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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN's New Year's Eve Special. Aired 11-12m
Aired December 31, 2018 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[23:00:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be quite loud.
RANDI KAYE, CNN REPORTER: And so this is it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where I drive the boat from.
KAYE: So I'm going to get to honk the horn this year, is that right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.
KAYE: And is it this little -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just this one here. It's a small - it's nothing.
KAYE: That's - and what if I touch something this like am I going to like launch a torpedo or something?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It'll be fine. Here we go.
KAYE: Oh here we go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, absolutely.
KAYE: Should I do it right now?
OK, here we go.
(BOAT HONKING)
KAYE: Oh and there they go. The amazing fireworks - bonne annee, bonne annee, French Happy New Year!
ANDY COHEN: Happy New Year, St. Bart's!
KAYE: Happy New Year, Andy and Anderson!
COHEN: Oh how beautiful, looks great (ph). Wow that's so gorgeous. I love that (ph).
ANDERSON COOPER: That is a - that is Midnight in St. Bart's.
COHEN: Incredible, wow!
COOPER: That is a beautiful shot. Let's celebrate with a shot of our own, another tequila.
COHEN: Top of the hour shot (inaudible) at home.
COOPER: All right lets go to - let's check in with Don and Brooke who are in New Orleans. Don, Brooke, how are things there? What's going on?
BROOKE BALDWIN: What's going on?
DON LEMON: Oh we can hear you! Yes!
COOPER: Yes, finally.
LEMON: All night I couldn't hear one word. I'm so excited! How are you guys? Are you having fun?
COOPER: Good.
COHEN: Good.
COOPER: We missed you.
LEMON: You look like you're really wet.
BALDWIN: They're a little wet and chilly.
COOPER: We're a little wet. I'm going to make Anderson put on this New Years Eve hat.
LEMON: Yes but you look good doing it.
BALDWIN: You all look good.
LEMON: Guess what? You guys don't have what we have.
COHEN: You guys look so glamorous.
LEMON: We have our own...
BALDWIN: Champagne lady.
LEMON: Private champagne pourer. May we get some please?
BALDWIN: This is Luna New Orleans or excuse me, Luna Orleans, and there's something very wrong with her glasses that we're fixing. I think I'm about to break my role and drink because it's been that kind of year, right?
LEMON: We need it. 2018.
BALDWIN: What a year.
LEMON: Bye, bye 2018. I almost said a bad word like get the hell out of here. We're sick of 2018.
BALDWIN: She's a good pourer.
LEMON: She's a good pourer.
BALDWIN: OK.
LEMON: Thank you, Luna.
BALDWIN: Thank you. Listen, I love doing this with you each and every year.
COOPER: Wow, Luna's cool.
COHEN: Yes. Luna.
BALDWIN: Thank you for coming to my wedding this year. I love you. This is an early cheers.
LEMON: Thank you for being such a great friend and on Brooke's first date with her now husband, I was there.
BALDWIN: You were.
LEMON: I had the approval 2015 to 2014.
BALDWIN: It was three years ago. I was like hey do you want to come on a first date with me? I work at CNN and they're sending me to New Orleans for New Years Eve. He was like, yes.
LEMON: Yes.
BALDWIN: And so I needed you to do the look down - up down. You approved.
LEMON: I love you, my dear.
BALDWIN: Bottoms up.
COHEN: That's very sweet (inaudible).
LEMON: Anderson, Andy, do you have - can you do some champagne with us? I know it's not midnight.
BALDWIN: Or do you guys have any bubbly?
LEMON: (Inaudible).
COHEN: We've been having tequila, Don.
COOPER: Don, we've been -
COHEN: We've been having tequila.
BALDWIN: Or Yeager. COHEN: And I have to say and I'm getting this from you guys too, the
nice thing about doing New Years Eve. You know, people say like why do you do it? And I see you two are such close friends and Anderson and I are such close friends it's just fun to hang out with your friend on New Years Eve, right?
BALDWIN: Yes.
LEMON: Yes, it is.
BALDWIN: It is.
COHEN: All right, well -
BALDWIN: We've been friends since Atlanta 10 years ago.
LEMON: Yes.
BALDWIN: And then we've just got to be better friends in New York.
LEMON: Well we're friends like Andy and Anderson. People can tell it's a real friendship.
BALDWIN: You can. It's the real deal. We love watching you all.
LEMON: And that's why you guys do so well on New Years Eve and we are good friends as well.
BALDWIN: I know. Double kiss.
LEMON: Mwah.
COOPER: Very sweet.
COHEN: All right. Thanks guys. We'll check in with you a little bit later.
LEMON: I didn't get a chance to tell you congratulations on your babies.
COHEN: I'm jealous how sharp you look.
LEMON: I have my babies here and I'm going to introduce them to the world a little bit later on.
BALDWIN: Your babies. He's got two babies.
COHEN: Oh OK, looking forward to that.
