Ah, live television. That unpredictable beast that can turn even the most meticulously planned broadcast into a high-wire act. This Thanksgiving, the 98th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade provided a textbook example, courtesy of a technical hiccup that left “Today” show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker tap-dancing through an unexpected silence.
The culprit? A stalled performance by musical duo The War and Treaty, whose rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” hit a snag before it even began. While viewers at home were met with dead air, the unflappable trio sprang into action, filling the void with impromptu banter and heartfelt praise for the momentarily absent performers.
Roker, a veteran of countless parades, smoothly highlighted Michael Trotter Jr.’s service as a US veteran. Guthrie and Kotb chimed in with their own appreciations. They managed to keep the festive spirit afloat, even as the seconds ticked by with no sign of the promised music.
The whole situation, of course, became instant meme fodder online, with viewers both amused and impressed by the hosts’ ability to handle the unexpected curveball. This is live TV, folks. Some might say it showed there’s more to these morning show personalities than just reading off a teleprompter.
The eventual cut to a commercial break before The War and Treaty finally took the stage felt almost anticlimactic, in that “is that all there is?” kind of way. But such is the nature of live television, the broadcast equivalent of one of those parades: You wait and wait for something to show up, maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. No matter what, the parade rolls on.
“Today” airs weekdays on NBC.
