I well recall those days when I used to think being stuck at home on New Year's Eve meant I was some sort of antisocial pariah. I'm much older now and think it's simply prudent.
No need to venture out with the crazies. TV is celebrating for us and we can relax in the den until we fall asleep in the recliner. Be sure to set the alarm for midnight so you can welcome in the new year before heading off to bed.
Let's start with the perennial New Year's Eve standby. Dick Clark may have left us five years ago, but his name lives on in one of the longest titles of any recurring program on television.
Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2018 kicks off at 7 p.m. today on ABC. Part 1 runs until 9. Part 2 airs from 9-10 p.m. with more of the same.
Following a break for local news and programming, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2018 takes over from 11:30 p.m. to 1:09 a.m. Note the big title difference -- the word primetime has been dropped from the late-night stuff. That's Part 1. Part 2 runs from 1-2:13 a.m.
As usual, Seacrest will have help for the tri-coastal celebration. Jenny McCarthy will be on hand for sideline reporting in New York, while actress/singer Ciara takes care of hosting duties in Los Angeles.
From the Gulf Coast, Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) will handle the second annual central time zone countdown in New Orleans and the fleur-de-lis drop near Jackson Square.
Among those scheduled to perform are Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Alessia Cara, Hailee Steinfeld, Zedd, G-Eazy, Bebe Rexha, Alesso and watt.
Others appearing include Kane Brown, BTS, Kelly Clarkson, Fitz and The Tantrums, Khalid, Marshmello, Shawn Mendes and Charlie Puth and Portugal. The Man. (Note that Portugal. The Man is a rock band from Wasilla, Alaska.)
Don't feel too geezerish for not knowing who all these folks are. I only knew four of the acts and had to look up the rest. I suppose Fitz and The Tantrums is no more wacky than ? and The Mysterians.
It's all in keeping with Clark's intent when he created New Year's Rockin' Eve.
In the beginning (the first two years were on NBC), Clark envisioned the show as a younger, hipper alternative to CBS' long-running and popular broadcasts of Guy Lombardo's big band New Year's Eve specials from New York's Waldorf Astoria.
I doubt many fans of Lombardo and the Royal Canadians knew what a Three Dog Night was in 1973. The rock group hosted Clark's first show while he reported from Times Square. Musical guests included Blood, Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy and Al Green.
George Carlin hosted the second year, with guests The Pointer Sisters, Billy Preston, Linda Ronstadt and Tower of Power.
In year three, 1975, the series moved from NBC to ABC and Clark took over as host.
Following a stroke in 2004, Clark turned over hosting duties for a year to Regis Philbin, then co-hosted with Seacrest in 2006 with limited appearances.
And it's not over yet. ABC has a deal with Dick Clark Productions to air New Year's Rockin' Eve at least through 2024.
• The Fox alternative. Not to be outdone by ABC, Fox has created its own special for tonight and made sure it had one more word in the title. Fox's New Year's Eve With Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square airs from 7-9 p.m., and returns (following local news) from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Harvey's special replaces Pitbull's New Years Revolution, which had aired since 2014. Harvey plans on "surprise celebrity guests" and "some of the year's top music artists." They may even be some you recognize.
• Fox News alternative. Perhaps you prefer to celebrate the new year with your good buddies at Fox News. The folks at FNC are starting early and staying late.
At 7 p.m. today, Ed Henry, Lisa Boothe and Dean Cain start things off with a two-hour special titled Countdown to 2018.
That's followed from 9 p.m. to midnight with All-American New Year with co-hosts Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery and Jesse Watters. Joining the live coverage from Times Square will be Kat Timpf and Richard Fowler, with Bryan Llenas reporting on security.
Griff Jenkins will be live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tenn., and reporter Carley Shimkus will be live poolside from Miami.
This may be the Fox News Channel, but on New Year's Eve they let their hair down and have musical acts as well. They'll include pop singer Andy Grammer and country music artist Lauren Alaina.
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Style on 12/31/2017