Happy Turkey Day, PopWatchers! This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade had a few new balloons, a revamped Santa float, and more NBC promos and placements than I can wrap my head around.
Highlights
Broadway! I’m a sucker for a show tune, and it was kind of nuts to see Hair being performed outside Macy’s. My conflicting cultural institutions, let me show you them! John Stamos’ Bye Bye Birdie performance, while, yeah, horribly lip-synced, was still charismatic and cute, and Billy Elliot and Shrek were completely serviceable. Fun times.
Cream-colored coats Jane Krakowski, Andrea Bocelli, Katharine McPhee — you heard it here first, PopWatchers. Winter whites are in!
Jimmy Fallon Was anyone having more fun than Jimmy Fallon? His medley was so goofy and enthusiastic, but I really wished it had included that stupid Christmas song from SNL back in the day.
Lowlights
Poor Meredith, Matt, and Al Sweet lord, that copy was schlocky. I mean…yikes. It was painful to listen to, and it must have been even more painful to say.
Bad hair Gloria Gaynor, Cyndi Lauper, Katherine McPhee, Boys Like Girls — people, come on, it’s not even windy today.
Not enough ‘Yo Gabba Gabba’ Or enough of those horse dancers, or those old ladies on tricycles, or the Oneida Indian Nation, or anything that wasn’t somehow promoting an NBC show.
What’d you think, PopWatchers? Were you ready to float away?
Photo credit: Jeff Christensen/AP Photo






Comments (1-15) of 55 Add your comment
What about that horrible woman stealing the song “I Believe” from Kermit. I just couldn’t bear that.
She “stole” it? From a puppet? You’re kidding, right? And the “horrible woman” was Tiffany Thorton, who’s one of the stars from the show “Sonny With A Chance” – a show that’s actually popular with the tween crowd, unlike that puppet. I felt embarrassed for her. Why do TV execs still expect people to act like the muppets are real? What is this, 1979?
Excuse me, but Kermit has been around longer than that nobody singing with him. Yes, I said it: she’s a nobody! Let me guess, you’re twelve and have never seen Sesame Street. Do yourself a favor, put down your Hannah Montana CD and rent some of the classic Muppet Show DVDs. They are a lot more entertaining than anything Disney ever puts out today.
I’m almost 40 and have always HATED the muppetts!
Kermit T. Frog is not real?! Well…whatever he is, Kermit and his buddies are quite awesome.
@fiveagainstone: Sure, old timer, I’ll be sure to rent Muppet show DVDs…when I’m senile, like you. Hannah Montana rocks FTW.
Jim Henson sold the Muppets to Disney right before he passed away. So, nobody stole a sond away from anybody. It was a nice representation of two singers (owned by Disney) sharing a song together.
We’ll see if Hannah Montana “rocks” thirty years from now. Highly unlikely.
I was amazed by the band that actually played a song from The Mooney Suzuki. That was really awesome.
Put on a Happy Face was one of the less impressive Bye Bye Birdie numbers – should have picked something else
My favorite was when the whole cast of Glee sang that amazing medley of…oh, wait.
Same! hahah
Hilarious! Seriously, this parade has become such an obnoxious and blatant series of promotions for NBC and their partners…it makes it difficult to watch.
New York, Macy’s, and their NBC enablers should take lessons from the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Get rid of the cheesy lip-synced Broadway numbers by TV has-beens and show the actual PARADE!
I was just glad to see all of the Chuck promos. This new season is going to kick ass.
Haha ditto
We loved it!!!
Esp. Gloria & Cyndi…Jimmy & The Roots were surprisingly entertaining.
We also loved the seniors battle dancing with the little ones.
loved JImmy Fallon and the Roots! They were having fun and showed a personality and the kids on the float also looked like they were actually in the spirit of the season.
I’m going to be a nerd and admit that I actually started crying during the Sesame Street bit! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Why did you cry? :-/
Good question.
LOL! Because it brought up great memories of my childhood!
“Not enough ‘Yo Gabba Gabba’ Or enough of those horse dancers, or those old ladies on tricycles, or the Oneida Indian Nation, or anything that wasn’t somehow promoting an NBC show.”
Bingo!!!
Overall I thought the parade was good. I am a fan a Billy Currington and thought he did a great job. Wish he could have sang more of his song. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
LOVED Jimmy Fallon. I need to start watching his show more often.
The main hosts sucked , what was with the Hugh Heff look a like guy they wouldnt let talk and you can see jamie roll his eyes at the other hosts for not getting his joke at the end when he makes a turkey comment when santa’s going by, its hilarious if you recorded it.
I think the HH look a like was Jaime’s Dad.
I decided to forever boycott the Macy’s parade right after the three-minute performance by some unknown (and really bad) singer. It was bad enough that I had to endure his singing, but it was like pouring salt on a wound as he sang it from a Hamburger Helper float that was right behind the marching band that actually had to RUN to it’s two-minute performance (that was cut short). Seriously, people? Seriously??