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CNN Live Event/Special
New Year's Eve Celebration. Aired 8-9p ET
Aired December 31, 2020 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BIANNA GOLODGRYGA, CNN HOST: A wonderful New Years. Be safe. Thank you so much for covering this for us and Happy New Year to everybody at home.'
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR: Thank you.
GOLODGRYGA: Thank you so much for covering this for us and Happy New Year to everybody at home.
QUEST: Thank you.
GOLODGRYGA: Thank you for watching.
QUEST: Happy New Year.
GOLODGRYGA: Happy New Year. Thank you for watching.
Our special New Year's Eve show live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen starts right now.
[20:00:15]
RINGO STARR, MUSICIAN: Yes, everybody. Ringo here, Ringo and CNN want to wish you all a Happy New Year, and peace and love, of course. And remember, here is to those nights we won't remember and here's to the friends we won't forget.
Peace and love.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome to CNN's New Year's Eve. Tonight, we celebrate the end to the worst year ever and the start of a new one with appearances by Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Colbert, Patti LaBelle, John Mayer, Cameron Diaz, Kylie Minogue, and many other surprises.
Now your hosts: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And good evening, and welcome to Times Square in New York City in what is likely, the most I think, anticipated New Year celebration since at least the millennium, and maybe the weirdest.
ANDY COHEN, AMERICAN TELEVISION TALK SHOW HOST: And it is because people want it to be over.
COOPER: Well, yes, but also just -- I mean, no one has ever seen anything like this. COHEN: No, they have not.
COOPER: We are less than four hours away from saying goodbye to 2020, a year many people want nothing more to do with. Goodbye, good riddance, we're welcoming in 2021.
This year obviously has meant personal loss for so many families and friends, economic devastation. It's also a year that we hope ends with something of a light at the end of the tunnel.
COHEN: Hopefully, tonight is an escape. We're going to smile and laugh with you. It is our biggest New Year's Eve ever.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: We have a star-studded line up.
COOPER: Yes, we do actually.
COHEN: Great musical performances, puppies, tattoos.
COOPER: Tattoos. Yes.
COHEN: Tats.
COOPER: For the first time in decades, Time Square is actually closed to the public on New Year's Eve. In World War II, there were two years where there was no ball drop because they were afraid of possible air raids. They didn't want the lights at Times Square on and crowds gathering.
In the crowd tonight, although you can't really call it a crowd in an empty Times Square tonight, our Heroes of 2020, there are doctors and nurses and healthcare workers and first responders and their families, people who have dedicated their lives and risked their lives to help all of us in this incredibly difficult year. We'll be talking to them throughout the four and a half hours tonight.
COHEN: Not one, I brought two bottles of tequila, not just for the crew. Yes, I want to say it seems so fitting and beautiful that the first responders are down there.
COOPER: Yes. Absolutely.
COHEN: I mean, usually, this is as you know, a very sought-after place to be for Time Square. People stand in pens for hours, peeing in their pants, all sorts of horrible things.
COOPER: You're obsessed with that.
COHEN: Waiting, well, it's just I can't get over it.
COOPER: When Andy's mom called him up earlier today -- what was it she said to you?
COHEN: She said, are you guys wearing diapers tonight? COOPER: I mean --
COHEN: And I was like, no. She goes, why? You should. I'm like, we're not. Anyway --
COOPER: Isn't it odd that your mom is encouraging that we are wearing diapers?
COHEN: She is worried about our --
COOPER: Anyway, it doesn't -- I am not.
COHEN: Anyway, we have a clip of the dunce caps from last year toasting.
COOPER: Standing right here at this exact --
COHEN: Really toasting with such great promise. I want to say, part of the reason I think that I was so excited is I knew that you --
COOPER: You were drunk.
COHEN: I was drunk.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: And you were drunker. But I knew you had a baby on the way, so --
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: I was communicating to you.
COOPER: Oh, okay.
COHEN: I was trying like this is going to be great.
COOPER: Okay.
COHEN: But anyway, here's a clip of what we didn't know.
COOPER: Take a look at our optimism from last year.
COHEN: Yes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: I'm so grateful for our friendship. I think you're the best and I love the year we had together, and I look forward to 2020 and all that is in our future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: All right.
COOPER: Little did we know what was in our future. COHEN: Little did we know. Now we will be doing shots every hour. You
went from being a zaddy to a daddy, my friend.
COOPER: I don't know what that means.
COHEN: Well, don't worry about it. I do these --
COOPER: Wow, this really smells.
COHEN: Well, it's tequila.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Yes, yes, yes.
COOPER: All right.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: Now remember, we're not encouraging -- only if you're 21 should you join us.
COHEN: If you are 21 or over and you'd like to join us responsibly.
COOPER: As long as you're not driving or any --
COHEN: Please do. By the way no one is alone tonight. We are all together. I know more people are home probably than ever watching New Year's Eve.
COOPER: Yes. And look, so many of people have had a really difficult year and we see you and we hear you and you know, we just want to have a fun time and celebrate with you tonight and welcome in what we all hope is going to be a much, much better year.
COHEN: Absolutely. We are here together. Cheers to 2021.
[20:05:08]
COOPER: I have not had a shot since, I think the last time we were here.
COHEN: A vaccine is on the way, zaddy. Let's do it. You're getting better at it. I would argue that you're getting better at it. Now, we've got to talk about our top story tonight.
Should we get to baby Wyatt right now?
COOPER: It burns. It just burns. It's the after effect.
