Dick Clark, Slurring, Confused and Awkward, Should Retire
14, 12, 10, 11, 10, 9...Uh, No Dick!
Through even a debilitating stroke, Clark held onto his boyish good looks that once afforded him the nickname, "America's oldest teenager". Through the years since, Clark has trooped on, trying to recapture the youthful exuberance and magic that were his signatures in his earlier shows.
While I will give Clark points for trying, the entire thing has become very uncomfortable and is disrespectful to the Dick Clark legacy. Throughout the years as a producer and on air personality, Clark always had an eye for detail and a commitment to utmost professionalism. Nobody wants to be cruel to Clark, but the fact is, he's in an entertainment business. And the part of the entertainment business that his show, "Dick Clark's Rocking Eve", is part of is centered on youth and hope for the future.
While nowhere does it say there is or should be a maximum age, the ability to project hope and optimism for the future, as the New Year arrives is, at this point, impossible for Dick Clark. He needs to gracefully leave the stage now as his inability to articulate cleanly and crisply what he is saying is turning Dick Clark's Rocking Eve from most see television for its execution, excitement and show, to must see television to see what Dick Clark might do next. It's cringe-worthy at this point.
Last year, for example, when counting down the ball drop to signal in the New Year, Clark said to a stunned audience: "..14, 12, 10, 11, 10, 9". It sounded uncomfortably like my 3 year old learning to count backwards. Except when my 3 year old does it, it's charming. When Dick Clark does it, it's disrespectful to the franchise that made him what he is today.
I don't know what Dick Clark's motivations are for staying on to slur Happy New Year to an uncomfortable nation. I don't know if he even realizes how pained and struggling he sounds to get even the basics out. It could be that as a result of his stroke, he doesn't realize how bad it sounds. But hopefully somebody close to him, whom he trusts, will finally convince him to leave the stage with a smile and the best wave he can manage. And then we can all go back to remembering Dick Clark, the consummate professional that he was.
Source:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?entry_id=54444
Published by Ron Hart
Ron Hart lives in New York. His interests are varied and include sports, politics and great Big Apple restaurants. He is a big baseball fan and enjoys discussing, debating and watching sports. He also enj... View profile
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101 Comments
Post a CommentIt is amazing that you really get a paycheck for being a #$%$ Yes the stroke has affected Dick Clark's speech and the slurring and getting the numbers not in order is all from the stroke...how do I know that my 81 year old Dad had a severe stroke March 7, 2010, they didn't expect him to make it, my Dad is getting better every day but the speech impairment will not return, he is going out to eat now in restaurants and can order his own food...which he should, just because you have a severe stroke you should go away and hide?! I have watched Dick Clark since his stroke and he has improved and I hope that he continues to be a T.V. Maybe you should research strokes and how it effects speech as your "speech" should have been tuned out completely.
I want to see Dick Clark on the show. No one is perfect and we have problems. So what. He is an inspiration and the story of normal life and things which happen in life. I want to see him for years to come on the show.
Aging is inevitable. Loosing the fantastic abilities that one has in his youth sometimes goes along with it.. I think some sensitivity is in order. We need to respect and exhibit some understanding when we see our older citizens struggle emotionally as they feel their independence slipping away. Dick, Thank you for your many years of service and keeping us entertained. Keep it up as long as you feel up to it.
It's more of a service to youth to let them see the kind of future anyone might encounter, and an example of someone who handles life's realities with imperfect dignity.
Dick Hertz
Really a stroke victim on NYE is depressing, really? It is uplifting to see such a person, you just don't get it
Dick Clark has overcome so much and those of you who are debbie downers, really? As a stroke nurse he is the best of the best, stroke recovery is hard and he has managed, his speech is like music to us
I guess you must be young, Ron Hart. Not only that, you must be one of those people who think that people should die, or at least hide away after the age of 50. As someone who grew up watching Dick Clark's American Bandstand, I ADMIRE him for his courage! I wonder how much YOU will be able to do at the age of 81 after suffering a debilitating stroke?!? Shame on you Ron Hart and all of you who agree him! My 23 year old daughter thinks that Dick Clark IS a beacon of hope for the future because he had a debilitating stroke in 2005, and he worked at recovery until he was able to walk and talk and still appear on television with dignity and grace.
I AM A STROKE SURVIVOR
HORRAH DICK CLARK!!
THE MAN HAS BALLS
What an accomplished writer you are. You have discovered that you possess the ability to not only write your article, but delete the posts of all who speak out against it. Actually, I take that back. You are the type of editorial coward who gives free press a bad name. I challenge you to stand by your convictions while also allowing every post to remain as written by those who also have an opinion. You chose to write this article and then allow others to post their opinions. Since you elected to exercise that option, you must now be a professional and allow the opinions of those who disagree with your column to remain. As I stated in my previous (now deleted) post, I will pray for you.
@Bunny
Granted, it's Clark's show; he obviously can do what he wants. BTW; we did tune out after attempting to comprehend Clark's muddled speech.
I beg to disagree: "Seeing a stroke victim struggle to speak is depressing?" -- ANSWER -- "On New Year's Eve, it is." This is a night of celebration. You seem amazed that myself and countless others don't find the sight of a man with a serious speech impediment attempting to "host" a celebration of the event to be alluring. You claim you draw inspiration from it; that's wonderful. Many others do not.
If they decide to subtitle the guy, I might be able to stomach it...