NBC promises a star-studded Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup for its November 28 telecast, led by Alison Brie, Idina Menzel, Bishop Briggs and T-Pain, it was announced Friday.

Today hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will be on hand to present the annual holiday celebration held in New York City on Thanksgiving Day.

Also joining the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with special appearances are Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Kylie Cantrall, Lea Salonga, Jonathan Bennett, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, Ginna Claire Mason and members of the WNBA Champions, New York Liberty, with mascot Ellie the Elephant.

NBC’s official telecast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Nov. 28, and the show will stream on Peacock and have an afternoon encore presentation on the main network. Last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade drew nearly 30 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and an encore telecast.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Alison Brie has a festive new role as a walking, talking holiday gift guide for Macy’s.

The self-professed last-minute shopper tells The Hollywood Reporter that becoming the face of the department retailer’s 2024 holiday ad campaign “felt really organic. I bought some of my first makeup in the beauty department,” Brie says. “I love to go into the store, it’s cohesive; it’s a one-stop shop and that’s so helpful for me. I don’t have to tool all over Los Angeles to be able to get something for everyone.”

The Los Angeles-raised actress — currently starring in Apple TV’s Apples Never Fall — recalls browsing the historic Macy’s store on Lake Avenue in Pasadena “in high school getting Calvin Klein’s CK One with my boyfriend with my own money.”

Among her key responsibilities for Macy’s? “I’m bringing my whole family to New York to cut the ribbon and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in person,” says Brie. “I love the parade, it’s iconic. It’s truly because I’m a real big Peanuts fan, so I always look for the Snoopy balloon.”

Embodying an expert gift-giver for the retailer’s campaign was easier said than done, says Brie. “I start thinking of holiday shopping now, then procrastinate,” she jokes. “I think it’s hard to be creative because my parents ask for the same thing every year and I’m always buying them that sweater and that button-down shirt and they can’t think of anything else, so it’s nice to have something like a gift guide [for new ideas].”

She continues, “Another thing about the campaign that’s cool is thinking about what the gifts we get for people say to those people. Because gifts really are how we show affection, they tell how well we know [our loved ones]. The joy of giving gifts to people — nothing feels better than nailing it and giving people a gift they really love.”

Brie adds that her go-to gifts include Hugo Boss cologne for her dad and sparkling jewelry for her mom. Other crowd-pleasers are silk sleep masks and pillowcases, “or some kind of Uggs, there’s always a new Ugg!”

The Macy’s holiday guide includes gifts for different types of recipients and budgets, as well as stylish picks for all of those winter soirées. “Part of this campaign also addresses how the gift guide can help people with things for themselves. The holiday season is busy — you’re hosting holiday parties, you’re attending them. I like that this campaign is looking at all angles,” she adds.

“Lately, I’ve been wanting to get my mom things that are stimulating collagen or a great face mask, because it’s fun to buy people things that they wouldn’t buy for themselves.” That includes luxe skin-care tools: “I love a microcurrent and nanocurrent device. I love the ZIIP, but there’s a lot of versions of this, like NuFace. The Jillian Dempsey vibrating gold bar — aren’t we all into lymphatic drainage?”

Some of the favorite gifts she’s received? “In middle school, my favorite gift I ever got was a lava lamp the ‘90s were trying to be the ‘70s.”

The 41-year-old Glow star will play the evil witch Evil-Lyn opposite of Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe, set to be released in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026. “Actors always say that villains have the most fun, and that’s probably true,” says Brie. “I’ve played morally compromised people but not a truly deliciously sinister evil villain. I’ve been trying to manifest playing a villain in a superhero movie, and [this is] answering that call for me.”

She continues, “I read the script and I think it’s really clever. It has a really great take on He-Man, and Nick Galitzine is really talented. Those are the reasons I said yes.”

Of the original 1980s animated series, “I definitely remember it being on, and I went back and started watching it again. It’s much funnier than I remember. Evil-Lyn and Skeletor have a contentious relationship,” one that she’s excited to explore onscreen, she says.

Macy’s will unveil the lineup of its annual Thanksgiving parade on Nov. 1. The float-filled festivities take place on Nov. 28 in New York and will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock. “I don’t have any intel, but I trust Macy’s will put on a good show.”

As for what’s on her list this year. “Every year I ask for really fluffy, fuzzy socks. I could never have enough,” she explains.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Sometimes castmates turn into friends for life.