COHEN: But wait, before we get to baby Wyatt. I do just want to point out it is really weird being in Times Square right now.
COOPER: It's very strange.
COHEN: I mean, it's -- COOPER: We're usually yelling at each other.
COHEN: Absolutely.
COOPER: Yes. We have double earpieces because to drown out --
COHEN: Because there's so much noise.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: There's no noise. We're really -- we're right near the stage right here for Seacrest. We're really going to be able to tell who is lip synching tonight. I mean, we're going to tell you guys what's really going on.
COOPER: That's right.
COHEN: I mean, that I will tell you and also, it's just wild, but one of the -- one of the things --
COOPER: You can turn to the other things maybe from time to time if you want to see, but then come back to us.
COHEN: There is nothing on.
COOPER: We will tell you what's actually happening.
COHEN: Nothing on.
COOPER: We will tell you what's happening.
COHEN: Nothing does. Yes, we'll tell you what's going on. Everything else is glossy and fake. We are going to give it to you straight here, as straight as we can.
COOPER: Oh, man. Wow.
COHEN: But what's wild about this year in New York City; one of the things of course, was you and I both spent a lot of times on our bikes in New York City.
COOPER: Yes, of course.
COHEN: And it was so surreal and hopefully there will never be another time like it riding your bike through New York City having it be totally empty and having it all be having it to yourself.
And it's like that tonight in Times Square.
COOPER: It is. Yes.
COHEN: It's so surreal. Anderson was -- I was home recovering from COVID. I didn't leave my apartment for about three weeks and Anderson would call me. He rode his bike to CNN every night.
COOPER: Oh, that's right. COHEN: And he would call me and report on the rats that there were on
the streets.
COOPER: There were a lot -- yes, there were a lot of --
COHEN: He was very upset about rats.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: And he started to lead me to believe that when I did leave my apartment.
COOPER: Right.
COHEN: I was going to get the crap beaten out of me by a rat. That's what I felt from your reports.
COOPER: No. There was a moment where there was -- you know, it was touch and go in the streets.
COHEN: You felt like there were more --
COOPER: I did have a showdown with a rat. I was riding home after work and right about a block from my house, there was a rat in the middle of the street and I came to a full stop and it stopped and was just looking at me and I was like, okay, you win. I went around the rat. The rat didn't move.
COHEN: I want to point out so there are some healthcare workers and first responders but ...
COOPER: And their family.
COHEN: ... behind them -- and their families -- behind that, there are these blow up fake people.
COOPER: It's a little creepy.
COHEN: That are freaking us out.
COOPER: Well, and I --
COHEN: And I'm sure as we get drunk, maybe they'll become festive, but it is freaking me out right now.
COOPER: But I guess it is clear, like Planet -- I guess it's a Planet Fitness advertisement, but they are those things that you see at car washes.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Which is strange --
COHEN: You ever go to a car wash?
COOPER: Of course. Every -- COHEN: It's normal. The bad boy goes to a carwash.
COOPER: I find car washes very satisfying. I like to try to sit in them and it seems -- but yes, but when you look out down at Times Square, it's just rows of these figures going like this.
COHEN: I like your --
COOPER: It's a little --
COHEN: Let's talk about baby Wyatt. Wyatt is how old now?
COOPER: He is eight months.
COHEN: He's eight months old. He's super cute. Throw up the stills.
COOPER: Yes, this was a year of my life there.
COHEN: His ear --
COOPER: There he is.
COHEN: And you know, and for me --
COOPER: He looks a little Buddha-like in that photo, which I love.
COHEN: He always does. He's got Anderson's peepers and look at your arms are looking great there.
COOPER: Well, no, thank you.
COHEN: I am having feelings for you. He's such a good kid. He's so mellow.
COOPER: He's so mellow.
COHEN: He is so sweet.
COOPER: I know. I know.
COHEN: I know he didn't get your --
COOPER: I know, I know. He is so cheerful and happy. He sleeps -- I hate to say this, he sleeps like 12 hours a night.
COHEN: Now I feel like Wyatt is baby New Year. Okay, so I think we have a little baby -- Wyatt as Baby New Year. There we go. There he is. And that's --
COOPER: That is actually --
COHEN: That is his laugh. But it's not live.
COOPER: I think part of that is his giggle.
COHEN: Okay. COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Okay. We couldn't get the rights to Wyatt, so we had to make a fake -- now every time you see Baby New Year run across the screen, Jewish --
COOPER: No, no.
COHEN: Yes. I think that's a fun --
COOPER: No, that's not appropriate. That's completely inappropriate.
COHEN: Yes, yes. Now did everything virtually this year. All of us were on Zoom fighting with our parents all year and having fun, little cocktail parties on Zoom.
COOPER: Really?
COHEN: And I was doing "Watch What Happens Live" from home for many months and I had the pleasure of having Anderson on one night and my son, Ben actually met Wyatt on air for the first time. They met virtually. So much of what happened this year was virtual.
COOPER: And we have a clip of that actually. This was like early on. Wyatt was like --
[20:10:08]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: This is "What Happens Live at Home." I'm Andy joined by Anderson Cooper, and my son, Benjamin and Anderson is with Wyatt and I thought it would be fun if they met right now. Look, that's going to be your good buddy, Wyatt.
COOPER: That's Benjamin.
COHEN: Have you boys ever been to Brazil?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: I think I think he was like, a couple like a week or so old at that point.
COHEN: Wyatt?
COOPER: I think so.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: it was like very early on.
COHEN: It was early on.
