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CNN Live Event/Special

New Year's Eve Celebration; Aired 8-9p ET

Aired December 31, 2017 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[20:00:21] ANNOUNCER: From the heart of Times Square, it's CNN's New Year's Eve live. Tonight from all over America, a star-studded and unpredictable party. With special appearances by Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Amy Sedaris, Dave Chappelle, John Mayer, and more surprises.

And now your hosts, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And welcome to New York, to Times Square. I'm Anderson Cooper here with Andy Cohen.

ANDY COHEN, CNN HOST: Happy to be here.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

COOPER: It is -- it is very cold outside. It has not kept the crowds away. It's not going to dampen the party certainly. And when the ball drops no matter where the thermometer says Times Square, as it always does, will feel like the warmest place on earth.

I want to welcome Andy Cohen who's hosting with me.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

COHEN: Thanks for having me. Thank you. I was told that it was turtle neck --

COOPER: I feel like we're, like, the early cast of "Mum and Shuns."

COHEN: I know -- what?

COOPER: It's like an early show from New York in the '80s.

COHEN: Yikes.

COOPER: Yes. Like we're mimes or something.

COHEN: I know.

COOPER: Yes. We're going to -- when we go outside, we're going to warm up. We have lots of warm clothing.

COHEN: Let's hope so.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: Yes. We are wearing heated clothing. COOPER: That is true. I found this place where you can buy heated

clothing. I didn't know such a thing existed.

COHEN: Yes. I didn't either.

COOPER: So it's heated everything.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: So I'm very excited.

Between now and next year, we've got so much to bring you. You heard Dave Chappell is going to be on the show. Keith Urban, Celine Dion, John Mayer, Amy Sedaris, and more. At some point, somebody is going to make me blush, probably giggle like a teenage girl.

COHEN: Happens all the time.

COOPER: That is true. Randi Kaye is spending the evening at a -- on a bus full of legal pot smokers in Colorado.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

COHEN: Yes. Why am I not in Colorado?

COOPER: Andy wanted to be there.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: But we put the kibosh on that. Brooke -- Bill Weir is in Key West, which has bounced back incredibly well from the storm. We'll talk to him. Brooke Baldwin, Don Lemon are in New Orleans. God only knows what they are getting into.

COHEN: I cannot wait to see what Don Lemon does in New Orleans.

COOPER: Sara Sidner is in Nashville. And Gary Tuchman is in Las Vegas along with his daughter, Lindsay. They are crashing an Elvis wedding.

COHEN: I don't know what that is.

COOPER: Richard Quest is down in Times Square. I don't know why he pulled the short straw and got that assignment because it is so freaking cold outside.

We are in the R Lounge overlooking it all at the Renaissance Hotel where there's a party just --

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

COHEN: It's great. Let me -- so, no alcohol, we're not drinking. Am I to understand that?

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: OK.

COOPER: Although I think I felt like I saw a bottle of alcohol in a bag here --

COHEN: I did bring some tequila. Yes. OK.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: And then -- but so literally you're telling me I can't pee for 4 1/2 hours, is that what's happening?

COOPER: That is -- yes. That is what happens, yes.

COHEN: OK. Let me ask you this. If news breaks.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: And I certainly hope that it doesn't --

COOPER: Right.

COHEN: -- can I do the -- can I read the --

COOPER: No. No. Absolutely not.

COHEN: If it's in the prompter --

COOPER: Actually I should point out, Andy and I have known each other for, like, 25 years. We were actually set up on a blind date that never happened. You may have heard the story. But basically we had a phone call to set up the blind date. And I knew within really 45 seconds, I was never going on a date with Andy Cohen.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: He loves this story because it's so nasty to me.

COOPER: First of all, I imagine him in his office like gesticulating on a Bluetooth headset. He just very jazz handsy and the second thing is he violated my cardinal rule, which is he asked me about my mom in my first 30 seconds of talking to me.

COHEN: Yes. It's true. OK.

COOPER: Yes. He wanted to (INAUDIBLE).

COHEN: I did. Yes.

COOPER: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: So we hang out in New York a lot, we go on trips a lot. And --

COHEN: We do. COOPER: You ever been to Times Square on New Year's Eve?

COHEN: I did once. Once I did something with NBC a couple of years ago and I have to say, I never understood the compulsion of a million or million and a half people to stand in Times Square herded like cats.

COOPER: Right. I didn't understand it until I came and saw the magic that happens around the drop of the ball.

COHEN: OK. Walking in and seeing everyone, it is a muted crowd.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: Until midnight. They are freezing their --

COOPER: There are people -- normally it's a little more exuberant.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: There are people literally just huddled together right now.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: So -- yes.

COHEN: Anyway, we had a great year. We go on tour together.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: AC2. We wanted to share our sort of year in photos, which I have to say, they go all over the place. Here are you and my dog, Waka.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: This is a good place to start. Super cute, Waka licking your face.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: You have a very meaningful relationship.

COOPER: Every time -- we had several meetings to talk about what we're going to do on New Year's Eve. Every time this is how the meeting would be interrupted.

COHEN: Yes. Which is perfect. Here we are in Tahiti. We had a great trip to Tahiti.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: And Bora Bora. You are just as pale as you could ever be. You could be in the sun for a month.

COOPER: I know. I know. [20:05:003] COHEN: And you will be paler.

COOPER: No. No. No one wants to see me on a beach.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: It's not a good look.

COHEN: And you also swim funny, I should say. Here we are in Indiana.

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: I took you to your first steak and shake.

COOPER: That's true. Yes, yes.

COHEN: Here we are on a helicopter from Atlantic City to New York City.

COOPER: So we did a show --

COHEN: And here we are with the famous bunny, Lisa Rinna, Kim Richards bunny --

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: Andy was traveling all around for a while.

COHEN: Yes. But we did a show in Las Vegas -- in Atlantic City and we took a helicopter and when we landed, you feel very glamorous.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: And I got out of the helicopter and I said, I feel like Frank Sinatra. And what did you say?

COHEN: I said, it's funny that you said that, I was feeling like Diana Ross.

COOPER: And there's the difference between us.

