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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN New Year's Eve Live. CNN New Year's Eve Live. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired December 31, 2025 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(LIVE PERFORMANCE BY RAYE)
[22:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHAKIRA, SINGER: Hey, Anderson and Andy, I'm so excited to be performing for you tonight. Happy New Year to you and everyone around the world,
MONICA, SINGER: Anderson and Andy, we love you guys.
BRANDY, SINGER: Love you from the bottom of our heart.
MONICA: It's Monica here, I'm one half of Monica.
BRANDY: Brandy.
MONICA: We want to wish you guys a very happy, prosperous, loving New Year. We love you guys. And thank you all for coming by The Boy's Mine tour.
BRANDY: What? Love you all. Bye.
MONICA: Bye. Mwah.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the heart of Times Square, it's CNN's New Year's Eve Live. Welcome to T.V.'s wildest party with performances and appearances by Stephen Colbert, Shakira, B.J. Novak, the mentalist, Oz Pearlman, Brandi Carlile, Brandy and Monica, and more surprises.
And now your hosts, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
ANDY COHEN, T.V. SHOW HOST: Oh my God, chaos, it's been happening here during the commercial break. Hey, everybody. It's snowing, it's windy.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Wow. Thank you for joining. Yes.
COHEN: It's freezing. Yes, thanks for joining us. Very cold Times Square, thousands of people are braving the cold temperatures.
COOPER: Although it doesn't seem as crowded as in previous periods, yes.
COHEN: It doesn't seem as crowded. If you want to hop down to Times Square, grab a (INAUDIBLE) and come on down, only two hours until the ball drops. We have a ton of surprises in store for everybody.
But, first, our hourly and annual transition.
COOPER: No, okay, transition?
COHEN: I mean, tradition.
COOPER: Tradition, oh my gosh, wow.
COHEN: Anderson and I are transitioning as the night goes on into drunkards.
COOPER: No, that's not true.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: Actually.
COHEN: No, okay. Wow.
Okay. Here's the deal. You and I did a promo shoot.
COOPER: Yes, we did.
COHEN: Okay?
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Okay. You and I did a promo shoot this year for CNN for our New Year's broadcast featuring puppets. Yes, we have an Anderson puppet, and yours looks like he had a stroke. I don't know what -- I don't know what happened to him.
COOPER: During the commercial break --
COHEN: I -- something happened.
COOPER: Get our hands in this puppet.
COHEN: Yes. And I don't know. Yours suffered a bit of a stroke. Okay, I've got it. Okay, he is better now. Okay, he's better. Okay. Okay.
So, here's --
COOPER: I look like I've had a stroke.
COHEN: You do, I know. Well, I know. You're -- you know what it looks like. You look very gummy. Like you look like you have no teeth, like you lost your teeth.
COOPER: You got to get your hand in there.
COHEN: It is ironic. My hand is all the way in.
COOPER: It's not.
COHEN: It's ironic because we go to the same dentist, right?
COOPER: What?
COHEN: Yes, we go to the same dentist and you look like you have no teeth.
So, anyway, here's what we're going to do. We are going to take turns answering questions about each other as each other, okay?
So, Anderson, what is your favorite part about spending New Year's Eve with Andy?
My favorite part is that he runs the show and I get to sit back -- he's answering questions.
COOPER: You're pretending, no.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: Well, you're -- yes, okay.
COHEN: Okay. Does look like he's had a stroke? Okay. What -- okay.
[22:05:00]
What's your favorite part about hosting New Year's with Andy?
He takes charge and I make sweet love to him at the end of the night.
Okay, now you do one for me.
COOPER: Andy, who's your favorite Real Housewife right now?
I don't know any right now. Who would --
COHEN: This is for you to do.
COOPER: Who's the one who's -- oh, Countess Luann?
Yes.
COHEN: Anderson, I can't figure out how to get --
COOPER: Look, my puppet.
COHEN: When you were --
COOPER: Look. What's to your puppet?
COHEN: He was bragging that he went to puppetry school when he was a kid, that you went to puppetry school, huh?
COOPER: I was kidding. Of course, I didn't go to puppetry school. What do you think?
COHEN: You said it. You kept saying it.
COOPER: Yes, I know. I couldn't believe you believed me. What do you think? I spent my childhood in puppetry school?
COHEN: I don't -- one would never knows with you.
COOPER: I claimed that I -- yes -- that I took a six month course in puppetry when I was 17. And I can't believe that you believed me.
COHEN: Well, now we're learning the value of those puppeteers that were at our promo shoot, aren't we?
Anderson, what's the number one deal breaker for a guy that you're interested in?
Bringing up my mom or the Vanderbilt fortune.