COOPER: And I mean, this let's not going to give you full baby talk for the next four and a half hours because I know it is ... COHEN: It is tiresome.
COOPER: ... boring.
COHEN: And fast. I'm getting bored.
COOPER: But like, every cliche is true. Like he changes so fast.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Like, I didn't even recognize who that baby was.
COHEN: I didn't recognize you because I'm finding out all these things about Anderson and we've spent so much time kind of killing time between naps together, which is absolutely -- that's what we do together now.
But this one has a mean Grover impression.
COOPER: I don't have a Grover impression.
COHEN: Yes, you do.
COOPER: What? When I say.
COHEN: Rawr.
COOPER: Oh, no, that's just how I sing.
COHEN: Oh, the singing.
COOPER: Well, I realized when I had a kid, I realized I don't know any songs, like I don't know any kids -- I mean, I don't know any pop songs.
COHEN: Just weird noise.
COOPER: But I don't know any songs and I don't know how to sing it, all of a sudden you're called upon to sing.
COHEN: Are called upon?
COOPER: Yes, babies really like it apparently. So yes, so like, I found myself singing but like, like, like, oh, la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Like that's as good as I get. It's sad.
COHEN: It's so weird. We're going to go to Richard Quest.
COOPER: Richard Quest.
COHEN: He is on the ground in Times Square.
COOPER: Yes. Richard Quest who joins us each New Years often with many costume changes. Richard?
COHEN: Oh. COOPER: Oh, my goodness.
COHEN: He is in sequins. Wow.
QUEST: I am looking at you at two o'clock.
COHEN: Wow, in a mask.
COOPER You are like the masked correspondent.
COHEN: Yes. The masked correspondent.
COOPER: Who is that masked correspondent?
COHEN: Is it John King? Is it David Axelrod? Who is the masked correspondent?
QUEST: I am above you. Go, look at your right.
COOPER: We don't hear you.
COHEN: I can't --
QUEST: Can you hear me? Well, never mind. I'm up here.
COOPER: Wow. The night is off to a --
COHEN: There is technical challenge of the night.
COOPER: On TV they can hear him. Oh, no I hear you, Richard.
QUEST: I'm on the TSX building, which is up to your right. No, your two o'clock, Anderson. Yes. Over here.
COOPER: My two o'clock.
QUEST: Well, there. Yes, oh, never mind.
COOPER: I never understand when people say that.
COHEN: Maybe it is a clock.
COOPER: Okay.
QUEST: I am over here.
COHEN: Oh, there he is. Hey.
QUEST: All right, let me tell you.
COHEN: Oh, fun.
COOPER: Yes, he is right there.
QUEST: No, no Olive Garden is closed this year.
COOPER: Okay.
QUEST: Let me show you what we've got here. If you look down at Times Square, you can see all the pens where the various honorees are going -- are starting to arrive. There's a maximum of 10 per pen. There's about -- there will be about 300 people in total.
You know, having been in Times Square every New Year's Eve like yourself, it is a very weird, very strange experience, as I'm sure you agree.
COOPER: Richard, you had -- you had COVID this year and thankfully, you're doing well.
QUEST: I am, thank you. COVID -- the actual COVID itself was pretty grim. Mainly tiredness and coughing. The post-COVID, the long COVID that's what really got me. That's when it was as if I was in constant fog.
I couldn't think clearly. I had no hand and eye communication. And it was really bad. But it went and thank God I am okay now.
COOPER: Good.
COHEN: Well, I'm glad you were well enough to throw those sequins on for another year, Richard, and coming up next. One CNN correspondent is getting some fresh ink.
Plus the legendary Miss Patti LaBelle, queen of the verses shares what she's cooking up for New Year's tonight.
Grab a drink. Journey with us a hundred stories above the New York City skyline.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:15:15]
REGINA KING, AMERICAN ACTRESS: Hey Anderson and Andy. Happy New Year to everybody. We made it, you all. We made it. And it has been quite an emotional and challenging year. But look, I feel hopeful for the future and the year ahead. I have to. I hope you do, too.
RUSSELL DICKERSON, SINGER-SONGWRITER: Anderson and Andy, it's Russell Dickerson here. I just want to say Happy New Year and hope you guys have an incredible 2021. Love you all.
CINDY CRAWFORD, MODEL: Happy New Year. Wow. We're here. We made. It's finally 2021 and I know this past year has been full of challenges, but also small blessings.
So here's to more blessings for everyone and have a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2021.
ALFRE WOODARD, AMERICAN ACTRESS: Hey, Happy New Year Sugar Daddy Anderson and Big Daddy Andy. Look what this last year brought us? Your beautiful boys and we welcome so many precious ones around the world. You know we don't look to solar years to bring us goodness. We bring
goodness to each other and 2020 delivered on that account. It showed us just how much goodness and kindness and love and community we are capable of.
So no matter what the year, we can flex that and make it a good one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: I love that. I love that.
COHEN: That was a good one.
COOPER: Alfre Woodard. Thank you.
COHEN: She's perfect.
COOPER: Perfect.
COHEN: You know what else is perfect?
COOPER: What?
COHEN: Cindy Crawford's front yard.
COOPER: I know. Cindy Crawford is incredible.
COHEN: She is perfect. But did you see the --
COOPER: I want to have a lifestyle like that.
COHEN: Me, too.
COOPER: Like my -- I don't -- that's all so perfect.
COHEN: It was really good.
COOPER: She is just lounging.
COHEN: I know. So Malibu.
[20:20:05]
COOPER: So Malibu.