COHEN: Yes. Yes. You're so -- yes. Here we are in Tampa. A little airport selfie. Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: That was amazing. We loved that. The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

COOPER: Whenever we go on tour, the "Real Housewives" tend to show up.

COHEN: They do because I invite them. Here are the Potomac housewives at our Baltimore show. Here we are in Dallas with the "Real Housewives of Dallas." Here we are with my parents. COOPER: And when they walk into a room, there's a lot going on.

COHEN: Of course, there is.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: In every direction. Here's some throwback -- here's some throwbacks of us. I love these. Because our hair, you know, our hair's a little different. We've got -- where are they? I can't really -- I mean -- we're seconds behind. There we are. OK.

COOPER: This looks like you're assaulting me.

COHEN: Yes, we do a little bit. Here's another one. Here we are swimming in the ocean. Anderson is super pale. And then we have a --

COOPER: If ever I got lost at sea, they would find me quickly.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: I'm very identifiable.

COHEN: Here we have a brooding younger Anderson with a parfait, which I think is nice little pink.

COOPER: Yes. Yes. We're doing a kind of Chachi look there.

COHEN: Yes. Look at my hair game in this vintage seaside photo. This is bad.

COOPER: When I first met you, you had -- well, your hair was bigger than that. You used to have, like, huge hair.

COHEN: Yes. Well, I mean, I don't know if I would say huge.

COOPER: Yes. I think it was. Yes.

COHEN: Thanks.

COOPER: So what are you expecting tonight?

COHEN: I am expecting -- I'm worried about the cold.

COOPER: Right.

COHEN: I am worried about peeing. I'm excited about all of our guests. We have some fun stuff planned. Do you at all feel responsible or guilty about if I have a bad time or if I'm really cold?

COOPER: No. No, I don't -- no.

COHEN: Because you kind of got -- you --

COOPER: I -- you're a grown adult. Why would I feel responsible for you?

COHEN: Because I'm here on your --

COOPER: I bought you heating clothing. I spent $2,900 on heated clothing that I don't think --

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: I feel that you're going to bill CNN for that.

COOPER: I don't know if they're going to reimburse me.

COHEN: Well --

COOPER: Yes. We'll see.

COHEN: OK.

COOPER: But, yes, so we want to go to Richard Quest in a moment because he's down -- I feel bad for Richard Quest. He's actually been out there for --

COHEN: He said since 10:00 a.m.

COOPER: Yes. Yes. He's been there throughout the day.

COHEN: Long time.

COOPER: Long time. So is Richard ready? OK. All right. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back. Much more from New York. We'll be here.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:11:44] COOPER: That was the scene in Australia, the iconic Sydney Harbor in Australia. One of the first major cities to ring in 2018. Welcome back. I'm Anderson Cooper.

COHEN: I'm Andy Cohen. The first A.C. and A.C. and A.C., in case you were wondering. So since we're talking about Australia, and we're on live around the world, I want to discuss this guy who is my favorite story out of Australia this year. The Australian of the year. Of course I'm referring to the ripped kangaroo.

COOPER: What was -- are all kangaroos like that?

COHEN: Is that a kangaroo on 'roids that I'm looking at? Is that a juiced up --

COOPER: It's a little Putinesque, it's a little like Vladimir Putin.

COHEN: I was thinking that it kind of looked like a shirtless Zac Efron. Let's see who --

COOPER: Zac Efron has gotten big.

COHEN: Zac Efron is big.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: Yes. Absolutely. You know, another thing -- there you go. Another thing that was great in Australia, there was a Ginger Pride Parade.

COOPER: I did not know that.

COHEN: In -- a thousand --

COOPER: OK, Andy is obsessed with gingers.

COHEN: I love gingers. I love a ging. If I was a ging, I would celebrate being a ging. I think they're the chosen race. I think that they --

COOPER: What do you mean?

COHEN: What? I don't know. I think they're underdogs. They're simultaneously chosen and underdogs.

COOPER: OK.

COHEN: Yes. I love a ging.

COOPER: OK. Yes.

COHEN: Also --

COOPER: So there was a Ginger Pride rally in Australia.

COHEN: Yes, there was. Yes.

COOPER: OK.

COHEN: It was great.

COOPER: Were you like grand marshal there?

COOPER: No, I wanted to go. I'm not a ginger. So --

COOPER: Maybe next year. Well, I know but --

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: I am also kind of obsessed with the avocado latte.

COOPER: What is that?

COHEN: Have you heard about that?

COOPER: What is that?

COHEN: It's like an avocado-flavored latte that they serve in Australia. It's disgusting.

COOPER: That's disgusting.

COHEN: Yes. No, I --

COOPER: I don't get the pumpkin thing anyway. I don't get the -- I drink hot things.

COHEN: Martha Stewart said on my show that the pumpkin thing, she said they were basic B -- can I say bitch? Basic bitches drinking pumpkin lattes.

COOPER: Why would Martha Stewart say that?

COHEN: Because I goaded her into it. Anyway --

COOPER: What does that even mean?

COHEN: I don't know. I'll explain later.

COOPER: Everybody in Jersey seems to drink that. She said --

COHEN: I love the basic. Yes.

COOPER: I don't know what that means.

COHEN: It's not on me.

COOPER: Well, we're very excited, we got Celine Dion, Keith -- we're actually going to be broadcasting in Celine Dion's show.

COHEN: In -- we will be -- yes.

COOPER: Like we will be on stage with Celine Dion, basically.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: Which it's like a dream come true.

COHEN: It is a dream come true. In the coliseum from Las Vegas. Keith Urban a little later.

COOPER: Dave Chappelle which I -- and John Mayer.

COHEN: We both watched the Dave Chappelle today --

COOPER: Which just dropped on Netflix today.

COHEN: Unbelievable.

COOPER: Yes. Really, yes.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: In the meantime, we wanted some other -- you know, a lot of the shows on New Year's Eve have big musical acts. COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: We don't quite have the budget.

COHEN: Sounds like we don't.

COOPER: We do not have.

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: Have the budget for that.

COHEN: We may not be able to expense our heated clothing.

