Whitney Cummings Roasts CNN’s Ratings During Live New Year’s Eve Show

As 2024 limped towards the finish line, CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live broadcast, hosted by the ever-affable Anderson Cooper and the reliably boisterous Andy Cohen, took an unexpected turn. Comedian Whitney Cummings, invited to lend some festive cheer, decided “festive” meant “flambe,” turning the broadcast into a full-blown roast with CNN’s ratings as the unfortunate main course. The internet, naturally, exploded.

Cummings Sets CNN Ablaze: A Ratings Roast for the Ages

Let’s set the scene: Times Square, sparkling with anticipation. Cooper and Cohen, gamely attempting to manufacture merriment. Then, Cummings, wielding a comedic blowtorch, delivered the line that launched a thousand tweets: “I’m now playing, you know, like 3,000-seat theaters, which is about the viewership of CNN these days.” Oof.

You could practically hear the collective gasp ripple through social media. Cooper’s forced smile likely cracked, and somewhere, a CNN executive probably choked on their celebratory champagne.

Cummings’ Burn Book: A Listicle of the Roasted

Cummings didn’t stop at CNN’s dwindling viewership. Like a comedic dominatrix, she cracked her whip across a wide swathe of targets.

• CNN (Again, Because Why Not?): She doubled down, adding “Not this show, though,” with a wink that could curdle milk. It’s the kind of self-aware savagery that probably had CNN’s social media team frantically drafting damage control tweets.
• President Biden (The “Holding Up a Body” Jab): Cummings aimed for Biden’s age, quipping, “The Democrats couldn’t hold a primary this year. They were too busy holding up a body.” Was it ageism? Political commentary? Dark humor? The internet is still arguing, which, let’s face it, is probably exactly what Cummings wanted.
• Vice President Kamala Harris (The Pfizer Punchline): Harris wasn’t spared either. Cummings landed a zinger about the VP being “forced on us so hard you’d think she was patented by Pfizer.” The joke likely resonated with certain segments of the population, while probably infuriating others. Again, mission accomplished for Cummings, who seemingly aimed to provoke.
• Bonus Burns: Because apparently, no one was safe, Cummings extended her roast to include Andy Cohen’s on-air antics, pop culture figures like Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, and Demi Moore, the WNBA, true crime enthusiasts, and even the year 2024 itself. It was a scorched-earth approach to comedy.

The Twitterverse Meltdown: Screenshots of the Fallout

The internet, predictably, lost its collective mind. The hashtags #WhitneyCummings, #CNNRoast, and #NewYearsEve trended, with reactions ranging from “Queen!” to “Too far!” The incident perfectly captured the internet’s ability to simultaneously celebrate and condemn.

The Aftermath and Analysis: More Than Just a Few Jokes?

So, what does this all mean? Was it just a comedian doing her thing on New Year’s Eve, or is there something more here? Some media experts suggest Cummings’ performance reflects a broader trend: comedians increasingly using live television as a platform for pointed social and political commentary. It’s a strategy that can generate buzz and potentially boost careers, but also carries the risk of alienating audiences and sparking backlash.

For CNN, the roast probably wasn’t the PR coup they were hoping for. While it undoubtedly generated attention, it also shone a harsh light on the network’s struggles with ratings and public perception. Some analysts believe it could further erode public trust in an already embattled network. Others suspect it will be forgotten by next week. Only time will tell.

As for Cummings, the roast probably cemented her reputation for fearlessness and willingness to push boundaries. Whether this translates into long-term career success remains to be seen.

A Look Back at CNN’s NYE History: From Anderson Cooper’s Giggles to Andy Cohen’s…Everything

CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage has a history of being…unpredictable. From Anderson Cooper’s barely-suppressed amusement at Andy Cohen’s antics (and occasional over-imbibing) to previous on-air incidents, it’s a broadcast that almost expects the unexpected. Cummings’ roast just added another chapter to this ongoing saga.

The Bigger Picture: Comedy, Politics, and the Future of Live TV

Cummings’ performance raises some intriguing questions about the intersection of comedy, politics, and live television. Is this type of roast-style commentary becoming the new normal? Are networks increasingly willing to risk controversy for the sake of viral moments and higher ratings? And what are the ethical implications of using a celebratory platform like New Year’s Eve for such pointed political commentary? These are questions worth pondering as we head into 2025 – and brace ourselves for whatever comedic bombshells the next New Year’s Eve might bring.