MTV New Year's Eve specials

American TV series or program

MTV New Year's Eve specials
Starring	Various hosts and performers
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	Late night: Typically 60 minutes (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m) or more
Original release
Network	MTV
Release	December 31, 1998 (1998-12-31) – December 31, 2014 (2014-12-31)

From 1981 through 2014, MTV aired New Year's Eve specials. The special was first held in 1981 as MTV's New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball, which featured a concert from the Hotel Diplomat in mid-Manhattan featuring Bow Wow Wow, Karla DeVito, and David Johansen (a photo of which was used as the cover art for his subsequent live album Live It Up).^[1] For its early editions, the Rock N' Roll Ball was hosted by MTV VJs; the 1986–87 edition would instead be hosted by Joe Piscopo and carry an Ancient Rome theme.^[2]

Later specials were typically broadcast from MTV's One Astor Plaza studios in Times Square. They would initially be hosted by Carson Daly of Total Request Live until his departure to NBC (where he would go on to host New Year's Eve with Carson Daly),^[3] and featured concert performances and coverage of the nearby ball drop at midnight.

During the late 1990s, 2000s, and part of the early 2010s, the special was heavily promoted and featured top musical acts and celebrities. By its final years, the specials had been downsized in comparison. The network decided not to carry a special at the end of 2015 leading into 2016, choosing to carry a marathon of the viral clip series Ridiculousness instead, and the cold opening of the next episode of Teen Wolf at midnight; the network and parent company Viacom in general went through a number of staff and budget cutbacks in 2015 due to declining ratings.^[4]

Editions

1981–82: MTV's New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball^[1]
1982–83: MTV's Second Annual New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball^[5]
1983–84: MTV's 3rd Annual New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball
1984–85: MTV's 4th Annual New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball
1985–86: MTV's 5th Annual New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball
1986–87: Nero's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball, with performers Andy Taylor, Beastie Boys, Dave Edmunds, Lone Justice, and The Georgia Satellites. The network also announced the winner of a contest awarding a nearly $400,000 prize package during the special, which notably included 100 acres of unincorporated land near Wheeler, Texas (dubbed "MTV Town", with a "general store" including a supply of products from sponsor Nabisco).^[6]^[2]
1987-88: MTV's Subway to L.A.
1988–89: MTV's Big Bang '89^[7]
1989–90: MTV's Dawn of the Decade House Party
1990–91: MTV's New Year's Eve World Party: with performers Bon Jovi and Skid Row from the Tokyo Dome, Scorpions from Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, and The Black Crows, Cinderella, and Vanilla Ice from The Ritz in New York City.^[8]
1991–92: MTV '92
1992–93: MTV Drops the Ball '93
1993–94: Janet's Live New Year Jam: a half-hour special featuring live performances by Janet Jackson from her concert at Madison Square Garden, followed by coverage of the ball drop in Times Square. The special was preceded by MTV's Live and Loud, a pre-recorded concert special from Pier 48 in Seattle headlined by Nirvana.^[9]^[10] In 2013, Nirvana would release an uncut recording of the performance on DVD to mark the 20th anniversary of their final album In Utero.^[10]
1997-98: MTV Live From Times Square
1998–99: MTV New Year's Eve Live. Hosts: Carson Daly and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Performers: Green Day, Method Man, Limp Bizkit (With Everlast during "Jump Around"). House DJ: Kid Rock. Guests: Aaliyah, Katie Holmes, 98°. Correspondents: Ananda Lewis, Jesse Camp, Dave Holmes.
1999–2000: MTV 2|Large Millennium Countdown. Hosts: Carson Daly, Christina Aguilera, Kathy Griffin. Correspondents: DJ Skribble, Tyrese, Chris Connelly, Kurt Loder, Dave Holmes. Performers: Blink-182, No Doubt, Bush, 98°, Goo Goo Dolls, Christina Aguilera. DJ: Mark Ronson.
2000–01: New Year's Eve 2001
2001–02: NYE 02
2002–03: New Year Pajama Party
2003–04: MTV's New Year's Eve 2004
2004–05: Iced Out – New Year's Eve 2005
2005–06: New Year of Music
2006–07: MTV Goes Gold – New Year's Eve 2007
2007–08: Tila Tequila's MTV New Year's Eve Masquerade 2008. Co-hosts: Damien Fahey, Lyndsey Rodrigues. Performers: Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock, Fabolous, Paramore, Good Charlotte, Wyclef Jean, Boys Like Girls, Flo Rida. House DJ: Travie McCoy. Guests: Cast members of A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, Perez Hilton.
2008–09: FNMTV Presents: A Miley-Sized Surprise
- Host Miley Cyrus and Metro Station performed from Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, California; Cyrus surprised a Beckman student nominated for her work to "better the lives of others" in 2008 via contributions to the school's breast cancer awareness campaign.^[11]^[12] The Veronicas, Adrienne Bailon, and Lil Mama hosted from Times Square, with performers All Time Low, The Academy Is... and Kevin Rudolf.^[13]
2009–10: MTV News Presents: Top 9 of '09 – Host Adrienne Bailon and the cast of Jersey Shore. Guests: Cast of The Buried Life, Shailene Woodley, and Josie Loren. Produced by MTV News from the small Downtown studio portion of MTV Studios and outside in Times Square covering the nine biggest stories of 2009.
2010–11: MTV New Year's Bash 2011. Host: Whitney Cummings. Guests: Cast of Jersey Shore. Pre-taped ball drop with Snooki inside from Seaside Heights. Correspondents: Kevin Manno and Julie Alexandria. Performers: Flo Rida. Guests: Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell. Pre-taped segments from Bobby Moynihan, Nick Kroll, and Keenan Cahill.
2011–12: MTV NYE In NYC 2012 – Hosts: Demi Lovato and Tyler Posey. Performers: Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez & the Scene, Jason Derulo, Mac Miller and J. Cole.
2012–13: MTV's Club NYE 2013 – Hosts Snooki, JWoww, Jeff Dye. Performers: Ke$ha, Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Rita Ora and Conor Maynard. Guests: Tyler Blackburn, Keegan Allen, choreographer Binkie, Nikki Glaser and Sara Schaefer. House DJ: The Knocks
2013–14 Girl Code Presents: New Year's Code—Special episode of Girl Code at 10pm ET. Hosts: live hosting in Times Square from Carly Aquilino and Charlamagne Tha God during the episode and for the hour after. Guests: Cast of Vampire Acacdemy (Zoey Deutch, Cameron Monaghan, and Dominic Sherwood).^[14]
2014–15: MTV's New Year's Eve 2015 – Hosts Victoria Justice and Charlamagne. New filmed segments with Girl Code and Guy Code comedians.^[15]