COOPER: That is true.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: $2900. We have -- but we asked Wolf Blitzer to sing some of this year's -- or to perform some of this -- a little surprise for you -- some of this year's biggest hits. Throughout the evening, you will hear some of the songs (INAUDIBLE) Wolf Blitzer.

COHEN: OK. Great.

COOPER: Let's just listen to the first one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, Anderson, and Andy. I'm Wolf Blitzer and welcome to "Wolf Blitzer Sings the Hits of 2017."

You may remember this smash hit of the summer when Justin Bieber teamed up with my old friends, Luis Fonzie and Daddy Yankee. It's one of my favorites. Let me sing the words to you right now.

[20:15:01] Come on over in my direction. So thankful for that it's such a blessing, yes. Turn every situation into heaven, yes. Oh, you were my sunrise on the darkest day. Got me feeling some kind of way. Make me want to savor every moment slowly, slowly. You fit me tailor- made. Love, how you put it on. Not the only key. Know how to turn it on. The way you nibble on my ear, the only words I want to hear. Baby, take it slow so we can last long.

That's right, guys. That was "Despacito." I'm Wolf Blitzer. And this has been "Wolf Blitzer Sings the Hits of 2017."

Anderson and Andy, back to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Wow.

COOPER: Wolf, thank you.

COHEN: Wow. I'm titillated. I feel -- I'm excited. COOPER: All right. Talking about excitement, let's go and talk to

the crowd. Richard Quest is out there somewhere in this huge crowd.

Richard, how are you holding up out there?

COHEN: Oh my god, he looks miserable.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: It's 12 degrees at the moment. If we get a degree lower, then we will tie for the second coldest New Year's Eve in Times Square. So you want to know how people are keeping warm? This is how they're keeping warm. They are literally huddled together. It is sheer unadulterated body warmth. Are you happy to be here? Yes, you can see the look of delight at New Year's.

Hello, where are you from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Argentina.

QUEST: You're from Argentina. You're from?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Spain.

QUEST: From Spain. And you, where are you from?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm from Michigan.

QUEST: Oh, you're used to the cold weather.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

QUEST: Even here it's pretty cold.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's colder. It's colder here right now.

QUEST: What time did you get here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today we got here about 3:00.

COOPER: Oh, my god. I mean --

QUEST: 3:00. Hey, now, look, I know Andy is really worried about not being able to have a pee over the four hours you're going to be here. Now I understand, but pity these poor people.

(CHEERS)

QUEST: They have been here -- who's the earliest? Who was here at 1:00?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was here at 12:00.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were here at 1:00.

QUEST: These people have been here for seven hours without the opportunity of going to the bathroom. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly. Just don't eat for two days.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

QUEST: So that tells you how difficult it is to actually be here. But are you glad you came?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am absolutely glad. Got my daughter here. It's a great day.

QUEST: Where's your daughter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right here.

QUEST: How old is your daughter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifteen.

QUEST: Child abuse in this cold weather. He brought his 15-year-old daughter to stand in 12 degree temperatures. It's freezing.

Listen, one more degree lower and it's the second coldest on record.

(CHEERS)

COHEN: Still cheering.

QUEST: So what is -- hang on, what's that?

COOPER: Richard, how --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wanted to get there.

COOPER: Richard, how many years have you been out there doing this?

QUEST: How are you keeping warm?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got, like, 10 layers of clothes on. Literally.

QUEST: Are you going to prove it to me? No, don't. Don't. From every part in the world, who's come the farthest? Who have we got? Where are you from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from Pennsylvania.

QUEST: That's not far.

COOPER: That's not far at all.

QUEST: Pennsylvania, I don't think that --

COOPER: All right, Richard.

QUEST: Sorry about this. As you can see, it's all about layering.

COOPER: All right. Richard, we're going to check back in with you. Richard, how many years have you --

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: Sometimes layers seem to reveal more than they should.

COOPER: Wow.

QUEST: All right. So the temperature is 12 degrees Fahrenheit. That's about minus eight or so Celsius. And for the next four or five hours, you're all going to be watching the ball. You see where that ball is, right at the top. There's Harry and Meghan Markle behind me. But anyway, there's the ball. At one minute to midnight, the ball starts to drop. I do not know why somebody thought it was a good idea to have the ball drop on New Year's Eve, but they did, and they've been doing it ever since. Let's go down this way.

COOPER: All right, Richard, we're going to check in with you a little bit --

QUEST: Where are you from?

COOPER: Richard will just keep going. Richard will just keep going. Let's check back in a little bit with Richard. It's -- actually, you know, it's interesting, a lot of people ordered pizza here, like --

COHEN: And do people get it delivered?

COOPER: Yes. Pizza delivery places --

COHEN: You know, with all due respect to the people who are out there, Richard was trying to get our sympathy for them, they chose to be there. And voluntary --

[20:20:04] COOPER: And they are enjoying it. They're enjoying it. But I think a lot of people --

COHEN: It looks like they're enjoying it.

COOPER: I do think a lot of people at home are now seeing this, are very glad that they are at home warm and --

COHEN: I am sure they are.

COOPER: All right. It's time for what we're calling Happy New Year, happy news year.

COHEN: Happy news year. You're going to quiz me.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: About news things that happened this year.

COOPER: Right.

COHEN: I'm going to quiz you about pop culture things.

COOPER: OK.

COHEN: OK. So here's the first one.

COOPER: Andy thinks our worlds have totally come together in this past year.

COHEN: Well, they have. He's been hosting "Housewives Reunions for the Last Year."

COOPER: They were presidential debates. So he's convinced now --

COHEN: You know it's open houses --

COOPER: He's convinced now that news and entertainment are completely meshed and so here's the quiz.

COHEN: Yes. It's true. OK.

COOPER: You first.

COHEN: Katy Perry and Taylor Swift's feud reached its climax this year. What is the feud even about? Is it about a mutual ex- boyfriend, stolen backup dancers or cats? Do you know?

COOPER: It's got to be -- with Taylor -- it's got to be a boyfriend.

COHEN: It was stolen backup dancers.

COOPER: Oh.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: Well, that was a boyfriend, that's not -- right. I got it wrong.

COHEN: No. No, no, no.

