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CNN Live Event/Special
Independence Eve Live With Anderson & Andy. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired July 03, 2026 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[21:00:00]
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CO-HOST, INDEPENDENCE EVE LIVE WITH ANDERSON & ANDY: And welcome back to the Hayden (ph). It is the top of the hour. We are three hours away until the special ball drop for America's 250th birthday. It has been raining. It has been lightning. It has been thunder.
ANDY COHEN, CNN CO-HOST, INDEPENDENCE EVE LIVE WITH ANDERSON & ANDY: Dangerous lightning.
COOPER: The rain is coming and going. But it's a fun night so far.
COHEN: If I get struck by lightning?
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Can Bravo sue CNN?
COOPER: I have no idea.
COHEN: OK.
We have an amazing lineup ahead. Cheri Oteri. Mary J. Blige. Dave Chappelle. Darius Rucker. Brad Paisley. Henry Winkler.
But first, it is our second American beer of the night, and we are drinking.
COOPER: Andy's drinking American beer every hour.
COHEN: Well, yes, you are too. Narragansett Lager.
COOPER: What's the--
COHEN: This is--
COOPER: What is a Lager? What does that mean?
COHEN: Here, try it and see.
COOPER: Why is the--
COHEN: Where is his--
(CROSSTALK) COOPER: How is a Lager different? Narragansett?
COHEN: Narragansett. Massachusetts. Yes. OK. Cheers. How is it?
COOPER: Is a Lager -- it's like heavier than the last beer.
COHEN: I think it's light. Well, we were drinking Michelob ULTRA Light before.
COOPER: OK. Sure.
COHEN: Wait. You're slurping.
COOPER: Well, I don't know, I don't know. I just--
COHEN: Well, just drink it.
COOPER: I'm drinking it.
COHEN: You don't slurp it.
COOPER: OK. I won't slurp it.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: It's just right up the tippy top.
COHEN: What is more American than -- oh, here, cheers.
COOPER: Cheers, yes.
COHEN: Cheers to America.
Right?
COOPER: Wherever you are in America, or around the world, I'm glad you're here, I'm glad we're all together on this special night.
COHEN: You know what we love?
COOPER: What?
COHEN: America.
COOPER: Yes, we do.
COHEN: We are patriots, and we love America. Cheers.
OK. What is more American than over-the-top food sculptures? Joining us now, Jim Victor and Marie Pelton are butter sculptors from Philadelphia and--
COOPER: Guys. Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: It's crazy.
COHEN: Can we get a shot with this -- with your camera on -- because these are such more handsome versions of both of us. I don't know if you can tell at home.
But like, folks, how long did this take you to do?
MARIE PELTON, JIM VICTOR AND MARIE PELTON FOOD SCULPTURE: It was five days we worked on it.
COOPER: Five days?
PELTON: Yes.
COOPER: Wow.
PELTON: Just doing the butter.
JIM VICTOR, JIM VICTOR AND MARIE PELTON FOOD SCULPTURE: Or even longer.
COOPER: Really?
VICTOR: Yes, I mean, we took a whole week, really starting.
COOPER: And do you -- I mean, do you add pieces of butter to it? Does it start out as a big block of butter, and you're just whittling it away?
COHEN: Yes.
PELTON: We started with the small blocks of butter.
COHEN: Oh?
COOPER: Oh?
PELTON: So basically the kind that you buy at the grocery store.
COOPER: Really?
PELTON: And we had to unwrap every single little bar.
COOPER: Do you really?
PELTON: Yes.
COHEN: Wow.
PELTON: Yes, we had for this. It's--
COOPER: And then you smooth it altogether?
COHEN: What -- what brand of butter do you use?
PELTON: This was actually Land O'Lakes. COHEN: OK.
COOPER: Oh, OK.
VICTOR: Yes.
COHEN: A great American--
COOPER: Wow. Oh, look at time-lapsed. Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: That's incredible.
COHEN: This is incredible. Should we put the glasses on there?
VICTOR: Sure. Please.
PELTON: Absolutely.
COHEN: Yes--
COOPER: And how long -- I mean, not refrigerated, how long does it last?
PELTON: Well--
COHEN: Wow.
PELTON: Basically at about 80 degrees, it'll really start going.
COOPER: OK.
PELTON: You know, so. It--
COHEN: Well, it just got cooler out here.
PELTON: Oh, it did.
COHEN: So these could -- these could--
PELTON: It could last all night, definitely.
COOPER: Wow.
VICTOR: Yes.
COHEN: Anderson's touching my face.
COOPER: Yes. Well--
COHEN: Don't touch my face.
PELTON: You're kind -- they're pretty frozen at the moment.
COHEN: Touched my face-- COOPER: My kids lately have been licking each other, I'm--
COHEN: Touched my face--
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: --lick--
COHEN: Lick it.
COOPER: No, I'm not going to lick it.
COHEN: Come on, I dare you. Lick my face.
COOPER: No, I'm not going to lick your face.
COHEN: I want to see what it looks.
COOPER: I don't want to see that. I don't even want to think about it.
COHEN: Oh, you want me to lick your face?
COOPER: No, I definitely don't want you to lick--
COHEN: Well I don't want to.
COOPER: How long have you been doing this?
VICTOR: Oh.
PELTON: I've been doing it for over 20 years.
COOPER: Wow.
PELTON: And Jim has been doing it longer.
VICTOR: Yes.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: I want to ask, objectively, since you really spent a lot of time, clearly looking at our faces, do you -- is -- who do you think is objectively better-looking? Two of us. If you had to say, could you say--
(LAUGHTER)
PELTON: Well, you, Andy, are classically handsome.
