Rather watch TV?
There’s lots to see
If staying at home is your
style, you won't be disappointedThere's always someone at home New Year's Eve with eyes glued to the television set. That's one way to be somewhere you're not, as in Times Square, waiting for the ball to drop at the stroke of midnight, without the traffic, crowds or cold weather. Just sit back in your warm, cozy couch and let the networks bring the party to you.
It's still early and you know how fickle the networks are, so most of the millennium programming is still in the planning stages and will be subject to change. But this is what they're offering so far on New Year's Eve:
NBC will present its annual highly rated "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," starting at 11:35 p.m., which features a live countdown to the New Year from Times Square. It will be followed by a special edition of "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." The network's news division will also be offering special coverage of millennium events.
KHNL/NBC
CBS is planning to devote most of its prime-time and late-night programming on Dec. 31 to millennium coverage. Local affiliate KGMB may have a local special, depending on the networks' final plan. The network broadcast of the countdown to midnight will be delayed to match local time.
No local coverage is planned, but PBS' Millennium Day Broadcast will be carried live. PBS plans a 26-hour broadcast of performances and storytelling with a top-of-the-hour segment on countries entering the new century at that time. There will be satellite hook-ups with the space station Mir, the South Pole and ships at sea.
ABC has announced plans to cover the millennium with Peter Jennings, who will travel around the world on a 24-hour assignment, reporting on the new year's arrival around the globe. KITV will probably not air the entire 24-hour coverage, but will intersperse local coverage with the network special.
Fox usually produces a 90-minute special for New Year's Eve, but the plans for this year's program have not yet been announced. KHON expects to combine network programming with its own. At this time, KHON anticipates a live broadcast from the Aloha Tower Marketplace, with entertainment, fireworks and a countdown to midnight on the Aloha Tower clock.
KFVE plans to broadcast a concert by Keali'i Reichel and an ensemble of dancers, singers and other entertainers live from the Hilton Hawaiian Village between 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. The station is also exploring into other programming possibilities.
PAX-TV is cooperating with the Millennium Television Network in presenting a 24-hour live broadcast from more than 70 nations, covering the arrival of the year 2000 as it arrives worldwide. Hawaii events should finally make it to the screen during the 23rd hour of coverage.
