Jack Gray
AC360 Associate Producer
It’s finally here, the last day of 2008. You didn’t think you’d make it, did you? Especially after you went on that bender in March and took the millions you made from that offshore monkey-fighting tournament and bet it all on Chris Dodd winning the presidency. But you toughed it out and survived. And now the only thing standing between you and a fresh start for the New Year is the 50/50 chance that sometime tonight you’re going to catch your significant other making out with your neighbor. Yeah, good luck with that.
I myself am taking a break this year from the New Year’s Eve party circuit. And by party circuit I mean sitting on my couch with my dog Sammy drinking warm beer out of a Dixie cup. Instead I’ll be producing for Anderson on location in Times Square as he hosts CNN’s New Year’s Eve Celebration alongside the wonderful Kathy Griffin. My duties will include guarding the champagne and making sure Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest somehow wind up in New Jersey.
The show starts at 11:00pm Eastern Time and you’re guaranteed to have fun. If not, Anderson will personally come to your house, re-do the countdown in your living room while tossing authentic Times Square confetti and singing New York, New York in his best Larry King voice.
Bill and Hillary Clinton will also be on hand in Times Square tonight. They’ll be helping Michael Bloomberg with the Ball Drop. So don’t be surprised if instead of lighting up to display “2009” at midnight the ball will light up to display “Hillary 2016.”
And it’s certainly shaping up to be an exciting new year in Chicago, what with Governor Rod “The law said no but my feathered bangs said oh yes” Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland “I applaud the efforts to remove Rod Blagojevich from office unless of course he decides to appoint me” Burris to the United States Senate and all.
And the New Year is getting off to an exciting start in Alaska, too. Bristol Palin and her beau Levi Johnston welcomed a baby boy into the world this week. The newborn’s name is Tripp, which is Alaskan for “My parents just scored $300,000 from People magazine for my baby photos.” The governor's grandson was sent home from the hospital after the standard two days, at which time he promptly shot his first moose.
And here’s some exciting news: I’ve been given the green light to live blog the Golden Globes on Sunday January 11th and the Academy Awards on Sunday February 22nd. I know you’ll have lots of live blog options for those nights but I hope you’ll choose to join me here on AC360.com because, well, I don’t want to brag, but I did once work at a video store/tanning parlor so I’m basically an expert on Hollywood.
In the meantime, Happy New Year. Here’s to good health, good luck and bold gubernatorial hairstyles.
| Karen from Barranquilla, Colombia |
December 31st, 2008 8:59 am ET Jack, good luck on all your endeavors this new year and I sure do hope you'll keep writing such witty and enlightening blogs. Here's to Sammy, Anderson, CNN and you!!!! Cheers!!!! |
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| Cindy |
December 31st, 2008 9:10 am ET Jack, I for one will be watching the peach drop in Atlanta! Sorry that I'll miss Ryan but not so much Coop! Well OK...sorry I'll miss Coop but SO glad to miss Kathy. Cindy...Ga. |
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| Renee |
December 31st, 2008 9:21 am ET You seem to have a little obsession with the Governor's hair. Does it remind you of your own hair? Are you more Governor's style or the Anderson "my scalp is showing" buzz cut? Some days I think the hairs on my legs are longer than the hair on that buzz cut! There has to be some happy balance between hair and no hair on a man. One final production request, when the band plays can we get full songs vs. cutting over to an anchor to chat? You would get singing and dancing and poof cut to the anchor to chat! That drove me nuts last year! Jack, don't do that for me, but do that for Blitzer. You know how he loves the bands too! Happy New Year to you! Good Luck tonight! |
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| Cindy |
December 31st, 2008 9:22 am ET Jack, Come on Jack...give it a try! Now...I'd watch CNN to see Sammy do her thang! LOL Cindy...Ga. |
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| Ryan Field |
December 31st, 2008 9:45 am ET Ah, good for Blagojevich. Burris is a good man, and Blagojevich is only following the rules. And if Harry Reid doesn't like it, he should just go back to this year's primary race and remember how important it was to follow all the rules, especially with Michigan and Florida. What Blagojevich did was the most refreshing thing I've seen in American politics in years. |
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| Tammy, Berwick. LA |