COHEN: Malibu Cindy Ah.
COOPER: Well, he usually parties with sushi in Key West, but this year, our Bill Weir is fulfilling I think kind of a -- I don't know if it's a lifelong interest or -- I know, it's an obsession of mine. Bill Weir is going to get a tattoo tonight.
COHEN: He is at Bang in New York -- Bill.
COOPER: Bill, I'm so jealous. I am obsessed with Bang Bang. I follow them on Instagram. COHEN: You do?
COOPER: Oh my god. I've talked to some of their people about getting a tattoo.
BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
COOPER: Yes, I'm obsessed. I'm too chicken yet, but --
WEIR: It is the choice of cool people everywhere -- rock stars.
COOPER: Yes. How -- so is this something you've always wanted to do?
WEIR: It is one of the best -- well, it is. I mean, I had my first tattoo at Bang Bang on my 50th year, I had one here. It's too complicated to explain.
But this was a very meaningful year for all of us. It was -- it was, for many, the worst of times, but in my household because I was trying to keep up with you guys, I had a baby boy. So the best of times and the worst of times, and I figured, you know, I want to ring out ...
COHEN: Congratulations.
WEIR: ... this horrible year with some optimism. And this is Trudy. This is like the lead artist here at Bang Bang. Her work is incredible.
COHEN: Trudy.
COOPER: Hey, Trudy.
WEIR: And so we're looking -- we are still deciding on ideas. You have ideas?
COHEN: Wow.
TRUDY, TATTOO ARTIST: Hi, guys.
COHEN: Okay, well, yes, actually, we have a few and I just want to say I think it's cool that you're getting another one. You have that one there and then you very famously have a big -- a big cross bone on your ass I believe is what Anderson was telling me.
COOPER: No, I didn't say that. Let's not -- I didn't --
COHEN: I was making that up.
WEIR: A what?
COHEN: Anyway, here's -- here is what I think.
TRUDY: Not yet.
COHEN: I think you should get a Steely. I think you should get a Steely, you're a big deadhead. We established that last year. COOPER: What's a Steely?
COHEN: It's a steal your face. It's a -- it's a Grateful Dead. Um, it's part of their iconography.
WEIR: It's the Grateful Dead --
COOPER: What about a --
WEIR: That's good. Yes.
COOPER: What about maybe a likeness of Gloria Borger.
COHEN: A little pencil sketch of Gloria Borger. I think that's a great idea in tribute to her tireless service during the election.
WEIR: Well, she does -- Trudy does incredible portraits here, so --
COOPER: Yes? Trudy, what do you think?
WEIR: Maybe a full Gloria Borger on my back?
TRUDY: I love the idea.
COHEN: Yes.
WEIR: Yes.
TRUDY: Yes, maybe we should put like -- yes, maybe we should design something for Bill tonight.
WEIR: But yes, I have some ideas that are personal to me. So we're going to noodle over them. And Trudy is going to literally design this as we speak, and we'll reveal it throughout the night.
COHEN: Okay.
TRUDY: Do you guys have any ideas with the design for him?
COHEN: Well, yes, I mean.
COOPER: Well, yes, we'd like to Gloria Borger thing.
COHEN: I want you to do the Steely. I think it's a very good idea. It speaks to your dead headedness. Let's see the rendering. Does she have a rendering?
TRUDY: Let's see if we can find something. What about this?
COOPER: Bang Bang has the most amazing artists.
TRUDY: I did my homework.
COHEN: Yes, that's a steely.
COOPER: Wow. Oh my god. COHEN: My god. That's like a tramp steely. Is that Bill -- is that his
actual butt?
COOPER: No. No.
WEIR: Certainly a dead head tramp stamp.
COHEN: Wow. Oh that's Chris Cuomo's butt.
COOPER: No. Lord.
TRUDY: Or this?
WEIR: Okay. Oh there is it. You already did. Look at Trudy, she has already --
COHEN: That's the Gloria Borger on the --
COOPER: Yes. Yes, I am hundred percent. That is --
COHEN: That's my --
TRUDY: You want to see my personal favorite?
WEIR: Yes, what's your personal favorite?
TRUDY: So my personal favorite is this one.
COHEN: That's amazing.
COOPER: Okay.
TRUDY: That's my personal favorite. Oh no. Hold on.
WEIR: You guys see that?
COHEN: I love it.
COOPER: Oh my God. Oh, I love it.
COHEN: I think your wife and your child.
WEIR: Really like this -- but I don't want to look at him while I am shaving.
COOPER: Yes. All right, we'll check in with you guys a little bit later. You're in good hands. Bang Bang has like the greatest tattoo artists. Just amazing artists that I'm obsessed with.
COHEN: Rush ink, and you know, that's a fun thing to do on New Year's Eve.
COOPER: Like get a tattoo?
COHEN: If -- there are tattoo places.
COOPER: You don't have any tattoo? Have you --
COHEN: I do not. I'm not really a tattoo guy.
COOPER: I thought about it for 20 years. I've been mulling this over. I have a hole in --
COHEN: And so what's your --
COOPER: I have a whole file on Instagram of tattoos I like.
COHEN: What is your go to?
COOPER: I like a mix of words and images. I like a memento mori kind of a vanitas, like a -- never mind.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: I'm not going to get into it. Our next guest -- I'm very excited.
COHEN: I am too. She is a Grammy Award winning singer. She has her own food line. She was recently featured alongside Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand in the "New York Times" holiday style section, the cover.
