Cooper, Griffin Again On Board For CNN New Year's Eve

Lance Bass joins CNN Anchor, comedian for special

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/17/2009 4:59:26 PM

Anderson Cooper and comedian Kathy Griffin will host CNN's New Year's Eve program, New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin Dec. 31. The two will host the festivities from New York City's Times Square.

Griffin first came on board as co-host in 2008, drawing attention for her off-the-cuff style and not always child-friendly remarks.

For 2009, the network is also adding entertainer Lance Bass, who will be reporting from the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In addition, Poppy Harlow and Don Lemon will be in the crowd at Times Square interviewing attendees.  Gary Tuchman will be in Central Park for the annual midnight run, Ed Henry will report from Honolulu, Hawaii and John Zarrella from Key West, Fla.

The special will run from 11p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET and will be simulcast on CNN International.

Leading up to the New Year's Eve Live will be a special edition of Anderson Cooper 360, dubbed "All the Best, All the Worst of 2009."

Correspondent Tom Foreman will host a panel consisting of colleague Jack Gray, HLN host Joy Behar, Ben Stein, MTV's Sway Calloway, The Daily Beast's Tina Brown, Time Magazine columnist Joel Stein, comedian Margaret Cho and conservative strategist Leslei Sanchez.