Programs Will Toast New Year Stay-At-Home Revelers Have Plenty Of Celebrative Viewing Options
If you’ve decided to avoid crowded restaurants, loud parties and drunk drivers by staying in tonight, you’ll have no trouble tuning in celebrations of the New Year.
FOX gets a jump on the competition at 11 with “When New Year’s Eve Attacks!” from the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Third Eye Blind, Chumbawamba, Sugar Ray, Earth, Wind & Fire, and comedians Craig Anton and Nicole Sullivan (“Mad TV”) perform. David Alan Grier hosts.
Dick Clark counts down to 1998, starting at 11:35 with ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ‘98.” Clark will be in Times Square, and Daisy Fuentes and John Fugelsang (new hosts of ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos”) will oversee festivities from Las Vegas’ New York-New York Hotel and Casino.
Performers scheduled to appear include the Spice Girls, Shawn Colvin, Squirrel Nut Zippers and KC and the Sunshine Band.
Jay Leno and David Letterman welcome in the New Year on NBC and CBS, respectively at 11:35. NBC’s Conan O’Brien welcomes 1998 to the Central Time Zone. See guests below.
At 11:30, MTV caps a daylong “Top 100” video countdown (starting at 12:30 p.m.) with a broadcast from Times Square featuring Busta Rhymes and guests Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa.
At 1:05 a.m., ABC continues the celebration with “After New Year’s Eve with David Sanborne.” Joan Osborne, Naughty By Nature, Lou Reed, Boz Scaggs, Isaac Hayes and Ali from A Tribe Called Quest perform.
Highlights
“Football,” CBS at 4: Syracuse (9-3) goes against Kansas State (10-1) in the Fiesta Bowl, played in Tempe, Ariz.
“National Geographic’s ‘Asteroids: Deadly Impact,”’ NBC at 8: This repeat from February is not about asteroid calamity but rather the story of geologist Eugene Shoemaker and his wife and collaborator, Carolyn, whose breakthrough discoveries informed the study of asteroids impacting Earth.
“Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1983), FOX at 8: Something dreadful this way flops.
Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) brings his mysterious carnival to town, and good things start happening for everyone. But there is a price to pay - to no surprise whatsoever.
Ray Bradury wrote the screen adaptation of his creepy story. It was better on paper.
“Law & Order,” NBC at 10: The murder of a has-been model opens the door to secrets of her past, including an illegitimate daughter given up for adoption.
Cable Calls
“Twilight Zone Marathon,” SCI at 4: Submitted for your approval, 48 consecutive episodes of Rod Serling’s classic science-fiction series.
“Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story” (1995), LIFE at 8: Approach this tell-all tale based on C. David Heymann’s unauthorized and controversial biography with caution. Sherilyn Fenn plays the screen siren.
Liz’s life may be a soap opera, but this thing is worse than any soap you’ve ever seen.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor-comedian John Leguizamo from Times Square, comedian Carrot Top, a performance of Tap Dogs, and legendary singer Little Richard.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Comedian Harry Hill, the Pavlovich balancing act and the P. Funk All-Stars.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Actress Faye Dunaway and author Steven Stark. Repeat.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live”) and actor Jeff Garlin.