COOPER: These puppets are hard -- it's really hard being a puppeteer. Look at my puppet. Look at his neck. It's like --
COHEN: By the way, this is me. Can you be a little gentle with this? Oh my God.
COOPER: Well, look, I've stroked out.
COHEN: The effort you are --
COOPER: My puppet stroked out.
COHEN: I know it's true. I think we should bag out of this.
COOPER: I think we're done. I think we're done.
COHEN: Oh my God. Oh, I hate to ruin the magic of the puppetry, but here, this -- oh God.
COOPER: The illusion is broken is broken.
COHEN: The illusion, we broke the illusion.
By the way, we went to great pains, or Nick did, getting these puppets.
COOPER: I know. I feel bad.
COHEN: Anyway --
COOPER: And now they're just tossed in a box.
COHEN: Okay, let's go live to Richard Quest in Times Square. That was bad.
COOPER: Wow.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Well, good evening. Oh, good evening.
COHEN: Oh my God. Look at Richard Quest. Look at you.
QUEST: Bonsoir mon ami. I am Napoleon tonight. Kings and queens is the theme.
Now in 1803, I sold you Louisiana. I'd like to buy it back, please, as part of the 250th anniversary. We have a Frenchman. We actually have a Frenchman here. Where are you from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am from Pau, in the Pyrenees.
QUEST: You are from France?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'm from France.
QUEST: And you recognize me as?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Napoleon.
QUEST: Napoleon, monsieur.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
QUEST: Are we? And that's just about the extent of the French tonight. Where are you from?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm from India.
QUEST: India. Are you regretting it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kind of, but it's fun.
QUEST: It's fun.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's fun. It's amazing.
QUEST: All right, let's have a bit of a cheer.
QUEST: No, no, that is --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Napoleon. Napoleon, right?
QUEST: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See, I know. Good job.
QUEST: Where are you from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boston, Mass.
QUEST: Boston, Massachusetts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Boston, Massachusetts.
QUEST: It's getting cold here, isn't it? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's snowing. How beautiful it is.
QUEST: Say hello.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello world. We all love you. Woo.
QUEST: And can you believe it? They're not even allowed any drink in here. Could --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't want to go to the bathroom around here because there's no port-potties.
QUEST: No. Don't mention the bathroom, please. Don't mention the bathrooms. We've had this debate, as you know, on many -- sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pure energy.
QUEST: Pure energy, there we go.
Let's move on. Happy New Year, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy New Year.
QUEST: Happy New Year. Come down this way. They were moving over here a short while ago. Where are you from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pennsylvania.
QUEST: Pennsylvania. Yourself?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: California.
QUEST: California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Italy.
QUEST: Italy. Is this your first time in Times Square? Yes.
I don't know what's just happened, but everybody's gone very quiet all of a sudden. Can you hear, can you feel, it's as if something's happening and I'm not in on the secret.
COOPER: Yes, I don't think so. I think it's -- yes, I don't think anything is actually happening here in Times Square.
COHEN: Yes, right.
COOPER: Yes. I think we're about to show a video.
QUEST: Oh, that's all right then.
COOPER: Yes, that's it.
QUEST: So, look, we've got -- we have got Napoleon for this hour.
COOPER: Okay. QUEST: But in the next hour I will be disrobing and you'll never guess who you're going to see, kings and queens.
[22:10:01]
Let's have a cheer.
COHEN: Last year, we -- last -- was it last year that we saw Lady Liberty?
COOPER: Lady Liberty. I remember Lady Liberty.
COHEN: Yes, that's right.
COOPER: She's shown bright.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Richard, we'll check in with you shortly.
QUEST: You will.
COOPER: Probably. Randi Kaye, I want to see where Randi Kaye.
COHEN: That snake.
COOPER: Who knows? That snake, you know, what's going on?
COHEN: My God.
COOPER: Coming up next, also, we'll go live to a yacht party in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Also Stephen Colbert's coming up and Brandi Carlile joins us.
COHEN: Brandi Carlile, the great Brandi Carlile.
But, first, let's go downtown to the rooftop at Pier 17 Dancers from the steps on Broadway Dance Studio are serving us Lady Gaga.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COHEN: All right. Our next guest had a huge year, two albums, including one with Elton John.
[22:15:01]
She's about to embark on the Human Tour in 2026. 11-time Grammy Award- winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlisle is here. Hi, Brandi.
COOPER: Hey, Brandi.
COHEN: Where are you, Brandi?
BRANDI CARLILE, SINGER-SONGWRITER: Hey, guys. Hey. Hi. I'm well. How are you guys? COHEN: We're great. We love you so much. And this year, you had such a huge year. You released your own album, Returning to Myself. You collaborated with Elton John, among others, to release the album, Who Believes in Angels. You performed three times on SNL. You were part of the Vince Gill tribute at the CMA awards. What was your personal favorite professional moment of 2025?
