xfdls TODAY-SHOW-03
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Eight o`clock now on this Tuesday morning. It`s the 29th of January, 2013. And we`ve got a lovely crowd out on our plaza this morning. Big smiles. It`s kind of warm this morning, I would say, here in New York City compared to inside our studio. But hey, that`s another story. Good morning everyone. I`m Savannah Guthrie.
MATT LAUER: It`s another whining day.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I know. I know. I`m sorry. It slipped out.
AL ROKER: It`s actually very nice out.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: It`s very pleasant outside.
MATT LAUER: Beautiful.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely. We have a lovely crowd on the plaza. And we are out here. It`s Savannah Guthrie, alongside Matt Lauer and Al Roker. And you know who we have right here about to walk into frame? The always delightful, Melissa McCarthy. Good morning to you.
MATT LAUER: Nice to see you.
MELISSA MCCARTHY (Identity Theft): Hello. How are you?
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We are going to chat with you in a few moments about your new movie. Identity Thief, it`s called. You`re tough in this movie?
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah. I don`t kid around.
AL ROKER: No.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah. I throw some punches and things-- most-- mostly Jason Bateman gets a little bloody.
MATT LAUER: Can-- can my kids see this one? Because we already talked--
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yes.
MATT LAUER: --about a little mishap with the other movie.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yes. This one is better.
MATT LAUER: Okay.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: This one`s better except for one part.
MATT LAUER: And you`re not a hundred percent sure.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Exactly.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: There`s a whole scene that they can just go out for popcorn, right?
MATT LAUER: Okay. Good.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah.
MATT LAUER: Thanks for the warning.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: There`s one brain part. I`m sorry.
MATT LAUER: Good.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: All right. We`ll catch up with Melissa in a few--
MATT LAUER: Also we`re going to have more of our rare interview with former Vice President Al Gore. He has written a brand new book and he`s here to talk about what he sees as the drivers of global change over the next several decades. It`s called The Future. We`ll talk about his personal future as well.
AL ROKER: And our green room may never be the same. That`s because we got the McGhee sextuplets-- sextuplets in the house. They are running rampant, actually pretty well behaved. They`re just kind of hanging right now but, wow, I can`t even imagine.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Six two and a half-year-olds. We`ll catch up with them and hear about that. And we want to mention that Al and Natalie are packing their bags. They`re going to go out on the first of our Friday February Field Trips. We`re going to go somewhere to a new city every single--
MATT LAUER: Right.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: --Friday. So we`re doing a Super Bowl theme this week.
AL ROKER: That`s right.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Al is headed off to San Francisco where the city is decked out and 49ers in red and gold. And then Natalie is headed over to Baltimore where fans sent the Ravens off to New Orleans in style on Monday. So, be sure to join us at the kick off, so to speak, of TODAY`s Field Trips where it`s going San Francisco and Baltimore Friday on TODAY. So we hope you`ll join us.
AL ROKER: We got a little wager going, too.
MATT LAUER: Yeah.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I know.
AL ROKER: So--
MATT LAUER: Somebody is going to have to dress up in something goofy come Monday morning.
AL ROKER: Right. Me a Raven or-- or-- or Natalie a miner.
MATT LAUER: A miner.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: A miner.
MATT LAUER: A Niner miner. Okay. Good. Before we go any further, let`s go inside. Natalie is standing by at the news desk. Nat.
NATALIE MORALES: All right. Good morning, Matt, Savannah and Al. And good morning everyone.
Deadly-- deadly flood waters are peaking today in eastern Australia. At least four people have lost their lives and thousands have evacuated from the worst flooding Australia has seen in decades. Rescuers have been relying on a fleet of helicopters to pluck people from rooftops over the past several days. The historic floods are being blamed on the remnants of Cyclone Oswald.
President Obama is set to unveil his own version of immigration reform in Las Vegas today. He plans to go beyond the bipartisan deal that is being discussed in the Senate by offering a quicker path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
The Boy Scouts are considering lifting the ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. The new policy, if adopted, would reverse the national ban and allow individual troops to decide for themselves whether or not to allow gay scouts. Some religious groups oppose the change and gay activists say it doesn`t go far enough.
A rare double-arm transplant for a quadriplegic Iraq veteran. Brendan Marrocco is the first soldier from the Iraq war to survive after losing all four limbs. The surgery was done at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore last month. Brendan`s father says his son is really excited about his new arms.
