New Years Eve TV For Those That Spend New Years On the Couch

Is there any better place to spend New Year's Eve than sitting on your couch, flipping the channels and watching all the activity from Times Square?

The answer to this question is of course yes. But most of us will be within range of a television at some point on December 31, and could no doubt use a special edition of What2Watch to give advice on what will be happening. Don't mind if I do. In chronological order:

Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2010 (BET, 11 a.m.): It's a fact: Every song released in 2010 was "featuring" either Ludacris, Nicki Minaj, or Lil' Wayne. If they ever teamed up, they could bring music to its knees.

Shake It Up New Year's (Disney, 6 p.m.): The channel recaps some of its viewers' favorite moments from the past year, and also takes the opportunity to promote a few of the 2011 coming attractions.

Anderson Cooper 360's All the Best, All the Worst 2010 (CNN, 8 p.m.): Tom Foreman and a lot of smart people talk about the year that we're putting to bed. I wonder if they will have the guts to mention CNN's ratings under "worst."

Live From Lincoln Center (PBS, 8:30 p.m.): The noisemakers here will be trumpets, cellos, and that kinda thing. The New York Philharmonic performs music from The Nutcracker (only 51 weeks till next Christmas!) as well as Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC, 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.): This annual institution takes a half-hour break at 11 for the local news. Jenny McCarthy handles the street duties in Times Square, while Fergie covers the L.A. festivities assuming a mudslide hasn't covered everyone. Ke$ha and Train are among the performers, thus insuring that 2011 will get off to a ominously lame start.

Headline Country Year in Review (GAC, 10 p.m.): Recapping the biggest stories of the year in country music. Instead of lots of footage of Taylor Swift winning awards (her CD didn't come out till late in the year), we'll get footage of Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert winning awards. A step up.

New Year's Eve with Carson Daly (NBC, 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.): Another one that breaks at 11. It's a scientific fact that Daly's usual audience is made up exclusively of new parents who are awake feeding or changing a baby, so he's no doubt excited about getting this exposure.

Watch What Happens Live (Bravo, 10:30 p.m.): Ringmaster Andy Cohen acts like he's hosting a private party even during regular editions of his show, so things might get truly raucous here. Sandra Bernhard, who has been way too quiet lately, will be among the celebrants.

All American New Year (Fox News Channel, 11 p.m.): Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly will be anchoring from Times Square. Wouldn't you have thought Fox would want to go to "real America" instead of godless Manhattan? I know Branson is in the Central Time Zone, but couldn't they pretend? Katharine McPhee and Rick Springfield (!) are among the musical guests.

New Year. No Limits. (ESPN, 11 p.m.): The Worldwide Leader is again going the extreme sports route for New Year's Eve, as Levi LaVallee attempts to set a snowmobile jumping record in icy San Diego.

New Year's Eve Bash 2011 (MTV, 11 p.m.): Extremely naughty comedian Whitney Cummings will host, augmented by much of the cast of Jersey Shore. As you may have heard, Snooki Polizzi will be lowered into Times Square inside a specially constructed ball, so you might want to get any midnight kissing in before she ruins the mood.

New Year's Eve Live (Fox, 11 p.m.): There's going to be the expected coverage from Times Square, but Fox likes to do things a little differently, which is why host Nancy O'Dell will be stationed in Las Vegas. David Archuleta and Travie McCoy will bring the music.

New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin (CNN, 11 p.m.): Like doting parents who just can't stay mad at their wayward child, CNN has invited Griffin back to co-host their Times Square coverage despite her track record of saying impolite or even obscene things into an open mike. If you can hear the TV where you are, pay close attention. Cooper will try to keep her under control, and CNN correspondents around the country will describe what's going on where they are.