Ryan Seacrest dislikes boozy New Year’s Eve broadcasts.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Monday, the host of ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” praised CNN for its decision to reportedly reduce drinking on-air, which has resulted in some live TV antics from CNN co-hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper.
“I don’t recommend drinking while on the air. I’m not sure how that became a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea (to cut back).” According to Seacrest.
Last year, the TV host was the target of New Year’s Eve revelry after Cohen and Anderson drank tequila shots during the special. Cohen mocked Seacrest and his “group of losers performing” at one point.
“I’m sorry, but you’re watching nothing if you’re watching ABC,” the “Watch What Happens Live” host explained. Cohen later admitted on his SiriusXM show “Radio Andy” that he was “just stupid and drunk and feeling it” at the time.
Seacrest mentioned the dig to EW, saying, “I believe there is a serious journalist and a fun-loving friend, but it’s probably a good idea (to reduce alcohol). Although the viewers are probably wishing they drank more. But I believe they said something about my show at one point, which I’m sure was due to the alcohol because I don’t think they would have said anything about our performers if they weren’t drinking.”
“I believe our show will be bigger and broader, and we will not drink until 1:05 a.m.,” he added. “However, just to tempt them while they’re on the air, I might send them some Casa Dragones Tequila.”
What has CNN, Andy Cohen, and others said about the drinking?
CNN’s new CEO, Chris Licht, has reportedly called for less alcohol in coverage. According to Variety, during a town hall in November, Licht told staff that “on-camera drinking eroded the credibility of CNN personnel and damaged the’respectability’ they may enjoy among viewers.”
Cohen later told The Hollywood Reporter that their celebration will not change. “What (Chris Licht) said was that he didn’t want the correspondents drinking, but he wanted Anderson and I to do our thing,” the Bravo host explained to the outlet. “So I’m excited to get started. For years on CNN, my only directive has been to have fun on New Year’s Eve, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”
What else did Cohen and Cooper say on the New Year’s Eve special?
Last New Year’s Eve, Cohen’s drunken criticism included the rock band Journey, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (“You are messing with all of us”). The “Watch What Happens Live” host criticised Journey’s performance on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” saying it was not an authentic representation of the band because Steve Perry was not present.
The pair’s broadcast said goodbye to the pandemic’s first year in 2020. Cohen dubbed it the “end of a faecal year.”
However, it hasn’t all been snubs and jabs.
During the 2021 broadcast, Cohen and Cooper both acknowledged the death of actress Betty White, who died early on December 31. “First and foremost, we must pay tribute to the great Betty White, who died today,” Cohen said, adding, “What an incredible, incredible person, what an incredible life.”
How long have Cohen and Cooper been co-hosting?
Since the co-hosts teamed up in 2017, their boozy New Year’s Eve show has been a CNN staple. Cohen took over for Kathy Griffin after she was fired for posting a video of herself holding a mask resembling then-President Donald Trump’s severed head. Cooper and Griffin co-hosted from 2007 to 2017.
Cohen and Cooper’s CNN show will compete with Seacrest’s ABC festivities once again, with both broadcasts beginning at 8 p.m. EST/PST. Despite the buzz surrounding CNN’s 2021 show, ABC still outperformed its competitors in terms of viewership, according to Nielsen.
