1125 – 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Notable Language:

• Parade Predictor Recap
• A rich, humanized peanut
• Regular Joe Smurf

Notable Culture:

• Amy Kule
• Richard Simmons
• Mannheim Steamroller

Notable Talking Points:

• The Sleep With Me Fun Run Edition
• I imagined a more Dickensian production of Matilda
• What makes a good lip sync? Eye contact or eye line?

Episode 1125 – 2013 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER:    Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who…when I hear the term ‘turkey trot’, I say…well one, I see pictures of that and I say well, that’s not the day for me to be trotting around. Especially, I see everybody breathing cold air and I’d say…even though I’m a runner, I don’t know if I associate fun and run together, but that’s great for everybody that’s out there. But when I picture it, I picture a turkey trotting and I say well, I wonder where that turkey’s trotting off to. In my mind it’s a happy turkey trotting off for some feed. Yeah. I didn’t even realize the irony in everything I’m saying. But the turkeys in my mind are trotting off to enjoy themselves.

 

You might be saying who is this turkey trotting off at the mouth? I’d say yeah, well, I’m about to trot on a parade recap episode here in a little while, and you may be wondering, yeah, what am I trotting about? I do trot when I talk; it’s…’cause this is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. Never gets going, takes forever to get started, then doesn’t go anywhere. So glad you’re here if you’re new. This is a podcast to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff ‘cause you deserve a good night’s sleep. That’s why we make the show, is to give you a place where you could get…be distracted and fall asleep, because your sleep is important. You deserve it, and we know how it feels, a lot of us…me that makes the show and a lot of people out there listening. That’s why I call it the deep, dark night.

 

So, I’m glad you’re here. This podcast is a bit different, so just see how it goes. Millions of…not millions, but around a million people have said it took two or three tries to get used to the show. So give it a few tries if you’re new. Just see how it goes. It is hard to get used to at first. Structurally, this is a little intro hello, then there will be support ‘cause the show comes out twice a week for free, then there will be an intro that you could use as part of your wind down routine, and then there will be a parade recap. I think this is gonna be a new style one, and that’s it. What do you say? What comes next? Oh, thanks for making it possible, my patron peeps.

 

INTRO:    [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts you’re thinking about on your mind, thoughts about the past, the present, the future. You know, stuff you’re thinking about or that’s just popping up on your mind or that your mind is…you say, I prefer not to…this is really what happens to me; well, two things. I say…either I say I prefer not to think about this, and I say oh, that’s all I can think about right now.

 

Or I just know to…I say, am I…I notice myself thinking about stuff and I say, am I really thinking about this? I want to go to bed. So, whatever…thoughts, it could be feelings, anything emotionally coming up for you related to those thoughts or emotions left over from the day or feelings that are just there, physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine. You could be going somewhere, you could have guests, you could be preparing for something. Whatever it is, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so that you could fall asleep. What else comes next? Oh yeah. What I’m gonna do is I’m gonna send my voice across the deep, dark night here. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones and pointless meanders.

 

So, that means my voice is not traditionally soothing, but you know, it’s…I’m having a dull conversation with you to keep you company, and creaky, dulcet tones are right on the…they’re just…they’re enough that they can kind of get your attention, but you don’t need to listen to them. We’ve all had…it’s just a way of saying your voice, it’s bare…it’s not barely listenable, but I barely listen to it. You know, no offense to crickets, crickate…whatever those other things are called, wind, frogs, we…I have that in common. You hear it…sometimes you notice those sounds and then you say, was that sound…is that sound there all the time and I just…? Morning doves; oh boy, do I love a morning dove. But then I say huh, how long’s that bird been making that…? Not bad. Anyway, I got thoughts I gotta worry about now.

 

That’s what happens for me. Then maybe ten years later I say huh, is that a…? Is that…would you call that a morning dove cooing? Or is that…? Wow, that’s a nice buzzing. Is that in the trees? Or where is that…? Is that a…? What kind of a…what kind of wonderful natural being is making that noise? So, that’s what the creaky, dulcet tones are like. You probably say that…yeah. You say huh, he’s still talking there. I was asleep. So, those are creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. You’ve kinda already seen a few of those. It means I’ll go off topic, I’ll forget what I was talking about, then I’ll talk about something else, then I’ll try to remember what I was talking about, then I’ll probably misspeak, then I’ll go…then I’ll say hm…I’ll fill it up with filler words, and all this is…a couple things to know about the show, first, why we make it…we said it earlier.

 

One, I know how it feels in the deep, dark night. Trouble staying asleep is my latest one, and being restful. I just had a…I don’t know, two-week span, maybe? I got those dreams that wake you up. Not even…mostly…I had these rote dreams that involved rote tasks. I said, I’d rather have…what…how am I having these exhausting dreams that I wake up from? I mean, I know why, but…be honest, but it’s called the extra…that extra drop of humanity they got when they said oh boy, did you put two drops in that kid? They say yeah, he already moved down the line. Oh, boy. Okay. Oh, you put two drops in…and then that’s another Sleep With Me listener there. So, what was my point? Oh, so yeah, trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep. I know how it feels.

 

There’s a lot of other people listening that know how it feels and that can probably relate in some way to how you feel. Maybe not everybody listening has gone through what you’re going through, whatever’s keeping you up, but you’ll kinda all share this unity. That’s why we’re calling it the deep, dark night united, because we’re united by that fact. I mean, it might even be…it doesn’t have to be emotional or physical or spiritual; it could just be like you know, I’d prefer to be asleep and getting some rest here. It could be as simple as that. We could totally deflate everything around it and say you know what we all share? Prefer to get some rest. That’s Sleep With Me, the Canada Edition. You know what?

 

Just prefer to get some rest, instead of what I would normally say, which would be razza-frazzin…you know, and steam’s coming out my ears. I didn’t even think about that. I say hey, deep, dark night, I would prefer to be asleep. Thank you. I’d prefer to be asleep right now. So, oh, so that’s why I make the show. The other reason we make the show is you deserve a good night’s sleep. You really do. You deserve a place you can get some rest. You deserve a bedtime you feel neutral about or could look forward to, and hopefully I could be a part of that. Now if I can’t, check out sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. But I will tell you, it does take a few tries to get used to the show. It’s just very different.

 

I’m trying to explain all this in the intro, but it does take two or three tries just ‘cause the show is very different from your expectations. ‘Cause if you found the show, it was probably out of a place of frustration, and maybe someone told you about it or you were searching for something, and you say, aren’t you supposed to just…isn’t there supposed to be some sort of chimes in the background and you’re supposed to be counting down and saying stuff like…aren’t you supposed to be a little bit calmer? Your personality does not seem calm. I say no, I’m going for relatable, or I’m just being myself, which is relatable to some people. So, yeah, no, this podcast is different, so see how it goes. Give it a few tries. If you already loathe the show, yeah, check out no…sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou.

