It’s Not New Year’s Eve Without Andy & Anderson Getting Boozy
It’s so hard to get a genuine moment of men being men on television these days.
One of the only corners of genuine honesty and surface-level fun on TV was tuning in on New Year’s Eve to see favorite network anchors loosened up and drinking booze alongside viewers waiting for the ball drop in New York City. At least that’s how it was on CNN until last year.
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper, known for getting sloshed during their NYE hosting duties, hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast sober last year due to network restrictions on on-air drinking.
Special guests, including John Stamos and Amy Sedaris, playfully teased the hosts about their alcohol-free celebration. Meanwhile, Kevin Hart, who was live in Las Vegas, took a shot in solidarity with Cohen and Cooper.
This came after a controversial moment during the 2021 broadcast when Cohen referred to Ryan Seacrest and the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve crew as a “group of losers.” To tell the truth, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest could use a little alcoholic beverage. Although we doubt Seacrest could ever feel the effects of alcohol being the consummate (robotic) professional he is.
Andy Cohen has made a plea to CNN, urging them to permit him and Anderson Cooper to consume alcohol during the network’s annual New Year’s Eve broadcast this year. Cohen, expressing his hope for a positive response, emphasized the significance of allowing them to drink, citing last year’s viewer dissatisfaction with their sober hosting. The Watch What Happens Live! host stressed the importance of meeting viewer expectations on New Year’s Eve and advocated for both himself and Cooper to be allowed to enjoy some drinks on air.
“Hopefully, I will not be sneaking it. I haven’t heard anything yet, but come on; they need to let us drink; it’s New Year’s Eve,” Cohen said during BravoCon 2023. “That didn’t go well last year in terms of viewer happiness about us drinking. People really cared, and I hope CNN gives the people what they want. Give the daddies some juice.”
Give the daddies some juice, indeed. Drunk anchors are the only reason to watch a New Year’s Eve program before 11:50 pm.
This is the public consensus, the opinion of Cohen and Cooper, and the vibe that permeated last year’s events from the special guests.
“Imma do what you can’t,” Hart said during last year’s festivities. “Imma take a shot because you guys have been hoodwinked. I can’t believe you. I can’t believe CNN telling you guys not to go and cut loose in such a good, true fashion. That’s perfect TV.”
The comedian said joked he was “pissed” at CNN for making Cohen and Cooper perform sober, adding, “Here’s a shot for what you’re supposed to do — from me to you guys.”
He then got serious about the ridiculousness of the entire ordeal, saying, “You guys are who you are. You shined on this platform because they allowed you to be you. Don’t take that away. You celebrate that, and you toast to that, and you amplify it. That’s what good TV is. That’s why good TV works.”
While CNN has not provided any updates on the duo indulging in drinks this year, they have not officially acknowledged or refuted the possibility. Let’s hope the network makes the right choices this year, especially considering all the good faith and instances networks and studios have garnered when it comes to making decisions in favor of quality content.
But let us know how you feel in the comments, and if you feel different, please try and change our minds below!
Happy Holidays!
Conversation9 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
I love those two- but New Years Eve comes but once a year and if the brass at CNN say no to getting tipsy- I’m out.
13
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G
We’ve moved away from CNN viewership because of all these bad decisions. If Andy & Andy aren’t allowed to celebrate as they see fit, we’ll watch the ball drop with a different network (which is a bummer-wake up CNN!)
7
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R
I loved watching CNN's New Years Eve Special with Anderson & Andy when they were allowed to have a few adult beverages and turned it off last year! Anderson & Andy are fabulous together, let them be who they are, let them have a little fun! If CNN doesn't let them be....I'm out too!!!!!!! There are other choices!!!!
6
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D
Anderson and Andy are the only hosts I watch on New Years Eve. I really enjoy them even more when CNN let them drink!!!
5
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P
Are they trying to hoodwink us into tuning in to see if they’ll be drinking, and hope we stay even if the answer is no? Otherwise why not announce it ahead of time. I’m out if I’ve been teased..
5
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P
CHEERS! 🥂🍻🍾 Happy New Year! Let them drink. The only enjoyable thing on TV.
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S
Andy and Anderson are good friends, and kind, funny people. I really enjoy them on Colbert, and watching them let loose on NYE is a treat. Anderson really doesn't get to be silly very often, and it's like a breath of fresh air. Especially with all of the scripted content on the other NYE shows. Come on CNN!
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B
Yes Andy and Anderson should be allowed to imbibe. Makes the celebration much more enjoyable. They aren't hurting anyone. Aren't driving. It's all in good fun. I watch them over any of the other networks. Compromise..shots every other hour?
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R
Let them F**king drink for crying out loud. It's so dumb without it. Did I mention how lame, boring dumb, and stupid it was without it? CNN is becoming so bloody uptight and conservative it might be time for a new News Channel. And I don't even drink. Happy New 🎊 Year!
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