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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN New Year's Eve Live. Aired 11p-12a ET
Aired December 31, 2025 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BRANDY & MONICA PERFORMING "THE BOY IS MINE")
[23:02:31]
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And welcome back to Times Square New Year's Eve. Here we go. The final countdown until 2026. Just past 11:00, the last hour until the ball drops here in Times Square.
We want to bring in a special guest for our last toast of this entire year. It shows the top-rated late-night show on television. His impact goes far beyond TV. He is just one of the kindest, most thoughtful humans around.
Stephen Colbert joins us now.
ANDY COHEN, CNN HOST: Stephen!
COOPER: How you doing?
STEPHEN COLBERT, LATE NIGHT HOST: Cheers.
COHEN: Look at you.
COOPER: Wow
COHEN: Stephen, here we go. We're going to do it. Stephen, what are you doing a shot of tonight?
COLBERT: Tonight, I'm doing -- I got a present. I got a present. I got some Don Kulio, 1942.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: You know, Stephen, I saw that on your shoulder. I thought it was a shillelagh. I don't know why.
COLBERT: I'm going to use this to keep the banshees at bay.
COOPER: I was like, I love this. Stephen Colbert at home just carries around a shillelagh. Who knew?
COLBERT: Well, you know, be prepared is what I say. How's it going so far, gentlemen? I haven't caught all of the night so far. Are we well lubricated?
COOPER: Yes. COHEN: We're well-lubricated. The Vanderbilt boy is slurring a bit,
but it's very cold here and very festive.
COOPER: Very festive.
COLBERT: Sure.
COHEN: And we're so happy to see you. And we're so happy to cheer the New Year with you. We love you.
COOPER: Yes, we do.
COHEN: Let's raise a toast for 2026.
COLBERT: It would not be the New Year without Anderson and Andy.
COHEN: Cheers. Thank you.
COLBERT: Cheers. Oh.
COHEN: Stephen, where do we -- where do we find you tonight? Are you with your family, or are you with -- you with your --
COLBERT: I'm in my family by the fireside.
COOPER: I love it.
COLBERT: Eve, come here.
COOPER: Yay!
COHEN: There she is. Hey, hey. Great to see you.
EVELYN COLBERT, STEPHEN COLBERT'S WIFE: Happy New Year.
COHEN: My favorite cookbook co-author
COOPER: Oh, yes. Yes, yes.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Yes. Do a shot. Do a shot.
COHEN: By the way, Evie is. Evie is -- Evie is the top of their relationship. I found out.
COOPER: Oh my God, what is that?
COHEN: Yes.
[23:05:00]
COOPER: What?
COHEN: It's true.
COLBERT: But I'm a bossy bottom.
COHEN: Yes, Stephen Colbert is the bossy bottom. Yes, he is.
You're not --
COOPER: This is --
COHEN: -- everyone.
COOPER: Oh, my god. Oh, my god.
Has heated rivalry made everybody insane?
COHEN: Yes, yes.
COOPER: Is this a heated rivalry effect?
COHEN: Yes, it is.
COOPER: What is going on?
COLBERT: I guess so.
COOPER: Oh, god.
COLBERT: I guess so.
COOPER: If Stephen Colbert starts talking in Russian to me, I'm going to fall --
COHEN: Well, no, he's not going to speak in Russian, but we're hoping --
COOPER: Oh, yes.
COHEN: That he will -- Anderson told me -- Anderson told me that you speak --
COOPER: Elven.
COHEN: Elven?
COOPER: Yeah, well, I said that I had had the honor --
COLBERT: Not Elven -- Elvish. But thank you.
COHEN: Elvish. Sorry.
COOPER: Is there an Elvish way to greet the New Year?
COLBERT: Of course. (INAUDIBLE). A star shines on the hour of our meeting.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Wow. COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Yes. He never fails.
COLBERT: Come on.
COHEN: He never fails.
COLBERT: Anderson should know that. He is the high elf of cable news. Everyone knows this.
COHEN: Yes, yes.
You know what? The Vanderbilts are a rare strain of elf.
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: You're so mean to him.
COHEN: They're very high up on the chain. I know -- you don't see how mean he is to me.
COOPER: You know, Stephen, you know what you miss? Could you just bring out the puppet for a second? You know what you missed earlier? We had these puppets that were made about us for a commercial shoot, and we brought the puppets out. And in rehearsal, it worked really well.
COHEN: And Anderson is just has had a stroke of some kind. And he's -- and he's very gummy. He's gumming his mouth.
COOPER: It's truly falling apart here.
COHEN: It's very upsetting.
