See Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper's Most Memorable Moments as “New Year's Eve Live” Hosts

The longtime friends have hosted the CNN broadcast together since 2017 and will return to Times Square to ring in 2025

It isn’t New Year’s Eve without Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

The dynamic duo return for their eighth consecutive year as CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live hosts on Dec. 31, 2024. Cohen and Cooper go way back: Their mutual friends tried setting them up on a date in the early ‘90s, and although the date never happened, they became close friends years later while vacationing in the same group. 

The Bravo personality and host of Watch What Happens Live stepped in as Kathy Griffin’s replacement to host alongside the Anderson Cooper 360 host for the 2017 broadcast, and the pals have watched the ball drop with CNN in New York City’s Times Square ever since.

As they prepare to welcome 2025, see Cohen and Cooper’s silliest moments over the years, from quotable one-liners to tipsy confessions.

NYE 2017: First Timers

In their first year as co-hosts, the duo were still working on their on-screen chemistry, but Cohen had memorable interviews with stars including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. 

When he asked Kidman about her viral applause moment at the Oscars that year, the actress answered, “I wish that there was more important things to be concerned about or that people were focused on more important things than that sort of clapping. That's what I would say."

After the call ended, the talk show host commented, “I think [Nicole] just shaded me a little bit.”

He then quipped, "I guess she's not coming on my show.”

NYE 2018: Umbrella-gate

A rainy New Year’s Eve in 2018 caused some conflict between Cohen and the Times Square Alliance. During a commercial break, a woman from the nonprofit asked Cohen to close his umbrella, which prompted the dismayed host to complain when they went live.

“I said I won’t do it,” he told viewers. “I said, ‘Get the paddy wagon, cause that’s what it’s going to take.’ But now they are threatening to pull CNN’s spot from the credentials from Times Square for next year!”

Cohen added that his coat was “ruined,” and he didn’t understand why the Alliance was upset over umbrellas.

He urged the audience to post online protesting the decision, and an amused Cooper said, “That’s right. Let’s get America tweeting ‘Let Andy have his umbrella,’ “

NYE 2019: Honoring Mom

Cohen and Cooper paid tribute to the political commentator’s late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt — who died in June 2019 — with a risqué storytime. Cooper recalled prepping Vanderbilt for an interview with Cohen on Watch What Happens Live to promote her book The Rainbow Comes and Goes.

“She turns to me out of the blue and goes, ‘He’s not going to ask me who has the biggest c--- in Hollywood, is he?’ ” Cooper said on the broadcast.

Later in the show, after receiving a text from a friend, the journalist admitted, “Maybe I went too far.”

NYE 2020: Have You Gotten High There?

Interviewing Snoop Dogg from an empty Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2020, Cohen had Cooper in stitches as he asked the rapper about all the places he’s gotten high.

“Have you gotten high at an NFL football game?” Cohen questioned.

“Yes, yes, yes! And I almost got thrown out,” Snoop responded as Cooper doubled over in laughter.

At the end of the segment, Cohen asked if Cooper had ever done acid. When he answered “no,” Cohen declared, “Well, it’s time. We’re doing it tonight.”

NYE 2021: “Sayonara, Sucka!”

Several drinks into the night, Cohen unleashed his uninhibited opinions on everything from Ryan Seacrest’s ABC broadcast to, most memorably, then-N.Y.C. Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

"Watching Mayor de Blasio do his victory lap dance after four years of the crappiest term as the mayor of New York [City]," Cohen began. 

Though Cooper urged against launching into rant, Cohen continued, “The only thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been. So, sayonara, sucka!"

NYE 2022: “Hoodwinked”

After Cohen’s controversial comments while tipsy the prior year, CNN barred Cohen and Cooper from drinking on-air. During a video interview with Kevin Hart, the comedian expressed disappointment with their sobriety, taking a shot of liquor on their behalf.

“I’m going to do what you can’t: I’m going to do a shot because you guys have been hoodwinked,” Hart told a giggly Cooper and Cohen. “I can’t believe CNN is telling you guys not to go and cut loose in such a good true fashion. That’s perfect TV. You don’t tell you guys not to drink and I’m pissed off about it.”

NYE 2023: “Does Daddy Get His Juice?"

CNN rescinded Cooper and Cohen’s alcohol ban for New Year’s Eve 2023, which the pair toasted at the top of the broadcast in a return to tradition. 

“I’m hearing from a lot of people, and I guess I’m just wondering… does Daddy get his juice?” Cohen asked.

“Can Daddy get his juice responsibly?” the CNN journalist asked, to which Cohen affirmed, “Of course.” The Watch What Happens Live host then pulled out a handle of tequila from his bag and encouraged viewers to join them for a toast every hour until the ball drop.