CNN got a lot of boos for its lack of booze on its 2022 New Year’s Eve special. But chill co-hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen made an effort to keep things interesting during the newly dry countdown to midnight.
At the beginning of the show, which aired live in Times Square, Cohen wasted no time in mentioning “the elephant in the room.”
The sobering announcement was met with outrage from CNN viewers who look forward to Cohen, Cooper, and late-night anchor Don Lemon’s drunken pranks every year.
“We can’t drink,” Cohen said at Saturday’s show. “But it’s okay.”
Cooper thought the sobriety ban wasn’t a “big deal” to him. Because he doesn’t “usually drink”. Cohen replied: That’s the problem.” People are paying attention.
Asked by Cooper if he could “succeed” in a ball drop without swallowing, Cohen replied, “That’s the question. We’ll see.”
“Do I have pockets full of food? Yes!” added the “Real Housewives” producer. “Will I take them? I won’t think So. Do not know. It’s been a long night. This is a sick telethon. Do you understand? We are here all night, passing the time. ”
“it was enjoy Time,” Cooper interrupted. “We enjoy every minute.”
After promoting CNN’s “great” line-up of New Year’s Eve guests and performers, Cohen reveals how the two will change the tradition of toasting with viewers at the top of the hour under the network’s new drinking policy. explained.
Instead of sipping alcoholic beverages, longtime friends and colleagues snapped hourly “mystery shots” containing spicy Bloody Mary mix, apple cider vinegar, and other surprise liquids. Cooper and Cohen soon followed up with non-alcoholic beverages using a juice carton allegedly borrowed from Cohen’s 3-year-old son.
“I can’t see anything,” Cooper said, wearing goofy glasses that acted as a blindfold before throwing back the pickle juice, the first mystery shot of the night.
“That’s the point,” said Cohen. “We take a shot and guess what it was. Sounds like fun? I think so.
Cooper and Cohen refrained from directing any serious criticism of their employers, but comedian Kevin Hart said: guest appearance CNN’s New Year’s Eve special bashing the network’s new drinking policy.
“You guys can’t say anything about it, but I can,” Hart said. “This is absolutely bullish–I don’t like it in the slightest. Say what you want… I’ll do what you can’t. I’ll shoot you guys because you fooled me.” !…
“I can’t believe CNN is telling you guys not to act free in such a good, true way. And I’m pissed about it.Listen, I’m going to drink for you….This is me celebrating for you, through you.I’ve always been a fan. And New Years is special because of the energy you brought in. I can’t believe they pulled this—to you guys!Yeah, CNN.I said-!
By the time CNN finally started censoring Hart’s profanity-filled rant, Cohen and Cooper were stirring up a storm.
“RIP Kevin,” Cohen said. “Thank you. We appreciate your anger. You are a vessel to us.”
Lemmon wasn’t allowed to engage in his usual tipsy hijinks while ringing live on New Year’s Eve from New Orleans, but that didn’t stop him from being the life of the party. A broadcast journalist was too busy dancing and throwing beads to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” song to inadvertently miss the countdown to midnight in the Central time zone.
After a stroke in the middle of the night, Lemon, who had seemingly received a message on his earphones, belatedly cried out. Are you ready for the countdown? ”
“CNN deserves to keep someone sober at NOLA’s NYE party.” Tweet @sbsestra In response to the failed countdown.
