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CNN Live Event/Special
Happy New Year From Sydney, Australia; The World Welcomes 2026. Aired 8:00-8:30a ET
Aired December 31, 2025 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00]
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Tons of fireworks up there. Hundreds of different places across the bridge where they fire them are from. Thousands of different points around the entire city.
It takes almost the entire year to get it all set up. There are different parts, there are barges on Sydney Harbor that fire the fireworks up, there are fireworks on the Harbor Bridge as well. Listen, the countdown now, it's almost New Year's Eve here in Australia.
I'll leave it with you guys. Happy New Year! Guys, check it out. The fireworks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
(FIREWORKS)
[08:05:00]
(FIREWORKS AND MUSIC)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: That was incredible. And Sydney is indeed one of the most spectacular harbor cities in the world. And what a show that was.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Happy New Year, Sydney, Australia. Did you notice at the beginning? So, Angus, we did the countdown. The fireworks are happening behind Angus and then we go to the fireworks feed and they hadn't started yet. There was a 32nd delay on the shot, so that's why there was that little kind of weird moment. Its a live TV show, so the sort of stuff happens.
LU STOUT: But then the fireworks came on and Sydney delivered --
RIPLEY: Yes.
LU STOUT: -- beautiful pyrotechnics, fireworks. You got the floodlights. You got the lasers. And not just illuminating the night sky but being reflected on the harbor below. It was gorgeous. And --
RIPLEY: Angus has done a costume change.
LU STOUT: Angus joins us once again -- Angus. WATSON: Guys, welcome to 2026. Happy New Year from Sydney, Australia.
Everybody here absolutely love that. Adored it. Wasn't it fantastic? The party is in full swing here guys. Cheers claps for tens of thousands of pyrotechnic effects that just exploded in the sky. Wasn't it just magical, magical, magical stuff?
WATSON: Guys, welcome to 2026. Happy New Year from Sydney, Australia. Everybody here absolutely love that. Adored it. Wasn't it fantastic? The party is in full swing here, guys. Cheers, claps for tens of thousands of pyrotechnic effects that just exploded in the sky. Wasn't it just magical, magical, magical stuff?
STOUT: Angus Watson. Here's wishing you a very happy New Year, already 2026, where you are, may you see an octopus next time you snorkel in the harbor.
RIPLEY: All right, Kristi, so to explain what's going to happen next, I'm going to say something. If you recognize this, then you're going to know what's happening next. Kristie, the time has come for both of us to lip-sync for our life. Good luck, and don't flub it up.
STOUT: Will is going to be putting me in a tough spot. We're going to have our lip sync battle after the break. Keep it here just to see how well or not so well we're going to do. I'm nervous. You're watching CNN NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE.
[08:15:00]
K-POP GROUP: Hi, everyone! Together!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's hard to believe that 2025 is already coming to an end.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 2025 gave us so many unforgettable moments, especially seeing our fans from all around the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As we welcome 2026, we hope to stay healthy, positive, and surrounded by the people you love.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Year! See you in 2026.
GROUP: Bye.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STOUT: And that was the scene from Sydney just moments ago as Australia begins to welcome in the New Year.
RIPLEY: Happy New Year, Australia. Fireworks filling the sky there. Always a spectacular show. Bijan, you're kind of new to the region. You're in Hong Kong. Welcome. Happy New Year, even though it's not quite New Year yet. What are your thoughts so far?
BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Yes, so far so good. We are at the annual carnival just across the Victoria Harbor.
[08:20:00]
There are -- they're expecting 20,000 people at this carnival tonight and will be treated to a really incredible light show at midnight. It's going to be on eight of the city. There are they're expecting 20,000 people at this carnival tonight and will be treated to a really incredible light show at midnight. It's going to be on eight of the city's most iconic buildings behind me. So I'm really looking forward to watching that.
So far, so good. Things are good. There's tourists, there's locals, there's families. Everyone has a big smile on their face, ready to ring in 2026. How are things in Bangkok?
