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CNN Live Event/Special
Independence Eve Live With Anderson And Andy; Everybody In High Spirits For America 250; July 4th 2026 Worth Celebrating For Americans. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired July 03, 2026 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[22:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALFRE WOODARD, ACTRESS: Hey, Anderson and Andy, you Yankee Doodle Dandies. Happy 4th of July, and to everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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, Sherri Shepherd, 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)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome back live in Times Square. Two more hours to go, we are live from the Saint Cloud rooftop at the Knickerbocker, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary as we are on the eve of America's 250th anniversary. This is said to be the birthplace of the dry martini, used to be the famous gathering place for icons like John Rockefeller and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
ANDY COHEN, CNN HOST: Still to come for us, Mary J. Blige, Dave Chappelle, a special performance from Elton John. And, of course, the ball drop at midnight, and it's time to crack our number three beer of the night, and this is from Michigan. This is Oberon Ale, and it's --
COOPER: Okay. So, what is an ale compared to a lager and a --
A. COHEN: I don't know.
COOPER: Come on, man.
A. COHEN: I mean, it's really good. I forgot. I mean, my son is so obsessed with Pokemon, I can't believe I forgot that.
COOPER: Oh, Pokemon. I haven't -- we haven't gotten into that. Really? It seems like a whole world.
A. COHEN: It is. Yes. What's more -- this is good. It's a little -- oh, you don't like it?
COOPER: It's a little meatier.
A. COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: It's like a little I like the other. What was the last one?
A. COHEN: That was Narragansett.
COOPER: It's a little easier.
A. COHEN: Yes. What's more Americana than game shows? We are lucky tonight to have Ken Jennings give us a personal game --
COOPER: I mean, I'm a Jeopardy! --of best
A. COHEN: Yes, sure, Jeopardy! champion. We've got American history, Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings, take it away. What's our first question?
KEN JENNINGS, HOST, JEOPARDY!: Andy, Anderson, thanks for inviting me to help celebrate the semi-quincentennial. I'm going to bring a little Jeopardy! to the celebration. Here are some clues for you two.
First clue, on July 4th, 1884, France officially presented this landmark to the United States.
A. COHEN: What is the Statue of Liberty?
JENNINGS: The correct response, what is the Statue of Liberty? Did you get that one? I hope so.
Next clue.
A. COHEN: One point for me.
JENNINGS: This country singer has an amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
A. COHEN: Who is Dolly Parton? We're tied 2-2.
COOPER: Actually, no, I didn't say what is the Statue of Liberty.
A. COHEN: Yes.
JENNINGS: Here's another clue.
COOPER: Yes.
JENNINGS: The Four Corners Monument is where these four states intersect at a single point.
A. COHEN: What is Montana, Colorado, Arizona and Utah?
JENNINGS: What are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah? Did you get all four?
COOPER: Oh, so close.
JENNINGS: How about this one? Next clue, Pee-Wee Herman once looked for the basement of this church in San Antonio, Texas.
A. COHEN: What is the Alamo?
JENNINGS: What is the Alamo? There's no basement in the Alamo.
Next clue.
A. COHEN: No.
JENNINGS: An early slogan for this popular fast food restaurant was, let's eat out, back in 1960.
A. COHEN: What is Whataburger?
COOPER: McDonald's. What is McDonald's?
A. COHEN: Burger King.
JENNINGS: Did you guess the right fast food restaurant? The correct one, what is McDonald's?
Next clue.
COOPER: Yes. Thank you. He had the shortest presidential term, but the longest inauguration speech.
A. COHEN: Who is Rutherford B. Hayes?
COOPER: Is he the one who died during the cold?
A. COHEN: I don't know. I made it up.
JENNINGS: Some tough presidential trivia here. Who is William Henry Harrison? How are you on state nicknames?
Here's your next clue. This state is known as the Show Me State.
A. COHEN: What is Missouri? My home state. Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
JENNINGS: That's right. What is Missouri?
COOPER: I mean, that feels like it's rigged.
JENNINGS: Sports is up next. This basketball team has the most NBA championships.
A. COHEN: Who are the LA Lakers?
COOPER: Who are the Celtics?
A. COHEN: Well --
COOPER: I said Chicago Bulls.
JENNINGS: Who are the Boston Celtics? Still no team with more rings than the Celtics. A. COHEN: Oh, good job.
JENNINGS: Here's the next clue. This state has the top ten highest mountains in the United States.
A. COHEN: Where is Colorado? Now, there's a wind storm.
JENNINGS: Including the tallest of them all, what is Alaska?
And here's your tenth and final clue.
A. COHEN: Oh, I was going to say that, but I --
[22:05:00]
JENNINGS: This state features the only royal palace that exists in the United States.
COOPER: What's this? Is the only royal palace?
A. COHEN: Oh, Anderson, your house.
COOPER: It features the only royal --
A. COHEN: What is it? A palace?
COOPER: A royal palace?
