here live. Dolly parton, leslie odom jr. , muppets from sesame street, performance from hamilton. Patti labelle, tori kelly we have so many stars here today. It is fun, were watching it all come together. Theyre lining up behind us, and it is going to start in a little less than an hour. Really, if youre watching from home, i dont think youre going to notice anything. No. Were not missing a beat here you have a fun interview coming up tomorrow on today, by the way. I do. Goldie hawn and kurt russell. Can i tell you something . Tell me there is an overboard sequel. I dont know about that, but i have to tell you, sitting with them was so fun. They are this iconic couple. I dont know if you know, but they met when goldie was 21 and kurt was 16. Whoa. I know, kind of crazy right now, they are playing santa and mrs. Claus in christmas chronicles 2. It is out right now. Theres overboard, my favorite movie. Knew we were going to get that in. Were going to say bye, but well see you for the parade. Good luck. You have us excited to see the parade really looking forward to it. Itll be good. Enjoy and good luck see you at the top of the hour. Okay. Lets get right to the news this morning at 8 00. We start this hour with the coronavirus, as cases spike all over the country some states are implementing new restrictions in an effort to try to slow the spread Gabe Gutierrez joins us with the very latest on that. Gabe, good morning reporter craig, good morning. Today, Health Care Workers across this country are taking no holiday from the pandemic more than 261,000 lives have been lost due to covid19 since the pandemic began overnight, Los Angeles County shut down dining and restaurants and bars for the next three weeks. Pennsylvania banned alcohol sales in its bars and restaurants last night through this morning in an effort to keep people home nationwide, governors, mayors, and Public Health officials are urging people today to limit the size of any family gatherings. Also overnight, some breaking news out of the u. S. Supreme court, which blocked new yorks governor from enforcing occupancy limits at some houses of worship here in new york. In an unsigned majority opinion, the court said restrictions would violate religious freedom, craig. Gabe gutierrez for us there thank you. President elect joe biden is urging americans to hang on and not surrender to the fatigue of the coronavirus as millions of americans get ready to celebrate thanksgiving with a Smaller Group around the table. Meantime, President Trump is turning heads after a highprofile pardon. Nbc White House Correspondent Kelly Odonnell has it all covered for us kelly, good morning. Reporter good morning, sheinelle. Keeping with tradition, today, the president will place calls to troops stationed overseas to give thanks for their service. President trump followed another far more political tradition in the final weeks of his term, granting a full pardon to his friend, ally, and former National Security adviser Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to investigators in the russia probe. Flynn later asked to withdraw that plea and was waiting for a judge to act the president cleared the slate, and democrats are calling it an abuse of power meanwhile, president elect joe biden delivered his own thanksgiving message, and urged American Families to come together safely and remain patient as the country deals with covid. I know the country has grown weary of the fight we need to remember, were at war with a virus, not with one another. Not with each other. Reporter on this holiday, the bidens will be at their delaware beach home, and the trumps will spend their first and only thanksgiving at the white house instead of at the maralago estate in florida sheinelle . Kelly, thank you. Tributes are pouring in for a soccer legend, diego maradona, he died wednesday at the age of 60, suffering a fatal heart attack in his home in buenos aires. Maradona considered one of the best to ever play the game of soccer he was one of argentinas greatest heros, leading his country to its second world cup in 1986. Pele, soccer icon, tweeted, i lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. One day, i hope we can play ball together in the sky. It is a view truly out of this world a nasa astronaut, victor glover, traveled to the space station for the first time, sharing this unique perspective of earth. The video just doesnt do it justice. It is Pretty Amazing though. Wow breathtaking, isnt it . Glover is part of the crew1 mission that launched aboard spacexs crew dragon capsule earlier this month hell call the International Space station home for the next six months. 