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b Blackwood, Nina; Goodman, Mark; Hunter, Alan; Quinn, Martha (2019-05-14). VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV's First Wave. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-7813-0.
^ ^a ^b Denisoff, R. Serge. Inside Mtv. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4128-2630-3.
^ "Carson Daly stakes his claim on New Year's Eve". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 31, 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
^ Littleton, Cynthia (23 December 2015). "MTV Skips New Year's Eve Special For 'Teen Wolf' Teaser, Marathons". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
^ Mann, Court (2020-05-05). "A huge archive of MTV's first decade was just put online". Deseret News. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
^ Archives, L. A. Times (1986-12-30). "MTV GIVING AWAY 'TOWN' IN TEXAS". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
^ By (1988-12-09). "BOBBY BROWN CONTINUES HIS SURPRISING CHART RUN". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
^ "Plenty of celebrations come to you on the tube". Baltimore Sun. 1990-12-31. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
^ "JANET JACKSON, SOAPS, ASTAIRE, COUNTRY CABLE IN NEW YEAR". Washington Post. 2024-02-26. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
^ ^a ^b Montgomery, James (September 20, 2013). "Nirvana's Legendary Live and Loud Concert: The Stories You Don't Know". MTV. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
^ "UPDATE: Miley Cyrus at Irvine's Beckman High tonight". Orange County Register. 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
^ "Miley Cyrus gives New Year's concert from Irvine". Orange County Register. 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
^ "Breaking News – MTV Closes Out 2008 with a Surprise-Filled Bash Featuring One of Music's Biggest Stars, Miley Cyrus, Taking Over a Lucky Fan's Home to Celebrate New Year's Eve | TheFutonCritic.com". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
^ "MTV IS RINGING IN 2014 WITH THE "GIRL CODE PRESENTS: NEW YEAR'S CODE" SPECIAL STARTING DECEMBER 31 AT 10:00 P.M. ET/PT". thepub.viacom.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
^ "RING IN 2015 WITH "MTV'S NEW YEARS EVE 2015" FROM THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE HOSTED LIVE BY "EYE CANDY" STAR VICTORIA JUSTICE AND CHARLAMAGNE FROM "GUY CODE"". thepub.viacom.com. 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.?

