“Good Morning America” to televise live from San Francisco’s Union Square

“Good Morning America” to televise live from San Francisco’s Union Square beginning at 4 a.m. December 3, 2009
by: ajackson
Residents and visitors encouraged to be part of the national television broadcast
“Good Morning America,” (GMA) which has an estimated television audience of 4.5 million viewers, will televise live from San Francisco’s Union Square as part of the ABC network holiday promotion “Good Morning America Lights Up America.”
When: Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009; 4 – 6 a.m. (the broadcast will air locally at its regularly scheduled time of 7 – 9 a.m. (PST).
Where: San Francisco’s Union Square – next to Macy’s holiday tree and ice rink
What: The public is encouraged to arrive before 4 a.m. and bring “one warm coat” for GMA’s holiday coat drive. Complimentary Ghirardelli hot chocolate will be served, as well as cookies and brownies from Wolfgang Puck Express Restaurant; beignets from Chez Papa Resto; and pastries from Emporio Rulli il Caffe, which will open to the public at 3 a.m.
The program will include GMA weatherman Sam Champion welcoming the live audience from a decorated classic cable car and leading an audience countdown to illuminate the holiday lights in Union Square. The broadcast will also include a performance by Beach Blanket Babylon. Caitlin McGinty, along with fellow cast members, will sing “San Francisco” while wearing the San Francisco Skyline Hat, which is 11′4″ tall, 10′ wide and 4′4″ deep and features the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, the Ferry Building, SFMOMA, a moving cable car and other city landmarks.
The live remote in Union Square will coincide with the unveiling of San Francisco’s holiday window at GMA’s New York studio in Times Square. Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the SFCVB, will unveil San Francisco’s window design to GMA’s morning anchor team, Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and Chris Cuomo. Times Square attracts more than 450,000 visitors per day during the holiday season and GMA’s holiday windows have become a “must-see” visitor attraction.
The “Only in San Francisco” window will portray the essence of San Francisco during the holidays. Designer and sculptor Tom Greenfield has creatively showcased many of San Francisco’s most recognizable attractions and icons, including the Golden Gate Bridge; San Francisco’s famed cable cars; Coit Tower; AT&T Park – home of the San Francisco Giants; the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park; Macy’s Union Square and holiday ice rink; and San Francisco International Airport. Beach Blanket Babylon, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, will also be represented, as will Wicked, which is in San Francisco for an extended engagement. The San Francisco CityPass, which provides visitors access to some of San Francisco’s most visited attractions, including SFMOMA; Aquarium of the Bay; Blue & Gold Fleet bay cruise; the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, and the Exploratorium will also be represented in the holiday window design. The “Only in San Francisco” banner will be carried by a replica of a Virgin America plane.