WASH OUT
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade branded a ‘circus’ after Al Roker’s mic blunder and Jimmy Fallon’s outfit choice
There was also a historic addition with a new balloon in this year's parade
MACY'S Thanksgiving Day Parade has been slammed as a circus after interruptions from protestors and bizarre behavior from the hosts of the iconic event left viewers unimpressed.
Viewers who tuned in live to the 98th annual parade were quick to point out blunders by stars including Jimmy Fallon and Al Roker as the festivities continued during a rainy day in New York City.
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The dreary parade underwhelmed onlookers and was disrupted by pro-Palestine protestors for the second year in a row, leading to multiple arrests by the New York Police Department.
Plus, the chilly weather left paradegoers stuck in the rain as balloons and floats appeared to float closer to the ground than usual.
Technical issues also caused awkward pauses during live performances.
However, the rain didn't stop Fallon, The Tonight Show host, from wearing sunglasses as he kicked off the gloomy procession by riding on one of the iconic floats for his 10th time, despite telling People he got golfer's elbow from waving in the three-hour parade in years past.
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"Sunglasses in the rain is the most Jimmy Fallon that Jimmy can Fallon," one viewer wrote on X.
"That is taking the circus to a whole new level," another added.
Fallon later wished the crowds in attendance and viewers a happy Thanksgiving, but his mic appeared to be off.
He starred alongside The Roots, performing a rendition of the hit track Hey Rudy.
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He was one of the several stars accused of lip-syncing.
"Mic is barely near his face," one viewer claimed.
"Jimmy Fallon with the worst case of lip singing ever," a second said.
"He even talked when the song was over and his mic wasn't even working."
NBC broadcast the parade, which was hosted by Today show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Hoda Kotb.
This is Kotb's last Thanksgiving Day Parade as a Today show host after she announced in September she will be leaving the show after six years as a co-anchor.
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ROKER'S MIC ISSUES
But it wasn't Kotb who caught everyone's attention - viewers were furious when Roker, 70, seemed to be unable to remember to speak into his microphone correctly - despite hosting the parade since 1995.
"Al Roker has been on TV my entire life and still can’t talk into a microphone lmao," one wrote on X.
"How is it that Al Roker has been doing this parade for 79 years and doesn’t know how to use a microphone?" another joked.
"Someone tell Al Roker to hold the mic closer to his mouth when [he] speaks," a third advised.
Roker was also called out when he accidentally revealed a major spoiler about the Wicked movie, which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
He asked Idina Menzel about her cameo in the movie - and she reprimanded him for spilling, saying, "You’re not supposed to tell anyone about the cameo! Cat’s out of the bag."
Others were more sympathetic to Roker, branding him a national treasure on social media.
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'NONSTOP PERFORMANCES'
The parade featured star-studded performances from celebrities including Menzel, Jennifer Hudson, and Ariana Madix - who viewers quickly accused of lip syncing.
Viewers slammed the broadcast for showing so many interviews and performances while they begged to get a look at balloons and floats.
"The #MacysParade should be showing the balloons, the marching bands, and the Rockettes," one slammed.
Thanksgiving parade performers
THIS year's Thanksgiving Day parade features a star-studded roster. Here is a list of who will appear:
- Jennifer Hudson
- Kylie Minogue
- Billy Porter
- Loud Luxury
- Cole Escola
- Bishop Briggs
- Kylie Cantrall
- Chlöe
- Dan + Shay
- Dasha
- Jimmy Fallon & The Roots
- Coco Jones
- Walker Hayes
- Ariana Madix
- Joey McIntyre
- Idina Menzel
- Natti Natasha
- T-Pain
- Rachel Platten
- Lea Salonga
- The Temptations
- The War and Treaty
- Alex Warren
- Sebastián Yatra
- Charli D’Amelio
- Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia
"It has been nonstop Broadway performances, why?? You see a balloon for 10 seconds before commercial breaks.
"Make the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade Great Again."
Another outraged viewer demanded the parade "do better."
"This parade is terrible. My kid was excited to see it for the first time, but we’ve only seen a few second of floats," the X user continued.
"Instead, it’s a bunch of interviews people don’t care about followed by 5 minutes of commercials."
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"Ok, where is the actual parade? The balloons, the floats, the marching bands? So far NBC has been showing Broadway musical performance after performance and a whole lot of commentary but very little of the actual parade," another wrote.
Another slammed NBC's show as the "absolute worst 'parade' coverage I have ever seen."
"You get 15 seconds of the parade, then 5 minutes of hosts talking and a sideshow. We tuned in to see the parade!" they added.
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The parade features 34 impressive floats and 22 massive balloons, including a Minnie Mouse balloon for the first time in the parade.
The giant Bluey balloon even appeared after popping and deflating during yesterday's pre-parade inflation.
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