A. COHEN: Dollywood, wherever Taylor Swift lives.
COOPER: I don't know.
A. COHEN: What is it?
JENNINGS: Because it used to be an independent kingdom. What is Hawaii?
COOPER: Las Vegas?
JENNINGS: How'd you do? I bet you two did great. Thanks so much for having me on.
COOPER: Of course.
JENNINGS: Happy birthday, America.
A. COHEN: Thanks, Ken Jennings. Thanks, Ken Jennings. Wow, that was very exciting. That was like a rollercoaster.
COOPER: Yes, I know. High highs and low lows.
A. COHEN: I know, very low lows.
COOPER: Yes.
A. COHEN: Thank you, Ken Jennings. Wow Jeopardy! No greater American game show than Jeopardy!
COOPER: I love Jeopardy!
A. COHEN: And since we're talking television and legends, he is one of our American icons. A face and heart that everyone has known for decades, one of the greatest Americans I know, the one and only Henry Winkler.
Henry, where are you joining us from tonight, Mr. Winkler?
HENRY WINKLER, ACTOR: I am joining right here in my office in my house.
A. COHEN: Wow. Do you have any 4th of July traditions that you and Stacey enjoy?
WINKLER: Actually tomorrow I'm going to have a hotdog, and I'm looking forward to it, with cheese and ketchup.
COOPER: Oh, okay.
You host a show called Hazardous History on the History Channel where you look back on crazy things that people have done in history. What stands out to you?
WINKLER: Okay. So, babies were not sleeping across America. So, this ingenious woman, I'm going to call her Mrs. Brown, made a potion, put it in a beautiful bottle, and babies were sleeping all over America. And then a few months later, they were addicted to morphine.
A. COHEN: Oh.
COOPER: Oh my goodness. Wow.
A. COHEN: What could go wrong? Henry, do you have a favorite? You've visited all over the country. You've got your very successful books, Hank Zipper. You've got so many things going. Do you have a favorite place in the United States?
WINKLER: Anywhere that there is a trout stream. Stacey and I took our oldest grandson to Idaho, and we just came back yesterday fly fishing for trout.
COOPER: Oh, nice. Wow.
A. COHEN: How nice.
COOPER: I'm going to Idaho next week. It's so beautiful there.
WINKLER: Oh, my goodness. It is beautiful.
COOPER: I didn't realize your middle name is Franklin, which is a reference to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Why did your parents give you that middle name?
WINKLER: I'll tell you exactly why. My parents escaped Nazi Germany, and they kept writing the president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and asking for to be able to stay here in America. And he kept saying yes, and ergo, my name is Franklin.
COOPER: Wow.
A. COHEN: Wow. Henry, Happy Days is a true touchstone of American pop culture. I mean, the show ran for 255 episodes. You donated one of Fonzie's leather jackets to the Smithsonian. There's a bronze Fonz sculpture is erected in your honor on the Milwaukee River Walk.
Why do you think Happy Days, when it comes right down to it, was as big of a hit as it was and still is? What does it come down to?
WINKLER: okay, in my estimation, it was, we told the same stories that, you know, a good show would tell. But we told it in the '50s. Garry Marshall picked the '50s in the '70s when we did it so that it would seem timeless. You never felt like you were being hit on the head with the moral.
And the people in the show really loved each other. They took care of each other, and it was funny.
COOPER: Do you have any of the Fonz's leather jackets yourself?
WINKLER: I do. I have three. The first one was stolen from the -- they made me six, put them under lock and key. Garry got two or three. I gave one to the Smithsonian, and I have one -- I think I have one left.
COOPER: Awesome.
A. COHEN: Henry, you are a big Kansas City Chiefs fan. Everyone tonight is talking about the Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift wedding.
[22:10:00]
You, of course, have one of the strongest marriages in America. You and your bride, Stacey, are a couple that we all aspire to. Any wisdom to Travis and Taylor tonight as they embark on their future together?
WINKLER: I just heard that Adam Sandler performed the ceremony for them tonight.
A. COHEN: Yes.
WINKLER: My -- I think what I've learned is that actually the ear is the center of a relationship, not the heart, not the mind. It is important to hear what your partner is saying. And it also -- it doesn't matter how you meant it, it matters how they heard it.
COOPER: I like that.
A. COHEN: That is very good. Henry, you are such an icon of television, and I want to play a round of O Say, Can You Agree or Disagree With Us? These are all questions related to American television, you being, of course, one of the great icons of American television.
So, we are going to all answer these questions with our agree or disagree, starting with, from Friends.
WINKLER: Yes.
A. COHEN: Ross and Rachel were definitely on a break. Agree or disagree?
COOPER: I actually never watched it.
WINKLER: I agree.
A. COHEN: Okay. Grey's Anatomy will still be on the air in ten years. Agree or disagree?
I'm going to be optimistic.
WINKLER: I agree.
