By Michaela Gordoni
HAPPY’S PLACE’s Melissa Peterman will host COUNTDOWN TO MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE this year.
The hour-long special, produced by Done + Dusted, airs the night before Thanksgiving and features interviews with the parade’s performers: Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw and Jewel. Viewers will also get an inside look at the floats and balloons that will be in the parade, Deadline reported Nov. 13.
Peterman shared a video on her Instagram of herself jokingly counting down in the mirror as she practices for the countdown special.
“I am just super excited and I’m getting ready because I’m hosting the COUNTDOWN TO MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE,” Peterman said.
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“This is like a dream come true. I love Thanksgiving. I love the Macy’s Parade. I love counting. It’s one of my strengths,” she joked.
The special will feature the Rockettes’ 100th anniversary, a LEGO float, a California marching band and a peek at the singing voices of HUNTR/X from Netflix’s KPOP DEMON HUNTERS. It will also interview balloon handlers who’ve been doing the parade for years, Broadway World reports.
Last year had the most parade viewers ever, with 31.7m views, which is up by 11% from 2023. It was also the top Spanish-language TV program in its timeslot on Telemundo for the third year in a row.
The special will air on Nov. 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and will simulcast on Peacock.
This year is the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Other performers are from the Broadway casts of “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime.” There will be 5,000 volunteers, 34 balloons, 4 balloonicles (balloon vehicles), 27 floats, four specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, Santa Claus and other stars.
NBC reported there will be musical and dance performances by Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, the Radio City Rockettes, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza and Teyana Taylr.
Some of the balloons are Buzz Lightyear, Bluey, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Gabby & Pandy Paws, Goku, Goldbear, Mario, Pac-Man, Shrek’s Onion Carriage, The Pillsbury Doughboy, Spider-man, Smokey Bear, Stuart the Minion, Pikachu & Eevee, Marshall from PAW Patrol, Dora and Minnie Mouse.
The four balloonicles are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid’s Cheese, Frost Pips, Happy Hippo Triple Stack and Sussie & Flowerpot, per Macy’s.
The Parade will air on Thursday, Nov. 27 at 8:30 a.m. to noon on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.
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