Roselyn Sanchez is excited to host the first-ever Spanish countdown during the 50th “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” in Puerto Rico, but she admits “it sucks” that the historic special had to be scaled back over surging cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
“Listen to me, I’m going to be transparent: It sucks that this is happening during COVID, to be honest with you,” the actress, 48, exclusively told Page Six.
“But I want to keep everything positive,” she continued. “COVID is such a downer, but it’s the reality that we live in. We were going to have 10,000 people — it was a life-changing event. Can you imagine the energy of Daddy Yankee onstage with 10,000 people screaming? Just beautiful. But now we’re not able to do that, so we have to adjust.”
The show’s Spanish concert countdown in San Juan will still have Daddy Yankee perform — but it’ll be virtual with no audience.
Ryan Seacrest is hosting the annual Times Square countdown in New York City with Liza Koshy, while Ciara and Billy Porter will anchor in Los Angeles and New Orleans, respectively.
“The logistics changed for New Orleans, for Times Square, for LA. We all have to adjust,” Sanchez told us. “It is what it is, and we have to accept it, and we have to embrace it. The whole idea is to allow people to have a fantastic five and a half hours of good music and forget about what we’re going through and just [look] forward to 2022 with a smile. That’s all we can do.”
The star of Fox’s “Fantasy Island” reboot admittedly has “a little anxiety” about hosting the New Year’s special, which also marks the 500th anniversary of her native San Juan.
“I want to tell you, ‘No, I’m not fine,’ but it’s OK. It’s good butterflies. You know when you get a little anxiety? But I love it,” she said. “As a performer, it’s like, it’s a good thing when you feel that. I’m nervous, but I’m happy … and I’m honored. I can’t wait to go back home and just have a blast and receive 2022 with a Spanish countdown. It is about time that it happens. I’m happy that they chose me for this responsibility. It is pretty awesome.”
While discussing the much-needed changes in the entertainment industry, Sanchez — who will make her directorial debut with the Puerto Rico-set film “Diario, Mujer y Café” — also addressed the issue of ageism.
“Listen … I’m a testament of older actresses working,” she told us. “I’ve been doing it consistently for many, many, many years. But check out the majority of movies that they have a leading man in their 60s, 50s — and look at the lady beside them for that part. It ain’t going to be somebody the same age, right? You know, out of 10 movies, maybe one will give you that. For the most part, they go with the younger one.”
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” airs Friday at 8 p.m. on ABC.