Will ‘Macy’s July 4 Fireworks Spectacular’ ratings explode, or explode in the face of NBC?

The annual event will only be semi-live this year, and without crowds

2020 has been less than spectacular, but like life, the show (fireworks) must go on. While Saturday’s “Macy’s July 4 Fireworks Spectacular” won’t have an in-person crowd this year, it should still draw a decent live TV audience.

Yes, even on a Saturday, and even with the forced secret setting of 2020 coronavirus. (This year’s unfortunate day of the week designation won’t do the annual NBC event any favors: Saturdays are the lowest-rated night of the week).

The July 4 show last year, when things were “normal,” the biggest fireworks event of the year in the United States drew 5.865 million viewers in total, according to Nielsen. That account may not be worthy of the “spectacular” title, especially when you consider the returns from previous years, but overall it’s a pretty strong performance for a summer broadcast on this side of hits like the NBC show “America’s Got Talent.” .

Also read: ‘America’s Got Talent’ resumes production: this is what Judge Cuts and live shows will look like

Unfortunately, the 2019 United States Independence Celebration, hosted by Derek Hough and Ciara, earned an all-time low rating on the Key Adult Show 18-49.

The count of less than 6 million viewers, just the third time Nielsen’s event numbers have reached such a low in the past 10 years, marked a nearly 21% decline in audience on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. Share That’s because the exact half of the week is actually the best night for fireworks, as Wednesdays are the least likely night for prospective viewers to be on vacation.

Again, that was when things like vacations (and joy) existed.

The previous return from Wednesday to Thursday, from 2012 to 2013, was alone 11.5%, or about half the decline from last year.

Also read: Los Angeles County to Close Beaches and Ban Fireworks Over the Fourth of July Weekend

Below are the overall audience sizes for the past 10 years of Macy’s “July 4th Fireworks Show”.

2019 (Thursday): 5,865 million total viewers
2018 (Wednesday): 7,405 million
2017 (Tuesday): 6,361 million
2016 (Monday): 7,034 million
2015 (Saturday): 4,958 million
2014 (Friday): 5,373 million
2013 (Thursday): 7,181 million
2012 (Wednesday): 8,116 million
2011 (Monday): 8,713 million
2010 (Sunday): 6,918 million

As you can see, the Friday and Saturday events of 2014 and 2015 received the smallest television audiences of the past 10 years. That’s consistent with television usage on those nights, and it’s a pattern that should continue this year: COVID-19 or not COVID-19.

In case you were wondering, we omitted to have the Fourth on a Friday of this year due to the leap year.

Also read: See: MSNBC reporter beaten by ‘Fireworks’ while reporting on George Floyd protests in Seattle (Video)

Saturday’s fireworks have been going on all week. This year’s broadcast event will feature images from a series of five-minute fireworks displays spanning each of New York City’s five cities. This is how the producers were able to keep the crowds away, satisfying New York’s patterns of social distancing.

The grand finale exhibition will be broadcast live. The only semi-live nature of the event is like the fifth or sixth thing working against this year’s broadcast.

NBC News “Today” presenter Craig Melvin will host the television presentation, which in addition to the colorful explosions, will include performances by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, Black Eyed Peas, The Killers, Lady A, John Legend, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley.

Saturday’s two-hour live stream begins at 8 p.m. on NBC.