Fans Feel Jenny McCarthy's Absence on Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve
For more than a decade, Jenny McCarthy was a fixture on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve." When it came time to ring in 2020, though, fans discovered the McCarthy had chosen to celebrate the new decade with her family instead of in Times Square.
McCarthy, who is married to "Blue Bloods" star Donnie Wahlberg, would often interact with the crowd of people waiting for the ball to drop in New York City. This year, though, she was keeping herself warm at home.
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In an interview with Closer Weekly, Wahlberg explained the rationale behind keeping New Year's quieter for the family. "It's amazing, to be able to spend some time together this Christmas and not have to think, 'We have to leave tomorrow for Times Square for New Year's Eve,'" Wahlberg told the outlet.
Wanting to spend holidays with family instead of in public is totally understandable. Wahlberg also said that the decade McCarthy spent hosting the event brought plenty of memories for both of them.
"The first New Year's Eve she hosted I performed with New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys," Wahlberg explained to the outlet. "The last one she hosted, I performed again with New Kids on the Block. So her 10-year run of hosting NYE was book-ended with the first day I met her and I got to spend it with her again performing both times, so it's really … it's kind of cool."
Fans of McCarthy were a little less understanding about her absence.
"[New Year's Rockin' Eve] show just isn't the same without the goddess [Jenny McCarthy] and where the hell is [Fergie]?" one fan wrote, outraged by the absence of both McCarthy and Fergie.
"[Jenny McCarthy] We will miss you on Rockin Eve. Enjoy time with your family and a blessed New Year!" wrote another, seeming to understand the reasons for McCarthy's absence.
"[Jenny McCarthy] I can’t watch New Years without you. I’m tapping out" a third wrote before adding in the hashtag "NewYears2020"
While many fans missed McCarthy's presence, others were glad to have a New Year without her.
"I’m a bit disappointed no Jenny McCarthy on New Year's Eve. It was becoming sort of a tradition her annoying the shit out of me," one critic of McCarthy's wrote.
Regardless of whether you liked McCarthy, it's nice for her to get some private time.
"You know, it's going to be the first New Year's since we've been together that we don't have to stop kissing at midnight," Wahlberg said. "We won't have Ryan Seacrest in our ear saying, 'Donnie, Jenny, what do you have to say?"