COOPER: All right.

COHEN: That's Mariah, I think.

COOPER: What is the first and last name of the newest Supreme Court justice sworn in this spring?

COHEN: Oh, damn. He is -- oh, my god, I'm so embarrassed. His last name starts with G. Right?

COOPER: Correct. Neil Gorsuch.

COHEN: Oh, right. OK.

COOPER: How many Supreme Court justices are there?

COHEN: Oh, my god, this is embarrassing. Seven. Eight.

COOPER: Nine. COHEN: Nine. Of course. OK. What are the names of Beyonce's twins?

King Olson Tina, Prince and Khalisi or Sir Carter and Rumi?

COOPER: What was the first one?

COHEN: King Knowles and Tina.

COOPER: King Knowles and Tina.

COHEN: No. You think that they're going to name their kids King Knowles and Tina?

COOPER: Well, I don't know. I don't know what -- what are their names?

COHEN: It's obviously Sir Carter and Rumi.

COOPER: OK. I'm sorry I didn't know that. What's the first and last name of the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. right here in New York?

COHEN: Nikki Haley.

COOPER: Good for you. Wow. All right

COHEN: Thank you very much.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

COHEN: Yes. OK. OK. If I was your handmaid in the future of "Handmaid's Tale" what would I be called? Of Anderson, Aunt Andy, or of Cooper?

COOPER: I stopped watching because it was so depressing.

COHEN: I know. I can't --

COOPER: I just couldn't do it. It's too much.

COHEN: It's too much.

COOPER: Did you all watch the "Handmaid's Tale"? Yes?

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: Is that a world you want to live in?

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: Of Anderson, is that right?

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: OK. Good. All right. That makes sense. What famous region of Spain is trying to formally separate from the rest of the country?

COHEN: What famous region of Spain is trying to separate from the rest of the country?

COOPER: Oh, sweetie. I mean --

COHEN: Is it Malaga?

COOPER: It's Catalonia.

COHEN: Oh -- yes. Yes. Right. Yes. Jack whispered it to me. OK. What is the new -- what is the new hit show "Riverdale" that our friend Mark Consuelos base is on --

COOPER: "Archetonic."

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: Yes. OK. Who finally -- I love "Riverdale." Who finally accepted their -- I know I'm not the demo but I like it. Who finally accepted their Nobel Prize in Literature this April in Sweden?

COHEN: Bob Dylan.

COOPER: You should know this. Right. OK.

COHEN: OK.

COOPER: All right. Yes.

COHEN: Good. I think I got two right.

COOPER: I don't know. Where is perhaps the only other place I would rather be tonight? That is another question to answer.

COHEN: Key West. New Orleans.

COOPER: New Orleans. I would definitely say. The Spotted Cat Music Club in New Orleans. Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon are there. Let's check in with them.

Brooke, Don, how's it going?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, guys.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, New Orleans, that's where you want to be.

Anderson, you and Andy should be ashamed of yourselves. That is the shadiest thing I've seen. You guys put Richard Quest out in the subzero temperatures and you're sitting around in your warm and cozy turtlenecks.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: He looks so cold.

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: We're going outside. COHEN: We're going out. We're going out.

LEMON: I was going to say, that's shadier than a "Housewives Reunion," Andy. Why would you do that? We can't wait to see you guys outside. We're just joking.

Hey, look, Andy, have fun. This is the funnest night of the year. It's been a crazy year. Don't you think? So sit back, have fun, the one night of the year that you can blow off steam, let your personality out. It's right here New Year's Eve on CNN. And we're glad to have you, Andy. Welcome to the family, right?

COHEN: Thank you. Hey, Don, are you drinking tonight?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I love this is a date every single year. Are you drinking tonight?

COOPER: Come on, America kind of wants to know, Don.

BALDWIN: I mean --

COHEN: I think it will be obvious.

COOPER: There we go.

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: Yes. OK. All right.

LEMON: The night is still young.

BALDWIN: What should be done tonight?

LEMON: You never know, there could be a piercing coming up.

BALDWIN: I mean, there was discussion of a piercing last year in a place that rhymes with --

COOPER: Last year Don's --

COHEN: Don is getting a tattoo this year. I feel like you're getting a tattoo this year.

BALDWIN: Match it with the earrings. Match it with the earrings.

COHEN: You can do it.

LEMON: I can shave my head? I don't know.

BALDWIN: But I like your hair. You got good hair this year.

LEMON: I'm growing a fro this year. So we'll see.

BALDWIN: I like the hair. LEMON: You never know.

[20:25:01] BALDWIN: I don't know.

LEMON: Hey, listen --

BALDWIN: But I do -- where's the hot tub? Remember the hot tub from two years ago?

LEMON: I can barely hear you.

BALDWIN: I mean, the hot tub.

LEMON: The hot tub.

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: We'll see what the night holds at the Spotted Cat.

LEMON: Just real quick before you guys go away.

COOPER: Yes.

LEMON: Before you guys go away, there is a big -- there's a big Clemson Tigers game tomorrow and Alabama, roll tide, roll. It's going to be a great night here at the Spotted Cat.

BALDWIN: OK. Super Bowl.

COOPER: We'll check in with you shortly.

BALDWIN: We're going to work on hearing each other. Yes.

COOPER: We'll see what Gary Tuchman and his daughter, Lindsay, are up to. Let's check in with them. They are, I think, in Las Vegas. What are you guys doing?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Anderson and Andy, every year Lindsay and I, my daughter, we get to do something fun somewhere in the United States, but tonight here in Las Vegas, a television news first.

LINDSAY TUCHMAN, GARY TUCHMAN'S DAUGHTER: Yes, put on your blue suede shoes because we are at an Elvis wedding. We are here at the Little Vegas Chapel. We're going to not only see Elvis officiate a wedding, we're going to see him entertain it, too.

G. TUCHMAN: That's right. They're allowing us to actually watch a couple, Dominic and Monica from Columbus, Ohio, get married. They're in the middle of the ceremony now. They know we're coming in. This is the chapel. All you do is you spend $77 up the street to get a license at the Clark County Wedding License Office and you can come in here and get married right away.

