Mentalist Oz Pearlman blows Andy's and Anderson's minds | CNN New Year's Eve 2026

Our next guest has had an amazing 2025. He's a mentalist who says he reads people, not minds, and he's read quite a few this year. CEOs, athletes, and even Anderson Cooper, the grumpy old man, number two person. So, you immediately shift gears. So, you couldn't have known. Bam.

Can you picture that person? Sure. Look at me. Imagine you're looking at them eye to eye. I know

you've met this person before. I see familiarity in your eyes. Imagine we shake hands and I'm that person. And right now, Barack Obama's who you just thought of. Get the [ __ ] out of here. How is

person. And right now, Barack Obama's who you just thought of. Get the [ __ ] out of here. How is

that possible? How is that freaking possible? It's mentalist O Pearlman, author of the book Read Your Mind. He's here in Time Square with us. You're awesome. Happy New Year. I don't know if I'm

Mind. He's here in Time Square with us. You're awesome. Happy New Year. I don't know if I'm hearing voices in my head cuz I'm reading minds or cuz I dropped acid with Diplo. I don't know which one. Love you, Diplo. I'm kidding. So, gentlemen, imagine this scenario. There's a party right after

one. Love you, Diplo. I'm kidding. So, gentlemen, imagine this scenario. There's a party right after this. You're working hard. You're drinking. And be spontaneous. We're on live national TV. You

this. You're working hard. You're drinking. And be spontaneous. We're on live national TV. You

walk into the party with a hundred people that you know, Anderson. Can you visualize this? You start saying, "Hi, family, friends, work people, everybody." And start looking at

this? You start saying, "Hi, family, friends, work people, everybody." And start looking at people's faces right now. Be spontaneous. When suddenly someone taps you on the shoulder, you turn around and look at them. Watch his eyes. Did you just see this person? Yes. He seems close.

I don't think it's a work person. Think in your mind if you know it or you can guess it. The year

that this person was born. Don't tell me. See, he knew it. He wasn't uncertain. The same way it's about to be 2026. You thought of the date. It's coming. Watch his face. January, February, March.

Is this person born in January? Am I right? I can tell. Hold on. January has 31 days. Beginning,

middle, end. Tell them this is not set up. You could have thought of anybody. This man's drunk.

I'm going to go even, odd, odd. 27th, January 27th. Tell us all who who did you see tapping you on the shoulder. You turned around, you were shocked. What's his name? Benjamin. Benjamin.

Wow. That's That's nutty. Andy, what if you had a crystal ball? Is this the ninth year you guys have been doing this? Yeah. 10 years. Next year's a big one. What if you could have anyone anyone famous at next year right here

big one. What if you could have anyone anyone famous at next year right here Times Square? I'm putting you on the spot. Close your eyes and see this person's face.

Times Square? I'm putting you on the spot. Close your eyes and see this person's face.

Open your eyes. A light hesitation, but he was deliberating. You thought of a guy and I said him and I It's a female for you. Am I right? Yes. Did you see him? That flowing hair just swooshed the way he did that. 100% female. And then would he guess who this is? I don't know. It's such a

random person. So random. It's so random. Popped in your head when I snap my fingers. I think I

random person. So random. It's so random. Popped in your head when I snap my fingers. I think I think he was going to do a singer. I think he was definitely doing a singer. And then [Laughter] had to be Broadway. Had to be What's her What's her name? What's her name? Say yes. Say yes. It was

Katherine O'Hara. I'm just kidding. Katherine O'Hara. What? How do How is that possible?

That's That's crazy. Grab your phone. Grab your phone. It's about to be 2026. You know what?

We're going to fact check this. We're going to fact check this. Get a calculator. I'm getting

mine. Oh, Lord. Uh the person you thought of before. Where's the calculator? Does he know if there's a calculator on the calculator? You seeing this? You know it's not staged when it's not going right at all. I love it. What year is Benjamin born in? 1973. Is that right? You're asking me

like I know. Okay. Type in 1973. Everyone at home do this, too. Everyone type in 1973. You do it, too. Okay. Imagine we go to the bank right there. I won't plug the bank, but you could see it. And

too. Okay. Imagine we go to the bank right there. I won't plug the bank, but you could see it. And

you swipe your card and you type in 1973. Let's do it together. And you type the code. Hold out

your finger. Type the first number. Second. He went up. Did you see that number got smaller?

