RIP Dick Clark

I like how Nick Mason gets the lion's share of screen time and the fact that Dick basically ignores Syd.

 

They can also go around giving out checks to Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes winners.

 

I like the part where pre-Gilmour Pink Floyd stops playing music.

 

It was painful to watch. My statement was motivated by great childhood memories of watching bandstand and the sadness of watching him stumble through the countdown. His family should have realized it and put a stop to it. No one admires Dick Clark more than I do, and I'm in the bandstand generation.
You people who couldn't get a point if it stuck you in the ass can flip off.

 

But I'm the asshole.

 

That's a hole in the ground. I know the difference.

 

Worse. Lip-synch job. Ever. But Lydon's band actually had some chops, it sounded like.

And another great moment.

 

RIP Dick Clark. People may remember you for your musical contribution and game shows but you were also a big supporter for finding a cure for diabetes.

 

At least there'll be some Botox left for other users, now . . .

R. I. P.

 

Observations from Mark Evanier, TV writer, per his blog:

<i>

Most of what I have to say about Dick Clark, I've said before here, like in one post which is not easily accessed at the moment so I'll quote from it...

I worked a lot with Dick over a brief period, including producing a show that he hosted but which was not done through his company. If you can set aside a fierce determination to pay everyone as little as possible, my memories of him are all good. I liked the man and I really admired his professionalism and work ethic. He worked like a madman yet still managed to be utterly accessible. If you just walked up to him and said, say, "Little Richard," he'd drop everything that was droppable and tell you ten minutes of Little Richard anecdotes. Or Elvis. Or Ray Charles or anyone. He had, of course, worked with everybody and he had real sharp insights into every aspect of show business.

Great sense of humor. Very little ego. Always on time for everything. Very respectful of the talents and expertise of others. Worked like a dog. Easy to get along with. I can tell you hours of stories of producers, execs and stars who were maniacs and a-holes. I have only good stories about Dick Clark. That is, if you could get past the underlying fear that he wouldn't make every possible dime on every project.

I should add that there was something about him that set him apart from many other producers I worked for and with: He was Dick Clark. He didn't flaunt it but it was tough to be around him and not feel that sense of television history: He'd been everywhere, done everything, met everybody. One time when I was working for him and we were taping, my friend Steve Gerber phoned me on the set. Dick was the nearest person to the phone when it rang so he answered, heard it was for me and called me over. When I picked up the phone, Steve was stammering on the other end: "The person who answered the phone...was that...was that Dick Clark?" By that point, I'd been working with Dick for several months so I thought of him mainly as my boss. But to Steve, it was like he'd dialed a phone number and Santa Claus had answered. Later that day, he came to the set and I introduced him to Dick. Steve was a pretty sophisticated guy but we all have certain people who impress the hell out of us and reduce us to giggling adolescents. For Steve and many others, it was Dick Clark. (And for some, it was Steve Gerber...)

The main points I should underscore about Dick are his professionalism — always on-time, always well-aware of the costs and problems of production — and his graciousness. Oh, and his cheapness too...but I almost didn't mind that. Because he was Dick Clark. His struggle to keep being Dick Clark after his stroke was both sad and inspirational, and I'm sure most who write about him will say something about how New Year's Eve won't be the same without him. Just as television was never the same after he came along. He was one of the greats.</i>

 

Thanks for sharing that.

And from watching the PIl and Pink Floyd shows, Dick Clark was a great interviewer. He never got mad or flummoxed despite the antics. Seemed to keep it going.