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Events

Sports

College Football Playoff bowl games
- Rose
- Orange
- Sugar
- Fiesta
- Cotton
- Peach
Other college football games
Tour de Ski
JFA Emperor's Cup Final
Four Hills Tournament
NHL Winter Classic
Spengler Cup Final
IIHF World Junior Championship
- Team Canada New Year's Eve Game
Saint Silvester Road Race
New Year Sprint
Nos Galan road race

Parades

Television

Music

Miscellaneous

Music-based programs on MTV

Alternative rock

Behind the scenes programs

Becoming
Making the Video

Chart programs

Dance and Electronic music

Amp
Club MTV
The Grind
Street Party
We're Dancin'

General blocks

AMTV
FNMTV
MTV Beach House (MTV Malibu Beach House)

Heavy metal music

Headbangers Ball

Hip-hop and R&B music

Game shows

Lip Service
Say What?
Say What? Karaoke
Turn It Up!

Live performance shows

I.R.S. Records Presents The Cutting Edge
MTV Live
MTV Unplugged

Specials

MTV2 programs

Definitive
Subterranean

International

Coke Studio India
The Dewarists
MTV Select
Euro Top 20
MTV Hustle
MTV Rock On
MTV Sound Trippin
MTV Unplugged India

Misc. subjects

Controversies/criticisms	12 Angry Viewers Censorship on MTV
Listings	Buzz Bin First music videos aired on MTV VJs

MTV original programming

Current

All Star Shore (since 2023)
Catfish: The TV Show (since 2012)
Caught in the Act: Unfaithful (since 2023)
The Challenge (since 1998)
Couples Retreat (since 2023)
MTV Cribs (2000–2011; since 2021)
Ex on the Beach (since 2018)
The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist (since 2023)
Help! I'm in a Secret Relationship! (since 2022)
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (since 2018)
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta (since 2023)
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta: Run It Back (since 2023)
The Love Experiment (since 2023)
MTV Unplugged (since 1989)
The Real Friends of WeHo (since 2023)
Ridiculousness (since 2011)
RuPaul's Drag Race (since 2023)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (since 2023)
Siesta Key (since 2017)
Teen Mom: Family Reunion (since 2022)
Teen Mom: Girls' Night In (since 2022)
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter (since 2022)

