For now, Dick Clark...

So long. Rock, roll, and remember.

These are things associated with Dick Clark... things associated with Dick Clark. Ready. Go!

If you are younger than 30, and didn't watch TV on New Year's Eve, you don't know who Dick Clark is... or any idea why he's been eulogized plentifully this week.

Long story short, he shined the spotlight on others. That spotlight shined on so many different musical acts, so many different game show contestants, and so many dancers from coast to coast on American Bandstand.

On a few occasions, he hosted shows simultaneously on CBS, NBC, and ABC. I remember him on $25,000 Pyramid, TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, New Year's Rockin' Eve, and The Other Half.

He almost broke the winner's circle record on Pyramid the last time he was a guest celebrity. He counted us into 39 of the last 40 New Year's. He hosted one of the first shows to give away $100,000 on a more-than-once-a-year-basis. He created the American Music Awards. He pioneered lip-synching... he was required viewing Saturdays at 12noon on ABC. I loved when VH1 aired Bandstand reruns back in the 90s.

He was innovative, pioneering, and courageous. Sadly, most of America thought that he couldn't go on much longer co-hosting Rockin' Eve. It took a lot of guts to do what he did. He may not have been able to communicate his thoughts as well as he used to, but that mind of his kept working through all the struggles.

From Utica to Syracuse to Philadelphia to Hollywood and beyond... Dick Clark will be missed.

I hope those Bandstand reruns come back someday. Until then, listen to theme by Barry Manilow, and try not to dance.

Safe home, Dick Clark.

Buckle Up,
TS