Face it: with COVID cases surging and a generally bleak outlook for 2022 (2020, two?), the best part of your New Year’s Eve was probably watching Gemini power duo Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper host a wonderfully chaotic iteration of CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live.
Where to begin? The Real Housewives empresario and CNN anchor took shots at Bill de Blasio and Ryan Seacrest, took literal shots in honor of the recently departed Betty White, and even rang Kris Jenner, who artfully dodged Cohen’s inquiry regarding Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian’s confusing relationship.
good morning! . Um, I was a bit overserved last night…. 🥴
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) January 1, 2022
As the clock approached midnight, Cohen took the opportunity to celebrate the end of de Blasio’s reign. “The only thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been,” he said, as Cooper bemusedly looked on (“Don’t go on a rant,” he pleaded).
“Sayonara, sucker!” Cohen concluded.
https://youtu.be/RuELqOhSjgM
The Bravo star also dug into ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, referring to the competing program as “Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers.” (Not an entirely off-base observation, considering the allegations against Seacrest — which hardly affected his career).
Cohen and Cooper’s New Year’s Eve Live was full of drunken hijinks and hilarious jabs (as Cooper chowed down on what appeared to be a packet of baby food, Cohen noted, “you notoriously love food in the bedroom, don’t you?”), but the undisputed highlight of the night was the pair’s interview with Momager Supreme Kris Jenner.
https://youtu.be/hGbXFvP3K3s
While Zooming with the Keeping Up matriarch, Cohen inquired about Staten Island’s best: Pete Davidson.
“Everyone is talking about Kim’s new relationship with Pete Davidson — have you had the chance to spend time with them? How are they as a couple?” he asked.
With almost too-perfect timing, Stormi Webster entered the frame, providing a distraction from Cohen’s inquiries into a relationship that some believe is a PR stunt.
“Good timing… right on cue!” Jenner (maybe) joked.
Other noteworthy moments from the interview: when Cohen almost lost his balance as Jenner waxed and waned about Kardashian passing the baby bar exam; when Cohen told Jenner she’s “spreading [her] tentacles in so many directions” in regards to her musical cover of “Jingle Bells,” featuring drums by Travis Barker.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYPycWWvu6j/
While some didn’t take kindly to Cohen’s on-air shenanigans, CNN stood by its host.
“Andy said something he shouldn’t have on live TV,” the network said in statement issued to E!. “We’ve addressed it with him and look forward to having him back again next year.”
Indeed, I think we all look forward to another night of Chaotic Good messiness, courtesy of Cohen and Cooper.