Andy Cohen — and his tequila — have been helping CNN make headlines since he took over cohosting New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper.
The Real Housewives producer replaced Kathy Griffin for the 2017–18 broadcast, joining his BFF to ring in the New Year on the lengthy show and introducing shots “at the top of every hour.”
While social media users always poked fun at Cooper’s facial expressions when he attempted to down the tequila, Cohen’s drunken antics made waves when he threw shade at Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve during the 2021-22 show. (He also made headlines for slamming then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that same year.)
“If you look behind me, you’ll see Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing. … I’m sorry, but if you’re watching ABC, you’re watching nothing,” Cohen said at the time.
He later revealed that his Seacrest dig was his “only regret from the night,” when discussing the debacle on The Howard Stern Show.
“Andy said something he shouldn’t have on live TV. We’ve addressed it with him and look forward to having him back again next year,” the CNN shared in a statement.
As preparations for the 2022-23 show began, however, Variety reported that CNN chairman Chris Licht wanted to sober up New Year’s Eve Live.
“What [Chris Licht] said was that he didn’t want the correspondents out there drinking, but that he wanted Anderson and I to do our thing,” Cohen told The Hollywood Reporter in November 2022. “So I’m happy to do our thing. My only directive for years on CNN has been to have fun on New Year’s Eve, and that is absolutely what I plan to do.”
Scroll through for more from Cohen about drinking on NYE:
