What to Watch on New Year's Eve: Television Viewing Guide

Millions of Americans will be ringing in the new year with parties and celebrations. Millions more will be at home under the covers watching on tv. If you're part of the latter group, what should you watch on New Year's Eve?

Here are the best television viewing options for New Year's 2010. Schedules are subject to change and times are EST.

New Year's Eve television specials:

10 pm: Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest, ABC

God bless Dick Clark. He's still hanging in there and his New Year's television special is usually the event to watch if you're in front of your tv on New Year's Eve. Dick will make an appearance, but he's now passed the baton to Ryan Seacrest, who will watch the ball drop in New York City. Fergie also appears from Las Vegas. Dick Clark's special traditionally features a number of live performances, though many have been lip-synched in the past. Hopefully that's not the case this year!

10 pm: New Year's Eve with Carson Daly, NBC

Carson Daly brings in the big names for his tv special - Green Day and Rihanna will perform during this broadcast. Though he tapes his talk show in Los Angeles, Daly will host this special from New York City. This is Daly's six annual New Year's Eve special for NBC. Who knew?

11 pm: New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin, CNN

For the last two years, newsman Anderson Cooper and his comedic sidekick Kathy Griffin have anchored CNN's New Year's Eve coverage. Cooper and Griffin have displayed great chemistry and have scored massive ratings for their entertaining commentary on the year's events and the goings-on in Times Square.

Last year, Griffin created a minor stir when she used an obscenity live on the air, thinking the tv show had gone to commercial break. Griffin recently told George Lopez that CNN agreed to bring her back only on the condition that she not swear, and that if she does, she has to write a check to CNN on the spot to pay back her entire salary for the evening.

Watch CNN starting at 11 pm to see if Griffin can keep things clean.

11 pm: New Year's Eve Live, FOX

Fox's New Year's television special takes place in Las Vegas and is hosted by Carmen Electra. Sean Kingston and American Idol's Kris Allen will perform. Fox is all about the babes - Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian will also make appearances.

Highlights from past Billboard Music Awards are also slated to be shown. If watching clips of award show performances from 5 years ago is your thing, tune in. Otherwise, tune out.

11 pm: 106 & Party, BET

MTV doesn't have a live Times Square New Year's tv event anymore, so why not flip over to BET? 106 & Party is a variation on their daily 106 & Park countdown show. Few details are available as of this writing, but if last year's show is any indication, you can expect lots of hip hop stars to appear on the broadcast.

What to watch on New Year's Eve: Television guide - Summary

If you're staying in and want to watch a New Year's Eve celebration on television, these are your best bets. Chances are most Americans will be watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve or the CNN broadcast.

Sources:

Tvguide.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTIox8NRtGw