December 31st, 2008 10:16 am ET Blago, schmago-when he leaves another corrupt self-indulging public servant will follow in his footsteps somewhere in the political game. At least Blago's move proves the guy isn't a wimp regardless of what the hair implies. Enjoy guarding the champagne. And good luck shipping off your competition to Jersey. I'll be partying with friends. Cheers. 2009 has to be better than 2008 for us all. |
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| Renee |
December 31st, 2008 10:20 am ET Jack: I just had a thought! (Sorry for the double post!) Why not push for a one hour commercial free NYE next year? A little gift from CNN to all the viewers. The gift from CNN to the viewers for making you all the #1 watched cable news network. You could run 10 minutes of commercials before and 10 minutes after. I can see the ads now. CNN=Politics replaced by CNN=Entertainment. This way the bands would not get cut out and you could enhance the show. Run that up to the Executive Leadership Team and see what you can do for us. I don't know the economics of television that well but why not run the numbers and see if it could be done. |
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| Betty Ann, Nacogdoches,TX |
December 31st, 2008 10:29 am ET Yew haw Jack! |
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| Presley |
December 31st, 2008 10:33 am ET OH EMM GEE, live blogging! Here is my shameless adoration moment: Cheers to you and Sammy and the poor AC people that have to read and edit the comments here. WE LUBS YOU JACK! |
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| Betty Ann, Nacogdoches,TX |
December 31st, 2008 10:35 am ET P.S. Hey Jack~ Does 2008 remind you of when your parents said," I'll give you something to cry about"? |
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| Jennifer - Michigan |
December 31st, 2008 10:51 am ET Hi Jack, |
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| Pamina |
December 31st, 2008 11:01 am ET Hi Jack, |
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| Rikki, Fargo, ND |
December 31st, 2008 11:20 am ET I still can't believe that Blagojevich actually appointed someone to the Senate. He really can't be that stupid can he? Ok maybe he can but he had to know that any selection he made would be tainted. Anyway, Happy New Year Jack! Hope you have a wonderful time tonight producing for Anderson and Kathy. Stay warm...though I will be thoroughly jealous of your 20 degree weather since here in ND we aren't even supposed to hit 0 degrees. Have a great time and I can't wait to see the show tonight! |
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| Michelle D. Fonthill,Ont |
December 31st, 2008 11:28 am ET Hi Jack Happy New year Jack ,,Anderson , Erica and the loor crew at 360! |
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| pati mc., camp hill, pa |
December 31st, 2008 11:28 am ET Happy New Year Jack! Whoa, so you get to accompany the big guy up on the platform this evening? Sweet gig, dude! I notice that you failed to mention holding Anderson's "blankie" for him so that he stays nice and toasty warm. heh heh. That is if you can pull Kathy off of him for a second. (Smart woman.) She did mention spooning last night on the program. Must admit that I am most excited about this evening and I will take it personally should you not at some point appear on camera, smile sweetly and wave to all of we adoring fans. Go practice your wave, you have all day. Now as to being disappointed in the program, I am sure that will not happen. Not that I would not love to have Anderson appear in my living room with offical confetti and all... I promise to treat him well, feed him and make sure that he is comfortable. Then give him a cocktail and get him to dish all the dirt on YOU, my friend. I feel certain there are tales to be told. heh heh. Sammy may beat him to it, unless you cough up some COLD beers for her. Seriously, it is the least you can do, Jack. She is a star and all. Enjoy Jack and thank you for the intelligent satire. You so rule and I look foreward to bigger and better in 2009. Love ya man! |
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| EJ (USA) |
December 31st, 2008 11:43 am ET The governor’s grandson was sent home from the hospital after the standard two days, at which time he promptly shot his first moose. bwahaha – hopefully they made video of that The show starts at 11:00pm Eastern Time and you’re guaranteed to have fun. If not, Anderson will personally come to your house, re-do the countdown in your living room while tossing authentic Times Square confetti and singing New York, New York in his best Larry King voice. That would be too cool. I'm almost tempted to not have fun so I can see that happen. Happy New Year Jack! Have lots of fun tonight. |
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| Sandra, Ga. |
December 31st, 2008 12:23 pm ET Happy New Year Jack and all at CNN. I'll be watching, or if I say I'll not watch, will Anderson really show up tonight at my house? Another question,Jack. Will the authorities shave Blagojevich's head, for sanitary purposes, before being led to his cell? I heard this is a possibility. Don't forget to drink a cup of kindess with Sammy tonight!! See ya. |
