Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen’s Times Square countdown to America250 will come with a seasonal adjustment.
The longtime CNN New Year’s Eve hosts are set to reunite July 3 for Independence Eve Live with Anderson & Andy: Celebrating 250, a new special counting down to America’s 250th birthday from Times Square. And according to a new interview with People, their usual tequila shots will be replaced by something a bit more Independence Eve-appropriate.
“What do you think is the most American drink there is?” Cohen told the magazine. “Beer. We will be drinking beer. All night long.”
The special, which airs live on CNN from 8 p.m. ET through 12:30 a.m. ET, will feature a midnight ball drop in Times Square—effectively giving Cooper and Cohen a summer edition of the countdown act they’ve turned into one of CNN’s most durable late-night franchises.
That franchise has also been gaining ratings momentum. This past New Year’s Eve, ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest still dominated the field, averaging 19.5 million viewers in the 11:30 p.m. ET hour and peaking at 30.25 million viewers at midnight, according to Nielsen Live+Same Day ratings. But CNN’s final hour of New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen grew 33% in total viewers and 61% in the demo, moving into second place among adults 18–49.
The July 3 special gives CNN a chance to extend that New Year’s Eve formula beyond December 31. Cohen told People the broadcast will be “in the spirit of New Year’s Eve,” while also celebrating “the best of America.”
There will be some obvious differences. No puffy coats, for one. And at least as of People’s interview, neither Cooper nor Cohen seemed entirely sure what Times Square’s summer ball drop would look like.
“We’re excited to see it,” Cohen said.
Cooper also suggested that Cohen is taking the lead when it comes to the special’s pop-culture elements.
“Andy doesn’t allow me in the meetings anymore because I really don’t contribute much to them, because I don’t know any of the pop culture references that he’s referring to,” Cooper joked.
Independence Eve Live with Anderson & Andy: Celebrating 250 airs Friday, July 3, from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET on CNN.