Stephen, so much has happened --
COLBERT: Sir --
COHEN: So much has happened in the last year of your life.
COLBERT: What?
COHEN: I'm curious what you left last year, having learned what was the major lesson that you learned last year?
COOPER: I told him not to ask this question, but he insisted.
COHEN: It's not a -- it's not a controversial --
COLBERT: Thing that I've learned?
COOPER: Yeah, I know, it's so lame.
COLBERT: What did I learn this past year?
COHEN: Yeah, yeah.
COLBERT: Don't trust billionaires.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: That's right, that's right.
COLBERT: They don't get rich by finding that money on the side of the road, brother.
COHEN: That's right. That's -- that's what I was saying. Yeah, that's why I don't trust him.
COOPER: What?
COHEN: I'm just kidding.
COLBERT: What are you talking about?
COHEN: I'm just kidding. Hey, Stephen --
COLBERT: The Vanderbilts haven't had money since the Kennedy administration.
COOPER: Thank you.
COHEN: I know.
COOPER: Thank you. They spent their money in 60 years.
COHEN: No, that's very, very true. That's very --
COOPER: They lost money faster than any family in history.
COHEN: Stephen, as you look back on your incredible run on the late show, is there one moment that has been like a pinch me moment for you that you are, that you still can't get over happened?
COLBERT: I mean -- I mean, every December when Anderson and Andy come on to promote CNN's New Years rockin' eve or whatever you call this clown show that I'm watching right now.
COHEN: It ain't rocking.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: It ain't -- it's two --
COLBERT: What have I missed on a platform?
COHEN: Two queens freezing their asses off on a platform where there's no space heaters allowed and --
COOPER: Uh-oh.
COLBERT: Why? (CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Yeah, I don't know why we couldn't get umbrellas until I freaked out a few years ago.
COOPER: It's true. Actually, his freakout changed policy. He's like the Norma Rae of Times Square.
COHEN: I am. Yeah, I am.
COOPER: In fact, so much so that this year, the Times Square alliance has actually produced umbrellas for everybody.
COHEN: Oh my God, the tequila is like, oh,
COLBERT: My god, Anderson --
COHEN: Let me take over.
COLBERT: Anderson --
COHEN: Let me take over.
COLBERT: Bring a mattress.
(CROSSTALK)
COLBERT: Let the man lie down
COHEN: Stephen, what is your vibe heading into 2026? Youve got six months or however much longer left of late show. How are you heading into it? Or is --
COLBERT: I'm glad you said late show. At the end of that I thought you knew something about my latest MRI that I didn't know. You got five months, buddy. What's the message for your descendants?
COOPER: I've seen the charts, Stephen. The charts don't lie.
COHEN: Yes. We didn't want to discuss the MRI tonight.
[23:10:03]
COOPER: Yes, Mount Sinai did call.
COLBERT: That's my message. That's my message for the rest of the year. Everything's just fantastic.
COHEN: Yeah.
COLBERT: I'm going to -- I'm just going to -- I'm just going to keep that attitude every day. Everything's wonderful. Happy to be doing the show with everybody. We're going to have a great time and we're, you know, we're going to get these bastards. Later, we'll figure out who the bastards were.
COHEN: Stephen -- yes. Well, what do you say to people who want you to run for office?
COLBERT: Don't you like me? Why would -- why would you want me to do that?
COHEN: Right?
COLBERT: What a cool thing to wish on anyone. Then guys like me would make fun of you.
COHEN: Right, right. Everything would be flipped.
COLBERT: Yes. Why don't you run for office?
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: You know what?
COOPER: That would go really well.
COHEN: You know what?
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: I think that I should run for mayor of New York.
COLBERT: A fresh take.
COHEN: Yeah.
COLBERT: Honesty. People love authenticity. You know, they respond to someone who's just shooting from the hip.
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: Yeah.
COOPER: From an electric blue coat.
COLBERT: Sure.
COHEN: Cloth?
COOPER: Cloth.
COHEN: Yeah.
COOPER: Yeah. Or an electric blue coat. Yes.
COLBERT: Oh my goodness.
COHEN: Wow.
COLBERT: You don't have anything important to do tomorrow, Anderson. Do you?
COOPER: No. COHEN: Yes. Apparently, he has a very early flight he keeps telling me about.
COOPER: Yeah.
COHEN: He's trying to get out of what I've roped him into later tonight.
COLBERT: You should just say up. You should just keep drinking. Stay up and burn all the way through.
COHEN: You should power through. You should power through.
COLBERT: That's a good idea. They have bars at JFK. Just go there now.
