New Year?s Eve: Times Square crowds return, NYC hails new mayor and Miley Cyrus battles wardrobe malfunction

A Miley Cyrus wardrobe malfunction, a celebrity rant about outgoing New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio, and the traditional dropping of a six-tonne ball in Times Square were among the highlights as America welcomed the new year, and bid good riddance to the old one.

The New Year's Eve tradition of crowds at Times Square returned this year, though with only 15,000 of the usual 60,000 spectators there to watch the ball, encrusted with nearly 2,700 Waterford crystals, descend as couples embraced, some still wearing their masks.

Though the crowds were smaller, the throngs nevertheless stretched for blocks to soak in the celebration, with many traveling from afar to take part. Confetti lit up by electronic billboards swirled in a light wind on a mild winter night in New York.

TV networks vied for supremacy to cover the night, with NBC's offering from Miami fast becoming a talking point after co-host Miley Cyrus's top appeared to come undone mid-performance, forcing her to swiftly turn around and head to the back of the stage to grab a red blazer.

Rival CNN also entertained viewers after its host Andy Cohen vented his disapproval of the mayor, Bill de Blasio, saying "sayonara sucker" on the night he stepped down, as co-host Anderson Cooper sought to ease tensions in the background.

De Blasio was replaced by Eric Adams, who took his oath on stage in Times Square soon after the ball drop. He made a brief appearance earlier on the main stage to affirm the city's resiliency.

"It's just great when New York shows the entire country how we come back," he said. "We showed the entire globe what we're made of. We're unbelievable. This is an unbelievable city and, trust me, we're ready for a major comeback because this is New York."