BALDWIN: You too.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: All right.
BALDWIN: We'll bring the babies out later. COOPER: All right we'll check in with you guys in just a little bit.
COHEN: Anderson needs a baby.
COOPER: I agree.
COHEN: We'll see. We're going to head to Las Vegas where Gwen Stefani is headlining at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. The show is titled "Gwen Stefani, Just a Girl".
Oh my god, there you are.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Happy New Year.
COHEN: If no one has looked more like Gwen Stefani than you do right now.
GWEN STEFANI: What are you guys doing? Why are you not here?
COOPER: I - we were asking ourselves that exact question.
STEFANI: I'm trying (ph) to look like me.
COOPER: Oh my god you look amazing, Gwen!
STEFANI: Why are you not here? It is so awesome. Thank you. We are here in Vegas, OK, everybody here - the vibe is crazy. It is going to be the most incredible night. We've been doing shows every day and I don't know why you guys are there. That's weird, bad choice.
COHEN: I know. I can't wait to see - I cant wait to see your show and I feel like everybody's in Vegas right now. Have you been seeing the other shows while you're there?
STEFANI: I - well I've been sick. I was going to see Gaga, she opened, but I was really excited for her and I went and saw Jennifer when she was here. I saw backstreet. It's been really amazing.
It's funny because people are coming from all over the world. It's a different kind of vibe. It's a small room. It's really intimate. It's really like - it's very Vegasy but at the same time like just people are ready to go. Like they have made their way here and they just want to have a good time and just be like have a lot of memories. It's very nostalgic so we're having a lot of fun. I feel very honored to be here.
COHEN: By the way, I heard Gaga shouted you out the other night saying how psyched she was that you were in Vegas.
STEFANI: She did - I shouted her out. You know what?
COHEN: Oh you shouted her out?
[23:05:00] STEFANI: It's crazy because once - yes, I actually tweeted her because I was so excited for her because doing the show, it's major. It's different than a tour and I feel like everybody that does it, you kind of want to like - you're on the same team. Like you want to be like, OK, it's - because it's hard. It's not easy. And I think that's what I like about it. After doing tours around the world this is just - it's a different thing and I feel like I didn't - I needed to do all that to do this. So I feel really honored to be here.
COOPER: Yes, of course.
STEFANI: So I'm excited for her.
COOPER: It's all led to this.
COHEN: How many - is Blake there with you tonight?
STEFANI: Hey by the way - wait a minute. Cut - wait - I love you guys just so you know so I want you guys to come and see the show. I want to hang out with you. I really do.
COHEN: I would love to. I love that Planet Hollywood Theater.
STEFANI: Yes and Blake is here.
COHEN: I saw it - Blake is there. How did you guys celebrate Christmas?
STEFANI: He's here. We - let's see.
COHEN: How did you celebrate Christmas?
STEFANI: We were at my house in L.A. We were L.A. at my house and we had all the kids and we just did lots of food. We did these - what were they called? Timpano pasta domes. They were these Italian like I don't even know. You'll have to look it up. It was very hard. We did three trial runs so we were cooking for three days and we had a lot of fun - a lot of food.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: So Gwen -
STEFANI: I was worried about my costumers I was like how am I going to fit in my costumes?
COHEN: Of course.
COOPER: Gwen I've got to tell you, so I went to see Madonna a while back at the Barkley Center and she called me on stage to stage and I did a terrible, terrible job. I was mortified. Andy recently was called on stage by Brittany Spears and she didn't know his name. She said, hey give it up for him and it was very clear she didn't know how he was. So I feel like Andy and I have both had bad experiences being brought up on stage.
COHEN: I still loved it.
COOPER: I loved it too. I would not give it up for the world but we would love to come and see your show.
COHEN: Are you making a pitch for us to be up on stage with Gwen?
COOPER: No I'm not saying for us to be on stage I'm just saying - I don't know why I brought that up.
STEFANI: But I have to bring you on stage?
COOPER: No. You don't have to bring us on stage.
STEFANI: I would love to have - I love -
COOPER: We would just be happy to in the audience.
STEFANI: I actually -
COOPER: Because believe me if you bring me up on stage it brings the show to a halt.
STEFANI: OK, well either way I'll shout you out.
COHEN: Gwen, you know this year has been so crazy. Has there been one moment in 2018 where you were saying, man this stuff is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s?
STEFANI: Constantly, constantly. I think though putting this show together was one of the biggest challenges I've ever done and it's been one of those things - I feel like the show kind of just is my life. Like onstage and it's like everything boiled down to these songs and this hour and a half and I don't - I don't know it's like the DNA of who I am onstage.
So I just feel like really honored to be here. I said that like 400 times but I really do feel that way. I feel like they don't just hand these out to anybody and you have to really kind of be seasoned in a way that you really know how to like engage with the audience. And I think for me, my favorite thing is actually just - every night is different, you know.
