>> HE SAYS HE SPOTTED THE TREE
DURING A ROAD TRIP TO PENN
STATE.
HE WAS SUBMITEN.
>> I HAVE TO BE HONEST.
WHEN ERIC FIRST KNOCKED ON MY
DOOR I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM.
>> THE THEN 33-YEAR-OLD BOUGHT
THIS PENNSYLVANIA HOME SHORTLY
AFTER TAKING A PRINCIPLE
POSITION AT A NEARBY MIDDLE
SCHOOL.
>> THE TREE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN
THE CORNER OF THE PROPERTY, BUT
I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF IT AS A
REALLY LARGE SPRUCE.
>> WEIGHING IN AT 12.5 TONS, THE
NORWAY SPRUCE WILL GET MADE
OVER.
WRAPPED WITH FIVE MILES OF
L.E.D. AND TOPPED WITH A CRYSTAL
STAR.
>> CLOSE TO A MILLION PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO SEE IT ON A DAILY
BASIS.
>> WOW.
WHAT AN ENTRANCE, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S THE ONLY WORD THERE IS
FOR THIS MOMENT.
WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE
STARTED OUT AT NBC AS AN INTERN
FOR "THE TODAY SHOW."
TO ACTUALLY SEE THE TREE COMING
IN PERSON, THIS IS A FIRST.
IT IS MASSIVE.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE IT WHEN
IT'S ACTUALLY STANDING.
IT WILL BE COVERED IN 50,000
LOOI
LIGHTS.
THE CRYSTAL AT THE TOP OF THE
TREE.
THE LIGHTING WILL BE A HUGE
EVENT.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29th, AT
7:00 P.M. EASTERN.
NOT EASTER.
IT'S ACTUALLY CHRISTMAS.
>> I DIDN'T BRING ANY ORNAMENTS.
>> I HAVE TO SAY, ONE OF THE
BEST THINGS WE DO HERE AT NBC IS
THAT MOMENT WHEN WE LIGHT THIS
TREE.
IT'S ONE OF THE SORT OF --
>> IT'S A VERY SPECIAL SEASON.
>> THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
AROUND 30 ROCK BECAUSE IT IS SO
CROWDED TRYING TO LEAVE WORK.
>> YOU ACTUALLY CAN'T MOVE.
YOU CAN'T GET AROUND.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE
HOLIDAYS ARE HERE.
BUT NOW I THINK WE CAN SAY IT'S
OFFICIAL.
>> WE'VE GOT THE WEATHER.
WE'VE GOT THE TREE.
IT'S THE SEASON.
>> I CAN'T FEEL MY FINGERS.
>> THERE'S THAT TOO.
>> AND WE'RE ALL WEARING HAND
WARMERS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT COMING UP
INCLUDING SOME COMFORT FOOD THAT
WILL GET YOU READY FOR
THANKSGIVING.
>> AND HOW ABOUT THIS?
A BEER THAT IS SO STRONG IT IS
BANNED IN A DOZEN STATES BUT NOT
FORTUNATELY NEW YORK.
AND SO WHAT ELSE DO WE DO ON A
SATURDAY MORNING BUT DRINK IT?
>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL WARM IT UP
A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S FRIGID OUT HERE.
LET'S GET ONE MORE CHECK OF THE
FORECAST.
>> IT IS VERY CHILLY IN THE
NORTHEAST.
RECORD BREAKING LOW TEMPERATURES
ALL ACROSS THE NORTHEAST DOWN
INTO PARTS OF THE MID ATLANTIC.
ONLY WARMING INTO THE 30s LATER
THIS AFTERNOON.
SOME CLOUDS, A LITTLE BIT OF
RAIN, LITTLE BIT OF SNOW.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE STORM TO
MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE PA TICIFIC
NORTHWEST.
WE'LL SEE SNOW UP IN THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS.
IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MESSY
ESPECIALLY THROUGH SOUTHERN
MICHIGAN WHERE ICING IS
POSSIBLE.
AND TEMPERATURES IN THE
NORTHEAST WILL START TO REBOUND.
LITTLE MORE RAIN DOWN ACROSS
FLORIDA.
THAT'S A LOOK AT THE WEATHER
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HERE'S A PEEK OUT YOUR WINDOW.
>>> AND THAT'S YOUR LATEST
FORECAST.
>> WELL, NOW THAT THE EARLY
CHRISTMAS SURPRISE FOR A GROUP
OF KIDS LEFT HOMELESS AFTER
HURRICANE IRMA.
>> IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE
IRMA TORE THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN
VIRTUAL LIE WIPING OUT THE
ISLAND OF BARBUDA.
>> THAT'S WHY A GROUP OF
VOLUNTEERS HEADED DOWN TO BRING
A SMILE TO SOME OF THE YOUNGEST
VICTIMS.
>> AN ENTIRE ISLAND NEARLY WIPED
OFF THE MAP.
SERGEANT GEORGE WAS THERE AS
HURRICANE IRMA BARRELED THROUGH
BARBUDA AT 150 MILES PER HOUR
LEAVING COMPLETE DESTRUCTION IN
ITS WAKE.
>> IS THIS THE TYPE OF DAMAGE
THAT WE'RE SEEING ALL AROUND?
>> YES, BASICALLY.
YOU CANNOT COME HERE BECAUSE
THERE'S NOTHING.
>> THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO.