If you’re like me and are planning to ring in 2014 from the comfort of your sofa, here’s a handy guide to New Years Eve TV programming. The specials include performances from some of your favs (or not). So take your pick, or surf around. Are you staying in tonight to celebrate the New Year? If so, what will you be watching?
“New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Presents the 30 Greatest Women in Music,” – (ABC) – A two-hour lead-in special at 8 p.m. to New Years Rockin’ Eve.
Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2014 – (ABC) – The granddaddy of them all. New Year’s Rockin Eve has been on the air since the 70s and is the go-to special for talent and viewers alike. The live broadcast from New York runs from 10 to 11 p.m., with a half-hour break for local news, before continuing from 11:30 p.m. to 2:12 a.m. Miley Cyrus, Billy Joel, Icona Pop, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in New York with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy. Fergie hosts the west coast portion, featuring Daughtry, Capital Cities, Jason Derulo, Fall Out Boy, Florida Georgia Line, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesisas, Robin Thicke, and the Fray. The ubiquitous Pitbull hosts a party in Miami.
New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly – (NBC) – Glee star Jane Lynch will serve as co-host. The special airs live from Time Square from 10-11, and picks back up after the local news from 11:30 to 12:30. Guests performers include Blake Shelton and Mariah Carey. Actress-comedian Natasha Leggero and actor Anthony Anderson will appear as guests. This morning, The Voice 3 winner, Cassadee Pope tweeted that she “might” make an appearance, whatever that means.
New Year’s Eve Live! — (FOX) – In the past, I’ve tuned into this special in order to record performances from Idol favorites, and it’s typically a grim affair. Lame comedy bits and tacky production values render the special downright depressing. Mario Lopez hosts this year, live from Las Vegas (adding to the cheap ambiance) with performances by performances by J. Cole, Krewella, New Politics and Panic! At The Disco from LIGHT Nightclub at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The “fun” begins at 11 and runs to 12:30 am.
New Year’s Live With Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin – CNN – No musical performances of note, but nearly every year, the outrageous Kathy Griffin says or does something in front of a mortified Anderson Cooper that enters the news cycle the next day. The fun begins a 9 pm.
All-American New Year – (FOX News) – FOX news announced yesterday that Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson and his wife Korie will drop by, presumably to discuss the controversy surrounding the family patriarch Phil. WHOO. Good times. The special will be hosted by Bill Hemmer and Elisabeth Hasselbeck from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
New Years Day
125th Tournament of Roses Parade – (NBC) – Live from Pasadena, CA, the Tournament of Roses parade coverage begins at 11:30 am ET/8:30 PT. Notable, is the first ever The Voice float, themed “Singing the Dream. The “iconic” set pieces bring The Voice experience to life, reports the official press release, from the spinning “I Want You” chair and the massive hand grasping the mic, to “dazzling adornments” like musical notes and beautiful red rays that evoke the show’s stage. This year’s winner, Tessanne Chin, will perform from atop the float. She’ll be joined by runner-up and third place finisher, Jacquie Lee and Will Champlin. The trio are perfecting their pageant waves as we speak, I’m sure!