8 07. Lets boost. Hoda has parade duty. Want me to do it lets do some boosting, yes. Ill try it everyone craves the space of their own to relax, unwind might call it a man cave, a she shed what if youre too young for one of those watch this. Okay. So were in our basement. He thinks nobody knows about his hiding spot. What are you doing in here, bud . You have an ipad what are you doing noah, what are you doing, buddy . Hes, like, im living my best life. Thats what im doing. Noah carved out that little spot inside the Kitchen Cabinet in the basement. Hes got his snacks there, ipad, blankie. So cute hes like, can you close the door needs his privacy back. All right, mom good to see you, mom take care, mom. Looking for goldfish or something. Thats adorable. Happy thanksgiving that was a good one. Coming up, our harry smith checks in with the queen of thanksgiving, Martha Stewart hi, harry. Look at harry at the fire i love that. Fire going. Theyre going to look back at her four decades of turkey tips on the today show, and shell share advice for a pared down holiday celebration. He makes me smile. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and Auld Lang Syne well take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne next customer please. Black friday into deals for days. Starting friday november 27th score deals like a 98 6 volt chevy silvarado rideon instore and online. Lets end the year saving bigger plus have high Blood Pressure. They may not be able to take just anything for pain. Thats why doctors recommend tylenol®. It wont raise Blood Pressure the way that advil® aleve or motrin® sometimes can. For trusted relief, trust tylenol®. That advil® aleve or motrin® sometimes can. Oh, i will rescue you whats so great about dunkin at home . You dont have to wear pants. Okay, who drank all the milk . Enjoy the great taste of dunkin at home. Ythey customize yours lcar insurance. So you only pay for what you need. Wow. That will save me lots of money. This games boring. Only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Hey les her thick red stews scrumptious scent wafted out of the window. Hmm, be right back. Mmm. Story time got auntie leslie a little hungry story time got auntie leslie turns into magic hour. Flan brings abuela closer. And a good deal means a great deal. vo im a verizon engineer and today, were turning on 5g across the country. With the coverage of 5g nationwide. And, in more and more cities, the unprecedented performance of ultra wideband. The fastest 5g in the world. It will change your phone and how businesses do everything. Im proud, because we didnt build it the easy way, we built it right. This is the 5g americas been waiting for. Only from verizon. There you have it, in less than an hour, well kick off the macys thanksgiving day parade it is still happening this year, granted, a little more pared down, but they tell us you wont notice at home people are lining up, they have the floats. Pandemic isnt going to stop the parade rain isnt goins to stop it either its happening. Thanksgiving night has been the kickoff to holiday shopping, but tonight, a lot of retailers will be closed. If you shop in person tomorrow, you can expect it to feel different jo ling kent has more. Jo, good morning. Reporter good morning, guys. Happy thanksgiving usually, wed be bringing you inside a store with workers, getting doorbuster deals ready, showing the long lines of shoppers outside this year, all is quiet on the thanksgiving front this morning, as most major Stores Closed up for the day, citing health and safety reasons, giving online sales a huge bump. Remember those black friday doorbusters with shoppers crammed together, clamoring to grab deal discounts . Now, those will be considered superspreader events, and stores are trying to prevent them so today, major retailers like walmart, target, best buy, and many others choosing to stay closed until tomorrow morning. Black friday will now include an array of new Safety Measures for many shopping centers, it is unclear how many people are going to show up in person on black friday, but theyre ready regardless theyve got the social distancing signs, mobile reservations is, of course, lots of hand sanitizing stations to make sure it is safe if shoppers decide to come out im still a shopper that likes to touch and feel what im getting. Reporter the upside, smaller crowds. Used to be packed during the holidays now, you can walk into the store, pick up your items, and leave. Its amazing. Reporter experts say expect the same deep discounts but very different experiences in stores. Visits are going to be timed possibly or limited. You may need to stand in line outside, wear a mask. Reporter with 75 of shoppers saying they prefer buying online this Holiday Season, shopping is expected to be competitive for super hot items, with online cues. Dont worry, we have four chances to get it from walmart reporter some shoppers hoping to get popular