COHEN: Oh.
COOPER: Oh.
PELTON: Very, very classically handsome.
COOPER: That's what they say. PELTON: And of course, Anderson has a beautiful face.
COOPER: Oh.
PELTON: And so, it really is a toss-up.
COOPER: Well--
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Wow. Thank you.
PELTON: I mean, I wouldn't be able to pick between the two and--
COOPER: You're so kind.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Do you work on commission? If Taylor Swift called and said, I'm getting married at Madison Square Garden?
COOPER: It tells you -- right now, you could just smoosh our faces off, and you could probably just very quickly do--
COHEN: Yes, with them--
PELTON: Well not really very quickly. Would take a little while.
VICTOR: Yes, it would.
PELTON: But yes, we could probably do that.
COHEN: But so what -- just out of curiosity, how much -- if we commission these to buy, how much would you charge us?
VICTOR: Oh, it could be thousands and thousands of dollars.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Because you've been working on it for so long.
PELTON: Yes, definitely.
COOPER: I mean, it's a lot of labor.
COHEN: Do you have a--
PELTON: Yes, it is a lot of labor.
COHEN: Do you have a website or something we want to apply to?
PELTON: Yes, we do have a website.
COOPER: What's the website?
COHEN: What is it called? PELTON: It's jimvictormariepelton.com.
COOPER: Jimvictormariepelton.com.
PELTON: So, that's our website. We--
VICTOR: Yes.
COHEN: Has working with butter made you less likely to spread butter on your bagels--
COOPER: That -- that was my next question.
COHEN: --and things like that?
COOPER: That was my next question. We are so thinking alike.
VICTOR: All we can say is we love butter.
COHEN: You do?
PELTON: Yes, we love butter.
VICTOR: We love butter.
PELTON: So, it hasn't hindered appetite for butter at all.
COOPER: Are you -- are you sponsored by a butter company?
PELTON: Well Land O'Lakes does sponsor us--
COOPER: Which would make sense.
COHEN: They do?
PELTON: --for some events, yes.
COOPER: Yes. As they should.
PELTON: And so -- yes.
COOPER: Yes. Good. Good.
PELTON: They do for some of our big events that we do.
This one is completely edible. We bought the butter from them, so that you would be--
COOPER: Wow.
PELTON: --have fresh butter, you know?
COHEN: Wow. This is--
COOPER: Wow.
PELTON: You can consume this if you wanted to.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: That's -- I mean, I'm starting to get -- I'm just sweating a little bit over here but let me just--
COHEN: Yes, Anderson's schvitzing a little bit.
COOPER: Yes, OK.
[21:05:00]
COHEN: I've never looked more handsome, and I mean, I hate to say it, Anderson, but you too. Oh, look. Uh-oh. Now would you consider this plate of bread and bagels the enemy of these butter sculptures?
PELTON: Yes.
COOPER: Like -- or do you feel is this like the kryptonite, where you're like, Oh no.
PELTON: It's like we can -- the end of the butter sculpture is coming near.
COHEN: The more beer we drink, we might want to have a little schmear of butter.
COOPER: No, I'm not -- are you -- we would not take butter from this.
COHEN: Well, where would we take it from?
COOPER: Well, I mean, we'd not eat this. This is a -- this is -- wait, are these butter glasses?
VICTOR: No, those are chocolate glasses.
COOPER: Are you kidding me?
COHEN: Oh, really?
VICTOR: No we made the -- yes.
COOPER: You do chocolate too?
VICTOR: Yes, yes, yes.
PELTON: Yes.
COOPER: What other substances do you do?
PELTON: Cheese, chocolate--
COHEN: Ooh.
PELTON: --fruits and vegetables, candy, a lot.
VICTOR: We've got all kinds of foods.
PELTON: Yes.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Oh my god.
VICTOR: We've worked for a lot of different candy companies and food companies.
COOPER: I mean, I would--
COHEN: Where do you live?
VICTOR: Outside of Philadelphia.
COHEN: You live outside of Philadelphia--
(CROSSTALK)
PELTON: Conshohocken.
VICTOR: Conshohocken, Philadelphia.
COOPER: Wow.
PELTON: Oh, they fit you too.
COOPER: Oh my god, and it smells delicious.
PELTON: Yes.
VICTOR: Yes.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: You know what? This butter doesn't smell bad either.
Well.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Well, Marie Pelton, and Jim Victor, you rocked our world.
COOPER: This is incredible. Thank you so much.
COHEN: Thank you so much.
PELTON: Thank you.
VICTOR: Yes, thank you.
COOPER: We really appreciate it.
COHEN: This is so cool.
COOPER: It's so lovely to put so much time and effort into it. I really appreciate it. They're so lovely. Wow.
PELTON: You've very welcome. Thank you so much.
COHEN: Thank you.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: We are so impressed.
COOPER: I mean.
COHEN: I want to go back to the wedding bash down the street.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: The Swiftie Spectacular.
Elizabeth Wagmeister is there.
COOPER: No butter sculptures there. We got them.
COHEN: Elizabeth, two questions. Has anyone left early?
COOPER: Oh good--
COHEN: And do we know if Taylor is taking Kelce as her last name?
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, I think that Travis should take--
COOPER: Well, you get to the heart of it.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: You just get right in there.
WAGMEISTER: He does. He gets right in there, Anderson.
I personally think that Travis should take her last name because let's be honest, he is Mr. Taylor Swift. We do not know if she will be changing her last name.
I can tell you, though, no guests have exited yet. The party is really just getting started. Now, you can see behind me, here on 7th Avenue, there are now cars. So, they have opened up 7th Avenue. Before, it was completely blocked off. So, I'll be curious to see if they're going to block it off again when the guests are exiting around 02:00 in the morning.