CARLILE: God, I'm exhausted just hearing you say all that.
COHEN: I know.
CARLILE: My favorite, I would say it was performing with Elton for the first time at the Palladium in London. You know, he's my childhood hero. He is my biggest hero of all time. So, getting on stage with him was just like one of those existential moments, you know?
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: That's awesome. We're going to get to hear your rendition of America the Beautiful, I understand, at the Super Bowl next year. How do you prepare for that moment? And are there past Super Bowl performances that have been your favorites from over the years?
CARLILE: I think in terms of America the Beautiful, when Whitney sang it, it was just like astounding best. And then I'd say my favorite Super Bowl halftime performance of all time would've been Prince.
COHEN: So good.
CARLILE: That's probably the great one.
COHEN: So good.
CARLILE: And I feel like there's like a chance that Seattle could be involved in the Super Bowl this year, which would be amazing.
COHEN: Yes. Other than Anderson, you've been following football very closely, haven't you?
COOPER: I just said, yes, yes, as if I know.
COHEN: Yes, exactly.
Hey, Brandi, other than yourself, of course, who do you think came out with the best album of the year, Brandy, other than yourself?
CARLILE: God, I would probably have to say Bon Iver. I love Sable Fable.
COHEN: I -- yes. Yes.
COOPER: One of your songs or one of the songs from the new album, Returning to Myself, is titled Joni, and it's a love letter to your friend and your inspiration, Joni Mitchell, of course. What was her reaction to the song? Did she know about it in advance? And what do you think people would be most surprised to know about the friendship that you share with her?
CARLILE: I was so nervous about playing her that song. And so as soon as I finished it, I drove up to the house and played it for her. And she called me a name I don't think I can say on T.V., but it was all in love and it was a really fun moment.
COOPER: That's great.
COHEN: I like that.
CARLILE: Yes, me too.
COHEN: Are you psyched for -- so you're hitting the road for the Human Tour. What's on your rider? Blue M&Ms?
COOPER: Champagne?
CARLILE: Well, Jameson whiskey, a little bit of champagne for after the fact, really like boring stuff, like doing a salad and grapes and water. My rider is like five things. I'm the most low maintenance lesbian on the road.
COHEN: Well, you know what, lesbians are famously low maintenance, and I'm glad you brought that up because you are -- besides my assistant, Darren and Sandra Bernard and a few others, you are my favorite lesbian and I want to play a great game that we've played on Watch What Happens Live before, and it's called Do Lesbians, Give a Damn. I'm going to give you some topics and I want you to speak on behalf of lesbians everywhere and tell me, do lesbians give a damn about the Labubu craze?
CARLILE: They do when they have young daughters.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: Good answer.
CARLILE: They do when they have kids. You have kids. I have two girls. I bought so many Labubus for Christmas.
COHEN: Me too. Do lesbians give a damn that the Pantone Color of the Year was essentially white?
CARLILE: I wouldn't have guessed that, but I do. I really give a damn.
COHEN: Yes. Do lesbians give a damn about the Canadian hockey gay romance series, Heated Rivalry?
COOPER: Oh, that's interesting.
COHEN: Do lesbians care about Heated Rivalry or is it just the strictly Dick Leon (ph) --
CARLILE: That's all I can think about.
COOPER: Oh really?
CARLILE: It's all I can think about.
COOPER: Really?
CARLILE: I can't even sleep at night without thinking about --
COHEN: Do lesbians give a damn -- do lesbians give a damn that Katie Perry and Gayle King went to space this year?
[22:20:05]
Do they?
CARLILE: I mean, I could be persuaded to give a damn, but you'd have to get a lot spicier than that.
COHEN: Do lesbians -- I know that lesbians give a damn about the recent Lilith Fair documentary.
CARLILE: God.
COHEN: I mean, that's bull's eye, right? Yes.
CARLILE: Lesbians give a damn about that. That documentary is our mating call, yes.
COHEN: Do lesbians give a damn about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's upcoming wedding?
CARLILE: Yes.
COHEN: Yes.
CARLILE: Yes, sure, I think especially the, what do they call them, the Gaylors, I think the Gaylors really give a damn about it.
COHEN: Yes, yes, the Gaylors.
Do lesbians give a damn --
CARLILE: Those are the gay Taylor Swift fans.
COHEN: The gay Swifties, yes.
Do lesbians give a damn about Meghan Markle's cooking and gardening show?
CARLILE: Well, it depends on how much she uses the color tote and gray.