picks like the ps5, relying on Youtuber Jake randall for tips and tricks. Targets up targets up. Reporter aside from big ticket electronics and toys, relax, the great deals will last well into next week and beyond. Theres really not one big sales day this year retailers want to make sure that they are avoiding crowds and reducing the risk, so theyve spread their sales out reporter now, of course, there is the stress of shipping. The best advice ive seen so far is ship directly to your gift recipient, if youre buying online, and try to get it done by december 11th to take advantage of free or cheaper shipping build in those extra days in case shipping is running late. Jo, you showed us how different it is going to look this year in terms of shopping on black friday. One of the reasons we enjoy you so much is you always have the good deals where are the deals . Reporter we have more tips as you prepare thanksgiving here focus on the bigger ticket items for the home this year large appliances, smart tvs, things like trampolines, outdoor heaters, fire pits, i know thats popular right now, exercise equipment, things like that for anything you want Free Shipping for, be sure to order as soon as you can i know we keep saying earlier is better, but it really is you want to avoid the shipping delays weve been telling you about, and if you can avoid it, steer clear of the winter coats and jackets that are so cute, because they will drop so more in price the day after christmas, and maybe even christmas night, so you can buy it online even then. Jo kent, thank you. Good advice. Jo kent, happy thanksgiving. Reporter happy thanksgiving. Lets check in with our buddy al roker again on the parade route this time, he has a special guest. Al guys, thanks so much. Were so thrilled this morning one of the performers performing on the lifetime float is tori kelly. Good to see you. Happy thanksgiving. You, too. Happy thanksgiving so this is your first thanksgiving day parade . It is, yes. How excited are you so excited. You cant see, but im smiling so big ive been giddy all morning. Im just i cant wait. Tell us about your new holiday album. Yes so i did a whole christmas album this year, from home, actually babyface produced the whole thing. Its a dream come true i always wanted to have a christmas album, so this year felt like the right time to do it. You have two great hits, gifts that keep on giving and 25th. How fun was this so fun to do it im doing 25th today on the float. Yeah, i just love christmas. Im just so happy. How are you going to spend thanksgiving once the parade is over yeah, you know, keeping it small, of course obviously, things are crazy right now, but now this isnt where im from im from so cal, so ill probably order in and do something small with my husband. Enjoy the parade. Enjoy your time. Thank you. So thrilled to have you. Thank you so much for having me. Thanks so much. Lets check your weather really quickly, show you what weve got going on thanksgiving day, east rainy bright skies out west. Moving forward, youll be looking at Better Weather as we make our way into the holiday week good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. As we take a look at our live view in san jose, a clear, beautiful start. But we had some gusty winds and Cool Temperatures. We will warm up, but those gusty winds will remain and were looking at highs that will reach into the low to mid 60s for today. Tomorrow expect the winds to start to calm down just a bit with highs in the low 60s through the rest of the forecast we can staying dry with cool morning and fairly mild afternoons into at least the middle of next week. And that is your latest weather. Coming up, move over, mike tirico, my alltime nemesis, butter man, will be coming up. Uhoh become a celebrity in his own right at this point. Thank you, al. Wouldnt be a thanksgiving here on today without Martha Stewart, right we went into our archives and found her first thanksgiving visit with us was, get this, 1980 you werent born yet. I was born in 78 i was 2 when she started on the show this years thanksgiving might be the most unusual yet. Harry smith, who happens to be a neighbor of hers i didnt know that, harry biked over to find out how shes managing it all good morning to you and happy thanksgiving. Reporter good morning. Thanksgiving is a great day. Happy thanksgiving to you. Were up north of new york city, i dont know, an hour and change, and about 10 miles over that way is marthas place so we decided, well get tested, shell get tested. We wanted to stop by and talk about thanksgivings, a lot of thanksgivings. Reporter when i ride by Martha Stewarts place on my bike i always shout yo, martha. This time, i rolled up the driveway well, well, well, look who is here dont you look snazzy. Thank you very much happy thanksgiving. Reporter we wanted to say thank you to martha for all the thanksgivings she shared with us on the today show. People like familiarity on thanksgiving reporter going back 40 years. 