You only have to tell them, swear under oath that you're not married to someone else. They trust you that you're not. So let's open the door to the ceremony. The officiator of the wedding is dressed like Elvis. Take a look. Here is the bride and groom. Folks, let me tell you. Sorry to interrupt. It's now or never. Go ahead.

L. TUCHMAN: It's now or never.

G. TUCHMAN: For the wedding vows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All people, we got more vows for you. So want you to look your little lady right in the eyes. I want you to remember back to that very, very special first moment when you realized you were in love with her. I want you to say, oh, baby, baby, baby --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, baby, baby, baby --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want you, I need you, I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want you, I need you, I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got a burning love.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got a burning love.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So if you promise --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So if you promise --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be my loving teddy bear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be me loving teddy bear --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To never leave you --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To never leave you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Crying in the chapel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Crying in the chapel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the ghetto.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the ghetto.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At heartbreak hotel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At heartbreak hotel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or any hotel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or any hotel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I swear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I swear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Swear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I swear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Swear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Swear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will never, ever --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will never, ever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Step on your blue suede shoes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will step on your blue suede shoes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well done. All right.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look him in the eyes, remember back to the very, very special first moment when you first realized -- I can put up with him. I want you to say, oh honey child.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh honey child.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're my favorite hound dog.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're my favorite hound dog.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you, I need you, I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want you, I need you, I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm all shook up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm all shook up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So don't be cruel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't be cruel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And treat me nice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Treat me nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I will let you be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I will let you be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My bigga, bigga hunk of love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My bigga, bigga hunk of love.

(LAUGHTER) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I promise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To love you tender.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To love you tender.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And never, ever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And never ever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Step on your blue suede shoes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Step on your blue suede shoes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well done, baby.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

COOPER: Very good. All right.

COHEN: Mazel tov.

COOPER: Mazel tov.

COHEN: Mazel tov.

COOPER: All right. I don't know. I find it a little depressing.

COHEN: Very romantic.

COOPER: I find it depressing.

COHEN: I find it very romantic. I'm kidding.

COOPER: OK.

COHEN: That's a Jewish wedding, right? Did Elvis wear scoopneck --

COOPER: I think in the later days. In, like, '77. Summer of. All right.

COHEN: Wouldn't you arguably want a young Elvis to marry you?

COOPER: I wouldn't want any Elvis -- I mean, I love Elvis Presley.

COHEN: Well, I mean, I wouldn't either. COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: But I mean if we had to --

COOPER: Yes. All right, there you go.

COHEN: Love is alive in Las Vegas.

COOPER: I've always wondered what an Elvis wedding looks like. Not always.

COHEN: Now you know.

COOPER: I wondered for about 10 minutes.

COHEN: Now a Jewish wedding.

COOPER: No. Bill Weir is in Key West, Florida, tonight.

Bill, how are things there?

BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, if you ever wondered what it looks like to see a drag queen named Sushi descend in a giant stiletto, this is the place for that. That's going to happen at the Bourbon Street Bar down on Duvall Street a little bit later on.

Here at Sloppy Joe's, they're going to watch the cock shell drop at the start of midnight. There's also a pirate wench who's lowered down. You get the feeling, right? But let's go inside Earnest Hemingway's favorite hangout. Wisconsin. Badgers here. The big bowl game. But this is Papa Hemingway's favorite barstool. A true drinker for the ages. And this scene in here is pretty miraculous, if you consider that just a couple of days after Irma just shattered the Keys.

We didn't know if or when folks down here would get back on their feet. But they tell me now 95 percent of the hotel rooms in Key West are open, like 70 percent in the Keys.

[20:30:08] There's still a lot of cleanup to do. But not bad considering the roughest hurricane season ever. This is Donna?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am. This is Donna. And this is Savannah, our bartender.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Senior bartender here at Sloppy Joe's.

WEIR: Happy new year to both of you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year. Welcome.

WEIR: And long live the Keys, the conquered public, survived.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has. And thank you for all the coverage. And yes, we're here. Come on down.

WEIR: Now, you know, you've been through a lot of storms. You've been -- how many years have you been out here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sixteen.

WEIR: Sixteen. So you're not a fresh water konk. How do you characterize this hurricane season? Are you friends, family, OK? How's the recovery going?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The recovery here in Key West has been good. Sloppy Joe's, we're fortunate, the building was fine, our staff was fine.

WEIR: Right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had a handful of staff members that had serious damage but they're getting there, so we're lucky here and for the rest of the Keys we're praying for you for a quick recovery.

WEIR: Right. Are you seeing diminished crowds as a result of the lower hotel rooms?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely. Definitely. Yes, there's not -- there's people still want to come but the hotels aren't available. So it's definitely down a bit.

WEIR: Right. But you got to send the message, Key West is open for business.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

WEIR: Back and as weird as you'll want it to be, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. Come on down and celebrate with us.

WEIR: It always fascinates me why people say I'm not leaving, even during a hurricane, especially after a hurricane, but there's something in the -- there's something that gets in your blood down here, right? That makes you part of this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's different in the Keys. You know, people are down here with their families but then our friends become our family, too. So we're in it together.

WEIR: Right. Yes. Happy New Year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year.

WEIR: Thanks for having us in. It's so cool. This is just taking me back to my college days, you know, standing knee deep in rum and slush. But we're going to do a little pub crawl for you down here in Key West. Going to work our way down to the big sushi shoe drop as well. Ring in the new year. We saw a fabulous final sunset from Mallard Square. But our thoughts are also with the good folks in Puerto Rico and on

the Texas coast who aren't as fortunate as what's going on down in the Keys so happy better '18 for all of you still suffering from the most brutal storm season in recent memory.

But tonight is a chance to revel in what was not lost, and look forward with optimism and a spirit of rebuilding. We'll have much more from Key West throughout the night as well as the rest of the United States.

Andy, Anderson, they're working their way outside in Times Square that is probably 85 degrees colder than here and we'll have much more when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

[20:369:46] COOPER: Hey, welcome back. We are live in Times Square, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, and Amy Sedaris is with us.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: How are you?

COHEN: I'm so excited that you're here, Amy.

AMY SEDARIS, ACTRESS: Are you?

