Rockefeller Center tree lighting: Diana Ross shines, Tony Bennett stumbles and more you missed
The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is lit. It's time for much mistletoe-ing and hearts all a-glowing and being of good cheer.
The hosts of "Today" were on hand Wednesday night for a live star-studded celebration leading up to the official illumination of the 50,000 lights on the 72-foot-tall Norway spruce. On top, a brand new, 9-foot-4-inch topper made of Swarovski crystals backlit by LEDs.
If you didn’t tune in for the two-hour “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” extravaganza on NBC, you missed some stellar performances and funky fashion. Lucky for you, we were watching and we have the big moments you missed.
Pentatonix
The a cappella band performs without musical accompaniment, so it's no wonder they marched to their own drummer when it came to fashion. Kirstin Maldonado rocked a sleeveless puffy dress? coat? that looked like it could have been made from a purple sleeping bag. It looked warm, though! Next to her, Scott Hoying sported a turquoise overcoat over plaid pants and Mitch Grassi bundled up in a super-shiny black belted trench and sparkly boots. Matt Sallee and Kevin Olusola looked positively understated in plaid and basic black.
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Tony Bennett and Diana Krall
Jazz singer Krall and 92-year-old pop legend Bennett may have rehearsed for the show, but it didn't appear it was together. The two missed cues and trampled one another during "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and didn't have much more success with their second performance, "The Christmas Song."
Howie Mandel
The "Deal or No Deal" host and "America's Got Talent" judge made the most of his appearance, plugging his show while he trolled the audience. He quipped, "Nothing says 'Christmas' more than putting a germophobe in a crowd of strangers,” before approaching a guy named Tom. He handed him a "Deal or No Deal" button and told him he could light the tree. Sure enough, after the countdown, Tom pressed the button and the tree lit. Well, it was a tree, waaaaay up in a window inside Rockefeller Center. Even so, it was shiny and bright.
For Mandel's second gig, he had trouble getting audience members to play along. He finally got Lexi Cannon to agree to a "gift." Bullhorn in hand, Mandel cleared a path for her to the front row, then used the same bullhorn to chide the shy who'd spurned him.
Darci Lynne and Petunia
Lynne, a ventriloquist, performed "Jingle Bell Rock" alongside her rabbit puppet Petunia, festively decked out in plaid dress. The "America's Got Talent" veteran and her furry friend provided a quirky holiday twist.
Diana Ross
The pop diva closed the show with a medley of Christmas tunes including "Someday at Christmas," "Wonderful Christmastime" and her own song, “Home.” And she was her legendary diva self. And she schooled "Today" host Savannah Guthrie on how to rock a fuzzy red jacket along the way.
