Cheers to a good year!
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen broke out the booze on CNN’s New Year’s Eve show after the network imposed a ban on drinking alcohol last year.
Cooper, host of “Anderson Cooper 360°,” and “Watch What Happens Live” host Cohen, made sure to be on their best behavior when they both downed shots of tequila while on air.
The topic surrounding CNN’s alcohol restriction was brought up within minutes after going live from Times Square at 8 p.m., when Cohen, 55, asked Cooper, “Does daddy get his juice?”
“Speaking of traditions, it’s the top of the hour. We’ve been here for seven years doing this, and for most of those years, well, at the top of the hour we typically have a toast,” Cohen goes. “And I feel that I’m hearing from a lot of people, and I guess I’m just wondering, does daddy get his juice?”
“Can daddy get his juice responsibly?” Cooper says back, to which Cohen goes, “Of course! Always.”
Cooper, however, broke the news to Cohen that he didn’t come to the annual hosting gig equipped with any alcohol.
Cohen quickly picked up a large yellow tote bag to unveil a giant bottle of tequila.
“Anderson, this is why I’m a really good partner to you. I got it! We’re doing this!” Cohen says while pouring him and Cooper glass shots of tequila.
“Anderson love you so much, thank you for having me, cheers everybody, happy new year, here we go,” Cohen says to his co-host before they down a shot of tequila together.
After the hosts shared their shots for the New Year, Cooper made a face in disgust from the liquor taste, as he looked back at a smiling Cohen when handing him his glass.
“Woo, I feel loosened up already!” Cohen said.
A clampdown on booze was enforced when CNN’s CEO Chris Licht ordered staffers that on-air talent would be prohibited from drinking on the show when the ball dropped on Dec. 31.
Licht discussed the ban at a town hall meeting earlier last year, stating that drinking on the show ruined CNN’s credibility in the eyes of viewers, according to a Variety report.
The move came after Cohen outright blasted then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during last year’s CNN New Year’s Eve special, blasting the pol as a “horrible mayor” in a send-off message.
“The only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been. So, sayonara sucker!” Cohen said, needing to be held back by Cooper.
Cohen had begged for CNN to allow him to drink during the broadcast.
“That didn’t go well last year in terms of viewer happiness about us drinking. People really cared and I hope CNN gives the people what they want,” he said in November.
Cohen and Cooper have hosted “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” show since 2017.