The show was commissioned to replace
Guy Lombardo's New Year specials. Though Lombardo had died in 1977, Guy's brother,
Victor Lombardo, and their nephew Bill Lombardo, led the Royal Canadians band for two more New Year specials (1977 and 1978) after that.
Happy New Year, America featured coverage of the
Times Square Ball in
New York City and the party in the ballroom of
The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, both of which were also covered during the Lombardo years. However, the show also featured pre-taped segments from
Billy Bob's Texas (as made popular by CBS drama
Dallas) and
Walt Disney World. The show had a different host year after year, unlike its competitor ''
New Year's Rockin' Eve'' (which was annually hosted by
Dick Clark).
Andy Williams was the most frequent guest host of the show. Other hosts include
Paul Anka, who did the first one,
Donny Osmond,
Natalie Cole,
Gladys Knight (1986–87; 1988–89) and
Al Jarreau (who substituted for Knight when she was sick in the 1985–86 show), along with
Kermit the Frog. Other people who have covered the countdown from Times Square include
Catherine Bach (1979–80, 1980–81),
Donna Mills,
Michelle Lee,
Jim Varney (in character as
Ernest P. Worrell, 1988–89),
Terry Bradshaw (1990–91),
Brent Musburger (1986–87)'
Christie Brinkley (1987–88),
Natalie Cole and
Lily Tomlin (in character as "Ernestine the Telephone Lady" 1984–85), having made appearances over the course of the show's run. In 1991–92, CBS aired the ''
Hard Rock Cafe New Year's Special'', with
Paul Reiser hosting from the New Orleans Hard Rock Cafe, with live performances by
Bonnie Raitt,
John Mellencamp, and pre-taped appearances by
Sting,
INXS,
Dire Straits and the
Neville Brothers. The special returned the following year, with
Jay Thomas hosting from the New York Cafe and
Nia Peeples reporting from Times Square. It featured appearances by
Keith Richards,
Robert Cray,
Genesis,
Pearl Jam,
The B-52s,
Bo Diddley,
The Kids in the Hall,
Judy Tenuta and
U2. The special went on hiatus for 1993–94; CBS instead aired a special edition of its recently-launched
late-night talk show Late Show with David Letterman (competing with the traditional
New Year's edition of
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC), with guests
Tom and
Roseanne Arnold,
Bon Jovi, and live coverage from Times Square.
HNYA returned for 1994–95, this time with Letterman's bandleader
Paul Shaffer as host. The following year,
Montel Williams hosted what would be the final edition of the special.
Cancellation, successors In 1996, Disney ended all outside productions with the other major networks upon their purchase of
ABC, and CBS decided to exit live coverage of the holiday at that time. Since then, reruns of
The Late Show aired as normal. For 1998–99, CBS aired a special New Year's episode of
Late Show with guest
Nathan Lane aired on December 31, 1998. For 2000, CBS aired a schedule of special programming, beginning with a prime time edition of
Late Show with guest
Kevin James and cameo appearances by Dick Clark and New York mayor
Rudy Giuliani. This was followed by ''America's Millennium'', a special co-hosted from the
Lincoln Memorial by
Will Smith and
Dan Rather; it featured coverage of
Quincy Jones'
America's Millennium gala, including appearances by
Celine Dion,
Trisha Yearwood, and the cast of
Stomp among others, and the premiere of
The Unfinished Dream—a short film by
Steven Spielberg. On December 31, 2021, CBS reintroduced a national New Year's special with the
country music-themed ''
New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash''; its second edition would add coverage from Times Square co-anchored by
WCBS-TV meteorologist
Lonnie Quinn. ==References==