This should comes as no surprise to anybody: Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest was the most-watched TV special on New Year's Eve. The ABC special beat out Carson Daly on NBC.Dick Clark has been doing these specials since I was a kid (they started in 1972) and I like so many others thought he'd be doing it forever due to his immortal nature. I'm beginning to suspect that the theories that he is, in fact, a robot might be untrue. Obviously the torch will eventually be passed to Mr. Seacrest (whose name now adorns the title of the show),
ABC should run a promotion stating that each year "could be Dick Clark's last year". That could boost ratings. On the other hand, it looks like they don't need the boost. The question is: when Dick is finally put out to pasture, will viewers abandon the sole host Ryan and start watching Carson?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-02-2009 @ 12:09PM
Arnold Knack said...
Ryan Seacrest, Dick Clark, and company were definitely more engaging than a seemingly bored Carson Daly. Problem with ABC in the Phoenix area though was that they started broadcasting at 9:00 PM showing a one hour time differential then broke at 10 and repeated the entire show at 11PM again starting with it being 10 PM in New York.
NBC also showed a one hour differential in their first hour but when they resumed at 11:00 PM MST their show was now 11:00 PM in Times Square and at midnight in Phoenix, they dropped the ball in Times Square.
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1-02-2009 @ 12:13PM
dukrous said...
Seacrest is a fine host...he just needs to find better co-hosts cause Kellie Pickler was just awful.
But in the end it won't matter. Whoever is showing the Times Square ball dropping will win the ratings.
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1-02-2009 @ 12:49PM
Galley said...
Kellie Pickler was indeed terrible. The Jonas Brothers are truly a group of talentless hacks.
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1-02-2009 @ 2:20PM
ac said...
The problem the show needs to work on is better music talent.
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1-02-2009 @ 2:29PM
Michael said...
I would certainly watch Mr. Seacrest over Carson, who didn't seem to have any energy or enthusiasm. But I thought Kellie Pickler was actually fun to watch; she demonstrated tons of excitement over hosting the Rockin' New Years Eve show and really got into it.
Between what I saw and what I read on Twitter Wednesday night, I think it's time for Dick Clark to consider retirement. Although it's great seeing him every year, I want to remember him from the Dick Clark of the 90's and not see him deteriorate year after year.
-MJT
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1-02-2009 @ 4:11PM
Scott Schrantz said...
Of course Ryan and Dick won. My local NBC affiliate had fourth-string reporters being accosted by drunks in downtown Reno during the runup to midnight. There was probably a Shamwow commercial on that got higher ratings.
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1-11-2009 @ 2:25AM
Bobby said...
So my generation is stuck with either Seacrest or Daly? Yikes! Hmmm...maybe I'll check out Spike Feresten on Fox.
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1-02-2009 @ 11:02PM
Ryan said...
I would watch anyone over Carson Daly.
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1-03-2009 @ 2:07AM
Jimmy said...
I thought I mis-read the headline. Dick Clark RUINED New Year's Eve. Hate to be callous, but it's time to hang it up, Dick.
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1-04-2009 @ 8:34AM
Mary said...
I wonder how CNN's Anderson Cooper / Kathy Griffin did in the ratings.
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1-03-2009 @ 1:10PM
whawha said...
In the words of Dick Clark: "Harphelg ntuyilf largenon!
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