Inside the 85th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Tim Burton, Daniel Radcliffe, and 800 Clowns

They said it plainly: "It's a sense of tradition that can't be duplicated. We get about 3 million people here to see it live in New York and an…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

On November 17, 2011, NBC hosted a press conference call with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer Amy Kule and Today show anchor Al Roker ahead of the 85th anniversary broadcast, set to air live on NBC on November 24 at 9:00 am in all time zones. Premier Guide Miami was among the media outlets on the call. Below is a summary of the key highlights from the conversation.

Tim Burton Designs a Balloon Exclusively for the Parade

The marquee addition to the 85th parade was a balloon created by filmmaker Tim Burton — the latest entry in Macy's Blue Sky Gallery series, which has previously featured works by Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, and Takashi Murakami. Burton's character, simply named B., was designed exclusively for the parade, and Burton himself was expected to be on the streets of New York to watch it take flight. Joining B. in the sky: Julius the Sock Monkey, Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog (celebrating the character's 20th anniversary), and the AFLAC duck as a new "ballonical."

Broadway Takes Center Stage — Including a Surprise Announcement

Five Broadway productions were set to open the parade — one more than the traditional four. The lineup included Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (featuring approximately 30 Spider-Man characters in a medley of the show's best hits), Sister Act, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Daniel Radcliffe performing from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The fifth act was a surprise announcement made just the day before the press call: the cast of Newsies, the beloved 1991 film that had been touring the country and was just confirmed to be moving to Broadway, would make their parade debut.

A Fan-Designed Balloon and a Heritage Float

To mark the 85th anniversary, Macy's launched a nationwide contest inviting fans to decorate one of 10,000 eight-inch vinyl elves — painting, bedazzling, or decorating however they wished — and upload a photo to Facebook for a public vote. The winner, 25-year-old graphic designer Keith Lapinig, had his creation turned into a full parade balloon named Gazer.

A heritage float honored 35 years of parade leadership through executive producers Gene McFadden (who ran the parade for 24 years, known for his cowboy hat) and Robin Hall (10 years, known for his top hat). The float recreated their signature hats at 25 feet tall and surrounded them with 18 costumed characters representing the parade's history — from Felix the Cat and Smokey Bear to Barney.

The Talent Lineup and New Floats

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The musical talent roster included Neil Diamond, Michael Feinstein, Mary J. Blige, Shelby Lynne, Cee Lo Green, Cobra Starship, Scotty McCreery, and the return of Mannheim Steamroller. Among the 27 floats: a Discover-sponsored "Frozen Fall Fun" float featuring children skating in NHL jerseys, a 35-foot-tall Statue of Liberty arm holding the torch (marking the statue's 125th anniversary), a Zhu Zhu Pets world, and the heritage float described above.

Al Roker on Tradition, Family, and Why the Parade Never Gets Old

Al Roker, who has anchored the parade broadcast for years, reflected on what makes the event endure. "Everybody has a Thanksgiving memory and for most people that memory is kicked off by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," he said. "I remember we would watch the parade on Channel 4 in our pajamas. When it was over it was time to get upstairs and get dressed. You could smell the turkey cooking while the parade was on." He noted that Ann Curry would be joining him in the broadcast booth for the first time that year.

Roker also shared a personal favorite memory: his daughter riding on Santa's sleigh float as a Christmas tree. "My parents had both passed at that point and I know they must have been looking down just beaming at their granddaughter," he said.

Amy Kule on 16 Years and Her Parents Finally Attending

Kule, who has produced the parade for 16 years, noted a personal milestone: for the first time, her parents would be attending the parade live. "I've learned to love this parade really through their spirit of being a young kid and watching it with them," she said. When asked about her all-time favorite balloon, she named Underdog without hesitation — a character that flew for 19 consecutive parades. "He, to this day, is one of my favorites," she said. "I have a big fantasy of seeing Underdog come back to the parade."

By the Numbers

The 85th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured 10,000 marchers, 800 clowns, 16 giant balloons, 27 floats, and 1,900 dancers — all making their way down the parade route in New York City. The broadcast aired live on NBC at 9:00 am on November 24, 2011, followed by a one-hour special at 10:00 pm exploring the full 85-year history of the parade.

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