40 years ago, and i look just the same, dont i . My hair was longer i was thinner. Willard was the same he was always the same to me. Reporter over the decades, martha has brought her steady, reassuring hand to all things thanksgiving, especially the bird to keep these drumsticks from drying out, dont forget to, after about an hour, if they start getting brown, put a little foil on the drumsticks. Im doing the turkey in a new way, upside down onto the bread. Why do you like spatch so much do you know what spatchcocking means . I think it means split down the center no, it mean to spatch the cock. Oh, okay. Reporter shes taught us the basics. Id like to show you the perfect pie crust. Make it cold and make it hot ive probably cooked, oh, maybe 60 thanksgivings or more i got married at 19, and i did my first thanksgiving, my own thanksgiving, when i was 20 years old. Reporter for Martha Stewart, there was much to be grateful. Her magazine still going strong. This year is its 30th birthday it has still a very large readership, and people enjoy the ideas and the recipes and the crafts and the entertaining ideas. So im very grateful for that, too. Reporter her energy is boundless, as is her curiosity during covid, shes picked up an old pastime. I picked up knitting again. Knitting i havent knitted for years. Reporter and learned a few new ones. Now, i want to learn poker really well. I think poker is fun reporter let me see your poker face if youre taking up poker i have a very good poker face totally. Reporter i cant tell what youre thinking right now. Probably not. Reporter one thing marthas always been an expert on, decorations. So this pared down thanksgiving, tips, ideas, thoughts . Set a pretty table. My granddaughter, jude, she showed me these beautiful place cards she already made for the table. Get the kids involved. Sophie, my niece, is helping, dipping the pumpkins. Reporter thankful for . Right now. Healthy daughter, grandchildren, healthy friends, lots of work. How lucky i am, getting to talk to harry smith for gods sake. Oh, please. For the today show. Ive been on the today show for so many years, and its always such a pleasure reporter and we so appreciate marthas contributions over all those years. Ill tell ya what, a blast just to hang out with her her energy is just phenomenal. Shes busy, busy with the magazine theres always stuff going on. It just was a delight to be able to swing by and say howdy. Shes ageless, just like you, harry. I know. See the pictures of martha from the 80s. The woman doesnt age. How are you spending turkey day, buddy . Reporter well, theres a spatchcocked half of a turkey in the fridge, and it is being brined as we speak, and the pies were made yesterday. The aroma with the pies and especially the stuffing, oh, my gosh, im not sure im going to make it to this afternoon. Listen, our morning is complete now weve seen harry harry and martha. Reporter happy thanksgiving, kids love you guys. Love you, too, buddy. He oozes warmth, doesnt he and the fire. The whole thing if you loved all of those classic tips from Martha Stewart, by the way, head to today. Com food for a roundup of marthas best thanksgiving recipes from all her appearances on today. Still ahead here on a thanksgiving morning, well show our support for amazing businesses steals and deals for getting cozy at home thats after your local news good morning, 8 26. Starting today firefighters will be on the look out for businesses violating health orders. Theyll work with covid compliance officers who can on the spot. Retail stores 25 capacity and have to wear those masks and, of course, social distance. Well you know its thanksgiving and an easy way to help those in need this Holiday Season is through our nourishing neighbors food drive. The next time youre at safeway make a 10 donation and that money goes straight to local food banks and our drive continues through december 29th. Get a look at that thanksgiving day forecast for you. Kari, something to smile about. Were going to have some great weather whether youll be inside or outside. Its just going to be windy today as our high temperatures head into the low to mid 60s and that sunshine will continue. Well see more of that in the forecast, even as the winds calm down starting tomorrow. But after we get the calmer winds, well also have some chilly mornings and start out with frost over the next several mornings. Thanks, kari. Another local update coming up in the next 30 minutes. Give you my world how can i, when you wont take it from me you can go your own way xfinity mobiles fast nationwide 5g network meets the