 

But a couple things that are different; this is a podcast that you don’t really listen to. You kinda just barely listen, like I said about the creaky, dulcet tones. This is also a podcast that doesn’t put you to sleep. It’s here to keep you company while you fall asleep. I’m here to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-bud, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your bore-bor, your bore-sib, your bore-bruh, your friend in the deep, dark night to keep you company, a friend you don’t have to listen to. Wasn’t there…you got a friend indeed? Like, Woody and Buzz, do they sing that to each other? Or Randy Newman sang it to them? You got a friend in me, something like that. In this one…I don’t even know. I forgot I had an analogy in there. But I’m the kind of friend…I’m the friend you don’t need to listen to.

 

You got a friend you don’t need to listen to. I guess it doesn’t fall into a good…it doesn’t…it’s not songy. But so, you don’t really need to listen to me. It’s kinda like there’s something playing in another room, or it’s someone you may not listen to normally, but there’s a social compact in other situations where you’re supposed to…you feel like you should listen. You don’t need to listen to me. You just say uh-huh, uh-huh, oh yeah. Oh, boy. Oshkosh b’gosh, eh? So, that’s one thing. This podcast also is not…even though I kinda started this podcast in 2013 with the idea of making a sleep podcast and being like hey, there’s no silly sleep podcasts; how come there’s no podcasts to put you to sleep? But this podcast actually doesn’t put you to sleep. It keeps you company while you fall asleep. I take your mind off of stuff.

 

I kinda distract you. You say oh, I could listen to Scoots and watch him kinda try to get through an intro and then maybe talk about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in a different way. But yeah, I don’t know what my point was. Oh, you don’t need to listen to me. I also don’t put you to sleep. At some point you just fall asleep, and if you can’t sleep, I’m here to the very end. So if you can’t sleep, I’m here to keep you company whether you’re awake or asleep, whether you’re listening or not. For some people, they listen all night long. For some people, they set sleep timers. So, those are a couple things to know. The other thing is the structure of the show is different than most people expect. The show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

 

I think I talked about try…fun runs or whatever, but that don’t…you say, that doesn’t sound…fun run…I say okay, is it on one of those moving walkways where we just stand? ‘Cause that sounds fun. Actually it doesn’t, but that sounds like a Sleep With Me…the Sleep With Me Fun Run Edition, Standing…the World’s Longest-Moving Walkway. I don’t know…if anybody’s listening and wants…is not in bed, let me know. Let’s try to find that out. I’d prefer a rubberized walkway like they used to have in Disney, but I’ll go for whatever. But a rubberized one would be good if it’s the world’s longest. Where was I? Oh, structure…oh, a couple things. Oh, so it starts off with a greeting, then there’s support for the show ‘cause the podcast…the goal is for it to come out twice a week, reliably, Sunday and Wednesday nights, be over an hour, and be free or optional to pay for, really.

 

That way you can get it whenever you want it, or for people that listen all night long, that’s the kinda way…it’s there reliably for whoever needs it. So, that’s the support, then there’s support for listeners who are having a tough time, then there’s support for the communities around the show, and then there’s a intro, which we’re most of the way through already. Some people lump the support and the intro together, but the intro is a essential part of the show for most listeners. As you become a regular listener, you could be one of those 2% of people that skip the intro. But for most listeners, the intro is part of their wind down routine. It’s meant to ease you into bedtime, not to just put you to sleep. Like I said, this show does not put you to sleep.

 

Now, there are people that are already asleep, and I guess that’s the paradox of Sleep With Me. The harder I try not to put you to sleep within the context of the show, the better it works. I’m here to keep you company ‘cause you don’t need to fall asleep. I’m here to keep you company, but you don’t…you know what I’m saying. Maybe don’t. I don’t know what I’m saying. I don’t even understand this podcast I made over, whatever, 1100 more…plus episodes. So, yeah. Oh, so, yeah, but the intro eases you into bedtime. Now, you could be in bed getting comfortable or asleep or next to someone that’s sound asleep that we’re happy for, or you could be doing something else relaxing, or you could be getting ready for bed.

 

But the intro is the twilight period, a buffer between the day and the night, or the evening and the night. So, that’s what the intro does, as well as introducing people to the podcast and to me, and you say oh boy, this is what we’re dealing with. You say yeah, he’s a turkey. He’s a trotting turkey. So that’s the intro, then there’s again support between the intro and the show so it can come out reliably twice a week for free, be over an hour, have over 500 episodes to choose from. That’s all from the percentage of people that choose to support the show. But that’s great because everybody else…you say okay, it’s totally optional, just like falling asleep is totally optional. So, that’s the support. Then there’s thank-yous…oh no, then there’s a story. Tonight will be a parade recap.

 

Now, I record…I’m recording the intro and I think what we’re gonna do is a parade predictor recap, but I’m not positive about that, which would mean the parade is not going on as I’m recording this, but ahead of the parade recording a episode, like…kinda like before a season of a sport or something or a TV show where the scripts have not come out; you say well, this is what I think’s gonna happen. So, I don’t know. This is just a structural idea I had. I said well, that could be interesting. So we’ll see if…what happens, or I could say well, let’s just wait ‘til the parade comes out. So, that’s the episode, then there’s thank-yous at the end. So that’s why I make the show, ‘cause you deserve a good night’s sleep. The show is a bit different, so see how it goes, but I’m really glad you’re here. I really appreciate your time and you coming by. I yearn and I strive, I really hope I can help you fall asleep, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do it for you for free twice a week.

 

Hello, hello, hello, everybody. This is your friend Ray, your neighbor Ray, here. So good to be in your ears. We got a little bit of a surprise for all of yous, and this was something Scooter and I sat down and…so, Scooter is here. Usually sometimes…oh, hello, nice to meet you. So good to be in your ears. Happy holiday season, however you celebrate or if you choose not to. This is your friend Ray, Scooter’s neighbor Ray, Ray Perkins here. Pleased to meet you. So good to be…so thankful to be in your ears, ‘cause really, what is this more seasonal time about than being thankful? Sometimes you gotta be thankful for not be…if you know Scooter, I can be thankful for Scooter not being…and Scooter could be thankful…say well, he’s still…good news, Scooter; you’re still a human being.

 

You’re still doing your best, and sometimes you don’t…you’re thankful that you’re not doing your…you know what I mean? You don’t feel like doing your best, and that’s doing your best, too. So, some people say Ray…no one’s ever said this except for Scooter, but you’re like a self-help coach that’s not there to help; you’re just there to…you say, you know, I don’t need to…I’m just here to encourage you and say you’re doing…yeah, like a coach in the…an imaginary coach that doesn’t do anything but say hey, you’re doing a good job. Whatever the job you’re doing, someone’s gotta acknowledge its work. But so, we’re here to talk in a very meandering way about the highlights of a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but not the 20…what year is it? 2022?

