Dick Clark, 79, Rockin' with Ryan Seacrest on New Year's Eve

"I am one of the fortunate ones who survived and have been minimally impaired, so I'm just thankful I'm still able to enjoy this once-a-year treat of bringing in the New Year."


After four years of stroke, Dick Clark takes pleasure in the idea of another New Year's Eve celebration and is eager to appear for his 36th year in Times Square.

He isn't taken aback by the present dramatic changes in the music industry. He recalls his prediction that "we'd see the day when music is delivered directly to our homes, and delivered to us in some form of wireless communication. The fun of actually holding a record in our hands will disappear and we'll all have our own individual library of our favorite songs that we'll listen to at home, at work, in the car wherever we happen to go."

In a recent interview via e-mail, Clark expresses his dedicated involvement in "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009 as a "labor of love" and considers it not a job.

Clark further wrote, "Obviously, I'm not able to be as actively involved as I used to be out on the street, up on a platform and interacting with the crowds in Times Square. (New York) "Thank goodness my friend Ryan Seacrest is able to handle that end of the activity on the show these days".

Highlights of the ABC-TV's 3 1/2-hour live show also include performances by Fall Out Boy, Natasha Bedingfield, Ne-Yo, Jesse McCartney, Solange, Pussycat Dolls, and Robin Thicke.

Clark reminisces on an unexpected life-threatening crisis when he woke up with right-side paralysis on Dec. 6, 2004. "Your life changes overnight," he said. Up to now, he still uses a walker or wheelchair. Speaking is still difficult for him. Clark at present maximizes his time at home in Malibu and at Burbank office. He continues to go through therapy session, goes to meetings, reads, and spends the best time of the day with his devoted wife Kari either watching movies/music concerts or dining with friends.

It is interesting to note Seacrest's comments on Clark's work ethics. "I saw him recently, and he was in a fantastic mood. I know he loves this show and loves being in Times Square. What's great about Dick is he doesn't need much of a plan."