COHEN: Yes. Stephen, your pal Amy Sedaris was here a few hours ago. I know "Strangers With Candy" just celebrated.
COLBERT: How is she?
COHEN: She's so good. Strangers with candy just celebrated a big anniversary. Can you believe you?
COLBERT: Twenty-five years, 25 years, since we're cancelled. That was worth celebrating, yeah.
COHEN: We're celebrating the cancellation of "Strangers with Candy".
COLBERT: That's what it was, 25 years since we were canceled. Yeah.
COHEN: That show was so good. Can you believe now, in the age that we're in now, that you even got that show made?
COLBERT: The reason why we got that show made is that when we made that show, Comedy Central was half owned by Viacom and half owned by Time Warner, like HBO. And neither one of them wanted any responsibility for what we were doing. So, we were essentially free range chickens. We got no notes from anybody.
If we laughed, we put it in the show to a fault.
COHEN: Right.
COLBERT: Like we were hoping they would make us cut some of the jokes and they never did.
COHEN: It's so funny.
COLBERT: Yeah.
COHEN: I want to -- while we have you, I want to play a little game of never have I ever late night host edition. I want to run through various --
COLBERT: Sure, keep in mind, I will most likely lie. I will most likely lie for most of this.
COHEN: I have a feeling you're not going to lie. Okay?
COLBERT: Okay.
COHEN: Take a sip of your tequila if this has happened and I will join you. I'm not going to put Anderson through this.
COOPER: I think I'm good.
COHEN: Never have I ever -- if you've done it, you take a little sip. Never have I ever forgotten someone's name mid-interview.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: Never have I ever --
COLBERT: Which ones Anderson? Which ones Andy?
COHEN: Never have I ever met a celebrity in the wild and forgot that they were a guest on my show.
COOPER: Oh my God.
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: I have forgotten that they were a guest on my show while they were a guest on my show.
I literally have said to a guest, it's so great to finally talk to you, and I have to say, this is my third time on your show.
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: I have forgotten what I asked the guest while they were answering the question.
COOPER: Oh my God.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: Oh my god. Okay, never have I -- okay. Never have I ever said something. Oh, never have I ever interviewed a guest on my show and felt like they hated me.
COOPER: Wow.
COLBERT: No, I've never felt hate. I've never felt, you -- you felt people. Oh, I've been on your show and you know I hate you.
COHEN: Never have I ever officially banned someone from coming onto my show.
[23:15:08]
COOPER: There must be -- COHEN: Okay --
COLBERT: Not -- not this show. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Not this show. Not the --
COHEN: Okay. Oh, the Colbert Report.
COOPER: Oh, okay.
COHEN: Never have I ever gotten a laundry list of topics you couldn't discuss with a guest.
COLBERT: Never.
COHEN: Oh, my God, I have.
COOPER: Wow. You must get that all the time.
COHEN: What I do.
Never have I ever lied to a guest and said I love their project when I thought it was actual garbage.
COLBERT: No. I've lied.
COHEN: Oh, come on.
COLBERT: I've lied and said, wait, wait. I've lied and said I enjoyed their project when I had not seen it.
COHEN: Oh, okay. Yeah.
COOPER: That's fair.
COHEN: Yes.
COLBERT: But I don't -- but it's not quite that boldly. I've said --
COHEN: Okay.
COLBERT: This is such a beautiful project which I could describe it as beautiful without knowing about it other than the title.
COHEN: Yes. Now, Stephen, after --
COLBERT: "Avatar", it sounds wonderful
COHEN: Right. After we leave you, will you be like pulling an all- nighter tonight or where -- where will we find you for the rest of the night?
COLBERT: Oh, probably a lot of model railroading.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: Very good. COLBERT: It's Christmas time. You know, I got a lot of extra tracks,
sure.
COHEN: Yes. That tree is absolutely --
COLBERT: I got a new --
COOPER: I think the --
COLBERT: Isn't it gorgeous? Look at that fire here.
COHEN: Befitting of you. The fire. I mean, you set up, you put a tie on for us.
COOPER: I mean --
COHEN: We love you so much.
COLBERT: One of us did. One of us took this seriously and put a tie on.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Yes. You're a -- you're a martyr of free speech and everything right in the world. And we love you very much. Thank you for doing this.
COOPER: Yeah, Stephen, we really do love you.
COLBERT: You guys are the best.
COOPER: Thank you so much for doing this.
COLBERT: Love you back. Happy New Year, everybody. Stay hydrated, Anderson.
COHEN: Yes, yes, I'll keep him hydrated.
Coming up next, my parents are going to join us. And the final moments of the year as we await the ball drop.
