I can't decide whether it was a good or bad thing for Dick Clark to appear on the New Year's Eve telecast last night.
On one hand, the man is clearly physically handicapped. To deny him the ability to work if he is still capable of physically and mentally doing the job is discrimination, even if a television personality only works on a contract basis at the will of the broadcaster.
Also, the fact that he's handicapped flies in the face of every attempt by Hollywood to show us flawless and sterling examples of humanity, made-up and edited in forms to make us believe that even elderly such as Leslie Nielsen and Ed Asner are without impairment. Clint Eastwood shows his age in Grand Torino, but still is a finely-sanded old piece of crotchety driftwood.
Paul Newman and other celebrities go into seclusion or avoid the spotlight when they take a turn for the worse... but Dick Clark hasn't. Is he doing this for us, or is he doing it for himself?
He reminds us that we will grow old, grow weak, suffer unexpected setbacks, struggle to overcome them, but ultimately die. The choice we have is how we choose to face it, accept it, and with that level of dignity.
On the other hand, the celebration is an entertainment product - we are ringing in the new year, and an old man is croaking through a countdown he can barely keep up with, his watch shaking on his wrist. We as a nation are still celebrating a young black man winning the presidency by splashing headlines of him without a shirt OH SO HUNKY and his victory over the creased and shaky veteran insider politician.
After thinking this through, I'm still not sure what is right... for those of us who haven't shipped our elderly off to rest homes or keep forgetting to visit or call them (GUILTY AS CHARGED, I AM), is this a reminder that as the year comes to a close, perhaps time is running short not just for all, but especially those who are supposed to be closer to us?
Comments (4)
I was shocked to see my old pal "Dick Clark" as a face frozen cartoon of the man I knew and loved back in the American Bandstand days. I don't know if it was botox or makeup but the only things I saw moving on his face were the top of his bottom lip and bottom of his upper lip. I believe ABC did him a diservice by allowing him on the air, no matter how much he obviously wanted to do the show! I pray that Dick lives alot longer, but who whoever is helping him with his appearance needs to "face" reality, and either show us his real persona and disabilities, or retire him from public view!
Posted by Timothy Richey | January 1, 2009 10:34 PM
Posted on January 1, 2009 22:34
IN defense of Clark, I think he's had a stroke or two so his face not moving is more likely from that than botox.
On the other hand, I don't watch those shows. Didn't when he was old and healthy 20 years ago and don't when he's older and right near the end now.
All I know is hat's off to the man for being in on the ground floor of cable in Mexico. Dude is richer than GOD for that.
Posted by Caleb | January 2, 2009 5:45 AM
Posted on January 2, 2009 05:45
God Bless Dick Clark!
Just a note of thanks to Dick Clark coming through for us this New Year's Eve. This was our fourth annual Dick Clark Stroked-Out Rockin' New Year's Eve party, and it would have been a terrible misfortune if he had bowed out. Many in our group were thinking he wouldn't do it; that he would finally throw in the towel and say that he refuses to publicly humiliate himself on national TV anymore, or that he would finally give in to his family and the network. But I never had a moment's doubt. I knew years ago that Dick has a monstrous, voracious ego, and that NOTHING would stop him from being on national TV! Not brain damage, not hemiparalysis, not slurred and incomprehensible speech, NOTHING! I wasn't disappointed. We were able to drink our Dick Clark Stroked-Out New Year's Ale, and gather 'round the TV to do the countdown once again. It was truly memorable. Of course, if Dick had a single shred of self-respect (vs: self-adulation) none of these parties could take place, but thank God he doesn't. He does it purely for his own bloated ego, and no other reason, as he is completely convinced that all of America WANTS to see him on TV at New Year's. I can only urge everyone to join in our tradition, and start planning your own Dick Clark Stroked-Out Rockin' New Year's Eve Party for 2009. You KNOW he'll be on! For our next party we plan to get Dick Clark masks (the ones with the drool) and have a group picture taken with Dick on the big screen.
Posted by V. Friesen | January 3, 2009 2:48 PM
Posted on January 3, 2009 14:48
I must say that Dick Clark ruined my new year celebration. I understand that he is an icon but all good things must come to an end. New Year is to be a time where your dreams are to start in good spirts. Dick Clark took that away from me. When he started to talk 2 minutes to the new year I tolerated it thinking the countdown was to be there shortly and the count down would begin. When Dick started the count down I flipped out -- I couldn't look at he TV anymore and immediately got into a bad mood. I don't want to see someone struggle to speak - I don't want to start to feel bad for someone. I was very hard to watch him try to kiss his wife.. enough is enough. I think he should retire in peace - Last year was bad enough and it should have ended then, to see him back was a wrong decision by the network - Now I have to wait for 2010 to start a HAPPY new year-- and beleive me everyone I know that watch this states the same thing - Dick ruined bringing in the New 2009 year!
Posted by Karen Sharkey | January 3, 2009 2:57 PM
Posted on January 3, 2009 14:57