Times. Hit times. Times. Your first number. Do the third number. I'm about to give Andy Cohen's bank pin code away on national TV. Last number. The two numbers are the same. It starts with a four, doesn't it? Four. Double tap. 4114. Is that what you were thinking? Yes. It's not my bank code,

doesn't it? Four. Double tap. 4114. Is that what you were thinking? Yes. It's not my bank code, by the way. It's not anymore. It's not anymore. Do 4114. Everyone at home, follow with me. Times

4114. And now I want you right now. I'm going to hit plus. I want you to take and tap in some numbers without even just like random. Hold out your finger. How many? I don't know. Six,

seven. I'm kidding. Hold out your finger. Close your eyes. Or no, look up. Look up. Look at me.

And just start tapping and tap and tap and tap. Look how many he's doing. How many is he done? Six. Do a couple more. Bam. Bam. How many we get? We got a bunch. Everyone type this

he done? Six. Do a couple more. Bam. Bam. How many we get? We got a bunch. Everyone type this in at home. Plus 41. Go. Plus 41. Plus 41. 94. Uh-huh. 126. Uh-huh. And then hit equals. What

do we get? You do it. Tell me. What do we get? What do we get? 12,000. Uh 12. Everybody at home, what do we get? Give me 12 12 12 million and 311. 48 and 11,048. Do you know what it's all about, gang? Do you know what it's all about? Everybody listen to me. It's not about next year. Big New

gang? Do you know what it's all about? Everybody listen to me. It's not about next year. Big New

Year's resolutions. Anderson, Andy, it's about right here, right now. That's the present moment.

This month, this day, this hour, this very minute is what you should appreciate cuz life is short, everybody. And are you ready for the craziest thing? Cuz that's December 31st and in the

everybody. And are you ready for the craziest thing? Cuz that's December 31st and in the Eastern Seabard. It is 10:48. Check your phone. Check your clock right now, everybody.

Eastern Seabard. It is 10:48. Check your phone. Check your clock right now, everybody.

There's no moment like the present. How is that possible?

Wow. Bring it in. I'm a hugger. Let's go. Come on. Wow. I mean, amazing. Wow. And you're married? I

am married. And your wife deals with this. I don't know how you have five kids. Five kids. Insanity.

Wow. And do you are you playing these mind games with your children? They're going to be in trouble when they're teenagers. Real talk. Yeah. Yes. They're not going to get away with anything.

Nothing. My daughter's done. Wow. That was How long have you been doing this? I've been doing this for almost 30 years, dating myself. Started as a teenager. Wow. Really? It's so good. I mean,

my claim to fame, getting Anderson Cooper to swear on live national TV. That was the moment.

That was But what's crazy is what people didn't even see is that you were also doing stuff with the floor crew. Yeah. And with like Bruce and a and a a Booker and it was incredible.

I spread the love. I go in there. I've got a superpower. And like while you were working on me, you were like doing stuff with them and all of a sudden everybody was just had their mind blown.

So good. That was amazing. Think of your social security. No, I'm kidding. I'm totally kidding.

What's the biggest like reaction you've gotten or surprised? A lot of football players freak out.

Leave the room. Do not come back. Done. Can't be found. Off campus. Really? That's some big ones.

Some of them are very quiet and understated. Uh, I've had a few where uh past presidents have walked up to me and just like whispered in my ear like, "How are you honestly doing this?"

Wow. Right. Right. That's really interesting. Wow. Do UFOs exist? Do UFO? I believe so. 100%. I don't

know what they are, though. That's the question. You don't know what they are? No. No. I don't know what's in them. They're out there somewhere. I think they're under the ocean, right? I think

they're under the ocean. That's very possible. I actually very possed here a billion years ago.

That's stable. Bam. Well, also a lot of the stuff that you've seen from like pilots has been like weird things skirting on the ocean and stuff. Absolutely. Heard it here first. Oh,

you're amazing. Yeah, mine tonight. I Happy New Year was that moment. Wow. He took us for a ride.