So it blows my mind and it's exhausting and I'm excited tonight's the last show of the year. And then I'm going to go - we're going to go to Dollywood. Don't tell anyone but that's where we're going.
COOPER: Oh my god, awesome. Oh, awesome.
COHEN: Wait you're going to Dolly -
STEFANI: Have you been there before?
COHEN: You're going to Dolly - I have been there.
STEFANI: Yes.
COHEN: I'm - yes I'm one of the few Jew's that's been to Dollywood.
STEFANI: Isn't it amazing?
COHEN: It's amazing. It's so great. You're going to Dollywood that's awesome.
STEFANI: Yes so - at some point, yes.
COOPER: Well I hope she's there because she's the best.
COHEN: Yes, yes.
COOPER: Well listen, we hope you have a great -
STEFANI: Oh I love her.
COOPER: A great show tonight and we can't wait to come and see you sometime.
STEFANI: Thank you.
COOPER: And thank you so much and I hope you have a very, very happy New Year.
STEFANI: Thanks for having me on T.V., this is so awesome.
COHEN: Are you kidding? It's so nice to meet you.
STEFANI: I love it.
COOPER: Have a great show.
STEFANI: I'm sorry it's so cold there. It's nice and warm where I'm at. All right, see you guys.
COHEN: It's all right. I just gave him a hat and I feel like he's neutralizing.
COOPER: Yes, but we're going to see the performance later so thank you so much and we look forward to it.
COHEN: Can't wait to see your performance.
STEFANI: OK, let me know when you want to come.
COHEN: Thank you, Gwen.
STEFANI: For real. OK, bye.
COOPER: Thanks.
COHEN: Thanks. Bye, bye.
COOPER: Bye, bye. So we're going to see more. We're going to see Gwen perform also one of the most talented people that we know the great Dave Chappelle is going to join us live. COHEN: Can not wait. You good with the hat?
COOPER: Yes, I'm good (ph).
COHEN: OK, good.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:10:00]
COOPER: It's getting close. We're just about 45 minutes away from the New Year here in Time Square, from Bebe Rexha singing "Imagine".
COHEN: The ball drops, fireworks.
COOPER: Fireworks.
COHEN: It's (inaudible).
COOPER: It's all going to happen in New York, New York.
COHEN: It's all going to happen, yes. I feel like you might get very emo (ph).
COOPER: I feel like you might try to kiss me.
COHEN: Actually I'm not planning on that to tell you the truth. We are a few minutes from starting to live up to your resolutions.
COOPER: By the way, this time next year you will be a day.
COHEN: I know.
COOPER: You will have a son.
COHEN: I know.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Yes, trust me. It's all I think about.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: It's all I think about.
COOPER: Do you wake up in the middle of the night -
COHEN: I think about it all - I just can't wait to meet him. Like I just - I just feel like there's this person that's waiting for me and I'm waiting for him.
COOPER: There is, yes.
COHEN: I cannot wait to meet him.
COOPER: When are you going to reveal the name? COHEN: When he's born, yes. All right anyway, well here's some New
Year resolutions inspiration from some people you might know. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT: My New Year's resolution for 2019 is to finally get abs. It's going to happen.
VIVICA FOX: My New Year's resolution is I'm going to get married, Joe. Going to find me a new man, watch yourself.
TROYE SIVAN: Get my California license because I'm like driving semi illegally right now.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: My New Year's resolution is to be on Andy's show as much as possible and to drink less.
CHRISSY TEIGEN: Get toxic people out of my life.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH: I would like to get my hair extensions back from Russia. I miss my hair. I miss it.
DEBRA MESSING: My New Year's resolution is to be on Twitter less than eight hours a day.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER: This is my New Year's resolution for 2019, I -
[23:15:00]
DEBRA MESSING: Twitter less than eight hours a day.
SARAH JESSICA PARKR: This is my New Year's resolution for 2019. I'm going to commit, once again, to the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you despite whatever provocation might make me forget my commitment to the golden rule.
SHANIA TWAIN: 2019, this is the year I am going to meet Brad Pat!
EVELYN COHEN: I hope Andy finds a boyfriend.
LOU COHEN: And I hope Anderson lightens up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Lightens up? Really? Do I need to lighten up?
COHEN: According to my dad.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: That is amazing. Kristin Chenoweth wants her hair extensions back.
COOPER: Well I can understand that.
COHEN: Oh my god, next up, Dave Chappelle.
COOPER: Dave Chappelle very excited.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: And I also want to thank Marriott for this great shot of Times Square overhead. We'll be right back with Dave Chappelle.
(COMMERCIAL)
COHEN: We are back in Times Square.
COOPER: We are back, yes.
COHEN: And we're counting down the minutes until 2019 begins and it seems like a good time -
COOPER: I like you doing your reporter thing.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: I'm imitating you. It's time now for our spin on a children's classic book. We bring you "Goodnight Moon 2018". All right, let's do this Anderson.
