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CNN Live Event/Special
New Year's Celebration In Times Square; Eric Adams Sworn In As New York City Mayor; CNN New Year's Celebration In New Orleans; Interview With Bobby Brown. Aired 12-1:30a ET
Aired January 01, 2022 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[00:00:00]
(CHEERING)
CROWD: Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one --
(CHEERING)
(MUSIC)
(SINGING)
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Year's, James.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Jonathan, happy New Year. You know, it has been an amazing night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could not agree more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of the amazing performances.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, and all of the great people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. And what about that Waterford Crystal ball?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the ball, yes. It is unbelievable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was ball I ever dreamed of.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it was pretty incredi-ball.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I really had a ball.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we done with the bit?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDY COHEN, RADIO & TELEVISION HOST: Wow. Hey --
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Happy New Year.
COHEN: Happy New Year.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: Cheers.
Happy New Year.
COOPER: We want to wish you all a happy New Year.
COHEN: Happy New Year, everybody.
And 2022, don't you feel cleansed?
[00:05:01]
COOPER: Sure.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: I hope to see a great --
COHEN: Cheers. We will do this little mini shot.
COOPER: -- event.
COHEN: Let me tell you something.
COOPER: Oh, please. Tell us something, Andy.
COHEN: Watching Mayor De Blasio --
COOPER: Don't go on a rant.
COHEN: -- doing his victory lap dance after four years of the crappiest term --
COOPER: Don't you start.
COHEN: As the mayor of New York --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: -- the only thing that Democrats and the Republicans can agree on --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: -- is what a horrible mayor he has been.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: So sayonara, sucker.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: And 2022 --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: -- it is a new year. Because guess what? I have a feeling --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: -- that I am going to be standing here speaking next year. And you know what I am not going to be looking at? Dancing as the city comes aboard you.
COOPER: Look, Eric Adams is being --
COHEN: Eric Adams is being sworn in.
COOPER: -- sworn in as we speak.
COHEN: Is it happening right now?
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As Dr. Martin Luther King once said, the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.
We are facing challenges. However, tonight, we will swear in the 110th mayor of all great city, a man whose dedication and vision for this city is steadfast and unwavering.
Mr. Mayor, would you please raise your right hand and repeat after me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right here. Raise your right hand.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I, Eric Adams.
MAYOR ERIC ADAMS (D-NEW YORK CITY): I, Eric Adams.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do solemnly swear.
ADAMS: Do solemnly swear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That I will support the Constitution.
ADAMS: That I will support the Constitution.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of the United States.
ADAMS: Of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Constitution of the state of New York.
ADAMS: The Constitution of the state of New York.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the charter of the city.
ADAMS: And the charter of the city.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of New York.
ADAMS: Of New York.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I will faithfully.
ADAMS: And I will faithfully.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Discharge the duties.
ADAMS: Discharge the duties.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of the office.
ADAMS: Of the office.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of the mayor of the city of New York.
ADAMS: Of the mayor of the city of New York.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: According to the best of my ability.
(CHEERING)
ADAMS: To the best of my abilities.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So help me, God.
ADAMS: So help me, God.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Congratulations.
(CHEERING)
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: That is Eric Adams.
COHEN: We have a new mayor in New York City.
COOPER: A new mayor.
COHEN: This is so exciting.
COOPER: Yes.
Eric Adams had a fascinating career. He's retired as a captain in the police department. And he was the Brooklyn borough president.
And as a young man, he was abused by police officers --
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: -- and then recruited by elders in his local community to join the police force in order to try to change the police force.
And this is New York, like in the '70s. It was a very different New York City Police Department. To change the police department from the inside. And that is what he did, working his way up.
And so it is a whole, you know, happening in New York.
CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: I have an idea --
COOPER: Chloe.
MELAS: I love you, Andy Cohen. I have to have your cell phone number, and I don't know how I don't have it.. We need to talk about that.
(CROSSTALK)
MELAS: And I think that you should run for mayor.
COHEN: I don't. I don't.
COOPER: Richard Quest, I mean, you have outdone yourself.
COHEN: Wow, wow, Richard Quest.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": I mean, you know --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: I have never felt attracted to Lady Liberty until today.
QUEST: Would you like to play with my lamp?
COHEN: Yes.
QUEST: Oh.
MELAS: I come bearing gifts for you all.
(CROSSTALK)
MELAS: OK.
So, Andy, this is very special. This is for you. And a new shot glass for you.
COHEN: Wow.
Look at this. New York shot glass. Thank you.
MELAS: And I wanted to get the toast in. And this is the first night I have been out in seven days. I have been home with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old in self-imposed quarantine. So I need a shot.
(CROSSTALK)
MELAS: To Betty White.
COOPER: OK. We will prepare that. And listen to crowds and then we'll come back to us.
(CROSSTALK)
MELAS: OK.
(SINGING)
[00:10:00]
(SINGING)
(CHEERING)
(SINGING)
COHEN: Wow. "What a Wonderful World," indeed.
COOPER: We are going to take a break. Just want to give a toast to the new year.
COHEN: Oh, my god, you are so drunk.
COOPER: I don't know
QUEST: Wasted beyond belief.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Richard, you don't drink.
QUEST: No, you will gain weight.
COOPER: Nothing wrong with that.
COHEN: Cheers, everybody.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Happy New Year, everybody.
MELAS: Happy New Year.
COOPER: Happy New Year.
QUEST: Happy New Year.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Refresh. COOPER: The fun is still going on.
COHEN: And a surprise guest is coming up. Yes?
COOPER: I don't know who.
COOPER: Yes.
We'll be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year, everyone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Yar.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And may 2022 bring better days and renewed hope and good help for all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
And Salud, and Feliz.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Feliz. Happy New Year.
JEWEL, SINGER: Hey, Anderson and Andy. Wishing you the happiest of new years. I wish I was there celebrating with all of you.
Come on, this is the Year of the Tiger. This is going to be good. We're going to come out of this strong. I believe in us. Sending love and health and happiness to the whole world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, CNN. It's Halle and Chloe. We want to wish you a happy New Year.
JENNIFER NETTLES, SINGER: Hey, Anderson and Andy. Happy New Year. And I hope it is your biggest and best year yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I am Chris Patrick (ph). This is (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Joey -- (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) -- Mars (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to wish CNN a happy, happy New Year.
(SHOUTING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, we are the cast of "Stomp" in New York City. And we want to wish everybody a --
CROWD: Happy New Year.
(MUSIC) (CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[00:17:59]
JEREMY O. HARRIS, ACTOR: My New Year's resolution for everybody out there's to ignore the debt line and smoke some weed and run away from every phone call asking where you are.
HARRY HAMLIN, ACTOR: I have never, ever, ever made a New Year's resolution in my entire life. Nor will I this year. And I am not a New Year's resolution guy and somehow I have survived 70 years.
