I didn't watch TV on New Year's Eve so I missed this year's Dick Clark appearance. I did hear about it on the 'net…a lot of people saying it was just so sad. His speech is still thickened by the stroke he had in 2004 and much of America cringed when he messed up the countdown. If you surf any distance on the web, you'll come across a post from someone saying, in effect, "Dick, we love you and we admire your courage…but it's time to give it up."
I wouldn't blame him if he did but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. I haven't spoken to Dick since we worked together on a batch of shows back in the eighties. He was one of the cheapest, grab-every-buck producers I ever worked for and yet I liked him tremendously. Part of that was because he was Dick Clark, part of that was because he had a terrific sense of humor about himself and part of it was because he just plain worked his ass off. He was an absolute pro, giving 110% in everything he did.
Actually, I worked for him on a couple of shows and then there was one where he kinda worked for me. I was the producer and he was a hired hand…and he was on time and utterly cooperative. He either did exactly what was requested of him or…well, a couple of times, he had ideas on how something could be improved. (Well, why the heck wouldn't he? He'd done more television than everyone else in the studio put together.) And whereas other stars will pull rank and make it clear that you'd better do it their way, Dick presented his suggestions in a manner that said — and he may have used these words — "Hey, it's just a thought. If you prefer, I'd be glad to do it your way." If you've ever produced a TV show, you know how much you appreciate guys like that.
Anyway, the point I want to make here is that, and this is an educated guess from afar, I don't think Dick's doing those New Year's Eve shows for our benefit. I think he's doing them for his own benefit. I think it's something he needs, maybe as a goal — to inspire his therapy — and/or maybe because total retirement for a guy like that could easily segue into giving up on everything. When you work hard all your life, work becomes your life and to not work is to not live. I don't want to see him the way he is either, folks…but if doing 30 minutes of TV once a year is going to keep the guy going, then I hope he keeps right on doing it as long as he can.