Now, again, Taylor Swift is probably one of the only people in the world who could get New York City streets to completely shut down for her wedding. But guess what else she got to happen? The Empire State Building is lit up blue right now, and they actually tweeted from their official account, Her something blue.
So, if Taylor didn't bring something blue, the Empire State Building thought of that for her, which is very, very nice of the Building, don't you think?
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Elizabeth, one more question. Do we know, does she have to pay for the police presence there, or does the city pay? Do we know that?
WAGMEISTER: So, this is a big conversation, and quite frankly, a big point of contention. I have to tell you, I've been talking to people on the streets here, most are super excited for Taylor. We have Swifties over here that were singing Love Story, and people are so excited that she's married.
But I was talking to a few New Yorkers who were really upset. They said, Why are the streets closed down? This one woman was really, really angry and told me, I'm going to miss my train. How could they do this for a private event?
So, the New York -- the New York Police Department, they are out here. They have a huge presence. But we do know that Taylor has her own private security, which, of course, that she has paid for. So, the outside perimeter is the NYPD. But inside, she has a huge team of her own security detail, and that is absolutely being paid by the couple who is footing the bill.
Now, also, I'm not sure if you saw this, but earlier this week, Taylor and Travis, they announced that they are making a $26 million donation to charities across the country, many of which are in New York City. So clearly, that's kind of a wink and a nod, their way to say, We want to give back to the city--
COHEN: Smart.
COOPER: Yes.
WAGMEISTER: --that clearly is doing so much for them for this wedding day.
COOPER: It's incredible.
WAGMEISTER: Yes, it is smart. It is.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Elizabeth Wagmeister, thanks very much. Check back in a little bit later on.
It is perhaps one of the most famous American pop songs still sung at weddings, parties, karaoke lounges across the country, which I have never frequented, but you go to quite often.
COHEN: Journey is currently on their North American Final Frontier tour. Here is Don't Stop Believin'.
[21:10:00]
(VIDEO - JOURNEY - "DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'")
COOPER: Journey. Don't Stop Believin'.
Coming up next. An American legend is going to join us from heaven.
Plus, Mary J. Blige, Dave Chappelle, and a lot more surprises.
We're live in Times Square, counting down to America 250. We'll be right back.
[21:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COHEN: All right. We have a special treat now joining us to celebrate 250 years of America from heaven. It's the one and only Barbara Walters.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Barbara, you are truly heaven-sent. I can't believe you're here.
CHERI OTERI, AMERICAN ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN: (As Barbara Walters): Oh. Andrew. Anderson. I didn't think there was a way I'd be able to join you either, until my friend Thug Life, Thug Life Tupac Shakur, said that there was.
So, here I am, finally in my perfect lighting, gracing you with my ethereal presence to celebrate America's 250th birthday. And, needless to say, Lady Liberty has never needed a Kris Kardashian deep plain facelift with upper and lower bleph more.
I almost materialized into the traditional American apple pie White House cage match. But I said if I wanted to watch two bitches fighting, I would tune into your Bravo, Andrew.
(LAUGHTER)
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Excuse my language, gentlemen, but I've been making pottery with George Carlin and Richard Pryor.
COHEN: All right. Now, are you still keeping up with the news on Earth, Barbara? OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Why, yes, Andrew. Just the other day, I was playing Rummikub with rapper Nipsey Hussle, Russian life coach Rasputin, chauvinist Harry Reasoner, Legs for days, Mitzi Gaynor, and Funny Bone Shecky Greene.
(LAUGHTER)
[21:20:00]
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): We mused about Earth's adversaries, such as Blake versus Baldoni, Erin Brockovich versus Gary Sinise (ph), and Lindsey Graham versus masculinity, and Kanye versus anyone with two ears and a conscience.
COHEN: Wow, it sounds like you're really caught up, Barbara. How are you keeping busy in heaven?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Well, when I'm not at a puppy play date with my beloved dog, Cha-Cha, I'm in the celestial cafeteria with my besties. Just Say Nos Nancy Reagan, Looksmaxxing German showstoppers, Siegfried and Roy, Real Housewife of Heritage USA, Tammy Faye, and wig hustling knockout Raquel Welch.
We were discussing earthly hot topics, such as Taylor Swift and her Paul Bunyan fiance's low-key Madison Square Garden wedding, roadkill culinary expert RFK Jr., fatty boombalatty drug Ozempic, baby oil Freako Pioneer P. Diddy, and former royal Andrew Mountbatten a 1,000.
I also recently went to a book signing at the Akashic Library with insufferable suffragette Susan B. Anthony.
COHEN: Is she insufferable?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): She is, and so insufferable.
Cross-dresser J. Edgar Hoover. And avid reader, Macho Man Randy Savage.
(LAUGHTER)
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): We were celebrating Dr. Theodor Seuss' new series, One Fish, Two Fish, Red State, Blue State, and Horton Hears a Netanyahu. Not flying off the shelf, fellas.
COHEN: Yes.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Not flying off the shelf.
COHEN: Not a bestseller.
COOPER: No.
COHEN: Tell me, what do you think about the state of our media, Barbara?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Well, interesting. I was kite flying with the last man America believed, Walter Cronkite. We discussed the media landscape and how it's changed.
Move over Dan Rather, David Muir, and Lester Holt. Here comes Theo Von, Joseph Rogan, and Call Her Daddy podcaster, Alex Cooper.
COOPER: Well.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Now, before my passing, I was about to launch my own Barbara Walters podcast, sponsored by Dulcolax, Hard Interview, Soft Stool.
