New Years Eve Specials from Fox to NBC - What's Canceled and What's On?

Television networks are having to re-evaluate their New Year's Eve plans as the Omicron variant continues to grow.

Many networks have made special plans to ring in the new year but may have to change the size of their celebration as COVID cases continue to surge across the country. One network has already canceled their plans for a live New Year's Eve special which turns out to be bad news for fans of the sitcom Community.

Newsweek will update this page with updates on each networks' plans if any others get canceled or if channels decide to hold alternative celebrations.

FOX - Canceled

On Tuesday December 21, FOX announced that they were canceling their planned New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2022 which would feature Masked Singer judge Ken Jeong and his Community co-star and friend Joel McHale.

A statement released by Fox Entertainment read: "While we are confident in the health and safety protocols for Fox's New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2022, the recent velocity of the spread of Omicron cases has made it impossible to produce a live special in Times Square that meets our standards."

The statement continued: "We will not be moving forward with Fox's New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2022 in New York. The health and safety of our casts and crews has always been, and will continue to be, of the utmost importance. Replacement programming for New Year's Eve on Fox will be announced in the coming days."

ABC - Still on

ABC have yet to announce whether or not they will continue with plans to host Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest from 8:00 p.m. ET.
The 50th anniversary of this event is due to be a momentous occasion as it is held in Puerto Rico for the first time and will feature the show's first-ever Spanish language countdown. Roselyn Sánchez will host from San Juan while Billy Porter returns to host from New Orleans and Liza Koshy hosts in Times Square, NY.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday he will make a decision by Saturday on whether the New Year's Eve celebrations will proceed as planned or be canceled.

Last year's New Year's Rockin' Eve featured no crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this year could be similar.

CBS - Still on

Taking their plans out of New York City, CBS, American Idol mentor Bobby Bones and Entertainment Tonight's Rachel Smith will host Jack Daniel's New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash.

The show, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, is being headlined by Dierks Bentley and Zac Brown Band as well as a number of other musical guest artists. There will be nearly 50 live, high-energy performances across multiple locations in Music City.

The concert is open to the public and free to attend, but attendees must show proof of vaccine or a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to the show.

NBC - Still on

NBC are still releasing promos for Miley's New Year's Eve Party hosted by Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson which implies it's set to go ahead. Hosted live from Miami, Florida, the show will feature musical performances from Saweetie, Brandi Carlile, 24KGoldn, Billie Joe Armstrong, Anitta and more. As it stands the special will air on NBC from 10:30 p.m. ET and online on the streaming service Peacock.

This is the first time since 2003 that Carson Daly hasn't fronted NBC's New Year's Eve special.

CNN - Still on

CNN will also be heading to Puerto Rico for their New Year's Eve celebrations as the city of San Jose celebrated its 500th anniversary.

CNN's New Year's Eve Live will start at 8:00p.m. ET and be hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen from Times Square while Gary Tuchman and his daughter Lindsay Tuchman will host from Puerto Rico.

Fox News - Still on

While FOX may have canceled their broadcast plans, FOX News Channel seem to be pressing ahead with their own celebration, the All-American New Year 2022.

The news channel's party will be shown live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, with the Fox & Friends Weekend co-hosts Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and Pete Hegseth. There will be correspondents positioned in the French Quarter of New Orleans, at Folly Beach in South Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Times Square in New York.

Musicians Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, John Elefante the former lead singer of Kansas, Ken Block and Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel, BBR Music Group recording artist Lindsay Ell and house band Sixwire will be performing live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. The celebrations get underway from 10:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve.