
Issue 13 FEA Reality List Nik Wallenda - H 2014
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Nik Wallenda is upping the ante on his high-wire act.
Discovery’s “King of the Highwire” — as part of a follow-up to his successful Skywire Live With Nik Wallenda walk across the Grand Canyon in 2013 — will not only attempt to walk across the Chicago skyline untethered, but also blindfolded, it was announced Friday.
The Nov. 2 live event will be broadcast around the world in more than 220 countries starting at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on Discovery, as well as online at SkyscraperLive.com. NBC News’ Willie Geist and Natalie Morales and The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore will host.
“I’m always pushing myself both physically and emotionally. I hope to inspire people around the world and show that the impossible is not so impossible if you set your mind to it,” said Wallenda in a statement. “This has been a dream of mine and something that I’ve been practicing for a while.”
Watch more Nik Wallenda on His Daredevil Stunts and Breaking TV Records
Dozens of cameras will be positioned across Chicago and on helicopters, capturing Wallenda’s two-part walk in the evening in one of the windiest sections of the city. First, Wallenda will attempt to walk more than two city blocks, with a 15-degree uphill climb, from the Marina City’s west tower to the Leo Burnett Building more than 50 stories above the Chicago River. The second part of the walk will have Wallenda going from Marina City’s west tower to the east tower, blindfolded.
In June 2013, Wallenda was the first person to successfully cross the Grand Canyon on a tightrope and Discovery’s live telecast broke ratings records, peaking at 13 million viewers, making it the highest-rated live event to date.
Skyscraper Live With Nik Wallenda is produced by Peacock Productions. Gretchen Eisele, Colleen Halpin, Knute Walker, Benjamin Ringe, Betsy Wagner, Howard Swartz, Wallenda, David Simone, Winston Simone and Shelley Ross are executive producers.
Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
Twitter: @cashleelee
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