ANTHONY ANDERSON, ACTOR & GAME SHOW HOST: My New Year's resolution is to get my mother an audition on Bravo after tonight's performance.
AMBER TAMBLYN, ACTRESS: My New Year's resolution is I want to have more adventure in my life and travel around the worlds.
OCTAVIA SPENCER, ACTRESS: If it was an off year because I said no a lot, then it would be the year of yes. If I said yes too much, then it will have to be a year of no. So I try to learn from the past year and take it into the current.
JIM GAFFIGAN, COMEDIAN: My New Year's resolution is to become less edgy and controversial.
GARCELLE BEAUVAIS, ACTRESS: I want to get some consistently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: By the way, my New Year's resolution --
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: -- is to spend less time on Instagram.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: You create too much content.
COHEN: No. I will create content but I want to spend less time on the app.
COOPER: I agree with that.
COHEN: Yes, Mark Zuckerberg --
COOPER: I never feel good -- COHEN: -- don't you mess with my mind.
COOPER: I never feel good -
COHEN: I know what you are doing.
COOPER: I don't know if --
COHEN: Yes. I know what you are doing.
Listen, I have 10 more minutes of this platform. And I'm going to keep going.
COOPER: No, no.
COHEN: Mark Zuckerberg --
COOPER: Really, he's freaking out.
COHEN: -- you are messing with all of us.
COOPER: are freaking out.
COHEN: How dare you.
COOPER: It is all right.
COHEN: How dare you!
OK. Joining us now --
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: -- it is the ghost of Anderson's great, great, great, great grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt.
And we are going to play a game, Anderson.
COOPER: Wait. This started on Andy's show --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Yes, yes.
COOPER: This is the ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt, my great, great, great, great grandfather.
COHEN: Yes. And we're going to play a game called --
[00:20:02]
COOPER: And I have to say, great, great, great grandfather up close.
COHEN: Yes. It is scary.
(CROSSTALK) COHEN: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: He died of syphilis. He did.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: And it is painful?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The years have not done me well, dear boy.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: You are carrying around just money?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What else would I do? I don't know anything else.
COOPER: But when you died --
COHEN: We are going to play when Cornelius Vanderbilt's money --
COOPER: When he died in 1877, one of every $20 in the circulation in the U.S. belonged to him. He had more money than the U.S. Mint.
COHEN: Yes, yes. You owe money, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Yes, you are.
OK, Cornelius Vanderbilt, he is going to --
COOPER: Oh, my god.
COOPER: -- he is going to tell us a fact.
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: We have to guess whether it happened in 1821 --
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: -- or 2021.
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: Can you handle it, Sweetie?
COOPER: I don't know what you are talking about. But let's go ahead.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: I have to pee so badly, I can't even -- it is just beyond.
COHEN: Do it in your pants?
COOPER: What? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A knit waistline became --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Listen, listen to him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And knit waistline became so fashionable that even men would wear corsets to achieve it. Was it 1821 --
COHEN: So 1821.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was 1821.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get money. Take some of my grand nephew's money.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a worldwide obsession with sea shanties.
COHEN: Sea shanties?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was it 1821 or 2021?
COHEN: What is a sea shanty?
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Well, it belongs to the sea.
COHEN: Sweetie, what is a sea shanty?
COOPER: So 1821.
COHEN: So 1821.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was 2021.
COHEN: What is a sea shanty?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A sea shanty is a song one would sing while they are sailing to pass the time.
COHEN: Wow. That was 2021?
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Is this real? Is that legal tender? Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is money from the vault of the Vanderbilts.
(CROSSTALK) COOPER: There's nothing there in the vaults. I don't there is a vault
of the Vanderbilts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is the inheritance.
COOPER: There's no inheritance.
COHEN: His family spent it all, Commodore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I had a stash in the tomb, don't you worry, dear boy.
COHEN: OK. OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A glacial volcano in Iceland erupted. What is 1821 or 2021?
COOPER: It was 2021.
COHEN: It was 2021.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is 1821.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it is going back to the tomb.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Great, great, great, great grandfather?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
COOPER: It's really frightening.
COHEN: I know, I know.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: That's your relative, Sweetie. This is where you came in --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: That's according to some accounts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
COHEN: One more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the first time in history, a Dutch museum permanently hung three paintings by women artists. Was it 1821 or 2021?
COOPER: And 2021. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was. It was 2021.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: I want to thank the ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Anderson's great, great, great, great --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Do you to go back to the crypt at Staten Island?
COHEN: I just want to point out, this is my P.A., Mike Robley (ph) from "Watch What Happens Live." He also played the gay shark, and he did the --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: -- that made Anderson giggle. So he is so incredible.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Love you, Mike.
OK, happy New Year.
COOPER: How long does it take to transport yourself?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, millennia it seems, but --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: I can take a piece of you? Can I just like --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, please, yes, yes. All in the family.
COOPER: All in the family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, oh, oh.
COHEN: Are we rafting out now?
Coming up next. OK. Well, listen, it has been a great new year.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Anderson, I want to take you out for a drink now, and not that you need it.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: You guys, this has been such a great night. Thank you for hanging out with us.
COOPER: Don Lemon and Alisyn Camerota are coming up next with Dulce Sloan to continue the party for us.
And for all of you at home, whoever you are with, or if you are alone, we are with you, and we hope this is your best year yet.
Thank you for joining us. Have a great night. And we will see you on CNN. And he will see you on Bravo.
[00:24:51]
We will take a quick break and Don will be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS BOSH, NBA ALLSTAR: Hey, Anderson and Andy.
And hello to everyone around the world.
On behalf of the Bosh family, I would like to wish everyone much health and happiness in 2022. Happy New Year.
PAMELA ANDERSON, ACTRESS: Hi, I'm Pamela Anderson and this is CNN.
(LAUGHTER)
P. ANDERSON: I always wanted to say that.
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK, SINGER: Hi, Anderson. Hi, Andy. This is Englebert here. And I want to take this opportunity to wish you both and all at CNN and around the world, a very happy, healthy new year.
STEVE AOKI, SINGER: Goodbye 2021. I'm ready for 2022, the year of the Metaverse. And I want to wish you a happy New Year from here to the moon. Let's go.
RANDY RAINBOW, COMEDIAN: Hi, Andy and Anderson my two favorite daddies. It's Andy Rainbow, wishing you a very happy New Year.
And 2021 was a bit of a dumpster fire just in general. So let's get the hell out, and on to better thing, because 2022 is going to be amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. On behalf of myself and the cast of the Tina Turner musical on Broadway. We would like to wish you --
CROWD: A happy New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From all of us to all of us watching, and you in the studio, we would like to wish you a very --
CROWD: Happy New Year!
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(CHEERING)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Happy New Year!
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Happy New Year. We are back. But we are celebrating the Central Time Zone, which has not happened yet.
