The countdown just got its spark. Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are back on CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live tonight, and I can confirm the duo is set and rolling in Times Square right now. The lights are bright, the stage is locked, and the banter has already started. If you need the quickest way to watch, I have you covered. If you want to know what they will deliver, I have that too. Let’s get you to midnight with the right feed and the right expectations.
How to watch right now
The broadcast is live on CNN from Times Square, with check-ins from cities across the country as each time zone hits midnight. You can watch on cable or satellite, or stream through services that carry CNN, including Max with CNN Max and major live TV streaming bundles. Exact start times and feeds can vary by provider and region, so pull up your app and confirm the live channel now.
- CNN on cable or satellite, channel number varies by provider
- Max, via CNN Max, live coverage in supported regions
- YouTube TV, Hulu plus Live TV, and similar bundles where CNN is included
- The CNN app with a pay TV login where available
Open your stream 10 minutes early. Live feeds can buffer at the top of the hour, and you do not want to miss the countdown.
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What to expect on air
This is the New Year’s Eve show that leans into personality. Cooper and Cohen mix real news instincts with party energy, which is why the two have ruled this night since 2017. You get big laughs, quick pivots, and the occasional jaw-drop moment that becomes the talk of January. Their style is simple. Anderson sets the table. Andy spices the dish. Together, they keep the night moving.
Look for celebrity drop-ins at the Times Square riser, plus surprise calls and rapid check-ins with correspondents posted coast to coast. As the clock rolls through time zones, the show swings to other cities for fireworks, live concerts, and crowd shots. It is the only countdown that feels like a national tour in real time.
CNN’s camera team builds the mood with tight shots, wide crowd sweeps, and that iconic ball overhead. The hosts love audience moments. They pull fans into the show with quick chats, funny signs, and those “did that just happen” beats. It is loose, it is live, and it is why this broadcast has become a New Year tradition.
Why Cooper and Cohen keep winning the night
The secret is chemistry you cannot fake. Anderson is steady, curious, and quick to laugh. Andy is game to push, tease, and stir. When a guest shows up unannounced, they handle it with grace, then squeeze out a sound bite you will hear again tomorrow. They talk like friends at a party, then flip into countdown mode in a snap. That balance sets them apart.
Fans come for the warmth as much as the jokes. Families leave this on while they prep snacks. Roommates throw it on as the soundtrack to the last hour of the year. Grandparents know Anderson from the news. Bravo fans know Andy from late night and Housewives. The show bridges generations without trying too hard. It just feels easy.
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Availability and start times can change by provider and region. If you switch between services, confirm you are watching the live East or Central feed before midnight.
The cross-country ride to midnight
Cooper and Cohen will guide the Times Square ball drop, then keep rolling as midnight hits other time zones. Expect cutaways to celebrations in the South, the Midwest, and the West. The show often lands in party hubs like New Orleans, Miami, Nashville, and Las Vegas. Look for fireworks, live stages, and big city skylines. The energy resets with each time zone, and the hosts keep the rhythm steady.
Here is your last minute prep checklist to make the night smooth:
- Update your streaming apps to avoid login snags
- Charge your phone, tablet, or remote
- Set the volume before the crowd peaks
- Grab your glasses for the toast, then let the show ride
The broadcast thrives on unpredictability, but one thing stays the same. When the clock hits the top of the hour, the timing is sharp. The countdown, the confetti, the kiss, the first hugs of the year, all stick the landing. Cooper and Cohen respect the moment, then crack a line you will repeat for days.
The bottom line
If you want the most entertaining path to midnight, you have it. Tune to CNN on your TV or open a service that carries CNN, including Max with CNN Max in supported regions. Settle in for quick wit, big drop-ins, and a cross-country victory lap. Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen own New Year’s Eve because they make live TV feel like a party you are invited to. The lights are up. The ball is ready. You are right on time. Happy New Year. 🎉