She is Miss Patti LaBelle, our Gemini twin. Hi, Miss Patty. Oh, my God.
COOPER: Oh my goodness.
COHEN: Looking like a million B --
PATTI LABELLE, SINGER: Hi, Andy. Hi, Anderson.
COHEN: Hello.
COOPER: Wow.
LABELLE: Hey, honey.
COOPER: You look --
LABELLE: It's me.
COOPER: Happy New Year.
LABELLE: I've been waiting to see you guys. Happy New Year. Happy good life and happy babies and everything. Oh gosh.
COOPER: Oh my goodness. Thank you.
LABELLE: Here I am. Again.
COOPER: Wow.
[20:25:05]
LABELLE: This is my tree with my friends' gifts.
COHEN: Patti, wow, your house looks phenomenal.
LABELLE: Well, I try hard, Andy.
COHEN: You haven't opened the presents yet.
LABELLE: I try to make it cute. Those are Denise, Rich and Norma. You know, Norma, she gave me those pretty vases and just beautiful things.
COHEN: Oh my God, my love to Norma.
LABELLE: And I'm just having a good night. Oh, I know you do.
COOPER: Oh my god.
COHEN: Look at the fancy --
LABELLE: She told me to tell you hello. Oh, thank you.
COHEN: Oh my god, tell her I said hello.
LABELLE: Thank you.
COHEN: You know, Patti, I have to tell you.
LABELLE: I will. Yes.
COHEN: It's so good to see you. We love visiting with you on New Year's Eve and it's funny because I introduced Anderson and his son, Wyatt to your rendition of the ABCs.
COOPER: Oh my gosh. It is so -- it is iconic. It is amazing.
LABELLE: You did.
COHEN: Yes.
LABELLE: That's what the babies love to hear. And old people like you, too, Andy, right?
COOPER: Oh my god.
LABELLE: Oh guys, I am thankful that you came back to my house this year.
COOPER: Because I was singing -- I was singing the old boring version of the ABCs to my son.
LABELLE: Say that again?
COOPER: I was singing the old boring version of the ABCs to my son and then I saw yours and now I play him yours and he loves it.
LABELLE: Yes, play him mine and I love you for doing that, honey. So you want to see what I'm cooking? Okay? COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Yes.
LABELLE: You guys have food? Okay.
COHEN: Yes, we do. We have some --
COOPER: We have potato pie.
LABELLE: You have the chicken and biscuits and the corn bread.
COOPER: Wow, look at that spread.
LABELLE: And you see the ...
COOPER: Yes.
LABELLE: Brisket, macaroni. Black eyed peas, rice, cabbage.
COOPER: Oh my god.
LABELLE: Kale greens. All of this are from my new line ...
COOPER: And we have peach cobbler, too.
LABELLE: ... of frozen foods. Peach cobbler, you know it.
COOPER: Wow.
LABELLE: And blueberry cobbler and sweet potato pies, and my little baby Layla, she is ready to eat something. You see Layla and Julia. They are ready to have their lunch -- their dinner.
COOPER: Oh my gosh.
LABELLE: But listen, I don't have anybody over here that many people, okay, Andy? Because it's COVID.
COOPER: You've got a lot of people.
LABELLE: So most people are coming to my gate to get their food.
COHEN: She has like eight people.
LABELLE: Yes, I am giving people food at the gate. Okay.
COOPER: Yes.
LABELLE: Because you can't do like you used to do, boo.
COOPER: That's nice.
LABELLE: Yes. Oh gosh.
COHEN: Did you grow up cooking? LABELLE: So, this is all my stuff. I grew up cooking with my mom and
dad and my lady Naomi, who lived with us. Huh? Look at it.
COHEN: Yes.
LABELLE: The lobster and crab meat and all of that stuff.
COHEN: Patti, what are the highlights of the year, Patti? Was your appearance on versus with Gladys Knight, it was one of the most talked about moments of 2020.
LABELLE: Oh, with Gladys.
COHEN: Were you surprised by the level of everyone's enthusiasm? You had Michelle Obama watching in the comment's section. So many people -- what was that night like for you?
LABELLE: And you know what, Andy? They were calling it a battle. But it was like sisters singing in the name of love and that's just what we did. And we talked to each other yesterday talking about doing some more things together, which we will.
And it's just a great time for us to pray for a better year. That's what we're all doing because you know what this year was? And I'm always impressed when you guys want to speak to me at my home. I thank you so much.
My grandbabies -- and cuddles my little dog.
COOPER: Oh, we look forward to it.
LABELLE: Yes, right. Say hi. Happy New Year.
COOPER: Hey, everybody.
COHEN: Hi.
COOPER: Happy New Year, everybody.
COHEN: Hey, everybody.
LABELLE: And we're all dressed like this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Anderson. Happy New Year.
COOPER: Thank you.
COHEN: Everyone looks great, by the way.
LABELLE: Say that again?
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: You know, Patti, I want to play a little game with you. Talking about events of the year.
LABELLE: What game do you want to play, Andy?
COHEN: Since your versus appearance was one of the most talked about events of the year, I want to talk about other popular activities from this year. I just want to give you some items and you tell me if it rings your la bell, okay? Do Zoom calls with your family ring your la bell? Did you do Zoom calls?
LABELLE: No. I didn't know.
COHEN: No?
LABELLE: I didn't do Zoom calls.
COOPER: Good.
COHEN: You did not?
LABELLE: You want the truth? No.
COHEN: What about TikTok challenges? Did you do any TikTok challenges?
COOPER: Patti LaBelle does not need to do TikTok challenges?
