‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ spotlights Chicago as ABC7 shows elaborate Millennium Park dance video
While the national “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” audience is seeing a Chicago countdown for the first time, local WLS-Channel 7 viewers got a treat of their own: an elaborate dance video shot at Millennium Park.
Since 2018, news anchor Terrell Brown and meteorologist Cheryl Scott have been dancing in the new year with a choreographed routine shot at one or more Chicago landmarks. This year, the duo strutted its way through various attractions of the popular Michigan Avenue gathering spot.
The video started with a danceoff at the winding BP footbridge and jumped to a crew splashing in front of the giant animated faces of Crown Fountain, and then Brown and Scott dancing on platforms in the Wrigley Square fountain. Some beats from four Chicago Bucket Boys pounding glowing pails under the Bean led into the grand finale of dozens of dancers in black syncing up their moves under searching floodlights, Brown topping it off by guiding Scott into a deep dip.
The routine was shot in October, entirely at night, with troupes from Latin Rhythms Academy of Dance & Performance, the Puzzle Box Dance Studio and Mullane Godley Irish Dance Academy.
The production is a celebration of the people, cultures, styles, and energy that make this beautiful city what it is,” Brown said via email Wednesday night. “Bringing together different cultures, styles, and communities in one place at Millennium Park. On a bridge, no less. It’s very much about the city, the artists, and the collaboration behind it, both in front of and behind the camera.”
It was the duo’s eighth New Year’s Eve dance video, usually seen during a local “Countdown Chicago” special leading up to midnight Chicago time. But this year, the long-running “Rockin’ Eve” took over the Midwest coverage and is bringing the Central Time countdown to viewers coast to coast.
The dance video ran at around 9:25 p.m. as part of a brief ABC7-produced show that followed a mini-local newscast.
Chance the Rapper to perform ‘No More Old Men’
On “Rockin’ Eve” — consistently the top-rated TV countdown — Chance the Rapper is hosting live televised segments before a chilly outdoor crowd on Chicago Riverwalk at West Wacker Drive and North Franklin Street. Despite the subfreezing climes, he told the national TV audience, “We built different out here! We can party at any temperature. We’ve been out here for hours and we don’t feel it anymore!”
The MC used his on-air moments to spotlight local talent, from ABC7’s Val Warner to the Bucket Boys. Later he’s scheduled to perform “No More Old Men” — which he has called probably ”the most important song that I’ve written” — before leading the countdown to midnight Chicago time.
‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ lineup features Diana Ross, Chappell Roan
Chance is part of a “Rockin’ Eve” lineup ranging from up-and-comers Jessie Murph and Tucker Wetmore to legends Mariah Carey and Diana Ross.
Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora are hosting the extravaganza from Times Square, with NFL star Rob Gronkowski and “Dancing With the Stars” co-host Julianne Hough fronting segments from Las Vegas.
Ross, billed as the night’s musical headliner, is set to perform a medley of her hits at Times Square.
In all, 39 musical acts are set to perform on the venerable ABC special, the most ever in its 50-year+ history. They also include:
- Current chart-toppers Chappell Roan and Post Malone
- Veteran pop acts 4 Non Blondes, Charlie Puth, AJR, Demi Lovato, Goo Goo Dolls, Jess Glynne, Madison Beer, Mariah Carey, New Kids on the Block, OneRepublic, Rick Springfield and the All-American Rejects.
- Rappers 50 Cent, BigXthaPlug, Busta Rhymes, T.I. & Wyclef Jean and Pitbull.
- R&B singers 6lack and Ciara.
- Country artists Filmore, Jordan Davis, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Russell Dickerson and Tucker Wetmore.
- Social media star Jessie Murph.
- EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, the singing voices of “HUNTR/X” from “KPop Demon Hunters.”
- International pop acts LE SSERAFIM and Zara Larsson.
Most of the performance segments were taped in advance. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” also will stream starting Thursday on Hulu.