CAMEROTA: Yes. It is not the new year yet.
(SHOUTING)
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: We are a little lit.
Are you lit? Are you lit?
DULCE SLOAN, COMEDIAN: I am a little lit.com. A little bit.
LEMON: Are you?
You understood the assignment. I called this lady up and I said, can you do sequins as you.
SLOAN: I wanted America to know that I am looking for a husband.
(LAUGHTER)
SLOAN: And I think that they got the message.
LEMON: The girls are out.
(CROSSTALK)
[00:29:57]
LEMON: And you understood the assignment. You are a mix of me and her.
CAMEROTA: Well, I have done a lot of outfit changes.
DULCE: True.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: How about that Anderson and Andy?
SLOAN: Wow.
LEMON: Wow.
SLOAN: That man was not playing. He did not like de Blasio, OK? He was very -- wait. Do they always swear in a mayor on live television on New Year's Eve?
LEMON: I don't know. I don't want to get into that. I just thought they were amazing.
SLOAN: Yes, but I -- what I did like is (INAUDIBLE) them the mother and the champ in the --
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: -- (INAUDIBLE) glass. I love black people. One moment.
LEMON: Speaking of, you and I had a black people conversation in got a little --
SLOAN: Yes, listen. I'm not going to get in trouble for that and I do it (INAUDIBLE). You are throwing it.
LEMON: You got (INAUDIBLE).
SLOAN: OK, now --
LEMON: We are having -- look, we are -- honestly, we are having a street party here. This has been one hell of two years and we're just having a good time.
CAMEROTA: We're celebrating.
SLOAN: What?
LEMON: We've had one hell of a two years.
CAMEROTA: Yes, we have.
LEMON: And so it's time for people to have a good time.
CAMEROTA: That's the beautiful thing about New Year's Eve is you get a reset. You get to do it all over you do. Dulce, that's the beautiful thing.
SLOAN: OK.
CAMEROTA: You get to start anew.
SLOAN: That's a calendar word (ph).
LEMON: But can we talk about the last two years?
SLOAN: I don't listen. The last two years have shown me that if -- that if you have the chance to handcuff a man to a bed, do it. Do it.
CAMEROTA: Fair enough.
SLOAN: They can't leave you.
LEMON: Tell me about that.
SLOAN: They'll never leave you.
LEMON: How did you do that? Talk to me what does that mean?
SLOAN: The -- you got to get them in the house in the first place. And dating apps are trash. They suck, OK? You meant it to some (INAUDIBLE) ladies.
LEMON: This is why we wanted Dulce's home (INAUDIBLE).
SLOAN: Can I turn CNN into a dating app?
LEMON: And you have -- did you handcuff a man to a bed?
SLOAN: Have I learned what?
LEMON: Handcuffed a man to a bed?
SLOAN: No, I'm a lady.
LEMON: Oh, OK. Well, you said if you had the chance. I didn't know what the heck you were talking about.
SLOAN: If I had a chance. I was (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: What I'm saying is we've got a COVID --
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: -- we've got a crazy election. We've got --
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: -- coming out of the --
SLOAN: We had a crazy election. We had a (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: -- reality deniers, with insurrection. We've had all kinds of crazy stuff.
SLOAN: All kinds of (INAUDIBLE).
CAMEROTA: Dulce was having different things she'd learned.
LEMON: What?
CAMEROTA: Dulce had had a different thing that she learned over the past two years and it's about men.
SLOAN: I have learned that no is a complete sentence. That's what I learned. You can tell people no and say you don't have time. You can say I'm not comfortable with that.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: Everybody needed to learn --
LEMON: You need to put your mic up.
SLOAN: Sorry.
LEMON: Give me this (INAUDIBLE). Sorry, good. You're good.
SLOAN: I think everybody learned that every -- having to stop and slow down. You can say no.
LEMON: Can I share a secret?
SLOAN: And say I'm not comfortable. You don't say I don't want to come.
LEMON: Can I share a secret?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
LEMON: I actually loved quarantine. Because I'm a loner. People may not realize that. I love being alone. I love being in the house. I love being with my fiance. I love family time.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: I love dinner time. I loved quarantine.
SLOAN: I love not going to work.
LEMON: And not -- or wearing a mask and people on the street not saying like, Hey Don Lemon.
SLOAN: People still recognize names.
LEMON: Yes, for the boys.
SLOAN: I didn't have (INAUDIBLE).
CAMEROTA: That's right. But Don, I'm sorry --
LEMON: But why you're wearing this?
CAMEROTA: Don, are you --
SLOAN: I'm out of time. I did have --
LEMON: That's why they recognize you.
CAMEROTA: But were you saying you like not being recognized?
LEMON: Why?
CAMEROTA: You, Don Lemon like --
LEMON: Yes.
CAMEROTA: -- not being recognize?
LEMON: I did.
SLOAN: So you talk.
CAMEROTA: Really?
LEMON: OK, come on, talk to me. What are you saying? CAMEROTA: I'm saying that I think you enjoy when the crowd here goes, Don Lemon.
LEMON: No. No, no, no, no, no.
OK. Well maybe I had (INAUDIBLE).
SLOAN: Faster, faster. (INAUDIBLE). Show to people how much you're going. Not the people at (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: Oh, I'm throwing this.
SLOAN: If you don't know, we have custom made lemon --
CAMEROTA: Beads.
SLOAN: -- Don Lemon beads.
CAMEROTA: Yes. Because Don likes to be subtle and fly under the radar. Let it rain lemon beads.
LEMON: Let it rain lemon beads. All right, here we go.
SLOAN: I think it's better if (INAUDIBLE) -- I just throw them in a junk.
(INAUDIBLE)
LEMON: Wait, wait. OK, look at the dancer. Amazing.
SLOAN: What dance is that?
LEMON: Right here.
SLOAN: (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: We've got a disco balls. Hi, disco balls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, Happy New Year.
LEMON: Hi, disco balls. Hi. Hi, Black Feather dancer. Black Feather.
SLOAN: Fly boy (ph), Fly boy (ph) dancer.
LEMON: Say it again.
SLOAN: Fly boy (ph) Black Feather. Yes.
CAMEROTA: And these guys --
LEMON: Yes.
CAMEROTA: -- are from Trixie Minsk Production. I love this.
LEMON: We can hear anything.
CAMEROTA: I know.
LEMON: You're talking to me, I'm like, you're my (INAUDIBLE). It's like Charlie Brown's mom.
SLOAN: All right.
CAMEROTA: Wa-wa-wa.
LEMON: Wa-wa-wa-wa-wa.
CAMEROTA: But we're also are having a portrait of us painted right now in real time and that's Frenchy (ph) who's been painting. Frenchy (ph)!
[00:35:07]
SLOAN: Tell us about Frenchy (ph).
LEMON: Frenchy (ph)!
CAMEROTA: Frenchy (ph)!