COHEN: Do lesbians give a damn that Kris Jenner revealed her new face this year?
CARLILE: I need time to think about that.
COHEN: Yes, yes, yes, that's a big one. That's a big one.
CARLILE: That's new for me. I'm just finding this out tonight on New Year's Eve.
COHEN: Oh, yes. No, it's incredible. It's beautiful.
COOPER: She looks amazing.
COHEN: Yes, she looks amazing.
COOPER: She looks amazing.
COHEN: It's amazing work.
CARLILE: Oh, fantastic.
COHEN: Brandi Carlile, we love you. I hope to see you on Watch What Happens Live soon or on stage soon. Thank you for hanging out with us this New Year's Eve.
COOPER: Brandi Carlile, thank you. That was awesome.
COHEN: And I hope to see you soon.
CARLILE: I love you both so much. Guys, I have so much respect for the both of you, lovely, lovely fellows. Thank you for talking and having me on.
COHEN: Thanks.
COOPER: Thanks, Brandi.
COHEN: Thanks.
COOPER: We added a special location this year in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Isabel Rosales joins us now from what appears to be a yacht party. Isabel, how's it going?
ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, guys, you heard that right. I'm on a yacht. (INAUDIBLE), we're in the Venice of America, the yachting capital of the world. Can I get a Happy New Year?
The Venice of America. Where am I? Hold on. Let me bring this old young lady over here. She is the CEO and president of Visit Lauderdale. And what do you want to tell our worldwide audience, madam?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year from the most warm, welcoming, and diverse destination on the planet. Happy New Year from Greater Fort Lauderdale. Woo.
ROSALES: Hey, we got some familiar faces up in this yacht. This is Nika King, an actress in Euphoria, and she's also got a vegan -- woo. The party is lit. She's got a vegan salt boat. Woo. I could keep going all day. We're filming Vegas Soul Food Restaurant named Blue Tree Cafe up here in Fort Lauderdale. You are gorgeous, so good to see you. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Good to see you.
ROSALES: Let me keep it going because there's -- guys, there's three levels of this thing. I am not used to this life. Anderson, I know you probably are. I know you're used to this.
One funny part I learned about being on a yacht, Jay, can we point the camera down? You're not allowed to have shoes. I'm in slippers. I'm in slippers, because you can't get this dusted up or any of that. You got to get your socks on, that's right. Protect the yacht.
Wait a minute, Andy. Is that a familiar face we see over here? Excuse me. It's Captain Sandy, your best bud, and her wife, Leah.
COHEN: Captain Sandy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year. We're so happy to be here.
COHEN: Hey Sandy and Leah.
ROSALES: Can you hear him? Can you hear him right now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I cannot hear anybody, just you. I'll translate to you. She can't hear you, but I got you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Andy. Hi, Anderson.
ROSALES: He's exuberant saying, hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. We love him.
COHEN: And I want to tell Sandy that she --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't believe that we're actually on this boat and talking to you in New York. That's really freaking cool.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So cool.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. And where is --
ROSALES: He's got something to tell you. What is it, Andy?
COHEN: I want to -- will you tell Sandy that I brought her --
ROSALES: What do you want to tell her?
COHEN: I brought her name up to Anderson the other day and he knows who she is. That's how worldwide Captain Sandy is.
ROSALES: He brought your name up to Anderson the other day, and Anderson knew exactly who you are because you are Mrs. Worldwide. Move over Pitbull.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, no, basically because I got to meet Anderson with Andy when they did the A.C. show, which was really incredible, yes.
[22:25:05]
ROSALES: There you go, a grand old reunion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ROSALES: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. We got to keep it going. We're on level two. We got another level. Let's keep it going. Come on, Captain Sandy. Come on, Leah. Wait. Wait this way. Look at -- woo. Happy New Year.
Oh, Andy and Anderson, we have got a surprise for you. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Captain Sandy, first of all, tell me about this 1 percent life right here in the yachting capital of the world. Wait, are we? Wait, is that what my little eyes spot?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Caviar.
ROSALES: Caviar.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Caviar.
ROSALES: Caviar, but like a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a must have on a yacht.
ROSALES: And a mermaid too. Her name is Elle (ph), by the way. Look at this poor girl. I'm freezing. Just looking at her, and I'm kidding. This is Fort Lauderdale. What is going on here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Caviar. You want a caviar bump?
ROSALES: Wait, a caviar bump? What does that mean? What do I do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I just put it on your fist and then you have to try it.
ROSALES: Okay. Perfect, perfect. Woo. So good, so good.
Wait, we got one more thing for you guys. We're savoring. Just go ahead and do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Woo.
Hi, guys.
COOPER: Have a great time, guys.
COHEN: Have fun. See you later.