A. COHEN: I would -- yes. Okay.
COOPER: I totally would agree. Yes.
A. COHEN: I still catch myself singing the Happy Days theme song.
COOPER: I definitely do.
Oh, really? Henry.
A. COHEN: Henry's over it.
COOPER: Wow. Yes, all right.
A. COHEN: Yes.
WINKLER: No, I'm not over it.
A. COHEN: Okay. Here's a good one.
WINKLER: (INAUDIBLE).
A. COHEN: Yes, right, right. Enough. Enough. Dayenu.
All right, you should always bid $1 on The Price is Right.
COOPER: I disagree.
A. COHEN: I disagree, too.
COOPER: Yes.
A. COHEN: Yes. It's a -- yes.
Okay. I totally understood what The Sopranos finale was all about.
COOPER: All right, I'd say that.
WINKLER: Well, I love the show. I had no idea.
COOPER: Really?
A. COHEN: Yes, me either.
COOPER: He got shot.
A. COHEN: Well, did he?
COOPER: Yes.
A. COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: I'm convinced.
(CROSSTALKS)
A. COHEN: Spoiler alert. I mean, the Vanderbilt boy just ruined it.
Okay. I would rather go to the Big Brother house than the Survivor Island.
I would rather be on Survivor than Big Brother because --
COOPER: I can't even imagine being on either.
A. COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: I'm sorry.
A. COHEN: You would be good on Survivor.
COOPER: Oh, yes? Okay. So, I --
A. COHEN: Okay.
I would make a better traitor than a faithful on The Traitors.
COOPER: I agree. Yes.
A. COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: We all agree.
A. COHEN: Cheers is the greatest sitcom of all time.
COOPER: I mean, I don't want to be disrespectful.
A. COHEN: I'm going to disagree but just because there are so many great sitcoms.
COOPER: Yes, I mean -- yes. Okay. All right, great.
A. COHEN: Henry, besides -- COOPER: Yes.
A. COHEN: Besides Happy Days, by the way, what do you --
COOPER: What about, what Maude -- Archie Bunker.
A. COHEN: Yes, All in the Family. What -- is there one, Henry, that you put up there?
WINKLER: You mean the T.V. show?
A. COHEN: Is there one sitcom you can put up at the top of the list?
COOPER: Yes.
A. COHEN: Yes.
WINKLER: Oh, a show called Episodes which was written by the gentleman who did Friends. And it was an English writer come to America. It was so funny. I can't believe it.
A. COHEN: Wow, I need to watch it.
COOPER: I was obsessed with Thirtysomething. Do you remember Thirtysomething?
A. COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: I loved Thirtysomething.
A. COHEN: Well, I know, but I'm just --
(CROSSTALKS)
A. COHEN: Yes, it was wonderful.
COOPER: You criticize me for Maude. You criticize me for Archie Bunker.
A. COHEN: Well, I mean, your references are so odd.
Okay. Anderson Cooper should make his triumphant return to hosting reality T.V. competition shows, like The Mole.
I agree.
COOPER: I'll disagree. I'll pass on that one.
A. COHEN: Okay. He disagrees, too.
All right, Henry, thank you for joining us.
COOPER: Henry Winkler, we love you.
[22:15:00]
Thank you.
A. COHEN: We love you so much. Happy 250, Henry.
WINKLER: Can I say this? To you and to your families and to the country I adore.
A. COHEN: Cheers to America.
Let's go back to Randi Kaye in P-town. Hi, Randi.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, guys. The party continues here at the Crown and Anchor in P-Town. As you know, there is nothing more Americano than rodeo.
Now, we couldn't get a real bull here, but we have a mechanical bull, and Luis has been riding it and giving me some tips.
What's your tip for -- whoa. What's your tip for staying on this? What's your tip?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. It's easy, honey. All in your legs. Let me show you.
KAYE: All in the legs. Okay. Oh, boy. Hold on. Wait. Do you guys think I should get on this?
Oh, my God.
COOPER: No.
A. COHEN: Randi, do it.
COOPER: I do not think that --
A. COHEN: Do it with Luis.
KAYE: I can get on.
A. COHEN: Get on there with Luis.
COOPER: Get on the bull.
KAYE: I am going to ride the bull.
A. COHEN: Yes.
KAYE: Okay. let's do it.
COOPER: Don't, sweetie.
KAYE: Oh, wait.
COOPER: Oh, yes. I mean, it's been --
A. COHEN: Oh, she's getting on with Luis.
COOPER: We've said before, but it's not going to go anywhere, Randi.
A. COHEN: Oh, we know that. But let her have her fun. She's holding onto Luis for dear life.
COOPER: She's going to get her hopes up, but it's not going to lead anywhere.
A. COHEN: Oh, Luis is getting off the bull.
COOPER: Of course he's getting off. Yes.
A. COHEN: Oh, here she goes.
COOPER: Okay. Okay.