 

We’re gonna be talking about the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which you could watch, and if you’re a fan of balloons or Broadway, I would highly suggest loading it up and looking at a couple of the highlights here, or making a playlist of all the parades and just watching them in a row. We’re doing this for a few reasons; one, the podcast started in 2013, but this…that…we didn’t start covering parades ‘til 2014. But also, Scooter’s developed a complicated relationship with the parade because of the release schedule and the consumption of the parade that I said well, Scooter, let’s have a production meeting. So, I don’t know if I’ll have Scooter on. He wants to talk about the Broadway…a couple of the musical numbers. But so, we chose to do the 2013 parade so Scooter could do it at a more leisurely pace.

 

‘Cause what would happen is Scooter will watch the parade on Thanksgiving, then he would try to watch it again, then he would try to watch it again with me and we would take notes, and then we would…it just became…and that had to be very condensed so we could get it out. But also, I don’t know, there was something about having this time gap that enabled us to say oh boy, this is fun watching it in this manner. So, I don’t know if next year we’ll do the 2014 parade or the 2012 parade or what, or the 2022 parade. This will just be the highlights. So, there was a opening number here — hello — 2013, a marching…oh boy, this was good. I guess this was the year…2013 was a good year for pop music, or 2012, ‘cause they were singing Macklemore and…was it Ryan Lewis? Hold Us…bop, bop, bop, ba, ba, ba.

 

This is particularly for Scooter and I. We have positive memories of Macklemore and listening to a few of these songs with his daughter and then listening to a kid’s bop versions of them, which is quite…listening to both versions in the kitchen of where I first met Scooter. It was a year like 2013, nine years ago…he’s been doing this podcast, over a thousand episodes. You believe it? But so, they have a marching band playing Hold Us, and dancers, and it’s awesome. They also have some sort of con…I don’t know what to call it other than a contraption out of a circus where there’s a circle, a giant circle star like a rolling drum, with a band member in there. I’m not even sure if they’re playing music. We’ll have to see when it comes up. Rolling stars with drummers in…with someone playing the drums inside.

 

It’s cold; we took the temperature a few times. Then we go to Al and Amy Kule. So, we had Amy Kule, who’s…that’s our original…in 2014, Amy also introduced the parade with Al. Oh, we’re watching the dancers now and they’re really getting down. Someone just did a flip. There’s the drummers, the marching band, another set of dancers in different…what? I didn’t know there was two layers of dance…oh, and then there’s dancing band member…marching band people with the drum major, whatever they call it. Now the band…the drummers are dancing and doing some moves. Now, I didn’t…oh, they jumped backwards. I just want to give you…when this rolling…this was one of the highlights. Oh, they roll it in on wheels, then they pop it up. It looks more like a game show contraption that they’re strapped to.

 

For some reason I thought they were inside, but they’re not. They have helmets on, which is good, and they’re playing the drums, and then more dancing. So, that was…so, then Al and Amy Kule set the parade up. Like I said, Amy Kule was our original person that introduces the parade. In 2022, I don’t even know who will introduce it, the person that looks like the…one of the people from…that looks like David Benioff, who is the head of Macy’s, the Macy’s CEO. I’m sure I’ll remember the gentleman’s name later. He does a good job, but he’s no Amy Kule. You never forget your first recorded parade person…parade…I don’t know what Amy’s special title is. Creative Director, I believe? Okay, there are C-L-O-W-N-Ss there. Neon…oh, this was…I guess some eighties nostalgia?

 

There was neon green and blue outfits in the C-L…oh, there’s Amy. Amy looks like she’s going to a Dallas Cowboys game. Oh, there’s also this stem or steam robot, and the robot is what cuts the ribbon to start the parade. Macy’s executive producer, Amy Kule. That’s K-U-L-E, by the way. Okay, so they use a robot from this future something engineers. F-I-R-S-T, it’s called; Future…I-R-S-T…something engineers. But the robot cuts the ribbon. Now that is exciting. There’s a young man in neon teal who’s running the robot. Very happy. Okay, the robot’s going; it has gold scissors. It cut the ribbon. Now there’s cheering and all that stuff. Also, Sonic is in the background, Scooter said. Scooter…okay, so now I’m gonna go to Scooter for the first musical highlight. Scooter, go ahead. Thanks, Ray.

 

I don’t know if this is my first time being on the parade, but I just wanted to encourage happy holiday season. I’m so thankful I get to do this show. I’ll be back later with one of the floats, I think, or two of them, and a couple of the highlights. But yeah, I was…if you’re a fan of musicals, this is a great year to check out not only really good musicals in a mix, but also now musicals that have made their way…that are still…some still on Broadway, I believe. I just saw something in the New York Times about Pippin, but…that are…that you could see children’s productions of. There’s a lot of productions of Matilda going on right now. Probably some still touring as well. So, really fun, and it starts off…let me get there, though. Okay, so it’s not…I’m ahead of it, but that’s fine.

 

It starts off…the first musical is 1959, Detroit, Motown, Berry Gordy. These are all…most of the musicals were big numbers, too. Get Ready…so, the first song is Get Ready, and then it goes to…not…Dancing in the Streets? Yeah. This one was well-rehearsed or produced because even though it had a big cast, there’s great singing and dancing, but the lip syncing was really on point. Maybe just because it was a big number…maybe…I don’t know if it’s the lack of zooms and a big number and dancing, but it really, really worked. I think more…I mean, the musicals worked…I mean, you say well, that’s their job. But I say okay, but it worked a lot better than the musical acts on floats. I don’t know if that’s due to rehearsal or just…’cause obviously the…Ariana Grande’s not gonna be available to rehearse on the float.

 

There’s Sonic in the background. But yeah, a really good musical to start off with. I’m still ahead, so…and let me see if I could bump it up another thing. Al…oh, this is another really good sequence, though. After the musical was…Al’s with the actor from one of the Chicago shows; Taylor Kinney. Very, very natural, charismatic guy, and he gives a jacket to Al, gives a Spongebob shout-out, his mom a shout-out. Just really, really…oh, you could see the…so, the Motown musical starts, but they’re…you could see over the host’s…you could even see the cast getting ready. Yeah, wow, a lot…the whole…I mean, the whole cast? I don’t know, but a huge, huge number. I don’t know if on this one I got a chance to watch in the background, but now they got some great overhead shots of the dancing.

 

I don’t know if they have to alter these dance numbers. I’m presuming they do, because they don’t…I don’t think these are…the medleys are in the musical, ‘cause this goes from Get Ready to Dancing in the Streets. Get ready, ‘cause here I come, you know? But again, I just want to encourage you…still some…still that’s going on, really good. After this will be Matilda, and this one…now, I did have someone in my life auditioning for Matilda, I think twice. So, there’s a performance of Matilda when I’m recording this going on in the Barry…two to three different locations. So, I actually…I was incorrect. The first time I listened to the cast recording, I made my own pitch of how I would choreograph Revolting Children, but that’s…is that the second song? Yeah, Grin and Bare It is…Nothing Will Change.

