The stars at night are big and bright...

The stars at night are big and bright...
The stars at night are big and bright...

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Rockin' Chair New Year's Eve

I've watched Dick Clark from Times Square for as long as I can remember. He is an American icon. But sadly, he's no longer the oldest teenager in America. Since his stroke 4 years ago he's continued to host (albeit in a reduced capacity) Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve. The first year it was a triumph of his spirit to survive hosting the show. Now, it's not.



I really hate to criticize his performance, but in the vernacular of broadasting he's not air quality anymore. It's kinda like Brett Farve. It's past time to hang up the cleats. The mind is eager and willing, but the body can no longer do the job.



Dick, be satisfied with putting the show together and getting it on the air. There's no need for you to be in front of the camera anymore. You've done a helluva job, but your time has past.
Clark... out. Get it?

Channel 8 put on another decent attempt at local programming with their BigD-NYE. Hard to miss the fact that Gordo Keith was relegated from host to 3rd banana behind Pete Delkis and Dale Hansen. Looks like Belo isn't as liberal with the airwaves as they were in years past.

Hey, at least it was local programming!

Footnote: Kellie Pickler, you look like a hoochie with that glitter makeup!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree with the painful viewing of Dick Clark. You can't help but seeing a little Jerry Jones in him. Not knowing when to quit, when to delegate. Glad he survived the stroke but it appears his ego cannot be stopped by even 100 handlers begging to not go on air.

How bout the local yocals at WFAA not even producing enough foresight to play Auld Lang Syne at midnight. Pathetic. I guess 'We Built This City' is our new tradition.

The Accomplice said...

Happy New Year!!!!

el chupacabra said...

Is the building that was the oasis still standing and if so what is it now?

Noevadeaux said...

I didn't see any of the other Dick Clark New Year's Eve things after he had his stroke, except for last night. You hit the nail on the head, Mike. I thought about it a lot today, and tried not to feel sad all day.......I've dealt with stroke victims and it's not a pretty sight.

All this reminds me of a show I saw on satellite recently (DHC, I think), about twin savants that were crazy about Dick Clark, especially when he did the $25,000 Pyramid game show. They got to meet him, and were devastated when they learned: 1. the show was canceled, and 2. he had a stroke. He invited them to come visit him after the stroke, but the documentary cameras were not allowed at that meeting. Prior to that, he met them somewhere mutual and they all had a great time.

All said, I still admire him, and hope that people will care that much about me if I am ever so unfortunate to have a stroke and live through it. I pray that if I have a stroke or some other such thing, it kills me right off.

RPM said...

Yes, the building that was "The Oasis" is still standing in Sunset. It's been turned into a haybarn. Which is ironic because it was a haybarn before it was turned into a honkytonk.

el chupacabra said...

Didn't see the New Years Eve special but, from the pic he still looks great at 200 AND post stroke.