Thank you, Stephen Colbert.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TESSA THOMPSON: My New Year's resolution is to drink more water.
MICKEY GUYTON: Living in the moment and appreciating what is right in front of you.
RICKI LAKE: Keep on keeping on. I'm living my best life, and I plan to do it in 2026.
VICTORIA BECKHAM: My New Year's resolution is to read more books, get back into my reading.
JENNIFER LOPEZ: My New Year's resolution is to have more fun this year. That's it.
MARK RONSON: I'm not drinking any more. I'm not drinking any less. But I'm not drinking any more.
MARIAH CAREY: To wear shoes that don't hurt me all the time.
PHOEBE ROBINSON: My New Year's resolution is to get rich as hell.
ZOOEY DESCHANEL: My New Year's revolution and resolution is to watch more "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" with Dorit.
REGINA HALL: I want to start honestly getting up at 5:00 a.m.
TIFFANY HADDISH: To be more organized and to get into Andy's bedroom.
JULIA ROBERTS: Hi, Andy and Anderson, and happy New Year 2026. Insane. My New Year's resolution is to eat fewer cookies and -- and look people in the eye on the street and smile at them more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: I love Julia Roberts. She's the best.
COOPER: She's so cool, so cool.
COHEN: The best.
COOPER: It is always a pleasure to welcome these next two guests to our New Year's Eve show. Andy's parents, Evelyn and Lou Cohen.
COHEN: Hey, mom and dad.
COOPER: Hey. How's it going?
COHEN: You look great, guys
EVELYN COHEN, ANDY'S MOM: Why are you shocked?
COOPER: What did she say?
COHEN: Why are you shocked? I'm not.
COOPER: So --
COHEN: I'm not.
COOPER: Evelyn, let me ask. Andy has been talking all night about Diana Ross. Was he always a fan?
E. COHEN: Always.
LOU COHEN, ANDY'S DAD: Yes.
E. COHEN: We had speakers all over the house. And then he'd sing. It's my turn to be what I can be. What --
COHEN: I mean, mom, by the way, how did you not suspect that I was gay? I had a Supreme's poster in my room. I'm singing it's my Supremes.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Yes, I did like what other high schoolers --
COOPER: Was that at Camp Nebagamon?
COHEN: Yes. I mean, like --
COOPER: For those who don't know, Andy wrote the gayest letters home from summer camp to his mom.
COHEN: Yes, yes, that's true. I mean, mom, wasn't that a clue?
E. COHEN: Well, I didn't, what did I know? I just knew you liked --
COHEN: You know, my mom is always concerned about our access to the potty --
COOPER: She's obsessed with the potty.
COHEN: Is that on your mind tonight as you're watching us, mom?
E. COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Are you worried for Andy? Because he's shown no signs to me of needing to go
COHEN: I took my last --
E. COHEN: I bet --
COHEN: I took my last pee --
E. COHEN: I bet 9/10 of the people watching this or worried about your urinary tract.
L. COHEN: If you got to go.
COHEN: Yeah. I took my last pee of 2025 before we came up here.
Do you two have any New Years resolutions?
L. COHEN: Well, yes, I would like to get rid of shed my cane. Yeah, that's -- that's my goal.
COHEN: Shed your cane. That's good.
L. COHEN: Yeah.
COHEN: What's yours, mom?
E. COHEN: I want to come to New York.
COHEN: Okay, well, that's -- okay. Well, we can solve that.
E. COHEN: Well, I have to be healthy to get there.
[23:25:01]
I am healthy, but --
COHEN: Okay. All right, well, we're going to make that happen.
COOPER: You guys look great.
COHEN: You look really good. How was your dinner out? I know you had dinner out.
E. COHEN: We did.
L. COHEN: It was good.
E. COHEN: It was good.
COHEN: Good.
L. COHEN: Yeah.
COHEN: Well, I'm pouring myself.
COOPER: By the way, have you been watching the show? How do you think it's been going?
E. COHEN: No, we haven't been watching it because we went out to dinner. Oh, I taped the show, so I can watch it.
COOPER: Okay, okay. Give us notes tomorrow. Yes.
COHEN: Okay. She'll give me notes tomorrow. I just poured myself some moojan. Will you guys do a shot with me?
L. COHEN: Yeah.
E. COHEN: And then that's it?
COHEN: Okay, okay. Yeah. What's your shot? What are you doing? A shot of?
L. COHEN: Scotch.
E. COHEN: Oh, scotch.
COHEN: Scotch. All right. Okay.
COOPER: Someone's calling --
COHEN: Cheers. Guys, to 2026. Oh, your phones ringing, mom.