COHEN: Are you?

SEDARIS: No, I am excited. I've never been in Times Square. It's pretty amazing.

COOPER: Wait a minute, you're like a lifelong New Yorker. You've never been here?

SEDARIS: No. No.

COOPER: No?

SEDARIS: No.

COOPER: Amy --

COHEN: Did you ever want to come here for New Year's Eve?

SEDARIS: Let me think about -- no. Ever.

COOPER: All right. Amy's show "At Home With Amy Sedaris" is on TruTV. I just --

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: So funny.

COOPER: I want to show you a little bit because it's really, really funny. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEDARIS: Knock, knock. No, I'm saying knock-knock but I didn't actually knock because I just had my knuckles done.

Amy Lowe, would you be a good neighbor and let me store Reginald, my late Shih Tzu in your icebox? I have to keep him fresh before I get him freeze dry as a surprise for Leslie. Now I'd keep it at my house but I don't want to. I don't want to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: That is -- you're playing the great character, Patty Hogg.

SEDARIS: I am.

COHEN: Who is Patty Hogg?

SEDARIS: She's an heiress of a seed company in this make-believe-time that we have. She's every southern woman I know.

COHEN: She is. And do people in the house, in the south, freeze their animals?

SEDARIS: A lot of people freeze, as you know --

COOPER: My dad's from Mississippi. When my first pet snake died, my dad put it in the freezer because I was so --

COHEN: You had a pet snake, sweetie?

COOPER: It was called Sam and I -- well, I couldn't pronounce SS so I said Tham. And --

COHEN: The story writes itself. With all due --

COOPER: But no, so my dad put it in the freezer and then my mom opened up the freezer the next day and got very scared because the snake was in the freezer.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: And he actually then encased it in Lucite so I would always have it.

COHEN: That wasn't the only reason she was scared.

SEDARIS: That is so tragic.

COOPER: No, no, it's not.

COHEN: Amy, what did you do growing up in the south on New Year's Eve? What were your traditions?

SEDARIS: My mom always made miniature meatballs and we had seafood in the basement. It's fun to sit in the basement. And then we'd bang pots and pans, and we watch shows like this.

COHEN: You would?

SEDARIS: Yes, yes, for sure.

COHEN: And then we -- you know, you're known -- you've written a lot of books about entertaining. Two "New York Times" bestsellers. What do you think is the key to having a great New Year's party?

SEDARIS: Oh, I think it's the people you invite. You had to cast it.

COHEN: Yes.

SEDARIS: You don't want any landmines, if you know what I mean. You know what I mean?

COHEN: Yes. Barnacles.

SEDARIS: Barnacles.

COOPER: You like to cast a party like Andy. When Andy throws a party, he casts it like a "Real Housewives" reunion, I feel.

COHEN: Yes. I like there to be some drama, yes.

SEDARIS: You kind of have to. You know, you do.

COHEN: You do.

SEDARIS: You have kind of have to, yes. And if you know you're invited to a party because of, like, something, for some reason, if you're not up for that reason as a guest, then you shouldn't go.

COHEN: What's a good -- what's a foolproof thing to have at a New Year's party?

SEDARIS: Wood.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: Wood?

SEDARIS: A fireplace, I would think, you know. It would be nice on a night like tonight. It's freezing.

COHEN: Yes.

SEDARIS: You know, champagne, I guess, plenty of alcohol. Nuts. Nuts are good.

COOPER: Nuts are always good.

SEDARIS: Nuts are good.

COHEN: Amy, so --

SEDARIS: Duck fat.

COHEN: I want to run through some celebrities.

SEDARIS: Oh, no.

COHEN: You tell me what you would bring them as a hostess gift, OK?

SEDARIS: OK, OK.

COHEN: All right. So what would you bring Queen Elizabeth if you were going to Buckingham Palace?

SEDARIS: Oh, really, what would I bring her?

COHEN: Yes. What would you bring?

SEDARIS: Moist towelettes.

COHEN: OK.

SEDARIS: I think she'd like it, be impressed.

[20:40:02] COHEN: What, in general, if you were speaking of an older person or entertaining for the elderly, what do you --

SEDARIS: A balloon.

COHEN: A balloon?

SEDARIS: I sent you a picture today.

COHEN: I know but why do elderly people like balloons?

SEDARIS: Because it's fun to toss a balloon back and forth and it really is fun. My godson -- hello, Giancarlo, Luca, my godchildren -- we toss a balloon back and forth all the time.

COHEN: You do?

SEDARIS: Yes. It's fun.

COHEN: Can you please --

SEDARIS: And you can freeze them.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: A balloon?

SEDARIS: Yes, yes, fill it with water and freeze them.

COHEN: Well, your eye is watering. That's how cold it is here. Can you describe how cold it is for people? It's like --

SEDARIS: What is it, 14?

COHEN: What would you bring Martha Stewart if you were going to her house?

SEDARIS: Duck fat.

COHEN: OK. What would you bring Oprah?

SEDARIS: Maybe some poppers.

COHEN: Some poppers?

(CROSSTALK)

SEDARIS: Hey, guys, guys. You know, like poppers, like, you know, they have in London.

COHEN: Yes. Yes.

SEDARIS: Yes. Pop.

(LAUGHTER)

SEDARIS: Am I?

COHEN: What would you bring Barbra Streisand?

SEDARIS: I'd bring her some press-on nails.

COHEN: That's good.

SEDARIS: Just for fun.

COHEN: What about me? What would you bring me?

SEDARIS: Oh, what would I bring you? A lighter. I would make you a special lighter.

COHEN: You did -- yes.

SEDARIS: Yes. Yes.

COHEN: Yes, you made me a Patty Hogg lighter recently.

SEDARIS: I made you a Patty Hogg lighter, yes.

COHEN: Yes, you absolutely did. What would you do -- so now we need you to stick around for a little bit and be our weather reporter.

SEDARIS: I'm happy to do that.

COHEN: You are?

SEDARIS: Yes.

COOPER: Weather update?

SEDARIS: I'll give you updates.

COHEN: By the way, love your hat. It's super cute.

SEDARIS: Thank you, I got it in Tokyo.