LABELLE: Oh, I did TikTok challenges with my grandbabies. Oh, yes, I did do TikTok.
COHEN: She did.
COOPER: All right.
COHEN: There you go.
LABELLE: I did do TikTok. I still do TikTok, okay, I can't show you my moves, but I did it.
COHEN: Now, you were on "The Masked Singer." What do you think about the mask singers spin off "The Masked Dancer"? Have you seen that yet?
LABELLE: "The Masked Dancer"? Well, it's going to be the masked address next. I don't know, honey. It's just there's a lot of masked stuff going on, but do what you've got to do because we don't have no time to do no real show, so let's do the masked stuff. Okay. I applaud them for that. Yes.
COOPER: By the way, while Andy is quiz -- while Andy is quizzing you, I'm eating your cornbread and it's delicious.
COHEN: It's so good. What did you think of your --
LABELLE: Eating the corn bread? Thank you.
COHEN: What did you think of your goddaughter, Mariah's Christmas Special? She's going to be joining us in a little bit.
LABELLE: Mariah's Christmas special. I just love her. You know, she's my goddaughter, right? And so her new book is fabulous. Have you read the book? Okay, she's my little baby girl.
COHEN: Yes. She is absolutely --
LABELLE: I love her so much. Yes. Oh, guess what? I'm on the back cover of "Vanity Fair." It's out now. Where is it?
[20:30:10]
COHEN: All right.
LABELLE: I don't see it. Hold on.
COHEN: I'm going to check it out.
LABELLE: Why did you guys put it in my face? Look, look. You see.
COHEN: Oh my god.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Oh, oh nice.
LABELLE: The back page. So that's an honor too. The cover of the --
COOPER: I love it.
LABELLE: -- New York Times and the back of this. I'm just happy to be happy.
COOPER: Nice, nice.
LABELLE: OK, I'm happy right now.
COHEN: Well, you know what --
LABELLE: Let's pray for a better year Andy and Anderson.
COHEN: -- we're happy to see you. Let's pray for a better year. We love you so much, Patti --
LABELLE: Yes.
COHEN: -- thank you for always saying hi to us on New Year's Eve.
LABELLE: I love you guys.
COHEN: And we wish you such good health and I cannot wait to see you on the stage again hopefully in 2021.
LABELLE: Yes.
COOPER: Have a great year Patti.
LABELLE: I can't wait to hold the mic again. I love you babies. Bye. Happy New Year.
COOPER: We love you too. Bye, bye.
LABELLE: Bye.
COHEN: All right, coming up next Randi Kaye is going to join the show with hundred adorable fluffy gas. Plus --
COOPER: Wanted dead or alive Jon Bon Jovi shares a special message and I'm so excited, Chery Oteri, teleporting in from the west coast, as -- well you'll see.
COHEN: You'll see.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Happy New Year Anderson and Andy. I hope next year is better than this one because this has been a tough year. In years past I was able to wish you a Happy New Year from wonderful locations. I was in Norway, for example one year jumping into some of the coldest waters on Earth, just to try it. I was in southern India one year with the Dalai Lama actually offering up his blessings for New Year. Well this year, I'm pretty much just in my basement. Here I am, this is where I've spent most of 2020, my ties there's you guys. This has been it primarily. And it's been a little different for sure. And this is where I'm going to be for New Year.
[20:35:28]
But what I've decided to do, which is just getting wild and crazy, is actually decide to get my hair cut. I'm going to get my hair cut. I'm actually going to let my daughters have their way with my hair. All right girls. Wish me luck. We'll see it in 2021
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: I was just going to say he can get it with that hair. And now he's going to cut it off.
COOPER: You just want leave people have long hair like yours.
COHEN: Yes, no.
COOPER: I've been after Andy to cut his hair. He looks great.
COHEN: Looks really good. Also, is that Sanjay Gupta's bed?
COOPER: I think it was a fair bed room.
COHEN: A white leather slave (ph) bed.
COOPER: Over the years, Randi Kaye --
COHEN: It's a lot of question.
COOPER: Does it? COHEN: That's Sanjay's bed?
COOPER: It's a guestroom I don't know. Look, see they're going to -- there's more confetti.
COHEN: Is that a yes.
COOPER: Randi Kay has been on yachts. She was on the last year she was at like on a hot bus --
COHEN: Hot bus.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Is in a pool of the champagne.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: This year, since she can't be around. She's around puppies.
COHEN: No, is that true? Randi? Oh, Randi.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
COHEN: Puppies.
COOPER: Oh my god --
KAYE: Happy New Year.
COOPER: -- you're drinking at a bar with puppies.
COHEN: I thought she's alone in a bar with puppies Randi.
KAYE: We are at the big Dog Ranch Rescue --
COOPER: Is that a bartender?
KAYE: -- here in Florida and wait, you have to meet. This is the cool -- this is Cooper the bartender I've never had to wait on a bartender usually a bartender waits on me. I'm --
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: I'm feeding the bartender while I'm holding a puppy. This is an amazing rescue. And here at the bar they only they only serve three drinks they serve the salty dog, the Greyhound and dog parent, you know of course. So, the puppy and I have ordered ourselves a little Greyhound. So we're going to get that mixed up for us. Can I get a Greyhound bartender?
COOPER: Oh.
KAYE: And you can only pay -- it's a cashless bar. COHEN: Oh my god. Oh that puppy.
KAYE: You can only pay on your phones. And look at the little puppy.