COOPER: All right.
Goodnight Mueller investigation. Goodnight worrying what Facebook did with my information.
[23:20:00]
COHEN: Goodnight trade wars with China. Goodnight butterflies in Cardi B's stomach and vagina.
COOPER: Goodnight Sessions, Omarosa, and Pruitt. Goodnight - wait, who's still left in Trump's cabinet to do it?
COHEN: Goodnight Meghan and Harry. Goodnight wondering, now who am I going to marry?
COOPER: Goodnight pretending to care about the World Cup. Goodnight Barbara Streisand and your cute cloned pup.
COHEN: Goodnight Cher/Abba album I didn't know I needed. Love it so much. Goodnight romaine lettuce warnings I should have needed (ph).
COOPER: That Cher/Abba album. Goodnight Lady Gaga, now a movie star. Goodnight Elon Musk in your self driving car.
COHEN: Goodnight Kim's, both Kardashian and Jong-un. Goodnight skyscraper climbing, Minnesota raccoon.
COOPER: I like that you were able to get Kim Jong-un and - COHEN: Raccoon.
COOPER: Yes. Goodnight Serena's glorious tennis tutu. Goodnight debating who bit Beyonce. Was it you?
COHEN: Goodnight Mariah Carey's "Glitter" back on top of the charts. Goodnight Central Park mandarin duck stealing our hearts.
COOPER: And goodnight wondering what Michael Cohen snitched. Goodnight caring whether Hailey and Bieber are hitched.
COHEN: Goodnight click bait. Goodnight trolls. Goodnight misleading political polls.
COOPER: Goodnight trying to spend less time staring at my phone screen, and goodnight 2018.
COHEN: Nice.
COOPER: Yes. So last year when we were on, Andy was kind of poking fun at me for - that I worked as a child model when I was a kid. And about two weeks after the New Year's show as done I got an email from a viewer who told me this incredible story. And I actually read the email in a fast food restaurant and started to cry and I just want to tell you the story very briefly.
Andy was making fun of me and a couple, Keith and Diane, were watching the show. And they - it was the first year after they had lost their son. Their son died, who was 44 years old. He died.
COHEN: Bruce, right?
COOPER: The previous year, their son Bruce and it was the first year - or you know obviously, any holiday, any anniversary is very difficult and it was their first New Year's without Bruce.
And so they were having some drinks and they were talking about him. They were looking at old photo albums of Bruce and Keith said to me in the email that, you know, they got a little tipsy and they started talking to Bruce and saying you know, Bruce wherever you are in your journey, up in heaven, if you're looking down on us please give us a sign let us know.
And around that time he hit record on his button. And just as he hit record Andy started making fun of me for - that I had worked as a child model for the Ford Modeling Agency when I was a little kid and Andy put up a picture on the screen. I want to put the picture up on the screen right now that Andy picked up.
That was the picture that Andy put up on the screen. That is Bruce as a child waving at the camera so just as Keith and Diane said to their son, show us a sign that you're watching over us, that you're OK on your journey that went on the screen.
COHEN: Unbelievable.
COOPER: And I just got chills.
COHEN: It gives me chills every time.
COOPER: So Keith and Diane if you're watching this year we wish you the best and we're thinking about you and we're thinking about Bruce and your whole family. And we hope you have a very happy and healthy New Year.
COHEN: Unbelievable. It's getting closer to Midnight here in Times Square. Stay with us because Dave Chappelle is coming up.
COOPER: Dave Chappelle!
COHEN: And Gwen Stefani will perform next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:25:00]
COOPER: And welcome back. We are live here in Times Square with Andy Cohen.
COHEN: Are you drunk?
COOPER: No!
COHEN: I think you are.
COOPER: No, no I don't drink.
COHEN: I know you don't that's why I think you're drunk.
COOPER: No, no, no.
COHEN: It has not affected me none.
COOPER: I'm a little tipsy.
COHEN: You're a little tipsy.
COOPER: A little tipsy.
COHEN: By the way, I didn't think people were going to be here tonight and it's packed!
COOPER: It's packed.
COHEN: And it's exciting.
COOPER: And people are enjoying it.
COHEN: And people are really into it.
COOPER: And they should be.
COHEN: Yes. I'm very happy. COOPER: We are getting close to the moment when the ball drops here
in Times Square. We're a little bit more than a half an hour away from the stroke of midnight. So I hope wherever you area, you're situated, you've got your Doritos, you've got your -
COHEN: Before we go to Bill Weir -
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: OK. If we're talking about biceps on CNN -
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Bill Weir -
COOPER: Which we weren't?
COHEN: Chris Cuomo - well I am. Bill Weir, Chris Cuomo, and you, I think it's Cuomo, Weir and then you.
COOPER: I think it is.
COHEN: I mean you're still really big.
COOPER: No, I think its Cuomo and then Weir and then me.
COHEN: OK. Just wanted to -
COOPER: Yes. I have the smallest of the three biceps.