COOPER: The phones ringing.
COHEN: Oh my god. Listen.
E. COHEN: Cheers.
COHEN: Cheers. Love you.
I mean, their phone is blasting. All right, good night, you guys, I love you. I'll see you in 2026.
COOPER: Happy New Year.
COHEN: Happy New Year. Yeah. Get your phone. I mean.
COOPER: Get it.
Hey, coming up next, we're going to go to Randi Kaye back in New Orleans. God knows what's been going on there.
COHEN: Yes. But first, a message from some special guests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIMU EMU & DOUG: Happy New Year, everyone. Leo and I are coming to you live from Manhattan, Kansas. We did think we were going to be in Manhattan, New York for New Year's Eve, but this guy bought the tickets.
We actually prepared a speech, and I think it'll still work.
Thank you so much for having us, Manhattan, Kansas. We're so excited to be among the thousands of people here today to celebrate New Year's Eve. Crowd goes wild. They love you.
Remember, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Happy New Year, everybody. And don't forget to customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, Limu and I are going to go catch the subway now. Or a car or a bus or a flight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:30:39]
COOPER: And welcome back to New York's Times Square, 11:30. We are 30 minutes away from the New Year here in Times Square.
It's been fun.
COHEN; It's getting fun.
COOPER: It's been a fun evening.
I want to go to a Big Easy where -- fingers crossed -- we find Randi Kaye. Randi, where are you now in New Orleans. And I hear, oh, you got some
special guests.
COHEN: Ooh!
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ooh! Well, you guys know we spent so many years doing this show in Key West, so we found a couple of drag queens, which we normally have in Key West, to celebrate with us here in New Orleans. You guys are from the always lounge.
We have Lavoe Contrere (ph) and Miss Angie Z (ph), and they -- they love this show so much that they wrote a special little song for the two of you. Right?
All right. Hit it.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I want to see if you can fill in the blanks.
KAYE: Okay. I'm going to do my best.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Okay?
KAYE: Okay, good.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: It's New Year's Eve and New Orleans.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: And we think you both should know.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: We wish you all a queer New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: From a drag queen and a --
KAYE: Showgirl.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: We lost all hope. Got a new pope.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Katy Perry went to space.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Madame Morrible (ph) was the wicked witch.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Kris Jenner got a brand new --
KAYE: Face.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: We've watched you both since 8:00.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: And we think you both look hot.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: So open up and throw it back.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Because we know you like big --
KAYE: Shots.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes.
KAYE: Speaking of, we want to celebrate with you. Here's a little tequila. There you go. That one's for me. There you go.
And we want to wish everybody happy New Year.
(CHEERING)
KAYE: Oh, and thank you to the Blue Nile.
COHEN: Wow. We love your new friends, Randi.
KAYE: Thank you. We love you guys.
COHEN: Randi, I want to meet you in person one day.
KAYE: I can't wait.
COHEN: Can I meet you in person one day?
KAYE: We'll do shots together.
COHEN: Yes. Look at this one. I mean -- I'm glad you unfurled yourself from that snake.
COOPER: Oh, I know we were concerned about you, Randi. I don't know if you could hear us on the IFB, but we're very worried about you with that snake.
COHEN: Yes.
Okay, listen, its freezing. It's almost midnight.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: We're feeling it. It's fun.
B.J. Novak is coming up on the riser, and we have a whole lot more fun. Plus, a performance by Shakira at Hard Rock Live at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
We will be right back. The road to 2026 is upon us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:36:38]
COOPER: And welcome back live in New York's Times Square, 11:36.
He is a writer, actor, director, is best known for his role in "The Office". Coming up in the New Year, he'll be in the much-anticipated sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada 2". It is B.J. Novak.
Welcome.
COHEN: B.J.!
B.J. NOVAK, ACTOR: I'm at the center of the universe.
COOPER: Have you ever been in Times Square on New Year's Eve?
NOVAK: Times Square? Yes, sir. Yes, I'm a man of the world. Times Square on New Year's Eve? No. Once in a lifetime --
COOPER: A comma in a sentence, you jump all over.
COHEN: Well, I mean --
COOPER: God.
NOVAK: I've been watching the whole show. You're having a lot of fun, having a lot of shots.
COHEN: Yes.
NOVAK: Yeah.
COHEN: That's where we are. That's where you're joining us.
NOVAK: You handle more.
COHEN: Yeah, yeah.
NOVAK: Are you okay to drive?
COOPER: I think I'm --
NOVAK: Okay.
COOPER: Yeah.
NOVAK: We're okay.
COHEN: B.J., you kind of set up residency here this year.