COHEN: And this is the bar -- this is the bar at Mar-a-Lago?
KAYE: No. Not the bar at Mar-a-Lago. But these I should mention all of these dogs. Let me just tell you right away they're all up for adoption. So if you want to go to the website for the Big Dog Ranch Rescue bddr.org. And here's my -- oh I have to tip in order to get my drink. So you tip in milk bones. OK, there you go. Thank you. OK. Now let me show you around. OK, I'm going to take my Greyhound get it?
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: OK, here, wait. I got to give you a close up of these puppies. Here, look at this little guy.
COOPER: Oh my god. (INAUDIBLE).
KAYE: Look at this, say hi.
COHEN: Oh.
KAYE: I think baby Wyatt (ph) needs a little friend at home.
COOPER: Yes.
KAYE: You can add to the pack Anderson. I think you should take this guy. Oh, so cute. OK.
COOPER: Oh, so cute.
KAYE: I'm going to show you around. Come on outside with me.
COOPER: OK.
KAYE: I'm going to hand you -- do you mind holding this little guy for me. Whoa, who let the dogs out? Check this out. Wait come (INAUDIBLE). Look at this. Hi --
COHEN: Oh my god.
KAYE: Hi puppies.
COHEN: Randi.
KAYE: So, you know, I love a crowd on New Year's Eve. Right? I love a big crowd. But we figured we're going to safely social distance. So what better way to social distance on New Year's Eve than when hundreds of dogs, right? I traded in my K95 for canines this year. So I'm sharing some cocktails with the dogs. And look at them all, I think they like the photographer better. He's on the ground. Yes, but this really --
COOPER: Wow. KAYE: -- great, great rescue. They have saved more than 45,000 dogs. They rescue dogs --
COOPER: Wow, that's amazing.
KAYE: -- all over the world, it's largest -- no, it's the largest no kill, cage free shelter in the country. And if you look out here, this is their yard. Hi. Hi --
COOPER: That's amazing.
COHEN: Wow.
KAYE: -- you're so cute. They all need homes. Hi. Oh, my goodness.
COHEN: Oh my god.
KAYE: Hi. Oh, oh. Do you like the Greyhound (INAUDIBLE) --
COHEN: OK, let's leave it there. Let's leave it there.
KAYE: Do you guys need a date?
COHEN: Yes, not that kind of thing. I'm not that hard.
COOPER: Randi, we'll come back to you a little bit.
COHEN: We'll come back to you.
COOPER: I love it.
KAYE: All right,
COHEN: Oh.
COOPER: I want to squeeze them.
COHEN: Oh, that's sweet. I mean, 2020s blink.
COOPER: It's, you know, we got to -- you do what you got to do.
COHEN: OK, well, guess what? She was one of our favorite guests to ring in 2020. The legendary Barbara Walters is back with us beaming into Time Square from Los Angeles.
[20:40:04]
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: There she is. Wow, modern technology. Barbara. I don't know how -- thank you for coming out under these circumstances.
CHERY OTERI, COMEDIAN: Oh, Andrew, Anderson once again, it has been a pleasure for you to have me on your alcohol lays pedestrian New Year's Eve special. Joining the apocalypse we call 2020. But since quarantining in my ever shrinking penthouse apartment with the former cherish loved ones. Attorney Barry Mendelsteen (ph) fluid hairdresser, Christoph Christine, beloved dog Cha-Cha, and moody daughter Jackie, getting out of the house was just the vaccine, the doctor ordered.
COHEN: Of course, Ms. Walters. I'm wondering what's happened with all of your exciting plans that you had for your comeback. You were going to hit the scene again.
OTERI: But Andrew, as I said, when I was on your late night think tank program, what would happen next? All right. I'm sorry. Oh, watch what happens live potato, potato. I could have never anticipated that every day would go back to being a Chico's kind of day. But then again, hindsight is 2020.
Luckily, my tech savvy super friend galco.84 set me up on an exciting news site they call the Zoom. Now I can play word games with pippins (INAUDIBLE), TV scene stealer and civil war vet Betty White spayed and neutered game show legend Bob Barker. Broadway's legs for days Gina Rivera, knockout drill master George Foreman and British funny man Victoria Beckham. After a heated game of scattegories we'll discuss hot topics such as Moderna versus Pfizer, Trump's pardoning parade with popular floats Roger Stone, Paul Manafort and Snoopy. Cataract surgery, Lori Loughlin, Shawshank Redemption, Instagram, Superman and Spanish (INAUDIBLE) Hilaria Baldwin, and that pocket size pandemic prince that would have this gal swiping right, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
COHEN: Ms. Walters, now that your love life and your career prospects are on hold. How are you coping?
OTERI: Well Andrew, I've never been one to partake in alcohol, spirits of any kind, but since quarantining with my moody daughter Jackie now the Judy Garland our starts at a quarter of Judge Judy. And sides right past COVID conquering Chris Cuomo. Thank you, Barry.
For my solo fun, I'll go on to the cameo and wish perfect strangers are happy birthday at the rock bottom stimulus price of $600 a pop. When bedtime is a struggle, my white noise is hacking into both of your son's nanny cams to spy on baby Benjamins dancing and in Studio 54 disco crib and Wiley riots insistence on taking off his pants. Now I'm afraid I've got to cut my exposure time with you both shorts and some considered high risk or at this point, just tie since we're still in the homestretch of the holy hell we called 2020.
COOPER: Wow. Chery Oteri.
COHEN: Barbara Walters, Chery Oteri. We love you so much.
COOPER: Oh my god.