COHEN: You have big biceps.
COOPER: No.
COHEN: You're jacked.
COOPER: No I'm not (ph). It's not a competition.
COHEN: OK, Bill Weir with number two in the biceps - oh I didn't say Don Lemon. Is he jacked?
BILL WEIR: It's an honor.
COOPER: I don't know.
COHEN: OK, all right. Hey Bill, what's happening in Key West?
WEIR: It's an honor to be mentioned in that Mt. Rushmore of Biceps. Yes here we are. We're on Duvall Street in front of the Bourbon Street Pub for one of the most cherished traditions here in the Southern most party of the United States. That is the drag queen drop.
Up there in the ruby red stiletto is Key West's favorite drag queen. Hi, Sushi! Good to see you, baby. At the stroke of midnight, has been a tradition for the last 22 years she will make her way down the 15 Perilous Street here to Duvall Street.
But you know what I'll see your ball drop and I'll raise you a drag queen and a conch shell down at Sloppy Joe's and a giant lime wedge that goes into a margarita glass and a pirate wench. There's no shortage of things to drop here in the Conch Republic that is the freaky deaky island of Key West.
But here's the good story, as we listen to a little Tina Turner cover from one of the headliners here at Bourbon Street Pub is that this place has bounced back as now we live in an age of natural disasters. We know what Hurricane Irma did to the Florida Keys. They're now back to 100 percent of visitor capacity in Key West, 95 percent for all of the Key's.
They're building new hotels, if you can believe that and we only hope the same bounce back good fortune for the folks in Rockport, Texas and Puerto Rico and of course the wildfires zones out in California. But for tonight it's raining confetti and soon we'll welcome in 2019 with Sushi. Andy, Anderson?
ANDY COHEN, CNN HOST: Thank you. I'm not hearing Bill Weir say freaky- deaky.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Hey, we have a very special guest on the phone right now, Andy. Do you want to know?
COHEN: Calling from Malibu, here she is. Hi Cher.
COOPER: Cher, how are you? Happy New Year.
CHER, SINGER AND PERFORMER: Which one of my darling boys is this?
COOPER: It's both of us.
COHEN: It's both of us. It's the good one and the evil one.
CHER: Yes, OK, I will give you special dispensation tonight, Andy. You're both good ones.
COHEN: Thank you. She thinks I'm evil and you're sweet.
COOPER: We are so excited to talk to you. You have had such an amazing year and done such great things.
COHEN: I mean, you got the Kennedy Center honor, the Abba cover album is absolutely incredible.
COOPER: Incredible.
COHEN: The Broadway show is selling out, standing room only crowds and you're going to go on a world tour next year and the other incredible thing that you're doing is you're really helping out with the firefighter. You're raising money for the firefighters and the victims of the fires in California, right?
CHER: Yes, I am especially loving, there's an organization called malibulove.org and they are doing fabulous things too. I mean, there's so much to be done so. There's millions of good ones but that's just my special favorite.
COOPER: Cher, since you're going to be on tour, is there any way that Andy and I can quit our jobs and just come on tour with you?
COHEN: We want to be backup dancers.
COOPER: Yes, just kind of, very back up-- we could be way in the back.
COHEN: Way in the back.
CHER: No, no, I saw you when you were doing those little CNN spots where you were like taking over everything and you threw glitter in his face, dude!
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: I know.
COOPER: No, there's a pending lawsuit.
CHER: Did it hurt you, Anderson?
COOPER: Yes, there's a pending lawsuit. My team of litigators are--
CHER: I thought maybe something has ripped the cornea. I was thinking, oh, my god, Andy's such a brat.
COHEN: I know! Cher, I just have to ask this question, because I always think of you in an incredible outfit. What are you wearing right now?
COOPER: Oh, my God. All right, do you want me to really tell you?
COHEN: Yes, I want to know.
CHER: It's nothing - okay, I'm in - I'm wearing a little - I'm wearing a little black velvet - black and white velvet top and my shirt is like a little silk chemise, bright pink, and I've got on black stretch pants and that's what I'm wearing and no shoes and no earring.
COOPER: You know what's so funny about that, Cher, is I'm wearing the exact same thing underneath this jacket. That's what's so crazy.
CHER: No, wait, Anderson, was that you? No, that wasn't you.
COOPER: Yes, that was me. No, that was Anderson.
CHER: You guys are all--
COOPER: She likes the little chemise.
COHEN: Yes, I know, we're all wet. Tell us about it. Cher, you're really-
CHER: I can't believe the crowd!
COHEN: I know. It's incredible, the crowd that's here.
COOPER: And they've been here for, you know, 18 hours in some cases and you can't go to the bathroom.
CHER: No, I don't even - I've heard.
COHEN: Cher, how are you feeling about Twitter these days? You're very, very active.
CHER: Well, look, I like it. You know, sometimes - yes, you make mistakes, but as a vehicle for talking to people and for saying what you feel, I think it's good.