SLOAN: Can we shoe what Frenchy (ph) is making? Now, listen, for you all that didn't see the moment where we came in on the big flow --
CAMEROTA: Yes.
SLOAN: -- Frenchy is painting that exact moment where we went passed him.
CAMEROTA: And where you and I were hanging on for dear life.
SLOAN: Oh, man. That's thing, it was like, oh.
LEMON: I think they missed on the camera when I almost fell into your boobs.
SLOAN: We all almost fell into my boobs.
CAMEROTA: That's right.
SLOAN: We all almost fell into open heart beat in my boobs on the back of that damn float.
LEMON: Was there a room?
SLOAN: Was there a room? There's always room at the end, right? Uncup but enjoy.
LEMON: Dulce, can I ask you about the Daily Show? Dulce is a featured player on the ever popular Daily Show.
SLOAN: Yes, I, Dulce Sloan, I'm a correspondent.
LEMON: How -- do you love it? Tell me about it. What do you love about it? SLOAN: It is a lot of work. But what I love doing -- what we've been doing recently is that we've been able to play directly with Trevor.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: We were doing the, you know, the open -- like the top stories of the day.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: And that has been my favorite thing.
LEMON: But you learn a lot about culture. I'm sure -- we learned a lot about culture from you on the show.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: So you learn a lot about the culture by working on the show.
SLOAN: Oh, absolutely. It's -- I didn't know how collaborative that it was going to be. So it was like when I'm working on a piece, I can call one of the writers that is working on it. And I'm on it from the beginning.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: So it's like it's in my voice as soon as it start.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: Which, you know, it wasn't always like that.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: But that's kind of one of the changes that Trevor brought it so we're more -- that the correspondents are more on hands on with what they're doing.
LEMON: And Alisyn Camerota, let's talk about your love for New Year's Eve. We did not fully delve into that.
CAMEROTA: Here's what I want you to know. Most people, I think, consider New Year's Eve overrated. Not I.
LEMON: And?
CAMEROTA: I love New Year's Eve. I always have.
LEMON: Very important things happen to you --
CAMEROTA: Yes, I have these experiences on New Year's Eve. I got engaged to my husband on New Year's Eve.
SLOAN: That's so cute.
CAMEROTA: Yes. I mean, New Year's Eve is big deal. Don, there have been so many fun things that I've done on New Year's Eve. I've been in other countries. I've just had an exhilarating time. Thank you for asking.
And what about you Don Lemon? Do you like it?
SLOAN: Ever been on New Year's Eve.
LEMON: I know, I'm not sober. Here's the thing. I am so sober (INAUDIBLE) I'm talking about. Here's the thing. Everyone thinks like Don Lemon is hovered (ph) on New Year's Eve. I am always -- I am like it. I don't know, I forget what they call it. An introverted extrovert.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: Like I'm really shy --
SLOAN: Me too, no one believe me.
LEMON: -- when I share everything. For me, New Year's Eve it's like -- I'm like (INAUDIBLE). Like I carry the same drink almost the entire night. So it's kind of an act. But I'm letting people into my life. And this is how I am all the time. I have -- I share everything.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: I don't give a -- what you think about me?
SLOAN: (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: What you think about -- I don't care. I'm a grown ass man.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: I don't care what you think about me.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: I'm alive. I am who I am. I'm a grown successful black man who a lot of people hate because (INAUDIBLE) people seeing me and people like me in a position that I am to be able to share what I -- my point of view on television. It freaks people out.
And you know what? You can kiss my behind. I do not care. I don't care. I really don't care -- I have one life. And this is who I am. And I feel very --
SLOAN: Blessed.
LEMON: -- blessed and honored to be in this position.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: To be able to do this.
SLOAN: Yes. LEMON: To all the hate I get, it's motivation to me. Bring it. I don't care.
SLOAN: You knows, one thing I -- one of my favorite things to do is when someone comments something mean on --
LEMON: But I'm a little bit lit right now. I'm oversharing but that's all right.
SLOAN: No, that's fine. When everyone comments something mean, I don't go back and forth with them.
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: I just delete it.
LEMON: Delete.
SLOAN: Because it's my internet.
LEMON: But here's --
SLOAN: I'm not going back. You look for me.
LEMON: But here's the thing about social media.
SLOAN: (INAUDIBLE) to me.
LEMON: You don't have to read social media.
SLOAN: No.
LEMON: And here's something that people ask me. Someone said this about you or someone -- this or this.
SLOAN: And?
LEMON: Would you like to respond just like --
SLOAN: No.
LEMON: -- no. I don't have --
SLOAN: I don't know them.
LEMON: I don't know you and I don't give a shit. I don't have to respond.
SLOAN: I don't have to do that.
LEMON: You do (INAUDIBLE) to me.
SLOAN: You came (INAUDIBLE).
CAMEROTA: I think that you are the person who taught me this. One time we were on the air together and something went wrong, shocking, right, with Don. And he said, this too shall pass.
SLOAN: Yes.
[00:40:00]
CAMEROTA: This too shall pass.
SLOAN: You didn't dare (ph).
CAMEROTA: Right.
LEMON: Who cares.
SLOAN: You didn't get fire. But that's what I'm always worried about, you know, sometimes.
LEMON: Why?
SLOAN: Because, man, I feel like sometimes I say stuff and they're like I aah!
LEMON: I know but I think like when people get fired sometimes it's the best thing that happens to them because then you become a --
CAMEROTA: That's awfully philosophical.
SLOAN: OK, look, I got fired, and I was on unemployment for a year, and that was a blessing. Because that's when I started to stand up. Is that right?
LEMON: I don't worry about --
CAMEROTA: That's so great story.
LEMON: I don't worry about something.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: What?
CAMEROTA: She's proving your point. She got fired. She was unemployment, that's where she started doing stand up.
SLOAN: And I started to stand up.
LEMON: Look, I'm just going to say it's been one hell of a year for a lot of people with a lot of people get sick from COVID, the whole crazy thing.
SLOAN: Yes, (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: I've been, you know, I've had some things with some friends who work at the company who I love. There's a lot, there's a lot that we've had to deal with. So I'm letting go.
CAMEROTA: Yes. LEMON: Cheers.
CAMEROTA: OK, you know what? The best thing to do is, one of the most feeling thing --
LEMON: I'm ready for it.
CAMEROTA: -- after two years of this is music. And so I think we should bring in Amanda Shaw. You guys keep throwing this, I'm going to bring in Amanda Shaw.
SLOAN: Who Amanda Shaw?
CAMEROTA: Because Amanda has awesome music to play for us.
SLOAN: Oh, what she's going to do?
CAMEROTA: Amanda. Hi, great to see.
AMANDA SHAW, FIDDLER: Hi, it's so great to see you too. Happy New Year.
CAMEROTA: Happy New Year. The crowd loves you.