And now for a look at what`s Trending TODAY, our quick roundup of what has you talking online. Say it ain`t so, Michelle Williams is shooting down rumors of a Destiny`s Child reunion at the Super Bowl half time show. The girl group`s most famous alumnus Beyonce is headlining the show. But Williams says she`s going to be performing in the world tour of the musical Fela! and can`t be there.
Everyone loves Gangnam Style. But the guy who made this handmade flipbook of the music video that goes shot for shot with the original might just love it more than you do. Check it out.
(Excerpt from internet video)
NATALIE MORALES: That is unbelievable. The original now, by the way, has more than 1.2 billion hits on YouTube. The flipbook version has about one billion hits to go if it wants to catch up there.
Well sometimes, you need a pep talk and where better to get it from than the Kid President? Take a look.
(Excerpt from internet video)
NATALIE MORALES: The self-appointed voice of a generation releases a video every week and wants grown-ups to know he tells it like it is. And by the way, to let you know, he`s going be here live with us in studio tomorrow. We can`t meet-- wait to meet him.
It`s eight-o-five right now. Let`s go outside to Al for a check of the weather.
AL ROKER: All right. Out of the mouth of babes. We like that. And we`ve got a real cutie here. Who is this?
WOMAN: This is Frank.
AL ROKER: Frank. I like that. And where is Frank from?
WOMAN: We`re from Seattle.
AL ROKER: Very nice. Frank made the trip all the way out here. What kind of coffee does Frank drink?
WOMAN: Black.
AL ROKER: Okay. Good. And I`m not even going to go there. Okay. Let`s show you what`s going on as far as your weather is concerned. Today`s pick city, Yuma, Arizona. 11, where the news comes first, sunny, cool, sixty-three degrees. We`ve got big changes in our temperatures, jet stream way up to the North and the East. So, temperatures anywhere from ten to thirty degrees above normal. Out West, they take a big dip. And so you can see those temperatures anywhere from five to fifteen degrees below normal. We`ve got a risk of strong storms today where that-- those two air masses meet. So Arkansas today, really could be looking at some severe weather, tornadoes, even rain as you make your way up into the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Icy conditions, northern New England. Snow showers in the Southwest. Rain moving into the Pacific Northwest.
That`s what`s going on around the country. Here`s what`s happening in your neck of the woods.
(Weather follows)
AL ROKER: That`s your latest weather.
MATT LAUER: All right. Mister Roker. To give you a sense of what`s coming up in the next few minutes. We`ve got Melissa McCarthy up next. She`s going to tell us about her brand new movie role. Then a little more with former Vice President Al Gore. And later music mogul Tommy Mottola on his headline-making memoir and what it was like to work with Michael Jackson and many others, right after these messages.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Back at eight eleven. No one can forget Melissa McCarthy`s scene-stealing performance as the aggressive sister of the groom in hit movie Bridesmaids. The role earned her an Oscar nomination. And now she`s costarring in a new movie with Jason Bateman called Identity Thief and she`s busy stealing identities and stealing scenes again and she`s also trading some blows.
(Excerpt from Identity Thief)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And Melissa McCarthy is here. Good morning to you.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Hello. Good morning. Good morning.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: You`re tough in this movie.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah, it`s-- we-- we really-- we went around a couple of times.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, I want to talk about that in a moment. But first I have to say the producers of this film paid you the highest compliment, because this is a part that was written for a guy and when they saw you in Bridesmaids, they thought--
MELISSA MCCARTHY: She`s man-ish.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: No, but they wrote it for you.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: We`ll get-- we`ll get that guy. No. I know that was-- I was kind of really excited about that.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: What drew you to this part?
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Well, Jason-- just getting a call from Jason Bateman. I already kind of thought like, what, you kidding? And then we had lunch and he was as funny and smart and delightful as I had hoped he would be.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I`m glad that you love Jason Bateman and I thought I`m glad I`m not the only one. Did you just grow up watching him and loving him?
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yes, I think everybody did. And everybody-- he was the main person when I-- when I went to meet him, everyone-- I got a million calls afterwards and like, please tell me he`s nice, I need him to not be crazy, I need him not be crazy. I`m like he`s not crazy. They are so excited.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Oh, good. So, you can report he--
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: --he is nice and not crazy.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: He`s indeed not crazy.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let`s talk about how physical this role is because as much as you love Jason Bateman, you`re kind of beating the crap out of him the whole time.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: I beat the-- yes I beat the bejeebers out of him repeatedly.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: You invented the throat punch. Can you tell me about this?
