What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? Rager down the block? Open bar in the city? Six-pack of Bud on the couch? Wherever you may be, chances are there will be a television in the corner blaring one of the many New Year’s Eve spectaculars on broadcast and basic cable channels. Some options are looking brighter than others, but just in case you get a say in deciding which one your crew will be watching, here’s what the wonderful world of televised entertainment is offering this year.
What: “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”
Where: ABC
When: 10 pm
Highlights: Fergie will cover the party in L.A.; Jenny McCarthy will correspond from New York; Natasha Bedingfield, Jason Derulo, Drake, Far East Movement, Jennifer Hudson, La Roux, Willow Smith, Mike Posner, Ne-Yo and Train will perform.
The kicker: Avril Lavigne will (attempt to) make a comeback by debuting her single entitled “What the Hell” and offer a free iTunes download on New Year’s Day! (OMG, 2011 is going to be so amazing.)
What: “MTV New Year’s Bash”
Where: MTV
When: 10:30 pm
Highlights: The theme will be “Jersey Shore” in order to pump up fans for season three of the cult reality show; Snooki will drop from a glittery ball; the tan gang will attempt to break a Guinness World Record (???); comedian Whitney Cummings will host; Flo-Rida will perform.
The kicker: Lady Gaga will make an “earth shattering” announcement regarding her upcoming album release, “Born This Way.”
What: “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly”
Where: NBC
When: 10 pm
Highlights: Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne will perform, as will My Chemical Romance (lowlight?); U2’s Bono will discuss writing the score for the new Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn off The Dark;” Carson Daly will continue to do his thing and compete with his former employer (MTV).
The kicker: Not seeing one.
After reading the run down, itap pretty clear which broadcast will make it out on top at the start of 2011. Once a classic, always a classic — Dick knows whatap up.
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Allison Berger is a Philadelphia-based writer and a Pop music columnist for Reverb. Check out more of her writing