 

The first song is With Matilda. She has an amazing voice. Then the whole number, Revolting Children…I don’t know, maybe that’s one song I’m not…but just a really…what was I saying? Oh, I had cast it with just…I did a more Dickensian show where it’s more buttoned-up, private-school-esque show. I don’t know the plot of Matilda. I know it’s based on a book and all that. But so…but beautiful singing, then the song When I Grow Up, a little bit…I don’t know what that says. A little bit something. ‘Cause there isn’t a…when I grow up, a little bit something…so, we do get one adult song, but again, they have a double-large cast of Matilda. You can see them warming up. So they have the children, but then they go into a broader cast number. Right now it’s a young person who plays Matilda.

 

Getting some shots of the crowd…oh there’s even scooters, there’s blocks, and these are actual children performing. Large, large number. Yeah, they’re doing the Revolting Children, which anybody could get behind. Now they’re doing some overhead clapping and backward…they’re even doing backwards running and dancing, and stepping on the blocks, march…oh, here come the teachers of the older kids. I mean, this is a really great song. If you’re not familiar with Matilda the Musical…even though I’m not fam…I’m only familiar with the songs. Here comes the professor, or I don’t know. I guess I’m making an assumption. I don’t know if this is adult Matilda, honestly. Oh, I guess she’s…is she singing When I Grow Up? I don’t know, is it at an orphanage or just a school or a private school?

 

They’re dressed in private-school-style clothing. Now there’s another…the Scooter number. Wow, this is…now we get more adults or professors. Yeah, then that number comes to an end. We get a shot of the audience, then we have Al running with the Wimpy Kid balloon. Running something…could use butter. I guess…yeah, there he goes. He’s interviewing a balloon-holder and running with them. Now, I miss butter. I don’t know if Butter was only in the parade for one or two years, but hello, Macy’s and NBC, have Butter at every…remember last year? I got confused ‘cause…or I told Ray this because I thought Al was gonna FaceTime Butter, but he FaceTimed President Biden. I said that was a missed…I mean, they could have done both. They should have had a three-way call.

 

Okay, but now we got…Kinky Boots is starting another great number. So, let’s see…so, let’s see; what do we got from Kinky Boots? Kinky Boots, Tony’s…oh, six Tony’s. Raise You Up and Just Be. Glitter boots boards…so, I don’t know if that…that added a layer, like a stage for them, or a backstage. Probably not in the Broadway show, but a nice touch, just glitter boots…I guess to represent the shop and the backstage…the back of the stage. But again, we have multiple dancing and then about halfway through the…after this number, a large influx of more cast members dancing and singing. I guess as the actor is a bit like a helping hand…set your free…man, my handwriting. File it and those…set yourself free…oh, they just amount…the way someone does free…I think I added a ton of e’s and stuff.

 

But yeah, a lot of dancing going on right now, and singing and giving everybody…a lot more of the cast…again, bigger numbers. So, yeah. I can’t read the rest of my writing, though. Oh, they do…instead of ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and friends beyond the binary, or friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, they say…sick setup? No. I don’t know what they say. They say ladies and gentlemen and those who are still…those…doesn’t say sick setup. Five dep? Okay. I don’t know. The next musical is Pippin. It starts in the crowd, well…so well planned out. I asked my daughter; I said, is this a famous Broad…like, I was more into it, but again, a musical I’m familiar with.

 

But there’s a couple…so, they do this crowd work with just the lead, and this one…at the very end, he…so, working through the crowd, to…stepping on a…what is that thing called? Then leaning on a tree, singing to the camera, and then this one girl’s just so happy. Like, it makes it. Then they go to the big number. So they went from a individual number to a big number, which I guess Matilda did, too. Again, you would really…if you haven’t listened to Pippin, you should, especially if you’re a fan of that…so, it’s forty years old and it does have…it does remind me of those…like, when I first heard it, I could guess the age, ‘cause it has that…if you like Hair, that kinda…like, musical style, but in a cool way. So, they…Come of Sky and Magic For You. From the Crowd…Come of Sky…I think maybe that’s the first song?

 

Oh, come and join us for an hour or two. So, they’re doing the big…now everybody’s waving, but they did it…great use of tree and camera. Another one that sounded great…and the girl that was really happy in the front row. Join us…do, do, doodly do. Another big number. I think that’s it for me. Betsy Brandt was on briefly, was interviewed I think by Al, who we know from Breaking Bad and I had just seen at the end of Better Call Saul. But always a pleasure to…and she had been talking about I guess a 2013 show with Michael J. Fox. Oh, we still have one more musical number. Carrie Underwood comes on and sets up The Sound of Music, which they were doing live. I don’t know if this was the first NBC live…I don’t know if they did double…back-to-back shows, but…and that…I don’t know if it’s still a tradition of NBC.

 

I know it was for years, where they were doing these live musicals on…I’m not sure what night of the week, but it was…I think after Thanksgiving, like maybe Friday or Saturday. So, Carrie Underwood sets it up. It was, we’re going…oh, she also seemed stressed. She’s like yeah, we’re going. It’s all live. We still…don’t worry, we still have a week. But very professional. I did not see this. This song is Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Rothel…lulls? I don’t know what that is. Let’s take a look here. Rothel laws. But then after that is the Rockettes. Green and red, big band music, Old Saint Nick…they do the leg kicks which is really cool. I put man, you always forget how cool those leg kicks are. Okay, so we have the musical, Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Believe it or not, I’ve never seen The Sound of Music.

 

I mean, I’m familiar with the songs; never seen the movie or the musical. Maybe this is the year. But yeah, they’re singing. A little bit of a love story-type feel to this one. Okay, Old Saint Nick…leg kicks are cool with the Nutcrack…or the…what is it? Rockettes. Crowd goes wild for the Rockettes. Okay, they’re going…walking back to the bike, singing to one another. So, this is a small, intimate number. I mean, I have it on mute watching, so…but it definitely seems like the performance is good. But a lot of space for just two people to be working in, so now you kinda see why the large cast…oh, but now they’re doing some dancing. I like it. A couple lifts…oh wow, a serious lift there, with a spin. Well, I’m learning these terms from having a kid that into musical theatre. So, I’m lucky.

 

In 2013 I wasn’t…I didn’t live…and wasn’t…oh my gosh, big kiss at the end of the number. Now waves…oh, everybody has pom-poms in the audience. Interesting. So, back to you, Ray. Thanks for having me on. Okay, Scooter. So, thanks, Scooter, for reporting there. Yeah, we’re gonna run through some other highlights, here. We had the first…the first thing we saw was the teams of robots, and then we had Tom Turkey talk on one-sixth of a year…oh, this was confusing; they talk about Tom Turkey, the float thing, and they say that one-sixth of…in the US of turkeys…one-sixth are eaten on Thanksgiving, of yearly consumption. I said, that seems low to me.