SLOAN: Happy New Year.
CAMEROTA: -- so much. They've been really looking forward to hearing your --
LEMON: Happy New Year.
SHAW: Now, I'm ready for the New Year now that I have it.
CAMEROTA: That's right. You bet. Fill in. Right.
SHAW: Yes.
CAMEROTA: OK, so tell us about your playing when you started.
SHAW: I started playing when I was four years old and here I am. We won't say how old I am now but I'm past 30. But --
LEMON: Amanda, you've been here with us (INAUDIBLE).
SLOAN: The hell you are.
SHAW: I mean, this is the third time I've come to hang out with you guys and I don't know, Don, I don't know how you get more fun every single time.
LEMON: Do you enjoy being with us?
SHAW: Of course I do.
LEMON: I think we're not.
SHAW: I -- no comment.
LEMON: No, in a good way.
SHAW: I think with them.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
SHAW: No, I think we are lemons around here but in a good way.
LEMON: I'm so happy to hear that you are coming back because you're so --
SHAW: (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: -- angelic (ph) when you do the fiddle, right, it's like low key. You are so upbeat and optimistic about it.
SHAW: Well, thank you. That's a Cajun music is. It's all fun. It's a dance music. I'll play a little tune for you, guys.
CAMEROTA: OK, what is it?
SHAW: I don't know. I hadn't quite gotten that far.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
SHAW: I'm sorry.
CAMEROTA: Let's create it.
(MUSIC)
LEMON: We'll be back from New Orleans!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC & CHEERING)
[00:46:09]
CAMEROTA: Welcome back, everyone. We're here in New Orleans with an awesome crowd. We're in the warehouse district right outside Howlin' Wolf.
LEMON: Howlin' Wolf.
CAMEROTA: They have been so good to us.
LEMON: They've been amazing. We've had crawfish. We have a street party. We have -- look at that float behind us. Can you guys see the float?
SLOAN: The float is amazing.
LEMON: We have an amazing float.
SLOAN: This (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: We have our own personalized Don Lemon and CNN beads. Watch this. Oh.
SLOAN: We're out.
LEMON: It scares me every time.
CAMEROTA: Fantastic.
LEMON: It's been amazing. It's been amazing.
CAMEROTA: Yes.
LEMON: Should we -- can we look around? Can we go around other parts of the United States?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
LEMON: Where's Stephanie Elam? I've been wanting to talk to Stephanie.
CAMEROTA: She's in Las Vegas, I believe.
LEMON: Wait what is happening in Vegas. Hey, Steph. Hey, Happy New Year, girl.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don. Hey, Alisyn, hi, friends. I am in Las Vegas. I'm at the Fremont Street Experience in the original Las Vegas Strip. We are downtown Las Vegas. And who do I have with me, but the village people who just got offstage after rocking it.
It was so much fun. I have to know. All these years, you've been singing your songs. And I should point out that (INAUDIBLE) is an original. He is like the original rapper. People are singing your song, they're so happy. What's it like to see everyone's song into your songs?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like it's been since I did it the first time it seems. It's -- first of all, let me say happy new years from the Village People to the world. And we have a great time and a wonderful time performing and watching everybody seemed like they're having such a good time with this. The world just -- seems like a better place every time we're on stage.
ELAM: I mean, it's happy. Like you look at people's faces. They're smiling. They're dancing along. Not everyone knows dances anymore, but they know your dances. So what's it like for you as you're sitting out there and people are looking at you and following your moves?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a great feeling. This was our first New Year's in Vegas, so it felt spectacular.
ELAM: And there's some new blood in the Village People. There's some new blood here that I'm seeing in the Village People. But the feeling is still all the same. Tell me about it. I'm trying to get to all of you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's great. I mean, it's nice, it's fun. I'm having a great time.
ELAM: And choreography, you guys are into that choreography?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh yes, it's fun. Absolutely. Got to get the body moving and grooving.
ELAM: And then you also make sure that everyone knows how to do YMCA, right? So that's a key part of the lesson, right? Because the C goes to the left if I got it right, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It goes to the left.
ELAM: Y.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER (in unison): M, C, A.
ELAM: See, that --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No matter where you are, the C gets -- just no matter where you are, the C always goes to the left.
ELAM: OK, so --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we're looking at you out there, the Y, M, C we go to the left.
ELAM: I think we just did a public service announcement. I think it was a public service announcement. Listen, you guys were fantastic. Let me make sure I can see you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Indian -- I mean, (INAUDIBLE).
ELAM: All right Native American.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi.
ELAM: But listen, so much fun watching you guys. Thank you so much. Happy New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Year to you, Don and Ms. Lady.
ELAM: Alisyn, thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alisyn, we love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Year.
CAMEROTA: Steph.
SLOAN: That was so good news.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: We need some "Young Man." There's no need to feel down, I said young man. Get yourself off the ground I said -- can we hear them sing it?
SLOAN: They have to sing it.
ELAM: They want you to sing "Young Man", can you sing --
LEMON: "Young Man."
SLOAN: Just a little bit of "Young Man" for Don Lemon, please.
CAMEROTA: Why are we singing it?
LEMON: "Young Man."
(SINGING)
ELAM: Hey, just for you. You got to plan a concert Don and Alisyn.
[00:50:09]
LEMON: It's fun to stay at the YMCA.
ELAM: They're still singing.
LEMON: It's fun to stay at the YMCA.
ELAM: Don is doing a whole YMCA train.
LEMON: Thank you, Steph. Thank you.
ELAM: I love you, Don.
LEMON: Village People we love you.
We are counting down to New Year's Eve.
CAMEROTA: It's only 10 minutes away.
LEMON: Oh Dulce.
SLOAN: What happened?
LEMON: What's up? Do you have a wardrobe malfunction?
SLOAN: Always.
LEMON: Don't make me Justin Timberlake.
SLOAN: Listen.
LEMON: Don't be Janet.
SLOAN: Oh, they love Justin Timberlake themselves. Don't you worry. They have hear that there are people watching and they want to be out and about the street.
LEMON: Alisyn, are you like, oh my god, what have I got myself?
CAMEROTA: I'm excited.
LEMON: All right, guys.
SLOAN: Let's dress alike.
CAMEROTA: See what wardrobe malfunctions can happen.
LEMON: So many people to introduce you to.
SLOAN: OK.
LEMON: We have a street party going on here. We have our own personalized beads that we're throwing. People are showing things. We've got a float and we've got some deep conversation.
SLOAN: True.
LEMON: All right, I mean, look what we have. And we got New Year's Eve coming up. We're going to take a quick break. We're coming back live from New Orleans.
This is CNN's New Year's Eve America coast-to-coast. It happens. Earth, Wind & Fire next as well.
SLOAN: Earth, Wind & Fire as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's see those hands. Come on.
