Andy Cohen Urges CNN to Embrace New Year’s Eve Revelry: 'Bring on the Libations'
Andy Cohen pleads with CNN for a boozy New Year's Eve broadcast, urging them to embrace the festive spirit and let the drinks flow
Charles Sykes/Bravo
Andy Cohen has one hope for his forthcoming New Year’s Eve broadcast — to drink on live television once again.
Cohen, 55, expressed his hope that he wouldn't have to hide his drinking during the New Year's Eve broadcast on CNN. He acknowledged the previous dissatisfaction from viewers when they were not able to drink on air and emphasized the importance of listening to the viewers' desires. Cohen has been co-hosting the show with his close friend Anderson Cooper since 2017, taking over from Kathy Griffin who was let go by the network.
The Bravo boss and Cooper, aged 56, have gained attention in the past for their excessive partying and being intoxicated on camera. However, CNN has requested that Cohen and Cooper reduce their alcohol consumption for the 2022 broadcast. Cohen revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that CNN chairman Chris Licht did not want the correspondents to be drinking, but encouraged Cohen and Cooper to continue with their usual style. Cohen expressed his enthusiasm for their approach, stating that his main instruction on CNN for years has been to enjoy themselves on New Year's Eve, and he fully intends to do so.
He later told Rolling Stone that “CNN said the correspondents will not be drinking.”
Of course, both Cohen and Cooper addressed the “elephant in the room” on New Year’s Eve.
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen pose for a selfie during the Times Square New Year’s Eve 2023 Celebration Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
"Drinking is not an option, okay? Drinking is not an option," Cohen quipped during the December 2022 broadcast. "But that's alright. It's absolutely fine."
Cooper retaliated, asking, "Will you be able to manage?"
Cohen playfully mentioned during the live broadcast that he had some experience with marijuana.
“The question is, will I indulge? Well, I do have some edibles in my pocket. However, I highly doubt I will consume them,” joked the host of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. “Who knows, though? It's a lengthy night ahead. This telethon is all about entertainment, you know? We have plenty of time to spare.”
The implementation of the no drinking rule followed Cohen's controversial on-air remarks during the 2021 New Year's Eve show, which included a critique of Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
Cohen stated, "If you look behind me, you'll witness Ryan Seacrest's mediocre ensemble performing...I apologize, but if you're tuned into ABC, you're essentially watching nothing." He further expressed, "We were showered with confetti by a fake Journey on ABC. If it's not Steve Perry, it holds no significance! Do you understand? It's definitely not Journey! It's nothing but propaganda! It's propaganda! It's not Journey! It's not Journey! That was not Journey. Steve Perry is Journey."
In 2021, he criticized former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio once again, condemning his four-year term as the worst and emphasizing that both Democrats and Republicans can unanimously agree on his incompetence as a mayor. As a parting statement, he bid farewell to de Blasio with a dismissive "so sayonara sucka."
Cohen initially brushed off the incident, finding amusement in the drunken moment. However, as time went on, he started to harbor remorse for the derogatory remarks he made about Seacrest and reached out to him via text to offer an apology.
In a display of solidarity, both hosts made a joint appearance on "On Air With Ryan Seacrest" in January, reassuring their fans that there are no ill feelings between them.
“I don’t like fighting with people,” Cohen said. Seacrest responded, “Well, we’re not [fighting]. We’re not.”
