By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
December 29, 1997
There’s a lot to be said for staying home and curling up in front of the TV on New Year’s Eve. You don’t have to deal with traffic jams, snooty waiters or drunken strangers puckering up in your vicinity. And, if you happen to get a tad tipsy, you’re already home.
Here are a few New Year’s Eve specials that will provide good company as you coast into ’98.
“MTV’s Top 100 Videos of 1997.” 11:30 a.m., MTV. The big surprise will be if any of the videos in this all-day countdown don’t feature Sean “Puffy” Combs.
“New Year’s Eve Party.” 6 p.m., Disney Channel. Those moppet brothers (no, not Hanson) Joey, Matthew and Andy Lawrence host this party, which includes performances by fellow teen dreams LeAnn Rimes, Ray J, Jonny Lang and Brandy.
“Bee Gees_One Night Only.” 8 and 11 p.m. Call your local cable company to order this pay-per-view special for $19.95. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb are joined by special guest Celine Dion. The performance was taped at the Bee Gees’ only live performance this year, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Cincinnati Pops Holiday: Big Band New Year’s Eve.” 10 p.m., Channel 11. Former “Tonight Show” trumpeter Tommy Newsom will tackle “Take the A Train,” “Let’s Dance” and “Sentimental Journey.” Clarinetist Eddie Daniels will solo on “Begin the Beguine” and Ed Shaughnessy’s drumbeat will drive “Sing, Sing, Sing.” All that, and a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne,” too.
Movie Marathon. 10 p.m., Channel 26. Rich Koz (a.k.a. Svengoolie) hosts a 19-hour movie marathon that kicks off with “The Horror Show,” followed by “The Bat,” “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” “The Loves of Dracula,” “Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion,” “Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops,” “Abbott and Costello Lost in Alaska,” “Buck Privates Come Home,” “Abbott & Costello in Society” and “The Naughty Nineties.”
“New Year’s Eve Live from Times Square.” 10:30 p.m., MTV. Rapper Busta Rhymes will host this one-hour special from MTV’s studio in Times Square. He, along with brothers Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa, will perform live.
“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” 10:35 p.m., Channel 5. Leno’s live talk show will be low on talk and high on performance. Wacky Little Richard will sing (whoooo!), the Tap Dogs will dance and Carrot Top will tell jokes, such as they are. While the host tends to his guests at the show’s Burbank, Calif., studio, actor John Leguizamo will offer perspective from Times Square in New York. Bear in mind that Leno’s midnight countdown will occur at 11 p.m. Chicago time.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” 10:35 p.m., Channel 2. Dave’s vaudeville-style lineup includes comedian Harry Hill, the Pavlovich Balancing Act, and George Clinton and the P. Funk All-Stars.
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ’98.” 10:35 p.m., Channel 7. The Spice Girls, Usher, Shawn Colvin, Squirrel Nut Zippers and K.C. and the Sunshine Band join the perennial teenager, along with new “America’s Funniest Home Videos” co-hosts Daisy Fuentes and John Fugelsang.
“When New Year’s Eve Attacks.” 11 p.m., Channel 32. Join host David Alan Grier, Third Eye Blind, Chumbawamba and Sugar Ray, along with comics Craig Anton and Nicole Sullivan, as they ring in the new year with footage of “the scariest moments of 1997,” as well as a midnight stunt.
“Countdown Chicago.” 11:30 p.m. Channel 7. Hosted by Janet Davies and James Ward, this local broadcast will cut into Dick Clark’s special to ring in the new year Chicago style. The special will feature performances by Toad the Wet Sprocket, Abra Moore, Smithereens and World Party. (Clark’s special will resume broadcast at 12:30 a.m.)
“Three Stooges.” 1 a.m., Jan 1. It’s a four-hour Stooges marathon. Why I oughta . . . watch this?
“After New Year’s Eve With David Sanborn.” 1:06 a.m., Channel 7. The saxman’s guests include Joan Osborne and Naughty By Nature. Lou Reed, Boz Scaggs, Isaac Hayes and Ali from A Tribe Called Quest are expected to join an all-star band.
