We've reached the final destination for our "Where is Gerke Going?" series and Paul is going BIG!
The Big Apple, that is.
This week Paul is in New York and he's giving us a tour of the city, showing us some of the incredible sights and sounds along the way. Here are some of the places Paul is checking out.
The Brooklyn Bridge is a National Historic Landmark and one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World. It’s a cable-stayed/suspension bridge hybrid that spans nearly 6,000 feet across the East River, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn.
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The bridge’s construction was perilous- an estimated 27 men died while building it. Construction began in 1869 and it was opened in 1883. It still sits on its original foundation. Renown circus promoter P.T. Barnum helped promote the bridge’s stability by leading a parade of 21 elephants from one side to the other.
Coney Island bills itself as the birthplace of the amusement park! Coney Island is home to a bevy of restaurants and shops; it features rollercoasters, go-karts, live entertainment and games. It hosts a film festival, Friday night fireworks, and even a minor league baseball team!
Its boardwalk, which opened in 1923, is open year-round and extends along nearly three miles of beaches. The Cyclone rollercoaster has been operational since 1927 and remains a right of passage for thrill-seekers of all ages. Coney Island also hosts the annual 4th of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest!
New York City is known as a haven for comedians, but breaking onto the comedy scene is a tough task. In this piece, Paul Gerke shares a coffee with comedian and actress Abby Feldman to learn about a day in her life.
Abby performs comedy nightly in NYC, but also creates a variety of content. She was named a “Just for Laughs New Face Creator” in 2018. Her credits include writing for the Netflix series “The Fix,” and starring in the bilingual Netflix mockumentary “Gringolandia.”
Disney’s “Frozen” is more than just a hit movie! Frozen The Broadway Musical is based on the film but focuses on the relationship between princess sisters Elsa and Anna.
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In this piece, actress Ryan Redmond (who plays loveable snowman Olaf) gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the production. You can catch the show at the St. James Theatre, where it has been running since March 2018. Soon the show will hit the road on a national tour- even coming to ASU Gammage during the 2020-21 season!
Savannah Guthrie is the main co-anchor of Today, immediately following Today in AZ on 12 News. She has been working with NBC News since 2007 and hosting Today since 2012.
Savannah has deep Arizona ties; she grew up in Tucson and graduated from Amphitheater High School. She graduated from the University of Arizona and returned to Tucson earlier in her career, where she spent five years at NBC affiliate KVOA. In this piece, Paul Gerke chats with Savannah about her life away from the bright lights of the Today set.
Times Square in New York is known as the “Center of the Universe.” A hub for businesses, restaurants, and all varieties of activity, Times Square is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas. About 50 million pass through every year- more than any place in the United States outside of Disney World in Orlando. Times Square also hosts the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop, which usually garners a seven-digit crowd.
In this piece, we pay respects at a museum dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the September 11th attacks and the first responders who risked everything to save them. We also visit the One World Observatory, which provides a view of NYC from 102 stories up.
New York is known for its thin crust pizza, available in countless storefronts, carts, and shops all around the city. But who makes the *best* pizza in NYC? Pack your antacid- Paul Gerke takes us on an admittedly-very-incomplete tour of some must-eats in The Big Apple.
Today debuted in 1952 and has grown into one of the most-watched daily programs in the United States. The daily broadcast begins at 7 a.m. ET and offers a cornucopia of news, lifestyle, and trending topics. In this piece, Paul Gerke goes behind-the-scenes to show you all the unseen effort that goes into producing such an enormous broadcast. Paul chats with anchor Carson Daly, Executive Producer Libby Leist, Director Jim Gaines, and others!
And that's a wrap for this month's edition of our "Where is Gerke Going?" series. Thanks for watching!
In case you missed any of his past adventures, you can check them out at this 12 News article. For more behind-the-scenes content, follow Paul Gerke on Facebook and Twitter.