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New Year’s nation Networks share party programming By Isabel Jarvo TV Media I f there is one place to be on New Year’s Eve, it has to be New York City’s Times Square. With all the lights, the music, the crowds and, of course, the lowering of the fa- mous ball at the stroke of mid- night, revellers usher in the newest year with all the pomp and circumstance it deserves. For those who cannot make it all the way to the Big Apple, three major networks are ready to help partiers let loose from the comfort of home. Viewers can join Dick Clark in his annual celebration, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest,” on ABC. At the same time, the peacock network offers “NBC’s New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly.” But it doesn’t all go down in New York. Fox offers a west- ern alternative as Nancy O’Dell hosts “New Year’s Eve Live” from Las Vegas. While Clark might be syn- onymous with New Year’s cel- ebrations, having first hosted his namesake special in 1972, his co-host, Ryan Seacrest, has made a name for himself host- ing another beloved American television institution, “Ameri- can Idol” on Fox. Though they are a few decades apart in age, the hosting duo share a surprisingly similar resume. Both have worked exten- sively in radio broadcasting and television, but the com- We Pay $$$ For Kids Stuff! Children’s Clothing - Newborn to youth size 16 Furniture and Equipment Toys, Books and More! Payment on the spot for all items accepted No appointment Necessary Once Upon a Child 1 x 3” WalMart Plaza on US 33W (behind Steak ‘n Shake) Goshen • 574-830-5332 Open M-F 10-8 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 5936 Grape Road (Indian Ridge near Hacienda) Mishawaka • 574-247-1099 parison runs deeper. Both have been hosts of a long list of specials and award ceremonies, as well as game shows, contests, talk shows and assorted variety series. With such similar back- grounds, it seems only fit- ting that Clark is said to have hand- picked Seacrest to one day replace him as sole host of “Rockin’ Eve” when the living legend finally re- tires. Seacrest joined the spe- cial in 2005, taking on a ma- jority of the hosting duties as Clark was still recovering from a debilitat- ing stroke suf- fered in 2004. This year, they’ve brought in another -- comedian/ac- tress Jenny McCarthy -- to help Seacrest report from Times Square, while Clark will hold down the fort in the ABC studio. As the position has been held mostly by musicians and ac- tors in the past years, McCa- rthy’s co-hosting turn is likely to bring a little addi- tional humor to the par- ty. ”Jenny is a great ad- dition to this year’s show,” said Larry Klein, produc- er of the specials. “She is funny, re- latable and high energy, and she will be great with our New Year’s crowd, Ryan and Dick.” Seacrest has Carson Daly will host NBC’s New Year’s Eve party also vocalized his support, saying: “I was reminded how great Jenny is at live broadcasting when she recently stopped by my radio show. That day, with Dick’s blessing, I invited her to join us in Times Square.” The event will com- prise the usual live performances from New York as well as taped ones from Los Angeles and will contin- ue well into the early hours with a post ball- drop party, which will Payroll Processing • Direct Deposit • Free Delivery • Professional, Yet Competitively Priced Lucks & Weaver 2 x 3” Please Visit One Of Our Convenient Locations: 157 S. Main St. • Nappanee, IN 46550 • p. 574.773.4611 719 E. Bristol St. • Elkhart, IN 46514 • p. 574.264.0395 204 W. Lincoln • Goshen, IN 46526 • p. 574.534.7325 905 S. Huntington • Syracuse, IN 46567 • p. 574.457.4226 feature additional musical acts to keep the night going. Also reporting from The City That Never Sleeps is late-night funnyman Carson Daly. First hitting the air as a host of MTV’s teen hit “Total Request Live,” Daly has been hosting his late-night talk show, “Last Call With Carson Daly,” on NBC since 2002. His New Year’s spe- cial has been airing since 2003. Daly’s special had the dubi- ous honor of being caught in a television political crossfire this past year. When Conan O’Brien took over for Jay Leno to host “The Tonight Show,” the network included a clause in O’Brien’s contract allowing them to shift “The Tonight Show” to 12:05 a.m. to accom- modate “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly.” Eventually, NBC tried to make this change per- manent, effectively shoving the host out of the way to make room for Leno’s newest nightly venture, “The Jay Leno Show.” As we all know, that didn’t turn out so well. While Daly, Seacrest and McCarthy will be shivering in New York’s biting winter, veter- an host Nancy O’Dell will be enjoying the dry desert heat of Nevada. ”I am so excited to ring in New Year’s Eve from Las Vegas on Fox,” said O’Dell. “This ex- perience will be an anomaly of sorts for me. For more than 10 years I’ve missed the count- down to midnight because I’ve had to be up so early on New Year’s Day to host a parade. So I am beyond happy to see 2011 come in and to celebrate with the nation. You’re going to see a very enthusiastic host.” O’Dell will be broadcasting from the lush Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, which will give Fox’s New Year’s Eve show a beach party feel that could make the New Yorkers a little envious. It’s been the location of Fox’s show since it moved it out west in 2008 to better doc- ument the burgeoning festivi- ties on the famed Las Vegas Strip, which have been giving those in Times Square a run for their money. However, Fox will of course also show coverage of the antics in Times Square, posting a correspondent there to count in the new year. 2 The Goshen News • Viewer’s Choice • Saturday, December 25, 2010 - Friday, December 31, 2010 Laughs Late Conan: Conan O’Brien According to WikiLeaks documents, U.S. officials think Afghan leader Hamid Karzai is “paranoid and weak.” When reached for comment, Karzai said: “I was afraid of this, but I guess there’s nothing I can do.” The government is trying to get a handle on spending. The Federal Deficit Commission is proposing this: raising the retirement age to 69. In other words, they want Brett Favre to play two more years. Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband is threatening to release a sex tape that is 21 hours long. Even stranger: the entire thing is narrated by Morgan Freeman. The Tonight Show: Jay Leno They say there are more than 300 sextillion stars in the universe. And yet they still couldn’t find one to be on “Skating With the Stars”! For the fourth year in a row, New York’s LaGuardia Airport was voted the nation’s worst airport. It is so undermanned, passengers have to fondle themselves. The head of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has gone into hiding. They say he’s some place all alone where no one can find him. In fact, officials believe he may be hiding in a theatre showing “Burlesque.” President Obama received 12 stitches in his lip after being elbowed in the mouth during a basketball game. Out of force of habit, he blamed George Bush. The annual “Christmas Village” in Philadelphia has been renamed the “Holiday Village.” In fact, they’re not Santa’s reindeer anymore, they’re now “non- denominational venison.” Live: Jimmy Kimmel This week, we had the biggest Cyber Monday ever. This is partly because Cyber Monday was only invented two years ago. Tiki Tan 2 x 1”

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