STOUT: Oh, the party is kicking off here, Bijan, definitely. We have thousands of people at Icon Siam gathering here to watch a bevy of pop stars get on that stage, including Mark Tuan, who we're going to have on this stage tonight. Big pop star with a K-pop group. He's also going solo. A lot of talent here in the kingdom tonight.
But Bijan, back to you in Hong Kong. I miss my Hong Kong. Will misses his Hong Kong, too. What are your impressions so far?
HOSSEINI: I know we've swapped places. You know, I've flown all the way over here, but it is so good to be here. Just the city feels electric. I think, you know, no fireworks this year, but this light show is going to be something truly spectacular. And some of the people we've talked to are really looking forward to it.
Just starting 2026 with, you know, just a sense of connectedness. So I'm really looking forward to that. There's, you know, performers all day here. I know we have performers lined up throughout the day, but it would be such a shame to waste the two of your talents. So I want to see you two go at it. I want to see this lip sync battle. I'm here for it. I'm ready for it.
STOUT: Thank you, Bijan. Bijan is standing live in Hong Kong for us, and he is starting the challenge, the lip sync challenge.
RIPLEY: We basically, we know that there's, like, a list of songs that we've had to each prepare, and now we will reveal what we've chosen for each other.
STOUT: That's right. And so this is the song that I have chosen for you, Mr. Will Ripley. We are testing your Mandarin skills --
RIPLEY: No.
STOUT: -- with a classic by Teresa Teng or Teng Li-Chun, I Only Care For You.
RIPLEY: You chose this song.
STOUT: I'm putting you on the spot. I'm putting you on the spot.
RIPLEY: In Mandarin on live TV.
STOUT: And now, take it away, Will Ripley.
RIPLEY: I don't know.
TERESA TENG, I ONLY CARE ABOUT YOU: (SINGING IN MANDARIN)
STOUT: Will, that was amazing. (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
RIPLEY: For all the aunties out there, all the aunties.
STOUT: To sing Teresa Teng, who crosses geopolitical borders, fans across Greater China, Asia, and the world.
RIPLEY: Yes.
STOUT: Hearts have been melted tonight, thanks to that performance.
RIPLEY: A Taiwanese icon, yes. All right, Kristie, are you ready to hear the song that I've chosen for you?
STOUT: I'm a little bit nervous, but I will take it on.
RIPLEY: It's a different theme, but I think you're going to rock it. Flowers by Miley Cyrus.
STOUT: Oh my goodness, here, take my mic.
RIPLEY: OK, got it.
MILEY CYRUS, FLOWERS: We were good, we were gold Kinda dream that can't be sold We were right 'til we weren't Built a home and watched it burn Mm, I didn't wanna leave you, I didn't wanna lie Started to cry, but then remembered I I can buy myself flowers Write my name in the sand Talk to myself for hours Say things you don't understand I can take myself dancing And I can hold my own hand Yeah, I can love me better than you can Can love me better, I ...
[08:25:00]
STOUT: Oh, my gosh.
RIPLEY: That was great. You found your second calling. You should be on the stage there with the pop stars.
STOUT: I found my inner diva. Thank you very much indeed for challenging me. Thank you very much indeed for getting me out of my comfort zone.
Bijan has been standing by in Hong Kong, watching it all. I don't know if Bijan has any comments on our abilities. HOSSEINI: I am so impressed. That was fantastic. I mean, Will you were born for the stage, but Kristie, you were -- you were born to own the stage. You had spunk, you had pizzazz, you had sass. That was, I mean all around that was fantastic.
I'm impressed by by both of you, although I'm not the best judge. I think you you two have someone there that is probably a way better judge than I could ever be.
STOUT: We do.
RIPLEY: And he's an amazing singer, Tayme Thapthimthong from the White Lotus fame, who went viral when he sat next to Lisa, who I interviewed here in Bangkok last year. And he sang -- I like --
STOUT: No diggity. And Tayme Thapthimthong joins us now live. Happy New Year, Tayme.