(LAUGHTER)
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): But now that everyone and the mother (ph) is podcasting, I'm transporting myself, uninvited, into other realms, interviewing icons such as red carpet assassin Joan Rivers, Rastafarian Reefer connoisseur Bob Marley, and fluid pilot Amelia Earhart.
COHEN: Was Amelia Earhart fluid?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Yes, she was, Andrew. I recently sat down with cunnilingus expert, Albert Einstein.
COHEN: Albert Einstein is a cunnilingus expert?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Yes, he is. To get his thoughts on artificial intelligence. He looked at me and replied, Barbara, I split the atom. These people can't split a restaurant check without ChatGPT.
COHEN: It's so true.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Then I asked beloved children's mentor, Mister Rogers, his thoughts on OnlyFans, and he said, Not in my neighborhood, Lady Fairchild.
I later ran into the Royal Whiskey Nose (ph) sexually ambiguous Fairchild, when she confessed that she'd finally come out to Mister Rogers after they both had passed. Fred laughed at her and said, I knew all along, Butchie.
COHEN: I think we all did. Right, Barbara?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): I think we did.
COHEN: Barbara, can you tell us anything about the possibility of Earth maybe being visited by aliens? It's a hot topic today.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): It is. It is.
COHEN: Yes.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): You know, I asked my reptilian Pilates instructor, GLP-2, what he thought of the government finally disclosing alien life. He said, Barbara, I've spent 40,000 years on and off your planet, from Area 51 to Studio 54, from the Pyramids to your Meta Glasses to $22 Hailey Bieber smoothies, and needless to say, we are not impressed. One star on Yelp.
COHEN: Only one star?
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Only one star, Andrew.
COHEN: Wow. Wow.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Huh.
COHEN: Huh.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): Well, Anderson, Andrew, I must leave this physical plane we in the spirit world call Earth School. Right now it seems that you are in the midst of exams.
COHEN: Yes.
OTERI: (As Barbara Walters): We hope that you all learn the lessons that are before you. Unite, and pass with flying colors. On this America's 250th anniversary, with all of my heart, I say, Peace.
COOPER: Barbara Walters. Thank you.
COHEN: Barbara Walters. Thank you so much.
COOPER: Cheri, thank you.
COHEN: Wow. Back to heaven she goes. Amazing.
COOPER: Wow. Incredible.
COHEN: Wow, never disappoints.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Never disappoints.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow. We needed Barbara Walters to put this all into context.
COOPER: Yes. It makes sense now.
COHEN: The people she's schmoozing with up there.
COOPER: I mean, incredible, yes.
COHEN: I knew she'd be in heaven too.
COOPER: Albert Einstein?
COHEN: Yes. An expert in cunnilingus. COOPER: Well, we don't need to repeat.
COHEN: Well, that's what Barbara Walters.
COOPER: Well it's, you know, we know it stays with us. We don't need to say it again.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Let's check in with Harry--
COHEN: Her reporting stays in.
COOPER: Let's check in with Harry Enten at the Hershey's store here in Times Square.
Harry?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Hey friends, you know when I think of summer and I think of America, two things that I absolutely love, I think of s'mores. Because s'mores bring me back to my childhood. I can remember sitting around the fire with my mom as she was roasting the marshmallow. Oh my goodness gracious.
[21:25:00]
And I also, of course, think of my favorite childhood movie, "The Sandlot," where they had that very famous scene in which they made s'mores.
Of course, there's this big debate going on right now, which is, How do you actually enjoy your s'more? Are you in Camp Toasty, whereby the marshmallow is very dark on the outside, sometimes it's so dark it's even charred, or are you in Camp Gooey, whereby the middle of the marshmallow is nice and gooey?
So I, being a numbers guy, I have an elite panel with me. Of course, I'm from New York, I have my dear friend from New Jersey, and I have my three friends from the great state of Wisconsin. So, I have to take a poll right here, which is, are you in Camp Toasty, or are you in Camp Gooey?
OK, guys, which one are you in? Are you in Camp Toasty?
Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Or are you in Camp Gooey?
OK. We go four for four right here, Camp Gooey over Camp Toasty, which is so interesting. Because, when asked nationwide, those who answered the question, 69 percent of them said that they were in fact in Camp Toasty. So sometimes, when you do man on the street you get something that you honestly weren't expecting.
But of course, I can't do this segment without actually having a s'more. So, I'm going to come right here, Kevin (ph). Thank you, my friend.
And we're going to enjoy a nice s'more together.
Guys, are we ready to have a smore? Let's go.
Oh, that is good.
Guys. The s'more's good or not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So good.
ENTEN: They are so good.
So, it turns out that sometimes your childhood memories do, in fact, become adult love fests, as they are for me, right here in the Hershey's store in Times Square. So delicious.
COOPER: Harry, thanks so much. Appreciate it from the Hershey's store.
COHEN: You know what? I got to tell you something.
COOPER: What?
COHEN: I've been looking at this butter, and I realized one of the reasons that you look so good, they gave you a little more of a lip, and it makes me think--
COOPER: Little more of a lip?
COHEN: Yes. It makes me think you should get some injections in your lip. Look at your lips. And also--
COOPER: That's Andy.
COHEN: What?
COOPER: That's a -- there--
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Yes. Well there you are. Look at your lips.
COOPER: I mean, I don't know.
COHEN: Yes. And also, they gave you a little bit -- they did something to your nose too.
COOPER: My head is a little more -- my face is a little more square, I guess.
COHEN: No, you're -- yes.
COOPER: They squared my-- COHEN: I think you should take that to--
COOPER: You mean that's what I should look--
COHEN: --a local plastic surgeon and see what he can do.
