Ryan Seacrest and Andy Cohen have been at odds for a long time because they both host popular New Year’s Eve specials on different networks. The rivalry heated up this year when Cohen was accused by Seacrest of not waving to him during the broadcasts.
According to Seacrest, Cohen ignored him while filming the show on New Year’s Eve. But Cohen’s story is different.
On Wednesday’s radio show Radio Andy, Cohen explained that he simply “didn’t see him” and urged CNN co-host Anderson Cooper to support him. I confirmed that I was really busy and couldn’t wave my hand at Seacrest even though I wanted to.
“[Seacrest] said on the show that you very politely turned around and waved to him and mouthed to him, ‘Have a good show,'” Cohen shared with Cooper on the show. “And that I didn’t turn around.”
Cooper, who waved to Seacrest, explained that he “just happened to turn” at the right moment and saw him.
“There were a couple times I looked to see if he was around, and I hadn’t seen him,” he stated. “And then there was one time I just turned, and he was there over by where they, you know, do that hourly-like countdown.”
Despite the drama, the burgeoning controversy was nothing short of a hoot. Cohen and Seacrest have a history of friendly rivalry, and have even appeared on each other’s shows.
You can tell that the two men have a lot of respect for each other, even though they sometimes playfully tease each other.
In the end, the dispute has been put to rest and Cohen, and Seacrest can go back to focusing on their successful careers and exciting New Year’s Eve specials.
What It Meant
The stage was next to CNN’s New Year’s Live in Times Square, and Seacrest, the host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC, explained that he was trying to get Cohen’s attention when he wasn’t working.
However, Cohen insists that he missed the interaction because he was “dealing with the show.”
His CNN co-anchor Anderson Cooper backed him up, saying that the moment passed by quickly and it wasn’t a big deal. Cooper added that he assumed Cohen had already waved to Seacrest earlier, and he was catching up.
Despite the controversy, the waving incident was a misunderstanding.
Both Cohen and Seacrest have a history of friendly competition and have even appeared on each other’s shows. It’s clear that the two men have a lot of respect for each other, even if they do sometimes playfully poke fun at each other.
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Riff
Seacrest’s co-host Kelly Ripa has clarified that Cohen was “trying to get your attention,” but the two just didn’t link up during their respective holiday broadcasts on New Year’s Eve.
Seacrest, who hosts Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC, joked about the incident on Live with Kelly and Ryan, saying that he was trying to get Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s attention by waving and saying, “It’s me! Guys, it’s me! Put me in your shot! Put me in your background!”
This isn’t the first time that Seacrest and Cohen have had a New Year’s Eve squabble. Back in 2021, a drunken Cohen famously slammed Seacrest and ABC’s broadcast during New Year’s Live, for which he later apologized.
Seacrest seemingly referenced this incident in an interview with EW last month, saying that he doesn’t “advocate drinking when one is on the air.”
“I don’t know how that started as a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN,” he stated. “There’s some pretty respectable people or at least one, right? I think there’s a serious journalist and then a friend of mine who has a lot of fun, but it’s probably a good idea.”
Hosting Gigs
Seacrest is a well-known television and radio host, as well as a producer and entrepreneur.
He is perhaps best known for hosting American Idol, a singing competition show that aired on Fox for 15 seasons. Seacrest has also hosted various other television shows, such as E! News, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
On New Year’s Eve, Seacrest will be hosting “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest,” an annual televised special that counts down to the new year.
The special will feature performances by various musicians, and this year it will also be celebrating the 100th anniversary at The Walt Disney Company with a special segment hosted by Ciara in Disneyland.
Other hosts for the special include Billy Porter, who will be hosting the Central Standard Time countdown from New Orleans, and Roselyn Sanchez, who will host the Spanish language countdown from Puerto Rico.
D-Nice will also be hosting an L.A. party with performances from several artists.
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Seacrest New Year Show
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest is a popular annual television special that counts down to the new year. The show has been airing since 1972, and it has continued to grow and evolve over the years.
In addition to the traditional ball drop in New York’s Times Square, the show now also includes ball drops in other locations around the country, such as Anaheim, California, and New Orleans.
This year’s show will feature a variety of hosts and performers, including Ryan Seacrest, who will be hosting from Times Square, Ciara, who will be hosting from Disneyland, and Billy Porter, who will be hosting the Central Standard Time countdown from New Orleans.
The show will also feature performances by artists such as Duran Duran, New Edition, J-hope, Jax, Fitz and the Tantrums, Maddie & Tae, Shaggy, Ben Platt, Aly & AJ, Halle Bailey, Tomorrow x Together, Bailey Zimmerman, and Lauren Spencer Smith.
The show will be a long one, lasting for over five hours, and it is sure to be an exciting celebration of the new year.
Photo: Chicago Tribune