COHEN: Did you?

SEDARIS: Yes, I did.

COHEN: Which you call?

SEDARIS: Tokes.

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: We're going to take a quick break. Sorry. We're going to --

SEDARIS: Yes, remind them not to drink and drive tonight.

COOPER: Absolutely, do not drink and drive.

SEDARIS: Yes.

COOPER: Stay home.

COHEN: Love that you said that.

COOPER: Yes.

SEDARIS: Yes, all the time.

COOPER: But you know what, you can play a drinking game, though. Every time Andy drops the name of a celebrity, just take a drink at home. Don't go out and drive. Believe me, if you do that, you might not last the 4 1/2 hours we're on the air.

We're going to take a quick break. Amy is going to stick around, give us some weather updates throughout the evening to see if it gets warmer which I don't think.

Randi Kaye is unlike at a pot party where it's legal in Colorado. We'll check in with her.

SEDARIS: Oh, god. Why aren't we there? We're at the wrong party.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:45:43] COOPER: And welcome back. We are live here in New York's Times Square. Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. It is as cold as people said it was.

COHEN: It actually is.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: My face hurts. We've been outside for 10 minutes.

COOPER: I know. COHEN: That was Hong Kong. New Year's in Hong Kong.

COOPER: I know. Incredible. Have you ever been there?

COHEN: I've never been to Hong Kong. But of course, famously this year, the "Housewives of Beverly Hills" were in Hong Kong.

COOPER: The famous?

COHEN: Yes. Lisa Rinna. The junk boat.

COOPER: What happened on the junk boat?

COHEN: Sweetie, everything.

COOPER: Really? It was all about the junk boat?

COHEN: It was amazing. Yes. It was amazing.

COOPER: Did Bravo pay for those trips?

COHEN: We'll get into it later.

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: OK.

COHEN: So this is wild, we're finally in Times Scare.

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: This is super cool. I mean, I don't -- there's a lot of performances happening all over the place.

COOPER: Yes, there's a lot going on.

COHEN: Yes. There's a lot going on, yes. OK.

COOPER: It's hard to, you know, like, often I feel like the first hour we're on the air is a practice. And then we're like, oh, we've actually been on.

COHEN: I'm sure the viewers appreciate hearing that. What else happened in Hong Kong?

COOPER: In Hong Kong, there was this crazy video, I don't know if you saw, I loved of like a panda sanctuary and the people who work in the panda sanctuary --

COHEN: Oh, yes, they put on the costumes.

COOPER: They dress like pandas and they --

COHEN: And they hug the pandas.

COOPER: I know, that to me is like the greatest job. COHEN: I want to hug a panda, but that reminds me of the thing you

did for "60 Minutes" where you got in the bunny costume or something?

COOPER: No, I did this for CNN. I went to the great ape sanctuary and I had to dress as a bunny for some reason because the scientists told me the apes like the bunnies. I don't know. It was the weirdest -- there it is. It was the weirdest experience.

COHEN: And did you --

COOPER: I thought I was being pranked the entire time. Literally, a bunny bib. And then -- yes.

COHEN: Did the animals -- did the apes try to -- were they frisky with you?

COOPER: I was -- no, no, they were behind. Thank God they were behind, though, you know.

COHEN: OK.

COOPER: It's like glass. Yes. Yes, it was very strange.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: So, yes. Randi Kaye, though, has -- we send Randi Kaye to a lot of places. Randi is a real reporter, a great reporter, great correspondent. She's game for anything. Last year I think she was on, like, a booze cruise on some ship somewhere in international waters. A couple of years ago, we sent her to a -- I'm sorry? What? Actually, we're going to -- before we go to Randi Kaye --

COHEN: A six-second commercial break.

COOPER: Yes. We got a six-second commercial. 9

COHEN: My favorite kind.

COOPER: Let's take a --

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COHEN: So much happened during that six seconds, it was crazy. So --

COOPER: So -- sorry. A little cough. I'm a little -- Randi Kaye, I think last year we sent her to a marijuana dispensary. And she was there like all the day and I think she got a little high from just being in the --

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: That sounds like a fantastic assignment.

COOPER: I just want to show you what happened when she went to the marijuana dispensary last time.

COHEN: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: How much longer are you going to be there for, Randi? You moving there or?

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think I need to come home. I need to come home.

(LAUGHTER)

KAYE: I'm coming home tomorrow.

COOPER: I'm thinking, please come back to the East Coast. Yes. Come back to the East Coast, Randi.

KAYE: Do you think they'll know --

COOPER: Thanks very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: All right. So -- so Randi is now in Colorado again. She's, I think, on a bus, like a pot bus, let's just find out. Randi --

COHEN: It's a dispensary bus?

COOPER: Randi, where are you?

KAYE: We are in Denver, Colorado. Good evening to you, guys, Anderson and Andy. We have the party started here. There's a little bit of a purple haze. We call this magic bus. The canna-bus. Get it? Whoa. This is what I'm dealing with. I think that we're going to have a repeat of what you saw in the last live hit from all those years ago. Yes. It's getting pretty crazy. But we made such an impact last time.

I have to show you this magazine cover. It's the "High Times" magazine. Look who's on the cover. That's right, me. On the cover of "High Times" magazine after that experience.

COHEN: Wow. Are you serious?

(CROSSTALK)

KAYE: I want to show you what's going on on this bus. This is some of the fun that we're having, this is Mikey's -- what do you call this, Mikey?

[20:50:02] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a Blazey Susan, you guys.

KAYE: So a Blazey Susan like a Lazy Susan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.

KAYE: Just makes getting high easier? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Accessory. I put them in one easy to store place.

KAYE: What's that accessory right there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is one of my accessories.

KAYE: Yes. Are you're going to just light that up right now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

KAYE: OK. What's this year? I'm more interested in this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a beautiful flower.

KAYE: The one. Right? It's called the one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that's a good question. But it's --

KAYE: It's a what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

KAYE: OK. So a lot of people chose to come here. And this is how they celebrate New Year's Eve in Denver. All right. I hope they can still see me through your purple haze.

COOPER: Yes.