COOPER: Right.
COHEN: Yes. Anyways.
COOPER: Coming up next. A look at some undercover heroes from all over the country. We'll be right back.
[21:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Our next guest is a social media influencer whose mission is to find undercover heroes who are going through the most difficult situations. He meets strangers, gives them an honest test, and hopes that they tell the truth and are kind. If they do, he rewards them.
Jimmy Darts joins us now.
COHEN: Hey, Jimmy.
JIMMY DARTS, AMERICAN MEDIA PERSONALITY AND PHILANTHROPIST: How's it going? Thanks for having me.
COHEN: It's going great.
COOPER: I love what you do, it's so cool. How did you get started?
DARTS: Yes, it's pretty crazy, but my life got changed when I was 18- years-old, didn't really have a ton of purpose, didn't really feel like I was on the planet for a very specific reason. And when I was 18-years-old, crazy story, but my life got changed, gave my life to Jesus, and I just got a heart for people, and I realized one thing specifically, that God wasn't mad at people, but that it's His goodness that leads people to repentance.
And so I was like, Man, how can I love on people? So, I lived in India, I lived in Brazil, lived in Australia as a missionary. And then, about five years ago I was walking, I was like, Man, How can I use my gifts with videos, social media to help people out? And that's when I feel like the Lord said to me, I want you to ask people for help, and then when they help you, change their life. I was like, Wait, what? I'm going to ask someone for help? I thought I was going to help them.
And sure enough, started doing these kindness challenges where I'd ask someone for a quarter for the bus or for a hug. Because my family, I hadn't seen them in a long time. And sure enough, it went from giving people a $100 who passed these tests to giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars and being able to just change their lives, love on them but-- COHEN: That's amazing.
DARTS: --it's been an absolute blast.
COHEN: Tell us about some of the most inspiring Americans that you've met.
DARTS: Yes, yes.
COHEN: Introduce us to some of your people.
DARTS: Absolutely. One of the most inspiring ones that comes to mind is Cruz (ph), and I was in Nashville. I was at a Goodwill, and I had some crutches, and I said, Hey, man, is there any way you could help me buy these crutches, like, I have a limp in my leg, it would mean the world. And sure enough, he goes, buys me the crutches.
And right when I'm about to give him the $500 I noticed, his son comes over limping, and he can barely walk, and I'm like, Oh my gosh. I go, Sir, I have $500 for you. I've just seen the first kind person to help me out, and he starts freaking out in the store, and he's crying, and basically shares the story that his son had been hit by a car in Honduras, eight years ago, and they were never able to do surgery in his leg. So, it was fully bent and crooked. And he's a grown man, works as a mechanic. He'd come home crying, his son would at night because of the pain he was in.
And so, I posted this video. We ended up raising over $50,000 for him to get surgery.
COHEN: Wow.
DARTS: The craziest thing was it wasn't enough to cover the full surgery, but Vanderbilt college in Nashville, they actually came in and covered the rest.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
[21:35:00]
DARTS: And so, he got both of his legs, brand-new, he's back working healthy.
And the funniest thing was I went to go see him a few months after the surgery. And he's this big burly guy, and I go up to him. And his son doesn't speak much English at all. And so, he pulls out the little translator app, and in the littlest, highest pitch girl voice, he said, Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
COHEN: Aww.
DARTS: So, that was a really awesome story.
COHEN: That's amazing. COOPER: It's got to feel just so good to do what you do. How many people do you think you've helped total?
DARTS: Man, we've helped probably hundreds of families. But really, it's not just me. It's -- I put the videos together, but it's the followers that donate. It's the people's stories. But we've raised over $6 million and--
COHEN: Wow.
DARTS: --probably hundreds of different families around the country got--
COHEN: What's the most amount of money you've ever given in a single act of kindness?
DARTS: Yes, a couple months ago, there was a family going through something really difficult. The husband had a brain tumor, and he had to stop working. And the wife -- I met her in Walmart -- and she was just crying her eyes out to me, saying how -- she was terrified, if her husband passed away, they wouldn't have enough money to have somewhere to live because he was the main breadwinner. And so, she was worried that they were going to be homeless, and she would get her little girl taken away from her.
And so, I made this video, told them to shut their phones off for a day. I said, Meet me back at Walmart tomorrow, I got a surprise for you. And sure enough, in the last like 24 hours, it took around $750,000 came in.
COHEN: Wow. That's--
DARTS: So.
COHEN: Wow.
DARTS: Yes.
COHEN: How many followers do you have?
DARTS: Total, across all platforms, there's like 28 million people, so.
COHEN: Wow.
DARTS: Yes.
COHEN: And it's all people who want to do good.
DARTS: Yes. Yes.
COHEN: It's all people who want to help other people.
DARTS: Yes, you'd be surprised, right? I pull out on the highway every day, and like, I get three or four birds thrown at me because of my driving, or whatever, you know, but there is-- COOPER: Uh-uh.
COHEN: You're a bad driver, Jimmy Darts?
DARTS: Yes, I know, yes I'm --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Really, people are throwing you birds?
DARTS: Yes, I don't know what it is.
COHEN: And what does Jesus say about that?
DARTS: Man, I think he just wants to give them a hug--
COHEN: Yes, of course he does.
(CROSSTALK)
DARTS: --or something. Well no but yes--
COHEN: Oh, man.
DARTS: So, I think there's just so many kind people willing to help in this country, and I just -- that's my goal, is to highlight them, you know, like then--
COOPER: What do you think people can do to kind of create more acts of kindness in their own lives?
DARTS: Man, just buy the simplest thing, buy someone a cup of coffee.
