we get more now from nbc's lady michelle franzen. >> what should we call each other? >> well, we could always start with mrs. crawly and lady grantham. >> reporter: "downton abbey," the british series where the old world of privilege and place collides with the new, casual society. >> when i'm with her, i'm reminded of the virtues of the english. >> but isn't she american? >> exactly. >> reporter: the finale of season two drew nearly 5.5 million viewers here in the u.s., one of the top-rated shows for pbs. and tonight, in season three, grandmama, martha levinson, played by shirley maclaine, is the latest dose of american influence to cross the pond. >> oh, dear, i'm afraid the war has made old women of us both. >> oh, i wouldn't say that, but then i always keep out of the sun. >> reporter: in an interview with "rock center," series creator julian fellows. >> what is marvelous is you've got the figure of violet, you know, maggie smith who place the dowager, and she essentially is nostalgic for the old world. whereas shirley maclaine's character, martha levinson, thinks

nbc's michelle franzen has more. >> okay. so here for a flu shot today, right? >> yep. >> reporter: back from break, wisconsin madison junior mark sebert is doing all he can to keep from getting the flu. >> my mom has been hounding me about it and i work with kids at the day care through the university so it doesn't hurt. >> reporter: he is one of hundreds of students on campus getting a shot due to the nationwide flu outbreak. >> heard all the statistics through the tv and just said, why not? >> reporter: according to the cdc, 48 states are now reporting widespread cases of the flu. 30 states report a high level of activity. and that has college health officials bracing for the worst. >> we are concerned about because students are returning from all over the world and all over the country, that they may be incubating those infections and bring them back to campus. >> reporter: at the madison campus, health workers say it is the first time they are arming students with shots this late in the season and have extra vaccines ready to go. >> just in the last week al

michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >>> that's "nbc nightly news" for this sunday. brian williams will be here tomorrow. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. for all of us here at nbc news, good night. . >>> you're watching nbc sports. >> in for the touchdown! >> championship over. >> a stanley cup for los angeles. >> shaun white, boy does he deliver! >> the mercedes-benz superdome in new orleans, a week from tonight, the 2012 nfl season will conclude with the unique matchup in super bowl xlvii. the afc champion baltimore ravens led by head coach john harbaugh will meet the nfc champion san francisco 49ers led by head coach jim harbaugh. in a brother versus brother championship game. >> it's time to celebrate! the ravens are going back to the super bowl! >> the san francisco 49ers, super bowl bound! >> now we kick off super bowl week from honolulu, hawaii where many of the league best players have been gathering more than

michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >>> that's "nbc nightly news" for this sunday. brian williams will be here tomorrow. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. for all of us here at nbc news, good night.

nbc's michelle franzen has more. >> okay. so here for your flu shot today, right? >> yep. >> reporter: back from break, wisconsin madison senior mark is doing all he can to keep from getting the flu. >> my mom has been hounding me about it and i work with kids at the day care through the university so it doesn't hurt. >> reporter: he is one of hundreds of students on campus getting a shot due to the nationwide flu outbreak. >> heard all the statistics through the tv and just said, why not? >> reporter: according to the cdc, 48 states are now reporting widespread cases of the flu. 30 states report a high level of activity. and that has college health officials bracing for the worst. >> we are concerned about because students are returning from all over the world and all over the country, that they may be incuke baiting those infection and bringing them back to campus. >> reporter: at the madison campus, health workers say it is the first time they are arming students with shots this late in the accept a and have extra vaccines ready to go. >> just in the last week a

michelle franzen. thank you very much. here's erica. >> thanks. >>> a pilot in minnesota who was preparing to fly a commercial jet halfway across the country was arrested friday morning after failing a preliminary breathalyzer test. we have this report. >> reporter: it was early friday morning in minneapolis. passengers were waiting to board americle fan eagght 4590 bound for new york. the police boarded first, heading straight to the cockpit to find the pilot. according to the arrest report, officers and a tsa worker smelled alcohol as they passed by 48-year-old colburn christiansen who was waiting by the elevator. police confronted the pilot as he was doing preflight checks. conducted a breathalyzer test, and arrested him of being under the influence of alcohol. it's not the first time we've seen pilots in trouble for substance abuse. in 2002, two americawest pilots drank 14 beers between them in a bar hours before takeoff. even hit the big screen as part of the recent denzel washington film "flight." >> you had alcohol

here's michelle franzen. >> reporter: it is a few sheila and dominic still can't belive is real. >> it's our home. our white picket fence. >> reporter: the couple's staten island home where they lived more than 40 years and raised four children was destroyed by sandy. >> but the grandkids would come over and that was their clubhouse. they loved it. >> reporter: their possessions, mementos and investment gone. the couple says their insurance company, allstate, is refusing to pay their full claim. instead offering them a $10,000 payout for their house. >> we didn't sign it. we didn't cash it. we don't even want $10,000. that's a joke. >> reporter: at the same time allstate recently featured their destroyed home in a television ad, thanking employees who were also affected by the storm. >> some of them lost their houses. >> they used our house like they were caring. this is not caring. this is a money thing. >> reporter: they say the insurance company concluded their home was damaged by flooding. they don't have flood insurance and say they canceled their policy several years ago. but they

