# It was PAINFUL watching Dick Clark tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022 "2011-01-01T05:04:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/1 "2011-01-01T05:04:18Z")
I don’t want to remember him like this! I prefer to remember him doing the “$25,000 Pyramid”. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/2 "2011-01-01T05:06:32Z")
At least he got the countdown right this year. He usually flubs it somehow (“eight…six…seven”). ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/3 "2011-01-01T05:11:36Z")
He sounds retarded. ☹ Also, like a surefire pick for someone’s death pool. Sad, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/4 "2011-01-01T05:14:18Z")
It was bad, but I tend to think like Ebert and think we should not hide those who have had illnesses or are disabled in anyway. Dick Clark is speech disabled, while Ebert has lost a big part of his face. I like the idea of keeping them out in the open, even though I admit it is painful to see. I just wish Dick Clark appeared more than just at New Year’s eve. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/5 "2011-01-01T05:14:55Z")
elmwood- the “R” word is one of my “beserk button” things. (I know you didn’t know, just an FYI) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/6 "2011-01-01T05:17:16Z")
I’d rather see Dick Clark on TV struggling to speak clearly than see Dick Clark shut away in a room away from the public so as not to offend those unused to disability. He’s still Dick Clark, and strokes that cause disability do, unfortunately, happen to people. Such people have as much right to appear in public as the able-bodied. But then, I’m weird - I married someone handicapped so obviously this sort of thing doesn’t bother me as much as some other people. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/7 "2011-01-01T05:24:03Z")
I’m disabled too. (physical) ITA he has the RIGHT to be doing NYE, and that he shouldn’t be a shut-in. But, it’s sad IMO that he hasn’t recovered more from his stroke, and that these last few Rocking Eves are what he’ll be remembered for, in some eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/8 "2011-01-01T05:40:04Z")
People with disabilities shouldn’t hide, but there comes a time when you’re just not up to doing the job anymore. This happens to all of us at some point, whether it’s an illness or just getting old. I recall Jo Stafford saying she stopped singing, “because my voice just isn’t what it used to be and why should I disappoint my fans and myself.” I hired a woman who had a stroke, clearly there were things she could do and things she couldn’t do. I told her don’t stress over what you can’t do. We’ll just make an accommodation if possible. But certainly whether it was her or Dick Clark, I’m not going to put anyone “on display” simply for the sake of making a point. If they can do the job fine, if not, it’s time to move on to other things ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/9 "2011-01-01T05:47:44Z")
He was better this year than he was last year, I think. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/10 "2011-01-01T05:51:02Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > elmwood- the “R” word is one of my “beserk button” things. (I know you didn’t know, just an FYI) So what? It wasn’t even used in the name calling usage. It’s a real word, and it was an apt description. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/11 "2011-01-01T06:12:15Z")
This should be an annual thread. I think what bugs me about these threads is that folks that express discomfort at watching Dick Clark are slammed for wanting to lock away the disabled. That’s not it at all, at least for me. There are a couple of things. I personally would like to remember Dick Clark pre-stroke, and there is a lot of stuff out there to see him if you need a daily Dick Clark fix. The Pyramid game show is on at least once a day here. Now, however, he looks old and tortured, and when they showed him in a cut-away after he counted down the last 20 seconds or so he looked spent. Say what you want about me, but I for one would prefer that one of my first memories of the New Year NOT be Dick Clark, reminding me that I’m getting old too, and his fate may be mine. Who needs to think about that? If Dick Clark had recovered from his stroke, then fine. But he hasn’t, he sounds worse, and I fear one year Dick might stress out and have another stroke live, on the air. Would anyone want to see that? Dick Clark’s main “skill” was talking to a TV audience, and he can’t do it any more. I don’t see why this is any different than recognizing that Ali was once a great boxer, but he can’t do that anymore. No one is suggesting you stick him away in a dark room somewhere. Just take him off the NYE broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/12 "2011-01-01T06:15:14Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > elmwood- the “R” word is one of my “beserk button” things. (I know you didn’t know, just an FYI) The word “retarded” is still used clinically. It’s not an insult if its accurate. -DtC, Personal Care Attendant for over 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/13 "2011-01-01T06:38:38Z")
I still like seeing him. I did not think he would recover this well. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/14 "2011-01-01T07:07:39Z")
Would someone with this kind of disability be _hired_ to be the face of New Year’s Eve? Why not? My answers to those two questions informs me as to why he should not be doing the show now. If he was not the executive producer he would not be doing the gig. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/15 "2011-01-01T07:14:34Z")
It could probably be argued that his name and face are still part of the product and that those elements might still draw viewers. He looked so happy to me, that I didn’t begrudge him anything. In 50 years, we might see Seacrest in that same situation. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/16 "2011-01-01T07:32:23Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > So what? It wasn’t even used in the name calling usage. It’s a real word, and it was an apt description. IMO, and the the opinion of MANY in the disabled ommunity, “retarded” is equavilent to the word “cripple”. Please don’t hijack this thread, if you wanna discuss it (and I’m happy to) please open a thread in another forum on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/17 "2011-01-01T07:33:53Z")
Dick Clark is still alive? Huh! Who’d’ve thought? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/18 "2011-01-01T07:43:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The word “retarded” is still used clinically. It’s not an insult if its accurate. > -DtC, Personal Care Attendant for over 10 years. It may be ACCURATE, but it’s antiquated and insulting. (IMO, obviously YMMV) ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/19 "2011-01-01T07:52:22Z")
Not to further hijack the thread, but I am disabled and see nothing wrong with **elmwood** ’s post. I’d rather the “MANY in the disabled community” focus on real discrimination instead of getting hung-up on semantics. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022/20 "2011-01-01T08:19:20Z")
I dunno… Dick Clark has featured in every televised New Year’s Eve thing I’ve seen, since about 1976, when I started staying up for it. The man was forty years old when I was born, and I’m starting to come apart myself. I expect that it will be _much_ more painful when I flip on ABC the first December 31st that he’s _not_ there. There’s sadness in seeing him brought low like this, but New Year’s Eve is a bit sad anyway – if it weren’t, we wouldn’t sing _Auld Lang Syne_ every year, we’d just pick the most popular vapid pop tune instead. Thank you, Mr. Burns. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-painful-watching-dick-clark-tonight/566022.md?page=2)