New Year's Eve Live (CNN program)

New Year's Eve Live
Format	New Year's television special
Starring	Anderson Cooper Kathy Griffin
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	120 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	CNN CNN International
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Original airing	December 31, 2001 - Present

New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin is an annual program broadcast on CNN and CNN International. 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 county and around the world.

It is a competing program to similar shows such as New Year's Rockin' Eve and New Year's Eve with Carson Daly

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, but by 2007, the musical acts had been eliminated.

The show features various CNN correspondents in the United States and abroad reporting on the celebrations marking the New Year. Among the annual locations include:

• Times Square
• Key West - Where "Sushi" (a drag queen) rides a ruby shoe down to ring in the new year.^[2]
• Central Park - Gary Tuchman runs in and covers the "Midnight Run"

Among the guest correspondents over the years include: Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, Ed Henry, and John Zarrella. The show currently airs after a special edition of Anderson Cooper 360°, which also originates live from Times Square on New Year's Eve.

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.

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.^[3]

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.

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.^[4] 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.^[4] Sean Callebs (New Orleans) and Kareen Wynter (Las Vegas) also joined for segments.^[4]

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."^[5][6] She also asked if she could "get a pap smear from Dr. Sanjay Gupta,"^[7] to which Cooper responded "Really, are we going there already?"^[7] She later called Glenn Beck a "heroin addict Mormon."^[7] She asked Cooper if he had ever "ridden the Morning Express"^[7] (a reference to Robin Mead whom Griffin claimed Cooper was "in love with").

Don Lemon and Erica Hill reported from street level and Gary Tuchman from Central Park.^[7] Brooke Anderson reported from Las Vegas, Sean Callebs reported from New Orleans, and John Zarrella reported from Key West.^[7] White House Correspondent Ed Henry reported from Hawaii, following president-elect Obama on vacation.^[7]

2009

During the December 31, 2009 episode, Kathy Griffin drew controversy after saying "fuck" live on the air.^[6] 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?"^[6] Cooper quickly responded "You're terrible,"^[8][9] and quickly switched to a new topic. Griffin then joked about having 'a lesbian three-way with Susan Boyle and Oprah,'^[9] and said she was engaged to Levi Johnston.^[9] She also asked Cooper "how do you not just stare in the mirror all day and pleasure yourself because you're so gorgeous?"^[9][10]

In the days immediately following, it was reported that Griffin was fired from the position and would not be invited back.^[8][10][11]

Lance Bass joined the show as a correspondent at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.^[12] Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow served as street reporters, interviewing patrons in Times Square.^[13] John Zarrella reported live from Key West,^[9] and Gary Tuchman from Central Park.^[9]

2010

Despite rumors that Kathy Griffin had been banned from CNN,^[10] she returned for her fourth year on December 31, 2010.^[14] 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.^[15] Isha Sesay reported from the crowd in Times Square.^[15]

Among the random discussions were Griffin's visit with Cher, and a live phone call from Cooper's mother Gloria Vanderbilt.^[15] 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.

Ratings

The episode from December 31, 2008 rated as the top New Year's Eve program on cable.^[16] However, for 2009–2010, the program fell to second behind Fox News Channel's "All American New Years."

• 2008: 2.311 million viewers^[16]
• 2009: 1.673 million viewers^[17]
• 2010: 1.532 million viewers^[18]

References

1. ^ "Cooper, Griffin To Ring In CNN's New Year". December 31, 2008. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6624813.html. 
2. ^ Key West's ruby shoe is coming down!
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ ^{a b c} "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Live With Anderson Cooper in Times Square". Transcripts (CNN). 2007-12-31. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0712/31/acd.02.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
5. ^ "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Special". Transcripts (CNN). 2008-12-31. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0812/31/se.03.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} Stableford, Dylan (2010-12-14). "Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin to Return for CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live'". Media (The Wrap Covering Hollywood). http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/anderson-cooper-kathy-griffin-return-cnn-new-years-eve-live-23233. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Special". Transcripts (CNN). 2008-12-31. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0812/31/se.02.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Report: CNN kicks Kathy Griffin to curb for NYE". New York Post. 2010-01-05. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/cnn_no_more_kathy_griffin_on_new_CtAt6w2M6IzuX5TId2VUPM. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - Countdown to New Year 2010". Transcripts (CNN). 2009-12-31. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0912/31/acd.02.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} "Kathy Griffin may be banned from CNN after slipping the F-bomb on live New Year's Eve show". New York Daily News. 2010-01-06. http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-06/gossip/17943246_1_kathy-griffin-cnn-bomb. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
11. ^ Gostin, Nicki (2010-12-22). "Kathy Griffin the Cockroach: 'I'm Just Going to Outlast Everybody'". PopEater. http://www.popeater.com/2010/12/22/kathy-griffin-new-years-oprah-palin/. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
12. ^ [2]
13. ^ "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Coverage". Transcripts (CNN). 2009-12-31. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0912/31/acd.01.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
14. ^ "Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin to Return for CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live'". Media (TheWrap). 2010-12-14. http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/anderson-cooper-kathy-griffin-return-cnn-new-years-eve-live-23233. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
15. ^ ^{a b c} "ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES - New Year's Eve Live". Transcripts (CNN). 2010-12-31. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1012/31/acd.02.html. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
16. ^ ^{a b} Seidman, Robert (2009-01-09). "Final ratings for ABC's New Year's Eve programming". TVByTheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/01/09/final-ratings-for-abcs-new-years-eve-programming/10546/. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
17. ^ Gorman, Bill (2010-01-04). "Cable News Ratings for Thursday, December 31, 2009". TVByTheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/01/04/cable-news-ratings-for-thursday-december-31-2009/37600/. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
18. ^ Gorman, Bill (2011-01-04). "Cable News Ratings for Friday, December 31, 2010". TVByTheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/04/cable-news-ratings-for-friday-december-31-2010/77159/. Retrieved 2011-08-24.