Drunk Don Lemon has already made an appearance, singing and hitting on pedicab drivers. #CNNNYE #HappyNewYear #NewYearsEve2017 pic.twitter.com/pxtUdWy8LV
— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) January 1, 2018
With Kathy Griffin off the CNN roster on this New Year’s Eve, viewers had to settle for Anderson Cooper’s introductory banter with new co-host Andy Cohen. Their chemistry has been stilted so far (with the two men reenacting Dr. Phil’s first appearance with the Cash Me Ousside teen to cringeworthy effect), but thankfully, Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon also made their annual appearance in New Orleans. In the above clip, the duo arrived in a pedicab before Lemon prepared to indulge in some tasty alcoholic beverages and some crawfish.
The stakes for Lemon’s impending stumble — a beloved tradition — are higher than usual, for his last NOLA go-round saw a drunken ear piercing before he proposed to Brooke Baldwin on live TV. Many speculated that he would make good on a previous promise threat and finally get tattooed, but will it happen?
People are pumped and waiting. They’re demanding a lit-up Lemon, now.
DON LEMON HAS ARRIVED HE IS DRINKING STELLA #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/0eBDRiGdda
— JC (@jqu3ma) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/urgng2hell/status/947654250989056000
https://twitter.com/KikoLeigh88/status/947655850142851072
don lemon is already getting drunk LET'S DO THIS. #cnnnye
— chelsea (@chelsea_kaye) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/butlikesrsly/status/947655272696250370
I’ve been watching #CNNNYE for 5 Minutes and I haven’t seen Drunk Don Lemon yet. I’m stuck at home with my kids. I want to be entertained dammit. WTH!! pic.twitter.com/lpc3UQo8PL
— teetads⁷ 🦋 🇵🇸 SEEING MIMI APRIL 27 (@teetads) January 1, 2018
@CNN can you please create a "Drunk Don Lemon" channel? #HappyNewYear #drunkDonLemon pic.twitter.com/fkHM0XhPfb
— Pat Wood (@PatWood8) January 1, 2018
#CNN #CNNNYE #NewYearsEve2018 Don Lemon stay with a drink in his hand during this time, i feel like it's a running gag for him and Brooke to be drunk, but i love it, i absolutely love it!!! #rt if y'all agree pic.twitter.com/Aiyii53Qna
— King (@MrKingCoop) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/steelzack1/status/947659954848190465
https://twitter.com/bellasopinions/status/947668151088513025
Eventually, Lemon did his “first shot” of the evening.
Turn Up Don Lemon! #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/51Wuwttz9R
— Joshua Sánchez (@jnsanchez) January 1, 2018
And here comes the obligatory “gas mask bong” moment of the night.
CNN is literally smoking weed on air and 2018 is already going to be amazing #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/zImteIPrbO
— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) January 1, 2018
Sadly, the wait hasn’t been as fun as last year, since Kathy Griffin was so good at mortifying the Coop. Yet hopefully, he and Cohen won’t ever do this impression again…
@BrookeBCNN @donlemon @andersoncooper #CNNNYE #NewYearsEve2018 pic.twitter.com/lYfreIzuBo
— thedrunkinmonk (@thedrunkinmonk) January 1, 2018