our ashan singh goes inside groundbreaking research being done here on birds to solve a mystery. >> thiss tinder. bird tinder. >> bird tinder. >> yeah, they're finding each other. they're doing their thing. >> byron: why what's happening on this tiny island matters to us all. >> they're an indicator species and in this case it could be indicating what might be happening inside you or me. >> byron: plus, the scott mcclellan piecing together the dangers of our oceans killing these birds. why it's so personal to them. >> oh, look at your foot. it's bended too. this is unbelievable. >> it's when you think it can't get worse, can't be harder, it gets harder. >> byron: is there anything the world can do? this special edition of "nightline," "what's killing the birds"? we'll be right back. hand washing dishes? switch to your dishwasher and cascade platinum plus. all you have to do is scrape, load, and you're done! cascade platinum plus. dare to dish differently. - bye, bye cough. - later chest congestion. hello 12 hours of relief. 12 hours!! not coughing? hashtag still not coughing?! mucinex dm

ashan singh takes the cake challenge. >> reporter: one of these potatoes is actually a cake.ss which one? is it this one? how about this one? is it any of them? does any of this make sense? why would a potato be a cake? let's step back for a minute. no matter how you slice it, baking is having a moment. >> what do you think of this cake trend? love it or hate it? >> reporter: social media, tiktok, youtube, or on tv -- >> the texture of your flapjack -- >> it looks a bit wet. >> because it's not baked yet. >> ah. >> reporter: i mean, who here hasn't binged "the great britain baking show" on netflix? wherever you get your sugar fix, one thing is clear. all these videos of people stacking, icing, and crafting cakes are here to stay. what do you think it is societally about baking that we love so much? i mean, it is just a cake, at the end of the day, right? >> i feel like it's inspiration for people at home that are just like, hey, i want a little hobby. i can do this. >> a little hobby? >> reporter: big numbers with millions of views online, it's transforming ordinary people in

abc's ashan singh revisits the rise of holiday horror films. >> reporter: for many, holidays are forting in front of the fire and watching a christmas classic like "it's a wonderful life." >> every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. >> reporter: for others, the holidays mean horror and movies like "it's a wonderful knife." >> i don't think jimmy stewart ever thought anybody would make a movie like this. it's like i'm sweet and savory at the same time. >> reporter: what do you want viewers at home to take away from watching this movie, especially if they think they're going in expecting something else? >> if you have "knife" in the title, then i think you can expect a lot of knives. >> reporter: the christmas slasher film starring comedian joel mchale, known for the show "community" -- >> could you imagine what it could do to a person? >> reporter: plays off the beloved classic. >> it follows the mechanism of "it's a wonderful life" which is seemingly a nice, charming movie. >> i give you christmas! >> reporter: then it turns into a film noir. >> everyone would be better off

ears ashan singh. ♪ i'm your lady ♪ ♪ you are my man ♪ >> reporter: from celine dion, to whitney houstons love you ♪ >> reporter: and mariah carey. ♪ we belong together ♪ >> reporter: kelsey watts has covered some of the most iconic pop artists. these are tough tracks. these are not -- you're not singing "happy birth but some of the toughest. >> i like to show it's real which is why i do it the way i do it. you don't have to have all the bells and whistles. >> reporter: no bell, no whistles, just kelsey's kitchen and her over 1 million followers across social media. >> i'm still just me but i try to stay as real as i can be. i feel like that's what people connect with. ♪ hold me ♪ >> reporter: out with her own holiday album you can say this singer is having a moment. ♪ >> this time of year is my absolute favorite. i think it's amazing. it just like brings me joy all the time. i just pick songs that i thought were encouraging. and just wanted to give somebody something happy to listen to. >> reporter: the texas native first burst onto the stage as a contestant on "the voice" in 2020 where

here's abc's ashan singh. >> reporter: what if you could go on a vacation like this? one catch. have no idea where you're headed. companies are now offering a new way to get away. >> for me, i think it's just, why not have someone else do it? why not surprise yourself? >> reporter: erika silverman and lexie marchbank are young professionals living in new york city. in four weeks, they could be anywhere in the country. >> we have no idea where we're going. it's a surprise vacation. >> really excited to kind of, "a," not plan anything, because all i do is plan things. >> reporter: the two are going on a surprise vacation, paying the company pack up and go to not tell them where they're going. this trend is a growing part of the travel industry. companies offering surprise trips, saying they've seen demand for their services explode post-covid. pack up and go sends over 7,000 travelers a year around the coun country. how are you explaining it to people at work? "oh, i'm going on vacation." "fun, where are you going?" >> actually, it's fun to say that. "you're going on a trip? where

here is abc's ashan singh with another look at "finding happiness." >> how far would you go to find happiness? >> ten minutes out, guys. ten minutes out from the resort. >> reporter: for these three americans, that question took them nearly 5,000 miles from their homes. to scenic finland for a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the secrets of the so-called happiest country on earth. finland launching the first ever master class of happiness. sponsored by the government, hosting 14 people from around the world. we were right there, granted exclusive access. >> my biggest takeaway so far is that sometimes i avoid things -- sorry, i might cry. >> in the u.s., we're thinking about like how can i make a living. you're too tired to think about, like, how happy i feel. >> reporter: finland really the happiest country in the world, maybe we should all listen a little more closely to what they're saying. finland was crowned the happiest country on earth by the world happiness report. in comparison, the united states ranks 15th. experts say finland's robust safety net like free health care and fre

our ashan singh goes stage. >> having the biggest artist in the world makes such a big statement. very special to not only me but it meant the world to us. >> juju: the underground roots of the genre. >> the age the oscar crack, dope, coke eating us up alive. but you couldn't see it how beautifully we presented herself. >> juju: the poignant struggles of those that came before plus ballroom soaring to unimaginable heights, but the community still under threat. >> was like a ball of joy. if i put the beat on, you start seeing this six-foot black man start voguing down and having fun. >> juju: the life cut short by what prosecutors call a hate crime. now in the face of tragedy -- >> we're always going to come back stronger. >> juju: this special issue of "nightline" "beyond ballroom" will be right back. [sniff] still fresh. ♪ get 6x longer-lasting freshness, plus odor protection. try for under $5! ah mornings! cough? congestion? i'm feeling better. all in one and done with new mucinex kickstart. headache? better now. new mucinex kickstart gives all-in-one and done relief with a morn

dafoe tells ashan singh how that influences his performance. >> reporter: willem dafoe, thank you sojoining us on "nightline." willem, you've been in the game for over 40 years. >> ayah. >> you come from appleton, wisconsin. you're a child of eight. your parents were a doctor and a nurse. you have no links to the entertainment industry. how do you get to this point? >> by stumbling. you know, you go toward situations. you go toward people. you go toward things that you love to do. you never think it's going to be a way to make your livelihood. but somehow it works out. >> you're known toar? iconic roles, "the florida project," "boon doc sain "spider-man" of course. >> you're pathetically predictable. >> i have to imagine you get your selection of projects at this point. >> you know, it's always a combination of you going toward projects and projects coming to you. i'm always on the lookout for good filmmakers and interesting projects. and then you try to make those things happen. >> this is mr. mccandles. >> hello, bella. >> what actually drew you to "poor things"? >> well, yorgos la

our ashan singh goes inside groundbreaking research being done here on birds to solve a mystery. >> thiseach other. they're doing their thing. >> byron: why what's happening on this