But I was in Fargo, North Dakota, getting a haircut at, like, a Sport Clips, and I go to pay for my haircut, and the lady goes, Oh, no, you're good.
I'm like, What?
And this was years ago, before anyone knew who I was.
COOPER: Yes.
DARTS: And she's like, Yes, some old guy in here just paid for your haircut and left.
I was so shook by that. I went in my car, called like 20 family members, told them the story. It was like a $30 haircut. But how often does that happen?
COOPER: That's right--
COHEN: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
DARTS: --anyone out there.
COOPER: And he didn't come up to you or anything? He just--
DARTS: No, he disappeared.
COOPER: Wow.
DARTS: I don't even know if the guy was real. But yes.
COHEN: Wow.
DARTS: Yes.
COOPER: Hats off.
COHEN: How are you celebrating the holiday tomorrow?
DARTS: Well, you're kind of putting me on the spot here. I could lie and say I'm going out on the ferry to watch the fireworks. But shout out to my Grandma Pat, who's watching this at her nursing home. I'm actually flying into Minnesota to surprise my family tomorrow.
COHEN: Aww.
COOPER: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
DARTS: --not a surprise.
COHEN: Oh that's nice.
COOPER: That's good.
DARTS: It's good. I'd be better to do it on TV--
COOPER: Yes, yes, yes, that's awesome.
COHEN: Do you want -- do you want to invite Anderson? He'll go.
COOPER: I'd be happy to, yes.
DARTS: Let's do it.
COHEN: Here you go.
DARTS: Forget the plane.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: I got to work. I'm--
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Oh. Oh, yes, you do.
COOPER: I do have to work--
DARTS: Yes.
COHEN: Well, Jimmy Darts, thank you. You're inspiring.
COOPER: Yes, it's really such an honor. Yes, love what you do.
DARTS: Thanks.
COHEN: We really wanted to meet you.
COOPER: Thank you.
DARTS: God bless you guys.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Keep doing what you're doing.
DARTS: I appreciate it.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: God bless you.
COOPER: That's really inspiring.
COHEN: We're going to go to Bill Weir at America's oldest rodeo in Arizona.
Hey, Bill.
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, guys. Andy. Anderson. Good to be with you. I wore the Grateful Dead t-shirt.
COHEN: Nice Steely, Bill. Yes, you did.
WEIR: It was the only thing that I had in red, white and blue, and Andy Cohen--
COHEN: Yes.
WEIR: --Andy Cohen-approved.
But yes. Welcome to Prescott, Arizona, home of the world's oldest rodeo, 1888. You remember Trivial Pursuit, when that came out in the 80s? Well, a Trivial Pursuit question was--
COOPER: Yes, of course.
WEIR: --who has the world's oldest rodeo? Prescott was the answer. And a town in Texas said, No, we're the oldest rodeo, and they threatened to sue. And Prescott says, We'll countersue if you take us off the card. So, Trivial Pursuit sent an investigator and determined if this is the oldest rodeo in the world. So, there you go. If Trivial Pursuit says it. COOPER: Wow.
WEIR: But look at these cuties over here having dinner, these little blondies. These little girls are going to be Mutton Bustin' in about an hour.
COOPER: I just--
WEIR: You guys know what's Mutton Bustin' is?
COOPER: I just went to a rodeo in Connecticut that did it. Yes, I just went to a rodeo, and my kids want to do it next year.
WEIR: You did?
COOPER: They put kids on sheep at like -- at a -- it was at the Goshen Fair.
COHEN: Exactly.
COOPER: It was incredible.
COHEN: Really?
COOPER: So cool.
WEIR: I think we should -- we have--
COOPER: And the kids hold on to these sheep for as long as they can.
WEIR: --we all have sons about the same--
COOPER: Yes.
WEIR: Exactly. And I think we all have sons about the same age. We should start a Mutton Bustin' league in the Sheep Meadow of Central Park, right? It's perfectly named.
But later tonight, we're going to have--
COOPER: I would totally be down for it.
WEIR: You'd be down?
We're going to have brought -- Bustin' and bull riding here. The folks settling in. This is a beautiful community. This -- this rodeo nearly died in the 80s because the community group that was keeping alive went under, they had a fight. So, the locals, some local cowboys, put up their own homes as collateral, took out loans to keep the Prescott Frontier Days rolling here. We got the smell of barbecue smoke sort of mingling with cows and horses.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: Nice.
[21:40:00]
WEIR: And these are true ranchers, you know, folks working the land here, and it's near -- we're sort of halfway between Flagstaff and Phoenix, Sedona, the beautiful Sedona, where John McCain had a refuge, is nearby here, it's just beautiful desert landscapes.
And this all started 1888, when it was the Lonesome Valley, with just a few sort of pioneering cattle ranchers would have a cowboy tournament, and this--
COHEN: Wow.
WEIR: --you know, 136 years later, it's still going. It was the first one ever to be organized, charge tickets, give prizes. And you know, the first cowboy that won Cowboy of the Year turns out he was a full- blooded Sonoran Indian from Mexico. So, there's some sort of cosmic poetry--
COOPER: Yes.
WEIR: --that the best all-around cowboy in the world's oldest rodeo was an indigenous vaquero back in the day.
But it's so cool hanging here.
COHEN: Wow.
WEIR: Come back later, I'll show you some Mutton Bustin'. We'll see what else we can dig up but--
COOPER: All right. I definitely want to see that.
WEIR: I'm feeling the cowboy vibes, guys.
COHEN: Awesome.
COOPER: Bill Weir, I love it.
COHEN: All right, dude. I love you--
COOPER: Bill, thanks so much.