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Well we-- there was-- I had to figure out a way to get away from him. And like he`s a, you know, he`s a strong guy. And I thought, I`m 5`2", it would have to be something dirty, so I kept pitching like or I just punch him in the throat. And everybody would laugh and Jason`s like that seems like a terrible idea. Then they kept pitching it and they`re like, maybe you just punch him in the throat. And then I end up I punching him in the throat, you know, fifteen times. Which for the-- shooting the movie you`re doing it about seventy-five times. So, I missed occasionally.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I heard you guys did a lot of your own stunts.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah, a lot. We kind of have to because when we`re up, you know, we`re so close and we have dialogue, there`s no way to-- to switch it out. Yeah which I was-- like once we actually went to shoot and I was like, oh wait, what I thought was really funny, like now I have to do it. This is-- I didn`t-- I didn`t plan on that right.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Tell me how these last couple of years have been for you. I mean, it is such a whirlwind. You`re nominated for an Oscar, you won an Emmy, you`re going to red carpets, you`re kind of an "It" girl.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Oh, lord. I don`t know about that. But it`s-- I think to try to work for so long, you know, I`ve-- I`ve-- I`ve been doing this for, you know, a good twenty years. And you just-- you just want to work. You hope to God you get a job. So to suddenly be getting to do all these jobs that are, you know, like a just a dream situation with people that I didn`t think I would ever meet, let alone get to work with and be friends with, you know, and directors that are just like as creative and collaborative and dreamy as can be. It`s like I just have to keep pinching myself. When Ben and I every once in a while just go, are we really here? This is happening. We try to actually check in and-- and not let it pass by.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: So fame has totally changed you?
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yes. I don`t-- I`m carried everywhere. I only drink Alaskan water. No.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: You told me not to look you in the eye.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: I have just a big X here where you have to look.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, one thing that`s great about you is you occasionally still get a little star struck and I hear you wanted to meet our former vice president.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yes.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Should we go over and say hello?
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Oh, God. Yes. Oh, my God, yes.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Okay. Let`s go. I`ll take you there because actually it helps us.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: I have a mic hanging.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Oh, no. Well hold on. Okay. Just hold on to it.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: I don`t care. I don`t care.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I`ll hold that. You`ll shake out of that. You shake.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: I`ll do this.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Here`s Mister Al Gore. Melissa McCarthy.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Oh, my gosh. Hello. It`s such an honor to meet you.
AL GORE (Author, The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change): I`m a great fan. You make me laugh. You`re great.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Oh, lord. That`s crazy to hear. You-- you make me hopeful. So
AL GORE: Thank you.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: --I think that`s more important.
AL GORE: Thank you.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, this is a good way for us to tease that the former vice president is going to join us next to talk more about the future.
AL GORE: Looking forward to it.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We`ll be back right after this.
MELISSA MCCARTHY: Yeah.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MATT LAUER: Eight eighteen now. From the digital revolution to the crisis of global warming, former Vice President Al Gore has never shied away from the very tough issues. Now he`s sharing his vision of where the world is heading in his new book The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change. Vice President Gore, welcome back. Good to have you HERE.
AL GORE: Thank you.
MATT LAUER: Let me read you what TIME magazine says about you and the book. They say first of all this is unfiltered Gore in all his wonky glory and they say, quote, "In the classroom of life, he`ll always be the kid whose hand is up." Both fair?
AL GORE: Oh, dear. Oh, dear.
MATT LAUER: Fair?
AL GORE: Oh, I hope not. But I`ve always been fascinated by the task of trying to look over the horizon and see what`s coming at us. And I-- I-- I have indulged that passion extensively in this book.
MATT LAUER: You write a lot about climate change and global warming and the way we view our planet. It is an issue that has shaped your life. And I want to talk to you about some polling. If you talk to Americans, about four in five people in this country believe that climate change is happening, global warming is real and it`s going to present a problem. But there`s a group inside that large group, and it`s not an insignificant group, and they don`t believe that climate change is manmade or exacerbated by humans. Does that surprise you?
AL GORE: Well, in a way, no, because there`s been a lavishly funded, well- organized effort to convince-- to try to convince people of falsehoods. And it`s the same thing--
MATT LAUER: By the way, the people in that group would say the same of the other group.
AL GORE: Yes, I-- I understand. But it`s-- what`s different is this is a corporate-funded exercise. Large carbon polluters have business plans that depend upon them being able to use the earth`s atmosphere as an open sewer. And-- and it`s the same thing that the tobacco companies did years ago in trying to convince people that the science linking cigarette smoking to lung cancer was not believable.