first iphone with 5g. Get the new iphone 12 on xfinity mobile. And right now get 250 off. Learn more at an xfinity store today. We are back. 8 30 on this thanksgiving morning. We are so happy to see our my today plaza crowd, taking a break from their holiday dinner prep to join us. Hi, everybody happy thanksgiving. Rocking our aprons. They have the today show aprons sheinelle and i holding down the fort in studio 1a, while savannah, hoda, and al are getting ready for the big parade. Itll be a great day, counting down the minutes. We still have exciting guests ahead, including good news from the folks at st. Judes research hospital. And jill martin will join us for a special edition of steals and deals this morning, featuring some holiday gift ideas from Small Businesses all over this country. So you can feel good about helping them stay afloat while, of course, also getting really good deals. Jill has the best stuff on that note, tomorrow on today ahead of the bills and packers game, were in green bay, looking at Small Businesses near the stadium. The businesses depend on lambeau field, the crowds at lambeau. They depend on the crowds to stay afloat. Sam brock talked to their owners about how they are managing to survive in the midst of a pandemic fascinating story. Important story. Yes. Now to our special series thanks and giving, about the lifesaving work done at st. Judes childrens research hospital. It is a day to give thanks for everyone, of course, but these two families from st. Jude have something extra special for which to be thankful heres nbcs Kerry Sanders how do you feel good. Reporter sparrow cloe is a pintsized ball of energy. How old are you . How many is that . One, two, three. Reporter adorable. A delightful little girl who at only 10 months was changing in ways that only a mother would pick up on started to suspect something was wrong. She had just stopped trying to crawl. She had become super clingy to me she wouldnt go to her dad she wouldnt go to her grandmother. She wouldnt play with her brother. She would just be always just kind of wanting to cuddle. Reporter insistent something was off, abrianna, a selfdescribed helicopter mom, took her to doctor after doctor lethargy, it was probably allergies. I just felt like that was not the gist of it. Five in all, who each said the bulging eyes, sparrows lethargy, it was probably allergies. I just felt like that was not the gist of it that was not the sum of what was wrong with her i knew that it was something more. Reporter her intuition was right. Tests at local hospital then confirmed little sparrow had cancer it was gutwrenching when it sank in. I mean, it was just moments after the doctor came in and said, we suspect its leukemia, you guys are going to st. Jude the day after tomorrow. Reporter when st. Jude first opened its doors, sparrow would have had a 4 chance of survival today, 94 of children at st. Jude survive this type of leukemia but the journey is never easy. For every family facing leukemia, its all consuming as the owens family also discovered. Brecken shadow owens, he is 4. This is vale catherine owen. And shes 2. Shes 2. Reporter when breck was under 2 years old, he was diagnosed with the same type of leukemia as sparrow. Just 48 hours before, we just thought it was a fever now, youre using the word cancer to our little boy it was overwhelming. We had no idea what the outcome would be we were scared reporter scared and hurting. Theres no pain like kid pain whether its a scrape on his knee or a fever or cancer, its just a gutwrenching feeling when you cant make it better. Reporter for sparrow and breck, doctors prescribed chemo. For sparrow, it lasted two years. For breck, two and a half years. For both, it recently ended. Which makes this thanksgiving ever so meaningful what do you want to be when you grow up . Superhero doctor chef reporter i think you already are a superhero. The doctors and staff at st. Jude, our family would like to thank you for the part youve played in saving our daughters life were truly appreciative. Theres not anything that we can do to repay them, for giving us our son just looking at him, they gave us more than theyll ever even realize. And we are just so grateful this thanksgiving reporter from the day children arrive at st. Jude, there is a single goal the celebratory, no more chemo party. Because of covid, it wasnt the normal celebration it was different its been two and a half years. Its been such a long journey, that you yearn for that celebration, just to watch the confetti go down to not have that, its heartbreaking. Youre on the goal line walking in, and we cant celebrate it together. Reporter covid stole the celebration, but with the help of marlo thomas congratulations reporter and the staff at st. Jude, were making up for it this