Ep 1. Mon, Jan 4, 2021

On January 4, 2021, ABC Nightline premiered the first episode of its 42nd season. The episode featured a range of stories, starting with a report on how the coronavirus pandemic had affected New York City's Times Square, traditionally one of the busiest and most vibrant tourist destinations in the world. The segment looked at how the pandemic had impacted the businesses that rely on Times Square's visitors, and how the city's famous New Year's Eve celebration had been affected by the pandemic.

The episode also included an interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who discussed the challenges of developing a vaccine for the coronavirus and the importance of continuing to practice social distancing and wearing masks to contain the spread of the virus.

Another segment explored the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry and featured interviews with hotel and restaurant workers who had lost their jobs due to the economic downturn. The segment also looked at how the industry had adapted to the pandemic by offering new services such as outdoor dining and contactless check-in processes.

The show also featured a report on the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States and the impact of these crimes on Asian American communities. The report included interviews with individuals who had experienced or witnessed hate crimes and discussed the historical discrimination and racism that Asian Americans have faced in the country.

Finally, the episode ended with a segment on the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, which was set to take place on January 20, 2021. The segment looked at the historical significance of the inauguration, the safety precautions being taken due to the pandemic, and the challenges that the new administration would face in tackling issues such as the pandemic, economic recovery, and political division.

Overall, the first episode of ABC Nightline's 42nd season offered a range of stories that reflected the challenges and changes that the world had experienced in 2020, while also looking towards the future and the hope of a new year.