TVSquad

As sad as it sounds, my family and I tune in every New Years Eve just to see how the new Dick Clark model has evolved from the previous model. Will he look younger? Will he get jiggy with it? Will he learn today's hip, trendy and cool vocabulary additions like "podcast" or "impeach Bush!1"?



Disney is doing wonderful things with animatronics these days, and the last time we saw him, they graced him with legs! (He'd usually always stand in one spot behind a table, which lead to many jokes.)



Whatever the case, I hope he feels better and is back behind that table!

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The man is 76 years old and has suffered a stroke. What exactly do you want to see?



Since he has not been seen since the stroke, I am going to guess that the only appearances we see will be flashbacks from years gone by - or they will pretend that Dick never existed and make no mention of him at all.

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Emily, ABC says Dick will be there live. It's his first appearance since the stroke. I added that detail to the post.

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Joel, if that is true, shame on ABC. Brain injury due to stroke is something most people never fully recover from, especially at his age. I hope for his sake it doesn't end up like a freak show.

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It's not ABC who is mandating the presence of Dick. I've met him, and I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that he loves New Year's Rockin' Eve, and loves being in Times Square every year.



While he is not 100% healthy as in the past, he is in far better condition than you would fear. Dick has not given interviews or made any publicized appearances because he wanted his first appearance to be on his own show, one that, equal to American Bandstand, is very close to his heart.



Joel, I don't think it's morbid at all to be curious as to how Dick will appear. I am guessing that like most people, you are hoping he is as close to the healthy broadcaster you remember. Since NYE is my favorite day of the year, I think your support of something traditional and familiar like New Year's Rockin' Eve is great!!

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Hmmm. Shame on all of you, methinks. A freak show? Obsession with what's happened to him since his stroke? I am not a Dick Clark fan, and was quite dismayed when they downplayed his stroke as though it were a sore throat. This denial of stroke does no one any good, especially those who are struggling to recover from them. But give the man some credit for probably tucking his ego away and making a showing. I expect, though, that he has made much improvement or Dorian ... errr ... Dick would simply not show up. It was exceedingly sad that Mel Torme, after his stroke, refused to ever appear in public again. Stroke happens, folks. I hope, in real life, y'all do yer best to treat people who have suffered strokes as you would any other person.

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Suzanne makes a very good point...though I think that Dick's planned appearance isn't completely because of brave pride. Still, he does deserve some credit for not hiding and revealing his true condition...on a LIVE telecast, no less.



There are other famous people I can think of who have successfully diminished the stigma of affliction. Kirk Douglas, who had a major stroke, is one. Another is sports broadcaster and baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, who suffered/suffers from a palsy that affects his speech.

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Sadly, yes.

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I'm curious also as to how Dick Clark will appear. I'll watch the show just to see. Emily, my own mother had a brain injury due to a stroke but had NO outward appearances of any injury.

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I'm curious also as to how Dick Clark will appear. I'll watch the show just to see. Emily, my own mother had a brain injury due to a stroke but had NO outward appearances of any injury.

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I hope Dick Clark is close to what he was. Funny, it wasn't that many years ago he was still being billed as "the world's oldest teenager," mostly for having hosted Bandstand. I was more a fan of the great Pyramid game show. If this is the launch of a comeback of sorts, I hope it doesn't include any more stupid blooper specials.



I was on the Marriott Marquis Times Square rooftop for the 1999/2000 New Year's Eve (because Dan Rather also was there for the "millennium" rollover for CBS) and recall how Clark still was seething about having to "share" the event that year on ABC with Peter Jennings, who had been on for 24 hours.

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I believe the "world's old teenager" stems from when Dick Clark started in Bandstand how. The show was on for years and Dick never seemed to age. It was said that he looked like a high school senior. Years and years later it was said he looked like a college senior! Whatever, I will always think of Dick Clark when the Ball falls in Times Square. Myself and my friends and family cut the rug up dancing along with the Bandstand regulars and I wish him well and do hope that his recovery has been good and he is not made into a sick joke this year. To all out there: what works for one person in rocovery doesn't apply to all!

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Excuse me children-as a former broadcast journalist"back in the day",let me attempt to enlighten you on the various meanings of "live".

If Dick is still in recuperation from his stroke,his appearance on Dick's New Year's Rockin Eve could be right from his home 'day room 'via realtime satellite feed.With various realtime digital editing techniques,he could appear to be the picture of health so that the program's viewers will not be disappointed.Not to worry.The executive producers and their myriad of assistants have got this figured out already, right down to the second that Times Square ball falls.Oh and don't forget, the whole extravaganza has always been owned by -u guessed it-Dick's various production companies.He's just doing what he has always done.Fulfilling his personal and business contractual obligations to ABC;nothing more and nothing less should be expected from the man....

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My thoughts and prays go out to Dick clark and his family. There are a lot of fans that are concern about him because of his stroke, If he decides to make Appearance On new years eve great. If not Then he is just not ready and that is his choice. And we should all Respect that.

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I got a chance to see Vladimir Lenin in Moscow. He was perfectly preserved and been dead for over 70 years. I think Dick Clark has used some of the magic of Russia's best embalmers to preserve that youthful appearance.

Honestly Dick, You look Mahhh-volous.

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lol about the photoshop; they could go futurama style, and use dick clarks head, lol

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Not out of curiosity.. out of loyalty and support... Go Dick go.. I had a brain hemorragh and stroke 14 yrs ago.. couldn't walk, talk or expect to survive the night.. I'm 72..walking and they can't shut me up or away..Happy New Year..God Bless...Marge!

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If he is actually in Time Square I imagine he will be seated and will not stand or walk around the 'set.' I also think he will speak very little. It really depends on how Mr. Clark wants to be depicted. If he wants to be a 'spokes model' for those recovering from a stroke he may indeed be active, in order to show that there is indeed life after a stroke and that those who have had a stroke can remain an active and viable part of society.

However he appears, I wish Mr. Clark and his family the best of luck. I grew up with Dick Clark and I missed him last New Year's Eve.

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I went to Syracuse with Dick in 1947-1949. I was part of the TV crew with him when he was station director at WAER.



Please send him my best regards, and ask him to contact me if he has a minute.



Thanks,



Jay Peake

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Jay, if I knew Dick Clark, I'd send your regards. Actually, I'd probably ask for a writing job *then* send your regards. Alas, I can't do either, since I don't know the man at all. Damn.

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