COOPER: Do you have a resolution for the New Year or for everybody who's listening out there, is there something you want to tell everybody about your hopes for the New Year?
CHER: Well, I guess, the thing I would hope for most is tolerance. I mean, I have a couple of other ones that are not so nice, but I think that tolerance is probably the best thing I could hope for myself and everybody else.
COOPER: Very good. Well, Cher, the world is better with you in it and I just - what an incredible year you've had. And I can't wait to see you on tour next year.
COHEN: Thanks for everything that you're doing for the folks in California, and to say we love you is an understatement and we're so thrilled that you called in.
COOPER: Cher, thank you so much!
CHER: Bye-bye, boys!
COOPER: All right, we love you.
COHEN: Bye, Cher.
CHER: Love you too, bye.
COHEN: Oh, so happy. Made my night.
COOPER: Me too. The other thing that makes my night is, you know, Dave Chappelle, who last year was kind enough to be on the program and who is joining us again right now.
[23:35:00] Dave Chappelle, he's obviously - well, actually, let's take a look at him opposite Bradley Cooper in "A star is born."
COHEN: Oh, so great.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAPPELLE: I feel like we've done this before. I didn't think we'd do it so soon. Come on, bro, get up!
BRADLEY COOPER: Oh, all right!
CHAPPELLE: There we go. You know, man, there's something about when we started playing, I always knew like, you were going to do something, that you'd be all right. This is the first time I'm worried about you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Joining us now from his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, is Dave Chappelle. Dave, thank you so much for being with us! Happy New Year!
CHAPPELLE, AMERICAN STAND-UP COMEDIAN: Anderson, Andy, Happy New Year. How you doing, guys?
COHEN: We're great, we're a little wet, but we're pretty good. I got to tell you, man, we love - I love "A star is born" so much. You were wonderful in the film, are you having a fun ride, riding that out?
CHAPPELLE: Oh, my gosh, I've never been in a movie that was as critically acclaimed as "A star is born," so that's been a huge blessing and I've put out four comedy specials in the last year. This might have been the greatest single year professionally I've ever had.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: That's awesome. Explain where you are and what's the celebration that's going to go on where you are tonight?
CHAPPELLE: Well, okay, I'm deep in the heart of Trump country, but the town that I'm in is like a little itty-bitty Bernie Sanders island in the Trump sea and we like to get it in and party and have a good time and we're celebrating the new year, just like the rest of the world.
COHEN: That's awesome. I heard you had a great gig with John Mayer last night in Vegas and then I love it that you just went back home to celebrate with your friends. We've got to talk to you about some stuff that's going on in the news these days. What did you think of the whole Kevin Hart Oscar-hosting situation?
CHAPPELLE: Oh, God, I was afraid you were going to ask me about that. Well, you know what, man, Kevin Hart is a great comedian and I'm sorry he won't be hosting the Oscars. And I don't know who they're going to get to host.
COHEN: Who - would you do it?
CHAPPELLE: Huh? Would I do it? Oh, good man Kevin. I think it would be untenable if I did it.
COOPER: Hey, I don't know if you know this, Dave, but Andy has just announced that he's expecting a child, his first child, it's going to be a boy due in a couple of weeks. Do you have any advice for him, as a dad?
CHAPPELLE: Yes, keep your left up. It goes fast, buddy. Congratulations, by the way! When are you due?
COHEN: Thank you. Thank you. In about a month. In about a month.
CHAPPELLE: Yes, buckle up.
COHEN: You won the--
COOPER: Buckle up, that's good.
COHEN: You won a Grammy this year, by the way. You really did have a huge year.
CHAPPELLE: I did.
COHEN: And, you know, I wonder - and you also - you just celebrated Christmas in L.A. at the Kardashian's Christmas party. What was that like?
CHAPPELLE: Oh, the Kardashian Christmas party, it was like being on the set of "Frozen," it was beautiful. It was one of the most elaborate house parties I've ever been to. It was great.
COOPER: Wow.
CHAPPELLE: Do you guys hear--
COOPER: Yes, we can hear you. Yes, yes, yes.
COHEN: Yes, we can hear you, we've been staying away from politics tonight, but you are such a singular voice in this country. What do you make of things in Washington these days?
CHAPPELLE: You know, right now, I'm just trying to focus on the most positive thing. I'm wishing love to my countrymen, I'm hoping that we have a better year in 2019 and that we find a way to be cohesive as a community and a nation. And that's why I'm here.
Everything starts local. Be kind to your neighbors, everyone. Have a Happy New Year and know that Dave Chappelle loves you no matter what you think about him.
COOPER: I love that! That's awesome. Are you a big like new year's resolution person? Do you actually make new year's resolutions or not really?
[23:40:00] CHAPPELLE: No, no, no, I don't make false promises to myself, you know? I just hope for the best and I try harder every year, and I appreciate life, the older I'm getting.
