Television Offers Plenty Of Ways To Ring In The New Year

Looking for a way to ring in the New Year that doesn't involve "partying like its 1999?" The plethora of cable and broadcast networks are offering a variety of traditional and non-traditional programming designed to keep you tuned in as 1999 comes to a close.

First, a minor note: Contrary to what you hear from most media outlets, neither the new millennium nor the new century begins on January 1, 2000. They don't officially start until the year 2001. It is something only math and computer geeks seem to understand. Heaven forbid a reporter actually do some checking on their facts to get it right.

Now that we have one of my biggest pet peeves out of the way, we can move on to some of the many programs planned to help ring in the New Year. Unless otherwise noted, each program begins on December 31st. Many continue through January 1st. In no particular order, they are:

ABC 2000, 1:50 a.m. - a program designed to take viewers literally all around the world as the year 2000 dawns on each continent. It also included the eternal Dick Clark and his countdown to the year 2000 from Times Square in New York. Scheduled running time: 23 hours and 10 minutes.

FELIZ MILENIO, UNIVISION, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. Don Francisco hosts this 24 hour celebration. Broadcast in Spanish, it features musical guests, memorable television clips etc.

PBS MILLENNIUM 2000, PBS, 1:50 a.m. - December 31st to 1:50 a.m. January 2nd. A program featuring reports from reporters and networks from around the world. Features interviews, musical celebrations etc.

MTV 2 LARGE, 5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. MTV offers a celebration as only they can with a variety of top musical guests including THE BACKSTREET BOYS, BLINK 182, 98 DEGRESS and ENRIQUE IGLASIAS. Here is a helpful hint. If you have to ask who any of those acts are, this is probably not the show for you!

Looking for something a little different than the standard New Years television fare? Then try:

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, TBS, concludes at 9:00 p.m., December 31st. The Turner Network airs 33 episodes of one of the most beloved series in the history of television.

BABY, ITS YOU, The Learning Channel, 12:00 noon - 10:00 p.m. This series, which features young family talking about their hopes and dreams, is presented in a 10-hour marathon format.

ELVIS IN HOLLYWOOD, TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES, Concludes at 2:00 a.m. on January 1st. The network airs 8 of the Kings movies. Most certainly weren't classics but they are fun to watch nonetheless.

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