on the stage behind me, you might be able to see the '70s icon blondie.as rehearsing a moment ago. as we get ready for the big show. the ball will be officially raised at 6:00 local time. that's when the official party will kick off. i can tell you that there's a lot of festivities going on. people very excited. the energy is building here in times square as we get ready to ring in 2014. we're live here in times square. back to you. >> stephanie, thanks so much. looks pretty cold out there. >> it's chilly. >> freezing. >> blondie reference, it looks like the tide is high. >> oh! >> okay. >> that's it for b.k. >> that was weak. >> oh! i could have done it -- >> well, bring it. bring it. >> we're going to talk whiskey now. whiskey demand apparently flowing strong. global demand for scotch wihisky has doubled in the last decade. more than $7 billion worth of scotch is exported from the uk each year and the brown beverage isn't just a tasty way to ring in the new year, it's also an investment idea that could lead to big returns. joining us is the founder and

and yes of negotiations then blondie oh four that is alice. ok on on iran there was a deal. preliminary deal with it so my new fear of what this you believe that this is also a good point and that there will indeed be a detente between iran and the united states the same sink we do know that the token you know that a charity who it is my personal point of view icing the tories genial a conference in january. and whizzing around you. we did charity we have done it breaks through. in the international resistance to some extent by because we understand that the weekend doing something naughty to eliminate this threat the wall to wall a picture to get the political settlement always come to the efforts in this way we do it justice. we are the witnesses told the two of the prison that a bomb. and don't stick to the states kerry. because of these ingenious that agreement it in and continue to. and we use it on. it could be a real geek very good beginning of the cap because we've faced a lot of global products and we can solve these problems only brings collective efforts now under

created on our recipe by an 11-year-old you can find cookies, brownies, blondie in bake shops all over.s. and canada, even the caribbean. for more, i am joined by kate h up chief executive. tate'sed by kate -- big shot ceo. how did you get to be the chief >>cutive of this shop gekko -- of this shop? >> i have been working with her for some time. you started out where? >> price waterhouse. i started a consulted -- consulting practice to help with running businesses. >> give us the scale of tate's big shot. how many cookies gekko >> about 2 million cookies per week. about 150 employees, mostly on the packing line. we have 65 distributors around the country. most of the top line supermarket and independent gourmet stores. >> but it was not always like this. >> inserted off with an 11-year- old. >> ellis about the founder. >> kathleen king was the founder. she charted baking when she was 11 years old on her dad farm -- her dad's farm. she was tasked with buying her own school clothing and she made chocolate chip cookies and decided to sell them for one dollar. she opened up her first bake

people like blondy at the moment who are rehearsing for three songs she's going to sing.he has a new album coming out. we have melissa etheridge, and much later tonight we're going to see my personal favorite at the moment, miley cyrus. it's good to see if myley can teach me a trick or two. now we've descended from this lofty platform that went down into the crowd to have a word with a few people. we met a couple from china. we have we met a couple who just married. and we met a dad who flew in with his children tonight just for tonight. >> we've talked about this for years. he has been a new year's baby. 18 years old and the ball drops, in times square the most iconic place in the world to ring in the new year, it's quite a memory. >> reporter: wonderful, they're having a great time. they've been here since 2:00 this afternoon and they will be here after midnight. you probably can't see in the shot but over my shoulder the times square ball has been hoisted, and the 70-foot drop will begin at 11:59 eastern. >> what is happening? we're used to seeing the mayor trigger the

it will be performances as miley cyrus, blondie and melissa etheridge. it will be very fight f tight f security. alcohol and backpacks not allowed in times square. a very festive atmosphere in time's square. if you are coming out bundle up. that's the latest from times square this morning. back to you. >> we love your glasses by the way. for a split second it looked like 2004 but we like them a lot. >> the one poses a logistical challenge. you can't quite see out of the one. it's a little challenging. >> robert moses joining us live. thank you. >>> five nfl coaches were out of a job this morning fewer than 24-hours after the end of the regular season. washington redskins mike shanahan leslie frasier, tampa b bay's greg shiano and jim schwartz are victims of black monday. the 16th combine for 24 wins 71 losses and one tie this year. >>> flying in help. passengers on board of an ice lodged research ship will need to be rescued helicopter. >> they stomped out in the snow and ice so they can reach us when the weather improves. >> the decision was made after

