Anderson Cooper isn’t a fan of rockin’ around a confetti-filled Times Square.
As the journalist prepares for his iconic return to CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live special, he shared his unfiltered thoughts about celebrating the holiday in the city.
“I find New Year’s Eve, especially in New York, to be just a dreadful evening,” Anderson, 58, told Parade in an interview published Dec. 17. “I think the best thing you can do is stay at home and watch stuff on television, because you can’t get an Uber and people are drunk. And it’s often raining and cold. I always wanted to just ignore it and escape it.”
However, the Anderson Cooper 360 anchor has learned to immerse himself in New York’s festive antics. After all, he’s been hosting the annual televised celebration for over two decades, a decision he made to keep himself busy through the holiday.
“I initially did it all by myself because it was just like doing a lot of live shots for CNN,” he explained. “And no one else wanted to work on New Year’s Eve. So I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll work on New Year’s Eve. That’s the perfect solution.’”
After a few years of leading the show solo, Anderson began to share the throne with several celebrities, including his longtime co-host Andy Cohen. And as the duo continue to embrace their lighthearted—and often, hilariously unhinged—chemistry together, he’s gradually started to look forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve.
“I will say this is the bright spot on my calendar,” he admitted. “Andy called me this morning to inform me that ‘I really need to [not] get too involved and leave it up to him,’ which I am more than happy to do.”
Indeed, he and Andy, 57, have leaned on each other when getting through the broadcast. And sometimes, that support involves an unplanned roast session—usually aided by alcohol. During last year’s special, the Bravo host teased Anderson about his sex life after he asked the co-host if he would be intimate with Somebody Somewhere actress Bridget Everett.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Anderson—who came out publicly as gay in 2012—replied to the question, to which Andy said, “You don’t know what it means to make love to a woman? Yeah, you don’t. That has been established on CNN right now.”
Keep reading for a look back at the celebrities who rung in 2025 in a special way…
Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker
The couple appeared to get the party going at Disneyland before sharing a sweet kiss as the clock struck midnight.
Scott Disick & Reign Disick
Meanwhile, Kourtney's ex counted down with their 10-year-old son Reign.
Hailey Bieber
The Rhode Beauty CEO closed out the new year in the best way: with In-N-Out and a dirty martini.
Rihanna
The Fenty Beauty founder kept it casual by counting down the seconds 'til 2025 from home.
Ariana Madix
The Vanderpump Rules star and her boyfriend Daniel Wai shared a smooch at midnight.
Lucy Hale
The Pretty Little Liars alum got cheeky on a boat this New Year's Eve.
Alix Earle
Alix got a head start on her resolutions as she worked up a sweat during the last few moments of 2024.
Scheana Shay
The Vanderpump Rules alum stood alongside friends Lance Bass and Cortney Erin during this year's celebrations.
Jordyn Woods and Karl Anthony Towns
The model and NBA player soaked up some vitamins right before 2025 officially arrived.
Cardi B
The "Money" singer appeared to show off her moves at a club on NYE.
Simone Biles
The Olympic gymnast received her flowers one last time in 2024 from her hubby Jonathan Owens. But there's no doubt that there's much more where that came from in the New Year.
Victoria Justice
The Nickelodeon alum had a low-key celebration at home to welcome the new year.
Kyle Cooke
The Summer House star had one last gym sesh before the end of 2024, and even gave fans a sneak peek into his 2025 goals.
Emmy Rossum
It was a family affair for this Shameless alum as she rang in 2025 with her parents.
Lindsay Lohan
The Our Little Secret actress—who lives in Dubai—had quite the view during the turn of the year.
Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell
The couple welcomed 2025 by dancing the night away in London.
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes
The "Cowboys Cry Too" singer was all smiles with boyfriend Chase Stokes in a snap that looked straight off the shores of the Outer Banks.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
The couple had a very zen end to 2024 as they rang in the new year from Tokyo.
Anya Taylor-Joy
The Queen's Gambit actress proved she had a night to remeber with a snap of her friend circle's muddied shoes.
Sofia Vergara
The Modern Family actress posted a cheeky snap before ringing in 2025.
Alexandra Daddario
Looking forward to what's ahead, the Baywatch actress enjoyed a scenic New Year's Eve abroad.
Dua Lipa
Cheers! The "Houdini" singer looked absolutely magical as she clutched a drink ahead of the new year.