Demi Lovato Taking Part in YouTube’s Global Celebration Video “Hello 2021”

Demi Lovato is gearing up to ring in the New Year online…

YouTube will launch the New Year alongside a number of Hollywood names, including the 28-year-old half-Mexican singer/actress, with its global celebration video Hello 2021.

Demi Lovato

In addition to Lovato, the video will feature appearances by Matthew McConaugheyRuPaul and Storm Reid, Dua Lipa, J Balvin and more.

The video will premiere in the Americas, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan and India.

“With the world ready to move past an extremely challenging year, YouTube will use its global reach to celebrate the hope and promise of 2021,” said Susanne Daniels, YouTube’s Global Head of Original Content. “We look forward to closing the book on 2020 and throwing a worldwide celebration that our YouTube community can safely enjoy from home.”

Set to feature speeches, musical performances and dance parties, Hello 2021 has a lineup of five different shows and will celebrate the year’s most notable videos across the globe, from the David Blaine Ascension to HBCU Homecoming.

The Hello 2021 announcement comes nearly a month after YouTube announced that it would not go forward with its annual Rewind video.

Rewind was always meant to be a celebration of you. But 2020 has been different,” an official YouTube statement said. “And it doesn’t feel right to carry on as if it weren’t. So, we’re taking a break from Rewind this year.”

The global countdown spectacular is produced by Fremantle and will air at various times on Decemnber 31. See the details for each showing below.

“Hello 2021: Americas” – It’s a virtual New Year’s Eve bash across the Americas only YouTube can throw. Hosts Juanpa Zurita and Storm Reid welcome celebrity guests including Matthew McConaughey, Demi Lovato, RuPaul, Emma Chamberlain and the D’Amelio Family; one-of-a-kind musical performances from Dua Lipa, J Balvin, YG, Karol G and Kane Brown; YouTube stars Larray, Marques Brownlee, Dude Perfect, Brad Mondo, ZHC and the Dolan Twins; and more as the clock runs out on a year we’ll never forget, and we say “Hello 2021.” More names to be announced soon. The celebration premieres Thursday, December 31 at 10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT on the YouTube Originals channel.

“Hello 2021: UK” – At 10:30pm GMT on December 31 on the YouTube Originals Channel, make sure and join the UK’s favorite YouTube creators, artists and comedians for a party worth staying in for. The guest list includes Behzinga, Big Narstie, Katherine Ryan, Michael Coel, Kurupt FM, Yammy, WillNE, Holly H, Natasia Demetriou and many more. The event will also feature the biggest tunes of 2020 performed live as musical guests Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie, MNEK w/ Joel Corry and Aitch & AJ Tracey get the party started with some exclusive live performances.

“Hello 2021: Korea” – At 11:00pm KST on December 31 on YouTube Korea Spotlight Channel, YouTube creators and artists in South Korea will join their hosts Sechan Yang and Jesung Hwang in an intimate celebration to recognize and thank creators and artists who helped Korean audiences to stay happy and healthy during the unprecedented year. Lineup includes top and rising creators and artists, including GGILGGIL Market, Tester Hoon, Balming Tiger, and more.

“Hello 2021: Japan” – At 11:45pm JST on December 31, tune into never-before-seen special edition quiz show from Japan to test your knowledge on 2020 YouTube trends and trivias, joining top creators Tokai On Air, Puritto Channel, Emirin, Paparapys, Skypeace, Vamyun, Dekakin, Hanaodengan, M.S.S Project, along with hosts Orutana Channel and Mochizuki Rie on YouTube Japan Spotlight Channel.

Hello 2021: India” – Starting at 11pm IST on December 3 on YouTube India Spotlight Channel,  “Hello 2021: India” will bring together the biggest and most buzzworthy music, comedy and Bollywood talent as part of the 60-minute countdown to the New Year, including a performance from Dua Lipa. Some of India’s biggest names including Tiger Shroff, Badshah, Zakir Khan, Jonita Gandhi, Benny Dayal, Aastha Gill and more will bring together a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party.

David Blaine Breaks YouTube Original Live Event Record with Helium Balloon ‘Ascension’ Stunt

David Blaine has entered the YouTube record books…

The 47-year-old part-Puerto Rican illusionist, endurance artist and extreme performer’s live stunt Ascension, in which he flew over the Arizona desert using helium balloons, has shattered a YouTube record.

David Blaine, Ascension

This week’s stunt, which took place on Wednesday, was the most-watched YouTube Original Live Event to date, according to the video streaming platform, with over 770,000 peak concurrent viewers, besting Dear Class of 2020 (665k peak concurrents), The Creator Games Presented by MrBeast (662k peak concurrent), Will Smith: The Jump(more than 300k peak concurrents) and Taylor Swift: Lover’s Lounge (Live) (more than 185k peak concurrents).

“David Blaine exceeded expectations once again!” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube, “What an inspirational moment for viewers all around the world and we’re so thrilled with what he accomplished today live on YouTube.”

The event streamed live exclusively on YouTube, which funded and produced the project.

Blaine lifted off shortly before 8:00 am PT and within 40 minutes had risen to a height of over 19,000 feet. He eventually reached a height of 24,900 feet and then parachuted to the ground. He completed the entire event within an hour.

The livestream event was hosted by YouTube creator and tech expert Marques Brownlee and featured appearances from Casey Neistat, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, professional surfer Jamie O’Brien, among others, with a special appearance from David Blaine’s daughter, Dessa.

Blaine’s original plan was to fly over New York, but he decided to shift to Arizona because of weather concerns and logistical issues.

Santos’ “Happyland” Gets Series Order at MTV

Bianca Santos has discovered a Happyland at MTV

The network has added Happyland, which stars the Cuban and Brazilian American actress and Zulay Henao, to its original programming roster.

Bianca Santos

The theme park comedy Happyland has been picked up to series, receiving an order for eight episodes.

From Daddy’s Girls Ben Epstein, Happyland is hailed as a soapy teen comedy that explores the underbelly of one of the country’s most popular theme parks and the people who work there.

The project centers on Lucy, a cynical teen whose mother makes a living as a fairy tale princess, and explores the realities of growing up and falling in love while living in a make-believe world.

Along with Santos, who portrays Lucy, and her onscreen princess mother Henao, the series also stars Shane Harper, Katherine McNamara, Cameron Moulene, Brandy Smith and Ryan Rottman.

The comedy joins Awkward on the schedule as the network continues its push into original scripted programming.

The series order comes as little surprise… MTV programming president Susanne Daniels told The Hollywood Reporter this summer after the comedy was ordered to pilot that she was looking to add one or two more comedies to the network’s lineup.

Santos is best known for her role as Lexi on ABC Family’s family drama series The Fosters.