COOPER: I want to give a shout out to a friend of mine in Las Vegas, Janice Allen, who's a legend in Las Vegas. She's in -- I think she's 98 this year, and she's still going strong. She is beloved there and I'm thinking about her tonight.
Coming up next, we will remember some of the legends we lost this year, including someone who inspired me and who I just recently spoke with.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[22:30:48]
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And welcome back. We are live in -- welcome back. We are live in Times Square on New Year's Eve.
It is 10:30. We have about an hour and a half to the stroke of midnight.
Andy allows me like a minute or two to talk about loss, so I'm going to take my minute or two, okay?
ANDY COHEN, CNN HOST: Go ahead.
COOPER: Okay. I started volunteering to work on New Year's Eve 20- something years ago because since I was a kid, I've actually dreaded this night. And I think a lot of you may be out there watching or watching it through different eyes than some of the people in this crowd.
December 31st, 1977, I watched this ball drop at home with my brother Carter. I was 10, my dad was in the hospital. We knew it was bad, but not how bad.
I remember this night all those years ago, watching Dick Clark and all the shots of the crowd that you're seeing right now. All the merriment and the people together. And I never felt so alone.
My dad died five nights later, and my brother 10 years after that, and I mentioned this tonight because some of you watching right now, maybe a lot of you watching tonight, may see all these crowds and the merriment and feel alone, even if there are others around you. Maybe someone you love is sick or they've already crossed that mysterious threshold we know virtually nothing about, and you long to see them or hear them or feel them again.
And maybe it's your dad who's died, or your sibling, or your mom, or your spouse, or your partner or your child. Perhaps it's a beloved animal. Maybe it's your job, your health, your hope that's gone.
I just want you to know that in the midst of all of this, which is not really real, what you are feeling is and you are not the only one. You may feel alone tonight, but you are not alone.
Mary Lee Kenan (ph) is watching tonight right now, maybe in her son Ian's room. He died of glioblastoma. "Ian, I've got you," she told him. And she did every day of her life. And his -- and his. Ian died in her arms.
And I'm thinking about you, Mary and Ian tonight.
And Susan Haim (ph) is watching right now. And this is her son, Charlie. And this is Charlie a couple of years ago, watching this very broadcast, watching Andy and me. And I love these pictures because Charlie, with us in the background, is laughing and he's smiling, and he had special needs, and Susan cared for him every day of his life for 17 years. And Charlie died this summer in her arms as well.
Susan told me she doesn't want this year to end, because its the last year that Charlie was alive.
Susan, I'm thinking of you and Charlie tonight, and I'm thinking of all of you watching with perhaps the same fear or sadness that I watch with all those years ago and still feel on this night, even right now.
I'm thinking of Merico Omara (ph) and Christie Kaye (ph) and Janice Allen (ph) and so many more.
So wherever you are in the world or in your grief, you are not alone. You are here with us, and I am grateful that we are together.
We want to remember tonight so many others that we have lost this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's up?
GEORGE WENDT: My nipples. It's freezing out there.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I ask you a personal question?
ROBERT REDFORD: Sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you smile all the time?
REDFORD: No
(MUSIC)
[22:35:15]
MALCOLM JAMAL-WARNER: Instead of acting disappointed because I'm not like you, maybe you can just accept who I am and love me anyway because I'm your son.
(MUSIC)
GENE HACKMAN: If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential to be the best that you can be. I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. In my book, we're going to be winners.
(MUSIC)
VAL KILMER: You can be my wingman anytime.
(MUSIC)
ROB REINER: I want to thank you for -- for all the years you let me live here. And for all the free meals and for all the nice times we had together. I know there was a lot of arguing and fighting, but we -- we did have some nice times.
COOPER: You brought me so much joy through this and so much work that you've done. I just think you're awesome.
REINER: Oh, thank you so much. Thanks for having me. Thanks for talking with me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to sit with Rob Reiner. And just, like, laugh with him. I'm obsessed with "Spinal Tap", like, I know all the words. And to be able to tell him to his face, like how much joy he's brought me was so -- was so nice.
Also, we lost Damian at CNN this year. And it's a terrible loss.
COHEN: Lost so many people this year. That's just devastating.
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: And that was really beautiful. What you just said.
COOPER: Oh, thanks. Appreciate it.
COHEN: Touched by that.
COOPER: Yeah.
We got a lot more coming up. We got another -- more confetti.
COHEN: Oh, yeah.
COOPER: I mean --
COHEN: We're being attacked again.
COOPER: Close your mouth. Don't let it get in your mouth. We don't know what it's made with.
COHEN: More than ever. Are we people here?
