This time, he is heading to the historic "Windy City" of Chicago to attempt his most audacious and challenging tightrope walk yet. ET on Discovery.(Los Angeles, Calif.) - Nik Wallenda, "The King of the Highwire" is back at it again. “Skyscraper Live with Nick Wallenda” began broadcasting at 7 p.m. Then, you can relive his Grand Canyon stunt below. Watch Nik Wallenda’s record-setting Chicago tightrope walks in the video above. The Discovery Channel event was hosted by NBC News’ Willie Geist and Natalie Morales, and The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore. “Skyscraper Live with Nik Wallenda” aired live across the United States and in more than 220 countries and territories. Wallenda broke two records during his Sunday night feat: highest inclined tightrope walk (670.73 feet) and highest blindfolded tightrope walk (557.89 feet).Īlso read: Nik Wallenda Canyon Walk Earns 13M Viewers “That wire was shaking underneath me and I just wanted to make it to the other side.”Īfterward, the deeply-religious daredevil gave thanks to God and a hearty wave to the estimated 65,000 who crowded the streets at the bases of the buildings for this epic event. “I think you probably saw me shaking like a leaf,” Wallenda said of the second walk. He made short work of it, however, embracing his dad once both stunts were completed.Īlso read: Diane von Furstenberg’s E! Reality Show Stages Fashion-Forward Statue of Liberty Stunt His father had to become his eyes, via a bullhorn, as Nik was blindfolded for the duration. The second part of his walk was even more challenging, although much shorter. Wallenda indicated he’d been planning to take a selfie mid-walk - 630 feet above the Chicago River - but changed his mind and stuck with his steady pace. There was some concern about the movement of the wire at one point. He chatted throughout, keeping viewers abreast of what he was experiencing. On Sunday, Wallenda completed the first of his two walks, scaling the incline wire. In 1978, his great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, died attempting to walk between two buildings in Puerto Rico. Taking place after dark and with Chicago’s infamous winds in the mix, Wallenda indicated this would be his most dangerous walk yet.Īlso read: Nik Wallenda: Why Discovery Is Letting Him Cross the Grand Canyon Sans Net or Harnessĭaredevil stunts run in the family, with Nik the seventh generation Wallenda to risk his life in such a manner.
Wallenda tackled one walk on a 19-degree incline (it was increased from 15 degrees at the last minute), scaling eight stories by the time he reached the other end. They’re also hoping viewers will come back in numbers similar to what they saw for Wallenda’s last live stunt, when 13 million viewers watched him cross the Grand Canyon in June 2013.Īlso read: Nik Wallenda’s Chicago ‘Skyscraper Live’ Anchors Discovery’s Adrenaline-Fueled Slate
It was a big risk for the network, which is looking to lure in viewers with a stunt that will defy delayed viewing. See photos: Party Report in Pictures: Heidi Klum’s Crazy Outfit, Ryan Seacrest, Robin Thicke, Kelly Osbourne The live event was broadcast on a 10-second delay. Wallenda walked the two different spans between Chicago skyscrapers without a net or harness, with the network prepared to cut away to prevent viewers from having to witness any fall. Daredevil Nik Wallenda took reality television to a new level of risk with Discovery Channel’s live broadcast of two tightrope walks - one blindfolded and the other at a steep incline - between two Chicago skyscrapers 61 stories above the ground on Sunday.
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