Don Lemon Left Disappointed After New Year's Eve Debut Falls Short of Expectations, CNN Looking To Dump Andy Cohen

While the Ryan Seacrest-hosted Dick Clark New Years Rockin' Eve continues to dominate in regards to annual television viewership (the show garnered 18.8 million viewers during its key 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. time slot according to Nielsen ratings — up from last year‘s 17.9 million viewers), things aren't looking good for Don Lemon.

via: Rob Shuter's Substack

Don Lemon went into New Year’s Eve believing this was his comeback moment — a chance to prove he could take on the big boys without a network behind him. Instead, insiders say the night ended with quiet disappointment.

Broadcast live from New Orleans, Lemon’s independent YouTube livestream drew roughly 320,000 viewers. While respectable for a first-year digital effort, it fell far short of what Lemon privately expected after years at the center of cable news’ biggest night.

“Don really thought this was his moment,” a source close to the host tells me. “He believed he was going head-to-head with the majors — and that didn’t happen.”

Freed from CNN’s structure, Lemon leaned into a looser, anything-goes style, openly drinking on air and reminding viewers that he believed he helped invent the boozy New Year’s Eve format. But without the machinery of a major network, the broadcast lacked the scale and momentum he was used to.

“He underestimated how much the platform matters,” a media executive explains. “You don’t realize what CNN gives you until it’s gone.”

The contrast was unavoidable. Last year Ryan Seacrest once again dominated the night with more than 20 million viewers, while CNN’s official New Year’s Eve coverage averaged about 3.7 million — even without Lemon.

Insiders say the realization hit hard.

“This wasn’t supposed to be a soft launch,” another source says. “Don thought he’d shake things up.”

Publicly, Lemon insisted he was having the time of his life, telling viewers “no one is having more f—ing fun than us.” Privately, sources say the numbers told a different story.

“He wanted to prove he didn’t need CNN,” a television insider says. “What he learned is that going solo is a lot harder.”

For Lemon, New Year’s Eve wasn’t a victory lap — it was a reality check.

In other NYE news, while viewers may enjoy watching Andy Cohen's wild antics alongside Anderson Cooper for CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast, insiders claim network executives are considering ditching the Bravo star due to his "embarrassing" behavior.

Andy Cohen’s days as CNN’s New Year’s Eve wild card may finally be over. Multiple insiders tell me the network is quietly preparing to move on, after years of growing frustration with his on-air behavior.

Sources inside CNN’s Hudson Yards headquarters say staffers have long been uncomfortable with Cohen’s Bravo-style antics clashing with a news organization eager to restore credibility.

“This is CNN, not Bravo,” one insider says bluntly. “What works on reality TV doesn’t belong on a serious news network.”

The breaking point came during CNN’s latest New Year’s Eve broadcast, when Cohen launched into a profanity-laced, alcohol-fueled rant targeting outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams — forcing co-host Anderson Cooper and guest BJ Novak to visibly intervene on live television.

“That moment changed everything,” a network source tells me. “Staff were mortified. The secondhand embarrassment was real.”

Insiders say the incident capped years of internal complaints involving excessive drinking, political rants, and unpredictable behavior.

“The optics are terrible,” another source says. “Andy adds no value to a brand that wants to be respected.”

The timing couldn’t be worse. CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is under financial pressure, prompting heightened scrutiny of all on-air talent.

“When a company is considering restructuring, you don’t keep liabilities,” a media executive explains. “You clean house.”

Even Cooper is said to be distancing himself.

“Anderson is a journalist,” a source notes. “He doesn’t want to babysit someone slurring through political rants.”

While CNN has made no public announcement yet, insiders insist Cohen will not return next New Year’s Eve.

“The conversation has already happened,” one source says. “He won’t be back. Enough is enough.”

Inside CNN, the mood is clear.

“It’s embarrassing,” an insider says. “And CNN is done being embarrassed.”