Jason

No, this isn't about having the abysmally untalented Jonad Brothers performing on his show.

The man looks terrible. The last few years he's done this, he's looked bad, but he looked like he was coping with his condition. Last year he actually looked a little better. Now he justs looks (and especially sounds) like he's falling apart.

It's sad to see anyone in his condition, let alone someone who we always joked about having eternal youth. I know he loves doing it, but I really think he needs to let it go. I don't think people want to remember him a a sputtering, incoherent mess.

wishbone

With the windchill making the temperature 1 degree in NYC I imagine it's not easy for anyone to function properly in those conditions -- let alone poor Dick Clark.

Timber

I don't thing the windchill had anything to do with the studio environment. The guy needs to hang it up. I do feel bad for him but I'm not sure that's the feeling I should have when I'm watching the NYE show. Then I think that the alternative is having Seacrest do the whole show and that might be even worse.

TheVelvetRope

It's less feeling embarassed for him, so much as it is just sort of depressing to see him in his condition after decades of "forever young" jokes that followed him. Given the choice of him continuing to be part of it or not, I'm definitely torn.

whotony

I do not feel embarassed at all for him.
it's a treat to still see him every year.

also someone starts this same exact topic every new years eve.

TheBigDave

I was happy to see him again. It's his show, and I hope they keep letting him do it as long as he wants.

Giantrobo

Uhm yeah, and as long as he shows up in the condition he's in we'll see a thread like this again next year....


Anyway, as I've said before I feel like he's trying to prove something and he doesn't need to. The man has already proved himself with a long successful career and he doesn't owe anyone anything as far as showing up each year. Seeing him barely able to talk is kind of painful.

Rockmjd23

It must suck for him to be all there mentally and want to do it like past years, but just not be physically able to.

wm lopez

Dick Clark must have a big ego.

Double_Oh_7

He was in the studio... the windchill was not a factor.

I know he had a stroke, but what happened to his teeth? It seemed to make it more difficult to talk.

big whoppa

I haven't watched him this year but some people wrote that he was an inspiration for those who've had a stroke. Yes, this is a recurring topic.

MovieMaster11

yeah lets have Clark retire so we can have Ryan Seacrest hosting for the next 50 years

Michael Corvin

I doubt it is about proving anything. This is clearly all he has left. It's a couple of hours one night a year, let him enjoy it.

Giantrobo

Hey, whatever. The question wasn't "Should we take him off the air?" and I'm in no way suggesting he leave. More power to you DC. I just change the channel when he's on. No harm, no foul.

emptysky

I watched him the first year he came back... to see someone who was always the symbol of eternal youthfulness in such bad shape made me sad, and made me feel old and like life was very short. I went to bed really depressed and haven't watched him since. I like him and if people want to watch it, then good for him, keep going on with the show, but I don't want to start my new year off feeling that way again.

Jimmy James

I'm torn about this. I think it's clear at this point the stroke must have damaged some of the fine motor control of some muscles used in speaking (tongue or face) and it's not going to get any better. That's why he looked ridiculous last night -- he's trying to compensate. If you ask me, it worked. He sounded better but looked much worse than last year.

If we let ugly/imperfect people on TV all the time because TV is about being a slice of life, this would be less an issue. That's not what we do. Dick Clark is a notable exception to the rule because of either power or connections. Look at the idiots they surround him with. I know I'd rather see some ugly but good reporter instead of Pickler.

Is it selfish for us to want a light and shallow New Years Eve show that puts us in the mood for the new year instead of reminding us of death and aging? Probably. It was also vanity and desire for our shallow adoration that motivated Clark earlier in his career. He of all people can't fault us for feeling that way.

I'm glad he's an inspiration for some. The solution is probably for the rest of us to go elsewhere. The problem is that none of the other nets do anything resembling a good job with the event, so we feel stuck.

astrochimp

Well said.

WallyOPD

I thought he looked and sounded better than he did last New Year's Eve. It still depressed me so I changed the channel after only a couple minutes.

Snowmaker

Its good that he's still up for doing it, but I really don't what that to be the way I remember him when he finally stops. Its hard to watch him like that.

TGM

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it is a bit uncomfortable to watch, I must admit.

My Other Self

I thought someone fucked with his voice. That poor man.

A friend of mine watched this last night and she said Dick Clark was barely in it. I was surprised he was back.

doubledown44

I agree.

siddd5

He's all there mentally, so I think we should just suck it up and let him enjoy his 1 day a year of being on tv. I'm sure its not easy for him to go in front of millions of people. He's well aware of his 'handicap'.

When Kirk Douglas had his stroke, did he stop doing what he was doing? NO!

I feel sorry for Dick on a personal level, only because of how his motor skills are affected, but besides his stroke affecting these motor skills, he looks pretty darn good for 80 and he's 100% there mentally. He produces the show!!

Let Dick do it as long as he wants. Its his show and his right!

whotony

exactly Dick still has more energy in him for his couple of minutes then
Carson Daly does the entire time he is on the air over on his countdown show.

so if you don't like Dick or don't want to see him put Daly on and watch him sleep walk through his show.

PacMan2006

I watched the clip, and I gotta say, considering his condition, he looked really good to me. Sharp movements, knows what he's talking about. Sure, he sounds funny, but that's all I really noticed that seemed significantly "off."