KAYE: And then we have another women here. You came here. Why don't you stand up? You came in from L.A.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did come in from L.A. L.A. was giving us a little bit trouble with having events. So I am here to celebrate instead.

KAYE: And you wanted to say hi to Anderson and Andy, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anderson, I -- Andy Cohen, I love you so much. You have no idea how much I love you. Happy New Year. Hi, Anderson.

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: Hey, Randi, I don't know if you can hear me but does this bus actually go anywhere?

COHEN: Does the bus go anywhere, Randi?

COOPER: I feel like the bus is just standing there.

(CROSSTALK)

KAYE: We just made our first stop. We've made our first stop.

COHEN: It goes to high town. It goes everywhere.

KAYE: We made our first stop already -- we're at a dispensary called the Medicine Man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got a little high this year.

KAYE: I think I got a little high, Mike. I'm trying to remember where we are. Where am I?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're at Medicine Man, Denver, which is our official tour partner. I'm really grateful --

KAYE: Wow. OK. We're going to (INAUDIBLE) House, I'm told.

COHEN: Randi.

KAYE: So that's going to be interesting.

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: Yes, you are.

KAYE: Anderson and Andy, you want me to pick something out for you? A nice plant?

COHEN: Yes. Yes, that's what -- I would like that. She would choose Sativa Shiva Chews. My favorite thing in the world.

COOPER: I don't know what that is. I just want to point out that --

COHEN: My favorite thing, please.

COOPER: This is all legal in Colorado.

COHEN: Yes, it is.

COOPER: This is entirely legal in Colorado.

COHEN: Randi, dose yourself properly.

KAYE: Shiva Chews are the best. Right.

COHEN: Yes. Sativa Shiva Chews. But dose yourself properly, Randi. We don't want any trouble in three hours from you. Be careful.

COOPER: All right. So, Randi, we'll check in with you.

KAYE: We're going to be really careful.

COOPER: I'm a little worried about Randi.

COHEN: I am not worried about Randi. Randi is the only person I'm not worried about. I'm worried about Don Lemon. I'm not worried about Randi Kaye.

(CHEERS)

COOPER: I love that she's going to a grow farm.

COHEN: I actually feel like these people -- I am a little worried for her now. She might need security, Randi Kaye.

COOPER: She might.

COHEN: Is Randi Kaye like a notorious stoner?

COOPER: Not at all. She's just a very game to, you know, report and go to the front lines on this.

COHEN: OK. You're a news man. Right?

COOPER: Yes.

COHEN: OK. What do you think about the fact that this is the assignment that she seeks out every year? Perhaps she loves it.

COOPER: No, she doesn't seek it out. We send her. She's just, you know, willing to --

COHEN: I think she likes the green.

COOPER: I don't think so.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: Randi Kaye is very responsible.

COHEN: You can be a responsible --

COOPER: I know you can. Of course.

COHEN: Speaking of responsible, no drinking and driving. We should just keep reminding people, whatever.

COOPER: That's right. Yes, please.

COHEN: But, I mean, tonight especially.

COOPER: And no smoking and driving or anything.

COHEN: Yes.

COOPER: Stay home.

COHEN: There's nutty people on the road.

COOPER: Stay home. Have a drink every time Andy drops the name of a celebrity because god knows he does that.

COHEN: Fun.

COOPER: Well, I won't go into this.

Let's go to Sara Sidner, she's standing by in Nashville for us.

Sara, what's the scene there? SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's fantastic. It's not quite the

same what Randi is going through right now, but I want u to make clear that my mother that there's none of that happening here. But there is music and that is getting people high here in Nashville. Music City. All kinds of different acts. Right now Johnny P, he's an R&B singer. We have heard from Project Pose (ph), these two awesome soulful rock and roll, and we're going to be hearing from Keith Urban. I know you guys are excited about talking to him. But he's beautiful and he can sing like anybody.

And then we're also going to hear from ton of other people. Cheap Trick is here. But it is also freezing, you guys. It's going to be 9 degrees here. I think we're on the level with New York. So everyone around here is like elder bits are frozen. And we're trying to deal with them, because of course this is also the home state of Jack Daniels. So maybe we all will be doing what Randi is doing but there may be a little (INAUDIBLE) here. Just a tab.

Also I want to mention to you, we're going to be hitting the honky tonks. I've already been in one. What I love about this is you don't have to pay a cover fee. So if you're watching, you can just go into any of them and just sit there and listen in. It's fantastic.

Broadway is filled with people right now. A hundred thousand people expected here today. And I know you guys are also doing an amazing interview with Celine Dion, John Mayer. They are not here but they're in other places, other venues. And Dave Chappelle. So I expect to be laughing and crying and jumping up and down, which we have been here. We have heard from so many different great acts. Jonny P, wonderful, he's in a Kathryn Bigelow movie that's coming out. So that's pretty cool.

And I've also have gotten to talk to some wonderful, wonderful guys from the 101st Airborne.

[20:55:06] They were here. They were talking to me about going to San Juan, talking to me about going to help out with the hurricane relief. And so it was wonderful to stand there and talk to them and just celebrate New Year's Eve with these guys who spend their time protecting this country.

That is what is happening here, guys. That is what's happening here. We're going to be back and you guys look really cute. I want to just say, Andy, is that the coat that you had made that I heard so much about? I want to know about that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Anderson and Andy, Happy New Year. I'm in balmy Norway as you can see. About 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Not too far from Santa Claus as it turns out. And I decided that 2018 should be the year that we all challenge ourselves a little more. That we do something that scares us every day. Get ourselves out of our comfort zone. It's a way that we can really grow.

So what I'm going to do is I'm going to jump in this water here. Some of the coldest water on earth right now in order to achieve that for me.

Andy, I think it's a combination of your wild side, and Anderson, one of your icy death stares. So Happy New Year. Have fun in Times Square. See you in 2018. I hope.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want to call your wife?

(LAUGHTER)

GUPTA: No, I don't want to tell her that I did this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: And we are back live in Times Square. Sanjay Gupta, just jumping and bracing for the water.

COHEN: I love Sanjay Gupta.

COOPER: He's brave.

COHEN: That was so cool. That was really cool.