New Year's Eve Live (CNN program)

New Year's Eve Live
Starring Anderson Cooper
Kathy Griffin
Country of origin United States
Production
Running time 210 minutes
Release
Original network CNN
CNN International
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Original release December 31, 2001 - Present

New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Special Co-Host Kathy Griffin is an annual program broadcast on CNN. It originates live from Times Square in New York City.[1] It covers the traditional ball drop live, but also reports on other New Year's Eve celebrations across the country and around the world.

It is a competing program to similar shows such as New Year's Rockin' Eve, All American New Year and New Year's Eve with Carson Daly in the United States. Overseas, the program is simulcast on CNN International and available around the world.

The program has drawn controversy and attention, largely with respect to Kathy Griffin's antics, comments, and double entendres.

History

The show first aired in its current format on December 31, 2001 with CNN correspondents in Times Square hosting an informal, news-based, New Year's Eve celebration show. For New Year's Eve 2002, Anderson Cooper took over as host from Times Square. It was originally 30 minutes, but expanded to 90–120 minutes starting in 2003. Originally it featured live look-ins of several concerts across the nation, but after 2006, they were eliminated. In some musical performances inside Times Square have been shown.

In contrast with other nationally broadcast New Year's Eve programs, most of which focus solely on the celebrations in New York and/or go off the air shortly after midnight eastern, New Year's Eve Live features various CNN correspondents in the United States and abroad reporting on the celebrations marking the New Year, including continuing coverage of New Year celebrations past midnight Central Time. The Pacific Time Zone is covered only by tape-delaying the East Coast event coverage, and there is no coverage or countdown for the Mountain Time Zone. The following locations have been featured numerous times:

Among the guest correspondents over the years include: Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, Ed Henry, and John Zarrella. In some years, the show was part of a special edition of Anderson Cooper 360°.

Unlike New Year's Rockin' Eve, the current framework of the show does not feature any musical performances, nor any pre-recorded party scenes. The coverage of the ball drop itself and the aftermath are typically done without commentary, and the atmosphere and sounds of Times Square are the only audio for several minutes. As such, the customary playing of the songs "Imagine" by John Lennon just before the drop, "Auld Lang Syne" as recorded by Guy Lombardo just after the ball drop, and "Theme from New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra, "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles, "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, and "Over the Rainbow" by IZ, all after the ball drop, are usually covered.

2003

On December 31, 2003, Anderson Cooper hosted, joined by Jason Carroll (street reports), Hugh Hefner (at the Playboy Mansion), Cyndi Lauper, Wyclef Jean, Ben Stein, Amazing Kreskin, The Flaming Lips, John Zarrella (Key West), Kendis Gibson (Elma, New York, where a resident had won a write-in contest to have the show come to her New Year party, which in her case also was a graduation and going-away party for her son), and live look-ins at celebrations in other cities.[3]

2004

On December 31, 2004, New Year's Live with Anderson Cooper featured a performance by Celine Dion from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

2005

On December 31, 2005, Anderson Cooper hosted from Times Square, with Erica Hill reporting from the crowd on the street. John Zarrella reported from Key West, Betty Nguyen was in Chicago, and Susan Roesgen was in New Orleans, which was recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

Musical performances included James Brown at B.B. King's blues club in Times Square, John Mayer Trio in San Francisco, Barenaked Ladies at St. Pete Times Forum, Brooks & Dunn in Nashville, Fantasia at The Aladdin in Las Vegas, Kool & the Gang, and Wynton Marsalis. Harry Connick, Jr. did special feature on New Orleans, while Chef Paul Prudhomme joined for cooking segment also in New Orleans.[4]

2006

On December 31, 2006, New Year's Live with Anderson Cooper featured a performance by the Goo Goo Dolls in Anaheim, California, and Montgomery Gentry at Rupp Arena.

James Brown was scheduled to perform a song live, but he died on December 25.[5]

2007

For the program on December 31, 2007, comedian Kathy Griffin joined Anderson Cooper as co-host for the 90-minute show. The two immediately developed a unique rapport, which featured discussion about pop culture events and off-beat new stories from the year. Griffin actively engaged Cooper in various personal questions and rumors, and often steered the program off-track from Cooper's normal straight-laced broadcasting style.[6] Griffin also initiated an annual drinking game for each time she addressed Cooper as "Andy."

