Skyscaper Live With Nik Wallenda, where the renowned tightrope walker will perform his most dangerous walk, airs on the Discovery channel in over 220 countries on November 2 at 7 p.m. ET.
“This is going to be the most incredible tightrope walk of my career,” said Wallenda. I can’t think of a better city to do it. I have fond memories of spending time performing in Chicago and the Midwest with my family. Besides, it’s the ‘Windy City’ and there’s nothing like doing this during winter in Chicago. That’s a challenge for me and I love to push myself to do things that most people think are impossible.”
Hosted by Willie Geist of NBC News, Natalie Morales and The Weather Channel’s, Jim Cantore, Nik Wallenda will attempt his most challenging tightrope stunt, the Chicago skyline untethered.
Known as “The King of the Highwire,” Wallenda was the first to cross the Grand Canyon via tightrope in June 2013. With 13 million viewers, the walk made for Discovery’s most-viewed live event.
"We are excited about shifting from the natural backdrop of the Grand Canyon to the urban environment of Chicago. It is an iconic American city that presents a number of extreme conditions and challenges that Nik has yet to attempt on such a grand scale,” said Marjorie Kaplan, Group President of Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet.
For the first time, he will walk more than two city blocks, uphill, in what’s known to be one of the windiest parts of Chicago. The two-part tightrope stunt will go from Marina City’s west tower to the Leo Burnett Building, over 50 stories above the Chicago River.
Nik Wallenda performed his first walk at 13 years old and is a seventh-generation family member of the famous, “Flying Wallenda’s.”
Dedicating this next feat to his late great-grandfather Karl Wallenda, who died from a tightrope fall in Puerto Rico, he strives to inspire others and his family to always chase their dreams.