A. COHEN: And what is Randi's assignment that she usually covers on CNN?
KAYE: This is awesome.
A. COHEN: Oh, Randi. Oh, my God. Where did Luis go?
KAYE: I have to climb off.
COOPER: Oh, my God.
A. COHEN: Yes, you are. Randi Kaye in hot pants, and Luis, this is America, everyone. This is what it's come to. Oh, my God.
COOPER: I can't.
A. COHEN: Oh, she's patting the bull. Oh, my God. Wonderful. Oh, they're turning it up on Randi. You should see what's happening. Donde esta Luis? Donde esta Luis?
KAYE: It's all in the legs.
A. COHEN: Where did he go? Oh, my God. All right, Randi.
KAYE: You have to hold on.
A. COHEN: Thank you very much.
COOPER: Thanks, Randi.
A. COHEN: God bless.
That's where the pilgrims started.
COOPER: I don't believe that's true. I don't believe that's true.
A. COHEN: The pilgrims started right there in P-Town.
COOPER: I don't believe that's true.
A. COHEN: Yes, Luis' great-grandfather. COOPER: Coming up next.
A. COHEN: My parents are going to weigh in on the show so far, and we're going to soak Lady Liberty. We're going to play a very fun game. If you thought this show was unhinged before.
COOPER: Also, Mary J. Blige and Dave Chappelle will join us.
A. COHEN: Yes, huge names joining us. Stay tuned, everybody. The rain has officially stopped.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[22:20:00]
A. COHEN: All right. For our next guest, we searched for the wisest and oldest Americans we could find. One is 93 years old, the other is 89. That's 102 -- 182 years of American experience, my parents, Evelyn and Lou Cohen from St. Louis.
Hey, Mom and Dad.
COOPER: Hey, Evelyn and Lou.
A. COHEN: Oh, you look so cute. Hey.
COOPER: You look great.
A. COHEN: Thank you. Okay, Mom and Dad, how's your July 4th going?
EVELYN COHEN, ANDY COHEN'S MOTHER: Good. Great. So far so good.
A. COHEN: Well, you look really good. Dad's wearing the -- Okay.
COOPER: Nice.
A. COHEN: We're going to play a game called -- yes. Good. We're going to play a game called, Let's Soak Lady Liberty.
We are in the heat of summer. We have Super Soakers, both of us do. And my mom and dad have to answer American statistical questions provided by CNN's data guru, Harry Enten.
COOPER: Who's dressed as Lady Liberty.
A. COHEN: Who's dressed as Lady Liberty.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA REPORTER: I think I look fantastic, don't you?
A. COHEN: You do.
COOPER: You do.
ENTEN: Thank you.
A. COHEN: You do, Harry. And if they get it wrong, we're going to soak Lady Harry.
Okay. So, Mom and Dad, when was the Declaration of Independence actually signed? Any idea?
LOU COHEN, ANDY COHEN'S FATHER: I say 1777.
COOHEN: It was August 2nd, 1976.
ENTEN: Bring it. Let's go.
A. COHEN: Okay.
ENTEN: Oh, yes.
COOPER: Sorry, Harry.
A. COHEN: Oh, there you go.
ENTEN: Come on.
A. COHEN: All right. Okay, Mom and Dad, what percentage of Americans have tattoos?
COOPER: I mean, they're never going to get this.
A. COHEN: Well, let's see if they know it.
E. COHEN: I know it's 5 percent.
A. COHEN: 5 percent. Hey, Dad, have you ever --
COOPER: More, higher.
A. COHEN: Dad, have you ever dated a lady with a tattoo, Dad?
L. COHEN: Not to my knowledge.
A. COHEN: Okay. What's the answer, Harry?
ENTEN: The answer is 32 percent. Thank you. The answer is 32 percent. Let's go.
L. COHEN: Oh, my God, Harry.
ENTEN: Pull me off.
A. COHEN: Okay. Mom and Dad, what are Americans' favorite curse words? And you can say the word. What do you think -- Mom, what do you think of (INAUDIBLE), Mom?
E. COHEN: Damn it.
A. COHEN: Oh.
COOPER: Oh, yes, you are --
ENTEN: That's right. That is right.
A. COHEN: And, Dad, any idea -- that was at 55 percent.
ENTEN: That was 55 percent.
A. COHEN: And any idea -- Dad, number two is at 54 percent. Any idea, Dad, what that might be?
L. COHEN: Something with the word hell in it.
ENTEN: Ooh, I'm sorry, that is not correct. It's actually S-H-blank-T at 54 percent. So, I believe it's time for me to get wet.
A. COHEN: Yes, that's what mom thought. That's mom's favorite.
Mom and Dad, what is America's favorite ice cream flavor?
COOPER: Wow, this is interesting.
E. COHEN: Vanilla.
COOPER: Then number two is interesting.
A. COHEN: Okay, they say vanilla. Harry Enten?
ENTEN: It used to be vanilla. But for the first time ever at 38 percent, it's actually my favorite.