COOPER: Coming up, mentalist Oz Pearlman, whose blows my mind every time I see him. He's going to join us and do some magic.
COHEN: He's going to blow your mind tonight, sweetie. Well, we got a lot more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK
[22:42:38]
COOPER: And welcome back to Times Square.
COHEN: Our next guest has had an amazing 2025. He's a mentalist who says he reads people, not minds, and he's read quite a few this year, CEOs, athletes, and even Anderson Cooper, the grumpy old man.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OZ PEARLMAN, MENTALIST: Number two person. So you immediately shift gears so you couldn't have known. Bam! Can you picture that person?
COOPER: Sure.
PEARLMAN: Look at me. Imagine you're looking at them eye to eye. I know you've met this person before. I see familiarity in your eyes. Imagine we shake hands and I'm that person.
And right now, Barack Obama, who you just thought of.
COOPER: Get the fuck out of here.
Wow, how is that possible? How is that freaking possible?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: It's mentalist Oz Pearlman, author of the book "Read Your Mind". He's here in Times Square with us.
COOPER: You're awesome.
COHEN: How are you doing?
PEARLMAN: I don't know if I'm hearing voices in my head because I'm reading minds. Or because I dropped acid with Diplo. I don't know which one.
I love you, Diplo. I'm kidding.
So, gentlemen, imagine this scenario.
COOPER: Okay.
PEARLMAN: There's a party right after this. You're working hard, you're drinking and be spontaneous. Were on live national tv. You walk into the party with 100 people that you know. Anderson, can you visualize this? You start saying, hi, family, friends, work people, everybody, and start looking at people's faces right now. Be spontaneous.
When suddenly someone taps you on the shoulder, you turn around and look at them, watch his eyes. Did you just see this person?
COOPER: Yes.
PEARLMAN: He seems close. I don't think it's a work person. Think in your mind if you know it or you can guess it. The year that this person was born. Don't tell me.
See? He knew it. He wasn't uncertain. The same way it's about to be 2026. You thought of the date?
It's coming. Watch his face. January, February. March. Is this person born in January? Am I right? I can tell, hold on. January has 31 days beginning. Middle, end.
Tell them this is not set up. You could have thought of anybody. This man's drunk. I'm going to go even, odd, odd. 27th, January 27th. Tell us all who -- who did you see tapping you on the shoulder? You turned around. You were shocked. What's his name?
COOPER: Benjamin.
PEARLMAN: Benjamin.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: That's -- that's nutty.
PEARLMAN: Andy, what if you had a crystal ball? Is this the ninth year you guys have been doing this?
COHEN: Yeah.
PEARLMAN: Ten years. Next year is a big one. What if you could have anyone, anyone famous at next year? Right here, Times Square.
I'm putting you on the spot. Close your eyes and see this person's face.
Open your eyes. A light hesitation, but he was deliberating. You thought of a guy, and I said, him and I -- it's a female for you, am I right?
COHEN: Yes.
PEARLMAN: Did you see him? That flowing hair just swoosh the way he did that 100% female. And then would he guess who this is?
COHEN: I don't know, it's such a random person.
PEARLMAN: So random.
COHEN: It's so random.
PEARLMAN: Popped in your head when I snap my fingers. I think. I think he was going to do a singer. I think he was definitely doing a singer. And then -- had to be Broadway. Had to be.
What's her -- what's her name? What's her name? Say it, say it. Yes. Say yes.
COHEN: It was Catherine O'Hara.
PEARLMAN: Oh. I'm just kidding. Catherine O'Hara.
COHEN: What?
COOPER: How did -- how is that possible? That's --
COHEN: That's crazy.
PEARLMAN: Grab your phone. Grab your phone.
It's about to be 2026. You know what? We're going to fact check this. We're going to fact check this. Get a calculator. I'm getting mine.
COOPER: Oh, Lord.
PEARLMAN: The person you thought of before.
COOPER: What?
(CROSSTALK)
PEARLMAN: Seeing this -- you know it's not staged when its not going right at all. I love it.
COOPER: Okay.
PEARLMAN: What year is Benjamin born in?
COOPER: 1973.
PEARLMAN: Is that right? You're asking me like I know. Okay.
COOPER: 1973.
PEARLMAN: Type in 1973. Everyone at home do this to everyone. Type in 1973. You do it, too.
COOPER: Okay.
PEARLMAN: Imagine we go to the bank right there. I won't plug the bank, but you could see it and you swipe your card and you showed up. Yeah, 1972. Let's do it together.
And you type the code. Hold out your finger. Type the first number. Second. He went up. Did you see it? Number got smaller, times. Hit times, times. Your first number. Do the third number. I'm about to give Andy Cohen's bank pin code away on national TV last summer.
