What to watch on New Year's Eve

Countdown to 2012 with these NYE TV specials

By Kelly Kawata

Metromix
December 22, 2011

What to watch on New Year's Eve
(Credit: ABC/BOB D'AMICO )

The hottest celebrities and performers hit major networks this year to say "adios" to 2011 as we rock in the new year. Who has time to care about the apocalypse as we go Gaga with Bieber fever?

Check out these NYE specials as we cheers to the end of the world and get ready for another year of failed resolutions.


"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest"
Saturday, December 31, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC

Share in the American tradition of Dick Clark's countdown to midnight from Times Square as he hosts his annual NYE special with "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest. The duo join Jenny McCarthy and Fergie from Black Eyed Peas in a bi-coastal celebration from NY to LA. Los Angeles kicks off a party with performances by Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, The Band Perry, LMFAO Nicki Minaj and many more.


MTV's "NYE in NYC"
Saturday, December 31 at 11 p.m. ET on MTV

MTV answered our resolution from last year to never watch Snooki get dropped in a ball again with this year's special "NYE in NYC." Hosted by hairy-man Tyler Posey from "Teen Wolf" and singer Demi Lovato, the festivities include performances by Selena Gomez, J Cole, Jason Derulo, Mac Miller and Demi Lovato herself. Special appearances by Vanessa Marano and Katie LeClerc from the ABC Family series "Switched at Birth" hit up the dance party as votes for favorite song of 2011 tally up to an in-show surprise.

NBC's "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly"
Saturday, December 31 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC

Carson Daly hosts his New Year's Eve special from Times Square with a show that features segments from Jimmy Fallon ("Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"), Brian Williams' (NBC News) music review of 2011, the top five "game-changers" of 2011 and best wishes from NBC stars like Ricky Gervais. It's not NYE without performances and appearances by Drake, Jessie J, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, Megan Hilty ("Smash"), The Roots and Tony Bennett.


"The Twilight Zone" marathon
Saturday, December 31, at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Syfy

Syfy steps into "The Twilight Zone" for a marathon of episodes counting down to the new year. As you get comfortable with the TV for the next 12 hours or so, you might as well vote on your favorite episodes and watch the top 40 starting on December 31st as the number one airs right before midnight. Check out familiar faces like Robert Redford, William Shatner, Burt Reynolds, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper, Carol Burnett and several more before they became iconic movie stars.

What other people are saying...

ACam - January 3, 2012 at 11:40 AM

What do you think of his assistant/replacement Ryan Seacrest, gitsandshiggles?

Report This Comment
No_profile_photo

gitsandshiggles - January 1, 2012 at 8:19 AM

Now I love Dick Clark and am as nostalgic as anybody around but PLEASE retire him!!! It was pitiful trying to listen to him last night. They prop...

More...

Report This Comment

Add a comment

Please log in to comment

PHOTO GALLERY

Top 10 most unforgettable stories of 2011

Top 10 most unforgettable stories of 2011

A year's worth of Bieber babies, Kardashian weddings and...

PHOTO GALLERY

'NY Ink' photos

'NY Ink' photos

TLC gets tatted up in 'NY Ink'

PHOTO GALLERY

Week in TV

Week in TV

'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest'...

RELATED LINKS

More on Metromix.com