Erica Hill reported from street level in the crowd in Time Square, Kiran Chetry reported from Hard Rock Cafe, Gary Tuchman took part in the "Midnight Run" in Central Park, and John Zarrella reported from Key West.[6] Sean Callebs (New Orleans) and Kareen Wynter (Las Vegas) also joined for segments.[6]

2008

For the program on December 31, 2008, comedian Kathy Griffin joined Anderson Cooper as co-host for the second year, this year expanded to two hours. Griffin spent much of the night responding to hecklers. As the show was going to commercial she responded to a heckler by saying "I don't go to your job and knock the dicks out of your mouth."[7][8] She also asked if she could "get a pap smear from Dr. Sanjay Gupta,"[9] to which Cooper responded "Really, are we going there already?"[9] She later called Glenn Beck a "heroin addict Mormon."[9] She asked Cooper if he had ever "ridden the Morning Express"[9] (a reference to Robin Meade whom Griffin claimed Cooper was "in love with").

Don Lemon and Erica Hill reported from street level and Gary Tuchman from the Midnight Run in Central Park.[9] Brooke Anderson reported from Las Vegas, Sean Callebs reported from New Orleans, and John Zarrella reported from Key West.[9] White House Correspondent Ed Henry reported from Hawaii, following president-elect Obama on vacation.[9]

2009

During the December 31, 2009 episode, Kathy Griffin drew controversy after saying "fuck" live on the air.[8] During a segment where Cooper and Griffin were recounting pop culture events of the year, the subject of the Balloon Boy was brought up. During an exchange, Griffin said "Wait … Falcon? Fuckin'? Falcon? How do you say it?"[8] Cooper quickly responded "You're terrible,"[10][11] and quickly switched to a new topic. Griffin then joked about having 'a lesbian three-way with Susan Boyle and Oprah,'[11] and said she was engaged to Levi Johnston.[11] She also asked Cooper "how do you not just stare in the mirror all day and pleasure yourself because you're so gorgeous?"[11][12]

In the days immediately following, it was reported that Griffin was fired from the position and would not be invited back.[10][12][13]

Lance Bass joined the show as a correspondent at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.[14] Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow served as street reporters, interviewing patrons in Times Square.[15] John Zarrella reported live from Key West,[11] and Gary Tuchman from Central Park.[11]

2010

Despite rumors that Kathy Griffin had been banned from CNN,[12] she returned for her fourth year on December 31, 2010.[16] The 90-minute program featured Cooper and Griffin hosted in Times Square, with Brooke Baldwin reporting live in Nashville, John Zarrella in Key West and Gary Tuchman again participating in the "Midnight Run" in Central Park.[17] Isha Sesay reported from the crowd in Times Square.[17]

Among the random discussions were Griffin's visit with Cher, and a live phone call from Cooper's mother Gloria Vanderbilt.[17] Griffin maintained her typical antics, at one point kissing a crew member, and pretended to start undressing Cooper. However, she completed the broadcast without saying any swear words.

2011

On December 31, 2011 Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin hosted for the fifth year. CNN correspondents included: Isha Sesay (street reports), Gary Tuchman and his 14-year-old daughter (Central Park run), John Zarrella (Key West), Brooke Baldwin and Marty Savidge (Nashville).[18]

Anderson Cooper took part in a pre-recorded skit involving the Spider-Man Broadway show. Immediately thereafter, Griffin ridiculed it as being lame and unfunny.[19] The program featured phone calls from Kelly Ripa and David Gergen. Kathy Griffin's antics reached a point at 11:48 p.m. where she took her coat and shirt off and appeared on-air wearing only a bra.[20] During the telecast, Cooper joked with her with a sign from the crew stating "No Nudity" and "No Swearing," based on her previous appearances. Griffin also said to Anderson "I'm [going to] watch your balls drop," a double entendre of the popular phrase "watch the ball drop."[19] She poked fun at ChristianMingle.com (an online dating service),[19] kissed Cooper on the lips (which apparently left him uncomfortable),[19] and claimed that Mayor Michael Bloomberg "fondled" Lady Gaga[19] on the ball drop podium after they kissed.[21]

