Ryan Seacrest Says He’s “Anxious” Over Mariah Carey’s Return to ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

Nicole Briese
Dec 31, 2017

2017 was a memorable year right from the start, thanks to an… unforgettable New Year’s Eve performance from Miss Mariah Carey. After the songstress experienced technical issues of disastrous proportions, we were plenty surprised — and simultaneously anxious — to hear that she was gearing up for round two, with plans to join Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas, and Sugarland onstage once more as the ball dropped for 2018. As it turns out, we weren’t alone: host Ryan Seacrest is also admittedly anxious for Carey’s return.

Opening up to E!, the LIVE With Kelly and Ryan star quipped, “This year, we are really anxious to see Mariah come back.”

He has good reason to be — as he explained, “We’re really not in control. This is so different than doing a show on a stage or in a theatre, or an arena — you’re in Times Square with all the elements, including wind chill of -5… It’s gonna be more challenging this year, cause it IS colder.”

TMZ is reporting that the weather is indeed a threat to Carey, as her performance (which will potentially include two songs, one being “Hero,”) is supposed to conclude with the diva joining Seacrest for the countdown near the ball-drop area, which is a good distance away from her stage. As a solution, the team reportedly plans to roll her there in a chair.

Seacrest, 43, went on to add, “You hear people say, ‘anything can happen,’ and it did, last year… I don’t think you can ever go on the air and say, ‘This is gonna go perfectly, cause there’s a lot of things out of our control, but I’m sure, that those involved in that performance, including the singer, will make preparations.”

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See you tomorrow @rockineve!! 🎉🥂 Tune-in 12/31 at 8/7c on ABC! #RockinEve

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Still, the American Idol host remains hopeful. “When we first heard of the notion, I think we thought, ‘Well, that can’t.. no, she won’t… really?’ And then we started thinking, ‘This is the best idea. This is the greatest idea, she’ll be amazing… She’s… legendary. She’s done so many amazing performances, and you’ll see one on New Year’s Eve.”

“The Star” crooner released a joint statement with Dick Clark Productions to announce her return last week, saying, “We can all agree that last year didn’t go as planned and we are thrilled to move forward together to provide America with an incredible night of music and celebration on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest in 2018. See you in Times Square!”

Check in to see Carey redeem herself on December 31 beginning at 8pm/7c on ABC.

Do you think Mariah Carey will slay NYE 2018? Sound off over @BritandCo.

(Photo via Neilson Barnard/Getty)

Top Off Your NYE Celebration With This Easy Prosecco Martini Recipe

We truly can't argue with the greatness of bubbly. It's the quintessential celebratory sip, whether served on its own or in a decadent cocktail like this one. It feels like the most fitting drink for Christmastime entertaining and fabulous end-of-year celebrations. That's why you'll be reaching for this super easy Prosecco martini recipe when it comes to that New Years party you're planning. All you need to whip up a great entertaining drinkis your spirit of choice, some lemon, raspberries and of course, bubbles! Don't wait another minute to shake this sip up, everyone will love it.

Ingredients for Prosecco Martinis

  • 8 ounces vodka
  • 1 whole lemon, juiced
  • 8 ounces chilled Prosecco
  • 4 raspberries, for garnish
  • Lemon wedge, for the rim
  • Sparkly sprinkles, for the rim

How to Make Prosecco Martinis

  1. Take four martini glasses and rub each rim with a lemon wedge. Pour the sparkly sprinkles onto a plate and dip each rim in the sprinkles. Set aside.
  2. In a shaker, add in the vodka, lemon juice and ice and shake until chilled. Strain the mixture evenly in the martini glasses.
  3. Top each glass with the Prosecco and add in a raspberry in the glass or as a garnish on a cocktail pick. Serve immediately!

Check out more of our drink recipes for celebrating all year long!

Recipe development and photography by Sarah Anderson.

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17 Celebrity Cameos On ‘Gossip Girl’ You Probably Forgot About

New York City is a home and a hub for celebrities across all industries, and the glitzy appeal of Gossip Girl’s NYC is made all the more glamorous by its numerous celebrity cameos. Given that Blair and Serena run in the upper echelon of the city’s It girls, it actually makes total sense for them to be rubbing shoulders with Alexa Chung and Lady Gaga. You never know who you’re going to run into on the Upper East Side — and in Gossip Girl’s case, you may not even remember half the celebs you meet.