TAYME THAPTHIMTHONG, ACTOR, THE WHITE LOTUS: Hello.
STOUT: Thank you so much for joining us here in the program.
THAPTHIMTHONG: Happy New Years, guys.
STOUT: We are huge fans of yours, your acting talent, your singing talent --
THAPTHIMTHONG: Thank you.
STOUT: -- your overall talent. Could we just ask, how did we do just now in the lip sync contest? What did you think?
THAPTHIMTHONG: That was amazing. Both of you. I could feel the energy from both of you. It was done very well.
RIPLEY: You're very kind.
THAPTHIMTHONG: I couldn't have done better myself.
RIPLEY: You're very kind. You know, I would love to hear.
THAPTHIMTHONG: That was great.
RIPLEY: I would love to hear you do a collab with Lisa. Does that possibly be in the works? Because you're singing and she was right there on that video with you. It was perfect. It was great.
THAPTHIMTHONG: Yes, I mean, oh man, I'd love to. That would be amazing if someone could just make that happen, please.
STOUT: Now, Tayme, you have had an incredible 2025. Congratulations.
THAPTHIMTHONG: Yes.
STOUT: Again, White Lotus 3, you were a scene stealer. And am I getting this right? When you were hired to play the role of a security guard in White Lotus 3, you were working as a security guard, is that right?
THAPTHIMTHONG: I was working as a bodyguard at the time when I got casted, yes. So it was -- it was just incredible. I mean, 2025 for me, I'll never forget it my whole life. You know, this has been such an amazing transition in my life, and it's really changed everything, and I'm so grateful for everything. It's just been amazing.
RIPLEY: Did you expect the level of fame that you've now reached? I mean, how quickly has everything changed in your life as a result of this incredible job that you did on White Lotus?
THAPTHIMTHONG: Well, thank you. Well, it changed almost immediately. And to be honest, in the beginning, I didn't know what to expect because I myself have never watched White Lotus until I actually got casted on it. And when I was in Thailand, I never understood the scale of how popular the show was, especially in the U.S.
So when it first aired, you know, and I flew over to the U.S. to do the premiere. That was already surreal and to slowly watch it kind of week by week. Watching the everyone kind of a chime in about, you know, who they think it's going to be the killer.
STOUT: Yes --
THAPTHIMTHONG: -- Who everybody think it's going to, you know, get killed. It's just -- it's just amazing to watch --
STOUT: That's right, it was a clear phenomenon.
THAPTHIMTHONG: -- And yes, this at all. Yes, I never expected it all.
STOUT: Another question. Who is going to survive until the very end?
THAPTHIMTHONG: Exactly, yes.
STOUT: Tayme you a talented actor and and singer --
THAPTHIMTHONG: Thank you.
STOUT: -- and you're also a father. Let's talk about your daughter, because is it true that --
THAPTHIMTHONG: Yes.
STOUT: -- your daughter knew who Lisa was, your co-star in White Lotus 3?
THAPTHIMTHONG: Yes.
STOUT: And you were quite aware of her fame as much as your daughter was aware of it.
THAPTHIMTHONG: Yes, I mean, she's been watching Blackpink for a few years, I guess, before I kind of, I mean, I've heard of them definitely, you know. being in Thailand, everyone knows Lisa. But I just never listened to that kind of genre of music. But she definitely got me on it because I, you know, I came home one day, she was watching Pink Venom, which is one of the songs that they performed at Coachella.
And I was like, is this Blackpink? And she was like, yes. And I was like, oh, wow, they're really, really good. It was just so amazing to find out eventually that Lisa was the one that was going to play my love interest. And the hottest thing was just telling my daughter that she was good.
RIPLEY: And she was your tutor for Thai as well -- it's for the Thai language.
THAPTHIMTHONG: Yes, for sure. So my -- English is my preferred language. But Thai, you know, I've spoken it since I was a kid, but it's always been a language that I, you know, like it, especially when I if I have to do a script in Thai, it's something that's quite challenging for me. She definitely helped ...
END