[22:25:00]
A. COHEN: Number two is butter pecan and number three is vanilla.
COOPER: I can't believe number two is butter pecan.
A. COHEN: Butter pecan, so weird.
COOPER: I'm going to, I'm going to have to rethink butter pecan.
A. COHEN: Okay. Mom and Dad, which state has the highest rate of depression? Where are people most depressed?
L. COHEN: I would say Arkansas.
A. COHEN: That's terrible.
COOPER: Interesting.
A. COHEN: What do you have against Arkansas, Dad?
ENTEN: No. It was not Arkansas. It was another state that went -- it was another state that went for Bill Clinton, West Virginia. West Virginia.
A. COHEN: All right. Okay, Mom and Dad -- yes. Oh you see that, Mom?
E. COHEN: No. COOPER: Who is the most followed American model on social media?
E. COHEN: American model? We don't know anything about American models.
A. COHEN: Okay, well --
COOPER: Who --
A. COHEN: Dad who's a very pretty lady in America that you think a lot of people are following?
L. COHEN: Oh my. J.Lo.
A. COHEN: Oh, that's a good one.
ENTEN: Unfortunately, the answer is Kendall Jenner.
A. COHEN: Okay. Okay, last question. Okay, Mom and Dad.
COOPER: Oh, don't make them a -- okay.
A. COHEN: Well, how many sexual partners do the average American have in their lifetime? So, how many partners do women have in their lifetime, would you say?
L.COHEN: Five.
E. COHEN: Well, what kind of answer -- wait, you give the elderly questions like that.
A. COHEN: Well, he said five.
ENTEN: He said five. It was 4.3.
A. COHEN: Okay, that was a good answer though, Dad. Very good. Mom and Dad, happy Independence Day.
COOPER: Semi-quincentennial.
A. COHEN: I want to say Happy New Year, but it's not.
ENTEN: It's a new year for our nation.
COOPER: That's right.
A. COHEN: Yes, it is.
ENTEN: That's right.
COOPER: Evelyn and Lou, thank you so much for playing.
A. COHEN: Love you, Mom and Dad.
COOPER: I apologize for the questions.
E. COHEN: Thank you.
COOPER: Harry Enten, thank you for being such a good sport.
ENTEN: Thank you so much.
A. COHEN: Yes.
ENTEN: I think I look fantastic, just so an old Jewish man from the Bronx. Thank you.
A. COHEN: All right. Coming up, one of the biggest comedians on the planet joins us. Dave Chappelle is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[22:30:57]
COOPER: And welcome back. That is the ball that is going to be dropping at the stroke of midnight, bringing in the 250th birthday of America.
One of America's greatest comedians of all time is about to join us from Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he's just wrapped up a set at his summer camp shows, which started in 2020 to support his hometown during the pandemic. Here's a clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE CHAPPELLE, COMEDIAN & ACTOR: Welcome to Yellow Springs, Ohio.
I'm going to be the host and emcee tonight. I have one quick announcement. Whoever has a pickup truck with an American flag on it, please calm the (muted) down.
You the best black Trump. Gillis, you're the best white Trump.
UNKNOWN: Yes!
UNKNOWN: He doesn't even have the hair. But he's got the skin, folks.
UNKNOWN: Wow!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: And Dave Chappelle joins us now. Dave, thank you so much for being with us. It's great to have you.
COHEN: Hey, Dave.
CHAPPELLE: Hey, guys. I can't hear anything right now. They're cheering so crazy. What's happening?
COHEN: Oh, great. Well, this will go great.
COOPER: You were on an arena tour across the country, wrapping it up with your summer camp shows in Yellow Springs, Ohio. They go on throughout the summer. Can you just talk about these shows, why they're so special? And I know you have a celebrity guest who joined you at tonight's show as well.
CHAPPELLE: Okay. Yes, I can talk about that. So, in 2020, when COVID hit and the world shut down, right after George Floyd was murdered, I did a piece that I put on YouTube, Netflix YouTube. I got to say that, about the murder of George Floyd. And that was the first night that we'd ever done summer camp.
What it is, is my neighbor's cornfield was not in use. Every great production person in the state of Ohio was out of work. So, we all got together and we just started throwing shows. We could have got shut down any minute. But shout out to the governor, DeWine. He gave us an opportunity to do these shows. We ended up doing 54 shows before we all got COVID. Every year --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Did you all get COVID on one night?
CHAPPELLE: Every year since then. Yes, it was incredible. It was like nothing and then suddenly an avalanche of COVID. I don't know if you've ever had COVID. At that time, it was like a waiting room to die. When you found out that you got the COVID. Oh, no. So, every year since then, it's been this the seventh summer that we've done it. But it's something that we as a community, we all rally behind.
People have flown as far as from Honolulu. They've all come here. And it's just really special, man. And some of the greatest comedians on Earth are in Yellow Springs tonight.
(APPLAUSE)
COHEN: That's great.