Alison Brie, who found fame as a member of the cast of Community, tells PEOPLE that she and her former sitcom castmates stay in touch the way most friend groups do: with a group text. “We text each other all the time. It’s the whole main gang,” the actress, 41, tells PEOPLE. The chat is named Greendale, after the fictional community college from the series.

“I would say mostly, as a default, it’s a Happy Birthday chain, and then secondarily, a ‘Congrats On That Cool Job’ chain,” she says of her accomplished castmates, who include Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi and Gillian Jacobs. “But also every so often, [we send] funny memes or pictures of ourselves when we run into each other or hang out. Two of us go on a hike and then we text the group to be like, ‘Love you guys.’ And everybody gets jealous. ‘Why are you guys on a hike and we’re not there?’ ”

Seeing the success of her castmates since the series ended in 2015 has been a “joy” for Brie. “It’s the best. It’s so fun,” the GLOW star says, “Because these people are like family to me, we really love each other and are always rooting for each other genuinely. It’s a lot of pride, honestly.”

The Mad Men star also has a lot of “nostalgia” for the years she spent on the Community set. The show premiered in 2009 — well before Glover debuted his Childish Gambino rap alter ego and released music.

The Community cast listened to his early EPs on set, she shares. “We got to sit there and listen to his songs and kind of go, ‘Oh wait, you’re really serious about this music stuff, huh?’ ” Brie remembers. “That’s so funny to think about now.”

But the more things change, the more they stay the same. She jokes, “One of my favorite things to do on the Community set was rap Donald’s music to him and make him really cringe. It continues to be a favorite thing of mine to do.”

Glover is not the only cast member she’s proud of. “Even watching Joel and Gillian guest star on The Bear is so fun, and a different side of them that I’m seeing in those characters,” she says. “So it’s just been fun to watch everybody grow and thrive, and they’re all good people, so I just feel so happy for them, for my family.”

Brie, whose recent roles include Somebody I Used to Know and Apples Never Fall, is set to reunite with her Community costars on-screen in a movie. After years of speculation — and a rallying cry from fans for #SixSeasonsAndAMovie — NBC confirmed in 2022 that a movie adaptation would be headed to Peacock. McHale told GQ in July that the movie is fully funded and should start filming in 2025; he blamed his work schedule for the delay. (Former costar Chevy Chase is not involved.)

Brown gave a movie update to The Wrap earlier this month. “I think it’s being reworked, but we all have read an entire, full script. So a script exists,” she said. The actress added that the 2023 strike is also part of the reason why the film was delayed. “It’s just now trying to get all these puzzle pieces together of everybody’s schedule,” she explained. “But it’s going to happen. We are going to do the movie, and we’re all on board to do it.”

Source: People

Today, Macy’s unveils its Holiday 2024 campaign, “Macy’s Gift Guide” starring acclaimed actress Alison Brie. This holiday season, Macy’s transforms the traditional annual gift guide into a dynamic and engaging character responsible for curating all things holiday, from gifting to festive dressing to hosting. The Macy’s Gift Guide, along with her mentee portrayed by Matt Bush, will inspire customers to discover the perfect gift from Macy’s assortment of great brands, exclusive products and unmatched value.

“Macy’s Holiday campaign introduces Alison Brie as the Macy’s Gift Guide, offering customers a new, fun and personalized approach to discover the gifts and experiences only Macy’s can offer. From finding the perfect gift for family and friends, to self-gifting moments, the Gift Guide will curate all things holiday,” said Sharon Otterman, chief marketing officer at Macy’s. “The campaign celebrates the joy of giving and creating lasting memories this holiday season. We’re thrilled to bring this campaign to life with Alison, who perfectly embodies the spirit and joy of Macy’s and the holiday season.”

In the campaign, Brie portrays an expert gift curator, responsible for finding the perfect gifts to give this holiday season. From selecting one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family to providing expert advice for hosting holidays, the Macy’s Gift Guide will help customers create magical moments throughout the season. Bush, as the Gift Guide’s Mentee, is there to support and help customers get to know her better.

“I am delighted to work with Macy’s and be a part of the Holiday campaign for such an iconic retailer. The holiday season holds a special place in my heart, filled with warmth, joy, and cherished moments with family and friends. Being able to capture that spirit and share it with everyone through this campaign has been an incredible experience,” said Alison Brie.

