Forgotten Hits Reader Tom Cuddy sent me a recent
interview with America's Oldest Teenager, Dick Clark.
Clark's "Rockin' New Year's Eve" is
celebrating its 40th Anniversary this weekend ... and while the hardest working
man in show business, Ryan Seacreast, does most of the heavy lifting these days,
you can count on Dick Clark (now 82 years old!) to make a few appearances
throughout the program.
From a piece done by Sean Daly in the New York Post,
here is:
"Why I still do Eve":
By SEAN
DALY, NY POST
Dick Clark has endured.
In
a rare interview — the week before the 40th
anniversary of his first “New Year’s Rockin’
Eve” telecast — Clark,
now 82, talks about how he is still recovering from a devastating stoke in 2004
and about why he still wants to appear on the
show.
His imitators (do you remember Lloyd Thaxton?)
and tormentors (the congressional committee that unfairly accused him of payola
in 1960) are dead and gone.
But there Clark is every year in Times Square —
no longer out in the cold, no longer doing the heavy lifting (that job is Ryan
Seacrest’s now) — but he’s there.
When his story is finally written, it will say
Clark probably had more impact as a producer of
TV shows than as a kingmaker in the music business — for which he is so much
better known.
His
“American Music
Awards”
introduced the idea of fans voting for their favorites nearly 30 years before
“American
Idol.”
Clark made the ground-breaking
“Murder in
Texas” in
1981 — starring
Farrah Fawcett — which was the
blueprint for the “true crime” movie that put cable channels like Lifetime on
the map.
It may not seem like it now, but even his idea to challenge CBS
and
Guy Lombardo — the reigning
monarch of New Year’s Eve — with a show of kids’ music was a huge
gamble.
Clark says he is simply happy to take a
victory lap every Dec. 31.
Q: “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” started four
decades ago as the first real alternative to Guy Lombardo. Whose idea was it,
yours or the network?
A: We originally had a New Year’s Eve
broadcast on ABC in 1959, when we did a version of
“American Bandstand” for the occasion. Eventually in 1972, I was able to
convince NBC to air “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”as a youthful contrast to CBS’s Guy
Lombardo telecast.
Q: Is there one year that stands out to
you as the most memorable? Any
near-disasters?
A: The closest we came to a disaster was
one year in the ’80s when approximately seven minutes before airtime, we
experienced a major power failure in Times
Square! All our cameras and lights went black. Through some feverish
handiwork by our ABC crew, they were able to get us back and ready for air one
minute before the telecast. It was a close
call.
Q: “NYRE” is the one time each year that
America has seen you recently. How
are you doing? How is your recovery coming
along?
A: These days, I’m still recovering from
the stroke I had in 2004. Though I’m not totally recovered, my progress is slow
but sure.
Q: How important is it for you to make
that public appearance in Times
Square?
A: I look forward to the Times Square appearance for two reasons. One . . . I’m
honored to be a part of the event. And two, I’m really touched by the many
people who tell me I’m an inspiration to them.
Q: Is it something you decide to do on a
year-to-year basis or something . . . that you hope and plan to do every year
indefinitely?
A:
I was most
flattered a couple years ago, when I was asked to continue my participation, and
I still look forward to it every year.
Q:
People wonder
what your day-to-day life is like now. Can you give us an idea how you spend a
typical day?
A: People often ask me what I’m up to
these days. My typical work week involves five days of physical therapy,
combined with going to my office. I’m involved with several businesses and have
a handful of television projects in
development.
And,
on the radio this weekend ...
Kent ...
Once an hour, WCBS-FM is playing musical New Years
Resolutions.
For example:
Going to buy new boots = "These Boots
Are Made for Walkin'"
Going to change careers = "Take This Job
And Shove It"
Then, on New Years Eve Day, starting at 7:00 AM
(Eastern Time) they'll be doing the Top 101 Party Songs Countdown. (Wonder what
# my favorite party song will be ...
It goes something like this: "Woke up this morning,
my head was so bad ... The worst hangover I've ever had. What happened to me
last night,etc."
Lucky for you - you can't hear me.
Frank B.
Frank B.
Some "Sound Advice"??? Leave the
singing to the professionals, Frank ... some of us just make better
spectators!!!
And while I'm sure there are a
few folks out there who'll be doing "double shots" for New Year's Eve, I won't
be one of them ... us "older folks" prefer to stay in, maybe order a pizza and
watch a few movies.
Meanwhile, to quote Pink ...
"Let's Get This Party Started!" (kk)
Meanwhile, to quote Pink ...
"Let's Get This Party Started!" (kk)
Also of note:
This weekend The True Oldies
Channel will be playing nothing but #1 Records, all weekend long. It all kicks
off this afternoon ... and you can Listen Live here:
Click
here: WPLJHD2