COOPER: That's awesome.
CHAPPELLE: Shout out to Mo Amer. Shout out to George Wallace.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: How do you -- hey, Dave.
CHAPPELLE: Shout out to Donnell Rawlings. Yes, I'm sorry, Andy. Go ahead.
COHEN: I'm curious, Dave. First of all, what brand of cigarette do you smoke? And secondly, how do you typically celebrate the Fourth of July in Ohio?
CHAPPELLE: Okay, both of these are good. Okay, so last night we did fireworks. Thirty-minute firework display right after the show. It was spectacular. And a lot of black people will think I'm crazy for saying this. But I kind of, you know, I dig the Fourth of July. I was hoping for a follow-up question.
COHEN: You were born in Washington? Well, no, I am. I am. Sorry, we got a bad delay.
COOPER: Yes, we got --
COHEN: We got a shitty delay.
COOPER: Oh, jeez. It was --
COHEN: Sorry. So why do you dig the Fourth of July? You were born in Washington, D.C.
[22:35:02]
(CROSSTALK)
CHAPPELLE: Man, what the fuck are you doing? You can't say that. What are you doing? Motherfucker. Oh, that's okay. I'm kidding. I'll stop. I'm so sorry.
COOPER: You were born in -- you spent your childhood between D.C. and Yellow Springs, Ohio. What were your favorite parts of growing up in both those places?
CHAPPELLE: My favorite thing about growing up here, it's a small town. It's like 3,900 people. So, the days aren't filled with surprises. It's nice to know people's names. It's nice to care about the people you see. And even if I don't know their name, I know everyone's face. And I see them every day. And it just helps me keep my life simple in contrast to what I do for a living, which can be complicated, as we all well know.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Hey, Dave, I saw that you were at the opening of the Obama Presidential Library. How was it? What was the vibe there?
CHAPPELLE: You know, I was elated there. I think everyone that went to the Obama opening was very excited to be there. And I know that the place has been getting a lot of criticism for the cost of it. But I thought, you know, this is my first time really spending time in the south side of Chicago like that. And I thought it was a powerful testament to the potential of what an American can be, the fact that he had humble beginnings in that neighborhood. And the building is beautiful, I think, outside and inside for sure.
There's great artwork, there's great community resources in the building. And I think before you criticize it, you should give it a look. Now, I've been to several presidential libraries because I'm that kind of nerd. I went to Bush's, I went to Clinton's, and now I went to the Obama's. And I got to say, the Obama Library does have a cultural flair to it that would resonate to a fellow like me.
COHEN: Hey, Dave, we've been talking about the Taylor Swift wedding a lot tonight. Travis Kelce came to see your San Diego show a few weeks ago. It looked like it was his bachelor party when he came to see you. Did you interact with him at all that night? CHAPPELLE: Well, of course I did. I was shocked. I've never seen
anything like that. A whore-less bachelor party. Whatever makes you happy, Travis. Now, you know, I heard he was getting married at Madison Square Garden. You would think, you know what I mean? I could have got an invite. I didn't make the 15,000 closest friends.
COHEN: I was going to say, --
(CROSSTALK)
CHAPPELLE: Are you guys going?
COHEN: -- it looks like the three of us are the only three people.
COOPER: No.
COHEN: The three of us are the only ones not invited.
COOPER: Did you know that Sly Stone got married there and he had 20,000 people at his wedding?
CHAPPELLE: Well, I eloped. Me and my wife went to Taco Bell after we got married in Vegas. Like, well, it's going to be a long life. Good luck to both of us.
COOPER: Hey,
CHAPPELLE: But yes, it's --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: During AFI's tribute. Yes.
CHAPPELLE: Oh, yes, go ahead.
COHEN: Yes, it's hot as balls here, too, actually.
COOPER: I want to ask you, during AFI's tribute to Eddie Murphy this year, you mentioned in your speech that you would be open to doing a Chappelle Show reboot with Eddie playing the part of his late brother, Charlie. Do you think that might actually happen?
CHAPPELLE: Man, yes. Honestly, yes, I think that very possibly could happen. We --
(APPLAUSE)
COHEN: That would be awesome.
CHAPPELLE: I've done, like a lot of joyful things in my life, but nothing brings you more joy than talking about that with Eddie Murphy. Like, we called each other and pitched each other sketches in those conversations. I just laughed. He's always been a big hero of mine.
And, you know, hopefully we can work something out so that we could, you know, just shine a light on the world and have some fun. These are dark times, and good comedy really does help kind of cut through the madness and make everybody just feel like family.
COHEN: Yes, absolutely. Hey, Dave, you are -- sorry.
COOPER: No, go ahead.
COHEN: You're such an -- you are so emblematic to the idea of the power of free speech. Tell me tonight, as we look at the 250th anniversary of this country, why you are proud to be an American, and how do you view our country today?