 

I mean, I guess if you’re counting deli turkey served everywhere in the United States, including fast food sandwich shops, maybe that makes sense, but even then, you say okay, all the turkey consumed in the US in any means, only one-sixth of it is included on Thanksgiving. That’s, whatever, 15% or so. I would think it would be like 20%, if it includes every…but if you include non-sliced…like, if you cut sliced turkey out of there, right, and you say…if you say all…of all the turkeys and turkey breasts that are consumed in the United States in a non-sandwich form, initially you might have leftovers as a sandwich, but we’re talking prepared as a main entre, it’s gotta be 50%. So, I don’t know. That’s just Ray.

 

Okay, then next up was the biggest college marching band, My Favorite Things, something, First Watch, dancers, flags…fast watch. These are a few of my favorite things. I guess it was good. Next up is Mikey and the…oh, there’s Amy Kule waving. She’s at the head of the parade, just…I mean, I guess with the teams with robots. Oh, first teams; that’s the first teams. Okay, Gregor and Mikey, go ahead. Ah, thank you, Ray. Next up is Snoopy, air fill…5:15? Okay, no, no, we did ratings. Very aerodynamic…on air fill, five out of five. Bird buddy steers ears. It was good, and then Mikey, you want to take it? Oh, you take the next one. Okay, so there’s a marching band after that. Oh no, this is the marching band from Ray’s earlier thing. But there is a band playing marching music?

 

Oh no, either music from Snoopy or is on speakers? We did not know. Then is an Ocean Spray float, and Gavin DeGraw singing Make It Move. There were some kids with good dance moves, Ray, and it was a pleasure. Back to you. Well, thanks, Gregor. Next up was the 650 Spirit of America dancers. Very mad tea party…they said with Lady Gaga inspired. Great color. Next up is Mikey with our next segment. Hello, this is Mikey. Thanks for having me on. It’s been a while. People say Mikey, are you Team Green? You know, there’s a new show, but I…Scooter said I was not old enough to watch the show yet. So, people say Mikey, did you see House of…the House of the Flying Friend? Say no, I was not allowed to watch it.

 

Scooter told me about it; he said okay, it’s a…get in bed and I’ll tell…’cause he said I don’t think I could do a recap of that show if you can’t watch it. But he said get in bed and I’ll tell you all about it. Once upon a time, there were two best friends, and then there’s Damon. But it also sounds…I mean, there’s one…reminds me of Geoff, my brother. There’s no…I said, is there anyone like me on…? They said…Scooter said there’s no one like you. I said well, prince…Marjory. He said well, Marjory, yes. You, no. I said oh, and I can’t watch it, though? I said, anyone like mother? Scooter said well, there’s…yeah, there’s a father that’s…and he said…oh sorry, I’m supposed to be talking about the parade. Mikey, though; nice to meet all of you, ‘cause I’m…we don’t go on the show anymore. I’m here with Ser Gregor.

 

Formally I was known as Lord Tommen. Maybe you’d probably say, who’s Lord Tommen? I’d say, correct. Your Grace is what you would refer to me as. Ser Gregor was…now we’re friends and he just goes by The Gregor, ‘cause he…oh, what happened was…if people watched the show, one season they decided my character was not fit to rule. My mother decided that, oh…and not fit to wed. So, when mother decided that, Scooter came and picked me up in his fiction machine. Also picked up the Gregor, who would — I guess on the show — become a blue person. Like, not on the Avatar, though. Oh, I’m supposed to get back to the show. Sorry. So, I was once…you would have…if you had met me at my prime…but I feel like I’m at my prime now. I like life here with Gregor. I live…oh, Ray, I live with Ray.

 

Ser Gregor and I live with Ray. Scooter rescued us from our world in a fanfiction fantasy machine, ‘cause he said this…he disagreed with mother. He said he couldn’t get over to the sept to…for Marjory, ‘cause this was later. But he was able…I stepped right into his fanfiction fantasy machine. It was off-screen. Ser Gregor was there, too. Anyway, it doesn’t make any sense. That’s why we’re here, to put you to sleep. Okay, so we had Sonic, and it was a five out of five on air fill, or ten out of ten, ‘cause Scooter changed it. Good flying motion. Really, two for two on the balloons. Then we had Sunny Side Up, Ses…oh no, this is a different show, not Sesame Street. The Sunny Side Up Show with Chica. Tina, Kaitlin, Dennisha, Carly. Kindness counts. There was also…when Chica’s…talks, it’s kind of like a kazoo sound. Chica’s a puppet.

 

Then there’s kids in a boat waving to Chica. I liked that. Girl in pink…something…oh, staring at Chica. Then Lassafrog. Scooter, what does that mean, Lassafrog? Okay, back to you, Ray. Oh, thanks, Mikey. Thanks for explaining that, too. Mikey and the Gregor dream is to have…at my home, is…by the way. Next up we had Lakota West High School. Lots of wind for the flags. Girl has a flag…and two parrots for the end? I don’t know. Some of Scooter’s notes, here. Then we had the Aflac Duck balloon and float on a sled, and a hick…hockey float. Oh, and then Kellie Pickler. Scooter, did you want to take it for Kellie Pickler, quickly? Oh yeah, thanks, Ray. I just want to say it was great to see Kellie Pickler, and she was in a great red dress.

 

I just remember…I don’t watch a lot of seasons of American Idol, but I don’t know if it was the first season or the second season or if I made it to the third, and I think that was the height of American Idol’s fame, that Kellie Pickler was on. I was always struck by just someone being who they are, at least seeming like it on a reality show. So it was just great to see Kellie Pickler singing and seemingly staying relevant and performing. I mean, I guess it was 2013, but I don’t know, that means American Idol had to be like early aughts, mid-aughts? I don’t know. So, back to you, Ray. Oh, thanks, Scooter. So, next up was Jimmy Fallon and the Roots. This was before the Tonight Show had started, but they had the gig, and…with Sesame Street; Somebody Come and Play. I liked how Jimmy Fallon counted it down.

 

He’s so good at the parade acting. The Roots are good. They just know how to perform in a parade, and this may have been their first parade performance. Maybe not. But you’re watching them. I mean, there’s the kids and the Sesame Street puppets and all that. Big Bird is looking very yellow. But yeah, all the Roots, so that’s good. Next up is Bernie the Butterfly. Bernie the Butterfly here. Thanks, Ray. Yeah, that was a great one. Great parade acting. Speaking of great parades, another flying float, the float…and by the way, the floats were low this year because of the wind, which worked out for all of us. I think the Hello Kitty float could have used a little bit more air, but it was…I’d give it a nine out of ten. It was Hello Kitty’s fortieth anniversary in 2014, so happy anniversary. Great flying action.