COHEN: --I love your Steely. And thank you, Bill Weir.
COOPER: By the way, it was the Goshen Stampede. The Goshen Fair's later on this year.
COHEN: Thank you for clarifying that.
COOPER: Yes. Yes.
COHEN: We don't want any lawsuits.
COOPER: No. No. COHEN: Coming up next. A special relative--
COOPER: Have you ever seen Mutton Bustin'?
COHEN: No, but I can't wait to see it.
COOPER: It's small but -- it's incredible.
COHEN: Special relative of Anderson's is going to visit us.
COOPER: Oh. OK.
COHEN: Plus Darius Rucker performs.
And Mary J. Blige joins us live.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: We're going to be right back. It seems like the rain is -- well, it's still raining a little bit. We're cool.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. MICHELLE, AMERICAN SINGER AND SONGWRITER: My favorite American from history is Miss Dolly Parton. I think she should run for president.
(CHEERING)
JOHN EARLY, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR: My favorite American is Britney Jean Spears.
(CHEERING)
[21:45:00]
DENEE BENTON, AMERICAN ACTRESS AND SINGER: My favorite American is Sojourner Truth. She runs her mouth like me and gets in Good trouble.
BOWEN YANG, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR: My favorite American is the one, the only wickedly talented Adele Dazeem.
(CHEERING)
KEKE PALMER, AMERICAN ACTRESS AND SINGER: My favorite American is Michelle Obama.
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
PALMER: Oh. Because she is an amazing wife, she's an amazing mother, and she has really cool ear piercings.
CASEY WILSON, AMERICAN ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN: My favorite American is a foremother of this country, and her name is Victoria Gunvalson. She was the original Real Housewife, and I salute her on this day of all days and every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Absolutely. Thank you to our friends, our guests on "Watch What Happens Live."
Do you know who Victoria Gunvalson is?
COOPER: I do not.
COHEN: She is the OG of the OC. She is -- yes.
COOPER: Oh. Oh, yes.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Vicki.
COHEN: As we celebrate American history tonight, it's important to also celebrate Anderson's history. Joining us now is the ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the richest Americans of his time.
And this is your what, Anderson, great-great-great great grandfather?
COOPER: Something like that.
COHEN: Something like that?
And you have a game for us, Ghost of Cornelius?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes, I do.
COOPER: How are you--
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): I'm doing quite well, exhumed, and feeling good. Yes.
COHEN: Yes. Very good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: Do you still have the venereal excesses you perished from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): They never go away.
COHEN: Oh. Wow.
So, what is the game that we're playing today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): So, I'm going to give you a fact--
COOPER: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): --or an event that has happened in the past. You tell me, did it happen before or after my death in 1877.
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: So, you died 18 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): No, I was born--
COHEN: He was born.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): --18 years.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes.
COHEN: Anderson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): That was 1776--
COOPER: Died 1877.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Died in 1877.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): It goes.
COHEN: OK. So give us -- give us an item, Cornelius Vanderbilt ghost.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): First off, did I live to see the debut of the song, The Star-Spangled Banner?
COOPER: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes, I did.
COOPER: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): That was 1814.
COOPER: Oh.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: Oh, OK.
COHEN: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): I have one for you.
COOPER: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): OK.
COHEN: No money for you.
COOPER: Oh, did you live to see it? Of course.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I--
COOPER: I'm sorry.
COHEN: Was it during his time? Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Of course. Of course you did.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see the invention of the passenger elevator?
COHEN: No.
COOPER: No. Yes, I don't think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes, I did.
COOPER: Oh, really?
COHEN: Wow. When was that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): 1857.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes.
COOPER: I didn't know that.
COHEN: Who knew?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I-- COHEN: Wow, you have a rough complexion, don't you?
COOPER: Yes, I--
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Well, the rain isn't helping--
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: --has not been--
COHEN: And the VD.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): It's the moisture and--
COHEN: Well, what about the VD?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): The VD?
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: The venereal excesses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Ooh.
COHEN: Well, venereal excesses.
COOPER: They weren't specific about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): We didn't have a name for it back then.
COHEN: Yes, so true--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Knew what it was.
COHEN: You got around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes.
COHEN: And was Cornelius Vanderbilt strictly dickly, or did he--
COOPER: What?
COHEN: Well, I mean, I'm wondering--
COOPER: No, he had -- he actually sent his wife to a mental hospital, so he could cavort with others.
COHEN: Oh. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): I had to make it legal, you know?
COHEN: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see toilet paper?
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): No.
COHEN: Oh?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): No toilet paper, no.
COHEN: No. When was that invented?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): That was invented in 1880.
COHEN: Wow.
COOPER: OK. Just missed it.
COHEN: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Oh.
COHEN: You just missed it.
COOPER: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): It was a shame, but had lots of money, so it was OK.
COHEN: Oh, you wiped yourself with money?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see the first U.S. World's Fair in New York?
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: I don't know. Yes, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes?
COOPER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): There you go, Andy. Little cash for you.
COHEN: Oh? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Oh, yes, oh, there you go.
COOPER: It's actual money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see X-rays?
COOPER: No.
COHEN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): 1895.
COOPER: Oh? Just missed it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see the zipper for the clothing, yes?
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: I don't think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): No.
COOPER: No?
COHEN: No?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): That was 1893.
COOPER: Oh? OK. OK.
COHEN: Oh?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): No. OK, boys.
COHEN: Oh, you had to unbutton to get your--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): It was -- pulled them down in those days.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): It was quite quick.
COHEN: Yes, OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see the invention of pasteurization?
COOPER: I don't think so. Pasteur--
COHEN: Louis Pasteur.