NOVAK: Yes. What should I say for tax purposes? No. Yeah.
COHEN: No, I mean, you got a place here.
NOVAK: Well, due largely to your encouragement. You said this is the place to be.
COOPER: How do you like your big city?
NOVAK: And I live right here in Times Square.
COHEN: Yeah.
NOVAK: Although there's something fun. I like the city a lot.
COOPER: Yeah?
NOVAK: Yeah.
COHEN: I have to say, you were going on "Celebrity Jeopardy".
NOVAK: Yeah.
COHEN: A couple of years ago.
NOVAK: Yeah.
COHEN: You needed advice?
NOVAK: Yeah.
COHEN: We facetimed Anderson.
NOVAK: It was very nice of you.
COHEN: Yes. And how did that go?
NOVAK: I lost really badly.
COOPER: Oh, really? And it's either --
NOVAK: And I blame you.
COOPER: High highs or low lows.
COHEN: He blames you.
NOVAK: I do blame you.
COOPER: You blame me?
NOVAK: Because we worked on the buzzer.
COOPER: Yes.
NOVAK: And what you didn't tell me was you need to know the answers. You need to --
COOPER: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: -- really, really kicked my ass.
COOPER: So who kicked your ass?
NOVAK: The guy from Ted Lasso.
COOPER: Wow. Okay. So I got my kicked by Cheech Marin which --
(LAUGHTER)
NOVAK: You never know who's going to --
COOPER: You never know. You never know.
COHEN: You never know.
NOVAK: That's the fun of "Celebrity Jeopardy!" But I did appreciate the coaching. And by the way, this is not cerulean.
You mentioned earlier --
COHEN: Yes.
NOVAK: -- on, there was a cast orientation on "Devil Wears Prada 2", and we studied --
COHEN: By the way, "Devil Wears Prada 2". I'm so excited.
NOVAK: I'm really excited.
COHEN: I'm sure you can't tell us anything, but can you tell me something?
NOVAK: What a great intro. You're reminding me that I'm not supposed to tell.
COHEN: Yeah.
NOVAK: I'll tell you what everyone says. I say I'm in this movie, "Devil Wears Prada 2", and everyone says, oh, my God, are you the villain? I'm like, there's not even villains in there.
COHEN: Yeah, right.
NOVAK: Why are you so quick?
COHEN: Right.
NOVAK: So I guess --
COHEN: Are you in a scene with Meryl?
NOVAK: Every scene with Meryl.
COOPER: Oh, really?
NOVAK: It was really like there are actors so much better than me. You go their whole careers. They never get to act with Meryl Streep.
COHEN: Right.
NOVAK: So, I'll just -- even as a life experience, it was -- it was really unbelievable.
COHEN: It's the 20th anniversary of "The Office" coming up.
NOVAK: Is it really?
COHEN: Yes.
NOVAK: Has it been that long?
COHEN: Yes.
NOVAK: Wow.
COHEN: Are you -- is there an office text chain?
NOVAK: There -- there are some separate ones, but it's really amazing the life that show has. I was -- I was at a children's hospital. Not to tell you what a good guy I am. And I was told -- with my children's book, and I was told there was a 13-year-old who was a really big fan, and I met her and I said, so you're a big fan of "The Office"? And she said, well, I've never actually seen it, but I know you from the memes.
COHEN: Oh, wow.
NOVAK: Like there's a whole generation that just knows, like the memes and gifs, so --
COHEN: Wow.
NOVAK: So that's -- that's how the world goes fast.
COHEN: You created something so cool called chain fast.
[23:40:00]
NOVAK: Yeah.
COHEN: Explain to Anderson what it is.
NOVAK: Times Square is actually a good place to talk about that. I love chain restaurants. Every time I'm in a fancy restaurant.
COHEN: So does he.
COOPER: Yeah.
NOVAK: I, like, secretly wish they were just doing, like, you know, chilis, Applebee's?
COOPER: Yes.
NOVAK: Dunkin. Taco Bell. And so we got these great chefs to do versions of chain food and collaborate with the brand. So, it's just a real celebration of nostalgia and all that.
But Times Square is like the center of it. Yeah, we should have one in Times Square.
COOPER: Yes, there's a Virgil's barbecue, which I don't know if it's still here since COVID, but I'm obsessed.
NOVAK: Yeah. There's some real good ones.
COHEN: He's thinking more like Chick-fil-A.
COOPER: No, I get it, I get it.
NOVAK: Andy came and John Mayer came. Yeah, we had a great time.
COHEN: Okay. I want to play a game with you because it's the end of the year, and this is a great watch what happens live game called agree or disagree.
