| USA TODAY
Is it 2021, though, really?
We humans have been living for over 200,000 years and yet the whole world agrees that it is the year 2021. So how did we get here?
Just the most frequently asked questions
Whether you’re at an extravagant party or you’re at home on the couch, you’ll find a way to rock during the new year.
Major networks will be back on New Year’s Day with live shows from Times Square in New York City and numerous bands to keep the party going all night or at least keep you dancing in your pajamas. Or if you want to try different ones, lots of movie and TV marathons will take you to the new year.
So before you commit to New Year’s resolutions to work harder or eat healthier, say goodbye to 2020 with these TV delights.
New Year’s Eve parties
Networks know how to do a New Year’s Eve party from Times Square, and this year will be no exception.
Ryan Seacrest will host “Dick Clark Rockin ‘Eve’s New Year’s Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021” (ABC, 8 EST / PST and 11:30 EST / PST) with co-host Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”) Ciara, who takes on the role of host in Los Angeles, and Billy Porter (“Pose”) who organizes the party in New Orleans. Performers on the show include Post Malone, BTS and Usher.
Steve Harvey returns for third year as host of Fox’s New Year’s Eve program with Steve Harvey: live from Times Square (8 EST / PST and 11 EST / PST), with Tyga, The Lumineers, Florida Georgia Line and The Killers . Harvey shares hosting roles with first host and former NFL star Rob Gronkowski, along with Maria Menounos.
More on NBC, Hoda Kotb i Jenna Bush Hager offer “A Toast Until 2020” (8 EST / PST). Later, Carson Daly re-organizes “Special New Year 2021” (10 EST / PST and 11:30 EST / PST). Artists include Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough. Keith Urban still covers Music City Midnight in Nashville, Tennessee.
If the cable is yours, check out CNN, which will have a reporter again Anderson Cooper i Andy Cohen (“What Happens Next”), initial coverage starting at 8 EST / 5 PST. The show features performances by Lenny Kravitz and Patti LaBelle until 12:30 am EST / 9:30 PST, when anchors Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon take over to play the new year in the central time zone with a ” Music City Midnight Celebration “. of Nashville.
TV marathons
If the party is not yours, there are still many options to see from the couch.
Get up to date with one of the best new series of the fall, as CBS airs three episodes of “Bad” (8 EST / PST). The show follows a skeptic (Katja Herbers, “Westworld”) and a believer (Mike Colter, “Luke Cage”) who investigate religious curiosities.
“Schitt’s Creek” who earned his first Emmy nominations this year, will have a marathon in Pop (noon EST / 9 PST). Get up to date on the series about a wealthy family living in a small village before its sixth and final season begins on January 7th.
A famous – or rather infamous – show this year was “Game of Thrones,” which ended after eight seasons. Relive the last season of the fantasy drama series on HBO2 (noon EST / PST), if you can.
OWN will air the entire first season of its recently revamped drama “David makes man” (1 p.m. EST / PST), by Oscar Tarell winner Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”).
Towards the end of the decade, check out one of the most successful film franchises of the last ten years “The Hunger Games” franchise at AMC (9:00 EST / PST). The four-film marathon begins with the first, in 2012, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as two contestants in a fight to the death.
And if you want to go further, Syfy organizes a marathon of the classic TV series “The Twilight Zone” from 6 a.m. EST / PST, including episodes written and narrated by legendary Rod Serling.
Parade of roses, more for New Year’s Day
After a night of partying, it’s nice to get out of bed and crawl on the couch in your pajamas with NBC “131st parade of roses” (Wednesday 11:30 EST / 8:30 PST) from Pasadena, California, with hosts Hoda Kotb and Al Roker. The floats of the annual parade are traditionally covered with flowers, plants and even seeds, with vivid colors and amazing displays. Actresses Rita Moreno (“One Day at a Time”) and Gina Torres (“Dresses”) and Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez are this year’s great marshals.
Later that day is ESPN Rose Bowl (5 EST / 2 PST) college football game between the Oregon Ducks and the Wisconsin Badgers, followed by the Sucrera (8:45 EST / 5:45 PST) while the Baylor Bears face the Georgia Bulldogs.
And if football isn’t your thing, check out the new season of “Doctor Who,” which kicks off at BBC America’s 8 EST / PST. This marks the second season of Jodie Whittaker in the iconic role of the Doctor, who travels through time and space.
Netflix launches two new series on New Year’s Day. “Messiah” follows a CIA agent investigating a cult leader and “Spinning Out” is a drama series about the world of competitive skating, starring Kaya Scodelario (“Skins”), January Jones (“Mad Men”) and the professional skater Johnny Weir.