thanksgiving. You dont get chemo anymore reporter for today, Kerry Sanders, nbc news. Oh, yeah. Now the National Outreach director for st. Jude, marlo thomas, joins us on this thanksgiving the song we heard, the no more chemo song, that has a special place in your heart. It certainly does you know, the first time i went to st. Jude after my father had died, i was kind of afraid to go inside because i thought id be overwhelmed by the memories of the times i had been there with him. I kind of sat in the car and cried a little bit then, finally, i pulled myself together, and i went inside. There was this party going on. These little kids in paper hats, balloons, confetti, and a cake, ice cream. I asked the nurse, whose birthday is it . She said, oh, its not a Birthday Party it is an off chemo party. I really lost it these tears came down my face, and i thought, my fathers spirit is alive and well here. Absolutely. I knew that i had to be a part of it it was a really defining moment for me when we talk about treatment, and im sitting here trying not to cry i lost a childhood friend to leukemia when i was young, more than 20 years ago. I think about if she were alive now, right you think of the success rate. For most childhood leukemia, it is 94 now, right . You think itll ever reach 100 . It will because well go after it the same way we got to the 94 . The children that are not responding to the known therapies, we customize a new treatment especially for them. For example, the infant leukemia that sparrow had, they get the same leukemia as older kids, but it is common for infants to have this genetic alteration that makes them resistant to the conventional chemo we pioneered a combination, using less chemo, immunotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy, and it is working now and being used in 17 hospitals across the country and canada that therapy is a few years old that we discovered it. Thats very exciting sparrow is doing well. She might not be doing well at all if we hadnt figured out about the infant leukemia. Marlo thomas, were thankful for you. Thank you. Something to be thankful for, those kids. Thank you, marlo. Enjoy the day. Speaking of thanksgiving, we have a thanksgiving reunion. Weve been waiting for it all morning. Al roker and butter man. There he is. Wow. Nice costume. First, this is tay onod still hard to find a spot. Just easier to park. Still the big move. Just more moving. Still singing. Just more in tune. Still the gangs all here. Just less are we there yet . The chevy family of suvs. Making lifes journey just better. Now during the chevy cyber sales event, use 500 cyber cash on most suv models. To get 5,250 total cash allowance on most 2020 equinox models. Visit chevycybersalesevent. Com today. Announcer this portion of today is created with our sponsor, verizon okay, so last year, in case you missed it, theres one moment i got involved with, where my kids were like, dad, what did you do . All of a sudden, i had to worry about a butter guy a butter man who was just driving me crazy all throughout the parade well, butter is back and better than ever. Donny willis reprising his role. When i say role, i mean buttered roll donny willis, how are you, man doing great, al nice to be with you today. Did you have any idea when did you first find out that you and i were, like, an internet sensation you know, it was around this corner we were coming around the corner last year, rounded the corner, and i came right here to the grandstands, and my wife, ashley, jumps out and goes, donny, what did you do i was like, i have no idea what did i do . Shes like, they talk about you. We hear your voice i was like, i dont know i got to go. I had to run away. Youre back for your second year youre on your butter image is on the tshirt that macys handed out to all the volunteers how has your year been different . You know, it has been a butter year than expected. Very nice so we have no complaints. A lot of good things happening with our family. My wife is now principal at her school, and shes just been leading through that whole thing. We have no complaints. Very blessed. Youve got a shorter parade route to harass me, so ill be looking for you. Donny willis, thank you. Thank your wife and kids for me. Thank you, al good to see you, my friend. Lets check your weather an. Show you what we have going on for thanksgiving day, a damp start with bright skies out west. Mild and sunny in the midsection of the country into thursday, you can see for today, friday, sunny in the northeast. Heavy rain in the gulf strong winds in Southern California saturday, above average temperatures through the plains. Beautiful in the midatlantic to the northeast. More rain through the gulf sunday, sunday, soggy in the gulf coast and into the mid ohio and Mississippi