NOVAK: I know this game.
COHEN: Okay. You know this game. Here's your sign.
NOVAK: Yeah. I love a pass fail, I love a true false.
COHEN: Yes. There you go.
NOVAK: So hard to screw this up.
COHEN: The six seven meme is officially over. Now that we're talking about it on CNN one two, agree or disagree?
Yes, I would take it.
COOPER: As it was over before that.
COHEN: Okay, I would say it's not over with my son. I would take it as a --
COOPER: Your son knows about it?
COHEN: Six, seven, yes, it's all he says.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: I would -- Anderson's kids are like Amish and my kids are home watching K-pop. I would take it as a huge compliment if the pop star I was dating wrote a song about how great my penis is. One, two, agree or disagree?
COOPER: I don't know what that references.
COHEN: OK, if I --
NOVAK: A diss track would really -- yes.
COHEN: Yeah, that would be really hard.
NOVAK: That would be really hard if I was a real gamble.
COHEN: If I went to the gym more often, I too could have an like the hockey players from heated rivalry, one, two, agree or disagree? I mean, I don't think I could, yeah.
NOVAK: I don't even know what it is, but I'm sure it's something admirable.
COHEN: I would rather give up oral sex than cheeseburgers. One, two, agree or disagree?
NOVAK: Wait. Well, I keep coaching.
COOPER: I'm not participating.
NOVAK: I have a cheeseburger.
COOPER: I'm taking myself out.
COHEN: Okay, I've had romantic feelings towards a chatbot. One, two. Agree or disagree? I have not. I don't want to be with -- you have?
COOPER: Really?
COHEN: B.J., what?
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: What bot?
NOVAK: I'm like, come on, come on, chat.
COOPER: Was it ChatGPT or Claude?
NOVAK: Claude is all business. Chat is very flirty. What a great question. You have a real mind for -- yeah. Wow, it feels good.
COHEN: We're going to finish this game of agree or disagree in a little bit. But first she is a global superstar, a multiple grammy and Latin grammy award winner and currently on a record-breaking world tour. The highest grossing Latin tour by a woman ever. This year, she was named Billboard's greatest female Latin artist of all time, performing from the Hard Rock Live. Here is Shakira.
NOVAK: She wrote a song about my penis.
(SHAKIRA PERFORMING FROM HARD ROCK LIVE)
[23:47:56]
COOPER: That was Shakira. We are 13 minutes, 12-1/2 minutes away from the New Year, from 2026.
COHEN: Yes, we are. I have to say --
COOPER: Are you excited about 2026?
COHEN: Am I excited? Well, yeah.
COOPER: I am, yeah, I am too.
COHEN: Yeah. I mean, what's the alternative? What's the alternative? No, I'm not.
COOPER: What do we got?
COHEN: Stop this train. Here's the deal. B.J. was here. Diana Ross was performing a megamix
behind him. It was, like, too much for me to take. That was really hard for me.
COOPER: She has --
COHEN: And I love B.J.
COOPER: All night long, Andy --
COHEN: He's going to come back after midnight with his reflections on what that was like. And by the way, Diana didn't come up, but we took a photo with her publicist, Mark, who we love. But I mean, like, okay, here's the deal. Earlier this year --
COOPER: I'm still hoping she might come by.
COHEN: I kind of am. I know I'm an optimist.
COOPER: I feel like before she gets the limo, maybe he'll say to her, you know, you know what? They love you. Do you want to? Come? Yes. Shed be like, of course, for Andy.
COHEN: Earlier this year, Anderson performed a dramatic reading of Adriana de Moura's monologue about the Haitian mortician from "The Real Housewives of Miami".
COOPER: I didn't know what it meant.
COHEN: He broke the Internet. It was incredible. And I thought that it would be great if you did a dramatic reading of the Taylor Swift song, "Wood".
COOPER: I don't know that song.
COHEN: Okay, well, here's the song. This is Taylor Swift's "Wood".
COOPER: What's it about?
COHEN: It's about her fiance. It's about her fiance.
COOPER: Okay.
COHEN: It's about her fiance, Travis Kelce.
COOPER: Taylor Swift's "Wood" lyrics.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: Forgive me, it sounds cocky. He ah-matized me and opened my eyes. Oh --
COHEN: Just keep going.
COOPER: Redwood tree, it ain't hard to see. His love was the key that opened my thighs. Girls, I don't need to catch the bouquet, mm, to know --
(LAUGHTER)
[23:50:11]
COOPER: Okay, I get it, I get it.
You're probably familiar with this song. I was not.
COHEN: What?
