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Anderson Cooper Couldn’t Keep A Straight Face During His Live New Years Interview With John Mayer On CNN

Highlights

  • CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast made headlines for Anderson Cooper’s uncontrollable laughter during an interview with John Mayer at a cat bar.
  • Andy Cohen previously went viral for his rant against Bill de Blasio, Mark Zuckerberg, and Ryan Seacrest during the 2023 New Year’s broadcast, but was not fired by CNN despite false reports.
  • CNN enforced a ban on drinking alcohol during the broadcast, but lifted it in 2023 after viewer dissatisfaction, allowing Cohen and Cooper to enjoy their drinks on air during the 2024 broadcast.

CNN’s live New Year’s Eve broadcast has been entertaining viewers for many years. When Anderson Cooper co-hosted with Kathy Griffin, viewers enjoyed seeing how she would shock the CNN anchor on air.

However, after Griffin’s Trump photo controversy led to her firing, Bravo’s Andy Cohen was brought in as her replacement. It turns out that viewers enjoyed their chemistry as well.

CNN previously placed a ban on hosts drinking alcohol during the broadcast. This would be lifted in 2023, however, and viewers seemed much happier than the previous year. One particularly viral moment occurred during an interview with Cohen’s good friend John Mayer. Mayer’s interview was thoroughly enjoyed by Cooper, who broke out laughing during the chat.

John Mayer Called Into CNN New Year’s Broadcast From A Cat Bar, Causing Anderson To Crack Up Laughing

Less than an hour before the United States officially rang in 2024, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen spoke to John Mayer during their annual live New Year’s broadcast on CNN.

However, it wasn’t what Mayer said during his interview that got viral attention. Instead, it was Cooper’s hysterical giggling fit that began almost immediately after Mayer showed up on screen.

Mayer called in via Tokyo, Japan, where they had already welcomed the new year with a bang. Mayer was interviewed by the two hosts via a cat café, something Cohen seemed concerned about.

“John, this doesn’t look sanitary,” Cohen told his friend.

Mayer replied, “You know what, I believe it passes all health codes, I think it’s just fine.”

Cooper had already been laughing quite a bit by this point and his giggling fit would only get even more intense.

“Talk to me about this bar,” Cohen asked Mayer. “You are in the bar, and there are cats everywhere. They are licking each other.”

“There are cats,” Mayer said. “This is a place you can come, enjoy a drink or two and talk to cats. It’s a cat bar. I mean, I don’t know how much more clear I can be about the objective of this place.”

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Cooper said very little during the interview, as his laughter was clearly getting the best of him. However, Cohen attempted to clarify why Mayer’s interview was sending Cooper into hysterics.

“Just the shot of the cat’s ass in your face is making him delirious,” Cohen told Mayer.

Cooper’s laughing fit was regarded by many to be a highlight of the night, with many outlets and social media users commenting on the moment.

Andy’s New Year’s Rant Caused Speculation He Was Going To Be Removed From The Show

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While Cooper’s laughing delighted many online, it was a slightly different reception after Cohen went viral during CNN’s New Year’s 2023 broadcast two years earlier.

After ringing the new year, Cohen went on a 45-second rant against former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Elsewhere in the broadcast, Cohen ranted about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and rival New Year’s host Ryan Seacrest.

As Cohen’s rant went viral online, many were amused by his outburst. However, not everyone was so good-humored about the situation. In fact, there were a number of reports which falsely claimed Cohen was fired by CNN. One report quoted a “TV insider” who claimed CNN was “embarrassed and angry” at Cohen’s behavior.

A spokesperson for CNN told BuzzFeed News that the network was standing by Cohen and he was welcome back the following year.

“I can confirm that Andy Cohen will be back to co-host NYE on CNN next year,” the statement read.

When speaking to Howard Stern, Cohen slammed the “unnamed sources” for “making up” the story.

“Listen, I will not be shamed for having fun on New Year’s Eve. That’s why I’m there. That’s why they bring me there,” he said.

Cohen also said that the clips which went viral were taken from the final portion of the broadcast.

“It’s a four-and-a-half-hour show,” he explained. “The booze started kicking in at around 11:30, so everyone is focusing on kind of the last 45 minutes or hour that we were on the air. I kicked into high gear with 45 minutes left, so we had done 15 interviews before that point, you know.”

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He further asserted that he wouldn’t be shamed for having fun on New Year’s Eve.

“I won’t be shamed for it! I had a blast! Anderson had a blast! We left and we were like, ‘That was fun, what a fun New Year’s Eve,’” Cohen said. “No apologies for my drinking on New Year’s Eve. None.”

CNN Enforced Rules That Banned Drinking During The Broadcast, Only To Lift Them In 2023

In May 2022, Chris Licht was brought in as CNN’s new chairman and CEO. According to Variety, staffers at the network met with Licht in November to discuss the New Year’s coverage. Licht reportedly said that he wished to move away from any on-air partying, fearing it would “erode credibility” and take away the network’s “respectability.”

As a result, it was said that certain correspondents and anchors were told to abstain from alcohol consumption during future New Year’s broadcasts.

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Amid speculation, Cohen spoke to Rolling Stone and clarified that it was CNN correspondents who weren’t allowed to drink.

“Anderson and I will be the people partying on CNN [though] we will be partying responsibly,” he said. “If the correspondents are not drinking this year, I will be partying even harder on their behalf.”

However, Cohen would later tell Page Six that neither he nor Cooper would be drinking during the New Year’s coverage. “But we’re going to have a BLAST,” he said.

Cohen and Cooper ultimately didn’t consume alcohol during the broadcast, but took mystery shots instead. One of the mystery shots was pickle juice.

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CNN Had To Enforce New Rules Following Andy Cohen’s Rant That Almost Got Him Fired

Cohen went after Bill de Blasio, Mark Zuckerberg and Ryan Seacrest after taking several drinks on air.

However, Cohen would tell E! News in 2023 that he believed the no-drinking policy didn’t go over well with viewers.

“It’s New Year’s Eve!” Cohen said. “[The no-drinking policy] didn’t go well last year in terms of viewer happiness. People really cared and I hope CNN gives the people what they want.”

After Licht was ousted from CNN in June 2023, Cohen got his wish and the drinking ban was lifted. During the New Year’s broadcast ringing in 2024, Cohen and Cooper were back to drinking alcohol on air.

Source: NewsFinale

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