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| Jill |
December 31st, 2008 12:26 pm ET Looking forward to seeing AC and Kathy Griffin tonight. 2 of my favs! |
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| Maria |
December 31st, 2008 12:45 pm ET Happy New Year Eve |
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| Michelle |
December 31st, 2008 1:21 pm ET Happy New Year Jack. You are one of my blog favs |
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| Carol B., Virginia |
December 31st, 2008 1:38 pm ET Will there also be holograms tonight? If you're the only one seeing them, just explain to A & K that you're "Not as think as you drunk I am." One of the nice things about getting older is wanting to remember the good stuff with family & friends. Have a great '09! |
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| Helen Bullen, Reading, UK |
December 31st, 2008 2:01 pm ET Greetings all from England! Jack, I'm out tonight and will most likely be tucked up in my old bed back at my parents when you are dropping the ball over there! I must therefore insist that you put Cooperman on the first plane to London (mind you, I reckon he could stick his pants on over his tights and fly himself, ha, ha) where I will be happy to feed him leftover mince pies while he recreates Times Square in my living room. Having said that, dear Jack, you and Sammy have an open invitation to join me on this side of the pond! I'm not that familiar with Kathy Griffin, but reading the blogs I'm getting the distinct impression that people would rather not watch her. I'll reserve judgment till I've watched, but it seems to me that Sammy would be an excellent replacement, should Ms G mysteriously end up in NJ with Dick and Ryan..Anyway, enjoy yourself tonight. Here's hoping that 2009 brings everyone all they wish for! Lots of love to you, Sammy, Anderson, Erica, David G, the bloggers and all at AC360 x x x x |
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| keri |
December 31st, 2008 2:18 pm ET Hey Jack! Happy New Year! Have loved your blogs this year. Looking forward to watching you and Ryan tonight! |
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| Barbara Foss Florida |
December 31st, 2008 3:56 pm ET READ MY LIPS: Happy New Year CNN!!! |
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| Dulcie |
December 31st, 2008 3:59 pm ET Hope you have fun producing Anderson & Kathy this year! I can't imagine what that might be like after last night's show. Big job. I'm curling up with a box of quality wine to watch the entertainment. I can't wait – I get to leave work in an hour or so to prepare. Thanks for all the great blog entries this year! |
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| Jennifer in DC |
December 31st, 2008 4:03 pm ET Hmm, is that all it takes to get Anderson and his jar of confetti to come visit, feeling "disappointed" already. Just one word of advice... with Kathy on hand, be on your toes and near that buzzer. Looking forward to watching tonight! Have fun yourself and stay warm. Happy New Year Jack! Oh and Happy New Year to Sammy too! |
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| Lorie Ann, Buellton, California |
December 31st, 2008 4:31 pm ET Happy New Year, Jack. Oh my, is it Auld Lang Syne time again? As they say, "Nostalgia takes the potholes out of Memory Lane." I'm glad the Waterford crystal ball company doesn't need a bailout too. I'd hate to hear that next year the big ball will be made of recycled glass chips imported from the dump. Sometimes in life, you just have to spend the big bucks to remember what the big bucks looked like. Ahh, Nostalgia. Take care Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif. |
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| Gene Penszynski from Vermont |
December 31st, 2008 4:34 pm ET Jack great as always. thanks fro bringing some cheer into our lives |
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| keri |
December 31st, 2008 4:39 pm ET This could be like The Gong Show |
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| keri |
December 31st, 2008 4:41 pm ET "If not, Anderson will personally come to your house, re-do the countdown in your living room while tossing authentic Times Square confetti and singing New York, New York in his best Larry King voice." I'm not having fun. |
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| Gene Penszynski from Vermont |
December 31st, 2008 4:46 pm ET P.S. and Oh by the way (BTW) Jack .... El Blago may just surprise everyone here ........ This is far from being a slam dunk case folks and his 'choice' for President-elect Obama's senate seat may just hold up in court . Stay tuned ............ |
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| anne,nfld,canada |