MATT LAUER: These are your words. In today`s world, the challenge of global warming has unfortunately led to an almost tribal division between those who accept the overwhelming scientific consensus and the evidence of their own senses, and those who are bound and determined to reject it. The ferocity of their opposition is treated as a kind of a badge, signifying their membership in the second group and antagonism toward the first.
AL GORE: Yeah.
MATT LAUER: Given that dynamic, what are the hopes for real change?
AL GORE: Well, that`s-- that`s sort of a basic trait in human nature that all of us are vulnerable to. And in times past when we have made leaps forward to solve problems and create a brighter future, we`ve found ways to overcome that natural tendency to group up in tri-- tribes and fight one another. I-- I will say that the partisanship and antagonism in our politics today is near an all-time high. And it does need to be mitigated. I-- I think we need to get corporate money out of politics. I think we need to diminish the role of special interests, and I-- I think that would help.
MATT LAUER: And you know, after years of-- of calling people`s attention to this issue and now we`ve seen super storm Sandy and tornadoes and drought and extreme temperatures, do you feel vindicated?
AL GORE: Well, I wish that I had been wrong. And I wish that the scientists whose message I was carrying had been wrong. It`s not about me. It`s about us and what we do to safeguard our future. And-- and, by the way, as I point out in-- in this book, climate change is one huge problem, but we have other challenges. The advanced automation that`s coming with artificial intelligence and robotics is really hollowing out the middle class. The genetic engineering revolution is crossing the boundaries between species and forcing us to realize we`re in charge of evolution now. And I won`t list all of the others, but we have the obligation to the future to make intelligent choices in the present that will give our kids a-- a bright future the way previous generations did for us.
MATT LAUER: Since I have you here, and I haven`t had a chance to talk to you since a lot of changes have occurred in your own life. It was 2010 that you and Mrs. Gore, Tipper, decided to separate.
AL GORE: Mm-Hm.
MATT LAUER: That created an enormous conversation in this country. I don`t know if you were aware of it, at the time or if you allowed yourself to listen in, but talking about relationships that end after years and years.
AL GORE: Mm-Hm.
MATT LAUER: Were you surprised by the attention you received?
AL GORE: Well, it`s a very personal, private thing. But we made a mutual agreement after forty years of marriage. We are doing great, by the way and--
MATT LAUER: How was the relation-- how would you describe the relationship today?
AL GORE: Warn. We had the children and grandchildren for Christmas. And we- - we have regular family gatherings and it-- life is good.
MATT LAUER: When you heard so many people say they were such a great team--
AL GORE: Mm-Hm.
MATT LAUER: --they always seemed-- that the word team was always used in describing the two of you. Was it hard to listen to other people weigh in on your personal life?
AL GORE: Well, I didn`t listen to too much of that. But we have a good relationship, and our family is strong and that`s what now matters.
MATT LAUER: Let me end on a matter of politics. You were the last sitting vice president to go on and run for President.
AL GORE: Mm-Hm.
MATT LAUER: You lost an election they`ll write about for decades. Joe Biden, it seems to be kicking the tires for a run in 2016. Is he the guy, in your opinion, who can lead the Democratic Party forward and the nation forward?
AL GORE: Well, I`m going to resist getting drawn into that.
MATT LAUER: Come on, try.
AL GORE: I love Joe and there are others who, no doubt, will run. I-- I do genuinely believe that just a week after we inaugurated President Obama, it`s premature to-- to get into the horse race. You-- you know it`s--
MATT LAUER: Have you watched television news? Come on.
AL GORE: Well, but that`s--
MATT LAUER: This is what we do.
AL GORE: I know, but that`s also part of something we need to challenge. We went through 2012 with sixty percent of the country in drought, super storm Sandy, a hundred and ten billion dollars of climate disasters and not one journalist anywhere in the U.S. asked any question during the debates about the biggest issue we`re facing, the climate crisis. Now the horse race stories are easy to write. And it`s just a kind of a template that we get into. And it`s totally understandable. But we need to really dig in, in our democracy, the way we used to and grapple with the problems that face us.
MATT LAUER: And let`s end on that note. Former Vice President Al Gore, it`s always good to have you here. Come back more often.
AL GORE: I would love to. Thank you.
MATT LAUER: We appreciate it very much.
And we`re coming up with Tommy Mottola after your local news.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
END
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