CHAPPELLE: Boy, that's a loaded question. Now I see why Trump gets mad at y'all all the time. Why would you ask me that?
[22:40:01]
All right. No, I got an answer for that. I don't agree with everything that our government does, but the one thing that I really consistently believe in, that I love about being an American, is my countrymen. If I'm overseas or around the world, anytime I see an American over there, we just give each other the fight club look, because we live in a madness that only we really understand what it's all about.
And I have faith in my countrymen, no matter how crazy all of this will make it feel, that the sun will rise, and that I feel like I'm part of a very incredible community. So, God bless my countrymen, and let us make this country absolutely great.
COOPER: Cheers to that.
COHEN: Cheers to that, Dave.
CHAPPELLE: Cheers. Hey, give me a beer, would you? And Mr. Trump, please leave those Haitians in Springfield alone. We love them. We love the Haitians.
COHEN: All right. Dave Chappelle, cheers to you.
(CROSSTALK)
CHAPPELLE: I bring cups now.
COHEN: Thanks for hanging out with us. We love you so much.
COOPER: Wow, you got branded cups. I love it.
CHAPPELLE: I love you guys too, man. Stay well. Happy holiday, you guys. Be safe out there.
COHEN: Thanks, everybody in Ohio. We love you.
COOPER: Thank you very much. We appreciate it.
COHEN: All right. My friend, Bevy Smith, is joining us again from the Essence Festival in New Orleans, and she's got a special guest with her. Bevy.
COOPER: Hey, Bevy.
COHEN: Oh, is it Ms. Sherri?
COOPER: Hey, Bevy, can you hear us? It's Anderson and Andy.
BEVY SMITH, CO-HOST, FASHION QUEENS: No, we can't hear anything.
COHEN: Can you hear us?
COOPER: Ah, okay.
SMITH: No, loud noise, so we can't hear anything. But this is Sherri Shepherd, not Bevy Smith.
COOPER: How's it going there? Tell us how it's going.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, COMEDIAN: It's amazing.
SMITH: Okay. He can't hear me.
SHEPHERD: We're having an amazing time at the Essence Festival at the Superdome. Lotto is up right now.
SMITH: Sorry, guys. She can't hear anything.
COOPER: That's okay.
SMITH: She can't hear me. She can't talk. She can't hear me.
COOPER: We love you guys. I'm glad you're having a good time.
COHEN: We love you.
COOPER: We'll talk to you later.
COHEN: We love Sherri. We love you, Bevy. I love Bevy, and I love Sherri. By the way, Sherri Shepherd, I mean, her show has gone too soon.
COOPER: Yes, I love having Dave Chappelle on. I would love to go see one of his shows.
COHEN: Me too.
COOPER: Yes, we should go.
COHEN: Absolutely.
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: Have you ever a smoker?
COOPER: No. No, no, no.
COHEN: Never.
COOPER: Never.
COHEN: Okay.
COOPER: Yes. My son asked me this question, actually, just recently.
COHEN: Really?
COOPER: Why, a six-year-old? Yes, yes.
COHEN: He said, did you ever smoke?
COOPER: Yes, he was like, did you ever smoke? And I was like, I tried once, and I was like, I coughed, and I felt bad, and I went in the whole thing about how bad it is. I try not to be too obvious about it, but I was like.
COHEN: Yes, yes, yes. By the way, it has turned into a beautiful night in New York City.
COOPER: High highs, low lows.
COHEN: I mean, honestly, you know what? We had to go through that rain --
COOPER: Yes.
COHEN: -- to get to where we are right now.
COOPER: We've been through a lot in this show.
COHEN: There you go. Something blue for Taylor from the Empire State Building. I mean, with all due to the Empire State Building, they dedicated themselves to Taylor and not to America.
COOPER: Well, I'm sure they're dedicating themselves.
COHEN: Okay, well, I mean, I like a little red, white, and blues.
COOPER: Oh, I mean.
COHEN: But anyway, it's great.
COOPER: A special performance from the one and only Elton John is coming up. I'm very excited for that.
COHEN: We'll be right back.
[22:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And welcome back to New York Times Square. I'm having a little pizza.
COHEN: Are you going to offer me a bite or not?
COOPER: Well, if you want.
COHEN: Yes.
COOPER: I mean, there's plenty of it. You can have some of your own. But okay, take mine. That's fine.
Welcome back to New York's Times Square. We are counting down. It is 10.46 p.m. here on the East Coast. Counting down to midnight. Very excited. 250th anniversary.
COHEN: That's what you and I do. We count down to midnight. If you want to hire us to come to your event.
COOPER: We will count down for your corporate event.
COHEN: Yes, yes. Do we do corporate gigs? Yes.
COOPER: I'm not allowed to do corporate.
COHEN: Okay, well, I am. So, if you would like me to count down with a cardboard cutout of the Vanderbilt boy. And we'll just play a little track of him giggling. Anyway, it's time for a real highlight.
COOPER: I am so excited. We have Elton John.