COHEN: It's not my bank code.
PEARLMAN: The two numbers are the same. It starts with a four, doesn't it? Oh, four double tap, 4114. Is that what you were thinking?
COHEN: Yes, it's not my bank code, by the way.
PEARLMAN: It's not anymore. It's not anymore. Two times 4114, everyone at home. Follow with me. Two times 4114. And now I want you, right now, I'm going to hit plus.
I want you to just take and tap in some numbers without even. Just like random. Hold out your finger.
COHEN: How many?
PEARLMAN: I don't know. Six. Seven. I'm kidding. Hold out your finger. Close your eyes or no, look up, look up, look at me. And just start tapping. And tap and tap and tap. Look how many he's doing. How many has he done?
Six. Do a couple more. Bam, bam. How many do we get? We got a bunch. Everyone type this in at home. Plus four one. Go plus four, one.
COOPER: Plus four one --
PEARLMAN: Nine four.
COOPER: Uh-huh.
PEARLMAN: One two six.
COOPER: Uh-huh.
PEARLMAN: And then hit equals. What do we get? You do it. Tell me, what do we get? What do we get?
COOPER: Twelve thousand.
PEARLMAN: Everybody at home. What do we get. Give me 12 million --
COOPER: And 311,048.
PEARLMAN: And 311,048.
Do you know what it's all about, gang? Do you know what its all about? Everybody, listen to me. It's not about next year. Big New Year's resolutions, Anderson. Andy. It's about right here, right now. That's the present moment this month, this day, this hour, this very minute is what you should appreciate.
Because life is short. And are you ready for the craziest thing? Because that's December 31st. And in the eastern seaboard it is 10:48. Check your phone, check your clock. Right now, everybody. There's no moment like the present.
COOPER: How is that possible?
COHEN: Wow.
PEARLMAN: Bring it in. I'm a hugger. Let's go. Come on.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: I mean, amazing. Wow.
COHEN: And you're married?
PEARLMAN: I am married.
COHEN: And your wife deals with this?
PEARLMAN: Five kids. I don't know how.
COHEN: You have five kids?
PEARLMAN: Five kids.
COHEN: Wow. And do you -- are you playing these mind games with your children?
PEARLMAN: They're going to be in trouble when they're teenagers. Real talk. Yeah.
COHEN: Yes. You're not going to get away with anything.
PEARLMAN: My daughters done.
COHEN: Wow. That was --
COOPER: How long have you been doing this?
PEARLMAN: I've been doing this for almost 30 years. Dating myself. Started this as a teenager.
COOPER: Wow. Really? It's so good. I mean --
PEARLMAN: My claim to fame, getting Anderson cooper to swear on live national TV. That was the moment that was.
COOPER: But what's crazy is when people didn't even see is that you were also doing stuff with the floor crew.
PEARLMAN: Yeah.
COOPER: And with, like, Bruce and a Booker, and it was incredible.
PEARLMAN: I spread the love. I go in there, I've got a superpower. Like --
COOPER: While you are working on me, you were like doing stuff with them. And all of a sudden, everybody was just had their mind blown. So good.
COHEN: That was amazing.
PEARLMAN: Think your special security -- no. I'm kidding. I'm totally kidding.
COOPER: What's the biggest, like, reaction you've gotten, or surprise?
[22:50:00] PEARLMAN: A lot of football players freak out. Leave the room. Do not come back. Done. Can't be found off campus.
COOPER: Really?
PEARLMAN: That's some big ones. Some of them are very quiet and understated.
I've had a few where past presidents have walked up to me and just, like, wished my ear like, how are you honestly doing this?
COOPER: Wow.
PEARLMAN: Right, right.
COOPER: That's really interesting.
COHEN: Wow. Do UFOs exist?
PEARLMAN: Do UFOs -- I believe so, 100 percent. I don't know what they are though. That's the question.
COHEN: You don't know what they are?
PEARLMAN: No, no, I don't know what's in them.
COHEN: They're out there.
PEARLMAN: Somewhere. I think they're under the ocean.
COHEN: Right?
COOPER: Really?
COHEN: They're under the ocean?
PEARLMAN: Yes.
COOPER: That's very possibly, actually very possible. Yeah, yeah.
PEARLMAN: Where would you go if you landed here a billion years ago that's stable? Bam!
COOPER: Well, also, a lot of the stuff that you've seen from like, pilots has been like weird things squirting on the ocean and stuff.
PEARLMAN: Absolutely, heard it here first.
COHEN: Oz, you're amazing.
COOPER: Yeah. Incredible.
PEARLMAN: Thanks, guys. Happy New Year. Was that moment.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Wow. You took us for a ride.
