The holiday season just isn't officially underway until the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (I don't care how early the stores think it starts), and what better entrance to the Thanksgiving holiday than a couple of Christmas specials? Well, it doesn't all have to make perfect sense.
Tonight, NBC is leading you into the holidays with Merry Madagascar and a Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special, and I have some previews of those for you below. Tomorrow, you obviously don't want to miss the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and though I don't think it needs any hype at this point, I have some cool videos for that as well. Finally, NBC's take on Thanksgiving night festivities is Taylor Swift's special Speak Now.
To be completely honest, the holiday season may not make as much sense as it used to, what with malls decked out in tinsel and trimmings before Halloween, but tuning in to see the parade (well, Tivoing it and catching up... because I'm not getting up that early on Thanksgiving) is a tradition that can't be messed with. Now, animated Christmas specials that run before Thanksgiving... well, I'm not so sure, but Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda are two of my children's favorites, so I guess we'll let that go.
Whatever your general thoughts on the holidays, take a look at some of the options available to you in the very near future, and have a great holiday season.
NBC officially kicks off the holiday season with the live broadcast of the 84th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from New York City, co-hosted by "Today's" Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, along with Al Roker. The nation’s most cherished procession returns with a dazzling dose of spectacle, enchantment and tradition as the parade route will once again travel down 7th and 6th Avenue to Macy’s Herald Square.
Some of today’s brightest stars from the world of stage, screen, and music will ride atop the parade’s moving stages down the historic route. This year’s star-studded cast include: India Arie, Big Time Rush, Betty Buckley, Ann Hampton Callaway, the casts of Broadway’s American Idiot, Elf, Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet, the Big Apple Circus, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Miranda Cosgrove, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Gloriana, Michael Grimm, Arlo Guthrie, Keri Hilson, Eric Hutchinson, Juanes, Victoria Justice, Gladys Knight, Mannheim Steamroller, Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih, Power Rangers Samurai, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Crystal Shawanda, Jessica Simpson, Kylie Minogue, and Kanye West. The telecast will also feature special performances from select members of the a cappella teams competing on NBC’s The Sing-Off and the world-famous Radio City Rockettes.
The Macy’s Parade will once again follow a route first taken last year as the procession winds down to Macy’s Herald Square. Beginning at 77th Street and Central Park West, the parade will travel south to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South before making a right turn to march down 7th Avenue to 42nd Street. The parade will then turn east towards 6th Avenue where it will march down the Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the parade will make its final turn west marching in front of Macy’s Herald Square.
The 84th edition of the parade will feature 15 giant character balloons; 43 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads; 27 floats; 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members; 800 clowns; 12 marching bands; and a host of celebrity performers.
Joining the line-up of iconic characters this year are two new helium giants including Diary of A Wimpy Kid and Kung Fu Panda, as well as new entries into the Parade’s art-focused "Blue Sky Gallery Series" - Takashi Murakami’s rambunctious duo Kaikai and Kiki. The airborne gallery features inflatable versions of famed artistic works. With these balloons, Murakami joins Tom Otterness, Jeff Koons and Keith Haring in the line-up of artists that have contributed works to the Parade. In addition to these twin balloons, the Macy’s Parade will debut a new balloonicle of the very sporty Kool-Aid® Man. Also, making her debut is a balloon version of the animated Virginia O’Hanlon, the 8-year old girl who taught the world to believe when she wrote a letter to the editor that elicited the world-known response – "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus."
Riding down the street on Thanksgiving Day will be the Parade’s fantastic line-up of floats that feature landscapes of fantasy. These moving stages transport millions of spectators on unexpected journeys. This year’s fleet includes 27 floats, seven of which are new. The rookies include the holiday quest on board Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure™, the dance party on Elves Raise the Roof, the scrumptious delights on board the Home Baked Goodness float, the historical significance of Mount Rushmore’s American Pride, the adorable traveling duck family of the On the Roll Again float, the icy beauty of the Snow Queen, and the legendary stage of the Top Hat! float.
Representing their home state and local community, the musical heart of the parade comes from the jaw-dropping talents of its incredible marching bands. Striking a special note this year is Latin Marching Band "Pedro Molina" that will be making their New York debut straight from Guatemala. Ready to step to the beat are Blue Springs High School from Blue Springs, Mo.; Eastern High School from Middleton, Ky.; Grants Pass High School from Grants Pass, Ore.; Green Valley High School from Henderson, Nev.; Lassiter High School from Marietta, Ga.; Latin Marching Band "Pedro Molina" from Guatemala; Purdue University from West Lafayette, Ind.; University of Southern Mississippi from Hattiesburg, Miss.; Seminole High School from Seminole, Fla.; Waukesha North High School from Waukesha, Wis.; and Macy’s Great American Marching Band featuring students from all fifty states.
Diary of a Wimpy Balloon
See the newest entry to the parade, a giant Greg Heffley.
Kool-Aid Man
A look at one of this year's biggest ballons, the Kool-aid man.
Giant Panda
Sneak a peek at another balloon newcomer this year, Po, aka Kung Fu Panda.
MERRY MADAGASCAR
How Hard Can It Be?
Actually, doing Santa's job isn't as easy as it looks...
The Best Christmas Ever!
Little Abby reminds the Madagascar crew what the spirit of Christmas is all about.
KUNG FU PANDA
Kitchen Kung Fu
Po's ultimate warrior skills extend into the kitchen.
Po Under Attack
Po as Dragon Warrior meets an unlikely opponent.
A Master's Life
Po learns that dedicating one's life to the cause can be overwhelming.
SPEAK NOW
Taylor Swift: Back To December
Taylor Swift serenades fans in Central Park during her concert special. Thanksgiving night 8/7c on NBC.
Speak Now Preview
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
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