CNN has announced the network’s annual New Year’s Eve broadcast will look a bit different from last year, namely because they’re imposing a drink limit for their correspondents.
The media company announced restrictions on alcohol earlier this year after many viewers pointed out last year’s celebration got a bit out of hand. In particular, hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, who have spent the last few years ringing in the new year with copious amounts of alcohol, celebrated a bit too much. Cohen specifically had several meme-worthy moments where he shared his unfiltered thoughts about everything and everyone, from Journey to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio to Ryan Seacrest, who hosts the rival Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.
While Cohen did later apologize for his “stupid and drunk behavior,” he’s been rather elusive about this year’s drinking ban. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the Watch What Happens Live host seemed to imply that the network’s ban won’t effect his fun.
“CNN said the correspondents will not be drinking,” Cohen shared. “Anderson and I will be the people partying on CNN [though] we will be partying responsibly.”
“My job is to take Anderson out of his comfort zone [and] my job is to be a party ringleader for everyone watching us on New Year’s Eve,” Cohen continued. “And that is what I will continue to do. And as a matter of fact, if the correspondents are not drinking this year, I will be partying even harder on their behalf.”
It remains to be seen if Cohen will achieve his personal goal or if CNN will truly succeed with its ban. But at least one person is glad the network is taking steps to prevent a repeat of last year.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly earlier this week, Seacrest said, “I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air. I don’t know how that started as a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN.”
He continued, “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 it’s probably a good idea. Although the viewers probably wish they would drink more. 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.”