Coming up next, we're getting ready for another top of the hour toast. Plus, Brandy and Monica perform their hit song "The Boy is Mine".
COOPER: We'll be right back in Times Square.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And welcome back. We are live in New Yorks Times Square. It's 10:53. I hope you are having a good evening wherever you are in the world.
COHEN: You don't need to be Oz Pearlman to tell us what time it is. We can figure that out for ourselves. I mean, Anderson and I just met the commercial break trying to figure out --
COOPER: Trying to figure out what just happened.
COHEN: -- what his thing is.
COOPER: What I don't get is --
COHEN: Anderson has some theory.
COOPER: But I don't get how he timed it to, like, the exact time.
COHEN: We don't get it. That's why he's --
COOPER: Yes, I know, and we're here together.
COHEN: I mean, I will say this.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: It's gotten much colder as the night has gone.
COOPER: I feel like it did.
COHEN: It's ebbing and flowing, but the wind has died down. But also, the crowd, it's gotten way more crowded.
[22:55:02]
And people are very energetic. I mean, it's like --
COOPER: Wow, you're really describing this well.
COHEN: Yes. Well, I'm a journalist.
COOPER: People are very energetic, I would say.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I would say the word would be energetic. Wow.
COHEN: Yes. COOPER: Thank you.
COHEN: Well, you know, I spent 10 years at CBS News, so I can do commentary about what's happening.
COOPER: By the way, Bill -- I was reminded that Bill Moyers died this past year in our memoriam. I was a huge Bill Moyers fan, and he was huge at CBS.
COHEN: He was.
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: Incredible.
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: Wow.
Anderson, what a year it's been. Do you think we'll ever see each other in 2026, or you think this is it until, until New Year's 2027?
COOPER: I think --
COHEN: Oh, no, I know when we're going to see each other, when we're on tour, dude. New York City at the Beacon.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: January 23rd and 24th.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: And then at the Chicago Theater.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: And of course, Chicago, Illinois, March 27th and 28th. We just added that Friday night show, March 27th. Please come see us all new material.
What's the problem? Am I driving you off the bathroom?
COOPER: No, I'm just looking at your shoes.
COHEN: Okay. I have --
COOPER: Red Uggs.
COHEN: I have red down boots on. You can't really see.
COOPER: Yeah, we don't need to.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: You don't need. COHEN: Well, you commented on them, so now I'm bringing the people
into the joke --
COOPER: Okay.
COHEN: -- you're telling.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Our next performers are.
COOPER: Shouting at anybody on the stage this year.
COHEN: Well, I mean, I'm very excited about Diana Ross, as I mentioned.
Our next performers are R&B icons --
COOPER: Diana Ross, if you're listening, just please come because he's going to --
COHEN: Please?
COOPER: He's going to endlessly talk.
COHEN: See you.
Brandi and Monica -- did you have a first diva in your life? Is there a -- besides Madonna.
COOPER: Who was your first diva?
COHEN: Diana Ross was my first iconic performer that I was like, oh, my God, you are blowing my mind and everything.
COOPER: I saw as a kid. I, you know, I didn't -- I don't go to a lot of Broadway now, but as a kid I did and I saw Patti LuPone as Evita.
COHEN: Oh, wow.
COOPER: So I guess that was like a big diva thing. No?
COHEN: Good. Yes. What are you doing? I feel like you're filling in blanks now.
COOPER: I don't even know what that means.
COHEN: Well, I mean, I feel like you're just giving me an answer to get by.
COOPER: Do you want to bring the puppets out again or --
COHEN: No.
COOPER: What are you getting at?
COHEN: Oh, my god, those puppets.
COOPER: Puppets.
COHEN: You're stroked out puppet. Oh, Brandi --
COOPER: By the way, by the way, we actually rehearsed with those.
COHEN: Yeah, we did, and we were like this. And he was like, I went to public school. Were you really? Are you really kidding me about the puppet school?
COOPER: Of course.
COHEN: You said it on the zoom the other day.
COOPER: Yeah, I know I was kidding. I've been kidding for the -- every time I've mentioned it.
COHEN: Well, you know what? You were a child model. You're a Vanderbilt. Where does it end? What's real and what's fake?
Catherine O'Hara, where are we?
COOPER: I couldn't believe that everybody believed I was at a puppet school.
COHEN: Well, of course. Oh, I went to school with Diana Ross's kids. I went to the wiz opening.
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: What's real? What's fake?
Brandy and Monica share the stage from "The Boy is Mine" tour, presented by Black Promoters Collective. Here they are --
COOPER: Does anybody know anybody?
COHEN: Yes.
Take it away, Brandy and Monica.
(BRANDY & MONICA PERFORMING "THE BOY IS MINE")