River valleys. Quiet day in the northeast, into the great lakes. Sunny and dry for the western twothirds of the country. Thats good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. Lets look at our thanksgiving high temperatures reaching into the mid 60s and still very windy today. Our inland valleys near freezing and well see more frosty mornings going into the weekend. Our highs will continue to reach into the low 60s in the inland areas and all dry and sunny going into at least the middle of next week. San francisco will see temperatures in the low 60s also over the next week. And that is your latest weather. You know, guys, we all know this years macys thanksgiving day parade is a little different, but good news is, our sponsor, verizon, helping everybody at home find a different way to see the parade in a whole new way tune into the parade livestream to see exclusive content and different camera angles of the parade you can even see your own family in the parade livestream with the 5g virtual spotlight check out verizons youtube page or the youtube app for a special look at this years macys thanksgiving day parade. Guys, it may not be the parade we wanted, but this year, its the parade we need. I agree. Amen. Happy thanksgiving. I am thankful for you guys thankful for family and friends. Thankful for our viewers have a great day hoda, savannah, and i starting up in just a little bit. I love it were thankful for you, too, my friend. Happy thanksgiving, al roker. When we come back, jill martin is going to stop by to help us get a bit of a head start on the holiday shopping, featuring Small Businesses and a special steals and deals on this thanksgiving morning businesses today are looking to tomorrow. Adapting. Innovating. Setting the course. But new ways of working demand a new type of network. One thats more than just fast. You need flexibility to work from anywhere and manage from everywhere. Advanced technology. With serious security. And reliable coverage, nationwide. Forwardthinking enterprises deserve forwardthinking solutions. And thats what we deliver. So bounce forward, with comcast business. Back now with a special steals and deals as we enter the season for shopping. Small businesses are hoping that the holidays will bring them a muchneeded boost. A recent study shows 69 of the Small Businesses count on the Holiday Season as a top sales opportunity. It is so important. We wanted to shine a light on Small Businesses across the country today. Who do we call today lifestyle contributor jill martin, joining us with steals and deals i want everything on the table for shopping small i should remind everybody, you can scan the qr code on the bottom of your screen. There it is, right there. For instant shopping. Jill, take it away. Hi, guys. Good morning and happy thanksgiving to you. Grateful for your friendship and happy to be with you on this thanksgiving i have a very special steals and deals, as you said Small Business edition this year has been beyond challenging for all, but especially for Small Businesses hit hard by the pandemic we are in awe of their resilience through this different season, and we wanted to show our gratitude this morning. Lets get going here first up, the suburban riot fleece jogger set. Retail, 140 suburban riot was founded in 2006 by two College Friends who quit their corporate day jobs and set out to create a brand that would allow them to ignore the rules, have fun, and not take themselves too seriously. It worked. Their brand is a huge celebrity favorite today, they are offering four different jogger sets. My favorite, be a nice human, you see gratitude right here, and they have an embroidered heart set in navy or black super comfy cozy retail, 140 the deal, 56 for the set. That is 60 off. Next up, this is always a popular one and always sells out fast the stationary studio gift set retail, 100 Public Relations consultant renee founded this in 1994 as a passion project. Has gone from selling to clients in her living room to creating a personalized website with over 30,000 products. Were offering four today exclusive designs. These arent available anywhere else comes with 60 personalized cards, each with different designs and envelopes in a beautiful gift cards cheers from sheinelle here from the desk of craig melvin in front of me. The retail, 100 deal, 39. 