Dick Clark To 'Rockin' His 40th New Year's Eve

Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest

With the 40th anniversary of his "New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" set to broadcast in a week, radio icon and TV producer/host DICK CLARK offered his recollections of the show and his post-stroke life to NEW YORK POST.

"We originally had a NEW YEAR’S EVE broadcast on ABC in 1959, when we did a version of 'American Bandstand' for the occasion," he said of the show's inception. "Eventually in 1972, I was able to convince NBC to air 'New Year’s Rockin’ Eve' as a youthful contrast to CBS’ GUY LOMBARDO telecast."

CLARK'S most eventful show was one that almost never happened. "The closest we came to a disaster was one year in the ’80s when approximately seven minutes before airtime, we experienced a major power failure in TIMES SQUARE!" he recalled. "All our cameras and lights went black. Through some feverish handiwork by our ABC crew, they were able to get us back and ready for air one minute before the telecast. It was a close call."

As for his current life, "People often ask me what I’m up to these days," CLARK  said. "My typical work week involves five days of physical therapy, combined with going to my office. I’m involved with several businesses and have a handful of television projects in development."

« see more Net News