Over the course of six wonderfully melodramatic seasons, Gossip Girl racked up quite a stacked cast list on IMDB. From stars with recurring roles to those who pop in to play themselves for one scene, here are 17 celebrities who appeared on Gossip Girl that you probably forgot about.

Scroll down to see all the celebrity Gossip Girlcameos we're totally obsessed with!

1. William Baldwin

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Serena van der Woodsen’s got some serious daddy issues. One of Gossip Girl’s longest subplots is Serena’s search for her father, who essentially walked out on her when she was a kid. He finally appears for the first time in Season 3 Episode 19 (“Dr. Estrangeloved), where he’s played by a member of one of NYC’s royal families, William Baldwin. (In case you’re wondering, he’s Hailey Bieber’s uncle.)

2. Lady Gaga

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You probably blocked out the time Blair and Dan put on a jukebox version of Snow White at NYU given that the whole ordeal was painfully cringe. That means you probably also blocked out the fact that real-life NYU alum Lady Gaga gives a dead-eyed performance of “Bad Romance” at the end of the episode (Season 3 Episode 10, “The Last Days of Discostick”).

3. Hilary Duff

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Also included in the Season 3 NYU timeline is Hilary Duff as Olivia Burke. Olivia’s a famous actress who balances attending NYU, starring in the vampire romance franchise Endless Knights, and dating Dan. She’s basically the Gossip Girl universe’s hybrid of Kristen Stewart and Emma Watson.

4. Sebastian Stan

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Okay, there’s absolutely no way you forgot this one. Before Sebastian Stan was the MCU’s BB, he was Gossip Girl’s lesser-known CB — Carter Baizen. Stan played St. Jude’s sleaziest graduate and one of Serena’s most questionable exes from Seasons 1 through 3.

5. Karlie Kloss

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Karlie Kloss will always attend a NYFW party — even if that party only exists within Gossip Girl’s Season 4 premiere (“Belles du Jour”).

6. Armie Hammer

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Serena’s dating history includes one man whose bite may be worse than his bark. In Season 2, she starts dating a con man named Gabriel Edwards, played by Armie Hammer.

7. Cyndi Lauper

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Girls just wanna have Cyndi Lauper do a surprise performance at their eighteenth birthday party — at least, Blair Waldorf does. Lauper makes a cameo in Season 2 Episode 10 (“Bonfire of the Vanity”).

8. Tyra Banks

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Tyra Banks plays Ursula, a famous actress who Serena keeps from crashing out at a movie premiere, in Season 3 Episode 4 (“Dan de Fleurette”).

9. Clémence Poésy

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When Chuck goes to France in Season 4 and attempts to restart his life as Henry Prince, he takes Fleur Delacour — err, I mean, Clémence Poésy — along for the ride.

10. Mädchen Amick

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Sorry, Archiekins — Alice Cooper’s got her eye on a different Archibald. Riverdale star Mädchen Amick appears in Season 2 as Nate’s first foray into MILF territory.

11. Elizabeth Hurley

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Mädchen Amick walked so Elizabeth Hurley could run … Nate’s life into the ground. Hurley plays shady media mogul Diana Payne throughout Season 5.

12. Aaron Tveit

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This guest star lives rent-free in Broadway fans’ minds. Aaron Tveit, the patron saint of tenors, appears in Seasons 2 through 5 as Nate’s cousin, politician Tripp van der Bilt.

13. Alexa Chung

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In Season 6 Episode 3 (“Dirty Rotten Scandals”), Alexa Chung, the minimalist darling of the 2010s fashion blogging scene, refuses to walk the runway at Blair Waldorf’s debut fashion show.

14. Rachel Bilson & Kristen Bell

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Rachel Bilson and Kristen Bell show up in the series finale as two actresses auditioning for a role in Inside Out, the movie adaptation of Dan’s bestselling book, Inside. Bell’s voice should ring a bell — she’s the voice ofGossip Girl.

15. Tim Gunn

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Project Runway’s iconic mentor, Tim Gunn gives Jenny a little mentorship in Season 4 Episode 6 (“Easy J”).

16. Rachel Zoe

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Rachel Zoe: celebrity stylist, fashion designer, and extremely good sport. In her GG cameo in Season 4 Episode 7 (“War at the Roses”), Zoe takes a tumble and spills chocolate sauce all over her head before delivering her iconic catchphrase, “I die.” We die, too.