61 off. You always love beauty, so we wanted to bring you the korina naturals Natural Beauty skin care set retail, 112 korina naturals is a femaleowned Small Business. All products, including the bestselling face serum, are handcrafted in San Francisco using natural ingredients. We have a choice of two Natural Beauty skin care sets. Its the same set, just choose based on your skin type. Normal to dry or oily and acne prone. In this set, you get the face serum, the cleanse makeup remover, coffee and sugar scrub. It is awesome. Retail is 112 and it is now for 29 which is 74 off. This is a Savannah Guthrie favorite the alicia adams alpaca blanket. It is a collection of luxury home and gift products, baby and childrens wear, men and womens apparel, and accessories made of the most luxurious and rarest materials, alpaca fiber. Today from alicia adams, we have alpaca field blankets in solid and striped throws really beautiful 24 patterns and colors incredible gift. Retail, 395, deal, 85. 78 off. Jewelry, you always love this for the layered look it could go with something you already have it is a beautiful sentiment, as well the Jennifer Miller jewelry. Retail, 250 now, founder Jennifer Miller launched the line out of her new york apartment with the help of a loan from her aunt what began as a humble operation, making jewelry for family and friends, grew to a successful trunk show business and ultimately a celebrity favorite line. Today, the company is offering bestselling charm necklaces in two fan favorite styles. Star and moon charm necklace my stage manager, my mom, always says, i love you to the moon and back. Or the heart and cover charm necklace. 14 karat, yellow or white gold 250 the deal is 59. 50, 75 off. Next up, you always love a good tote, and these are super beautiful. The my luxury tote bags. Retail, 598 m. I. L. A. Stands for made in los angeles, and each is crafted by la artisans. Super luxurious, available in italian leather or suede this is the companys bestselling tote, versatile, easy to find everything, and large enough to hold a tablet. Check today. Com for the interesting and unique colors. Great organization inside. Amazing gift, as well. Retail, 598 the deal, 89. That is 85 off. Lets wrap up the products one more time. The suburban riot jogger sets. Stationary gift sets korina Natural Beauty set. The alpaca blankets and the jewelry, and my luxury tote bags just so you know that today works with affiliate partners and may earn a commission on purchases made through our links at today. Com. Back out here live from my family to yours, i know this is a different one, but happy thanksgiving from my stage manager mama and i, sending love back to the studio love you guys. Happy thanksgiving. From a 600 bag to an 80 bag. Like not so bad. Just a reminder, i just learned how to do this, you literally take your cell phone and hold the camera up to the qr code on the bottom of your screen. Everything you need will pop up. Or you can head to today. Com deals to support these Small Businesses its such a good deal. Well be right b in just a few months, weve learned a lot more about the covid19 virus. Its real. Its dangerous. And we do know how to keep you and your loved ones safe. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay six feet apart. We can do this. If we do it together. We are back and ready for some time with the my today plaza crowd this morning families up early all over america, joining us live as they get ready for thanksgiving what do you say we check in . I love this hi, guys this is one of my favorite parts of the morning. Hello. Hi. Kids sitting at attention, ready. Happy thanksgiving. Happy thanksgiving. Can i see the Miller Family . You guys are from memphis. There you are. Happy thanksgiving. So we have carla and more with their kids. I know there is someone special youre really thankful for who is watching. Who would you like to say happy thanksgiving to . I would like to say happy thanksgiving to my nana, gigi, and granddaddy im thankful for my family because of the virus, we havent been able to see them much i wanted to wish them a happy thanksgiving. Thank you happy thanksgiving to nana, who is watching, as well lets go to the booths in washington catherine, zach, 4yearold son harrison good see you, booths hi. Whats on the menu today . Rblths good morning to you its 8 56. Im marcus washington. 2,000 bicycles were stolen this was after the chain to the storage unit was cut. Police are looking into how the thieves broke into the store and how they knew that particular unit is where they had them and why they left the more expensive bikes behind. But for now they hope to get more donations. If youd like to contribute, sign up to receive a toy, sign up at sffirefighterstoys. Org. It will begin holding its annual outreach day and due to the pandemic those attending will have some changes. We have more information on our home page for you. Have a very happy thanksgiving to you. Oh with the streets empty looks like there might not be a thanksgiving day parade this year 0, no, you cant take the parade away from new york city you cant take the parade away from america you cant take the parade away from the world we need this parade. Siri, text, tell her to meet with in herald