Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch at home while you find someone to kiss at midnight. Say, that hobo looks relatively clean and non-threatening. May as well give him a shot. LET’S GO!
DICK CLARK’S ROCKIN’ NEW YEAR’S EVE – 10:00PM (ABC) Ryan Seacrest joins Dick in New York to drop the ball with correspondent Jenny McCarthy -- who will almost certainly take 10 minutes out of the broadcast to give you unresearched pediatric medical advice -- along with Fergie as the Los Angeles correspondent. Performers include Ke$ha, Train, Willow Smith, NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, Drake and Avril Lavigne. I’m told that Ke$ha is already passed out by the dessert buffet. NOTE: Dick will be interrupted at 11 p.m. for your local news, then back on at 11:30. ANTICIPATION: BALLS BE DROPPIN’
NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH CARSON DALY – 10:00PM (NBC) If Ryan Seacrest’s blandness isn’t quite your thing, flip over to NBC for Carson Daly’s refreshing OTHER kind of blandness. The guide lists no special appearances or musical guests this evening, so NBC’s coverage may just feature Carson at home eating Honey Smacks while watching a James Woods movie. NOTE: Carson will also be interrupted at 11 p.m. for your local news, then back on at 11:30. News!!!!! ANTICIPATION: CARSON!
NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE – 11:00PM (FOX) Nancy O’Dell, who has always spiritually been a FOX newsgal, hosts FOX’s coverage of the ball dropping. Musical guests include David Archuleta and… Well, that’s pretty much about it. I think Dick Clark might have a better booking agent. ANTICIPATION: RIGHTY!
ROSE BOWL – 5:00PM Saturday (ESPN) Every bowl game that isn’t Auburn/Oregon is useless, but the least useless of those exhibitions is Saturday’s matchup between Wisconsin and undefeated TCU. Wisconsin runs for a zillion yards a game, while the Horned Frogs have the nation’s best defense. Neat! This is ESPN’s first year broadcasting every BCS Bowl, which means Mark Schlereth will be shoehorned into the coverage somehow. Why? No one knows. ANTICIPATION: BOWLY!
RAMS/SEAHAWKS – 8:00PM Sunday (NBC) A playoff spot is up for grabs between two horrible teams. ANTICIPATION: LOSERS!