COHEN: What do you have coming up--
CHAPPELLE: Hi Kevin Hart. I know you're out there. Next year I have nothing.
COOPER: Come on!
CHAPPELLE: As of last night, I cleared my books. I owe nobody anything contractually. This is a very great night in my life.
COOPER: Wow, that's exciting!
COHEN: That is a lot to celebrate! That's a lot of freedom.
CHAPPELLE: It is. It is, man. I'm very happy for myself, I'm happy for my family, and we're enjoying each other. This is one of the best new year's I've ever had.
COOPER: That's awesome. Although, you know what, Dave Letterman said, you know, after he - when he left his show, he said, you know, when you leave in order to spend more time with your family, better check with your family first, which I thought was a funny line.
CHAPPELLE: Ha-ha! I thought it is funny. Andy grew that beard and he's fly fishing now. David Letterman lives a sordid life.
COHEN: You might see a beard in your future, Chappelle.
CHAPPELLE: Yes, yes, it's coming. I really can't grow the cheeks out, though. We'll see how that goes.
COOPER: Well, listen - we know--
CHAPPELLE: I can't keep you guys--
COOPER: Well, we're--
CHAPPELLE: I have one question for you.
COOPER: Yes?
CHAPPELLE: How is it in Times Square?
COHEN: It's awesome! It's really, really packed. It's raining and in the 40s. And I kind of thought no one was going to be here, because it's a total steady rain, but it's totally packed and people are - people are up, people are into it.
COOPER: Yes, like, it's a good vibe. Everyone's like - people have been standing around for like 15 hours in the rain and they're happy. And you know, we're like 20 minutes or so away from the new year. So--
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: I think people are ready for it.
COHEN: We've been doing tequila shots all night. I think I got Anderson a little drunk. COOPER: Yes.
CHAPPELLE: I don't know, I said, I felt it in Vegas last night and I'm feeling it in Ohio tonight. It's a hotbed of optimism out here, man. So I wish you nothing but the best year of your life, guys. And Andy, congrats on the new baby. It's going to change everything.
COHEN: Thanks, Dave.
COOPER: Dave, we thank you so much for coming back a second year to be with us on the show and share this moment with everybody. We love you.
CHAPPELLE: I got so much love for you guys, man. Likewise.
COOPER: Well, we wish you the best and you take care of yourself. And I hope to see you soon.
COHEN: Thanks, Dave.
COOPER: Have a great new year, Dave.
CHAPPELLE: Yes, sir. Yes Sir, be well, man. Happy new year, everybody!
COOPER: Happy new year.
COHEN: Happy New Year, Ohio, and Dave Chappelle. Oh, man, he's so great. Cher and Dave Chappelle. It doesn't get any better.
COOPER: Well, guess what?
COHEN: I mean, it's about to, because it was so great to talk to Gwen Stefani earlier, here is a look. Here she is on stage in Las Vegas.
COOPER: At the Planet Hollywood resort and casino.
COHEN: Here you go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[23:45:00] (GWEN STEFANI PERFORMING ON STAGE)
GWEN STEFANI, SINGER AND PERFORMER: Andy and Anderson! Hello from Vegas! Happy new year!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: That was awesome!
COOPER: Thank you, Gwen Stefani.
COHEN: I love her.
COOPER: She was great. I really want to see her show.
COHEN: I love her.
COOPER: We are approaching the midnight hour, 2019.
COHEN: We're debating when to do our next shot.
COOPER: Yes, I think we should - we're going to do it pretty soon. If you're at home and you're considering it, you can join us. But let's check in with Richard Quest who's been all night long doing a--
COHEN: Salute to food in New York city. Richard, are you in a new costume?
COOPER: Oh, he's a hot dog! Richard!
COHEN: I knew this was coming!
COOPER: Oh!
COHEN: It's a peekaboo hot dog.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN REPORTER: A peekaboo hot dog that also dresses appropriately for--
COOPER: Lovely!
COHEN: Richard!
QUEST: Gentlemen, I doffed my cap for you.
COHEN: I tip my hat to you, sir!
QUEST: Boy, nearly midnight. Are you ready?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As we're ever going to be.
QUEST: Let's have a cheer! Come on! So the rain has dampened things a little, but we are not down-hearted. Are we ready?
(AUDIENCE YELL YES!)
QUEST: They are, you see. Give them a bit of music, a bit of noise.
COOPER: Richard, I feel like you're rallying the people of London during the blitz. I feel like you're rallying the sort of troops.
QUEST: Well, there are some similarities, because frankly, it feels a bit like the onslaught. But just like those times, we sally forth, we move on, as Churchill would say, never in the field of New Year's eve have so many been so wet for so long.
COOPER: Yes! I like it.
COHEN: What does Richard normally cover?
COOPER: Richard covers everything. Richard is a huge international star on CNN.
COHEN: Oh, wow.