 

Then there was a high school band with great fall colors and flags and cheer, then there was a bizarre…it was strange; it was a goldfish float. It was very strange, but the…on the float was Five Harmony? Is that correct, Scooter? Better Together. What does this even say? World everywhere. World were…float book. Lots of bush on the float book. That can’t be accurate. Here is it, though. Oh, lots of bounce. So, there was a book sticking out from the float, and two of the members of the band were on this book, off the stage. It just has a lot of bounce, like too much bounce. The book is Let’s Have A Parade. Oh boy, then…before I go, I get to introduce these cloggers. There’s a clogger group. I don’t know what they’re called…All That? They clogged for three miles. It looks like Justin Timberlake is in the front of this band.

 

I mean, I know it’s not him, but…certainly good at getting your look like Justin Timberlake. After that was the Hess Truck float with some bridges. Nice float, and I wish Cher Lloyd gets to sing I Wish, and her band…well, her band was into it, so they were really performing. On mute, it’s a good performance. Cher Lloyd has the right amount of gloves and a hat to look bundled up and stay warm. Some long, wide shots, some medium shots. Again, I don’t know, I think it’s gotta be hard to know which camera to look at. So, I don’t know how they rehearse any of it. Then people dress to signs there…then next up was the Wimpy Kid. This was when the eighth book was just coming out, Hard Luck. The fill on the Wimpy Kid we put at a nine out of ten.

 

Could have used a little bit more air to just tighten up a couple puckers, and on his head. But good one. This is on a guitar float from Gibson, is the one coming with the Wimpy Kid. Who’s on the guitar float here? Grimace? Oh, he’s grimacing. Flam…ring…oh, Florida, Georgia Line. Again, they…these two were very well…at least one of the two. I don’t know, Florida…if it was Florida…the person from Florida, Georgia, but very well costumed. Good performance. Then the float moves, and it almost…they almost fell down. It caught them off-guard. They didn’t tell them…oh, and then Richard Simmons is in a turtle. To think about him podcasting, Richard Simmons had a journey in podcasting, a podcast about Richard Simmons. This was before that, so it was good to see Richard Simmons in a turtle.

 

Then there’s a purple…what’s that called? Hippopotamus that is in Disney Universal. Richard Simmons in a tortoise with bunnies, Universal and Happy Hippo. That one was a nine out of ten, but a smaller float. Then the Oneida Nation, which Scoot…is in Oneida, New York, and there’s Oneida Lake, and they, so they did a perform…they have a float and then they did a wonderful performance. I rewound it here. The purple thing is going by. Then there’s a…they go to an ad, I think, but we don’t need to. Yeah, so then they have the Oneida Nations dancers. I don’t know if…these are actually the native pride dancers, so not all from the Oneida Nation. Then after that saw Paul Frank Julius…ten out of ten on that fill. That thing is filled…I’ve never seen a balloon filled so well. Maybe its ear could use a little air.

 

It has a jet pack so it looks good flying right into the camera. Back to you, Ray. Oh Bernie, thank you so much. So good to be here. Next up we had Tituss Burgess…who do we got here? We got some sort of float with some dancing. Tituss Burgess and Beverly Staughton…oh, Staunton. The Manhattan Youth Ballet. This was a very Disney song. I don’t…wasn’t familiar with the song, but it sounded like something that would be sung during a parade at a theme park. Youth basket…I don’t know…oh, youth ballet, there. Sorry, there, everybody. This was Ray; I just fell into a Bernie. I think I went into some fugue stage as Bernie there. Next up was a band. I can’t read any of Scoot…school’s…Scooter’s…rehearsal every day…oh, this school band, they have a rehearsal every single day.

 

They have dancers, drummers, flag-wavers, they’re in contrasting…so, the dancers are in very futuristic outfits. I don’t know what song is playing there. Then there’s a blast from a past, and I guess I’m gonna give it to Mikey…may have some questions. Go ahead, Mikey. Thanks, Ray. Next up is the giant Kool-Aid Man. Nine gallons, nine-foot something. It’s a balloon float. These things, they make us laugh, ‘cause I say Scooter, could I drink an entire giant jug of Kool…? No you can’t, Mikey. Ray, could I have a giant thing of Kool-Aid? Because Scooter showed me the ads of the Kool-Aid Man coming to help my thirst. No, you can’t. Maybe at the summertime at a special event you can. So, then the Duck Dynasty is…Captain Macy’s.

 

Captain Macy…and then there’s the strangest thing; there’s a peanut member of the upper class or some sort of bourgeois figure. Ray liked my use…Ray taught me that word. A rich peanut, a rich, humanized peanut, saying you could call me Your Grace. Always dapper, they said…in a nutmobile. 1916, a fourteen-year-old made it. Then they said well, if it was rich, it would look better. Then we had Miss America on a Drake’s…cakes float. She was from Syracuse, so that was cool. Then the 125th birthday of South Dakota. Marine Corps marching band…also, this is not in the notes, but I’m seeing it there. But yeah, we had Mount Rushmore…I don’t know if it’s the same float…Rising Stars…the same suit…I don’t know any of this thing…these notes. Probably some sort of musical act.

 

The same suit…Rising Stars…lighter in…maybe that’s the song. Lightning in a Bottle? Okay, there is a band on there. Oh, they won a tour…they won a contest. I remember this. They did a good job, and I think the song is Lightning in a Bottle. They won the Rising Stars band thing, the Summer Set. Yeah, so they do a good job. One of them is standing in…on a waterfall. Then we have the Big Apple Circus, 1902, this US tableaux. Then not far behind the Kool-Aid Man is Ronald McDonald in a shoe car. So you have a giant jug of drink that I’m not allowed to drink, then a rich peanut, a rich, sentient peanut, then Ronald McDonald. Now, Ronald McDonald I would assume is a king, because you have a real Ronald McDonald being followed by a giant balloon.

 

The only person I know that was followed by their own balloon…they didn’t have a Wimpy Kid, so is Ronald McDonald your king? The fill, though, on Ronald McDonald, only a seven out of ten. But good smile, thumbs up. Good balloon from low camera shot, with a scarf. Scarf looks a little weird. Back to you, Ray. Oh, thanks, Mikey. Yeah, yeah, then we have the jump-ropers from Jump, Jump, Jump. They jump-roped for four…three or four miles, and they’re jump-roping to 8-bit music. Then we have Zhu Zhu Pets. I guess the movie came out; Quest for Zhu. Then we had Debby Ryan, and Debby Ryan sang a song not…it was…we have something time of year, but not the best time…not like Allie in Allie, or Al in…that Scooter likes. The best time of the year, and it’s clear, we’ll celebrate it. Festive time of the year is what Scooter’s note says.