Former

1980s debuts	MTV New Year's (1981–2014) We're Dancin' (1982–1983) I.R.S. Records Presents The Cutting Edge (1983–1987) Al TV (1984–1999) The Brawl to End It All (1984) Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes (1985–1987) Heavy Metal Mania (1985–1987) The War to Settle the Score (1985) Dial MTV (1986–1996) 120 Minutes (1986–2000) MTV Spring Break (1986–2014, 2019) Headbangers Ball (1987–1995) Stevie and Zoya (1987–1989) Club MTV (1987–1992) Remote Control (1987–1990) Yo! MTV Raps (1988–1995) Just Say Julie (1989–1992) House of Style (1989–2012) Camp MTV (1989) Street Party (1989–1992) Totally Pauly (1989–1994) PostModern MTV (1989–1993)
1990s debuts	Turn It Up! (1990) Pirate TV (1990) Sex in the '80s (1990) The Idiot Box (1991) MTV Rock N' Jock (1991–2001) Liquid Television (1991–2014) Æon Flux (1991–1995) MTV Sports (1992–1997) Lip Service (1992–1994) The Grind (1992–1997) The Ben Stiller Show (1992–1993) The Real World (1992–2017) Catwalk (1992–1994) Sex in the '90s (1992–1994) Alternative Nation (1992–1997) Like We Care (1992) You Wrote It, You Watch It (1992–1993) Beavis and Butt-Head (1993–1997, 2011) The Jon Stewart Show (1993–1994) The State (1993–1995) MTV Beach House (1993) Trashed (1994) Dead at 21 (1994) The Brothers Grunt (1994–1995) The Head (1994–1996) MTV News: Unfiltered (1994–1998) Squirt TV (1994–1996) The Maxx (1995) Road Rules (1995–2004, 2007) Singled Out (1995–1998, 2018) Buzzkill (1996) Amp (1996–2001) Idiot Savants (1996–1997) Loveline (1996–2000) Daria (1997–2001) The Jenny McCarthy Show (1997) Oddville, MTV (1997–1999) Apartment 2F (1997) Austin Stories (1997–1998) 12 Angry Viewers (1997–1998) Cartoon Sushi (1997–1998) MTV Live (1997–1998) Total Request (1998) Celebrity Deathmatch (1998–2002, 2006–2007) Total Request Live (1998–2008; 2017–2019) Wanna Be a VJ (1998–2000) Say What? Karaoke (1998–2003) FANatic (1998–2000) True Life (1998–2017, 2020) The Cut (1998) Say What? (1998–1999) The Sifl and Olly Show (1998–1999) Super Adventure Team (1998) The Blame Game (1999–2000) Station Zero (1999) Making the Video (1999–2009) Undressed (1999–2002) Downtown (1999) webRIOT (1999–2000) The Tom Green Show (1999–2000)
2000s debuts	The Lyricist Lounge Show (2000–2001) Diary (2000–2014) Spy Groove (2000–2002) Fear (2000–2002) Jackass (2000–2002) WWE Heat (2000–2003) Live Through This (2000) Kathy's So-Called Reality (2001) The Andy Dick Show (2001–2002) Undergrads (2001) Spyder Games (2001) WWE Tough Enough (2001–2003) Sex 2K (2001–2004) Becoming (2001) Dismissed (2001–2003) MTV Icon (2001–2004) The Osbournes (2002–2005) The Sausage Factory (2002) Made (2002–2014) I Bet You Will (2002) Sorority Life (2002–2004) Clone High (2002–2003) 3-South (2002–2003) Doggy Fizzle Televizzle (2002–2003) Carmen and Dave: An MTV Love Story (2002) Making the Band 2 (2002–2004) Scratch and Burn (2002) Fraternity Life (2003–2005) Punk'd (2003–2007, 2012) Surf Girls (2003) Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) The New Tom Green Show (2003) Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica (2003–2005) Viva La Bam (2003–2005) Wildboyz (2003–2004) Rich Girls (2003) Room Raiders (2003–2009) Boiling Points (2004–2005) 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave (2004) High School Stories (2004–2006) Pimp My Ride (2004–2007) I Want a Famous Face (2004–2005) Wanna Come In? (2004) The Ashlee Simpson Show (2004–2005) The Assistant (2004) Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County (2004–2006) Battle for Ozzfest (2004–2005) Date My Mom (2004–2006) Damage Control (2005) PoweR Girls (2005) Trippin' (2005) My Super Sweet 16 (2005–2009, 2017) Making the Band 3 (2005–2006) Meet the Barkers (2005–2006) Next (2005–2008) The Andy Milonakis Show (2005–2007) MTV's The 70s House (2005) Run's House (2005–2009) Miss Seventeen (2005) Homewrecker (2005) Trick It Out (2005–2007) Wild 'n Out (2005–2007, 2013–2019) There & Back (2006) The Gamekillers (2006) Parental Control (2006–2010) 8th & Ocean (2006) Tiara Girls (2006) Call to Greatness (2006) Yo Momma (2006–2007) Blowin' Up (2006–2007) The Hills (2006–2010) The Adventures of Chico and Guapo (2006) Final Fu (2006) Two-A-Days (2006–2007) Rob & Big (2006–2008) My Own (2006) Sucker Free (2006–2008) twentyfourseven (2006) Why Can't I Be You? (2006) DanceLife (2007) Maui Fever (2007) Engaged and Underage (2007–2008) Bam's Unholy Union (2007) Wrestling Society X (2007) Exposed (2007–2008) I'm from Rolling Stone (2007) Juvies (2007) Taquita + Kaui (2007) Hilary Duff: This Is Now (2007) Adventures in Hollyhood (2007) Human Giant (2007–2008) Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz (2007) Scarred (2007) Making the Band 4 (2007–2009) The X Effect (2007–2009) Room 401 (2007) Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County (2007–2008) Life of Ryan (2007–2008) Celebrity Rap Superstar (2007) A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila (2007) Pageant Place (2007) Kaya (2007) Barrio 19 (2007) Making Menudo (2007) America's Best Dance Crew (2008–2012, 2015) That's Amore! (2008) Rock the Cradle (2008) The Paper (2008) A Shot at Love II with Tila Tequila (2008) Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods (2008) FNMTV (2008) From G's to Gents (2008–2009) Buzzin' (2008) MTV's Top Pop Group (2008) Paris Hilton's My New BFF (2008–2009) 50 Cent: The Money and the Power (2008–2009) A Double Shot at Love (2008–2009) Bromance (2008–2009) The City (2008–2010) 16 and Pregnant (2009–2014; 2020–2021) Daddy's Girls (2009) How's Your News? (2009) Is She Really Going Out with Him? (2009–2010) Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (2009–2015) The CollegeHumor Show (2009) T.I.'s Road to Redemption (2009) Dogg After Dark (2009) $5 Cover (2009) Making His Band (2009) Taking the Stage (2009–2010) Bully Beatdown (2009–2012) Music Feed (2009–2017) College Life (2009) The Phone (2009) DJ & the Fro (2009) It's On with Alexa Chung (2009) Silent Library (2009–2011) Nitro Circus (2009) Pranked (2009–2012) Popzilla (2009) Disaster Date (2009–2011) Valemont (2009) Gone Too Far (2009) Jersey Shore (2009–2012) Teen Mom OG (2009–2012; 2015–2021)
2010s debuts	My Life as Liz (2010–2011) The Buried Life (2010) The Dudesons in America (2010) Hired (2010) When I Was 17 (2010–2011) Downtown Girls (2010) The Hard Times of RJ Berger (2010–2011) The Ride (2010) Warren the Ape (2010) If You Really Knew Me (2010) Lucha Libre USA (2010–2011) The Seven (2010–2011) I Used to Be Fat (2010–2011, 2013) World of Jenks (2010–2013) Cuff'd (2011) Skins (2011) Teen Wolf (2011–2017) Awkward (2011–2016) I Just Want My Pants Back (2011–2012) Death Valley (2011) Plain Jane (2011) Good Vibes (2011) Friendzone (2011–2014) Teen Mom 2 (2011–2022) Caged (2012) The Pauly D Project (2012) Savage U (2012) Snooki & Jwoww (2012–2015) The Inbetweeners (2012) This Is How I Made It (2012–2013) Underemployed (2012–2013) Money from Strangers (2012–2013) The Alectrix (2013) Buckwild (2013) Girl Code (2013–2015) Nikki & Sara Live (2013) Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life (2013) The Show with Vinny (2013) Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous (2013) Teen Mom 3 (2013) Big Tips Texas (2013) Scrubbing In (2013) Are You the One? (2014–2019) Faking It (2014–2016) Finding Carter (2014–2015) Snack-Off (2014–2015) Virgin Territory (2014) Happyland (2014) House of Food (2014) Slednecks (2014) Broke Ass Game Show (2015–2016) Eye Candy (2015) Follow the Rules (2015) Kingin' with Tyga (2015–2016) Todrick (2015) Middle of the Night Show (2015) One Bad Choice (2015) Scream (2015–2016) Acting Out (2016) The Almost Impossible Game Show (2016) The Shannara Chronicles (2016) Fail Army (2016) Fast Food Heights (2016) Greatest Party Story Ever (2016) Ladylike (2016) Loosely Exactly Nicole (2016) Mary + Jane (2016) Owning It (2016) The Racket (2016) Suspect (2016) Sweet/Vicious (2016–2017) Are You the One? Second Chances (2017) Dare to Live (2017) 90's House (2017) Stranded with a Million Dollars (2017) Promposal (2017) Shinesty (2017) Undressed (2017) Teen Mum (2017) Amazingness (2017–2018) The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars (2017–2018) Fear Factor (2017–2018) Floribama Shore (2017–2021) SafeWord (2017–2018) Catfish: Trolls (2018) Too Stupid to Die (2018) Winter Break: Hunter Mountain (2018) Pretty Little Mamas (2018) How Far Is Tattoo Far? (2018–2019) Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant (2018–2022) Game of Clones (2019) Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club (2019) True Life/Now (2019) Made in Staten Island (2019) Double Shot at Love (2019–2021) Ghosted: Love Gone Missing (2019–2021) The Hills: New Beginnings (2019, 2021) Teen Mom: Young Moms Club (2019)
2020s debuts	16 and Recovering (2020) The Busch Family Brewed (2020) Deliciousness (2020–2022) Families of the Mafia (2020–2021) Revenge Prank (2020–2021) True Life Crime (2020–2021) Adorableness (2021) Messyness (2021–2022) Becoming a Popstar (2022) Buckhead Shore (2022) The Challenge: Untold History (2022) Love at First Lie (2022)