During the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s telecast, a brief sidewalk exchange between Al Roker and a seven-year-old girl ended up being the internet’s favorite interaction.
The longtime NBC host surprised a birthday girl named Elliot with a golden ticket to see the iconic Radio City Rockettes, but instead of excitement, the seven-year-old delivered an answer that instantly sent the internet doubling over with laughter.
The viral moment instantly became one of the internet’s best clips this Thanksgiving
Image credits: NBC
The clip opened with Roker weaving through the packed crowd, greeting families gathered along the barricades. When he noticed a shy little girl, he called her over, according to PEOPLE.
“So how old are you? Today’s your birthday?” he asked. Elliot quietly told the longtime host that she’s turning seven, earning a “Happy birthday!” from the host in return.
Image credits: NBC
Then came the surprise. Roker pulled out a golden ticket and delivered his big announcement: “You get to see the … Radio City Music Hall Rockettes!” he said enthusiastically.
Elliot simply replied, “I did that yesterday.”
Image credits: NBC
The seven-year-old was so unintentionally blunt that Roker cracked up.“You did it yesterday! Oh my golly! Well, you get to see them again!” the longtime host said.
Elliot threw out a “Yay!” though at that point, she looked like she was more interested in the golden ticket than the NBC host.
Image credits: NBC
The broadcasters on set, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, chimed in with their own laughter, with Savannah joking, “Hey, we saw her yesterday!”
The video quickly went viral on social media. On X, a clip of the host and the seven-year-old’s interaction has garnered 2.4 million views as of writing.
Netizens also had a field day reacting to the viral clip. One user summed it up perfectly: “One thing a kid’s gonna do is be honest.” Another viewer wrote, “She was not impressed by Al Roker. Her sarcastic ‘yay’ was the best.”
“That was the most authentic moment ever aired on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast. What a queen,” a third wrote.
A century of Rockettes history makes this year’s Christmas Spectacular special
The timing of Elliot’s now two-time Rockettes outing couldn’t be more fitting. The legendary dance troupe is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, making this season’s Christmas Spectacular one of its most meaningful runs yet.
The dance troupe was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, way back in 1925, though they were later brought to New York City by S.L. “Roxy” Rothafel. The group quickly gained a strong following, thanks to the quality of their performance and their impressive precision.
Image credits: NBC
Their signature “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and their world-famous kick line quickly turned them into a holiday tradition.
The Rockettes’ signature Christmas Spectacular show started in 1933, and it blended traditional and modern routines. According to the Associated Press, the choreography in many of the most famous numbers have remained largely unchanged since the troupe’s founding.
Image credits: NBC
Some of the troupe’s costumes have also stood the test of time, according to Julie Branam, the show’s longtime director.
But while a lot of the Rockettes’ performance features a lot of classic elements, modern touches have been added over the years, such as digital projections, holographic animations, and drones.
Members of the Rockettes have shared insights on the athleticism required to be a precision dancer
Branam noted that the Rockettes’ performance is very intense. According to the director, the dancers perform more than 200 precision kicks during each 90-minute, intermissionless show.
This was highlighted by Taylor Shimko, an assistant dance captain in her 16th season. “What’s truly amazing is that we are all exceptional dancers but we are also athletes.
Image credits: NBC
“We say that we’re athletes dripping in diamonds. Every part of this is hard work, but it’s all about making it appear as though it’s easy,” she said.
Fellow dance captain Danelle Morgan also pointed out the prestige granted by the Rockettes.
“Being a Rockette is something I didn’t anticipate. It becomes a piece of your identity, this job. It’s something that’s really special, and I didn’t necessarily see that coming,” she said.
Netizens shared their thoughts on Elliot’s viral reaction to her Rockettes golden ticket on social media
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