The Smiley Smile Message Board

On New Year's Eve, on CNN's party show, Kathy Griffin answered a question about what music the people wanted to hear besides the bad stuff going on in the background. Her response was, "I don't know, Kokomo?" To which Anderson Copper stated laughingly," no, no, I certainly don't think so!"

Not live TV, but it's been in a fair share of American sitcoms in the past few years - Family Guy & How I Met Your Mother at least.

Nobody wants to take a trip to Kokomo on new years eve  ;D

Santa's goin' to Kokomo!  :-D

Referenced in American Dad too.

I was watching Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN, too. Anderson Cooper wasn't laughing at Kokomo or the Beach Boys. Griffin made the Kokomo comment (I think) in reference to the very cold weather in NYC on New Year's Eve as compared to to warmth and sunshine in 'Kokomo'. Cooper laughed because he knew that Kokomo wouldn' t have gone over too well in the freezing cold.

Just sayin that I don't think it was a negative comment toward Kokomo or the Beach Boys.

CNN does a great job with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on New Years Eve. Really funny stuff.

I think we're being a little too sensitive here with what was said.  It was a very minor dig at the song, yes.  SloopJohnnyB, your interpretation is generous and imaginative but I really don't think that much thought went into what Kathy and/or Anderson said.   8)

It was pretty clear that Kathy was being funny by suggesting "Kokomo" because she is implying just how out of touch she is with what people want to hear--especially on NYE.  That's the joke...that she thinks people still want to hear "Kokomo" in 2012.  She picks the most obscure, and even the most inappropriate song to suggest.  Anderson politely corrects Kathy.  It was a funny exchange--I mean honestly who wants to hear Kokomo when the clock strikes 12 on NYE??  And I don't even hate the song...

Well, I thought I put a little thought into the reply.  ::)

Like it or not Kokomo remains a very popular song. It still gets a lot of airplay. It is still played at various events. It remains a big party song. Shopping malls. Weddings. On the radio You name it. I don't think Kathy was implying that she was out of touch with what people want to hear. People actually WANT to hear Kokomo but not on NYE.

Maybe I am a bit generous in my comments but I still believe the Beach Boys remain relevant. If they remained together they could play the big events.

I still think that the joke was summer time/winter time thing. Yeah, it doesn't belong in NYC on NYE. But to say that she mentioned Kokomo because it was the most obscure, inapproprate song to suggest, I don't get that.

You'll see no complaining from me. I despise Kokomo, and welcome criticism towards it. I think I was the only one sitting down during the performance of the song at the Merriweather show.  :lol

Well, she is in NYC on NYE...so "Kokomo" is most definitely an obscure song to suggest---that's the joke!  She easily could have said Chubby Checker's "The Twist" and still gotten her point across that she's old and has no idea what's hip in music today.  NYE in Times Square is an event attended mainly by young people who want to party.  Kathy is aware of that which is another reason why she went the complete opposite direction and said "Kokomo."

This is the comedy writer side of me going anal...sorry...I realize we're splitting hairs here. 

I'll have to take your word for it about the popularity of "Kokomo" today.  Maybe it's an age thing because I can guarantee that I haven't been to one party where "Kokomo" was played.  Nor do I know any of my twenty-something friends who even have it on their iPods.  I've not heard it played at any bar or concert venue...the only place I could maybe say I heard it was in a supermarket.   Not a put down on the song or the band--just the way it is.