(MUSIC)
[00:56:05]
CAMEROTA: Welcome to the CNN New Year's Eve extravaganza. Dulce and I --
SLOAN: Hello.
CAMEROTA: -- are here in the warehouse district outside of the Howlin' Wolf in New Orleans.
SLOAN: Yes.
CAMEROTA: But let's get to one of the greatest bands of all time right now. We have a performance from Earth, Wind & Fire.
SLOAN: Earth, Wind & Fire is there. I didn't --and I got to stop checking in.
(MUSIC)
CAMEROTA: OK, we're 30 seconds away from the New Year. Is everybody ready?
SLOAN: 30 seconds away. Wait a minute --
CAMEROTA: Does anybody see Don?
SLOAN: Where's Don? Where is Don? Hold on.
CAMEROTA: But here we go.
SLOAN: Wait, why are we doing the (INAUDIBLE).
CAMEROTA: 15.
SLOAN: You all ready?
CAMEROTA: 14, 13, 12 -
SLOAN: Twelve --
(CROSSTALK)
CROWD: Nine, eight, even, six, five, four, three, two, one --
(CHEERING)
CAMEROTA: Happy New Year!
SLOAN: Happy New Year!
(CHEERING)
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Happy New Year, everybody! Happy New Year!
(SHOUTING)
LEMON: Wait. I got my own lemon cake. I hope you have your own lemon cake.
Happy New Year, everybody!
SLOAN: I'm glad you got a lemon cake and your name not Johnson.
(LAUGHTER)
SLOAN: What you going to pop out of then?
LEMON: A much more interesting cake. I'm going to sit on my own cake.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Happy New Year.
SLOAN: Happy New Year.
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: I got to kiss the count.
LEMON: Wait. Where's my man?
SLOAN: Where your man's at? Where is Don Lemon's man?
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: Where is Don Lemon's man?
LEMON: He hates being on TV on New Year's Eve.
SLOAN: Oh, no.
LEMON: Happy New Year, everybody.
SLOAN: Happy New Year.
LEMON: Up in the room chilling.
SLOAN: All right, so welcome.
LEMON: Cheers to a much better 2022.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Are you excited about it?
CAMEROTA: Oh, because 2021?
LEMON: This is your daughter?
CAMEROTA: My daughter, Chessa (ph), right here. It's wonderful to be able to --
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: That's your baby?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
SLOAN: Hey, darling.
Brought a lemon out, OK.
For some reason she has a huge lemon with her. That makes sense. We completed the gag.
LEMON: Dulce, we're so happy to have you here for New Year's Eve and new year's.
Do you have a resolution?
SLOAN: Oh, my resolution is to be nicer to myself.
CAMEROTA: What does that mean?
SLOAN: That means it's to love myself more and to say nicer things to me. And to be able to say no.
LEMON: Does it mean chaining people to the bed?
SLOAN: Does it mean what?
LEMON: Does it mean chaining people to the bed?
SLOAN: Oh, only if I'm a good girl.
(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: Don, what's your resolution?
LEMON: What is your new year's resolution, Alisyn Camerota?
CAMEROTA: I don't know. It's hard to have a resolution when you're this perfect. I haven't come up with one yet.
I'm open to suggestions. Anybody can tell me what it should be. What's your thoughts?
LEMON: Alisyn and I were going to have a Tim table tonight. Her husband is Tim. My fiance is Tim. They both hate being on television.
CAMEROTA: That's right.
LEMON: He's not here.
My resolution is -- I don't have one.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: You haven't thought of one?
LEMON: Yes, I don't think -- I don't do resolutions.
CAMEROTA: You don't?
SLOAN: That makes sense.
LEMON: My resolution is always just to be me. And to not give a "you know what." And just to live my life. My life is mine.
CAMEROTA: OK.
LEMON: I don't really care what other people think about me, my life is for me to live.
CAMEROTA: That's amazing.
LEMON: To make my fiance happy.
CAMEROTA: Yes.
LEMON: Build a home for us, our dogs, our kids.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: We're going to get married this year.
CAMEROTA: What's the date? I'm curious.
LEMON: Haven't set a date. Because I want people -- I want our family, his family, our friends to enjoy not a giant wedding.
CAMEROTA: Ok.
LEMON: I want this COVID crap to be over because I don't want a superspreading event.
CAMEROTA: OK.
LEMON: I want people to have a fun time and let loose. Sometime this year when we get COVID behind us.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: My resolution is to be kinder. To him and --
CAMEROTA: And everyone?
LEMON: I'm always nice to people. I'm nice to him.
SLOAN: Can I get an invite to your wedding?
LEMON: Also to be not so -- I'm not a selfish person, but not so me- centric.
SLOAN: OK. I need to learn how to be -- sometimes I can be too giving. I want to learn how to be a little bit more -- not like selfish, but more focused on myself, as opposed to letting other people distract me.
CAMEROTA: You should borrow something from each other.
SLOAN: Yes, borrow something from you.
To my best friend, happy birthday, because it's her birthday.
LEMON: But also my resolution for --
CAMEROTA: Happy birthday!
LEMON: Happy birthday.
(SHOUTING)
LEMON: Also, I think it would be great if we could somehow figure out how to understand each other. To live in a shared reality.
CAMEROTA: That is a great resolution for the country. That would be a great --
LEMON: A shared reality.
SLOAN: You have to learn how to listen.
LEMON: Excuse me?
SLOAN: You have to learn how to listen.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: I'm sorry, go ahead.
That was so funny.
LEMON: It's good, you have to listen, you also have to learn how to -- by the way, those lemons? We have the same pool floats in our backyard. So funny. It's like did you take our pool floats?
CAMEROTA: Yes, there's no budget.
LEMON: The people have to really realize like when they've been --
SLOAN: You can't have empathy until you listen.
[01:05:03]
LEMON: That's true.
SLOAN: So you can't understand somebody else -- a lot of times when people talk, they're waiting for their turn, as opposed to listening to what the other person is saying.
LEMON: True, that.
Here's what I want for everybody. I want for everybody on their birthday, on New Year's Eve, on their anniversary, or whatever it is, if it's just Tuesday, to be able to have their own lemon cake.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And step out of it and say, "live on CNN and international television."
I said, I want a lemon cake and I want to jump out. And guess what? Somebody did it. Hey!
SLOAN: Somebody did it. Look at this. Look at the craftsmanship.
CAMEROTA: A lemon cake for everyone. That is a wonderful resolution.
LEMON: Listen, we had Anderson and Andy on earlier. We were all doing CNN Plus. We're figuring out what we're doing with Allie. I have a talk show.
SLOAN: Whoo!
LEMON: Oh, yes, I have a talk show. I haven't figured out the name. But it's going to be very much, "Caller, you're on the air."
Remember who that was?
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Phil Donahue.
LEMON: I'm going to do that show.
CAMEROTA: That's a great idea.
