Ryan Seacrest Applauds CNN’s Decision to Scale Back on On-Air New Year’s Eve Drinking After Andy Cohen Diss

Ryan Seacrest supports CNN’s decision to have a little less lit New Year’s Eve celebration. The Live with Kelly and Ryan host is set to make his return on Saturday as the host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest and is all for his competitors keeping their drinks to a minimum.  

“I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air,” the 48-year-old TV personality told Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t know how that started as a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN. 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. Although the viewers probably wish they would drink more.”

CNN’s New Year’s Eve celebration will see Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper return as the two lead hosts for the New York City broadcast. During last year’s broadcast, Cohen was a little over served, and took a jab at Seacrest during the live event. In November, Variety reported that while the network will allow the hosts to drink, the amount of drinking on camera will be limited.  

Seacrest said that he is taking the moment all in stride.  

“I think they had something to say about my show at one point, which was I’m sure from the alcohol because, I don’t think they would say what they said about our performers if they weren’t drinking,” he said about Cohen’s comments about the ABC broadcast. 

“But, you know, I think our show’s a bigger, broader show and we will not drink until 1:05 in the morning. Although, I might send them some Casa Dragones Tequila just to tempt them while they’re on the air,” he joked.