As we get ready for the ball to drop Saturday night in Times Square, here are five things you need

As we get ready for the ball to drop Saturday night in Times Square, here are five things you need to know about TV’s New Year’s Eve celebrations:

v First time: The first New Year’s Eve special on TV was broadcast on Dec. 31, 1941, on WNBT (now WNBC), consisting of entertainment from the Rainbow Room, atop the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center.

v Guy Lombardo: Before Dick Clark became synonymous with New Year’s Eve, that honor went to bandleader Guy Lombardo. After many years on radio, he hosted New Year’s Eve shows from 1956 to 1976 on CBS, from the Waldorf-Astoria. It was Lombardo and his Royal Canadians who made “Auld Lang Syne” into the New Year’s Eve song.

v Alternative: In 1972, Clark came up with the idea of counterprogramming the older-skewing Lombardo. He produced (but did not appear on) “Three Dog Night’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 1973,” on NBC. The special also featured Blood, Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy and Al Green and was pretaped from the Grand Ballroom of the Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach, Calif.

v ‘Rockin’ Eve’: Clark’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” debut on ABC was Dec. 31, 1974. Performers included the Beach Boys, Chicago and Olivia Newton-John. Ryan Seacrest, who has taken over hosting duties for Clark, was exactly 1 week old.

v Millennium: “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” was pre-empted in 1999-2000 in favor of ABC’s 24-hour coverage of the worldwide celebrations of the new millennium. (Clark’s traditional ball-dropping countdown from Times Square was included in that coverage.)

“extreme cheapskates” (9 p.m., tlc): Feeling a little lighter in the wallet after all that holiday shopping? Check out “Extreme Cheapskates,” a special that profiles people who have come up with creative ways to save more and spend less.

“will & grace” (10 p.m., tv land): We have a Sean Hayes sighting. The former “Will & Grace” star drops by “Hot In Cleveland,” playing a hand model who dates Victoria (Wendie Malick).

tv listings: B6

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Annual polka jam on new year’s day

SHAROn, pa.

The annual Trontel-Zagger New Year’s Day Polka Jam Session will be from 2-7 p.m. Sunday at the Slovenian Home, French and Baldwin streets.

Admission is $3.

Food and beverages will be available.

DJ Mick Boogie coming to Tully’s

SHARON, Pa.

DJ Mick Boogie will be at at Tully’s, adjacent to Quaker Steak & Lube, downtown, Thursday night.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

Originally from Poland, Ohio, the New York-based celebrity DJ has performed at star-studded parties and events throughout North American and Europe.

DJ Mick Boogie is noted for his creative song mash-ups.

He has played at parties for Will Smith, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lebron James and Serena Williams.

Tickets are $5 at the door the night of the event.