LEMON: I'm going to do the 2022 version of that show.
CAMEROTA: Are you going to have that studio audience where you run --
LEMON: A studio audience. We may do a build in. We may birth some babies live on the CNN Plus.
SLOAN: But you don't know nothing about birthing no babies.
LEMON: Miss Scarlett!
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Yes, I do.
SLOAN: "I don't know nothing about birthing no babies, Miss Scarlett!"
LEMON: That made me so happy. We talk about that.
She stole that movie. Did she steal that movie?
SLOAN: Listen, all I remember is Carol Burnett coming down them stairs wearing them curtains. That's what I remember.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: You are crazy.
I want you guys on social media to tell us what your resolutions are.
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: Or your wishes for 2022.
SLOAN: Or tell us that you don't believe in resolutions and you're just going to live your life.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: My resolution for 2022?
LEMON: Yes, yes.
SLOAN: No more broke dick.
LEMON: Come on, what?
SLOAN: No more broke dick. No more penis from a man who has no money.
LEMON: Did you say broke dick?
SLOAN: Yes. But it's always good, that's the problem.
CAMEROTA: Wow.
SLOAN: Bring me some good --
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: Can I say that on TV? Is that OK?
LEMON: I say she's -- I say she's golden.
SLOAN: All I'm saying, if anyone who is acquiring male genitalia, it needs to be attached to someone who can also fly me to the Caribbean.
Because I can. You can fly yourself to the Caribbean. Why would you do that?
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: I'm trying to put a blessing on my life, OK?
LEMON: Come here.
Howie (ph)?
SLOAN: Who's this?
LEMON: Howie (ph), get over here in the middle.
SLOAN: Howie (ph).
LEMON: This is Howie (ph).
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Thank you.
LEMON: Owner of the fabulous establishment that we are standing in front of.
SLOAN: Oh, you are the proprietor.
LEMON: Thank you for doing this, Howie (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.
LEMON: Can we talk some serious? People talk a lot of shit about New Orleans and I hate that. I think
New Orleans is an amazing city. Dealing with some things, that's been dealing with some things for a long time.
I think Katrina really hurt the city, right? Then on top of that, we've had COVID, what have you.
Talk to me about the greatness of the city and what you want for the city in 2022.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're talking about the culture bearers. We're talking about the people that make this city unique and fantastic.
It's not just about the musicians. It's about the sous chef at your favorite restaurant. It's the reason why New Orleans has such -- this heartbeat.
Everybody else and everybody around the country and the world, it's why people are watching right now. Because New Orleans is like nothing else that you can possibly imagine.
LEMON: Can I tell you how much I love this city? I grew up in Baton Rouge. I would come here all the time with my family, go to Lake Pontchartrain.
I few more minutes before 12, until we off the air.
I had to use my toes to find my dad's keys in the lake.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: So anyways. Here's the thing. This is how much I love this city. I actually own a piece of property here that I would love to build a house on and be able to retire here one day.
Am I crazy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. This is where I will die. This is where music lives. This is where the heart of the nation lives.
Our greatest export is our people, our culture. There's nothing like what will happen in New Orleans anywhere else.
LEMON: We're so happy.
Howie (ph), you moved this entire event. We had this Omicron variant and outbreak in New Orleans. We had a lot of things planned. Of course, the float was planned for outside.
You moved everything outside for us because you wanted to show how New Orleans is nimble. And it's great.
[01:10:01]
The mayor encouraged us to do it. We moved everything outside.
Why was that important to do that? How the hell did you do that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had a lot of help from the people at CNN, all your staff.
It was all the musicians and the people right now. John Cleary (ph), the Grammy award-winning rebirth brass band, all my staff and people that got together and said, we're going to do this safely and show the world what New Orleans.
LEMON: On the same weekend, there's the bowl, Baylor and Ole Miss tomorrow. There was a great parade today.
Baylor and Ole Miss, I hate both of you. I'm an LSU Tiger.
But I'm happy to see everybody.
Thank you, Howie (ph). Thank you. It's great.
Guys?
CAMEROTA: What's up?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I want to thank you.
Hey! How are you guys?
(CHEERING)
LEMON: We move New Orleans. I can't hear anything. Are we taking a break? Still talking?
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Where are my glasses?
LEMON: I think they're saying take a break.
SLOAN: Take a break!
CAMEROTA: I haven't found my glasses yet.
SLOAN: Oh, those are fun.
LEMON: I don't know. I think I like my lemon necklace.
SLOAN: Lemon yellow chain.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: We have even more fun coming up on the other side of the break. There may be something even more exciting and more interesting than a lemon cake.
(CROSSTALK) CAMEROTA: Impossible.
SLOAN: Yes, so next thing, I'm popping out of my top. Hey, hey!
(CHEERING)
LEMON: Be right back, you all. Happy New Year.
SLOAN: Happy New Year.
CAMEROTA: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:15:10]
SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: All right. We are still here at the Fremont Street Experience. Look at the legend standing with me. I've got Bobby Brown.
Are you ready to rock it?
BOBBY BROWN, SINGER: Yes, I am. Yes, I am.
SIDNER: OK, you know, you are kind of the soundtrack for a lot of people's happy moments. What does that feel like for you?
BROWN: It feels wonderful. I am flabbergasted.
SIDNER: So are you going to be dancing? Are we going to see dance moves from you tonight?
BROWN: You'll see dances, singing, and you'll see Bobby Brown.
SIDNER: So you know, when I do the Bobby Brown, I get high knees, I get my knees up. You're like, up, up.
(LAUGHTER)
SIDNER: Are we going to see some of that tonight?
BROWN: You'll see some of it.
SIDNER: Oh, I can't wait. Because you know what? That's your prerogative.
BROWN: Yes, it is.
SIDNER: I can't wait to see you rock it. I know there's so many people here talking about they want to see you. What's it like when you see the crowd dancing to your songs?
BROWN: It's excitement. It's excitement. I love performing. It's something I love to do.
SIDNER: We're glad you do it. Thank you for talking to us. Happy New Year. Happy New Year.
Don and Alisyn, happy New Year
LEMON: All right.
CAMEROTA: Hi, guys. We're back.
Happy New Year!
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Bobby Brown?
Oh!
SLOAN: No, you broke your cake!
LEMON: Oh, can I have my lemon?
CAMEROTA: There's a lot of music here and a lot of lemon cake.
SLOAN: Lemon!
CAMEROTA: It can fit all of us.
LEMON: Give me a Bobby Brown song.
(SINGING)
SLOAN: It's like from "Ghostbusters."
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: It's the only Bobby Brown song I can remember.
Isn't it the one about reputation?
CAMEROTA: Reputation?
SLOAN: Oh, it's -- oh --
CAMEROTA: Prerogative.
SLOAN: Prerogative. Is that Bobby Brown?
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Prerogative, yes.