17. Florence Welch

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Welch’s performance of “Cosmic Love” in Season 4 Episode 14 (“Panic Roommate”) was reportedly due to her real-life friendship with Blake Lively. The actress suggested to the producers that they should use Florence’s music in the show. The producers went one step further, and we’re all the better for it.

Wonder what other celebs have appeared in your favorite TV shows? Check out these 24 Sex and the City cameos and 11 Gilmore Girls cameos you may have missed!

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7 Fun Family Traditions to Start This New Year’s

The gift-giving holidays have come and gone. The menorah is safely tucked away, and the tree's lights are coming down. The year is done, and it's time to celebrate, but now that you're a mama it's time to nix the late-night New Year's Eve plans. Replace the old night of Champagne-fueled fabulousness with a New Year's Day of family fun. Check out these artsy ideas, treats, and family activities that keep the merriment going year after year!

Reflection Questions

You’ve had an entire year’s worth of moments to remember. That’s 365 days of laughter, surprises, sweetness, and so much more. Print out reflection cards, and use them to ask each other to name their bests, favorites, and most memorables of the year. Start when your kiddo is a baby, and keep going as they grow. In a few years your little one can start giving their own awesome answers. (via Artsy-Fartsy Mama)

Printable Party Hats

Print-and-color hats are so, so, so simple — and the kids will totally get into the craftiness of this New Year’s activity. Keep each year’s hat, adding to the collection. By the time your now-tot is ready to head off to college, you’ll have a stack of hats to reflect upon. (via MyPrintly)

Time Capsule

Reuse an old jar to magically transform it into a time capsule. Gather the family ‘round, fill the capsule with anything that’s memorable from the year before, seal it up, and set it aside for the future. Way, way, way into the future: The longer you wait to open it, the more fun it will be. (via Red Ted Art)

Milk and Cookies

It’s time to leave those frosted Santas and sprinkle-covered reindeer cookies behind. Start a New Year’s cookie tradition (and really, who doesn’t enjoy a tradition that revolves around cookies?) with homemade chocolate chip deliciousness and Champagne flutes filled with milk. Yum! (via Crystal & Co.)

Calling all foodies for this festive — and totally tasty — tradition. The littles love their pizza, but you’re not exactly up for a New Year’s ordered-in pie. So make your own: your own pizza

your own tradition. Each year, come up with a theme or a topping to try. Get kind of crazy and try unexpected recipes, such as a shaved asparagus pizza. Take pics of your mealtime creations year after year. (via Smitten Kitchen)

New Year’s Survey

Make something special that you and your kids can look back on throughout the new year. Help your tot to fill out a “survey” as an annual holiday tradition. Along with taking a look back at this year, you can browse the printed surveys decades from now when your kiddo has kids of their own! (via Simple Fun for Kids)

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Forget about the mimosa bar: It’s time for a new New Year’s Day drink. Set up an annual hot cocoa bar, making your own mixes (and adding your own mix-ins). Create a new signature hot chocolate flavor each year to keep this sweetly steamy tradition going. (via Brown Eyed Baker)
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Blake Lively's 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' Co-Stars Slam Justin Baldoni For "Forceful Retaliation"

This weekend, news dropped that Blake Lively filed a bombshell lawsuit against It Ends With Usco-star Justin Baldoni, and everyone is rushing to her support — including her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsco-stars!

One day we need to have a conversation about how easy it is to assign the 'mean girl' role to women like Anne Hathaway, Hailey Bieber, Meghan Markle, and now, Blake Lively. Since that's a separate article, let's focus on the situation at hand. According to Deadline, Lively's suing Baldoni for "sexually harassing her and subsequently enacting 'a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.'" After the news dropped, The New York Times subsequently published article that details the winding allegations against Baldoni, producer Jamie Heath, and more players in the supposed targeted attack against her.

While a lot of public opinion turned against Lively during the It Ends With Us rollout, it's clear those closest to her showed unyielding support. Now, fellow celebrities are showing up in droves to stand with Lively amid the allegations. One bold show of support that we're totally here for? Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn taking their "sisterhood" to new heights. Here's what they — and everyone else — has said in support of Blake Lively so far.

Scroll down to see everyone who's supported Blake Lively amid the Justin Baldoni lawsuit so far!

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Blake Lively's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Co-Stars

Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, and America Ferrera made it clear that they're firmly in support of their friend Blake Lively. They released a message on Instagram that left no room for assumption about their beliefs following Blake's lawsuit against Baldoni.
The statement reads:
As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation. Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.

Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.

We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can still face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe work environment. We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others.

For anyone seeking more information or engaging in this important conversation online, please read the full legal complaint in the investigative reporting by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for the New York Times.

We love the lasting, strong friendship between these four!

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Colleen Hoover, Author of It Ends With Us

According to Entertainment Weekly, Colleen Hoover also spoke up in light of the damage Baldoni inflicted. She tagged Blake via Instagram Stories and wrote, "You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt." A picture of the author and star hugging followed Hoover's words, adding to the depth of the moment.

Paul Feig, Director of A Simple Favor

Director Paul Feig also shared his thoughts about what it's like to work with Blake on X. He said, "I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this."

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Robyn Lively, Blake Lively's Sister

The sisterly energy is real and we're so glad Blake is surrounded by it. Robyn, Blake's big sister, shared her full thoughts in a lengthy Instagram caption just 10 hours!

While encouraging people to do research for themselves by reading The New York Times article that details the devious plot to publicly destroy Blake, she had other things to say. "We live in an age where we have access to people’s personal lives like never before — especially actors. It makes us feel like we know them. We see them on social media, watch clips of them, and make snap decisions about their character," she wrote. This reminds me of the parasocial relationships author Amanda Montell detailed in The Age of Magical Overthinking — definitely something for us all to keep in mind.

She also called out how easy it is for the media to warp the public's perception of the truth. "The 'truth' in the tabloids is hardly ever what you think," she added before eventually expressing how "proud" she is that her sister "didn't allow herself to be silenced in the face of adversity and lies."

Bart Johnson, Blake Lively's Brother-in-law

According to Page Six, Blake's brother-in-law Bart Johnson didn't hesitate to share his thoughts about the behavior of Baldoni and his team. He reportedly wrote, "Her complaints were filed during the filming. On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him [Baldoni] for a reason." in the comment section of the NYT Instagram post about the lengthy deep dive into what happened.

He continued by writing, "His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out [sic] faults. But the public got played."

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Nicole Kidman Spills On Spending "A Lot Of Time In Bed" With Harris Dickinson During 'Babygirl' — Exclusive

The most important detail about any romantic movie is chemistry between its leads. Even the worst movie can be rescued by two characters you believe actually love each other. But that's not a problem for A24's Babygirl (in theaters December 25) because Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson have chemistry in spades. The new A24 movie follows CEO Romy (Kidman), who begins a torrid affair with a young intern named Samuel (Dickinson). And AMC queen Nicole says she knew Harris was different the moment he walked in the room.

Here's what Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson had to say about their chemistry in our exclusive Babygirl featurette.

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson connected the moment they met.

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"As soon as he walked in, I was like, 'Oh good, here's somebody who's gonna play with me," Nicole Kidman says in our exclusive Babygirl featurette. "We spent a lot of time in bed. Hours would go by, and it was like you would step out of there and you would say, 'What just happened?'"

"From the moment [Samuel] sees her, he's attracted to her. He realizes there's someone at the height of their power," Harris says. "There was an element of mystique that needed to be there for the exploration of the relationship."

Harris continues that "perhaps there's something unfulfilled going on," perhaps referencing Romy's fizzled-out marriage with Jacob, while Nicole adds that "she's searching for something else" as the movie examines "desires, wants, [and] needs."

"Drink it in and be transported," she says.

​And their chemistry in 'Babygirl' was so intense, Nicole Kidman had to take breaks from filming.

In addition to spending "hours" in bed (which, honestly sounds like a pretty good work day to me), Nicole told The Sun in October that filming those scenes with Harris Dickinson became so intense, she would need breaks. “There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,'” she said. “Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!”

But having a woman at the helm of the film (writer-director-producer Halina Reijn) both made Nicole feel more comfortable, and empowered her to tell this story. "Doing this subject matter in the hands of the woman that wrote the script, that's directing it and is a really great actress herself — we became one in a weird way, which I'd never had with a director before," she says in a statement. "When you're working with a woman on this subject matter, you can share everything with each other.”

"I really decided in the beginning, I want to make a sexual film, just as sexual as all these films that I've always admired so much," Halina says, "but now I'm going to do it completely through female eyes. What does that mean and what does that look like?” See Babygirl in theaters December 25 to find out.

Here are the 10 New December Movies You Need To Add To Your Calendar ASAP.

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