2012

On December 31, 2012 Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin returned for their sixth year together. The program aired from 10:00 PM EST to 1:00 AM. Correspondents joining the broadcast included Isha Sesay (Times Square), John Zarrella (Key West), Gary Tuchman (Eastport, Maine), Brooke Baldwin (New Orleans) and Susan Hendricks (Nashville).[22] Griffin's usual antics continued as at one point she dropped to her knees near Cooper's crotch, and also asked him "do you have a sac?" Cooper replied, "I don't know what you're talking about, I have no sack of Christmas presents here."[23]

The three-hour broadcast featured a live interview via satellite with Honey Boo Boo, and a visit on the podium by Psy and MC Hammer.

2013

On the 2013-2014 broadcast, Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin hosted their seventh consecutive year together.[24] The program aired live from 9 p.m. through 12:30 a.m. EST.[25] It was the first year the program began at 9 p.m. EST.

Anderson and Kathy were joined on set by guests: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Melissa Etheridge among others. This was John Zarella's final year with CNN, where he has featured the Drag Queen Drop in Key West, Florida for a number of years. The cast looked back at Zarella's remarkable career with the network. Tuchman reported from the Watermelon Drop in Vincennes, Indiana.

Cooper and Griffin carried the show for three and a half hours, then similar to years past, tossed to Brooke Baldwin in New Orleans at 12:30 a.m. for a 35-minute coverage of the New Year in the Central Time Zone. Baldwin along with Susan Hendricks shared a live music performance with Hank Williams Jr.

In 2013, the hashtag associated with the program #CNNNYE trended on Twitter from 9 p.m. EST through midnight.

2014

Cooper and Griffin co-hosted New Year's Eve live on December 31, 2014 live from New York's Times Square. The program aired from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. eastern, the longest running time ever for the duo. Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin hosted from 12:30-1:05 a.m. eastern, ringing in the Central Time Zone's New Year from New Orleans. Griffin's antics were tame compared to previous years, as her only trick of the night was to put red and blue dye in Cooper's gray hair.

Richard Quest was scheduled to report live from the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship off the coast of The Bahamas; although he was called back to New York to cover the AirAsia Flight 8501 crash. Quest instead reported from street level in Times Square. In his place on the cruise ship was CNN correspondent Randi Kaye. Gary Tuchman was scheduled to report live from the 'Crab Drop' in Easton, Maryland, but he was sent to Indonesia on assignment for the AirAsia crash. His daughter, Lindsay Tuchman, a reporter for CNN affiliate WBOC (located in Salisbury, Maryland which is near Easton) reported in his place.

Michaela Pereira joined Quest as reporter on the street in Times Square. This was the first time in four years that Isha Sesay did not partake in the coverage. Patrick Oppman reported from Havana, and Pamela Brown reported from Memphis. Though no reporters were present, footage was shown from Key West.

2015

Cooper and Griffin were back for their ninth year on December 31, 2015. The duo hosted an extra hour, beginning at 8 p.m. eastern time, starting the broadcast from their "NYE war room", a hotel suite at the New York Marriott Marquis. Poppy Harlow contributed from Times Square, instead of Rio de Janeiro, following her on-air faint scare. Richard Quest assumed her position in Brazil. Randi Kaye reported from Memphis, where cameras caught the celebration as the city's "Guitar Drop" malfunctioned and failed to drop until after the new year. Gary Tuchman and his daughter Lindsay Tuchman reported from Hershey, Pennsylvania from the "Hershey's Kiss Raise." Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin shared festivities from New Orleans.[26]

At 8:47 p.m., as Cooper and Griffin were walking down to street level in Times Square, Griffin removed her coat and for part of the evening, appeared on-screen wearing only a bra. Don Lemon subsequently commented "I have to say: nice rack."[27] Guests on stage included Jessie J ("Bang Bang") and Gus Kenworthy. In addition, Dana Bash appeared with Griffin in a pre-recorded skit. The night was filled with memories from the year, clips from their previous New Year's Eve broadcasts, and a video of Griffin doing the Ice Bucket Challenge nude.