michelle franzen. thank you very much. here's erica. >> thanks. >>> a pilot in minnesota who was preparing to fly a commercial jet halfway across the country was arrested friday morning after failing a preliminary breathalyzer test. we have this report. >> reporter: it was early friday morning in minneapolis. passengers were waiting to board american eagle flight 4590 bound for new york. the police boarded first, heading straight to the cockpit to find the pilot. according to the arrest report, officers and a tsa worker smelled alcohol as they passed by 48-year-old colburn christiansen who was waiting by the elevator. police confronted the pilot as he was doing preflight checks. conducted a breathalyzer test, and arrested him of being under the influence of alcohol. it's not the first time we've seen pilots in trouble for substance abuse. in 2002, two americawest pilots drank 14 beers between them in a bar hours before takeoff. even hit the big screen as part of the recent denzel washington film "flight." >> you had alcoho

michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >>> as we mentioned earlier, the baltimore ravens are also headed to the super bowl after beating the new england pay trots in the afc championship. the win for the ravens sends them to their first super bowl in 12 years. baltimore fans reacted to the win with sheer joy. the win even left the mayor of that city speechless. >> my voice is a little raspy because i've been screaming because it is so -- there are no words. you know, this is our date with destiny and just to be -- it's incredible. i don't even know -- i don't have any words. just very blessed. we are, as a city. >> reporter: the 49ers take on the ravens in super bowl xlvii in two weeks. no word yet on what the two mayors of the citys will bet on. but we're guessing they will bet on something along the way. >>> we want to take you back out live to santa clara to 49er team headquarters. as you can see, we have lots of fans out there. each one of these cars, we understand, we believe to be the players and members of the team leaving, going home. they arrived back at the headquarters just fi

michelle franzen with the story. >> reporter: with a snip and a snapshots, first lady michelle obama kicked off a new look and conversation over, yep, bangs. and the reviews are mixed. >> i like the way it used to be. it looked smoother, and -- like more professional. >> i give it a thumbs down. she gives it a thumbs up. >> yeah. thumbs up. i think it's cute on michelle. >> yeah, i think it's retro. looks nice. back in fashion. >> reporter: the first lady debuted her birthday haircut on her new twitter page and in a video for the president's organizing for action initiative. >> last year we did something truly extraordinary. >> reporter: since then, the internet has been buzzing with tweets about the new do. was also the hot topic on tv from the "today" show -- >> oh, cute. >> reporter: to "live with kelly and michael." >> it's bang friday. she bangs, she bangs. [ applause ] >> reporter: the first lady became a fashion role model at her husband's inauguration four years ago. her look from gowns to everyday sweaters and skirts and those arms are closely watched and copied. >> she owns

michelle franzen is here with the very latest. this is most interesting. good day to you. >> hi, electi wrs, alex. he's inspired others with his competitive spirit and perseverance, he's faced and long denied he was part of a doping scandal, but "the new york times" is reporting armstrong may be weighing his options on whether or not to make a stunning admission. >> reporter: lance armstrong is used to competing and winning. but since faced with dogged allegations and evidence of drug use by the u.s. anti-doping association, the cycling champion has found himself backpedali backpedaling. armstrong was tripped of his seven dure tour de france title nike, anheuser-busch, and trek bicycles dropped him. >> i've been better, but i've also been worse. >> and in october he told the crowd at the 15th an versery of livestrong the cancer survivor charity, he founded, he was stepping down as chairman. >> it's been an interesting couple of weeks. it's been a difficult couple of weeks for me, for my family, for my friends, for this foundation. >> reporter: difficult, b

michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >>> ahead, comfort food for cold weather. erica shares her recipe for mac and cheese. >>> still to come, a fight for custody over a famous dog has a happy ending. an update on the obese ducksond. >>> plus -- dachshund. >>> plus, look at these little pups and their moves. ♪ [ female announcer ] mcdonald's dollar menu just keeps getting better. introducing the all-new mouthwatering grilled onion cheddar burger, topped with melty white cheddar and caramelized onions. plus all your tasty favorites for just a dollar each. ♪ every day, as always, there's a lot to love for a little on mcdonald's dollar menu. ♪ [ coughs ] [ baby crying ] ♪ [ male announcer ] robitussin® liquid formula soothes your throat on contact and the active ingredient relieves your cough. robitussin®. don't suffer the coughequences™. this year, don't just take time off. put time in. turn spending time with your family into spending time as a family. at the one place where every heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, goose-bumping second counts. it's your vac

michelle franzen is in topeka. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, erica. the state of kansas is seeking at least $6,000 in child support from a topeka sperm donor who signed away his parental rights more than three years ago to give a family the child they wanted and he's now preparing for a long court battle to prove he's not the legal parent. when william decided to be a storm donor in 2009, he thought it would be an act of kindness to help a lesbian couple conceive a child. >> it's difficult when there are no men in there and i donated. now the 46-year-old is caught up in a child support legal battle, not with the couple but with the state of kansas. >> no good deed goes unpunished. >> reporter: the former mechanic found and ad posted on craig's list. it offered $50 but decided, along with his wife, kimberly, to take no payment. >> this is nowhat we signed up for. >> reporter: he signed a legal contract with this woman and her partner at the time giving up any legal rights and the contract also says he would never be held responsible for any child suppo