The Macy’s Gift Guide will appear in a series of spots, filmed by award-winning director Stacy Wall, inside an immersive and stylized “gift world,” featuring Macy’s design elements and a wide range of great gifts. Each selection in the Gift Guide moments is designed to spark emotional connections, helping customers select thoughtful gifts for their loved ones, and to focus on the feelings that these gifts evoke—whether it’s the warmth of cherished memories, the joy of shared experiences or the excitement of finding thoughtful gifts for everyone on the holiday list.

Macy’s Holiday campaign will roll out on multimedia platforms, including TV, digital, and social channels beginning today and will highlight different gifting moments, amazing deals for Black Friday and last-minute gifting throughout December.

In celebration of her role as the Macy’s Gift Guide, Alison Brie will make a special appearance at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ® . With the help of her mentee, the Gift Guide will cut the ribbon and kick off the 98th Parade, which will feature a lineup of iconic character balloons, fantastic floats, the biggest stars in music and the one-and-only Santa Claus. The nation’s premier holiday celebration will officially kick off the holiday season on Thursday, November 28.

Alison Brie is no stranger to the stress of holiday shopping.

Like many, the actress relies heavily on gift guides throughout the busy season, but this year, she’s decided to become one herself. In Macy’s new holiday campaign, Brie stars as the Gift Guide, helping customers discover the perfect gifts from the department store’s wide variety of brands.

“I truly have spent my life doing holiday shopping at Macy’s,” Brie tells PEOPLE. “I grew up in South Pasadena, and there’s a huge Macy’s on Lake Street where I always remember doing my holiday shopping.”

“It tapped into some holiday nostalgia for me,” she added of the partnership. “I still love to do holiday shopping at Macy’s, so it just made a lot of sense and felt very authentic.”

In the campaign ad, the Community alum wears a festive red ensemble and, with the help of her mentee played by Matt Bush, guides the viewer through a curated assortment of holiday items, from gifts to party attire.

“Macy’s carries everything, so it’s nice to have a one-stop shop, rather than a niche gift guide,” Brie tells PEOPLE. “I can do shopping for the whole family at Macy’s, mom, dad, my sister, my little nephews, and have every type of option for them.”

Despite portraying a real-life gift guide, Brie admits she has yet to think about her own shopping list this year. “I’m going to be going through the Macy’s gift guide,” she says. “Again, this is why I love to shop at Macy’s. For a last-minute gift giver, it’s great because you go there on a mission, and you just go from department to department being like, ‘Check, check, check.’”

When it comes to her favorite gifting moments over the years, Brie recalls giving her family members photos of her 2017 wedding to Dave Franco.

“Nothing beats sentimental gifts that I’ve given to my family,” she says. “The year after Dave and I got married, we gave everyone framed photos from our wedding. It was really special because there were a bunch of pictures that people hadn’t seen, and then you give it to them in a beautiful frame and it’s something to put up in the house.”

Aside from leaning into sentimentality, Brie’s top gifting tip is to “always get a gift receipt.”

“It’s just nice to have a gift receipt because you go, ‘Oh, good. They get the thoughtfulness. I put the work in to try to think of something that they might like, and then they can quietly exchange it for something that they might like better, and I don’t even have to know,'” she explains.

This year, Brie’s holidays are going to look a little different. On Thanksgiving, she and her family are forgoing their traditional potluck to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where Brie is cutting the ribbon.

“I feel like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is like definition monoculture,” she says. “I can just picture the huge Snoopy balloon. It’s etched into my brain, as long as I can remember. So, I’m so excited to be doing that.”

Macy’s 2024 holiday campaign begins on Monday, Oct. 28, and will highlight different gifting moments, Black Friday deals and last-minute gifting throughout December.

Source: People

Alison Brie attended the GLSEN “Rise Up LA” benefit last night in Los Angeles. I have added 66 HQ/MQ images from the red carpet into our photo gallery!

You can see all the images by clicking on the preview links below – enjoy!

‘The Magician’s Hat’ is written by Malcolm Mitchell, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff and read by Alison Brie.

This is not your typical afternoon at the library. It’s Family Fun Day, and a magical man with a big hat has suddenly appeared. A crowd gathers to see what kinds of tricks this surprise visitor will perform. That’s when the Magician pulls off his favorite trick of all. He invites kids to reach into his hat to pull out whatever they find when they dig down deep. Soon – poof! – each child comes away with something better than they could’ve imagined: a book that helps them become whatever they want to be, and makes their dreams come true through pages and words, and the adventures that follow. But as each child is swept into reading’s powerful adventures, they can’t help but wonder, What’s really making the magic happen?