The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took over Manhattan on Thursday (Nov. 24) morning, bringing the usual assortment of cartoon inflatables, marching bands, Broadway performances, lip-syncing musicians and… Mr. Peanut dabbing?
Yes, there were a few surprises during the 2016 Thanksgiving Parade broadcast, from the Planters mascot tackling the viral 2015 dance move to the Hairspray Live! preview featuring Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Kristin Chenoweth and Derek Hough. Here are some highlights from this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Hairspray Live!
Since NBC is the channel to watch the Macy’s T-Gives Day Parade, it only makes sense that the network would take the opportunity to pimp its upcoming live TV musical, Hairspray Live! If you weren’t excited about the Broadway musical’s move to live television already, you definitely will be after watching the preview (which sadly isn’t online yet). Performing the impossible-to-hate anthem “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” the segment gave us Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton, Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle, Derek Hough as Corny Collins, Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad and newcomer Maddie Baillio as lead Tracy Turnblad. Everyone executed their moves with clockwork precision and brought irresistible enthusiasm to small screen. We could not be more excited for this live TV musical.
You can’t stop the beat with @HairsprayLive at the #MacysParade! Don’t miss the #HairsprayLive premiere December 7 at 8/7c on NBC! — pic.twitter.com/fEzcN3170I
— NBC (@nbc) November 24, 2016
De La Soul
2016 has been a rough year, but this week gave us some old school hip-hop healing with A Tribe Called Quest topping the Billboard 200 and De La Soul performing in the Macy’s Parade. For an event that usually attracts pop, country and Broadway artists, De La doing their D.A.I.S.Y. Age classic “Me, Myself & I” at the parade was a welcome break from form.
This kid knows what #DeLaSoul is all about! #awkward #Dancing #nerdywhitekid pic.twitter.com/5fHtQzIG5D
— Penguin Von Penguin (@PenguinVPenguin) November 24, 2016
Regina Spektor
Another sign that Macy’s is trying to widen the appeal of the parade came via Regina Spektor, the acclaimed, acerbic indie singer-songwriter who graced the parade with her presence. Performing new single “Bleeding Heart” on Ocean Spray’s cranberry-themed float, Spektor was another welcome aberration in the parade — although it would have been nice if NBC spelled her name correctly.
I guess once you’re singing next to a giant turkey by a fake cranberry bog, who even cares if they spell your name right @respeKtor @nbc pic.twitter.com/nARZf0YVZS
— Oli Coleman (@OliJColeman) November 24, 2016
Kelsea Ballerini
Singing new single “Peter Pan” surrounded by kids dressed like cookies, Kelsea Ballerini brought the sickest Christmas outfit to the parade. Seriously, she put Santa to shame. He needs to step it up a notch in the seasonal duds department.
Nothing like @KelseaBallerini to help make our holiday feel even more magical ?#MacysParade #happythanksgiving pic.twitter.com/qXpgQ6looZ
— iHeartCountry (@iHeartCountry) November 24, 2016
Miss Piggy Catches Tony Bennett After Singing With Him
The 90-year-old vocal icon and the Muppets’ First Lady duetted on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” on the Hallmark Channel float. Bennett almost took a spill after finishing the song, but by some miracle of holiday magic, Miss Piggy caught him. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it.
The moment when a puppet saved the legendary Tony Bennett. Thanks Miss Piggy. #MacysParade pic.twitter.com/H3fOjUlfth
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) November 24, 2016
Charlie Brown Debuts
Obviously Snoopy is no stranger to the Macy’s Parade, but somehow, his depressive master Charlie Brown never got the Thanksgiving Parade inflatable treatment until 2016. Good grief, how did that take so long?
A brand new Charlie Brown balloon just premiered in the #MacysParade pic.twitter.com/lVUzZeslzh
— PEANUTS (@Snoopy) November 24, 2016
Mr. Peanut Dabs
Speaking of Peanuts, Planters mascot Mr. Peanut demonstrated his knowledge of last year’s viral dance craze as he dabbed his salty little heart out on a parade float. His immobile neck prevented him from acing the dance move, but A for effort.
ayyyyyy mr. peanut dabbed what a great thanksgiving —-#MacysParade pic.twitter.com/KZ2257Uxlh
— Hayley Black (@Hayley__Black) November 24, 2016