【barracks eroticism】

Mariah Carey wasn't the only one who had a super weird New Year's Eve as CNN's celebrity llama reporter Don Lemon got his ear pierced and barracks eroticismgot real about 2016 during the network's annual televised New Year's celebration.

In an effort to liven up the affair, CNN, in its infinite wisdom, sent Lemon and Brooke Baldwin to New Orleans to ring in the New Year. And, well, Lemon made the most of it.

It all started out innocently enough with shots.

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And more shots. It's New Orleans, after all.

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After so much booze, it makes sense that Don Lemon would want to get something pierced. Kathy Griffin wisely encouraged him to go for the nipple. Luckily, someone around here has common sense and Lemon settled for just getting his ear pierced on national television instead.

He did have the wherewithal, though, to request that no blood get on his jacket.

You know you're wasted when you have to get talked out of piercing your nipple on live TV and settle for an ear. #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/4s3Zy9rciE

— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) January 1, 2017

Of course, with all of those shots and so many emotional things going on, like getting an ear pierced on national television, it was only a matter of time before Lemon turned into your drunk buddy and got real about life and 2016.

"I always live my life to the very fullest," he said to a flabbergasted Baldwin. Things went downhill so fast that within 10 seconds, Lemon pronounced, "I'm a bad person to date."

Speaking for all the world, Baldwin asked, "Are we going there right now?"

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Oh, but the night wasn't over for Don. Not by a long shot.

After all, he was "lit."

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And, when in New Orleans, one must be part of a second line parade.

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But as all people do when they have shots and bare their souls, Lemon finally crossed a line -- apparently, just a minute after midnight, Central Time, when he began 2017 by saying, "2016 was awful" and then the mic went silent.

By the way, folks. Here is when CNN finally cut Don Lemon's mic when he said, "2016 was awful" while trying to get more shots. 😂 pic.twitter.com/mKZCTzH7uO

— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) January 1, 2017

Oh, Don. 2016 was one big "Mazel Tov Cocktail," wasn't it?

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Here's hoping his hangover doesn't start him off on the wrong foot in 2017.