CNN misses midnight deadline for New Year's Eve broadcast 

Despite banning booze during the last broadcast of the year, CNN missed the New Year’s Eve live countdown in Central Time Zone in New Orleans, sparking a backlash from viewers. 

Instead of announcing the new year, the network showed host Don Lemon and revelers in New Orleans dancing to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up.”

During the broadcasting, Lemon can be seen noticing the time and throwing beads to the public. However, the song continued and the network changed to a split-screen image of fireworks in Nashville. 

Regardless of the reason, to the crowd in New Orleans, the new year remained unannounced and no toasts to ring in the new year were made. 

CNN has redeemed itself by ringing in the new year in New Orleans with "Back That Azz Up" and not acknowledging the stroke of midnight in any way pic.twitter.com/tieCeHc4sA

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 1, 2023

Disgruntled viewers took to social media to voice their complaints about the broadcast. 

Don Lemon had us joyfully shaking ass to Juvenile and accidentally missed the countdown in New Orleans 💀 #CNNNYE

— Brianna Tucker (@BriannaATucker) January 1, 2023

Don Lemon is holding two microphones on the CNN New Orleans confused New Year’s Eve special, minutes after they missed the countdown to midnight because they were playing “Back That Azz Up” pic.twitter.com/DTkDLFFXdf

— END CASH BAIL ABOLISH PRISONS (@MilfParade) January 1, 2023

Some believe that the broadcast might have had technical issues that prevented Lemon from hearing his producers. 

We got to see exactly what happens when a reporter’s IFB (audio connection to producer) goes out.@donlemon complained about it since at least 11:30, but nothing was done.

Then he missed the countdown to midnight from producers in his ear.#NewYear2023 #BringBackDrunkDon https://t.co/DzkvhGfSxv

— C.J. LeMaster (@CJLeMaster) January 1, 2023

In November, CNN’s new chairman and CEO Chris Lich announced that he would be prohibiting correspondents and anchors from drinking during the New Year’s Eve broadcast. For many viewers who enjoy watching hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen get progressively drunk throughout the evening, the news came as a major letdown. 

The decision to ban drinking on-air comes after Cohen went off on rants about former mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio and Ryan Seacrest during last year’s coverage.