December 31st, 2008 5:19 pm ET Happy New Year to Anderson,and the entire 360 team,crew,and staff..... Bill and Hillary are helping to press the "BUDDON" this evening??LOL ......."if not,Anderson will personally come to your house,re-do the countdown........." Is THAT a promise,Jack??? Ask,Believe,Receive,maybe?LOL |
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| Don, WA |
December 31st, 2008 6:53 pm ET What's a new year without predictions – Jack Gray's beloved dog Sammy will quit smoking (cigarettes). Jack Gray will stop drinking out of paper cups. Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffen will star in the movie version of "I Love Lucy." Erica Hill will be asked to be the new white house press secretary when she gets the Blagojevich exclusive and boldly asks "what's that thing on your head?" Ed Henry will move to hawaii to write novels and surf. Women will vote David Gergan as 2009's sexiest man alive. Larry King will star in ghostbusters 3 (or 4, whatever) and Wolf Blitzer will start wearing suspenders. Oh and Beat 360 will redesign its t-shirt. |
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| Annie Kate |
December 31st, 2008 6:59 pm ET Hey Jack Seems just like yesterday we were watching Anderson ring in 2008 in NYC. The year certainly went fast; I guess all that politics kept us all busy and we didn't notice the time slipping past us so fast. Do you have resolutions – or does Sammy? My cat Oscar has resolved to start meowing for his supper earlier each night; after all it has to be 6pm somewhere in the world, right? I get tickled at this hair fetish everyone has about Blagojevich's mop of hair. I really think he in reality doesn't have that much – he just knows how to inflate it to make it look like a lot. Anderson ought to get his secret; when he gets his hair cut he looks positively bare in places. Does he go to a barber college to get his hair cut – you know the kind where a student cuts your hair and the further back in the room you go the cheaper it gets because the experience level drops precipitously. I figure Anderson goes to the very back where haircuts are free and no evenness in the cut is guaranteed...or even possible since he is their first guinea pig. You and Sammy have a great New Year and if you have to beep out the objectionable things Kathy says I hope your finger won't be sore tomorrow because it will get a lot of work out tonight! |
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| Roweena D'Souza, Mangalore |
December 31st, 2008 7:16 pm ET delectable as always Jack, hope you have a fun time and Happy New Year 2009. |
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| Mary, Dublin, Ireland |
December 31st, 2008 7:25 pm ET I want to wish everyone a very happy 2009, and hope its as good as the 2008 I just had. And to those of you who have had a rough time, new year means new start, we all get a do-over so lets make the most of it. Happy New Year to everyone at AC360 and CNN! xxx |
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| Jaime M. Mesa,AZ |
December 31st, 2008 7:46 pm ET Hey Jack and 360krew, |
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| jrq |
December 31st, 2008 8:17 pm ET Happy New Year Jack. And thank you for all of your wonderful blogs. You seem to be the only one we can count on not ripping us off. I'll toast you and AC on my sofa this year! |
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| Helen Bullen, Reading, UK |
December 31st, 2008 8:35 pm ET Hey everyone, me again! Well, Big Ben has bonged to bring in the New Year and I'm in bed, having managed to see my way through a bottle of rosé (I'm a classy bird, you know, I don't do boxes!) and copious amounts of chicken nuggets. Have a great time y'all, embrace the hangover x x |
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| Brandi - bottom of the boot |
December 31st, 2008 8:55 pm ET Dearest Jack, i already know im not going to enjoy this evening. my chihuahua had a seizure earlier from the fireworks already being set off and they have only gotten louder and multiplied 100 times so she has now had a half a xanax and has earplugs in trying to keep her calm so she does not have another seizure. also, my own disaronno has not seemed to ease my anxiety. so, could you just pencil me into andersons make-up NYE schedule??? |
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| Megan Dresslar- Shoreline, WA |
December 31st, 2008 11:20 pm ET Hellooo Jack!!! |
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| David, Indiana |
December 31st, 2008 11:29 pm ET I've read your posts Jack but have never posted a comment here, but I thought I would try. First of all Happy upcoming in a few minutes New Year to all of you there at 360 and at CNN and everyone blogging and everyone. Times square always looks like a total blast. I'd love to be there sometime on New Year's eve. Why not more world wide coverage of the New Year's peach coming to earth in Atlanta? |
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| EJ (USA) |
January 1st, 2009 5:15 am ET Happy New Year Jack. |
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