HOT GALLERY: New Year’s Eve TV Hosts Past and Present—Before They Were Stars

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Nicole

Snooki hosted with her Jersey Shore costar JWoww MTV's 2013 New Year's Eve Special.

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Jenni "Jwoww" Farley--Now

Jwoww co-hosted MTV's New Year's Eve Special with friend and cohort, Snooki and comedian Jeff Dye in 2013. Looks like she's still sporting the same pursed-lips smile she used in her yearbook photo, but the 2013 version is definitely red hot.

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Kathy Griffin—Now

Aw, look at Kathy Griffin back then. You could tell by her eyes that she had a future being funny. Griffin caused a bit of a kerfuffle when ringing in 2010 by dropping an F-bomb on a flustered Anderson Cooper. Ms. Griffin has vowed to get Mr. Cooper canned last, perhaps by having an intentional wardrobe malfunction. Who knows what she'll do next! Say what you will about Kathy, she is never boring.

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Anderson Cooper—Now

Good Lord, is that Anderson Cooper? It is! Is it just us, or does he look like he was growing up in Mayberry with Opie instead of New York City? Cooper really needed more jobs, so he took on the role of New Year's Eve host for CNN.

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Jenny McCarthy—Now

There's nothing sexier than onscreen eye candy, and Jenny McCarthy sparkled next to co-host Fergie for ABC's 2013 Rockin' New Year's Eve. The lovely ladies dazzled during the two-hour Dick Clark celebration special.

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Carson Daly—Now

Heh heh. Carson Daly looked funny as a kid. Not funny-looking exactly. There's just something about his "before" photo that we find amusing, in a "laughing with him" kind of way. Like the aforementioned Mr. Cooper, Daly also keeps busy, although he sticks to hosting and avoids hard news.

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Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson--Now

Fergie has always been fashion forward. Judging by this throwback photo of her in high school, she blends right in with the big-haired crowd of '80s side ponies. Current Fergie has got it going on with silken waves, but we bet she'll pull out all the stops for New Year's Eve. Last year, she and co-host Jenny McCarthy outshone their NYE veteran host, Ryan Seacrest, during ABC's New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark.

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Dick Clark—Now

It was a tad disheartening to see Dick Clark—who died April 18, 2012 of a massive heart attack—on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve after he suffered a stroke. We all remember his contagious enthusiasm for the massive Times Square crowds he led with his signature countdown to midnight. But, he had become so synonymous with New Year’s Eve, we can understand why he wanted to stay on the air, even in a diminished role. His commitment to the institution he built as the host of New Year's Eve festivities was both admirable and unwavering. Ryan Seacrest has some huge shoes to fill.

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Howard Stern—Now

Howard Stern is inarguably the most successful and innovative entertainment personality of all time. There will never be anyone else like him. Although he made his biggest impact in radio, where he spawned literally thousands of imitators on terrestrial radio and then single-handedly saved satellite radio by convincing millions of his loyal fans to pay to listen to him, Stern also did plenty of television, including his very own pay-per-view (as in "this clip is not safe to watch at work") New Year's Eve special, New Year's Rotten Eve (1994). Stern returned to TV, albeit in a more mainstream role as a judge on NBC's America's Got Talent. That, like everything Stern does, is worth watching.

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Megyn Kelly—Now

Fox News's Megyn Kelly is smart, gorgeous, and, based on this photo, once had some seriously '80s hair. Kelly hosts All American New Year on the Fox News Channel alongside Bill Hemmer. Last year the show featured live text messages from viewers. No way that was awkward.

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Nancy O'Dell—Now

Whoa, Nancy O'Dell had even more seriously '80s hair than Megyn Kelly. Big. Hair. To be fair, it was stylish back then. Ms. O'Dell hosted Fox's New Year's Eve Live in 2010 and is currently the cohost of Entertainment Tonight.

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Ryan Seacrest—Now

Now that's interesting. Ryan Seacrest looks basically the same as he did in 1990, when he was a freshman at Peachtree Junior High in Atlanta. Except that he was a little bit more... filled out. Surprising, considering how thin he is now. Then again, with a schedule like Seacrest's—hosting TV and radio shows, producing reality series—he probably doesn't have much time to eat.

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Tila Tequila—Now

Yes, Tila Tequila hosted a New Year's Eve special for MTV in 2007. It was a little bit strange, but not uninteresting, much like Tila herself. Performers included Kid Rock, Mary J. Blige, Flo Rida, and lots more. Read all about it and see some funky photos right here.