 

But a good job. Then we have Spongebob with a hat; ten out of ten. The teeth on Spongebob are really cool. Then a band from Tarpon Springs, where Scooter ate not that long ago. Also, Spongebob’s nose and eyes…I like the shape of Spongebob. Lots of movement and dancing in that Tarpon Springs, and now Gregor. Oh, thanks, Ray. Next up is the Royal Caribbean Question of the Seas. You know, when you think of Idina Menzel, you think of Kristin Chenoweth singing New York, New York on this float. I said next year, that was when Idina…but anyway, Kristin Chenoweth singing a version of New York, New York. Very, very good. Right now I’m watching a marching band, though, with kids. Dancing, a little bit of different kids and acting. Then Cirque du Soleil is a globe transit float. Oh, this is the largest float ever or something.

 

Oh, there’s Kristin Chenoweth…and they’re saying oh, these are the things you could do on a ship. So, but Cirque du Soleil, it’s like a ship float…also a ship float, but a different…Dreamseeker. Cool umbrella dancer. There’s a party pole-climber? Oh, there’s a lot of jumping on this, and there’s a pole-climber. Very good stuff. Also confetti cannons. Tuber’s best fun of hiccup…face…low fill. I don’t know what that means. I’ll know in a second, though. But I’ll give it back to you, Ray, then…okay. Oh, thank you, Gregor. Oh, Toothless, I think, from How to Train Your Dragon is what you’re talking about. Scooter’s never seen a Cirque du Soleil show. I don’t know if anyone would believe that. But yeah, then there’s a chocolate puppeteer, Goo Goo Dolls, Wiz…oh boy, the Wizard of Oz there. Bernie, you want to take that?

 

Bernie the Butterfly here. Thanks, Ray. Yeah, the Wizard of Oz, there’s a marching band, but it was weird because it was like, you had Dorothy and then you had a dancing lollipop. Oh, the Lollipop Guild, which was kids having fun, but then you had these big head versions of the other characters. Cool banners. Dorothy…yeah, but bobble-head-type, with hot-air heads. Then the witches at the end afterwards…1939…there’s also a balloon which is a hot-air balloon with the wizard in there. There’s people on stilts I just saw, but I don’t think that was for the…by the way, Toothless is not full, so I don’t know what…there wasn’t a rating, but I have to give a rating; eight out of ten. Yeah, so I don’t understand…the Wizard of Oz was cool, though. Then the varsity spirit, let’s go Macy’s.

 

Oh, they did the song I Need A Hero, which is in Footloose. Then you had Joan Jett and…not the Heartbreakers; just Joan Jett. It was good. It was a pep rally float. Only bongos…Joan has a great coat, and there was a older gentleman on the float. Scooter said, who’s that? Didn’t have a musical instrument. Yeah, but that’s…oh no, that’s the Goo Goo Dolls, Scooter. Scooter’s looking for the older gentleman there. But back to you, Ray. Okay, thanks. Then Spider-Man; nine out of ten. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was just coming out in 2013. Peace…oh, there’s a kid…there’s a Big Apple float. Amy something 2? Oh, that was Spider-Man 2, Amazing Spider-Man 2. There’s a Superbowl kid with a peace sign. Oh they were advertising the New York Superbowl that’s gonna…I don’t know if it was even gonna be on NBC.

 

Then you had the NYPD band, then want…chill…23? I don’t know…Scooter…we had…this was strange, though; they had a Power Rangers show where they stopped the parade and they even set up a set. But they were rushing the marching bands, but then…and a Super Megaforce something to Mighty Morphin' force transfer. A real hot-air balloon, though, with the Wiz, Wizard. Then we had the band…yeah, the band had to run at full speed…wow, to keep up. Did just get there. Then we have chin…oh, there was this band with low chin straps that looked really good. They looked cool, but they couldn’t be comfortable. Then after the Mighty Morphin's, we had the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Fall Out Boy, then we had pole ball…flat…Pokemon, I’m assuming. A pokeball. Why does that say pole ball flat?

 

Pikachu looks good. Oh, so the pokeball is flat; seven out of ten. But Pikachu is nine out of ten. The cheeks on Pikachu were flashing. Okay, I’m seeing Joan Jett. Oh, there’s a maroon raincoat. Oh, there is a older gentleman on that float. Looks official. Just not sure what he’s doing there. Not a member of the band. Then the cheerleaders, then the spirit of America cheer, then Spider-Man. They even play the older Spider-Man song. Pikachu looks good, though; flashing cheeks. South Shore Drill Team, neon stripes. But it’s not South Shore, but that’s just what Scooter’s writing says there. Oh, there’s a dancing top to the apple there. That’s interesting. Then we have Despicable Me. They stop and do a float show to happy…Poppin’ Fresh has a big smile, but only a seven of ten on the fill there.

 

Then a mountain view band, then Build-A-Bear with Austin Mahone…name part of the song…dancing thread. What makes a good lip sync, the eyes or the eye line? So, those were questions Scooter was asking. Then we have Finn and Jake from Adventure Time. Their fill; six out of ten and five out of ten. Not great. Then Buzz Lightyear…there’s a globe that’s like a five out of ten, and there’s some Mighty Morphin' dancers. Today on your cruise ship, the Mighty Morphin' dancers. Oh wow, they just came through and broke through some stuff. So you have the Super Megaforce and then the Mighty Morphin' Force or something. Then cookie first…a cookie float with Brett Eldredge and cookie kids. Then I cannot read any of this…props…sleigh ride. There’s the band that had to run, so they’re rushed.

 

Okay, so we have a couple things we’re missing, but I’ll fill in. Snowball dancers…something sleigh crans…a youth choir…corner…they’re on a cornucopia. Oh, here’s the kids with the chin straps that go over their front…mouth. Looks cool; just doesn’t look comfortable. It looks different. There’s the turtles. Cornucopia…giant striped salt…stilt walkers. Oh boy, then we’ll get to this, I guess. Let’s see, Fall Out Boy right now. Oh yeah, but later comes Dora the Explorer and Ariana Grande. I said holy cow, 2013, she wasn’t too big for the parade? I mean, here’s the thing; she was in the parade. That’s pretty impressive to me. She sings Last Christmas. Still was a Disney star at the time, though I think right at the end of the Disney career, and became I guess the Ariana Grande we all know.

 

I’m just trying to think of when those songs were hits. They must have been 2013 or 2014 of like, the real huge breakout hits. There’s Pikachu; I’m watching. Then something O’Hanlon…letter is there…oh, Virginia O’Hanlon has a letter for Santa Claus, which is a Macy’s musical. Then we have a nine out of ten for No Joy balloons. Oh, there’s the South Shore Drill Team. Scooter was right for once. They have these…they’re dancing, they have beautiful neon stripes, some pink and some green, and they’re really dancing well there. Okay, where else? No Joy balloons…can only one…Olay enchanter? Delta central Dickens…then Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Right now is the Despicable Me thing. But I say oh wow, Sharon Jones, that was 2013…and the Dap-Kings? Or 2012? I thought it was like, 2010.