Ratings

The episode from December 31, 2008 rated as the top New Year's Eve program on cable.[28] However, for 2009–2011, the program fell to second behind Fox News Channel's "All American New Years." In 2011, CNN slightly edged FNC in the key demographics. In 2013, the show saw a 40% drop in its audience.

In 2015, the program was the #1 cable news program in total viewers in the half-hour leading up to midnight.[29]

References

  1. ↑ "Cooper, Griffin To Ring In CNN's New Year". December 31, 2008.
  2. ↑ Key West's ruby shoe is coming down!
  3. ↑ Transcript - 12/31/2003
  4. ↑ http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/31/se.02.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Agent: James Brown hospitalized with pneumonia". Entertainment (CNN.com). 2006-12-24. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  6. 1 2 3 "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Live With Anderson Cooper in Times Square". Transcripts (CNN). 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  7. ↑ "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Special". Transcripts (CNN). 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  8. 1 2 3 Stableford, Dylan (2010-12-14). "Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin to Return for CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live'". Media (The Wrap Covering Hollywood). Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Special". Transcripts (CNN). 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  10. 1 2 "Report: CNN kicks Kathy Griffin to curb for NYE". New York Post. 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - Countdown to New Year 2010". Transcripts (CNN). 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  12. 1 2 3 Eisinger, Amy (2010-01-06). "Kathy Griffin may be banned from CNN after slipping the F-bomb on live New Year's Eve show". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  13. ↑ Gostin, Nicki (2010-12-22). "Kathy Griffin the Cockroach: 'I'm Just Going to Outlast Everybody'". PopEater. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Coverage". Transcripts (CNN). 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  16. ↑ "Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin to Return for CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live'". Media (TheWrap). 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  17. 1 2 3 "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Live". Transcripts (CNN). 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  18. ↑ "Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin Co-Host CNN’s New Years Eve Celebration". CNN. 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Bierly, Mandi (2012-01-01). "Kathy Griffin strips to underwear, but Anderson Cooper still more embarrassed by Green Goblin abduction on New Year's Eve". EW.com. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  20. ↑ Chen, Joyce (2012-01-01). "Kathy Griffin strips down during New Year's Eve Times Square celebration, makes Anderson Cooper uncomfortable". N.Y. Daily News. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  21. ↑ "CNN.com". CNN.
  22. ↑ Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin Back to Co-Host CNN’s New Year’s Eve Coverage
  23. ↑ Fung, Katherine (2013-01-01). "Anderson Cooper Dodges Kathy Griffin's Sexual Hijinks During CNN's New Year's Show (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  24. ↑ Chariton, Jordan (2013-11-05). "Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin Set to Host CNN’s New Years For Seventh Straight Year". MediaBistro. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  25. ↑ "Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin Return to Co-Host CNN’s New Year’s Eve Coverage". CNN. 2013-12-17. C1 control character in |title= at position 57 (help)
  26. ↑ New Year's Eve Live Trailer 1
  27. ↑ Don Lemon applauds Kathy Griffin’s “nice rack” during live NYE broadcast
  28. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (2009-01-09). "Final ratings for ABC's New Year's Eve programming". TVByTheNumbers.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  29. ↑ CNN Draws Most Cable News Viewers on New Year’s Eve
  30. ↑ Gorman, Bill (2010-01-04). "Cable News Ratings for Thursday, December 31, 2009". TVByTheNumbers.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  31. ↑ Gorman, Bill (2011-01-04). "Cable News Ratings for Friday, December 31, 2010". TVByTheNumbers.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ "Cable News Ratings for Monday, December 31, 2012". TVByTheNumbers.com. 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  34. ↑ "FOX News Channel Most-Watched Cable News Network on New Year’s Eve". TVByTheNumbers.com. 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  35. ↑ Bibel, Sara (2015-01-06). "Cable News Ratings for Wednesday, December 31, 2014". TVByTheNumbers.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  36. ↑ Flood, Brian (2016-01-04). "CNN Draws Most Cable News Viewers on New Year’s Eve". TVNewser. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
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