I looked forward to watching Dick Clark every New Year’s Eve. In fact I can’t remember a Dec. 31 (except for the year of his stroke when Regis Philbin filled-in) that I wasn’t in front of the TV, along with millions of others, watching him introduce the acts and countdown the minutes to the New Year. And it was encouraging to see Clark looking and talking better during this last show, less than 4 months ago.
Obviously I don’t remember the “American Bandstand” years, so my best memories of Clark, besides the New Year’s Eve appearances, are of his work as host of the many versions of the “Pyramid” game show. Lately I’ve been watching those episodes again on Friday nights on GSN, after I get done writing my latest movie review. Clark was the perfect game show host – engaging, personable, fun, knowledgeable and involved. You believed that he cared about every contestant and wanted every one of them to win the big money. And I’m sure he did. Clark won 3 Daytime Emmys as Best Gaem Show Host during his time on “Pyramid”. He deserves to be on the list of all-time great hosts, along with Regis, Bob Barker, Richard Dawson, Alex Trebek, Chuck Woolery and a few others.
Ryan Seacrest, who worked with Clark on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” since 2005, mentioned on “American Idol” Wednesday night that that show would not exist without “American Bandstand”. And you could say the same thing about a lot of other shows. The music industry would not be the same and the overall world of TV would look a lot different without Dick Clark.
Clark only appeared in a few movies in his long entertainment career, the last being 2001’s “Spy Kids”, in which he played a small role as a nameless financier. But his Dick Clark Productions produced the Golden Globes for many years and Clark, himself often handled the backstage interviews with the winner.
He was a true broadcasting legend and will surely be missed, especially when Dec. 31 comes round again.