COHEN: Thank you for gracing us with your presence again.
COOPER: Gracias, gracias.
COHEN: You make us laugh, laugh, laugh.
COOPER: Oh my god. Chery Oteri, you helped us bring in this awful year. COHEN: And she's out. And just like that, she's gone.
All right, coming up next, Carole Baskin gives us an update on all things Tiger King, Gloria Gaynor is going to sing I will survive an anthem we all need to hear right now. But first, Jon Bon Jovi has a message. JBJ.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSE BONGIOVI, JON BON JOVI'S SON: Hey Anderson, Andy, everybody at home watching. I don't know about you all. But my dad and I could not wait for New Year's this year. We are so done with 2020.
JON BON JOVI, SINGER: We tried to make the best of it, mastered the art of banana bread making, attended Zoom weddings, even learned that Tik Tok dance. And we finished that 100,000 piece puzzle.
BONGIOVI: Twice. But there's a lot of things we're hoping to do in 2021 like trout.
BON JOVI: Play live music.
BONGIOVI: Give hugs. This has been a really tough year that after all, we've all been through. I think everyone could use a good hug. I know I could.
BON JOVI: Just if you want to hold on, I'll give you a hug.
BONGIOVI: Hopefully it won't be too much longer until we're traveling, seeing friends, relatives, going to concerts. And yes, you can hug me.
[20:45:00]
BON JOVI: You can give me a hug.
BONGIOVI: So let's raise our glass. (INAUDIBLE) or whatever you have handy. And toast goodbye to 2020 and hello for 2021.
BON JOVI: Cheers. Just pray and give me a hug.
BONGIOVI: Nothing to hug. (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COHEN: Well, I mean I love it that they're dancing. People are, you know what the people that are here are into it.
COOPER: And look and a lot of these are people who have been on the front lines all year long and I think it's great that I mean it's such an honor to be invited and allowed to be here. It's so awesome.
COHEN: Did that shot get you a little drunk? You seem a little slurry.
COOPER: Do I? COHEN: Already. Such a lightweight. You -- what he is also a lightweight --
COOPER: I don't drink, I don't --
COHEN: No, you don't.
COOPER: -- I don't see the point.
COHEN: No. He's also a lightweight at singing and dancing. And I made Anderson --
COOPER: What is this?
COHEN: It's Casamigos, they didn't pay for an integration. So, although we got the shout out that's --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: That's the George Clooney guy.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Anyway, and if you've been watching CNN at all, you've seen that Anderson and I did a little broadway musical number --
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: -- to promote tonight. I think we have a clip of that?
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: We sang. Let's watch.
[20:50:18]
COHEN: I was so fun and I have to say he got into it more than I think that he wants to admit. But there is a moment that he really regrets and when they told us to do it he was like, OK. And I was like just do it, just do it. And it's when we cross, that's it.
COOPER: That's -- right there.
COHEN: Where we cross each other. And then when the commercial came out I go, oh my god I love that moment.
COOPER: No, but do you remember what the guy said?
COHEN: What.
COOPER: There was like a dance choreographer on set.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: And when we first did it, the guy was like Anderson, a little less musical theater. COHEN: Yes. And they kept saying that to him about his look they they're running it on a loop. I love it.
COOPER: And I don't if I want to do this and the guy was like, it'll only be seen for a second but of course when he put on a loop.
COHEN: Yes. I'm sure CNN is thrilled about that footage. By the way I mean, I was told that I got to can-can and I didn't really get to do that.
COOPER: Oh my god that all day long Andy -- by the way, it took like 10 hours to shoot the thing. All day long is Andy is like, when am I can-can. when am I can-can.
COHEN: Sounds like Chery Oteri a little bit.
COOPER: And Chery (INAUDIBLE).
COHEN: I shot a little bit of us in the recording booth.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: We are so bad you guys. I can't --
COOPER: It took hours. Well, about an hour.
COHEN: Let's just watch how horrible we are. This is embarrassing. We are humiliated.
COOPER: This is -- do you ever see -- remember spinal -- I don't know anybody saw Spinal Tap?
COHEN: Everyone saw Spinal Tap.
COOPER: No. We're old. The young people don't know what Spinal Tap.
COHEN: That's all do.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: I think there are a lot of young people watching right now. Let's keep the party going. Now --
COOPER: It's like what Spinal Tap was that the Elvis (INAUDIBLE) --
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: -- you know, not harmonized.
COHEN: Yes. No, the audience is too young and sweetie. They don't know. Well, thank god Kylie Minogue is coming up. Her new album disco is so good. It's really good. She's performing one of my favorite tracks. Here's Kylie performing magic right now.
[20:55:25]
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: I believed in magic.
COOPER: You're?
COHEN: Yes. I'm turned from that performance I loved it. Oh my god the night is just begun I love Kylie Minogue.
Coming up next --
COOPER: Gloria Gaynor.
COHEN: -- it's Gloria Gaynor with I will survive a.k.a the mantra of 2020 and our people.
COOPER: Also Carole Baskin is it's coming up. Tiger King, one of our top bingeable shows of the year and much, much more. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY HALE, ACTOR: Hello all. Tony Hale here. I have a little poem for you. I bring happy news for this Happy New Year. 2020 is done. It's 2021. Thank God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to CNN New Year's Eve live. Tonight, we celebrate the end to the worst year ever. And the start of anyone with appearances by Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Colbert, John Mayer, Cameron Diaz, Carole Baskin, Desus & Mero, Jimmy Buffett and many others.
