Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen Bring Holiday Chaos to The Late Show with Shots, New Year’s Confessions, and an Awkward Disney Moment

The holidays clearly haven’t begun until Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen appear together on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. As soon as the two longtime friends walked onstage, Stephen Colbert declared their presence the official signal that the festive season had arrived — and the audience enthusiastically agreed.

This marked the fifth consecutive year Cooper and Cohen have appeared together for a joint interview to promote their New Year’s Eve countdown. And in true tradition, alcohol played a central role. Colbert decided to “warm Anderson up” for the big night by introducing a shot-ski — a multi-person shot device — and inviting everyone to participate live on air.

While Cooper repeatedly insisted he had “never done this before,” Cohen was far more comfortable, joking that drinking on television is practically a weekly routine for him on Watch What Happens Live. The oversized shots quickly set the tone for a chaotic and humorous interview.

The New Year’s Eve Reality: One Drunk, One in Charge

When Colbert brought up last year’s New Year’s Eve broadcast and the afterparty at Patti LuPone’s house, Cohen wasted no time teasing his co-host. According to him, Cooper remembered very little of the evening due to how drunk he was — something Cooper didn’t entirely deny.

Cohen revealed a behind-the-scenes truth viewers rarely hear: by around 10:45 p.m. every New Year’s Eve, he becomes the “straight man” of the CNN broadcast. He knows Cooper’s voice so well that the slightest slur is enough to signal it’s time to take control.

Cooper admitted he only drinks once a year — during the New Year’s Eve broadcast with Cohen — and confessed that once the show ends, his biggest fear is checking headlines the next morning to see if CNN has been embarrassed yet again.

Disney World, Childhood Trauma, and the Dumbo Incident

The conversation then shifted to a recent trip the duo took to Disney World with their children. Cooper shared that the last time he visited Disney was when he was six years old — a trip so traumatic he cried every night while calling home. This visit, thankfully, was much better.

That is, until they boarded the Dumbo ride.

Thanks to a private guide, Cooper and Cohen were ushered straight onto the attraction. Mid-ride, Cooper looked around and realized something was very wrong: every other Dumbo car was empty. The ride had been shut down entirely so the two celebrities could circle the attraction alone with their children, while a long line of guests stood below taking photos.

“I just wanted to sink down into the Dumbo,” Cooper admitted. “The optics were terrible.”

Cohen, on the other hand, was completely unfazed — his kids even wanted to ride again. Cooper quickly put a stop to it, insisting they clarify with the guide that such special treatment could never happen again.

A Holiday Tradition That Never Disappoints

The interview ended on laughter, reinforcing why Cooper and Cohen remain one of television’s most entertaining duos. Their chemistry, self-deprecating humor, and willingness to share unflattering moments continue to make them a highlight of the holiday television season.

As Colbert put it best: when Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen show up together, the holidays have officially begun.