COHEN: We have the greatest stars. An icon, a legend, a hero. It's his iconic performance of Philadelphia Freedom from Dodger Stadium. Courtesy of Disney Plus. Here is Elton John.
[22:50:00]
(ELTON JOHN PERFORMING PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM)
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: Elton John.
COHEN: So good.
COOPER: Nice.
COHEN: Ah, never gets old. Love it.
COOPER: We are counting down to America's 250th birthday. We've got special guests coming up.
Cardi B, Ricki Lake are going to be joining us. A lot ahead. We've got the ball drop at midnight. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
[22:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIANA MADIX, ACTRESS: My favorite place is Kennedy Space Center. I grew up on the space coast and honestly, space travel means so much to me and I can't think of a better place.
SALLY FIELD, ACTRESS: The White House before it was demolished. And if not that, then Yosemite. Yosemite Park in 1965.
CHARLES OAKLEY, BASKETBALL PLAYER: My favorite city is New York City. The fans is great. Food, atmosphere. It's no place like it. So, I'm glad I had a chance to experience the city, New York City. Number one.
EGO NWODIM, ACTRESS: Favorite city is Baltimore. Baltimore, Maryland. It's a beautiful place. It's my hometown. I got to say Baltimore. New York City, close second.
ANTONI POROWSKI, CANADIAN TV HOST: I did a gig for the tourism board of Colonial Williamsburg. And let me tell you, my mind was blown with the information and how educational it was and inspiring and progressive. And I couldn't recommend it more because I had other expectations when I went and I was so pleasantly surprised. And I actually want to plan a trip with my friends to go back.
BETTY GILPIN, ACTRESS: I've been filming in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And you guys got to check out Tulsa. It's a wonderful place. Yes, I love Tulsa.
MICHELLE BUTEAU, COMEDIAN: The five boroughs, okay. For 250 years, people from every continent has been coming here to make a better life. They don't know what it looks like, but they know that they could be it. If you dream it, you could be it. Because New York, what? We have a lot of pressure, but we produce diamonds, honey! New York!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Oh, yes, Michelle Buteau.
COOPER: We love New York.
COHEN: We love you, Michelle Buteau.
COOPER: The Times Square ball drop -- ball will drop eight times, marking midnight in every U.S. time zone.
American 250 chair Rosie Rios is here to tell us more. So congratulations. You've been working on this for many, many years.
COHEN: Summer ball drop. How exciting.
ROSIE RIOS, CHAIR, AMERICA 250: This is exciting. And thank you so much for having me. Look, it's been an eight-year journey on this congressional commission. Four years as chair. We're just so thrilled that we can culminate it here in New York City tonight.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Okay, so you're giving us the opportunity to light the ball.
RIOS: The keys to the castle.
COOPER: Wow.
RIOS: Yes, so wait. Let me give you instructions. Hold on.
COOPER: Don't touch.
RIOS: The ball is right behind us. You only want to touch --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Right, the blue.
RIOS: You only want to touch the purple buttons.
COOPER: So, we're going to change the color of the ball.
RIOS: So, do you what you want to do. But only touch that. You're going to do all kinds of stuff.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Well, then what if I don't want to do purple?
RIOS: No, no.
COOPER: Well, then just do all purple.
COHEN: I'm going to do purple for Madonna's new album and for the next.
RIOS: Oh, good. Okay, what happened? Look, it's the next ball. You did it.
COOPER: Oh, wow. Oh, cool.
RIOS: You did it.
COHEN: Okay.
RIOS: You did it.
COHEN: Okay, here. I'm going to do -- I want to do gold twinkle.
RIOS: All right. Hey.
COOPER: Wow.
COHEN: Hey, go for my gold.
RIOS: It's Taylor Swift's wedding ring.
COHEN: Oh.
COOPER: Okay.
RIOS: That's awesome. COOPER: Okay. All right. I'll do blue with white stars. There we go.
Nice. And let's try RWB2. I don't know what that is. Oh, that's oats. Nice.
RIOS: Amazing. Well, this is obviously the first time in the almost 120-year history of the ball drop that they're doing one specifically to ring in July 4th.
COOPER: Wow.
RIOS: So, for us, I mean, this is an incredible opportunity. What a great way to use this moment to create this movement to launch Giving 4th.
So, if I can just talk about Giving 4th for one second. We are making July 4th a new season of giving. So, most people wouldn't know that a lot of nonprofits get about one-third of their income at the end of the calendar year when most people think about their tax deductions.
COOPER: During summer, a lot of it drops off.
RIOS: So, there's a summer slump.
[22:59:59]
COHEN: Yes.
RIOS: So, we want to make Giving 4th the new summer of giving.
COOPER: So, you're hoping July 4th becomes a giving weekend.
RIOS: Exactly. That's exactly.
COHEN: Yes, that's what she says.
COOPER: Well, I'm just emphasizing that.
RIOS: That's exactly it.