COOPER: I know. But I don't think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes, it was 1864.
COOPER: Oh, that was close.
COHEN: Oh.
COOPER: Just -- OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Now did I live to see the first motion picture?
COOPER: No.
COHEN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Motion picture? No. 1895. Yes.
COHEN: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see the invention of the ice box?
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes. 1802.
COHEN: Oh?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes.
COOPER: That was--
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Oh, wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): And finally--
COHEN: And you were a--
COOPER: And your house had them, definitely.
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Yes.
COHEN: You had everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): Did I live to see the invention of penicillin?
COOPER: No.
COHEN: No.
COOPER: No, you did not.
COHEN: It might have saved you.
COOPER: You did not. You could -- really could have used--
COHEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): You're correct. No, that was 1928.
COHEN: Wow. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
COOPER: Wow. Thank you--
[21:50:00]
COHEN: It's always nice to see you reunited.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: How do you feel about your family squandering all your money?
COOPER: I mean, it's true.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: He speaks the truth, Cornelius.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Your son did very well, he doubled your fortune. But after that.
COHEN: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: --just take it back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As The Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt): My grandson, thank you.
COHEN: Yes. There you go.
COOPER: Ghost of Cornelius Vanderbilt, thank you for coming on.
COHEN: Thank you--
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: --to see him.
COOPER: Wow. Lot of bills.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Coming up next. We have more legends. Henry Winkler. Mary J. Blige. Dave Chappelle. A performance from Darius Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry, and a whole lot more. And we'll see you in a bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And welcome back. We are live in Times Square.
COHEN: OK. And guess what? It's time for a game of Pass the Popper.
COOPER: What?
COHEN: This is the Popper. We're going to put 30 seconds on the clock with a random American category on the screen. We have to alternate answers. The person holding the Party Popper, when time runs out, is the loser and has to pop it.
COOPER: Sure.
COHEN: OK, starting with national landmarks. 30 seconds on the screen. I'll start.
COOPER: What do we do?
COHEN: Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
COOPER: I have to name national--
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: Mount Rushmore.
COHEN: OK. Statue of Liberty.
COOPER: The Mall -- the Mall -- the National Mall.
COHEN: OK. The White House?
COOPER: No--
COHEN: That's not a national landmark?
COOPER: It's probably a national landmark.
COHEN: I think--
COOPER: Monticello?
COHEN: OK. The Grand Canyon, is that a national landmark? COOPER: Sure. OK. Well, how do we know? Somebody--
COHEN: Well there's no judge.
OK, time's out. You lost.
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: So, what do -- oh.
COHEN: I can't pop it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's the bottom. The bottom.
COHEN: It's the bottom?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bottom thing.
COOPER: Oh.
COHEN: Oh, yes.
COOPER: Oh. OK. All right.
COHEN: Oh, it's going to go in the camera.
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: OK. Give us another one. OK. Next one. Super Bowl halftime performers.
COOPER: OK. That's--
COHEN: Diana Ross.
COOPER: Madonna.
COHEN: Bad Bunny.
COOPER: Prince.
COHEN: Justin Timberlake.
COOPER: Lionel Richie?
COHEN: No.
COOPER: He wasn't a halftime performer?
COHEN: No, sweetie. You're two--
COOPER: Really? Like a while back?
COHEN: No. You're two-- COOPER: How do you know?
COHEN: Because I know. You're two.
COOPER: Well, I don't know. Ricky Martin?
COHEN: No.
COOPER: He performed in the Bad Bunny show.
COHEN: Oh, he was a cameo.
COOPER: Yes, he was.
COHEN: OK.
COOPER: Duh.
COHEN: OK.
Maroon 5.
OK. That's done.
COOPER: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh.
COOPER: Oh.
COHEN: Yes.
[21:55:00]
OK. Things our kids are obsessed with right now.
COOPER: OK.
COHEN: SpongeBob SquarePants.
COOPER: Ninja Turtles.
COHEN: Um?
COOPER: Oh my gosh.
COHEN: Me.
COOPER: You please?
MAGNA-TILES.
COHEN: Making sand castles.
COOPER: Spider-Man.
COHEN: Lucy Loves Pickles.
COOPER: Superman.
COHEN: Oh, now you're just going to name every hero?
COOPER: OK, I'll move on.
COHEN: OK.
What does he want?
COOPER: Sweetie--
COHEN: Oh. What does he want?
COOPER: Do you not spend time with your children?
COHEN: All right -- how dare you?
COOPER: I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. No. Don't aim it at him.
COOPER: Don't--
COHEN: Don't aim it at him? CNN. The face of CNN. I can't even get--
COOPER: Wow. I mean, we should have practiced that.
COHEN: You do this.
COOPER: Our next performance is one of music's--
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no.
COOPER: OK. I think it's--
COHEN: Music's own -- festival acts from--
COOPER: --it's malfunctioning.
COHEN: --Rock the Country's South Carolina's own. He's currently on the Songs of Summer Tour. Here's Darius Rucker from the Grand Old Opry.
We can't get it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes.
(VIDEO - Darius Rucker - "Wagon Wheel")
[22:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALFRE WOODARD, AMERICAN ACTRESS: Hey Anderson and Andy. Yankee Doodle Dandies. Happy Fourth of July, and to everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from Times Square. It's Independence Eve Live. The countdown is set. Celebrating the best of America just before its 250th birthday. With appearances by: Dave Chappelle. Cardi B. Cheri Oteri. Ricki Lake. Bevy Smith. And performances from: Mary J. Blige. Darius Rucker. Brad Paisley. And more surprises.
And now, your hosts, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