COOPER: He is an aviation expert.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: He's a financial expert.
COHEN: Oh!
COOPER: A royal family expert.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: I mean, Richard, is there anything I haven't - you're an expert on everything!
QUEST: Except being an expert. When it comes to being an expert - I mean, let's face it, if I could have got a better gig on New Year's eve, other than standing in the rain, but I would not turn it down to be with you gentlemen on this auspicious occasion.
COOPER: Oh, thank you.
[23:50:00] COHEN: Very sweet. Hey Richard, just out of curiosity, you've been talking to so many people in the crowds. Are people complaining about the rain? Are they pissed?
QUEST: Are you pissed at the rain?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
QUEST: But you're not downhearted?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
QUEST: Where do you come from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mexico city.
QUEST: Mexico city and it's not - Sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: California.
QUEST: California. The number of people who could be lying in the sun, instead they are enjoying the rain.
COHEN: There you go. It's so interesting.
COOPER: I remember this as a kid watching this at home and watching people interview people in the crowd, and there was something so moving about it. You know, people sort of all joins together in this moment, in this place.
COHEN: I also love, they are real. They are seeking the moment. They're waiting for hours just to experience one moment.
COOPER: And if you're wondering at home and if you haven't been here what that moment is, I mean, I can't tell you what it's like when they actually, in about two or three minutes they're going to start playing the music and we're going to probably stop talking so that you can just experience what everyone here is experiencing, which is this sense of community and then the visual of all the confetti. It's just an extraordinary thing. They're setting up a ball right now.
COHEN: We should have a final new year's shot. I'm going to have a toast to you. You've been - I've had such a fun time hanging out with you. I want you to work on your contentment.
COOPER: Okay. All right, I will.
COHEN: And we're going to have a great next year.
COOPER: Yes, we will.
COHEN: Cheers, everybody.
COOPER: Cheers.
COHEN: Wow, all right. That one might start to hit me. By the way, it is basically a - where we are it's a swamp. It really is.
COOPER: There's just like plastic bags--
COHEN: You got a duffle bag full of things and things are all wet. And meanwhile we're supposed to kind of go out after this but we're so - This is challenging.
COOPER: It is challenging.
COHEN: Oh my God.
COOPER: But it's exciting and I would not want to be anywhere else.
COHEN: I know. I have to say the hat was a real game changer. What? Ralph Lauren sent me that.
COOPER: Anyway we also just for the order of events, we are going to at - when the music starts, we don't really want to kind of talk over that stuff because we really want you guys to experience it like we do and like everyone here does because it really is special, and it's the thing that keeps bringing me back here every year.
So we'll kind of remain silent as we'll obviously count down the new year and there's a little bit more singing afterward. And when you come back, probably come back around 12:05 or 12:10 or something like that, there'll be more of us.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: And then at 12:30, we hand it over to Brooke and Dawn.
COHEN: You know, a lot of people feel like Brooke and Dawn are the real show.
COOPER: Really?
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Interesting.
COHEN: Yes. I get that a lot.
COOPER: you know what, there's something for everybody. COHEN: It's very true.
COOPER: I feel like we should do a duet of "Island in the stream," right now
COHEN: I would love to. You do something to me that I can't explain.
COOPER: Okay, no. Let's not do it.
COHEN: Okay. Just so you know that is one of my karaoke go-tos.
COOPER: I've never done karaoke.
COHEN: I'm not surprised.
COOPER: Because I don't see the point.
COHEN: You know what a great karaoke song is? Rocking on high. You know what, no one talks about John Denver anymore.
COOPER: Well, I'm talking about him now.
COHEN: I'm glad you are. But I think about that often. I think about John Denver. I actually do. He was huge.
COOPER: Yes, absolutely. Yes.
COHEN: Now no one talks about him.
COOPER: Well, we're talking about him now. Maybe that's your resolution. John Denver booster something.
COHEN: Boy, did we run out of things to say if that's what we're talking about? Honestly, oh, my gosh. By the way, do you have a favorite moment of this year? I'm trying to think what mine was with all the kids' stuff aside.
COOPER: Listen to how quiet everybody is now. Like literally they're all--
COHEN: Calm has descended over the crowd.
COOPER: And the folks, journalists who have been selected from various news organizations are on the podium with the Mayor.
COHEN: Who's very tall?
COOPER: He's very tall, yes.
COHEN: I'd like to speak to them about them taking my umbrella away earlier.
COOPER: You can speak to them later.
COHEN: I'm going to speak to them about it.
COOPER: And then they will press that and then--
COHEN: Do you have a favorite moment of the career?
COOPER: Favorite moment of the year.
COHEN: A personal moment?
[23:55:00] COOPER: I haven't - you know, I've had a strange year. Because - Oh, it's "Imagine." Let's listen in.
[BEBE REXHA SINGING THE SONG IMAGINE]
BEBE REXHA: Happy new year, everybody!
CROWD: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