 

There’s Poppin’ Fresh coming down the lane there. What else we got? Elf on a Shelf. Corsets, balloon…nine out of ten. Then there’s a eye; four out of ten. Then there’s a dreidel. Tricks…drayful…like…robust. Robot, must be. There’s a marching band going by right now. Smurf’s later…musical…mushroom home…papa…IRL…and a balloon. So, Ronald McDonald and Papa Smurf are the gods of the parade. Ten out of ten, though, on that Papa Smurf balloon, on the fill. But oh, that…no, but that was on the fill of the balloon, but the…Papa Smurf’s posture on the balloon was a little strange ‘cause his body’s turned to the side. Doesn’t make any sense. Okay, then we have the Build-A-Bear floats going by now. I’m trying to think what I could…was confused about, but there’s…oh, this must be Austin Mahone? I’m waiting to see.

 

Austin Mahone has a mouth microphone, which actually ads to the…makes it look good. Oh, this…there’s the thread dancers that Scooter was talking about. I don’t know some of the other things Scooter was confused about in these notes. Smurfs 2 was coming out, though. Great waving. Oh, they have Papa Smurf’s balloon waving. I don’t know, is…I guess Papa Smurf…oh yeah, I see the Adventure Time float; not full enough. Harvard…Harvard suits…duck floats…Harvard suit. Long…great waving, long something. A little slow for a parade. Oh, the song; Megan Hilty, Merry Christmas Darling. That song was a little slow for the parade. There’s Buzz Lightyear. Again, good flying action. Santaland extras…Mannheim Steamroller.

 

They looked like they were having a great time. They were having fun and they did a little Manheim…there’s a Dominos sugar cookie float. Okay, we…this was one…it’s as cookie factory. This is Brett Eldredge singing, doing a good job, no…it doesn’t look like Brett Eldredge has a shirt on, though, just…oh no, I guess a v-neck, which makes sense. It could be warm out there. But yeah, anyway, Brett Eldredge singing, dancing. Not sure what song, but…but yeah, okay, cactus is having fun. I don’t know what that is. Oh, that was Mannheim Steamroller. Then the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. Chris…oh, I guess we didn’t…Scooter didn’t finish the parade, here. That’s the end of Scooter’s notes. This was when Scooter was not feeling well, I’ll tell you. So let’s see what we got here. We’re back live with the parade and your friend Ray.

 

We’ve got snowball dancers. Oh, and then there’s…one marching band puts together their own sleigh. They did a good job. There’s snowball dancers, there’s a sleigh made of props, and the…some of the brass of the band is in it, imaginarily. Then we have a cornucopia, and this is a…this is the…a youth choir, the Cherokee National Youth Choir, and there’s some on the cornucopia. There’s also adults not on the thing. A lot of waving. These kids gotta be tired. Adults carrying pumpkins, and then dancing candy cane stilt-walkers. Then the Dora the Explorer float; I can see it in the background. Ariana Grande; wow. She’s with Dora. Dora’s Christmas something was a special coming up. I mean, I’m just impressed. Holy cow. So, she’s singing. She has a mic.

 

I’m pretty sure she’s singing Last Christmas, because I remember; I said okay, we had…we’ve gotten some other additions, and I know it’s something…she’s dancing…wow, really dancing it up with Dora. Great earmuffs, great jacket. Doing some dancing, coordinated dancing. Again, the…I don’t know, I think that was a good performance, but again, I guess I’m starstruck, you know. Then we have the Macy’s balloon of the girl delivering the letter to Santa Claus, and that’s going by there. Macy’s, New York, or whatever. Santa Claus…that’s in the…I think Santa Claus versus the Fourth District or something. I can’t remember the movie. Oh, Virginia…Virginia, have you heard from Santa Claus? Here’s Sharon Jones. Oh, the Delta float. Okay, that was confusing…with Dickensian…okay.

 

Yeah, they have Dickensian people on the ground. This is essential park float. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. A large band for…I mean, the whole group, I guess, the whole official group. Oh, they have some Dickensian styling kids, turn of the century styling, and they’re on the float, waving. That float, also, I felt like it started moving too soon and threw everybody off. Then the Elf on a Shelf does not have enough air. I don’t know what our comments were on that, but it’s making its way down the thing now. Poor Scooter, he couldn’t finish the parade. It’s funny that Scooter gave up. I know he had a cold, so I forgive him. But yeah, there’s the Elf on the Shelf. It’s going by. It needs some air. I don’t know if…how many years that elf’s been in there. Then there’s the…oh, the dreidel car. Is it a robot or a car?

 

That’s what Scooter was asking, because it does do some loops. So, the dreidel circled once and then heads off. Balloon float…then we go to the Smurfs. Papa, Smurfette, and I don’t know who the other one is. Regular Joe Smurf. Narrator Smurf? I don’t know, then Papa, who’s jumping for joy or something, which now I remember. But I don’t know, is Papa Smurf known to jump for joy? But waving as well. That’s a cool effect. Very well filled, very popping colors. Then we have a duck float, like toy ducks, three of them. This is from Homewood Suites. We’ve got someone singing, Megan Hilty, and it looks…yeah, it looks like…nice earmuffs, nice puffy jacket. Oh, this was the slower number. A little slow, this song. Merry Christmas Darling. This is the one, right? I think this is when Scooter gave up. It put Scooter to sleep.

 

So, I understand they’re doing…they do some numbers that are…what do you call it? Holiday songs at the end, so now it’s making more sense, the last five singers or whatever do holiday songs. The only…oh no, there’s Mannheim Steamroller, so Scooter was still watching here. There’s a cactus. That must have been in Scooter’s notes that he was con…it’s a train. It’s a Macy’s train and in the thing is a cactus and two cowboys. But oh boy, is Mannheim Steamroll enjoying it. Talk about a great retirement, being a Mannheim Steamroller, jamming out on the drumpad and the keyboards and then the bassist. So, they’re moving on. They all have matching jackets. Then the Great American Marching Band, and then…yeah, they have people with flags, people with bands, then you have three elf…the traditional Macy’s elf balloons. They look pretty cool.

 

Trying to think of any of the notes I would have about this here. But yeah, Macy’s band’s going by. The elves have their hands on the hips. I say, what are you looking at? Yeah, three elves. Those…oh, look, it’s somebody saying hurry up, hurry up, get over to the right, and there’s Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus. Santa’s beard’s pretty short. Some fake snow, and that’s the end of the parade there. The Macy’s Believe star balloons…good end to the parade there. Santa’s very animated. Oh, touched his nose. Mrs. Claus and one elf that’s chosen to rule them all or whatever. Yeah, now they’re running the credits. So again, check it out. Check out a past parade on the internet. Check out 2013…or maybe listen to the other…watch the 2013, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘17, I don’t know, and then listen to the episodes. I think if you’re a $10 or $20-patron, you get access all the way back, and then if you’re a $5-patron, you get back to 355. So you could do that, too. But I hope you have a great holiday season. This is your friend Ray saying to…goodnight, everybody.

 

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