COOPER: I said, you're probably familiar with this song. I was not.
COHEN: Yes. Sweetie, yeah.
COOPER: His love was the key that opened my thighs. Girls, I don't need to catch the bouquet. Mm, to know a hard rock is on the way.
And baby, I'll admit I've been a little superstitious. The curse on me was broken by your magic wand. Seems to me that you and me, we make our own luck. New heights of manhood. I ain't got a knock on wood.
COHEN: Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Knock on wood, baby!
COOPER: My God.
COHEN: 2026, baby.
COOPER: How did I get roped --
COHEN: It's almost midnight. Let's go back out to the crowd and check in with --
COOPER: Oh, yes. Let's go to Richard Quest.
COHEN: What's his new uniform? Whoa!
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening. Cleopatra, kings and queens. There's absolutely no connection with America 250. But it gave me a chance to put a bit of glitter. More gold than the Oval Office on me at the moment, as you can see.
COOPER: Wow.
QUEST: So, Cleopatra to you both.
Now where's -- hello, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Oh, he's ready for the man. Oh, oh for the lady, for the lady.
COOPER: This -- this guy again.
QUEST: You.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I am ready.
QUEST: Who am I?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are Cleopatra.
QUEST: Oh.
All right. Are we ready for New Year?
(CHEERS)
QUEST: That is pathetic. Try it again.
(CHEERS)
QUEST: Where are you from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boston, Massachusetts.
QUEST: Boston, Massachusetts.
In the last hour, this place is packed out completely. And there is now the atmosphere, as ever. Hello, sir. How are you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm doing wonderful. How are you?
QUEST: Are you all ready for midnight?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You better believe it.
QUEST: It's been a good year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
QUEST: All right. Oh.
Where are you from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: China.
QUEST: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from China, but I live here.
QUEST: We found someone from China who lives here. Is this your first New Year's Eve in Times Square?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
QUEST: What do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's cool. Like the first time I experienced here for the New Year.
QUEST: Excellent. Would you -- okay, back to you guys. Andy and Anderson, as we get ready for the last bit. COHEN: Happy New Year, Richard.
QUEST: Happy New Year.
COOPER: Happy New Year, Richard.
COHEN: I feel like that guy from Boston is going to beat us up. Maybe we see him on the way out.
COOPER: We have security.
COHEN: Now, a New Year's Eve tradition.
COOPER: We do this every year.
COHEN: Good night moon.
COOPER: A special edition. Good night, Lababu --
COHEN: Labubu.
COOPER: I don't know what it is.
COHEN: Lababu? You're the face of CNN.
COOPER: My kids are Amish. I don't know.
COHEN: Yes, I know.
COOPER: Labubu?
COHEN: Labubu.
COOPER: Good night, Labubu, clip to a Birkin.
Good night, Kim Kardashians, shapewear complete with a merkin.
COHEN: Good night, Coldplay kiss cam. Good night, Meghan Markle jam.
COOPER: Good night, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Golden stuck in my head. Good night. Taylor and Travis, soon to wed.
COHEN: Good night to White Lotus, Brotherly love. Good night, Katy Perry, up in space far above.
COOPER: Good night, six, good night, seven, good night to a meme now gone to heaven.
COHEN: I hope so.
Good night, Kendrick Lamar, crushing the Super Bowl in bootcut jeans. Good night, Beyonce, reuniting our Destiny's Child queens.
COOPER: Good night, Starbucks bear. Good night, Nicole Kidman's post- breakup hair.
COHEN: Let's read this together.
COHEN & COOPER: And now it's time to feel alive as we bid good night to 2025.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: That was great.
COOPER: Yes, it was very nice.
COHEN: Good night.
COOPER: How do you feel about 2026?
COHEN: I feel so good about 2026. I feel optimistic. We are parents.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: We love our children. Of course. Yeah.
COOPER: Of course.
And again, I just want to give a shout out to all those who are watching, who maybe this year hasn't gone as they wanted or they've lost somebody and they're feeling alone. And we are with you, and we're all together in this, and you are not alone in your loss or in your grief. And I'm glad you're with us together.
[23:55:01]
COHEN: Thank you for spending New Year's with us.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: We are --
COOPER: We are going to --
COHEN: Coming into -- I feel like we're coming into this somber time.
COOPER: This is what I love. I love this moment. This is the best five to 15 minutes of Times Square. We are going to remain silent. We're going to let the sounds and the sights of Times Square just come through your television so you can experience them. Let's listen in to "Imagine" and what happens next.
(TONES AND I PERFORMING "IMAGINE")
(COUNTDOWN)
(CHEERING)