they're going to start off with a chinese cultural program and live performances by blondie, melissa etheridge and miley cyrus. also, sonia so the mayor is the first u.s. supreme court justice to push that button to have the ball drop. she's returning to her hometown in new york to join in the festivities. jim? >> margaret, thank you very much for that. the new year's tradition continues right here on cnn. kathy griffin joins anderson cooper on the platform in times square. we all know just about anything can happen when those twos are together on new year's eve. it starts tonight at 9:00 eastern. don't miss it. first it was internet phone records and bugging laptops. now reports say the nnsa is developing software that may be able to track everything you do, say or watch on your iphone. we'll have the details next. >>> people po live in eastern north dakota still don't know if it's safe to go about their daily lives in new year's eve. two trains crashed and burned yesterday. one hauling crude oil. officials are testing the air to see if the thick black smoke made it dangerous to be

live performances by blondie, melissa etheridge, miley cyrus and sonia sotomayor, the first supreme courtn to have the ball drop. michaela, john? >> that sounds like a party. thank you for letting us know some of the other fascinating, intriguing and bizarre traditions around the country. >> bologna. >> i'm very excited about blondie. call me. and you have miley cyrus and sonia sotomayor in the same place. who knew? >> couple of extremes. >> exactly. how much longer can they hold out? three failed rescue attempts. another is on hold. we'll have the very latest for those trapped on a ship in antarctica. >>> we will run down some of the laws to keep you on the right side of the law. ♪ ♪ maybe i'm wrong ♪ ♪ and nobody ever says goodbye ♪ ♪ >>> three, two, one. >>> we might want to revise that. a new year, of course, means new laws. 30,000 will take effect next year, tomorrow. many beginning at midnight tonight. it is time for you to know what you need to stay on right side of the law. the new laws. >> happy new year. best wishes in 2014. >> absolutely. >> and the new year could mean new habi

. >> how do you convince blondie to come back?rthy and fergie. >> jenny is so much fun. >> that was a tough gig for me. book ended by fergie and jenny. >> they're both unpredictable. >> i wish we could broadcast some of the rehearsal is jenny you would never find on broadcast television. she'll be kissing somebody at mid night. somebody she met here four years ago that she ended up with. >> the fcc will be monitoring. >> wahlberg. more so her than me. >> you also juggle so many other hats. how do you find the balance? >> i just get up a minute earlier etch day and try to fit it all in. >> you just don't sleep at all? >> i don't sleep enough. i enjoy the pace. >> success magazine dubbed you the busiest man in broadcasting. >> i have to go. >> season 13 of "american idol." and then you have mixology? >> a show i'm producing here on abc. from the writers of the -- "the hangover." >> so it's not going to be funny. >> they put together this series that takes place over one night. 24 hours. the entire season is 4 hours. >> it's like "24

blo blondie. enrique iglesias. check the big event, new year's eve, starting at 8:00 p.m.ney parks christmas day parade. >> whoa, who's that? >> who is that? >> i know. i had the honor, i do mean the honor, of co-hosting this year's with nick cannon and the one and only neil patrick harris. along with -- >> are they dressed up there? >> no. there he is. that is a musical dance sequence. >> no. >> i'm not going to tell you what happened next. let's just say, there was dancing in the streets. neil patrick harris. it was great fun. great fun. >> the choreography. you got to do the whole thing? >> i'll show you, but not on camera. i had a very small part. i begged for a larger part. and they said no. please do join us for some christmas magic tomorrow, after "good morning america." it's the 30th annual disney parks christmas day parade. a great way to spend your morning. >> yeah. >> congratulations. >>> and finally -- a little holiday hello from two of our "pop news" favorites. >> more animals? >> yes. first, christmas came early for teddy bear, the talking porcupine. let's se