New Year's Eve. A time to shed the dead skin of the past twelve months and prepare for what lies ahead. Hope, fear, excitement, anxiety – so many emotions come together with the random transition from one year to the next that, at least for one night, it's probably better to just sit in front of a television set and watch celebrities make fun of themselves while a giant ball covered in crystals and lights slowly descends from a flagpole of a skyscraper in New York City.
If you're looking for something to take your mind off 2024 or just want some background noise at your New Year's Eve party, here are a few options:
TIMES SQUARE New Year's Eve 2024 WEBCAST
Where to watch: VimeoYouTube(subtitles, ASL interpretation)
When: 6:00 PM ET
What it is: Hosted by Jonathan Bennett (who played Mean girls love interest Aaron Samuels) and Jeremy Hassell (a professional NYE host for the past decade), Times Square's official New Year's Eve webcast will apparently be commercial-free and full of interviews and all kinds of behind-the-scenes antics.
The show will also be shown only once The Simpsons guest star Paul Anka (who provides the traditional reprise of John Lennon's “Imagine” just before midnight) and rapper Flo Rida, a “Chinese cultural performance” by the Sino-American Friendship Association, performances by Ali Krieger, Kelley O'Hara and Midge Purce from this year's National Women's Soccer League champion NJ/NY Gotham FC, and some sort of post-ball drop surprise at 12:04 PM ET on January 1.
Where to watch: CBS, Paramount+
When: 7:30 PM ET
What it is: If you prefer personalities and musicians pretending to be cowboys, CBS has a show dedicated to the annual Central Time Zone-centric Music Note Drop in Nashville, Tennessee. But don't worry if you don't want to give up the East Coast entirely, because the Big Bash will also regularly check in with the party in New York City.
The show's official program features more than 50 artists, including Trace Adkins, Grace Bowers, Kane Brown, Jackson Dean, HARDY, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton, Trombone Shorty , Morgan Wallen, Bailey Zimmerman, Old Dominion, King, Thomas Rhett, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Lainey Wilson.
DICK CLARK'S ROCKIN' EVE FOR NEW YEARS WITH RYAN SEACREST
Where to watch: ABC, ABC.com, ABC Apps
When: 8:00 PM ET
What it is: Dick Clark passed away over a decade ago, but the beloved television personality's live New Year's Eve celebration, founded in 1972, is still going strong in the capable hands of Ryan Seacrest, host of the festivities since 2006. Seacrest's co-hosts this year include Rita Ora, Jeannie Mai and Dayanara Torres.
The prestige bestowed by the show's namesake has historically produced a packed lineup of talent, and 2023 is no exception. Tune in to performances from Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, NewJeans, Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla, Aqua, Bebe Rexha, Coco Jones, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Loud Luxury, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & Chic , Paul Russell, Reneé Rapp, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Two Friends and Ivy Queen.
New Year's Eve LIVE WITH ANDERSON COOPER AND ANDY COHEN
Where to watch: CNN, Max
When: 8:00 PM ET
What it is: CNN host Anderson Cooper and Bravo reality TV godfather Andy Cohen return for their seventh straight year as hosts of Live (and sometimes messy) coverage of New Year's Eve.
“There's no one I'd rather spend New Year's Eve with and nowhere I'd rather be at midnight than New York's Times Square!” Cooper said in a CNN press release, lying through his perfect teeth.
Rather than remain tied to New York City, CNN's broadcast will also report from correspondents based in the Bahamas; Key West, FL; Cruces, New Mexico; and Miami, Florida.
Enrique Iglesias, Maroon 5, the Jonas Brothers, Flo Rida, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, and Rod Stewart will hold the fort when it comes to musical performances, supported by interviews with Patti Labelle, Jeremy Renner, Neil Patrick Harris, Bowan Yang, and Matt Rogers, as well as a special appearance by magician David Blaine.
NINJA NYE
Where to watch: Nervous twitch, YouTube, TikTok
When: 8:30 PM ET
What it is: After an embarrassing attempt at mainstream cultural relevance performing Fortnite dancing to an unamused and rain-soaked Times Square audience in 2018, Ninja leaves the oldies behind with a New Year's Eve stream marketed squarely to the Zoomer-filled audiences of Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.
“Throw away your TV and come hang out with us!” is on the Ninja NYE website. “It'll be more fun…we promise.”
The live show, loudly sponsored by Domino's Pizza, will feature Ninja and other Twitch personalities such as TimTheTatman, SypherPK, DrLupo, BasicIDoWrk and LEGIQN. Fortnite, Unopong, marbles and more among each other and with viewers.
Expect a lot of overreactions to everyday events and giveaways.
¡FELIZ 2024!
Where to watch: Univision, ViX
When: 10pm ET
What it is: If the name and network don't give it away: ¡Feliz 2024! is a New Year's Eve broadcast hosted by Univision, the largest Spanish-language television network in the United States.
Like other year-end shows, Univision will cover not only New York City, but also parties in Los Angeles, California; Miami, FL; and also Mexico.
Musical performances include María Becerra, Yng Lvcas, Christian Nodal, Gente de Zona, Guaynaa, Anuel, Becky G, Carin León, Gerardo Ortiz, Pepe Aguilar and Peso Pluma.