Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are jumping from New Year’s Eve shots to Fourth of July fireworks.
The pair, which has held forth the past several years as hosts of CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage from New York’s Times Square, will now do something similar on July 3. “Independence Eve Live with Anderson & Andy: Celebrating 250” will feature the dithering duo in the Crossroads of the World, counting down until a ball drops to honor the nation’s semi quincentennial.
Cooper and Cohen will interact with a variety of guests, including “celebrated American icons, cultural legends, and inspiring everyday heroes.” In addition, CNN will station correspondents and reporters across the nation, who can spotlight different celebrations.
Cooper has been hosting CNN’s New Year’s Even coverage since 2002, initially doing so as a means of helping viewers find solace on what can for some be a very lonely night. Going out for New Year’s is :”just too much pressure,” he told Variety in 2018. And while other New Year’s Eve shows have concerts and bigger stars, the CNN program “is the little engine that could.”
Before teaming with Cohen, Cooper worked for several years Kathy Griffin.
Under CEO Mark Thompson, CNN has dropped some of the flash and swagger it held in previous years, particularly during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. But Thompson has tried to push CNN as a place for Americans to gather during times of national import. CNN has, for the past two years, for example, tried to serve as a place to celebrate Thanksgiving. In November, anchors John Berman, Sara Sidner and Erica Hill guided viewers through live highlights from Thanksgiving Day parades in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Detroit, with celebrity guests offering a look at their own holiday traditions.
CNN has more plans for July 4th. On that day, CNN will feature more special coverage of unique events Special coverage will begin at noon eastern with Brianna Keilar and Laura Coates anchoring from the nation’s capital. At 6 p.m. that evening, Cooper will co-host with Pamela Brown the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which will feature performances by Lainey Wilson, Chance the Rapper, and Trombone Shorty, and include a large-scale fireworks and drone display.
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