Ryan Seacrest Praises CNN’s Decision to Cut Back on New Year’s Eve On-Air Drinking
The network isn't looking to recreate Andy Cohen's infamous Seacrest roast of 2022.
Ryan Seacrest wants CNN New Year’s Eve Live host Andy Cohen to put a cork in it. After hearing his name and own NYE live show get dragged through the mud last year by the tipsy Bravo-lebrity, Seacrest is in full support of CNN’s new decision to scale back on popping the champagne bottles until after the ball drops.
“I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air,” Seacreast told Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t know how that started as a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN.”
In 2017, the AC duo was born. Cohen joined best friend and CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper for the network’s live NYE countdown from Time Square and it was pure magic — fueled by one too many tequila shots. (Cohen replaced Kathy Griffin, who previously held the co-host position since 2007.)
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The pair are known for pregaming the ball drop and getting rowdy and having absolutely no filter, which is why so many people tune in year after year. What is Cohen going to say this year? Who are they going to roast? What musical performance are they going to trash on?
For the longest time, CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live was basically like uncensored television…until now.
According to Variety, CNN CEO Chris Licht is having its New Year’s Eve Live hosts skimp out on the booze this year.
The decision comes exactly one year after Cohen drunkenly bashed Seacrest and his “group of losers” on national TV. “I mean, with all due [respect], if you’ve been watching ABC tonight, you’ve seen nothing. I’m sorry,” Cohen said of ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, per Variety.
Depending on the vibe you’re after, Cohen isn’t necessarily wrong. Seacrest’s NYE television event can be a bit bland compared to CNN’s, during which hosts are slamming down shots with celebrities and trashing on New York City’s mayor.
I mean, it’s entertainment at its finest; but it’s surely not entirely appropriate for reputable journalists.
“There’s some pretty respectable people or at least one, right? I think there’s a serious journalist and then a friend of mine who has a lot of fun, but [cutting back is] probably a good idea,” Seacrest told Entertainment Weekly.
“Although the viewers probably wish they would drink more.”
Seacrest went on to briefly mention last year’s roast, but not without throwing in a line about how his NYE show is superior.
“But I think they had something to say about my show at one point, which was I’m sure from the alcohol because, I don’t think they would say what they said about our performers if they weren’t drinking. But, you know, I think our show’s a bigger, broader show and we will not drink until 1:05 in the morning,” Seacrest continued.
The American Idol host teased he may even send Cohen and Cooper his condolences via a bottle of Casa Dragones Tequila out of spite.
It’ll be interesting to see if they, or at least Cohen, pregame the New Year’s Eve Live show since they can’t drink while filming or kick off the broadcast already drunk. One thing we can count on is Cohen addressing (read: roasting) the no-booze rule multiple times throughout the night.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest will begin airing at 8 pm EST on ABC.
Meanwhile, you can also tune into CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with AC-squared on CNN at 8 pm ET as well.
