CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen Takes Shots During New Year’s Eve Coverage … It’s Not Alcohol

CNN’s Anderson Cooper Andy Cohen and Andy Cohen welcomed the new year on the network with shots of non-alcoholic substances.

In November, Chris Licht, CEO of CNN and chairman of the company town hall, addressed the audience. informed staff that he would put a stop to much of the drinking that has usually been a hallmark of CNN’s New Year’s Eve programming.

It was thought that Anderson Cooper would allow hosts to continue drinking, but that anchors and correspondents would be restricted from drinking during broadcasts.

However, Cohen exclaimed during live television coverage, “We can’t drink!”

Cohen stated that he always had edibles in his pocket. “Will I take them? I don’t think so,” He stated. “I don’t know. It’s a long night. This is a telethon with no disease. Do you understand? We’re here all night! Passing time!”

Cohen and Cooper instead drank shots of nonalcoholic substances.

“What we are doing is we are taking a mystery shot!” Cohen said.

They had shots of buttermilk and pickle juice, Mediaite reported.

WATCH:

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen of CNN kept the New Years Eve mystery shots alive with a new drink, buttermilk https://t.co/5MxpKEO1Mh pic.twitter.com/cBYLkgUP7o

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 1, 2023

This year will be the first New Year’s Eve show overseen by Licht since he took over the network in February. During the meeting, Licht reportedly told staffers that drinking on-air eroded the presenters’ credibility and “respectability.”

Last year, there was a lot of controversy over Lemon and Cohen’s alcohol-fueled rants during the broadcast. First, Lemon ranted Alisyn Camerota, comedian, and Dulce Slovan discuss the criticisms they receive. “I don’t give a — what you think about me, what do you think about that?” Lemon. “I’m a grown-a** man. I don’t care what you think about me.”

“I am who I am,” Continued Lemon “I’m a grown, successful black man who a lot of people hate because they’re not used to people seeing me — and people like me — in the position that I am. To be able to share what I … my point of view on television, it freaks people out. And you know what? You can kiss my behind. I do not care. I don’t care. I really don’t care. I have one life, and this is who I am, and I feel very, um … blessed and honored to be in this position to be able to do this. So all the hate I get? It’s motivation to me. Bring it. I don’t care.”

Then Cohen fired a shot at ABC’s annual New Year’s Eve program, which could be seen from the CNN broadcast. “If you look behind me, you’ll see Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing,” Cohen said. “I’m sorry, but if you’re watching ABC, you’re watching nothing.”

John Rigolizzo contributed this report.