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: It's like the one where they go into action, they've got to stop it, the ooze is evil. Am I the only one who saw "Ghostbusters 2?"
LEMON: Oh my god. Oh, my god. SLOAN: And "my prerogative," that, too.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Frenchy --
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: We have to talk to Frenchy.
LEMON: Frenchy, come up here.
Frenchy is an amazing painter --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: -- who has been painting the scene all night.
Frenchy, get in here.
What you got here?
SLOAN: Hey, Frenchy. Show me to the Louvre.
LEMON: This is us.
SLOAN: It's art.
Wait, that's me!
Yes! This is me hanging on for dear life. That's me. That's my titties. That's Don Lemon. That's Alisyn.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: This is our street party.
SLOAN: Oh, that's the girl that played the fiddle.
LEMON: OK.
SLOAN: This is a blank canvas.
CAMEROTA: Exciting visual.
LEMON: This is Frenchy.
Talk to us about this. What is this? How the hell did you do this?
FRENCHY, PAINTER: Well, you know, it's a New Orleans thing, you know what I'm saying? Sharing the love, putting the lagniappe out with the nice black and white, you know?
The world needs a little love right now. That's what we're putting out for everybody. Everything equals everything. Everything equals love, baby. CAMEROTA: That's beautiful.
LEMON: Wait, should we -- can we auction this for charity or something?
FRENCHY: Well, I'm always open to charity.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: You're like, I need the money!
(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: Everything is --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Always open to charity, but what?
FRENCHY: Nothing but love, Don. Nothing but love.
LEMON: If you guys want this, reach out to Frenchy.
Frenchy, how do they get you?
FRENCHY: Frenchylive.com.
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: Uh-oh, my face is on this. I want a cut, Frenchy!
FRENCHY: Yes, I got your figure in there.
SLOAN: This is me selling my titties in the street, Frenchy. What's wrong with you?
LEMON: Your titties are everywhere, I mean, come on.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Frenchy, thank you.
LEMON: So we're -- thank you, Frenchy.
Where is this going to be?
SLOAN: Huh?
LEMON: What you got?
SLOAN: What have I got?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Where are they going to be? What you got?
SLOAN: There's so much music around me.
LEMON: Sober up!
SLOAN: So I'm going to be in the City Winery in Atlanta on February 19th for Dulce Sloan and Friends. Get your tickets. This is my first show in Atlanta.
LEMON: How will you start that show? Give me some jokes. Give me a mini, 30-second set.
SLOAN: I ain't doing no stand-up for free.
LEMON: Why not?
I say do it. Dulce, Dulce, Dulce!
(CROSSTALK)
SLOAN: Listen, I start by saying, New York is trash, it should be burned down immediately. And if the lord ever blessed me with a dragon, I would burn that place to the ground.
[01:20:01]
LEMON: New York City?
SLOAN: Yes.
LEMON: Why?
SLOAN: You need to watch my half hour. I give a full three-pronged thesis as to why that city is awful. It's trying to kill you on a regular basis.
LEMON: All right, Andy Cohen. What is up with you all?
SLOAN: All I'm saying is that I should not have to go to war with the municipality. I am one person. Why am I paying all this rent? Why are the rats unionized?
CAMEROTA: Good answer.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: All I will say is that New York City made me the human being that I am. It gave me the strength, the charisma, the stamina, and the opportunity to be a bad ass.
SLOAN: As it was trying to kill you.
LEMON: What?
SLOAN: You have PTSD.
LEMON: Why?
SLOAN: From the city.
LEMON: I do?
SLOAN: It tried to kill you every day.
LEMON: How?
SLOAN: New York?
LEMON: Yes.
SLOAN: You been on the train?
LEMON: You better start spreading news. I don't believe that.
SLOAN: I don't spread no news.
LEMON: I'm leaving today.
SLOAN: Listen, I'm trying to spread legs and get married.
LEMON: I don't want to be a part of it.
New York, New York.
SLOAN: Hey, it's the disco girl.
LEMON: This is so -- look. Every new year's, every Halloween, my fiance and I do something crazy. This Halloween we were with Whoopi and Joy from "The View."
CAMEROTA: I saw that. Incredible, very attractive.
LEMON: So I am, I am crushing on these disco balls for next year. Look at these. Amazing.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I want these outfits. What do you think?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: It is Roxy, gay man --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: -- 1999, 2003, John Blair, Saturday night. I want that.
SLOAN: You have to get the hoop.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: How do I do the hoop?
CAMEROTA: Can we look at this for a second?
SLOAN: Look at the glasses.
That's remarkable right there.
CAMEROTA: That's glasses right there.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: She's been doing a lot of contortions --
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: -- and they're fantastic.
SLOAN: Of course. That's upper body strength. That's core. You understand?
CAMEROTA: That is.
LEMON: Did you guys save some lemon beads? My mom will kill me if I don't get her one.
SLOAN: You have to.
CAMEROTA: She can also have this beautiful lemon cake.
LEMON: Oh, yes?
CAMEROTA: We can turn this into a (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: Our producer is talking to us. All I hear is Charlie Brown's mom. Womp-womp-womp! Womp-womp-womp!
CAMEROTA: That is the worst.
Oh, the -- is he saying to say good-bye?
LEMON: I don't know. I have no idea.
SLOAN: Saying good-bye?
LEMON: Are we saying good-bye?
I'm trying to find a comfortable place to sit on this lemon cake.
CAMEROTA: Good luck.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: It's going all the wrong places right now.
CAMEROTA: Does anybody else have a contact high?
SLOAN: I have a contact high.
LEMON: OK, look. All right, look. We're going to -- we're at a street party. We are socially distanced. SLOAN: What is a street party?
LEMON: It as vaxxed and -- a vaccine card or a negative test card. So we're in a socially distant place.
But we're at a street party. We're smelling a lot of weed.
CAMEROTA: True, that.
SLOAN: I don't partake in the weed.
LEMON: And this lemon cake has been in all the wrong places. I'm trying to find a comfortable spot.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: I'm like ow.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Hey, listen. We've enjoyed our evening. We enjoyed new year's with you.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I love you. Happy New Year.
I love you all.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I'm hoping it didn't piss off too many people. We're just having a great time this New Year's Eve.
Everybody --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: -- I hope you have a fantastic 2022.
Lighten up! Be easy. Enjoy your life. Don't be so judgmental.
Happy New Year.
CAMEROTA: Happy New Year.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Happy and healthy!
SLOAN: We did it. Ta-da!
LEMON: Whoo!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes! Once again, I'd like to thank you for coming out and partying with us, bringing in 2022 with the Rebirth Brass Band.
You all ready to have a good time? You all ready to party and have a good time?
Say yes!
(CHEERING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be like this all 2022, you all, so get ready for it. We will keep on going where we going.
(SINGING)
[01:25:00]
(SINGING)
(CHEERING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
