# Dick Clark... Can we stop this now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441 "2009-01-01T04:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/21 "2009-01-01T15:45:41Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I guess I’m the only one who thinks Clark looked and sounded better this year than he did last year? I thought he looked better, but he sounded about the same. Although I was thrilled when he nailed the countdown. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/22 "2009-01-01T16:01:32Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Country music singer Kellie Pickler. She looked like a hooker. Now that you mention it, she did look like a hooker. But at least she looked like a _high-class_ hooker. As I noted in the MMP thread, I fell asleep and woke up at 11:59:08, so I saw a little bit of Dick Clark. He sounded terrible and should be put out to a well earned pasture. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/23 "2009-01-01T16:34:51Z")
They need to keep him on title while they develop audience recognition of his sidekick. That takes years. ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/24 "2009-01-01T16:42:08Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > They need to keep him on title while they develop audience recognition of his sidekick. That takes years. They need to develop audience recognition for Ryan Seacrest? Dick owns the show. He’ll be on it as long as he wants. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/25 "2009-01-01T16:50:43Z")
I just went to Youtube to catch the clip. **Oh. My. God.** does not do this justice. :eek: He used to have such a clear booming voice, but now his diction makes Buddy Hackett sound good. Very very sad that they are propping him up there, and/or they don’t have the heart to tell him to stay home. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/26 "2009-01-01T17:15:05Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I just went to Youtube to catch the clip. > > **Oh. My. God.** does not do this justice. :eek: Link? I was tidying up the house, posting here, watching most of When Harry Met Sally, and contemplating the big diet. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/27 "2009-01-01T17:35:26Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Country music singer Kellie Pickler. She looked like a hooker. [and quizmaster!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRxJeQEuaZE) [… or is that quizmistress?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDI12Ngg22s&NR=1) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/28 "2009-01-01T18:00:40Z")
I just caught the last few seconds of the countdown with him, and yeah, it was kind of horrifying. The last time I saw him do this was maybe four or five years ago and he was in good shape. He still looks young but you can obviously tell something is not right. I see from above that he suffered stroke, which is exactly what I guessed last night. It’s a sad thing, but it’s time to hang up the microphone. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/29 "2009-01-01T18:29:18Z")
I wasn’t watching the countdown, but hubby was, and his immediate reaction was, “What’s wrong with him?” I put on my glasses and said, “He’s had a stroke.”, which by the above, I see is true. Painful to watch as you almost want to finish his words/sentences so he doesn’t have to. A vote for letting him fade into the sunset. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/30 "2009-01-01T18:37:58Z")
I noticed Dick Clark said something like “One more time” just before the ball dropped. Was he letting us know that he won’t be around to ring in 2010? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/31 "2009-01-01T18:50:01Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I noticed Dick Clark said something like “One more time” just before the ball dropped. Was he letting us know that he won’t be around to ring in 2010? No, he probably meant he has hosted so many New Year’s Eves that 2009 was one more out of many. As in “Here we are again.” ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/32 "2009-01-01T18:52:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No, he probably meant he has hosted so many New Year’s Eves that 2009 was one more out of many. As in “Here we are again.” Yeah, I thought of that, too, but I figured you could read it the other way if you wanted to. By the way, I wonder if ABC’s ratings have improved in recent years simply due to the ‘morbid curiosity’ factor of what ol’ Dick is gonna look like _this_ year… ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/33 "2009-01-01T18:59:41Z")
I couldn’t bear to watch him this year because the last 2 years since his stroke were too sad for me so I cut out after the news ended at 11:30. If he was again in the studio overlooking Times Square instead of outside like he used to be, I vote that that part is taped and he really isn’t even there at the stroke of midnight. Which is even sadder to think that they taped and taped until they got a good one… I think he’s still in it because it’s his bucks producing it. Oh yeah, lose the dingbat talking to the crowd too. Ok, back to the Honeymooners’ Marathon. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/34 "2009-01-01T19:16:51Z")
Did anyone notice something weird with the west coast coverage? I was in a bar with TV’s tuned to CNN and ABC. With a minute left on the ABC countdown, people were cheering and saying “Happy New Year” because the CNN countdown hit midnight! Were there any other channels not in sync? As regards to Dick, I’ve thought that he’s needed to quit for years. The problem is that Dick has a name recognition and credibility Seacrest has never had and maybe never will. Remember how quickly Seacrest’s afternoon talk show disappeared? Nobody tunes into anything Seacrest does solely for him, which they have done for years for Dick. It’s sad Dick hangs on just for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/35 "2009-01-01T20:06:22Z")
I actually saw this thread before Dick came onto the show. So I tuned in to see for myself. Even with lowered expectations it was extremely difficult to watch Dick say his lines. I had to turn off the TV. Sad really. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/36 "2009-01-01T20:19:30Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I guess I’m the only one who thinks Clark looked and sounded better this year than he did last year? I thought the same thing. I am completely in support of him staying the NYE host as long as HE wants to. I’d rather listen to him than irritating people like Kathy Griffin. Unfortunately, everyone gets old and sometimes shit happens like strokes. Just because he’s not quite the same as he used to be doesn’t mean that he has to hide away from public view. If you feel uncomfortable around disabled people (which, whether you want to admit it or not, is what you’re saying when you say you find it hard to watch Dick Clark), that’s your problem, not Dick’s. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/37 "2009-01-01T20:31:22Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > I thought the same thing. I am completely in support of him staying the NYE host as long as HE wants to. I’d rather listen to him than irritating people like Kathy Griffin. > > Unfortunately, everyone gets old and sometimes shit happens like strokes. Just because he’s not quite the same as he used to be doesn’t mean that he has to hide away from public view. > If you feel uncomfortable around disabled people (which, whether you want to admit it or not, is what you’re saying when you say you find it hard to watch Dick Clark), that’s your problem, not Dick’s. Actually its’ the network’s problem in the final analysis re keeping thier audience and economic viability. On the slippery slope of it being "our problem’ If the [human tree](http://rarediseasesandmedicines.blogspot.com/2007/11/tree-like-structure-growing-on-human.html) was doing New Year’s commentary would you be as understanding? Somehow I doubt it. For better or worse Clark’s disability has made his hosting something of a freak show. It that continues to play well numbers wise he keeps the gig. If not he’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/38 "2009-01-01T23:48:48Z")
A lot of times there are legal issues with this. Does Dick Clark own the title to the show? What kind of agreement does he have? If ABC dumped him could he go to another network? Can you imagine the flack ABC dumps disabled person, be we LOVE Dick Clark on CBS. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/39 "2009-01-02T00:05:13Z")
[For those with strong constitutions](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67VwzRhT6vU) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441/40 "2009-01-02T00:27:28Z")
Dick Clark productions still produces the show but the company is now owned by Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Redskins. He also owns the Six Flags parks. ABC could cancel the show or Snyder could replace Clark. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-clark-can-we-stop-this-now/479441.md?page=3)