Miley Cyrus may seem like a caring person, but when it comes to TV specials like NBC Miley’s New Year’s PartyIt’s about structure. Due to COVID, which has disrupted rehearsals and special guests and caused several venue changes, the Miami live stream has had its fair share of challenges.
Still, after two years of difficult pandemics, Cyrus and co-host Pete Davidson wanted to give viewers a way to escape through Cyrus, Brandy Carlisle, Sovet and Anita, including live performances and sketches, among others.
“I think we present what the New Year really is that connects us, celebrate the year you had, look forward to the year that will be,” Cyrus said of the special, which drew 6 million linear viewers. “It was also difficult because we had two very difficult years and it was difficult for people to demand happy reflection.”
Cyrus speaks THR On the challenges she’s been facing (including wardrobe malfunctions), why Davidson was the perfect co-host, and what she plans to do for the New Year’s special coming out in 2023.
Why did you want to make a special New Year’s holiday?
We were doing a traditional show at a very unconventional time. [The COVID surge] This meant that creative flexibility had to be on the rise because the most important thing was to keep the show going. We felt that the probability of the show not happening was increasing day by day. but we had [executive producer] Lauren Michaels, a person so used to seeing in real time. I didn’t imagine [the combination of music and comedy] That didn’t really happen at the New Year’s show, [and we merged] In the element of this diversity show, where you can talk about the year and the year ahead, to a certain extent, lightly. We had a really tough two years and we wanted to get away, but we were also responsible and realistic about the kind of show we were putting on and encouraging people to get together and watch. It was a night I will always remember as the first time I could Miley’s New Year’s Party.
At what point did you decide to have Pete Davidson as your co-host?
One thing about New Year’s is that it’s very romantic. There is sexual attraction in him and in the world of your dreams you have the ultimate gentleman as a date. We thought Pete was ideal for the role. There’s something about him that’s very classic and his professionalism is far from the charts, but there’s also a danger. And that’s what we really wanted for the New Year, because there always has to be that energy. [not knowing] Exactly what will happen. You don’t want tonight to count, that’s what Lorraine and I thought was really important. We’ve found that many shows focus on the 30 seconds before and after midnight, but don’t think too much about the two hours to reserve that time. We knew Pete would bring something unique because I had never seen a New Year’s show that had skits and comedy in such an offhand way that Pete could.
How long did it take you to prepare the opening act?
We didn’t have a full rehearsal. We practiced that day and wrote this program via text message. There were many reasons why we couldn’t all sit at the great writers’ table as we used to. SNLSo it was amazing that we were able to process all of that through FaceTime or text and send photos and music back and forth. she was sent [the Will Smith song] “Miami” and said, “Do you want to open the show with this?” The next day I had a copy.
Talk to me about “unrealistic resolutions”.
We had access to some incredible talent. SNL Through Pete and Lorraine. That’s why it was so important to get the lead from Lorraine, because she’s so used to combining music and comedy, and that’s what we thought would be a special moment. It was my favorite moment of the show as it almost feels like a music video from the early 2000s. It was important for people to feel like we were really in Miami for the last few years. [of] See people performing at home or via Zoom. We wanted something we hadn’t seen in the last two years.
How many improvements are actually made during something like this?
The whole show ended with an improv test as we barely had time to rehearse. Everything we planned was turned upside down. I’m a Georgia-looking person and I’m a very flexible person, but when it comes to professionalism and structure, I want to be well-rehearsed and well-prepared, and I wasn’t. Not available. Once I got to reality, I allowed myself to energize. There were so many improvements… I really didn’t know my clothes would be ruined! We said, “You never know what to expect from me and Pete,” and that’s what we delivered.
The best thing I saw was Lauren Michaels redirecting air traffic. we really lost [original] Location by COVID and we found [the new] Location a week in advance [the show], But appeared near the airport. Planes flew over once every seven minutes, which was not ideal for live music. Lauren Michaels forced them to change the motion of the planes so we could have that silence.
Cyrus says she wanted NBC’s New Year’s Eve event to be “the most sophisticated karaoke night I’ve ever seen.”
Courtesy of Vijat Mohindra/NBC
How did you organize your kit list?
Lorraine and I thought so [should] Be the most sophisticated karaoke night anyone has ever seen. Who wouldn’t want to go to karaoke with Brandi Carlisle and sing “Total Eclipse of the Heart”? We wanted people to play songs that the house audience could sing along to.
Was there anything you were unable to accomplish due to the rise of COVID?
Usually people watch Billy Idol or Joan Jet, Dolly or Elton. I often play with other generations of people who have influenced and inspired me. Clearly, this was an unprotected time for people to travel due to COVID. Some of these legendary cult artists were unable to attend the show. I hope this year I get these more classic actions as part of the show.
What were the other challenges?
At first we thought of 1000 people. [in the audience]And we were less than 200: my friends, my family, Pitt, some friends came, Lorraine’s team SNL. We had this space that held thousands of people and we didn’t want him to appear really naked in the house. But we didn’t want to encourage large gatherings that were dangerous. So we came up with the idea for the show to have an intimate feel like the party you want to go to, and it was such a compelling entrance. You want people at home to have FOMO, and I think we did, even when we didn’t get exactly the ideal party we wanted.
The interview is edited for length and clarity.
The story first appeared in a separate June issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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